Pakistan legal plea to search US embassy for Blackwater weapons, explosives --Interior secretary issued notice in Blackwater plea 05 Dec 2009 Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Khawaja Muhammad Sharif served notice on the Interior secretary for not replying to a petition against the alleged activities of Blackwater in the federal capital... The CJ also called a detailed report from the Foreign Ministry on a plea to order the search of the US Embassy to recover illegal weapons. The counsel also said that the Sihala Police Training Centre commandant had also complained that explosives were being heaped in the centre and he was not allowed to visit the sites. Seeking search of the US embassy, Barrister Zafarullah [the petitioner’s counsel] said the day Blackwater had stepped into Pakistan, terror acts and suicide attacks had been scaled up. The counsel also alleged that in the US embassy illegal arms and ammunition were being stored, which were being used for "sabotage acts" in the country.
At least 40 killed in Pakistan attack --Blasts erupt at mosque Latest in string of assaults in garrison city 05 Dec 2009 At least 40 people were killed and scores were injured Friday when a pair of 'suicide bombers' [Blackwater?] stormed a crowded mosque in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, joined by assailants who hurled grenades and sprayed gunfire among the worshipers. Police and soldiers sealed the area and launched a major search after the attack, but the remaining assailants were still at large as of early evening. At least 64 people were injured, officials said.
Several killed in Pakistan blast 05 Dec 2009 At least three people are reported to have been killed in an explosion in the Pakistani city of Peshawar. Officials initially said the blast, near a KFC restaurant, was caused by a bomb, but later reports suggested it was an accidental explosion. The explosion came a day after 35 people were killed in a militant attack on a mosque near the Pakistani army's headquarters in Rawalpindi.
Erik Prince, head of US security firm Blackwater, 'was CIA operative' 05 Dec 2009 In private, Erik Prince [as founder of the Blackwater security company] was a CIA operative, with his own file as a "vetted asset" at the agency’s headquarters, and a mission to build "a unilateral, unattributable capability" to hunt down and kill al-Qaeda militants for the US Government wherever they could be found... Mr Prince, aside from his work in Iraq, set up America’s closest forward operating base to the Pakistani border in Afghanistan, and helped to train a CIA assassination team that hunted an alleged senior al-Qaeda financier in Germany, and included A. Q. Khan, a Pakistani nuclear scientist, on its list of targets, according to Vanity Fair magazine.
Obama 'to expand drone strikes' in Pakistan --The unpopular strikes were initiated under the George W Bush administration in 2006. 04 Dec 2009 The administration of the Nobel peace laureate, President Barack Obama, has authorized an expansion of drone attacks on Pakistan's troubled tribal regions, a new report says. The New York Times report also says US and Pakistani officials are discussing the possibility of CIA operated drone strikes in Pakistan's Baluchistan province for the first time.
At least 7,000 fresh NATO troops to bolster war 04 Dec 2009 NATO allies will bolster the American troop surge in Afghanistan by sending at least 7,000 soldiers of their own, officials said Friday in pledges that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton described as crucial to turning the tide in the stalemated war. The promised increase came as U.S. Marines and Afghan troops launched the first offensive since President Barack Obama announced a 30,000-troop American increase.
Neo-Cons Get Warm and Fuzzy Over "War President" By Eli Clifton 04 Dec 2009 U.S. President Barack Obama's plan for a 30,000-troop surge and a troop withdrawal timeline beginning in 18 months has caught criticism from both Democrat and Republican lawmakers. But a small group of hawkish foreign policy experts - who have lobbied the White House since August to escalate U.S. involvement in Afghanistan - are christening Obama the new "War President".
Iraq war inquiry sees fingers pointed at US 04 Dec 2009 The Iraq inquiry has produced another week of compelling evidence. We are beginning to understand how and why Iraq ended up in such a parlous state after the 2003 invasion. A number of witnesses have pointed a finger of blame at the United States for the chaos that ensued. Sir David Manning, Tony Blair's former foreign policy adviser, set the tone with a withering attack on the Americans for their post-war planning.
Ex-Iraq ambassador gets Bush post at A&M 04 Dec 2009 A career diplomat who most recently served as ambassador to Iraq was named Friday to lead the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University... As ambassador and now, Ryan Crocker [of sh*t] has argued that the U.S. must remain in place for the long haul. "I am reasonably positive about developments in Iraq, but this ... will require our engagement for years," he said.
Iran says it needs 20 uranium enrichment sites 04 Dec 2009 The Atomic Energy Organization (AEO) of Iran says the country needs 20 enrichment sites to fulfill its total electricity demand. "We are in need of 20 thousands megawatts that means 20 [times the amount the] Natanz [facility can produce]," Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Ali-Akbar Salehi said in an exclusive interview with Press TV on Friday.
'Viva Palestina' will head to Gaza 04 Dec 2009 An international aid convoy is scheduled to take humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip from London, marking the first year anniversary of Israel's three week war against Gazans. The Viva Palestina convoy of 250 vehicles will deliver medical, humanitarian and educational aid to Palestinians who are suffering a long-running Israeli blockade on their territory since Hamas took control of the region in June 2007.
Americans say US should mind own business: Poll 04 Dec 2009 A new poll suggests that nearly half of Americans think that Washington should "mind its own business internationally" and step out of other countries' affairs. The poll released on December 3, was conducted by the Pew Research Center for the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), a policy group whose members have dominated US foreign policy since World War II. The finding marks the first time in four decades that such a large number of Americans oppose US foreign policies.
Doctors' bid to open David Kelly inquest 05 Dec 2009 Six doctors are to take legal action in a bid to reopen the inquest in to weapons inspector Dr David Kelly. The scientist, 59, was found dead in woods near his Oxfordshire home in July 2003, after being named as the source that claimed the Government had "sexed up" a dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. An inquiry by Lord Hutton concluded Dr Kelly, a Ministry of Defence advisor, had died from cuts to his wrist and an overdose of powerful painkillers. But a group of six doctors want the case re-examined, claiming there is insufficient evidence to prove he committed suicide.
Homeland Security to study dispersion of biological weapons in Boston subway [Let's hope the maggots don't go live, as they did on 9/11.] 04 Dec 2009 The U.S. Homeland Security Department has announced that it will release harmless gases and dye tracers into Boston's subway system next week to study the circulation of airborne contaminants through public transit networks in the event of a biological or chemical attack. The planned study, which will examine how both smoke and airborne toxins move throughout the transit system, is expected to assist experts in developing future chemical-agent monitoring while also providing guidance for future improvements in air-purification systems, evacuation plans and emergency-response protocols for transportation systems.
Police told: stop this abuse of terror law --Urgent warning issued to all English forces after Independent revelations of photographers suffering harassment 05 Dec 2009 Police forces across the country have been warned to stop using anti-terror laws to question and search innocent photographers after The Independent forced senior officers to admit that the controversial legislation is being widely misused. The strongly worded warning was circulated by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) last night. In an email sent to the chief constables of England and Wales's 43 police forces, officers were advised that Section 44 powers should not be used unnecessarily against photographers.
Revision of Va. Tech shooting report corrects timeline 04 Dec 2009 Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is releasing a revised version of the investigative report on the mass shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007. The addendum released Friday corrects the timeline of events on the morning of April 16, when [Manchurian-style] shooter Seung Hui Cho began the rampage that resulted in the deaths of 32 students and teachers and the injuries of several others.
Revised Va. Tech Report Shows Response Gaps --The president's office, two academic buildings were also shut down 'well before' general alert 04 Dec 2009 Some Virginia Tech officials warned their own families and the president's office was locked down well before a campus-wide alert was issued in the 2007 slayings of 32 people, according to a revised state report that details new fumbles in the response to the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. At least two officials with a crisis response team called their family members after the first shootings at a dorm and about 90 minutes before the all-campus alert was issued at 9:26 a.m. The president's office was locked down at 8:52 a.m. and two academic buildings were also shut down before the general alert. The revisions... also added details about troubling behavior by Seung-Hui Cho and includes information from his mental-health records.
Warning over second child swine-flu jab --High fever, drowsiness and loss of appetite are side-effects, say regulators 05 Dec 2009 Children having their second dose of the swine flu jab may develop a high fever, European regulators have warned. Parents and doctors are being urged to keep watch on a child's temperature after research found they were more likely to suffer a fever above 38C (100F) after the second dose compared with after the first. Children were also more likely to suffer soreness at the site of injection as well as drowsiness, irritability and loss of appetite after the second dose. Experts at the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) said the "findings were unexpected, as they were not seen with the mock-up vaccine".
Schools to get masks, gloves to help prevent spread of flu --Millions of them, purchased with federal grants, will be distributed throughout California for use by ill students and the nurses who examine them. 04 Dec 2009 Millions of protective masks and gloves will be distributed to schools throughout California to prevent the spread of swine and seasonal flu, state and county officials announced Friday. Purchased with federal grants, the 23 million masks and gloves will be used by ill students as well as the nurses who examine them.
Aide: Baucus Named Girlfriend For Fed Post --Senator Was in Relationship With Woman He Nominated for U.S. Attorney Post; She Later Withdrew From Consideration 05 Dec 2009 Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus was romantically involved with a former staffer when he recommended her earlier this year to become the next U.S. attorney for Montana, a spokesman said. The Montana Democrat and his former state office director Melodee Hanes began their relationship in the summer of 2008 after Baucus separated from his wife, Ty Matsdorf told The Associated Press late Friday.
As Obama opens jobs summit, he faces limited options for growth --Many ideas that would greatly increase deficit are likely to be rejected 03 Dec 2009 Creating jobs is a political and economic imperative for President Obama, who is holding a high-profile jobs summit Thursday that aides hope will demonstrate his concern for the plight of everyday Americans. Obama has summoned 130 corporate executives, economists, small-business owners and union leaders to the White House to sound out ideas for accelerating job growth during the worst labor market in a generation.
US economy remains devastated despite improved jobs figures By Andre Damon 05 Dec 2009 The US economy lost fewer jobs in November than in any other month since the recession [Bush Depression] began, according to the latest jobs report from the Labor Department. But overall economic conditions continue to worsen for the majority of the population, with wages falling and no return to normal job conditions in sight... The last time the US economy added jobs was in December 2007. About 100,000 jobs need to be added per month to keep up with new entrants into the labor force.
Environmental group sues EPA on polar bear pesticides --Suit links pesticides to damaging bioaccumulation in Arctic 03 Dec 2009 An environmental group announced today that it is suing the Environmental Protection Agency for "failing to consider" the affect of pesticides on polar bears and their Arctic habitat. The Center for Biological Diversity filed the suit in Seattle on Thursday, Dec. 3. "The pesticide crisis is a silent killer that threatens not only polar bears but the entire Arctic ecosystem," said staff attorney Rebecca Noblin in a statement.
Melting polar bear ice sculptures to raise climate awareness 04 Dec 2009 A polar bear sculpted out of an 11-tonne block of ice will be unveiled in Copenhagen Saturday, then left to melt to raise awareness about global warming during the UN climate summit, organisers said. The life-size sculpture will feature a polar bear skeleton made of bronze inside the ice. "A pool of water and a polar bear's skeleton is going to be all that remains at Kongens Nytorv in the heart of the city -- a reminder of the challenges we face concerning our climate," the organisers said in a statement.
Previous lead stories: Gates: 'No deadlines' on troop withdrawal --Afghanistan drawdown could take 2 to 3 years, defense secretary says 04 Dec 2009 The withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, scheduled to begin in July 2011, will "probably" take two or three years, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Thursday, although he added that "there are no deadlines in terms of when our troops will all be out." The Pentagon, meanwhile, quietly acknowledged slippage on the front end of the 30,000-troop deployment that President Obama authorized for the first half of 2010. [There is no deadline on when the troops will be out, but hopefully there *will* be one on when this Administration is out. And that will be November 2012. We need an actual progressive to run for president in 2012. --LRP]
C.I.A. Is Expanding Drone Assaults Inside Pakistan [So is Blackwater.] 04 Dec 2009 The White House has authorized an expansion of the C.I.A.’s [killer] drone program in Pakistan’s tribal areas, officials said this week, to parallel the president’s decision, announced Tuesday, to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. American officials are talking with Pakistan about the possibility of striking in Baluchistan for the first time... The drone program has enjoyed bipartisan support in Congress and was escalated by the Obama administration in January. More C.I.A. drone attacks have been conducted under President Obama than under President [sic] George W. Bush. The political consensus in support of the drone program, its antiseptic, high-tech appeal and its secrecy have obscured just how radical it is. For the first time in history, a civilian intelligence agency is using robots to carry out a military mission, selecting people for killing in a country where the United States is not officially at war.
'It was designed to make punishment inevitable.' Military tribunals quietly resume at Guantanamo Bay 04 Dec 2009 Military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay, which President Obama suspended amid much fanfare immediately after taking office, quietly resumed this week with new signs of the legal complexities of the cases and the challenges for prosecutors. The military court had to grapple with determining where a defendant, Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al Qosi -- and by extension other detainees prisoners -- stand under the new military commissions law enacted in October to provide more due process for detainees. Under the old system, Qosi and other detainees were called "unlawful enemy combatants," but the new law refers to them as "alien unprivileged enemy belligerents," a moniker that military prosecutors said is more in line with the Geneva Conventions.
