Blackwater has arms warehouse in Islamabad --Blackwater has implanted sensitive instruments at Sihala to monitor activities of Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), Kahuta, as well as to keep an eye on the nuclear assets of Pakistan. 22 Oct 2009 Private US security firm Blackwater has a warehouse located in the industrial area of Islamabad that is reportedly involved in illegal arms trading. The warehouse, Kestral Logistics, is working as the subcontractor of Xe Worldwide or Blackwater, The Nation reports. According to sources, the company has arms deals with Blackwater and is importing heavy arms and ammunition for the US company for its ongoing illicit operations in Pakistan. [Wow. Blackwater 'keeping an eye on' the nuclear assets of Pakistan. I think we'd all prefer al-Qaeda watching them.]
US rejects media allegations over 'arms warehouse' 24 Oct 2009 The US embassy rejected on Friday that a warehouse in Islamabad -- in the possession of a private American security contractor [Blackwater] -- was being used to store heavy arms and ammunition for the US company. "Kestral Logistics is a private logistics company that handles the import of equipment and supplies provided by the US to the government of Pakistan. All of the equipment and supplies are imported at the request of the Pakistan government, which also certifies the shipments," said the embassy in a statement. [See: Blackwater involved in Bhutto and Hariri hits: former Pakistani army chief 14 Sep 2009 Pakistan’s former chief of army staff, General Mirza Aslam Beg (ret.), has said the U.S. private security company Blackwater was directly involved in the assassinations of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto and former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri. See: Blackwater running covert recruitment drive in Pak through its website 16 Sep 2009 The controversial US private security company, Blackwater, is reportedly running a covert recruitment drive through its website in Pakistan. See: Blackwater Recruiting Agents Fluent In Urdu and Punjabi For Pakistan --Report suggests Pakistani envoy in Washington issued 360 visas to Americans in one month without consulting Islamabad By Ahmed Quraishi 15 Sep 2009.]
Bomb hits outside suspected Pakistani nuclear-weapons site 23 Oct 2009 A suicide bomber attacked a suspected nuclear-weapons site Friday in Pakistan, raising fears about the security of the nuclear arsenal, while two other terrorist blasts made it another bloody day... Increasingly daring and sophisticated attacks by terrorists allied with al Qaida on some of Pakistan’s most sensitive and best-protected installations have led to warnings that extremists could damage a nuclear facility or seize nuclear material.
'His remarks have raised alarming questions about the US involvement in the recent wave of terrorist attacks in Iran.' Iran finds new evidence on deadly blast 24 Oct 2009 After a series of intensive investigations into the deadly bomb blast in southeastern Iran, new revelations show that the culprit was trained and equipped in Pakistan. "Based on our latest findings, the perpetrator [of the bombing] had received specialized terrorist training in Pakistan," Jalal Sayyah, Deputy Chief for security affairs in the Sistan-Baluchestan Province, said early Saturday. "Fully-trained with bombs and explosives, he was then sent to Iran to carry out this tragic incident," he said, referring to a bomb blast that killed more than 40 people on Sunday in the borderline region of Pishin. Sayyah said the findings were confirmed following the confession of a number of detainees, who were arrested for having links with the Jundallah group... Abdulhamid Rigi, the apprehended brother of the Jundallah point-man, told Press TV in a recent interview that Abdulmalek had held several "confidential" meetings with FBI and CIA agents in Karachi and Islamabad. He added that during one of the meetings, two female US agents had offered weapons, safe bases in Afghanistan and professional trainers and had attempted to recruit volunteers. Robert Baer, a former Middle East CIA field officer, revealed Saturday that Washington had formed relations with the Jundallah group, while aware of its terrorist nature.
Ex-CIA agent confirms US ties with Jundullah 24 Oct 2009 A former Central Intelligence Agency officer has confirmed US relations with the terrorist group Jundullah, despite the CIA knowing that the group has close links with the al-Qaeda. "American intelligence has also had contact with Jundullah. But that contact, as Iran almost certainly knows, was confined to intelligence-gathering on the country," Robert Baer, a former Middle East CIA field officer wrote on the Time.com, IRNA reported early on Saturday. "I've been told that the Bush Administration at one point considered Jundullah as a piece in a covert-action campaign against Iran, but the idea was quickly dropped because Jundullah was judged uncontrollable and too close to al-Qaeda [al-CIAduh]. There was no way to be certain that Jundullah would not throw the bombs we paid for back at us," said the former CIA agent who is a columnist in the weekly, and very probably an advisor in the Middle East.
NATO Ministers Endorse Wider Afghan Effort 24 Oct 2009 Defense ministers from NATO on Friday endorsed the ambitious counterinsurgency strategy for Afghanistan proposed by Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, giving new impetus to his recommendation to pour more troops into the eight-year-old war. General McChrystal’s review calls for adopting a full-scale counterinsurgency strategy that would protect population centers and accelerate training of Afghan Army and police units opium and gas pipelines -- both of which would require significant numbers of fresh troops.
Gates: NATO sending more troops to Afghanistan 23 Oct 2009 U.S. 'Defense' Secretary Robert Gates says NATO allies are moving toward sending more troops and civilian aid to Afghanistan. Gates said Friday he was "heartened" by allies' commitment to the 8-year-old war, even as the Obama administration mulls whether to order tens of thousands more U.S. troops to the fight.
Four Afghan civilians killed by US military 24 Oct 2009 American forces in Afghanistan have opened fire on a vehicle killing four civilian aboard, including a woman and two children. The incident happened in southern Kandahar city on Saturday when a US military convoy opened fire on the vehicle, which was passing, Shah Agha, a Kandahar police official told Reuters.
Protesters demand pullout from Afghanistan 24 Oct 2009 Protesters marched through London on Saturday to demand a British military withdrawal from Afghanistan -- among them a serving soldier facing court martial for refusing a second tour of duty there. Police said "around 5,000" people took part in the demonstration from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square, while a spokesman for organisers Stop The War Coalition put the figure at 10,000.
Britons believe 'Afghan war is failing' --An overwhelming 84 per cent believe British troops are currently losing the war in Afghanistan, as thousands march on London urging an end to the conflict. 24 Oct 2009 Almost half of the UK public believe that military victory in Afghanistan is impossible and significant majorities think British troops are not winning the war and should be withdrawn either immediately or within the next year, according to a poll published today. Just 6 per cent of those taking part in today's poll said that British troops were winning the war, compared with 36 per cent who said they were not winning yet but eventual victory was possible, and 48 per cent who said that victory was not possible.
US should seek refund for shoddy Iraq embassy: audit 23 Oct 2009 The United States should seek a refund of up to 132 million dollars from the Kuwaiti company that built the massive US embassy in Iraq, which has "multiple significant" flaws, an audit recommends. The State Department's Inspector General panned the work done by First Kuwaiti Trading and Contracting, which received five contracts worth 470 million dollars for the project. The study, available on the State Department's website on Friday, documents "multiple significant construction deficiencies" and recommends the United States seek some of its money back from the firm.
Iraq election row could impact US pullout-official 21 Oct 2009 President Barack Obama's timetable for drawing down the number of U.S. troops in Iraq next year could be changed if the country's January election is postponed, a senior Pentagon official said on Wednesday. Any delay in withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq could make it harder for the U.S. military to send 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan to counter a resurgent Taliban, as proposed by the top U.S. and NATO commander there.
Iraqi court seeks arrest of Sunni MP 24 Oct 2009 A local criminal court in Iraq's Diyala province issued an arrest warrant for a Sunni member of parliament on suspicion of financing and inciting sectarian violence, a security official in the northeastern province said Saturday. The security official said the warrants for parliamentarian Tayseer al-Mashhadani and her husband, Hashim al-Hiyali, were issued on Thursday.
Musicians demand end to music torture on Guantánamo detainees 23 Oct 2009 A coalition of musicians including Pearl Jam and R. E. M. backed a formal demand yesterday to be told if their songs had been used to torture detainees in Guantánamo Bay and Iraq. There have been many allegations by former prisoners that they were blasted with excruciatingly loud music for months on end -- a tactic that is banned under the UN Convention Against Torture but not yet from the US Army Field Manual. The musicians spoke out as a freedom of information request was lodged by the US campaign group No More Guantánamos, a legal move backed by the British human rights group Reprieve, which has been campaigning against "music torture" for more than a year.
Report: Israel and Iran met over nuclear crisis 22 Oct 2009 It may sound impossible, but according to reports Thursday morning, Israeli and Iranian nuclear officials met in Cairo last month to discuss the Iranian nuclear crisis. That according to a member of the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission who said the meeting was arranged by Australia. She refused to give any details of the talks between the two bitter enemies.
US lawmakers to toughen anti-Iran sanctions 23 Oct 2009 Aiming to apply pressure on Iran over its nuclear work [while ignoring its own and Israel's], US lawmakers have unveiled a new legislation that seeks to impose sanctions on non-US companies trading with Iran. The new legislation, revealed on Thursday, is aimed at preventing major global telecommunications giants from doing business with Iran. It deprives the giants of lucrative US government contracts if they do sign a deal with Iran.
Goldstone wants U.S. to outline its concerns 24 Oct 2009 The judge who headed the UN investigation in to the Gaza War has challenged the United States to explain its opposition to the investigation’s findings. Judge Richard Goldstone of South Africa, who is Jewish, was appointed to head the inquiry into alleged war crimes by Israel and Hamas during the Gaza War in December 2009 and January this year.
Arizona May Put State Prisons, With Death Row Inmates, In Private Hands --The state also wants to privatize prisoners' medical care. 24 Oct 2009 In a first in the criminal justice world, Arizona's death row inmates could become the responsibility of a private company. State officials will soon seek bids from private companies for 9 of the state’s 10 prison complexes that house roughly 40,000 inmates, including the 127 here on death row. While executions would still be performed by the state, officials said, the Department of Corrections would relinquish all other day-to-day operations to the private operator and pay a per-diem fee for each prisoner.
Woman dies after receiving swine flu jab --Manufacturer threatens to sue media for claims vaccine could be ineffective or dangerous 20 Oct 2009 (Hungary) A 64-year-old woman died last week just two days after receiving an inoculation against the new A(H1N1) influenza virus dubbed swine flu. The state medical service ÁNTSZ ordered an autopsy to establish whether there was any link between the vaccine and the death of the patient, who suffered from chronic, but mild, heart disease. The previous week, the manufacturer of Hungary’s A(H1N1) vaccine, Omninvest, had threatened to sue media for "scaremongering" by suggesting the vaccine could be ineffective or dangerous. [It's ineffective *and* dangerous. Sue me, maggots!]
Companies reap the swine flu windfall 23 Oct 2009 Healthcare companies are reaping the benefits of a global swine flu pandemic, brightening what might otherwise have been a dismal third quarter and bringing new focus on the market for vaccines. Large European pharmaceutical companies are reporting windfall sales from flu drugs and H1N1 vaccines.
Baxter sees multiyear opportunity in H1N1 vaccines 15 Oct 2009 Baxter International Inc, best known for its drug pumps and products for blood disorders and kidney disease, said it sees a lucrative new revenue source in vaccines and a multiyear opportunity in H1N1 swine flu vaccines. The hospital products maker said it expects to recognize $30 million to $40 million of revenue from H1N1 vaccines in the fourth quarter. [See: Baxter working on vaccine to stop swine flu, though admitted sending live pandemic flu viruses to subcontractor 26 Apr 2009.]
Flu Vaccine Requirement for Health Workers Is Lifted 23 Oct 2009 (NY) The Paterson administration backed away on Thursday evening from a health regulation that would have compelled hundreds of thousands of health care workers and hospital volunteers to be vaccinated for seasonal and swine flu. Claudia Hutton, a spokeswoman for the State Health Department, said in an interview Thursday night that the regulation had been suspended because of a 'shortage' of H1N1 vaccine.
US tops 1,000 swine flu deaths, millions of cases: official 23 Oct 2009 The United States has seen "many millions of cases" of swine flu and more than 1,000 deaths since the H1N1 outbreak began six months ago, a top health official said Friday. "We have seen, since the beginning of the pandemic in April and May, more than 1,000 deaths from pandemic influenza and more than 20,000 hospitalizations in this country," Thomas Frieden, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told a weekly news briefing.
FBI looks at bribery allegations against Alaska Rep. Young 22 Oct 2009 An Alaska businessman admitted to giving gifts to Republican Rep. Don Young, the state's long-serving sole congressman, in a confession made public this week as part of an ongoing federal investigation into political corruption in the state. The confession, signed in 2007 by Bill Allen, the former chief of Veco, an Alaska oil services company, was released as part of Allen's upcoming sentencing on charges that he bribed state lawmakers.
Ex-FBI director Freeh granted Italian citizenship 24 Oct 2009 Louis Freeh, the former head of the FBI, is now an Italian citizen. Officials at the Italian Embassy in Washington say Freeh was made a citizen at a ceremony Friday. An announcement on the embassy's Web site says Freeh was granted citizenship based on his close work with Italian authorities in fighting organized crime.
US bankers cash in despite phony pay restraint By Patrick Martin 24 Oct 2009 The executive pay regulations announced Thursday by the Obama administration’s "pay czar" and the Federal Reserve represent a cynical attempt to placate public outrage over Wall Street bonuses while allowing the financial speculators to continue awarding themselves multi-million-dollar compensation packages. According to the report issued by the Treasury Department’s special master for compensation, Kenneth Feinberg, at least 66 of the 138 bank and corporation executives under his jurisdiction will receive government-approved compensation packages totaling more than $1 million a year.
3 AIG execs get bonus OK from pay czar --Pay czar Kenneth Feinberg gave a special exception to three AIG executives but strips away bonuses from many others. 23 Oct 2009 In the end, pay czar Kenneth Feinberg's hardest case was AIG. The troubled insurer lobbied hard to let three of its executives keep their bonuses. AIG told Feinberg that three executives, who were entitled to large retention payments, were particularly critical to the company's long-term financial success and should be able to keep their bonuses.
Bank failures hit 106 for year; many more are weak --Bank failures hit 106 for the year; many more are weak and could be shuttered 24 Oct 2009 It's a big number that only tells part of the story. The number of banks that have failed so far this year topped 100 on Friday -- hitting 106 by the end of the day -- the most in nearly two decades... Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of other banks remain open even though they are as weak as many that have been shuttered. Regulators are seizing banks slowly and selectively -- partly to avoid inciting panic and partly because buyers for bad banks are hard to find.
Bank closings hit 101 for year; most since 1992 23 Oct 2009 Bank closings for the year have surpassed 100 as regulators shut down small banks in Florida and Georgia. Financial institutions nationwide have collapsed under the weight of soured real estate loans and the Great Recession Bush Depression. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. took over Partners Bank in Naples, Fla., with $68.7 million in assets and $63.4 million in deposits. American United Bank in Lawrenceville, Ga., with $111 million in assets and $101 million in deposits also failed. They boosted to 101 the number of bank failures so far this year.
Arguing pilots fly 150 miles past runway --Conversation about airline policy meant Northwest Airlines pilots 'lost situational awareness' says flight safety board 23 Oct 2009 ...When the pilots of Northwest Airlines flight 188 became distracted it had more serious consequences as they overflew their Minneapolis destination by 150 miles. "They were in a heated discussion over airline policy and they lost situational awareness," the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) explained. When the pilots got their "situational awareness" back they turned the Airbus A320 around and landed it safely on Wednesday evening.
Breathing Room for the Bear (The New York Times) 24 Oct 2009 The Obama administration’s proposed designation of 200,000 square miles of Alaskan waters and sea ice as critical habitat for the polar bear is not just encouraging news for the bear. It signals a more sympathetic attitude toward endangered species, and is further evidence that the secretary of the interior, Ken Salazar, will take a more measured approach than the Bush administration to oil and gas drilling in the Arctic.
Depressed polar bear enjoys new country home 22 Oct 2009 A depressed polar bear in Scotland has a new lease on life. A wildlife park has taken in the sad bear and the bear is enjoying her new digs. For the past 25 years, Mercedes has been in an at Inverness-shire Zoo about half the size of a football pitch. She arrived in Scotland having been saved from death in Canada... For years animal rights campaigners have claimed she shows signs of distress, she's sometimes seen weaving her head from side to side.
Previous lead stories: Secret files reveal covert network run by nuclear police --Industry-funded force uses moles and surveillance --Strategic aims include tackling 'public disquiet' 20 Oct 2009 The nuclear industry funds the special armed police force which guards its installations across the UK, and secret documents, seen by the Guardian, show the 750-strong force is authorised to carry out covert intelligence operations against anti-nuclear protesters, one of its main targets. The nuclear industry will pay £57m this year to finance the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC). The funding comes from the companies which run 17 nuclear plants, including Dounreay in Caithness, Sellafield in Cumbria and Dungeness in Kent. Around a third is paid by the private consortium managing Sellafield, which is largely owned by American and French firms.
