Met police: six officers accused of torturing drug suspects --Sources: Officers accused of pushing suspects' heads into buckets of water 10 June 2009 Six Metropolitan police officers have been suspended from duty following allegations they used a form of water-based torture on suspected drugs smugglers, it emerged last night. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it was investigating the conduct of officers based in Enfield, north London, during drugs raids in the borough last November. One IPCC document is said to use the word "waterboarding" – the CIA technique condemned as torture by Barack Obama – in connection with the allegations.
CIA: Keep Bush-Era Documents Sealed --Obama asserts CIA should be allowed to keep interrogations (war crimes evidence) secret 09 Jun 2009 The Obama regime objected yesterday to the release of certain Bush-era documents that detail the videotaped interrogations of CIA prisoners at secret prisons, arguing to a federal judge that doing so would endanger national security and benefit al-Qaeda's recruitment efforts. In an affidavit, CIA Director Leon E. Panetta defended the classification of records describing the contents of the 92 videotapes, their destruction by the CIA in 2005 and what he called "sensitive operational information" about the interrogations. Although Panetta's statement is in keeping with his previous opposition to the disclosure of other information about the CIA's interrogation policies and practices during George W. Bush's presidency [sic], it represents a new assertion by the Obama administration that the CIA should be allowed to keep such information secret.
Senators vow veto on release of torture pics --The US has kept and tortured hundreds of prisoners at the infamous Guantanamo Bay detention facility, Bagram air base in Afghanistan and secret jails known as black sites around the world. 09 Jun 2009 Senators Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham have announced plans to forestall efforts meant to publish torture photos taken from US military prisons. In a joint statement on Monday, the two senators said that US Congress members need to prevent the release of photos that threaten US troops' security overseas.
House panel aims to thwart closing of Guantanamo 09 Jun 2009 A House of Representatives panel on Tuesday approved a $64.4 billion spending bill that could make it even harder for President Barack Obama to keep his pledge to close the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba early next year. The House Appropriations Committee rejected Obama's request for $60 million for the Justice Department that he wanted starting Oct. 1. The panel demanded extensive risk reports in advance of releasing or transferring the remaining approximately 238 detainees from the prison.
Guantánamo inmate goes on trial --Ghailani pleads not guilty to charges --Political pressure mounts over plan to close prison 09 Jun 2009 The first prisoner from Guantánamo Bay to be tried in a civilian court in the US pleaded not guilty at a hearing in New York today, in a crucial step towards fulfilling Barack Obama's promise to close the Cuban prison. Ahmed Ghailani appeared in court, dressed in a blue prison outfit, to face multiple charges arising from his alleged role in helping to organise the 1998 bombings of two US embassies in East Africa.
Guantanamo prisoner appears in mainland US court 09 Jun 2009 The first Guantanamo detainee to be tried in a civilian US court has arrived in the United States and appeared in a court in New York. Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani is accused of involvement in the bombings of two US embassies in Africa in 1998. Ghailani, a Tanzanian, who is also said to have once been Osama bin Laden's cook, had been held at the Guantanamo prison since September 2006.
American Detained, Tortured in UAE at U.S. Govt's Behest, ACLU Says --Naji Hamdan Says He Was Beaten Until Losing Consciousness in Abu Dhabi Prison 08 Jun 2009 An American citizen has been detained and tortured in the United Arab Emirates at the behest of the U.S. government, according to an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit filed in federal court. The judge has called for a hearing today in Washington, DC, and ACLU lawyers say they hope to hear that their case on behalf of Naji Hamdan will go forward.
Iraq's New Death Squad By Shane Bauer 03 Jun 2009 The effective head of the American ISOF project is General Trombitas of the Iraq National Counter-Terror Transition Team. Trombitas spent nearly seven of his over thirty years in the military training special forces in Colombia, El Salvador and other countries... Trombitas says he is "very proud of what was done in El Salvador" but avoids the fact that special forces trained there by the United States in the early 1980s were responsible for the formation of death squads that killed more than 50,000 civilians thought to be sympathetic with leftist guerrillas. Guatemala was a similar case.
U.S. Supreme Court Grants Immunity to Iraq From Saddam-Era Lawsuits 09 Jun 2009 The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on two separate cases involving the legal precedent that the Iraqi government has sovereign immunity for cases involving the Saddam Hussein regime and its alleged abuses. Iraq was designated a state sponsor of terror and as a result was a target of prosecution under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). However, in an effort to clear legal hurdles to establishing a new government dictatorship following the invasion, then-President [sic] George W. Bush issued an order waiving Iraq of its state sponsor label.
Blast near US troops kills Afghan child 09 Jun 2009 A hand grenade that exploded near US troops in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday killed a boy and wounded more than 40 people, including three foreign soldiers, officials and witnesses said. An Afghan witness said the grenade was thrown by US troops into a crowd that had gathered around a crashed military vehicle, but the Nato-led force [liars] said the weapon was tossed by 'insurgents.'
Wartime Contracting Report: We Have Big, Costly Problems By Robert O'Harrow Jr. 09 Jun 2009 As promised, here's the new report by the Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the organization formed by Congress to examine where all the money went. It's a sad reminder about just how bad the contracting system has been in recent years, and all the billions that have been wasted because of poor oversight, poor planning and plain old corruption. "The environment in Iraq and Afghanistan has been and continues to be susceptible to waste, fraud, and abuse," the report said.
Lethal Bomb Hits Hotel in Northwest Pakistan --Estimated 1,000 pounds of explosives used in attack 10 Jun 2009 Militants opened fire on security guards and rushed a small truck packed with explosives through the gates of a five-star hotel in this northwestern city on Friday, detonating the payload in the parking lot and killing at least 11 people and wounding 55, Pakistani officials said. The blast, powerful enough to leave a crater 6 feet deep and 15 feet wide, collapsed the western wing of the hotel, the Pearl Continental. [Let's see... Who (or, which organization) has 1,000 pounds of explosives at their disposal?]
Israel hints its next war would 'engulf broader region' 09 Jun 2009 Israel's Defense Minister says the flames of the next Israeli war would engulf a 'broader' region while admitting that Israelis must be ready to pay a higher price in terms of losses. "The IDF's future operations will be broader and more demanding in terms of their scope and pace, with more risks than Operation Cast Lead (in the Gaza Strip). We in the political echelon will act so that the ordeal won't come to pass but, still, you must win every trial," The Jerusalem Post quoted Ehud Barak as saying on Tuesday.
3 more charged with spying in Lebanon 09 Jun 2009 Three more suspects have been charged with spying for Israel in Lebanon as the security forces continue the crackdown on spy networks in the country. One of the three accused of "collaborating with the Israeli enemy" is already in custody, while the others remain at large, said a judicial official on Tuesday.
Shell Settles Nigeria Lawsuit --Oil Giant to Pay $15.5 Million Over Deaths of Activists 10 Jun 2009 Royal Dutch Shell PLC agreed Monday to pay $15.5 million to settle a lawsuit over the 1995 deaths of Nigerian author and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and others. The Anglo-Dutch oil giant faced a lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan under the Alien Tort Claims Act, on allegations that it was complicit in the 1995 deaths of Mr. Saro-Wiwa and other activists.
FBI boss defends use of mosque spies 09 Jun 2009 FBI director Robert Mueller defended the agency's use of informants within US mosques amid complaints that worshippers and clerics were being targeted instead of possible terrorists. Mr Mueller's comments came days after a Michigan Muslim organisation asked the US Justice Department to investigate complaints that the FBI was asking the faithful to spy on Islamic leaders and worshippers.
Near Washington, D.C., construction crews watch for mystery 'black' wire --A Metrorail extension risks hitting communications lines, including some used for top-secret government intelligence operations. 07 Jun 2009 Black wire is one of the risks of the construction that has come to Tysons, where miles and miles of secure lines are thought to serve such nearby agencies as the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the National Counterterrorism Center and, a few miles away, the CIA. With work underway on a Metrorail extension, crews are stirring up tons of dirt where the black lines are located.
Exelon's Dresden nuclear power plant has radioactive leak --Records show Exelon officials took steps to hide radioactive tritium spills which escaped its Braidwood Generation Station in Will County between 1996 and 2003. 09 Jun 2009 A radioactive leak at Exelon's Dresden nuclear power plant has been contained and isn't a risk to public health, 'authorities' said today. Leaked tritium -- a radioactive by-product of nuclear reaction that can cause cancer and birth defects -- was found Saturday during routine tests at the Grundy County plant, according to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Exelon hasn't found the cause or source of the leak, which was discovered in a monitoring well and storm sewers at the 37-year-old plant, the oldest privately-financed nuclear reactor in the United States and not far from the Kankakee and Des Plaines Rivers.
WHO close to raising alert to highest level for swine flu --The H1N1 outbreak would be considered a pandemic. 09 Jun 2009 The World Health Organization is inching closer to raising the infectious disease alert level for the novel H1N1 influenza outbreak to its highest level, indicating that a pandemic has arrived, but has delayed doing so in an effort to prepare national health organizations and populations for the impact of such an announcement, said Dr. Keiji Fukuda, assistant director general of the agency, this morning in a telephone news conference.
WHO chief: flu pandemic appears to be happening 09 Jun 2009 The head of the World Health Organization says the swine flu outbreak appears to have reached pandemic proportions. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan says "on the surface of it" she believes a pandemic has been reached.
New Mexico Boy, 8, Dies of Bubonic Plague 05 Jun 2009 An 8-year-old New Mexico boy has died and his 10-year-old sister was hospitalized after both contracted bubonic plague, the first recorded human plague cases in the nation so far this year. New Mexico health officials did not immediately say Thursday how the brother and sister contracted the infectious disease, but they are conducting an investigation at the family's residence to determine if there is any risk to other people.
'Orwellian language' in schools turns pupils into 'customers', finds damning report 09 Jun 2009 Schools using the 'Orwellian language of performance management' are undermining teenagers' education by turning them into 'customers' rather than students, a landmark report says today. Teachers who are forced to use phrases such as 'performance indicator' and 'curriculum delivery' lack enthusiasm for the job, the six-year investigation found.
Terrorists win: Kansas abortion clinic won't reopen after murder 09 Jun 2009 The family of a murdered Kansas doctor said on Tuesday they would not reopen his clinic, which was one of only a few in the United States willing to provide late-term abortions. George Tiller, 67, died in the foyer of his church, shot once in the face as he served as an usher at Sunday services on May 31. Police quickly arrested anti-abortion protester alleged terrorist Scott Roeder, and have charged him with first-degree murder and aggravated assault in the killing.
Enron troll Schwarzenegger shows true colors: California contemplates ultimate reform - no welfare 09 Jun 2009 Could California become the first state in the nation to do away with welfare? That doomsday scenario is on the table as lawmakers wrestle with a staggering $24.3 billion budget deficit. County welfare directors are "in shock" at the very idea of getting rid of CalWORKs, which has been widely viewed as one of the most successful social programs in the state's history, said Bruce Wagstaff, director of the Department of Human Assistance in Sacramento. [Next time, maybe people will be weary of GOP maggots who push a phony recall to install a GOPig in 'moderate' clothing.]
Hatch upset with Sotomayor hearing schedule [LOL!] 09 Jun 2009 The decision by Democrats to hold a confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor in mid-July was met with frustration by Republicans who want more time to review her record. "This process should be fair and thorough, and instead it is being rigged and rushed for no apparent reason other than that the majority can do so," said Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. [Rigged. Like... two stolen presidential elections?]
Poll: Third of Republicans view party unfavorably 09 Jun 2009 In thinking about the Republican Party's troubles, consider this: One-third of Republicans now say they have an unfavorable opinion of their party. There's no such dyspepsia among Democrats. Just 4% have an unfavorable view of their party. The findings of a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll underscore the perilous state of the GOP.
Deeds wins Democratic primary for Va. governor 09 Jun 2009 State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds won Virginia's three-way Democratic primary for governor Tuesday with shocking ease, defeating a former Clinton White House insider and a former legislative colleague. The victory sets up a Deeds rematch with Republican Bob McDonnell, who [allegedly] beat him in the 2005 attorney general election by 323 votes out of nearly 2 million cast.
Supreme Court Lets Chrysler Sale Proceed 09 Jun 2009 The Supreme Court late Tuesday declined to extend a stay of the sale of Chrysler assets to Fiat, clearing the way for the deal to close as soon as Wednesday morning over the objections of three Indiana state pension funds and several consumer groups.
U.S. clears 10 big banks to repay bailout funds 09 Jun 2009 JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs and eight other top U.S. banks won clearance on Tuesday to repay $68 billion in taxpayer money given to them during the credit crisis, a step that may help them escape government curbs on executive pay.
House to subpoena Fed documents on BofA-Merrill deal 09 Jun 2009 A House committee said Tuesday that it will subpoena the Federal Reserve for documents related to Bank of America Corp.'s purchase of Merrill Lynch & Co. A Fed spokeswoman said the agency had received the subpoena and expects to "respond fully and completely as requested."
Scientists: Global warming has already changed oceans 09 Jun 2009 Researchers, scientists and Jacques Cousteau's granddaughter painted a bleak picture Tuesday of the future of oceans and the "blue economy" of the nation's coastal states. The hearing before the oceans subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee was expected to focus on how the degradation of the oceans was affecting marine businesses and coastal communities. Instead, much of the testimony focused on how the waters that cover 70 percent of the planet are already changing because of global warming.
