Breaking: Wildfire burning in hills east of Livermore 19 Jun 2009 A wildfire broke out a short time ago in a hilly area east of Livermore owned by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The fire is burning along the Alameda-San Joaquin County line.
Judge Questions Justice Dept. Effort to Keep Cheney Remarks Secret 19 Jun 2009 A federal judge yesterday sharply questioned an assertion by the Obama administration that former Vice President [sic] Richard B. Cheney's statements to a special prosecutor about the Valerie Plame case must be kept secret, partly so they do not become fodder for Cheney's political enemies or late-night commentary on "The Daily Show." U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan expressed surprise during a hearing here that the Justice Department, in asserting that Cheney's voluntary statements to U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald were exempt from disclosure, relied on legal claims put forward last October by a Bush administration political appointee, Stephen Bradbury.
Judge requests Cheney interview notes 19 Jun 2009 A federal judge demanded notes from an FBI interview of former Vice President [sic] Dick Cheney during an investigation into the leak of an ex-CIA operative's name. Judge Emmett Sullivan told the U.S. Justice Department to turn over the notes by July 1, The Washington Times reported Friday. The Obama administration's Justice Department, like that of the Bush administration, argued at a hearing Thursday that making the records public could open Cheney to ridicule from political enemies and even late-night talk-show hosts like Jon Stewart of "The Daily Show," the Times reported.
Taliban defectors: US, Israel funding militants 19 Jun 2009 Two militants' leaders who defected from notorious Taliban chief in Pakistan have revealed that their comrade was pursuing a US-Israeli agenda across the country. A prominent militant leader, Turkistan Bittani, who broke away from Baitullah Mehsud, called him "an American agent". Mehsud, a warlord in his late 30s, has claimed responsibility for dozens of devastating string attacks on both civilians and security forces throughout the feared region. Baetani also noted that al-Qaeda and Taliban's leadership was never targeted in the dozens of US drone strikes in the country's troubled north-west region.
Tribesmen protest US drone attacks 19 Jun 2009 Hundreds of local tribesmen in Pakistan's South Waziristan Agency are protesting US drone attacks on their areas. Soon after the Friday prayers, the tribesmen and elders of the Waziristan tribes staged a large protest rally in Wana city, the main town of South Waziristan Agency and marched in strong condemnation of the unmanned aircraft attacks, terming it an assault on Pakistan's sovereignty, a Press TV correspondent reported late on Friday.
Errors 'likely' caused Afghan deaths: US 20 Jun 2009 A failure by US forces to follow procedures in deadly air strikes in Afghanistan last month "likely" caused the death of at least 26 civilians, the US military said. During a May 4 'battle with Taliban insurgents' in western Afghanistan, US air crews... three air strikes by a B-1 bomber "did not adhere to all of the specific guidance" under US combat rules, a military investigation concluded. "Not applying all of that guidance likely resulted in civilian casualties," said a summary of the probe released on Friday.
Blast kills 2 coalition soldiers in Kandahar 19 Jun 2009 The US military says a roadside bomb attack on a military convoy outside of Afghanistan's southern city of Kandahar has killed two soldiers. "There was an IED (improvised explosive device) attack on the convoy this morning and two coalition service members were killed," US Chief Petty Officer Brian Naranjo said on Friday.
Jazeera staff held for "promoting terrorism": Karzai 17 Jun 2009 Two Al Jazeera journalists who were freed Wednesday after three nights' detention were held because the Afghan authorities believed their work promoted terrorism, President Hamid Karzai said. Qais Azimy, a producer on the network's English-language channel, and Hameedullah Shah, a producer on its Arabic station were freed Wednesday after being held since Sunday afternoon by Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security (NDS).
Iraqi oil director wants to scrap deals 18 Jun 2009 The state-owned South Oil Co. of Iraq called on the Iraqi oil minister to abandon plans for the end of June to open the country to foreign investors. Fayad al-Nema, the director of the company, said in a memo that some of the terms of the pending 20-year service contracts were identical to the work conducted currently by SOC. Nema had complained earlier the foreign deals would put the national economy in "chains" and "shackle" national independence for decades.
Iraq karate coach shot and killed 19 Jun 2009 The coach of the Iraqi national karate team has been shot dead by gunmen in the northern city of Mosul, police say. It is not known why Izzat Abdullah was attacked, although sports officials and athletes were regularly targeted at the height of the Iraqi 'insurgency.'
Georgia-Russia war: EU blames Saakashvili 19 Jun 2009 Confidential documents written by the EU team investigating last year's Russian-Georgian war assign much of the blame to Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili. A majority of EU experts say the Georgian president, and not the Kremlin, ordered the first military strike against two breakaway provinces, according to the documents obtained by German news magazine Der Spiegel. The Georgian offensive into South Ossetia and Abkhazia escalated into a five-day war with Russia that the powerful neighbor won.
Navy Positions Destroyer For Possible Intercept of North Korean Ship 19 Jun 2009 The U.S. military is preparing for a possible intercept of a North Korean flagged ship suspected of proliferating weapons material in violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution passed last Friday, FOX News has learned. The USS John McCain, a Navy destroyer, is positioning itself in case it gets orders to intercept the ship Kang Nam as soon as it leaves the vicinity off the coast of China, according to a senior U.S. defense official. The order to interdict has not been given yet, but the ship is moving into the area.
U.S. Fortifies Hawaii's Defenses Against North Korean Arms 19 Jun 2009 Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced Thursday that he had ordered the military to deploy missile interceptors and radar to protect Hawaii from a North Korean long-range rocket. Speaking at a Pentagon news conference, Mr. Gates said he had directed the military to deploy mobile, ground-based interceptors to Hawaii. Mr. Gates also ordered seaborne radar into the waters off Hawaii to provide detailed information to track and attack any North Korean missile.
Obama holds to measured course on unrest in Iran 19 Jun 2009 The Obama administration on Friday stuck to a measured response to the uprising in Iran over a disputed presidential election, even as both houses of Congress voted overwhelmingly to condemn an official crackdown on mostly peaceful demonstrations in the streets of Tehran. Administration officials said they remained convinced that the wiser U.S. course was caution over confrontation.
Iran's Supreme Leader unleashes threat of militias against election protesters 19 Jun 2009 Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned opposition leaders they would be held responsible for "bloodshed" if mass protests over the disputed election continued in Tehran. Ayatollah Khamenei denounced Britain as the "most treacherous" foreign power working for the overthrow of his government, a declaration that prompted the Foreign Office to summon the Iranian ambassador in London for a rebuke.
Leader: Nation's turnout rattled enemies 19 Jun 2009 The Leader of the Islamic Revolution has described the 'unprecedented' turnout of almost 85% in the election as a 'political quake' for the enemy. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said high turnout in the election, which witnessed more than 40 million Iranians casting their votes, was a great manifestation of people's solidarity with the Islamic establishment.
Post: CIA report outlined Israel nuclear agenda 19 Jun 2009 As the Israeli nuclear deterrent was in embryo, a CIA report marked out the way Tel Aviv was to benefit from the arsenal, says The Washington Post. The 1960 account, which was compiled two years after Israel began putting up its notorious nuclear facilities, was declassified earlier in the month by George Washington University's National Security Archives, the daily reported on Thursday.
National Level Exercise 2009 (NLE 09) --NLE 09 is White House directed, Congressionally-mandated exercise -- Australia, Canada, Mexico and UK to participate in NLE 09. (FEMA) 04 Jun 2009 National Level Exercise 2009 (NLE 09) is scheduled for July 27 through July 31, 2009. NLE 09 will be the first major exercise conducted by the United States government that will focus exclusively on terrorism prevention and protection, as opposed to incident response and recovery... The NEP was established to provide the U.S. government, at all levels, exercise opportunities to prepare for catastrophic crises ranging from terrorism to natural disasters.
NZ prisoners quarantined over swine flu 18 Jun 2009 A group of New Zealand prisoners has been quarantined after a swine flu outbreak in a move being branded "ridiculous" by inmate relatives. At least three prisoners in a unit at Rimutaka Prison, near the capital Wellington, are sick with suspected influenza A H1N1 strain. Corrections Department health manager Bridget White confirmed the sick prisoners have been isolated and the other 50 unit inmates segregated from the rest of the prison.
US swine flu cases now exceed 21,000; 87 deaths 19 Jun 2009 The national count of swine flu cases has risen to 21,449 cases and the number of deaths have nearly doubled to 87. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the number of confirmed and probable cases Friday morning. The tally is up from the last week's count of 18,000 cases and 44 deaths.
Swine flu death toll in NYC hits 30 19 Jun 2009 The fast-spreading swine flu virus has claimed more victims. The city Health Department reported Friday that another seven New Yorkers have died, sending the city's death toll to 30. Health officials didn't provide any details on the recent deaths but said most were hospitalized in late May.
FDA Threatens to Seize All Natural Products that Mention H1N1 Swine Flu By Mike Adams 18 Jun 2009 In an effort to censor any online text that might inform consumers of the ability of natural products to protect consumers from H1N1 influenza A, the FDA is now sending out a round of warning letters, threatening to "take enforcement action... such as seizure or injunction for violations of the FFDC Act without further notice." "Firms that fail to take correction action," the FDA warns, "may also be referred to the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations for possible criminal prosecution for violations of the FFDC Act and other federal laws."
French helicopters spray mosquitoes threatening to swamp Britain 19 Jun 2009 Helicopters are being deployed to spray poison in the skies above northern France to wipe out swarms of mosquitoes that are threatening to cross the Channel into Britain. French officials launched the commando operation after insect experts warned that as many as six billion mosquito larvae had started hatching in swampland near the France-Belgium border – less than 100 miles from the south coast of England. Unusually warm, damp weather has brought on the mass hatching.
Alaska polar bear numbers declining - U.S. agency 18 Jun 2009 Polar bear populations in and around Alaska are declining due to continued melting of sea ice and Russian poaching, according to reports released Thursday by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Fewer polar bears have survived in the southern Beaufort Sea, which extends from northern Alaska to parts of Canada, and in the Chukchi and Bering Seas between northwestern Alaska and Russia, the agency's draft population assessments show.
Downing Street sets up support line for MPs distressed over expenses claims --Email sent by No 10 gives Labour MPs switchboard number to ring for support, advice or legal help 18 Jun 2009 Gordon Brown has set up a team in Downing Street to counsel and support distressed Labour MPs facing flak from constituents over their expenses claims, the Guardian has learnt. An internal email sent out by the Labour party to all MPs reveals that a "wellbeing" support line has been launched from No 10. MPs are being told they can ring the Downing Street switchboard to be put through for support and advice.
MPs' expenses: Scotland Yard launch criminal investigations --Scotland Yard has launched criminal investigations into the expenses claims of MPs following disclosures by The Daily Telegraph. 19 Jun 2009 The Metropolitan Police has announced that it will carry out inquiries into a small number of cases in the wake of the MPs’ expenses scandal. The Telegraph understands that they relate to claims based on "phantom mortgages" when an MP has potentially misled the Fees Office.
House panel subpoenas Fed over BofA/Merrill merger 19 Jun 2009 A congressional committee said on Friday it has served the Federal Reserve with a second subpoena for documents related to Bank of America Corp's purchase of Merrill Lynch & Co. The demand from the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee was announced six days before Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is scheduled to testify about the central bank's role in the weeks surrounding the January 1 purchase.
Kansas bank is 40th failure of 2009 19 Jun 2009 Anthony, Kan.-based First National Bank of Anthony became the third bank seized by regulators Friday, marking the 40th bank failure of 2009, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. South Hutchinson, Kan.-based Bank of Kansas has agreed to assume the failed bank's deposits, the regulator said.
Bank failures in Ga., N.C. bring 2009 tally to 39 19 Jun 2009 Bank failures in Georgia and North Carolina have brought the number of failures in 2009 to 39, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. late Friday. Southern Community Bank of Fayetteville, Ga., was the year's seventh bank failure in that state and United Community Bank of Blairsville, Ga., will assume all of the deposits. Cooperative Bank of Wilmington, N.C., became the year's second bank to fail in that state. North Carolina First Bank of Troy, N.C., will assume all Cooperative deposits, except those from brokers.
Calif. unemployment rate hits 11.5 percent 19 Jun 2009 California's unemployment rate climbed to 11.5 percent in May, the highest in modern record-keeping, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Friday. The loss of another 69,000 jobs comes as a blow to the state after unemployment dipped slightly to 11.1 percent in April, according to revised figures.
House Democrats Unveil Plan for Health Care Overhaul 19 Jun 2009 House Democrats on Friday answered President Obama’s call for a sweeping overhaul of the health care system by putting forward a 852-page draft bill that would require all Americans to obtain health insurance, force employers to provide benefits or help pay for them, and create a new public insurance program to compete with private insurers -- a move that Republicans will bitterly oppose.
Bush finally attacks Obama 20 Jun 2009 George Bush has broken his vow of silence on President Barack Obama to attack him over the recession, health reform and Guantanamo in a speech to a business convention. Speaking in Erie, Pennsylvania, Mr Bush argued that health care should be left to private insurance companies... Mr Bush also took a swipe at Mr Obama's planned closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison.
The Senator's Scandal: Text of Doug Hampton's letter to Fox News 19 Jun 2009 Doug Hampton, the husband of Cynthia Hampton, who had an affair with Sen. John Ensign (R-Hypocrite-NV), explains in a letter to a Fox News Channel anchorwoman, Megyn Kelly, how the senator’s affair with his wife has "completely ruined" the couple’s lives. The letter is dated June 11, 2009.
On the Ensign Affair, Fox Dropped the Ball [Faux passes on huge story to protect another GOPervert] 19 Jun 2009 Fox News passed up allegations that Sen. John Ensign had an extramarital affair with his former campaign treasurer, even after receiving a letter from the woman's husband detailing the relationship. After the Nevada Republican acknowledged the affair Tuesday, a Fox producer failed to tell his bosses that he had the letter from Douglas D. Hampton, also a former top aide to the senator, and Fox never reported it.
US hospital staff 'covered up' death 20 Jun 2009 Staffers at a Brooklyn hospital falsified medical records and lied to authorities in an attempt to cover up the neglect of a patient who died on the waiting room floor, according to city investigators. The report by New York's Department of Investigation was released on Friday, exactly one year after the death of Esmin Green, a Jamaican immigrant.
Vienna Man Dies After Bid to Stop Verizon Van 19 Jun 2009 (Washington) A 79-year-old Vienna man who was fed up with his Verizon service died after trying to stop a technician's van from pulling out of his driveway. The man, identified by neighbors as William Cornelius, fell after grabbing the steering wheel of the van late Wednesday afternoon and died hours later at a hospital, police said.
Female grizzly and cub killed by train 09 Jun 2009 Another two of Alberta's grizzly bears have been killed. A mature female grizzly known as Bear #71 and one of her two cubs were hit and killed on the tracks operated by Canadian Pacific Railway on Saturday. The animals were being tracked by Parks Canada officials. Both the mother and her yearling male cub were struck and killed on the tracks about three kilometres east of Canmore.
Previous lead stories: Iraqi Oil Minister accused of mother of all sell-outs --To public fury, the country is handing over control of its fields to foreign companies 18 Jun 2009 Furious protests threaten to undermine the Iraqi government's controversial plan to give international oil companies a stake in its giant oilfields in a desperate effort to raise declining oil production and revenues. In less than two weeks, on 29 and 30 June, the Iraqi Oil Minister, Hussain Shahristani, will award service contracts to the world's largest oil companies to develop six of Iraq's largest oil-producing fields over 20 to 25 years... Iraqis are wary of the involvement of foreign oil companies in raising production in super giant fields like Kirkuk and Bai Hassan in the north and Rumaila, Zubair and West Qurna in the south. They suspect the 2003 US invasion was ultimately aimed at securing Western control of their oil wealth. The nationalisation of the Iraqi oil industry by Saddam Hussein in 1972 remains popular and the rebellion against the service contracts has been gathering pace all this week.
Ex-KBR Worker Convicted In Bribery, Fuel Conspiracy --KBR has received billions of dollars since 2001 [one of the key motives behind the 9/11 inside job] to be a major provider of food and shelter services to U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. 18 Jun 2009 A former employee of KBR Inc. has been convicted on federal charges in a bribery and fuel-diversion scheme at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. Raschad L. "Sean" Lewis was a former fuel-section employee assigned to Bagram, where KBR, a former Halliburton Co. subsidiary known as Kellogg Brown and Root, had a contract to provide support services to the U.S. Army. Lewis was found guilty Wednesday of conspiracy, false writing, bribery of a public official and false claims.
US Senate Committee approves $1.5 billion in Pakistan aid 17 Jun 2009 The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday unanimously passed the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act, (Kerry-Lugar Bill) authorising $1.5 billion annually to the key anti-terror ally for the next five years. The bipartisan measure will now have to pass the full chamber before the Senate and the House of Representative hold a conference to arrive at a reconciled version of the bill. The US House has already passed the bill. [See: Pentagon: Billions in U.S. terror aid to Pakistan diverted 06 Jun 2009; US Pledges Additional $200 Million in Aid to Pakistan 03 Jun 2009; Billions in U.S. Aid to Pakistan Wasted, Officials Assert 24 Dec 2007; US Senate approves Pakistan aid worth $785m 20 Dec 2007.]
. In order to do this efficiently, I've written up a PowerPoint and I show you the slides I'd put up in a board room if someone were foolish enough to ask me to place some bets on how the future's going to work out. Not foolish because I'd be wrong, but maybe foolish because who wants to see this coming?