Group: US is monitoring journalists in Afghanistan [It's better than killing, arresting and detaining them --which the US has been doing since the invasion of Iraq.] 26 Aug 2009 The International Federation of Journalists complained Wednesday that news people covering the war in Afghanistan are being monitored by the U.S. military to see if they are sympathetic to the American cause. The federation said journalists seeking to travel under the protection of U.S. armed forces in Afghanistan may be screened first by an American public relations firm to see if their coverage portrays the military in a positive light. [What, exactly, *is* the American cause?]
Files prove Pentagon is profiling reporters 27 Aug 2009 Contrary to the insistence of Pentagon officials this week that they are not rating the work of reporters covering U.S. forces in Afghanistan, Stars and Stripes has obtained documents that prove that reporters’ coverage is being graded as "positive," "neutral" or "negative." Moreover, the documents -- recent confidential profiles of the work of individual reporters prepared by a Pentagon contractor -- indicate that the ratings are intended to help Pentagon image-makers manipulate the types of stories that reporters produce while they are embedded with U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Journalists' work examined by Pentagon contractor before embeds 24 Aug 2009 Journalists seeking permission to accompany U.S. forces engaged in escalating military operations in Afghanistan could be screened by a controversial Washington-based public relations firm contracted by the Pentagon to determine whether their past coverage has portrayed the U.S. military in a positive light. U.S. public affairs officials in Afghanistan acknowledged to Stars and Stripes that any reporter seeking to embed with U.S. forces is subject to a background profile by The Rendon Group, which gained notoriety in the run-up to the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq for its work helping to create the Iraqi National Congress. That opposition group, reportedly funded by the CIA, furnished much of the false information about Iraq’s supposed weapons of mass destruction used by the Bush administration to justify the invasion.
Mohammed Jawad: 'I was 12 when I was arrested and sent to Guantanamo' --Human rights activists say that in one seven-day period, Jawad was subjected to 152 episodes of mistreatment. 27 Aug 2009 In December 2002, when Mohammed Jawad says he was only 12, he was arrested on suspicion of throwing a grenade into a Jeep carrying US special forces soldiers through Kabul, wounding two of them and an interpreter. He was taken first to an airbase north of Kabul, then to the US prison in Guantánamo Bay, where he remained until his release a few days ago after a ruling by a US judge that his confession had been obtained by force. Since returning, Mr Jawad has accused his captors of torturing prisoners, depriving them of food and sleep, and insulting Islam and the Koran.
CIA Memo Reveals Flaws in Waterboarding's Legal Justification --Memo shows the technique used didn't follow legal guidelines for 'enhanced interrogations' 26 Aug 2009 A footnote in the recently released 2004 CIA Office of Inspector General's review of the government's interrogation program appears to undermine a key legal justification that allowed the spy agency to use the controversial technique of waterboarding against suspected terrorist detainees prisoners. A central legal--and polemic--argument for use of waterboarding has been the fact that some U.S. soldiers are subjected to the procedure during training... But the latest review shows the waterboarding technique used on suspected terrorists was different in technique and duration from that administered to U.S. soldiers.
CIA memo details procedures for breaking detainees 26 Aug 2009 Sleep deprivation, "insult slaps", water dousing and "walling", or slamming a prisoner's head against a wall, were techniques used by CIA interrogators to break high-value detainees, according to an agency memo. The memo, sent to the U.S. Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel on Dec. 30, 2004, was released on Monday under a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by Amnesty International USA and the American Civil Liberties Union. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on Monday named a special prosecutor to probe Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) prisoner abuse cases. [See: Report: CIA officer concerned agents would one day appear on 'wanted list' and before war crimes court --Report reveals agents' doubts about whether their actions were legal --Only two weeks' training for CIA interrogators 26 Aug 2009.]
Interrogation Probe to Examine CIA Contractors 26 Aug 2009 As part of his controversial new assignment, the Justice Department prosecutor appointed this week to examine the CIA's interrogation program will revisit long dormant-cases of abuse torture by the agency's civilian contractors mercenaries... Civilian contractors used by the CIA at secret overseas facilities were involved in a series of cases of detainee prisoner abuses and deaths in the years following the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, but only one was ever prosecuted. The contractors also played a key, but secret, role in the CIA's brutal interrogations of suspected top Al Qaeda leaders at black-site prisons overseas.
Cheney says Obama CIA probe should not go ahead 25 Aug 2009 Former US Vice-President [sic] Dick Cheney has criticised President Barack Obama for the investigation into CIA practices against terrorism suspects. In a statement, Cheney said the decision calls into doubt the Obama administration's ability to handle national security [after he had 3,000+ killed on his 'watch'].
Army judge: 9/11 lawyers can't see CIA 'black sites' 25 Aug 2009 A military judge says defense lawyers for an alleged Sept. 11 plotter held at Guantánamo don't need to inspect secret CIA overseas prisons to determine whether the accused 'al Qaeda' terrorist is competent to stand trial. Judge Stephen Henley, an Army colonel, ruled Monday that the so-called black sites have likely changed enough since 2006 that an inspection would be of no use to Ramzi Bin al Shibh's Pentagon-appointed defense lawyers.
ACLU Sues DHS over Laptop Searches 26 Aug 2009 The American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday sued the Department of Homeland Security in an effort to uncover documents related to laptop searches at the border. "The ACLU believes that suspicionless searches of laptops violate the First and Fourth Amendments," the group wrote in the suit, filed in a New York District Court. In July 2008, the Customs and Border Protection agency within DHS published formal guidelines for laptop border searches that gave CBP officials permission to search laptops and electronic devices at the border.
ACLU Seeks Records About Laptop Searches At the Border --Customs and Border Protection Policy Allows Searches of Laptops Without Suspicion of Wrongdoing 26 Aug 2009 The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit today demanding records about the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)'s policy of searching travelers' laptops without suspicion of wrongdoing. Among the documents being sought by the ACLU are records pertaining to the criteria used for selecting passengers for suspicionless searches, the number of people who have been subject to the searches, the number of devices and documents retained and the reasons for their retention.
'Afghan drug trafficking brings US $50 billion a year' --The US is not going to stop the production of drugs in Afghanistan as it covers the costs of their military presence there, says Gen. Mahmut Gareev, a former commander during the USSR's operations in Afghanistan. 20 Aug 2009 Mahmut Gareev: Americans themselves admit that drugs are often transported out of Afghanistan on American planes. Drug trafficking in Afghanistan brings them about 50 billion dollars a year – which fully covers the expenses tied to keeping their troops there. Essentially, they are not going to interfere and stop the production of drugs. They engage in military action only when they are attacked. They don’t have any planned military action to eliminate the Mujahideen. Rather, they want to make the situation more unstable and help the Taliban to be more active.
2 US troops killed in Afghanistan 26 Aug 2009 The NATO-led force in Afghanistan says attacks have killed two U.S. troops, keeping August on track to be the deadliest month of the war for the U.S. military. NATO says one American died Wednesday after an improvised explosive device detonated in southern Afghanistan. A second service member was killed in an attack in the east. No other information was released.
Deadly bomb 'not linked to Afghan vote' 27 Aug 2009 Hours after the initial vote tally results were released in the capital, Kabul yesterday, a huge blast shook the southern city of Kandahar killing 41 and injuring more than 80. The [Xe] bomb appeared to have targeted a Japanese construction company that employs mostly Pakistani engineers, prompting local and international outrage. The Taliban denied involvement in the Kandahar strike, the deadliest since a suicide car bomber killed more than 60 people in an attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul in July last year.
Official says Taliban Storm Hospital in Afghanistan 26 Aug 2009 Afghan officials say Taliban militants stormed a hospital in eastern Paktika province Wednesday, sparking a gun battle with coalition forces in which at least 14 attackers were killed and six others captured. A provincial spokesman said troops who responded to the scene rescued the hospital's staff, and that one hospital guard was wounded.
France's Sarkozy raises Iran sanction threat 26 Aug 2009 French President Nicolas Sarkozy threatened on Wednesday to press for tougher sanctions on Iran and repeated his call for broad international action to curb financial market abuses. He also lambasted the leadership of Iran and said tougher sanctions would have to be discussed if Tehran does not change its position on the contentious nuclear program that the West believes is aimed at developing a nuclear bomb.
Health-care workers steer clear of swine flu vaccine --Many health-care workers have made it obvious that they are unwilling to be vaccinated. 26 Aug 2009 A new study finds that the majority of health-care workers refuse to take the swine flu vaccine due to its possible side effects. According to a study published in British Medical Journal, more than half of health-care workers around the world are worried about the side effects of the new vaccine. Doubts about the effectiveness of the vaccine are also reported as another main reason for them declining the vaccine.
Swine flu test authorized for troops overseas 25 Aug 2009 The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it has authorized the emergency use of a swine flu test for U.S. troops overseas, allowing the military to speed up diagnoses and treatment of the virus... The FDA emergency authorization lets the Defense Department distribute the swine flu test to its qualified laboratories that have the right equipment and personnel to perform and interpret test results. The Defense Department will use the test for combat units in the Middle East and on Navy ships, beginning with deliveries next month, according to a statement from the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense.
Pandemic flu event staged 26 Aug 2009 Law enforcement joined with other emergency personnel, as well as local business and government leaders, for a Monday night exercise on how to react in case of a pandemic flu event. The tabletop exercise was hosted by the Crawford County Local Emergency Planning Committee, the Crawford County Department of Emergency Management and the Crawford County Health Unit. Module A outlined the early stages of a new flu pandemic, dubbed H17N10, a combination of seasonal flu, the H1N1 virus and H5N1.
End of an American Epoch --Kennedy to Be Buried Near Brothers at Arlington Cemetery 27 Aug 2009 The death of Edward Moore Kennedy, scion of a privileged, charismatic and often tragic family, has closed a historic epoch in the United States and opened a void in the political spectrum. As flags were lowered to half-staff over the U.S. Capitol, where the Massachusetts Democrat served 46 years as a senator, devoted supporters, political opponents and leaders from around the world mourned his death, which came late Tuesday.
Obama Orders Flags Flown at Half-Staff in Honor of Kennedy 26 Aug 2009 President Obama issued Wednesday a presidential proclamation on death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, calling him "one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy." The proclamation orders that flags be flown at half-staff "at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on August 30, 2009."
Ted Kennedy: Barack Obama pays tribute to his dead 'friend' --A 'heartbroken' US President Barack Obama praised his 'friend' Senator Edward Kennedy as a 'singular figure in American history' after his death at the age of 77. 26 Aug 2009 Leading the tributes to a man he mourned as a "friend, colleague and counsellor", the president lauded his defence of the American dream and ability to affect millions of people through his robust support of liberal causes. "Even though we knew this day was coming for some time now, we awaited it with no small amount of dread," Mr Obama said at the holiday estate he is renting on the island of Martha's Vineyard.
Statement from The Kennedy Family 26 Aug 2009 "Edward M. Kennedy -- the husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle we loved so deeply -- died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis Port. We've lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever. We thank everyone who gave him care and support over this last year, and everyone who stood with him for so many years in his tireless march for progress toward justice, fairness and opportunity for all..."
Edward Kennedy, Senate Stalwart, Dies 27 Aug 2009 Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, a son of one of the most storied families in American politics, a man who knew triumph and tragedy in near-equal measure and who will be remembered as one of the most effective lawmakers in the history of the Senate, died Tuesday night. He was 77. The death was announced Wednesday morning in a statement by the Kennedy family.
SC gov rebuffs call to quit; vows to finish term 26 Aug 2009 South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford rebuffed a call from his lieutenant governor [fellow Republican Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer] to resign Wednesday, two months after he admitted an affair, saying he will not be "railroaded" out of office. Sanford returned from a nearly weeklong disappearance in June to reveal he had been in Argentina to visit his mistress, a disclosure that led to questions about the legality of his travel on state, private and commercial planes.
New home sales blast past expectations 26 Aug 2009 Sales of newly constructed homes leaped unexpectedly in July to hit their highest level since last September. New homes sold at an annualized rate of 433,000 during the month, according to a joint report issued by the Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development. That far exceeded analysts' forecasts and was up 9.6% from the revised 395,000 rate recorded in June.
Mysterious Tubular Clouds Defy Explanation 24 Aug 2009 These long, crazy-looking clouds can grow to be 600 miles long and can move at up to 35 miles per hour, causing problems for aircraft even on windless days. Known as Morning Glory clouds, they appear every fall over Burketown, Queensland, Australia, a remote town with fewer than 200 residents. Similar tubular shaped clouds called roll clouds appear in various places around the globe.
Cheney: We Did Not Use Electric Drill to Force Tom Ridge to Increase Terror Alert --'That little snitch popped it up to orange alert without needing persuasion.' By R J Shulman 26 Aug 2009 Former Vice President [sic] Dick Cheney lashed out at those that assert he used so-called enhanced interrogation to force former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge to increase the national security-threat level before important elections. "That little snitch popped it up to orange alert without needing persuasion," Cheney said, "although, he did scream like a little girl when I showed him that Photoshopped picture of him and Larry Craig in Minneapolis." (Satire)
Previous lead stories: Report: CIA officer concerned they would wind up on 'wanted list,' before war crimes court --Report reveals agents' doubts about whether their actions were legal --Only two weeks' training for CIA interrogators 26 Aug 2009 New details about the treatment of terror suspects in the wake of 9/11 contradict old assurances from former Vice President [sic] Dick Cheney that interrogators were "highly trained professionals" who well knew the boundaries of the law. Often, they had received barely two weeks' training and sometimes made up the rules as they went along. Torture details: 'We're going to kill your children.' ..."The debriefer entered the cell where Al-Nashiri sat shackled and racked the handgun once or twice close to Al-Nashiri's head. On what was probably the same day, the debriefer... revved the drill while the detainee stood naked and hooded." ... One officer expressed concern that one day officers would wind up on a 'wanted list' to appear before a war crimes court due to [their] activities.
Report Shows Tight C.I.A. Control on Interrogations --The harsh treatment began with the "attention slap," and for three prisoners of the nearly 100 who passed through the program, the endpoint was waterboarding. 26 Aug 2009 The Central Intelligence Agency’s secret interrogation program operated under strict rules, and the rules were dictated from Washington with the painstaking, eye-glazing detail beloved by any bureaucracy. Managers, doctors and lawyers not only set the program’s parameters but dictated every facet of a detainee’s daily routine, monitoring interrogations on an hour-by-hour basis. From their Washington offices, they obsessed over the smallest details... Lawyers at the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, likewise, were immersed in the details of investigations.
FDA Authorizes Emergency Use of H1N1 Test for U.S. Troops Serving Overseas --'The FDA worked quickly with the Defense Department to authorize the use of this test.' 25 Aug 2009 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced it has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) that allows a 2009 H1N1 influenza virus test to be used to detect the virus in troops serving overseas. The EUA allows the U.S. Department of Defense to distribute the H1N1 test to its qualified laboratories that have the required equipment and trained personnel to perform the test and interpret its results. An EUA authorizes the use of unapproved medical products (i.e., deadly vaccines) or unapproved uses of approved medical products during a declared public health emergency.
