Breaking: Shooting Terror at Pa. Fitness Center --Gunman Entered Gym, Turned Off Lights and Opened Fire, Witnesses Say 04 Aug 2009 A gunman walked into a Collier Township, Pa., health club tonight, turned out the lights and opened fire, witnesses of the shocking attack said. The shooting left four [five] people dead -- including the shooter -- and 15 wounded, a law enforcement source told ABC News radio.
'CIA and Mossad paying $1,000 to Christian converts in northern Iraq' 04 Aug 2009 Iran's Fars news agency claimed Tuesday that the CIA and the Mossad were actively promoting Christianity in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. According to the report, the Americans and Israelis were offering $1,000 to any youngster willing to convert to Christianity. The news agency further claimed that several Christian organizations had translated the Bible into Kurdish and were distributing them to young Kurds.
In suit, ex-workers accuse Blackwater founder of murder By Bill Sizemore 04 Aug 2009 Two men who worked for Blackwater allege in a federal lawsuit that Blackwater founder Erik Prince or his agents murdered one or more people who were planning to provide information to federal authorities about criminal conduct by the company and its operatives in Iraq. The two are identified in court papers only as "John Doe #1" and "John Doe #2" because, they say, they fear violent retaliation themselves for making the allegations.
Blackwater Founder Implicated in Murder By Jeremy Scahill 04 Aug 2009 A former Blackwater employee and an ex-US Marine who has worked as a security operative for the company have made a series of explosive allegations in sworn statements filed on August 3 in federal court in Virginia. The two men claim that the company's owner, Erik Prince, may have murdered or facilitated the murder of individuals who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company. The former employee also alleges that Prince "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe," and that Prince's companies "encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life."
DynCorp posts profit, raises year outlook 04 Aug 2009 DynCorp International Inc reported a higher quarterly profit on Tuesday and boosted its full-year earnings and revenue outlook, buoyed by defense contract wins to provide support for U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The company said net income came to $20.6 million, or 36 cents a share, for its fiscal first quarter, ended July 3, up 15 percent from nearly $18 million, or 31 cents a share, a year earlier. [See: DynCorp Disgrace By Kelly Patricia O'Meara 14 Jan 2002 Middle-aged men having sex with 12- to 15-year-olds was too much for Ben Johnston, a hulking 6-foot-5-inch Texan, and more than a year ago he blew the whistle on his employer, DynCorp, a U.S. contracting company doing business in Bosnia.]
'I have been concerned about the situation in detention centres.' U.N. envoy concerned at Afghanistan jail conditions 02 Aug 2009 The U.N. special envoy expressed concern on Sunday over the conditions in detention centres in Afghanistan, saying they must be brought up to international standards to prevent further radicalisation of detainees. Kai Eide, U.N. secretary-general Ban Ki-moon's special envoy to Afghanistan, said he had visited one facility in the capital Kabul and planned to visit several more, including the prison at Bagram, the main U.S. military base. Bagram prison has become a symbol of detainee abuses for Afghans after the deaths of two detainees in 2002.
Military Lawyer Claims U.S. Paid Gitmo Prosecution Witnesses --Defense Attorneys Say Afghan Eyewitnesses Received Cash or Gifts From the U.S. Government By Daphne Eviatar 04 Aug 2009 In a startling accusation, defense lawyers in the case of an adolescent arrested and brought to Guantanamo Bay six years ago claim the Justice Department may bring a criminal case against the young man based on testimony from witnesses paid by the U.S. government for their cooperation. Mohammed Jawad was as young as 12 when he was arrested by Afghan police in 2002 and accused of throwing a grenade at U.S. soldiers. Although he confessed to the crime after Afghan officials threatened to kill him and his family, his statements were later ruled inadmissible by two U.S. judges because they were coerced.
Air Force: New 3-star in charge of Mideast command 04 Aug 2009 The Air Force is putting a new three-star general in charge of its forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and moving him from the United States to the front as the conflict in Afghanistan heats up. The Air Force's top commander told Congress last month a change was needed to increase the service's focus on the air wars in the region amid intensifying operations in Afghanistan.
Air Force in A-stan: Still Dropping Bombs By Nathan Hodge 04 Aug 2009 The sign on the door makes it plain: "The mission is an 18 yr old with a rifle. All else is support." Gen. Stanley McChrystal made clear in his recent tactical directive that commanders should weigh requests for close air support very carefully. But as that sign on the door at the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing in Bagram makes clear, the U.S. Air Force is still in the business of dropping bombs and firing cannon rounds.
British soldier killed in southern Afghanistan 04 Aug 2009 A bomb blast has killed a British soldier in southern Afghanistan, as casualties continue to rise for UK troops. The British Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday that the serviceman died while on a vehicle patrol in Babaji in Helmand province.
Israelis arrested for laundering US tax monies 03 Aug 2009 Israeli police arrested seven Israeli and American citizens Monday on suspicion that they laundered tens of millions of dollars in U.S. tax dollars to Israeli bank accounts. According to the charges, the men forged tax documents in order to steal money intended for U.S. federal prisoners and transferred them to bank accounts in Israel.
Iran: US nationals nabbed over 'illegal entry' 04 Aug 2009 Iran's security officials confirm the arrest of three American nationals in Western city of Marivan, charging the detainees with "illegal entry". "The three, who have not been identified yet, were arrested on the Malakh-Khur border area in Marivan," Iraj Hassanzadeh, the deputy governor of Kurdistan for political-security affairs, told Fars news agency. Colonel Anwar Haj Omar of the Halabja police force in northern Iraq linked the three Americans to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), according to Voices of Iraq.
2 American journalists en route to US with Bill Clinton 05 Aug 2009 His mission accomplished, former President Bill Clinton left Pyongyang early Wednesday accompanied by American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling after North Korean leader Kim Jong Il pardoned the women from their 12-year prison sentences. Clinton and the two Californians were flying back to the U.S., his spokesman Matt McKenna said, less than 24 hours after the former US leader landed in the North Korean capital on a private, humanitarian trip to secure their release.
DPRK releases two American journalists 05 Aug 2009 The two American female journalists captured on March 17 and sentenced to 12 years of "labor reform" in June by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were granted an amnesty and released during former U.S. president Bill Clinton's visit to the country, the official KCNA news agency reported on Wednesday. "The measure taken to release the American journalists is a manifestation of the DPRK's humanitarian and peace-loving policy," the KCNA report said.
More Sydney terror plot charges 05 Aug 2009 Three more men have been charged in Australia with plotting a suicide attack on an army base, police say. They were charged over the alleged plan to storm Sydney's Holsworthy base - the same offence with which another suspect had been charged earlier. The four men were arrested in massive police raids in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Terror suspect to face prolonged grilling 04 Aug 2009 Prosecutors in Melbourne have been granted extra time to question a man they believe is involved in a terrorism plot. Saney Aweyz was arrested at 4.45am (AEST) during a police swoop on a number of properties across Melbourne and Victoria's southwest today. Australian Federal Police (AFP) agent David Kinton told Melbourne Magistrates' Court Aweyz was among five people arrested during the counter-terrorism raids.
Australian police discover terror plot against army base 04 Aug 2009 Australian police have arrested four men, all Australian citizens of Somali and Lebanese descent, for allegedly plotting to attack a military base in the city of Melbourne. Over 400 police officers were involved in the search operation of 19 homes across the city early on Tuesday to arrest the suspects, who are accused of planning to stage a guerilla attack on Holsworthy Barracks, a major military installation in western Sydney.
NYPD, Coast Guard Hold Terror Drill --Drill to see how officers from different agencies work together 04 Aug 2009 NYPD and Coast Guard boats were out in force Tuesday searching the waters near the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge for a simulated dirty bomb in a maritime counter-terrorism exercise. The drill, part of the "Securing the Cities" program, was a coordinated effort to see how 150 officers from seven agencies could work together to track and 'stop' a vessel carrying a dirty bomb.
4th plague patient near death in NW China province 05 Aug 2009 Another pneumonic plague patient is near death and one is in serious condition in the town of Ziketan, in Xinghai county in the Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, health authorities said Tuesday. The prefecture is located in northwestern China's Qinghai Province. The disease has already killed three villagers.
Homeland Secretary Napolitano predicts severe flu epidemic for fall 04 Aug 2009 U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano asserted Tuesday that pandemic flu is likely to flare up soon after schools open in the fall, well before any vaccine is available. Napolitano also acknowledged that there would not be enough pandemic flu vaccine for everyone, at least in the early stages of the flu season. "There will be prioritization of vaccinations," she told members of the USA TODAY editorial board.
Glaxo: 9 more countries order swine flu vaccine 04 Aug 2009 Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline says that nine additional countries have ordered 96 million doses of swine flu vaccine since last month. That is in addition to the 195 million vaccine doses and products previously ordered by countries including Britain and the U.S., for a total of 291 million doses.
New York State makes flu shots compulsory despite nurses opposition --Association called council's action "scorched earth" approach 01 Aug 2009 The New York State Nurses Association has strongly opposed a regulation that would require every healthcare worker in the state to be immunized for influenza. Despite these objections, the New York State Hospital Planning and Review Council has adopted the proposal as an emergency rule that could go into effect before this winter’s flu season. The rule affects all healthcare personnel, both paid and unpaid, who interact with patients... In its testimony, the association called the council’s action a "scorched earth" approach. [Refuse and Resist Mandatory Flu Vaccines --Sign petition!]
515 new A/H1N1 cases confirmed in Europe 05 Aug 2009 A European health agency said Tuesday that 515 new A/H1N1 flu cases were reported in European countries within the last 24 hours. The total number of confirmed cases of the A/H1N1 flu virus in the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries rose to 27,892, with 1,538 cases in Spain and 11,912 in Britain, 719 in France and 7,177 in Germany, the ECDC said.
Right-Wing Harassment Strategy Against Dems Detailed In Memo: 'Yell,' 'Stand Up And Shout Out,' 'Rattle Him' By Lee Fang 31 Jul 2009 This morning, Politico reported that Democratic members of Congress are increasingly being harassed by "angry, sign-carrying mobs and disruptive behavior" at local town halls. For example, in one incident, right-wing protesters surrounded Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) and forced police officers to have to escort him to his car for safety... Missing from the reporting of these stories is the fact that much of these protests are coordinated by public relations firms and lobbyists who have a stake in opposing President Obama’s reforms.
Legislators for sale --Members of Congress are failing to represent their constituents in the health care fight By Keith Olbermann 03 Aug 2009 We don't need to call the Democrats holding this up Blue Dogs. That one word "Dogs" is perfectly sufficient... I warn you all. You were not elected to create a Democratic majority. You were elected to restore this country. You were not elected to serve the corporations and the trusts who the government has enabled for the last eight years. You were elected to serve the people. And if you fail to pass or support this legislation, the full wrath of the progressive and the moderate movements in this country will come down on your heads... They elected you, and in the blink of an eye, they will replace you. If you will behave as if you are Republicans -- as if you are the prostitutes of our system -- you will be judged as such. And you will lose not merely our respect. You will lose your jobs!
Feds see biggest tax revenue drop since 1932 --Recession's toll comes as Congress and president try to fund programs 03 Aug 2009 The recession is starving the government of tax revenue, just as the president and Congress are piling a major expansion of health care and other programs on the nation's plate and struggling to find money to pay the tab. Tax receipts are on pace to drop 18 percent this year, the biggest single-year decline since the Great Depression, while the federal deficit balloons to a record $1.8 trillion.
Senate to vote on $2 billion for 'clunkers' after GOP caves 04 Aug 2009 The Senate will approve another $2 billion for the popular "cash for clunkers" program, probably by the end of the week, confident Democrats predicted Tuesday as Republican efforts to block the funding faded. "We'll pass cash for clunkers. Before we leave here," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "The vast majority will be voting for this," added Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.
Rough year for turtle hatchlings 04 Aug 2009 Dozens of sea turtle nests are hatching now, but street and residential lights are drawing hundreds of them away from the water, according Mote Marine Laboratory. Volunteers have already found nearly 2,000 hatchlings crawling toward homes and busy streets, instead of following the moon to the Gulf of Mexico, a figure one scientist called alarming.
Previous lead stories: Barack Obama faces 30 death threats a day, stretching US Secret Service 03 Aug 2009 US President Barack Obama is the target of more than 30 potential death threats a day and is being protected by an increasingly over-stretched and under-resourced Secret Service, according to a new book. Since Mr Obama took office, the rate of threats against the president has increased 400 per cent from the 3,000 a year or so under President [sic] George W. Bush, according to Ronald Kessler, author of In the President's Secret Service. Some threats to Mr Obama have been publicised, including an alleged plot by white supremacists in Tennessee late last year to rob a gun store, shoot 88 black people, decapitate another 14 and then assassinate the first black president in American history.
Canada: New political powers to quarantine, invoke other measures, may be tested in flu outbreak --The top health official can now quarantine the ill, interview anyone who has been in contact with a sick person and do anything else that could help prevent the spread of a virus. 02 Aug 2009 A resurgence of swine flu anticipated this fall could test new provincial powers that include being able to place sick people under quarantine in their homes and shut down schools. If Arlene King, Ontario's chief medical health officer, believes people's health is at risk, she has the power to "investigate the situation and take such action as he or she considers appropriate to prevent, eliminate or decrease the risk." That could include closing schools, isolating the ill and forcing others to undergo medical exams. British Columbia brought in a new public health act last year which was described as giving health officials "stronger powers to protect the public against communicable diseases such as pandemic influenza." Under the new act, the province can order vaccinations or examinations and quarantine people. Health officials can also enforce the act using peace officers, warrants and even court orders.
MPs and peers call for inquiry into torture 04 Aug 2009 Democratic accountability of the security and intelligence agencies is "woefully deficient" and an independent inquiry must be set up to investigate numerous and detailed allegations of their complicity in torture, a cross-party group of senior MPs and peers will say today. In a stinging report, prompted in large part by disclosures in the Guardian, they say that in view of the detailed allegations, ministers can no longer get away with repeating standard denials. The MPs say the government must immediately publish instructions given to MI5 and MI6 officers on the detention and interrogation of suspects abroad.
