Iraq confirms first death from A/H1N1 09 Aug 2009 The Iraqi Ministry of Health confirmed that the death of a teenage girl several days ago in the city of Najaf was due to A/H1N1 virus, the state-run newspaper al-Sabah reported on Sunday. "The medical tests at Baghdad's public health laboratories confirmed that the girl in Najaf, some 160 km south of Baghdad, has died from the A/H1N1 flu," Ihsan Jaafar, spokesman of the Iraqi Health Ministry, was quoted as saying.
Swine flu outbreak suspected in military prison --Soldiers at IDF's Prison Four say 15 sick inmates held in isolation, army fails to provide proper treatment. IDF denied claims 08 Aug 2009 In recent days Ynet has received dozens of reports from soldiers and their parents about a swine flu outbreak in the IDF's Confinement Base 394, more commonly know as Prison Four. According to the reports, 15 of the soldiers held at the prison have been isolated from the rest of the inmates due to suspicion they have contracted the H1N1 virus. A phone conversation with one of the inmates revealed a grim picture. "What goes on here is a catastrophe."
Suffolk County man, an NYPD cop, dies after contracting swine flu 07 Aug 2009 A young New York City police officer who lived in Blue Point died Friday after contracting swine flu, officials said. Ryan Johnson, 27, of the 83rd Precinct in Brooklyn, is the eighth person in Suffolk whose death is linked to swine flu, the Suffolk County Health Department said.
Premier hospital's swine flu detection head quarantined 08 Aug 2009 The head of the swine flu screening centre at the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital and a junior colleague have been put under home quarantine for suspected influenza A (H1N1). "I am now home quarantined for two days," S K Sharma, chief medical officer of the swine flu detection centre at the premium government-run hospital said.
Over 260 new A/H1N1 flu cases confirmed in Europe 09 Aug 2009 A European health agency said on Saturday that 261 new A/H1N1 flu cases were reported in European countries within the last 24 hours. Of the new cases, 199 were confirmed in Ireland, 24 in Portugal,14 in Austria, nine in Switzerland, eight in Slovenia, and seven in Romania, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control(ECDC) said in its daily situation report.
Obama attending first US-Canada-Mexico summit, will discuss pandemic 09 Aug 2009 As President Barack Obama returns to Mexico, the swine flu that spread from here across the world is increasingly back in the news -- and at the top of the agenda of at a lightning-quick, three-way summit Sunday and Monday in Guadalajara. Obama, Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will try to build on that earlier cooperation to handle an expected new wave of cases during North America's upcoming flu season. John Brennan, Obama's chief homeland security aide, said the talks are timely -- and crucial, given the long 'borders' the U.S. shares with Mexico and Canada... "There are people who are going to be getting sick in the fall and die," Brennan said.
Baxter not to provide anti-swine flu vaccine to Czechs --Czech Health Ministry: Baxter unable to guarantee vaccine is safe, won't be responsible for its side-effects 03 Aug 2009 The U.S. pharmaceutical firm Baxter which manufactures a vaccine against the swine flu in its Czech branch will not ensure the vaccine for the Czech Republic in the case of a pandemic, Baxter media representative Jana Cechova told CTK today. "No contract for the delivery of the vaccines A(H1N1) between Baxter and the Czech Republic has been concluded," Cechova said. The server tn.cz writes that the Czech Health Ministry has explained its stopping the talks with Baxter by the firm's inability to guarantee that the vaccine is safe and who will bear the risks for possible side-effects. [See: Baxter: The 'Lucky Larry' of swine flu Baxter Vaccine 'Oddities' 17 Jul 2009.]
'The Government has drawn up drastic plans to immunise every schoolchild in the UK.' Fears As Pupils Get Swine Flu Jab 07 Aug 2009 Parents' fears were growing last night over plans to use Britain's 8.5 million schoolchildren as guinea pigs for swine flu vaccinations. The Government has drawn up drastic plans to immunise every schoolchild in the UK. In the biggest mass vaccination since the 1964 operation against smallpox, school nurses, health visitors and GPs would deliver the injections to five to 16-year-olds at all 33,700 schools. But there are serious concerns as little or no data exists on the safety or effectiveness of flu vaccines on young children.
Sanofi starts swine flu shot trial, files with FDA 08 Aug 2009 Sanofi-Aventis, the world leader in flu immunisation, said on Friday it started human testing of its H1N1 swine flu vaccine on Aug. 6 and filed a supplemental licence application with U.S. regulators. The French drugmaker's vaccine unit Sanofi Pasteur had told Reuters on Tuesday tests would begin "in days"... Sales of vaccines to contain the[ir] current swine flu pandemic are expected to provide a windfall for the global drugs industry, leading to billions of dollars in additional revenues in late 2009 and early 2010, according to industry analysts.
Afghan war will exceed cost of Iraq, say experts 10 Aug 2009 As the US expands its involvement in Afghanistan, military experts are warning that it is taking on security and political commitments that will last at least a decade and a cost that is likely to eclipse that of the Iraq war. This assessment follows comments on Saturday from the new head of the British Army, General David Richards, who believes stabilising Afghanistan may take as long as 40 years. Since the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 the US has spent $US223 billion ($267 million) on war-related funding for that country, according to the Congressional Research Service. 'Aid' spending, excluding the cost of combat operations, has grew from $US982 million in 2003 to $US9.3 billion last year.
Afghanistan could take 40 years, says new army chief --General Sir David Richards says UK involvement will last decades 08 Aug 2009 The new head of the British army warned today that the UK's involvement in Afghanistan could last for up to 40 years, as the Ministry of Defence announced that three British soldiers working with special forces had been killed in a roadside ambush. The latest military losses in Afghanistan came as the army's incoming head, General Sir David Richards, predicted that British involvement in the country could last up to 40 years. Richards, who will become Chief of the General Staff later this month, told the Times: "I believe that the UK will be committed to Afghanistan in some manner – development, governance, security sector reform – for the next 30 to 40 years."
New Obusha money pit: US, UK to spend millions to persuade Afghan farmers 'not' to plant opium poppy 08 Aug 2009 The U.S. and British governments plan to spend millions of dollars over the next two months to try to persuade Afghan farmers not to plant opium poppy, by far the country's most profitable cash crop and a major source of Taliban US mercenary funding and official corruption. "We need a way to get money in [farmers'] hands right away," said a senior U.S. military official in Afghanistan... But many previous U.S.-funded crop-substitution programs have failed as well, from Asia to Latin America.
Afghan Bomb Explosion Kills NATO Soldier in Country’s South 09 Aug 2009 A bomb explosion in southern Afghanistan killed a North Atlantic Treaty Organization soldier, the coalition force said in an e-mailed statement. The soldier, belonging to the International Security Assistance Force and whose identity was not disclosed, died in the explosion yesterday, according to the statement.
Taliban commander denies Mehsud dead: report 08 Aug 2009 A fellow commander in the Pakistani Taliban insisted that Baitullah Mehsud, the movement's leader, was alive, the BBC reported on Saturday, rejecting government claims he had been eliminated in a U.S. drone strike. Hakimullah Mehsud, one of the most powerful commanders in the tribal region, described reports of Mehsud's death as "ridiculous" and said it was "the handiwork of the intelligence agencies," the BBC Urdu service website said. [It usually is. Where do you think Mehsud came from in the first place?]
Australian and British mercenaries killed in Iraq 10 Aug 2009 An Australian mercenary has been killed in a shooting in the Green Zone in Baghdad, reportedly by a colleague at a private security firm. Darren Hoare was killed alongside a Briton, Paul McGuigan, while working for ArmorGroup Iraq. The Washington Post reported that the alleged gunman, Danny Fitzsimmons, also shot an Iraqi as he tried to flee. The Iraqi was critically wounded, a spokesman at the Interior Ministry said. Mr Fitzsimmons, a Briton, was taken into custody by Iraqi authorities.
Dozens dead in renewed Iraq violence 08 Aug 2009 A series of [Xe?] bomb attacks in the Iraqi city of Mosul and the capital Baghdad killed at least 35 people Friday. The worst explosion occurred near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, where eyewitnesses say a car-bomb packed with explosives killed more than two dozen worshippers at a mosque.
US Army finds Iraq electrocution death accidental 08 Aug 2009 The U.S. Army has found that the death of Staff Sergeant Ryan Maseth, who was electrocuted while showering at a Baghdad base in January 2008, was accidental, the Defense Department said on Friday. A Senate panel had said in May that the electrocution of Maseth, as well as three other soldiers and a contractor, was linked to wiring work carried out by engineering company and military contractor [terrorists] KBR Inc.
US attorney general 'to probe CIA torture case' 09 Aug 2009 The US attorney general is likely to name a criminal prosecutor to probe if CIA officials used harsh interrogation methods against terror suspects, a report says. A senior Justice Department official said that Eric Holder envisioned an inquiry that would be "narrow" in scope, focusing on "whether people went beyond the [illegal] techniques that were authorized" in Bush administration memos that liberally interpreted anti-torture laws, the Los Angeles Times reported on Saturday.
Criminal investigation into CIA treatment of detainees expected 09 Aug 2009 U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. is poised to appoint a criminal prosecutor to investigate alleged CIA abuses committed during the interrogation of terrorism suspects, current and former U.S. government officials said... Current and former CIA and Justice Department officials who have firsthand knowledge of the interrogation files contend that criminal convictions will be difficult to obtain because the quality of evidence is poor and the legal underpinnings have never been tested.
'US showed support for protesters in Iran' 09 Aug 2009 US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Washington was trying 'behind the scenes' to empower protesters disputing Iran's presidential election. In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Clinton said the US did not openly support demonstrators since it did not want to act in a way that would allow the Iranian leadership to use the US support to unify the Iranian nation against the protesters.
Israel planned Iran strike during unrest: Report 09 Aug 2009 As Iran was grappling with the post-election unrest, Israel was reportedly preparing to strike the country's nuclear facilities, a US diplomatic source says. According to a US diplomat based in Jerusalem (al Quds), Israel asked the US administration for a green light to attack Iran's nuclear facilities and its other vital structures in the aftermath of the country's post-election turmoil.
UK warns Iran over trial 'provocation' 08 Aug 2009 British Foreign Minister David Miliband warns that the trial of an employee of the British Embassy in Tehran over the post-vote unrest is deemed as a "provocation." "I am deeply concerned by the unjustified charges today laid against Hossein Rassam in Tehran," Miliband said Saturday. "The charges are unjustified and have brought discredit to Iran."
US steadies the hand on its nuclear trigger 10 Aug 2009 The US Air Force has opened a Global Strike Command responsible for nuclear forces after two serious mishaps raised doubts about the supervision of the country's atomic weapons. The opening of the command on Friday marks a shake-up that followed the botched handling of nuclear weapons and the subsequent sacking of the air force's top civilian and military leaders last year. The command, located at Barksdale Air Force base in Louisiana, will combine nuclear-capable B-52 and B-2 bombers as well as the intercontinental ballistic missile force, which had previously been under the Air Force Space Command in Colorado.
Climate change excuse for US military intervention? --Pandemics would trigger conflicts that could dent local governments thus necessitating US military intervention 09 Aug 2009 Future climate change may force US military involvement abroad with Washington saying it has to intervene to defend power structures hardest hit by climate change. The aftereffects of the changes like wholesale population movements and pandemics would trigger conflicts that could dent local governments thus necessitating US military intervention, said the New York Times on Saturday quoting military and intelligence pundits.
Climate Change Seen as Threat to U.S. Security 09 Aug 2009 The changing global climate will pose profound strategic challenges to the United States in coming decades, raising the prospect of military intervention to deal with the effects of violent storms, drought, mass migration and pandemics, military and intelligence analysts say. Such climate-induced crises could topple governments, feed terrorist movements or destabilize entire regions, say the analysts, experts at the Pentagon and intelligence agencies who for the first time are taking a serious look at the national security implications of climate change.
Teabaggers Bring Guns to Cohen Health Care Event By Jane Hamsher 08 Aug 2009 According to accounts from the Steve Cohen health care event in Memphis, Tennessee, the teabaggers are showing up armed. Steve Steffens wrote, "Randy Wade is to be complimented as well; he arranged for security. There were actually idiots who brought guns (legally, it seems they had carry permits, but why did they feel they needed them?). Yes, you read that right, and Randy made them all check in with the Sheriff's Deputies on hand." [What's good for the right-wing goose is good for the left-wing gander. --LRP]
Town hall tension: Memphis police call for reinforcements 08 Aug 2009 Hundreds of people crowded into the BRIDGES building in Downtown Memphis on Saturday for a congressional town hall meeting that quickly deviated into a raucous shouting free-for-all, requiring extra law enforcement officers to watch over the scene. The meeting was hosted by U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis... Within 15 minutes of the start of the event, a nearly nose-to-nose confrontation between individuals with opposing views became so heated they had to be separated as Shelby County sheriff's deputies and Memphis police officers called for reinforcements.
Former Abstinence Program director Gail Dignam was long on preaching, short on virtue By James Gill 08 Aug 2009 Nobody can have been surprised when the campaign against premarital sex, started in the Mike Foster administration, took to invoking the Lord... But disdain for secular authority can become a habit, and so it came to pass that the Governor's Abstinence Program also violated state statutes, according to the legislative auditor. Gail Dignam, who worked for the program under Foster and was its director under Gov. Kathleen Blanco, allegedly figured that some of the money budgeted for the promotion of teenage virtue would be best directed to her own pockets... After Dignam became director, the program awarded 74 professional service contracts to the tune of $3.6 million in three years.
Sotomayor Sworn In as Supreme Court Justice 09 Aug 2009 Sonia Sotomayor took the judicial oath on Saturday, becoming the first Hispanic and the third woman to serve on the Supreme Court. At just past 11 a.m., Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. administered a pair of oaths to her in two private ceremonies at the Supreme Court building, completing her ascent to a life-tenured position as the nation’s 111th justice -- the first to be nominated by a Democratic president since 1994.
Previous lead stories: Report: Israel planned to strike Iran during riots 07 Aug 2009 Israel last month asked the United State for permission to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, Kuwaiti newspaper al-Jarida reported on Friday. The paper quoted a "US diplomatic source located in Jerusalem", but the report's credibility was not confirmed. According to the sources, after the opposition riots 'broke out' in Iran following June's presidential election results, Israel asked the US government for a green light to strike the country's nuclear facilities, along with other vital facilities in Iran. The source added that the Obama administration ignored the Israeli request, that was sent by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with President Shimon Peres's signature as well.
Mercenaries we can believe in: US Still Paying Blackwater Millions By Jeremy Scahill 07 Aug 2009 Just days before two former Blackwater employees alleged in sworn statements filed in federal court that the company's owner, Erik Prince, "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe," the Obama administration extended a contract with Blackwater for more than $20 million for "security services" in Iraq, according to federal contract data obtained by The Nation. The State Department contract is scheduled to run through September 3.
