US drone targets northwest Pakistan 23 Jun 2009 A US drone has fired a missile into a base of Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud in northwest Pakistan, killing at least three people. "We have received reports of a drone attack near Makeen and we are checking how many people were killed or wounded," a Pakistani military official said Tuesday, referring to an area in the South Waziristan near the Afghan border where Tehrik-i-Taliban's leader Baitullah Mehsud is based.
Al Qaeda says would use Pakistani nuclear weapons 22 Jun 2009 If it were in a position to do so, Al Qaeda [al-CIAduh] would use Pakistan's nuclear weapons in its fight against the United States, a top leader of the group said in remarks aired Sunday. "God willing, the nuclear weapons will not fall into the hands of the Americans and the mujahideen would take them and use them against the Americans," Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, the leader of al Qaeda's in Afghanistan, said in an interview with Al Jazeera television.
US owes Pakistan $1bn for NATO fuel supply: Haroon 21 Jun 2009 The United States owes Pakistan $1 billion for fuel supplies to the NATO forces in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Abdullah Hussain Haroon said on Saturday. According to a private TV channel, the envoy told reporters that out of the $10 billion given to Pakistan by Washington, $6 billion had been spent on 'fighting' terrorism.
Public grilling for Gordon Brown and Tony Blair in Iraq inquiry --Evidence to be heard in private if could jeopardise national security or upset allies 23 Jun 2009 Gordon Brown and Tony Blair face being questioned in public over their roles in the run-up to the Iraq war after the chairman of the independent inquiry indicated that he is to summon the prime minister and his predecessor to give evidence. In a setback for Brown, who had hoped the inquiry would be held in private, Sir John Chilcot has ruled that all witnesses will be expected to give evidence in public. This will apply across the board unless there are "compelling reasons" in a small number of cases for evidence to be heard in private. This would be if evidence could jeopardise national security or upset allies.
US urges Gulf states to support Iraq, counter Iran 23 Jun 2009 US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Tuesday that Gulf states needed to lend support to Iraq in the face of efforts by Iran to "destabilize" the [US-installed] Baghdad government. Gates accused Iran of helping groups attacking Iraqi government targets as part of a broad campaign to influence the direction of its western neighbor. [Holy shock and awe, Batman! The US government is admonishing other nations for 'destabilizing' the government of Iraq!]
Obama Assails Iron Fist in Iran Against Protesters 24 Jun 2009 President Obama hardened his tone toward Iran on Tuesday, condemning the government for its crackdown against election protesters and accusing Iran’s leaders of fabricating charges against the United States. In his strongest comments since the crisis erupted 10 days ago, Mr. Obama used unambiguous language to assail the Iranian government during a news conference at the White House, calling himself "appalled and outraged by the threats, beatings and imprisonments of the past few days." ['Appalled and outraged.' I am appalled and outraged by the torture and abuse carried out at Guantanamo Bay (still open), Bagram, and other CIA black ops sites. Also, I am appalled and outraged that Raytheon built a pain ray gun for the US to use against protesters. --LRP]
Iran parliament meets to discuss UK ties 23 Jun 2009 Iranian lawmakers have met to discuss relations with Britain as tensions continue to grow between the two countries following Iran's presidential election. In a Tuesday meeting, also attended by Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, the Parliament's national security and foreign policy commission called for reconsidering ties with Britain.
BBC is backing election riots, claims Iran --Iran threatening harsher action if interference in country's affairs continues 23 Jun 2009 The Iranian foreign ministry has accused the BBC and Voice of America of being mouthpieces of their respective governments and seeking to engineer the ongoing riots that followed the presidential election. Another Iranian ministry also threatened to take "more stern action" against British radio and television networks if they "continued to interfere" in the country's domestic affairs.
Iran ex-monarch's son asks Israel to back rioters 23 Jun 2009 The ousted Shah of Iran [Grade A sociopath, installed by the US in a coup] Mohammad-Reza Pahlavi's son urges Israel to support post-election riots in Iran to bring down the government of Tehran. Reza Pahlavi, who is seen as a promising figure in pushing for a change of the government in Iran, told Maariv that Israel should back up recently sparked riots in Iran following the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the next president of the country.
Iran's Web Spying Aided By Western Technology --European Gear Used in Vast Effort to Monitor Communications 23 Jun 2009 The Iranian government has developed, with the assistance of European telecommunications companies, one of the world's most sophisticated mechanisms for controlling and censoring the Internet... The monitoring capability was provided, at least in part, by a joint venture of Siemens AG, the German conglomerate, and Nokia Corp., the Finnish cellphone company, in the second half of 2008, Ben Roome, a spokesman for the joint venture, confirmed.
Iran says courts will teach protesters a lesson 23 Jun 2009 Iranian authorities said they would teach an exemplary lesson to rioters held in the worst unrest since the birth of the Islamic Republic, and accused Western powers on Tuesday of inciting the violence. [Yeah, it could be worse: They could be sitting in a US prison (Guantanamo Bay, Bagram) with no hope of a trial. --LRP]
Interior Ministry rejects Mousavi irregularity claims 23 Jun 2009 Iran's Interior Ministry has dismissed claims by the defeated candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi that certain irregularities took place in the June 12 election. In response to Mousavi's letter to the Guardian Council, the Interior Ministry rejected any irregularities in the presidential election, which saw incumbent President Ahmadinejad win with almost 25 million votes out of 40 million.
Mousavi, Celebrated in Iranian Protests, Was Butcher of Beirut By Jeff Stein 22 Jun 2009 He may yet turn out to be the avatar of Iranian democracy [sic], but three decades ago Mir-Hossein Mousavi was waging a terrorist war on the United States that included bloody attacks on the U.S. embassy and Marine Corps barracks in Beirut. Mousavi, prime minister for most of the 1980s, personally selected his point man for the Beirut terror campaign, Ali Akbar Mohtashemi-pur, and dispatched him to Damascus as Iran's ambassador, according to former CIA and military officials.
Israel, US bridge gaps over fighter jet 24 Jun 2009 A deal is close to completion for the purchase of the F-35 stealth fighter jet after the Defense Ministry and the Pentagon recently reached understandings on a number of IAF demands to integrate Israeli technology into the plane. The apparent breakthrough was made following a series of visits to Washington recently by OC Air Force Maj.-Gen. Ido Nehushtan and IAF Equipment and Procurement head Brig.-Gen. Kobi Bortman. Last week, Defense Minister Ehud Barak met with top officials from Lockheed Martin - the F-35 manufacturer - on the sidelines of the Paris Air Show.
Doctors demand Yoram Blachar resign as ethics chief over Israeli torture 21 Jun 2009 More than 700 doctors from 43 countries have written a letter of protest to their governing ethical body, the World Medical Association, alleging that its recently appointed Israeli president has turned a blind eye to the involvement of medical staff in torture, and calling for his removal. Dr Yoram Blachar, leader of the Israeli Medical Association since 1995, assumed the helm of the WMA in November. The signatories to the letter, who include senior doctors and professors from the UK, Europe and the US, claim he has failed to answer charges that some Israeli doctors condone or collaborate with a regime that uses torture against Palestinian prisoners.
Israel defies US with plan for 240 new homes on Palestinian land --Ehud Barak approved construction in West Bank 23 Jun 2009 Israel's defence ministry has proposed legalising 60 existing homes at a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, and building another 240 homes at the site, despite US calls for a halt to settlement growth. Construction at the outpost, known as Water Reservoir Hill, near the Talmon settlement, north of Ramallah, would "greatly damage" the freedom of movement of Palestinian farmers in the area, according to Bimkom, an Israeli planning rights group.
'US officials are taking a position that defies common sense.' US judge orders Guantanamo prisoner released 23 Jun 2009 A US federal judge has ordered a Guantanamo detainee who was reportedly tortured, imprisoned and abandoned by al Qaeda and the Taliban released. The US government had argued that even though Abd Al Rahim Abdul Rassak was tortured by al Qaeda as a suspected Western spy, held by the Taliban for a year and a half and then abandoned, he was still allied with his tormentors. US District Court Judge Richard Leon, however, rejected the prosecutor's claims in his ruling, which even included punctuation marks as an extra guarantee. "I disagree… [US officials are] taking a position that defies common sense," wrote the judge in a 13-page written decision.
Ottawa appeals Omar Khadr court order 23 Jun 2009 The courts should not interfere with political decisions and force Prime Minister Stephen Harper to ask for Guantanamo Bay prisoner Omar Khadr's return, governments lawyers argued in a special appeals court hearing yesterday. Justice Department lawyer Doreen Mueller conceded that she couldn't "point to any risks" in seeking the Toronto-born captive's return, but that the court could not overturn the government's foreign affairs decisions.
Gov't. lawyers to argue against Khadr's return 22 Jun 2009 Far from being indifferent to the plight of Omar Khadr, the Canadian government has already gone well beyond its duty in helping the Canadian terror suspect, federal lawyers will argue Tuesday in the Federal Court of Appeal. The Conservative government will ask an appeal panel to overturn a court order to press the United States for Khadr's return from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where the 22-year-old Toronto native has been detained for almost seven years.
WWIII? British Release Secret Planning Manual 23 Jun 2009 It's October 1968... and a nuclear showdown looms between east and west. This scenario never happened -- except in planning exercises by British civil servants, who meticulously rehearsed how they would govern Britain in the days before, and after, World War III. The details are included in the "War Book," a secret Cold War manual declassified this month for the first time. The book, which featured the doomsday scenario in a 1970 version, is a step-by-step guide for dealing with a crisis, from the first stages of conflict to "R hour," the designation for the release of all Britain's nuclear weapons.
Swine flu tolls leaps past 52,000 cases 23 Jun 2009 The World Health Organisation on Monday reported a huge leap in the swine flu pandemic toll to more than 52,000 people infected and 231 dead. The toll has risen by more than 7,873 cases and 51 deaths since Friday, highlighting the steady spread of the A(H1N1) virus. Swine flu has now been reported in 100 countries and territories.
Obama gives backing to Kansas Republican's ridiculed plan 23 Jun 2009 He probably won't show it, but Sen. Pat Roberts might be feeling a bit smug lately. Because it wasn't too long ago that the Kansas Republican took a pretty sharp elbow from a nonprofit government-watchdog group over a scholarship program he set up to train future intelligence officers. It turns out, though, that he might have been something of a visionary. The Obama administration likes his scholarship so much that it wants to expand it, make the program permanent and provide regular funding. No more earmarks.
Homeland security kills domestic satellite program 23 Jun 2009 Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano killed a program begun by the Bush regime that would use U.S. spy satellites for domestic security and law enforcement. After consulting local officials, Napolitano said the department should focus on other priorities to help share information with state and local law enforcement agencies.
Australian Greens Move to Scrap 'Extreme' Anti-Terrorism Laws 23 Jun 2009 The Australian Greens party is pushing to repeal an anti-terrorism law introduced by former Prime Minister John Howard’s government, saying it was rushed through Parliament and undermines human rights. Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said aspects of the law are "extreme," vaguely worded and undemocratic and he will introduce legislation today to scrap them.
'The agency can go after bloggers.' FTC plans to monitor blogs for 'false claims,' payments --The common practice of posting a graphical ad or a link to an online retailer -- and getting commissions for any sales from it -- would be enough to trigger oversight. 22 Jun 2009 Bloggers vary in how they disclose such freebies [as payment for on-line product reviews], if they do so at all. The practice has grown to the degree that the Federal Trade Commission is paying attention. New guidelines, expected to be approved late this summer with possible modifications, would clarify that the agency can go after bloggers -- as well as the companies that compensate them -- for any false claims or failure to disclose conflicts of interest. It would be the first time the FTC tries to patrol systematically what bloggers say and do online.
Tax evasion we can believe in: Settlement Anticipated in UBS Case --In February, UBS agreed to pay $780 million to settle accusations that it had defrauded the Internal Revenue Service by allowing wealthy Americans to hide billions of dollars in taxes in secret offshore bank accounts. 23 Jun 2009 The 'Justice' Department may drop a closely watched legal case aimed at forcing the Swiss bank UBS to divulge the names of 52,000 wealthy American clients suspected of offshore tax evasion, a United States official briefed on the matter said Monday. The move, which would halt an unusually aggressive effort to force Switzerland to lift its veil of banking secrecy, could happen by mid-July. The reversal comes as UBS and senior Swiss government officials have mounted a fierce lobbying campaign to persuade Washington to drop the case.
Ensign apologizes to Senate colleagues over affair 23 Jun 2009 Sen. John Ensign apologized to his Republican Senate colleagues Tuesday after revealing last week that he had an affair with a campaign staffer and resigning from the GOP leadership. "He spoke at our conference, apologized and indicated that he was going to do his job," Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky told reporters.
Computer failure may have caused D.C. train crash 23 Jun 2009 Investigators looking into the deadly crash of two Metro transit trains focused Tuesday on why a computerized system failed to halt an oncoming train, even though there is evidence that the operator tried to slow it down. At the time of the crash, the train was also operating in automatic mode, meaning it was controlled primarily by computer.
Previous lead stories: Obama says US is prepared for North Korean attack 22 Jun 2009 US President Barack Obama says America is "fully prepared" for any action by North Korea. Pyongyang has declared itself "a proud nuclear power" that would hurt the US if provoked. The White House has increased its protection for Hawaii amid speculation that North Korea is preparing a long range missile test in the direction of the Pacific island - possibly on July the 4th.
Agents say DEA is forcing them illegally to work in Afghanistan 21 Jun 2009 As the Obama administration ramps up the Drug Enforcement Administration's presence in Afghanistan, some special-agent pilots contend that they're being illegally forced to go to a combat zone, while others who've volunteered say they're not being properly equipped. In interviews with McClatchy, more than a dozen DEA agents describe a badly managed system in which some pilots have been sent to Afghanistan under duress or as punishment for bucking their superiors.
Senator Slams General's Torture Testimony --Calls Commander's Answers 'Incomplete, at Best' 17 Jun 2009 Obama's new pick to oversee U.S. forces in Afghanistan misled Congress about his role in the use of so-called "enhanced interrogation" by U.S. Special Operations forces in 2003 and 2004, a senior Democratic senator has charged. Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI) said late last week that then-Special Operations commander [Grade A sociopath] Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal was not direct with lawmakers at his confirmation hearing regarding his approval of harsh interrogations torture by personnel under his control.
