Mercenaries we can believe in: DOD: Obama's Afghan Surge Will Rely Heavily On Private Contractors --DOD officials: contractors would make up 50-55 percent of the total workforce -- troops plus contractors -- in the future 15 Dec 2009 Private contractors Mercenaries will make up at least half of the total military workforce in Afghanistan going forward, according to Defense Department officials cited in a new congressional study. As President Obama's escalation of the war in Afghanistan unfolds, the number of contractors will likely jump by between 16,000 and 56,000, adding up to a total of 120,000-160,000, according to an updated study from the Congressional Research Service.
Chilcot censors Iraq inquiry's live broadcast --Sir Jeremy Greenstock's evidence on political mistakes after invasion is interrupted 16 Dec 2009 Sir John Chilcot, chairman of the Iraq inquiry, cut the live video of today's hearings, raising fears that he is suppressing evidence on grounds of embarrassment rather that any damage to national security. "I interrupted the broadcast because of a mention of sensitive information," he said after hearing evidence from Sir Jeremy Greenstock, Britain's UN ambassador before the invasion and special envoy in Baghdad afterwards.
Defence Minister urged to quit over air strike 'lies' 15 Dec 2009 Chancellor Angela Merkel's Defence Minister was under mounting pressure to resign yesterday over accusations that he lied over a German-ordered air strike in Afghanistan which killed dozens of civilians. Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, one of the country's most popular politicians, was appointed Defence Minister in October and given a mandate to be more honest about Germany's military role in Afghanistan - a deeply unpopular subject largely avoided by politicians.
US military warned Iraq of possible Baghdad blasts [i.e., an inside job] 14 Dec 2009 The U.S. military confirmed Monday it had warned Iraqi officials about possible attacks in Baghdad the same day bombers struck government sites in the country's capital. The U.S. military stopped short, though, of saying the intelligence provided to the Iraqis gave any insight into specific details of last week's attacks that killed 127 people and wounded more than 500.
Four blasts rock Baghdad's Green Zone 15 Dec 2009 A series bomb attacks in close proximity to Baghdad's Green Zone has killed at least four Iraqi people and injured fourteen others including Press TV's cameraman. "Four explosions rocked the heavily fortified [not so much] Green Zone in central Baghdad on Tuesday morning," Press TV correspondent reported. Three of the blasts were caused by car bombs and the other by a mortar shell, the report added.
NATO urges Russian help in Afghan war 16 Dec 2009 NATO's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has demanded more Russian help in overcoming the common security threats in Afghanistan. Rasmussen's visit to Moscow is the first by the NATO chief since between the Western military alliance and Moscow soured on the heels of the August 2008 military conflict between Russia and Georgia.
Two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan 16 Dec 2009 A suicide bomber has killed two British soldiers who were on a "hearts on a mind" mission to meet members of the local community in Helmand. The men, from the 3rd Battalion, The Rifles, were on a foot patrol near the town of Sangin with Afghan forces two of whom also died in the explosion.
Kabul suicide bomber kills at least eight people 15 Dec 2009 At least eight people have been killed in a suicide bombing in the Afghan capital, Kabul, officials say. The blast happened near a hotel in Wazir Akbar Khan district, home to several aid agencies and embassies. Two bodyguards of former vice-president Ahmed Zia Massoud were among the dead, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said.
US to drill Iranian attack scenario --The test, scheduled for January, is expected to cost about $150 million. 15 Dec 2009 A top Pentagon official said Monday that a US missile defense drill would simulate an Iranian attack - a departure from the usual scenario of a North Korean attack - according to Reuters. "Previously, we have been testing the [Ground-Based Midcourse Defense] GMD system against a North Korean-type scenario. This next test... is more of a head-on shot like you would use defending against an Iranian shot into the United States. So that's the first time that we're now testing in a different scenario," Lt.-Gen. Patrick O'Reilly, head of the US Missile Defense Agency, said at the Reuters Aerospace and Defense Summit in Washington.
Iran tests new Sejjil-2 missile with success 16 Dec 2009 Iran has successfully tested an optimized version of the solid-fuel Sejjil-2 deterrent missile as part of its long-term plans to defend the country's borders. The high-speed surface-to-surface, which was launched on Wednesday morning, has been designed and built by the Iranian Ministry of Defense.
British court issued Gaza arrest warrant for former Israeli minister Tzipi Livni --Warrant issued over war crimes accusations was withdrawn when it emerged former minister had cancelled plan to visit 14 Dec 2009 A British court issued an arrest warrant for Israel's former foreign minister over war crimes allegedly committed in Gaza this year -- only to withdraw it when it was discovered that she was not in the UK, it emerged today. Tzipi Livni, a member of the war cabinet during Operation Cast Lead, had been due to address a meeting in London on Sunday but cancelled her attendance in advance. The Guardian has established that Westminster magistrates' court issued the warrant at the request of lawyers acting for some of the Palestinian victims of the fighting but it was later dropped.
A Professional Surgeon Arrived Gaza 15 Dec 2009 A professional surgeon [Dr. Christopher] arrived Gaza to train surgery medical staffs on the techniques of work in war and accident surgery. World Doctors Organization in France explained that the course will keep on for a week; the training which will be held in Naser Hospital, in Khan Younis. A number of patients in Gaza Strip will benefit from this course.
Police shoot U.S. student's laptop upon entry to Israel 16 Dec 2009 Israel Border Police officers shot at an American student's laptop as she entered Israel via Taba, Egypt, two weeks ago. Lily Sussman, 21, wrote on her blog that border police subjected her to two hours of questioning and searches prior to shooting her Apple Macbook three times.
Guantánamo Bay war court moving to Illinois prison 16 Dec 2009 The White House said Tuesday that it will move its war court from Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to an underused prison in Illinois, but officials couldn't say how soon or at what cost. Administration officials declined to estimate how many of the 210 detainees prisoners at Guantánamo would move to the Thomson Correctional Center, but White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said he wouldn't dispute an estimate by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., of about 100 detainees.
Creating a 'Gitmo North' an Alarming Step, Says ACLU --Comment by Anthony D. Romero 15 Dec 2009 "The creation of a 'Gitmo North' in Illinois is hardly a meaningful step forward. Shutting down Guantánamo will be nothing more than a symbolic gesture if we continue its lawless policies onshore. Alarmingly, all indications are that the administration plans to continue its predecessor's policy of indefinite detention without charge or trial for some detainees, with only a change of location... In fact, while the Obama administration inherited the Guantánamo debacle, this current move is its own affirmative adoption of those policies. It is unimaginable that the Obama administration is using the same justification as the Bush administration used to undercut centuries of legal jurisprudence and the principle of innocent until proven guilty and the right to confront one's accusers. It is also greatly disturbing that the administration will continue the use of military commissions, which are no more acceptable in Illinois or any other U.S. state than in Guantánamo."
Task force: Adopt single policy for handling sensitive info 15 Dec 2009 The federal government should establish a single policy for designating so-called sensitive but unclassified information, a presidential task force concluded in a report released today. Current procedures vary widely across agencies... according to the Task Force on Controlled Unclassified Information, which was led by the Homeland Security and Justice departments. Across the executive branch alone, such information is identified by more than 100 unique markings and at least 130 different labeling or handling regimes, such as Law Enforcement Sensitive, For Official Use Only, Sensitive Security Information, and Limited Official Use.
CDC Issues Nationwide Recall of 800,000 Kids Swine Flu Vaccine Doses 15 Dec 2009 The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are recalling selected batches of Sanofi Pasteur manufactured H1N1 vaccine for children. The 800,000 swine flu shots were made for children aged six to 35 months. Today the CDC recalls 800,000 kids' swine flu vaccine doses made by Sanofi Pasteur. The agency stresses that the recall is not related to safety concerns. Instead, the manufacturer alerted officials that the potency of the children's H1N1 vaccine was below acceptable limits.
Dems, GOP Compromise On Health Care: Don't Get Sick, But If You Do, Die Quickly --"This is change I can believe in," said President Obama. "Now I can move on to other pressing issues, like how to get another peace prize for escalating the war in Afghanistan and for starting some new ones." Satire by R J Shulman 16 Dec 2009 After months of bickering and finger pointing, the Democrats and Republicans announced a compromise on health care reform they could both live with. "The Democrats want Americans to be well to get credit for reform and the GOP wants to save on costs and preserve health care industry profits, which makes this a win-win situation," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)... The Republicans have responded well to the call for people who get sick to die quickly as it saves money on treatment and preserves health insurance CEO bonuses. (Satire)
Dean: Health Bill 'Not Worth Passing' By George Stephanopoulos 16 Dec 2009 Former DNC Chairman, presidential contender and doctor, Howard Dean continued his assault on the Senate health reform bill this morning, telling me on "Good Morning America" the bill in present form is "not worth passing." Dean is leading a liberal revolt over health care reform, telling Vermont Public Radio Tuesday Democrats should just kill the health care bill and start over. "A very small number of people will get insurance, if at all, until 2014," Dean told me this morning, "This is the insurance companies' dream, this bill."
Mega barf alert! Obama thanked Lieberman privately for statement 15 Dec 2009 Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Aetna), the focus of mostly private condemnation from Hill Democrats, told President Barack Obama and the Senate Democratic caucus Tuesday that he "understood how people were upset with the position I took." ...Obama thanked Lieberman privately for his statement issued earlier Tuesday pledging support for the bill as long as the Medicare expansion and public option were eliminated from the bill, Lieberman said.
Connecticut Democrat calls for Joe Lieberman recall 15 Dec 2009 A House Democrat from Connecticut said Tuesday that Sen. Joe Lieberman should be recalled from office over his opposition to the Senate health care bill. "No individual should hold health care hostage, including Joe Lieberman, and I'll say it flat out, I think he ought to be recalled," Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) told POLITICO. She said that millions of people die because they lack health insurance.
Senate rejects low-cost drug imports 15 Dec 2009 The Senate has narrowly rejected a plan to allow Americans to import low-cost prescription drugs from Canada and other countries. The amendment by North Dakota Democrat Byron Dorgan failed on a 51-48 vote. Sixty votes were needed to prevail. Importing prescription drugs for personal use is a violation of federal law. Dorgan's amendment would have lifted the ban, allowing access to low-cost medicines from developed countries where the government limits drug prices.
Drug data mining ban unlikely in Senate health bill --No vote seen for 'prescription mining' proposal 14 Dec 2009 A Democratic proposal to ban the collection of doctors' prescription records for marketing purposes is unlikely to be included as part of the Senate's overall health reform bill, a Senate staff member said on Monday. A member of the staff of Senator Herb Kohl, a main sponsor of the amendment, said the change was not likely to come up for a vote or be included as part of a package of changes to be offered later by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Democrats Drop Plan to Expand Medicare 15 Dec 2009 Senate DemocRATs on Monday evening dropped a plan to expand Medicare, winning the support of moderates and the reluctant acquiescence of liberals, in another major step toward building enough support to pass a health-care overhaul corporaterrorist giveaway. At an evening caucus of all 58 Democrats and the two independents who sit with the party, including Sen. Lieberman, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) and other party leaders made clear they wanted to head off the dispute.
U.S. gave up billions in tax money in deal for Citigroup's bailout repayment --Deal made to recover bailout firms exempted from rule when U.S. sells its stake 16 Dec 2009 The federal government quietly agreed to forgo billions of dollars in potential tax payments from Citigroup as part of the deal announced this week to wean the company from the massive taxpayer bailout that helped it survive the financial crisis. The Internal Revenue Service on Friday issued an exception to long-standing tax rules for the benefit of Citigroup and a few other companies partially owned by the government. As a result, Citigroup will be allowed to retain billions of dollars worth of tax breaks that otherwise would decline in value when the government sells its stake to private investors. While the Obama administration has said taxpayers are likely to profit from the sale of the Citigroup shares, accounting experts said the lost tax revenue could easily outstrip those profits.
Obama holds stage-managed meeting with Wall Street bankers By Tom Eley 15 Dec 2009 The stated aim of the gathering of Wall Street bankers at a private White House meeting with President Barack Obama on Monday was to cajole the nation's largest financial institutions into offering loans to cash-starved businesses and consumers. In reality, the event was a media exercise designed to placate growing popular anger toward the Obama administration. The true nature of the event was not lost on its attendees. "It's a PR [public relations] stunt," an unnamed CEO flatly told Time magazine prior to the meeting.
Pittsburgh Sets Vote on Adding Tax on Tuition --Tax would be first of its kind in nation 16 Dec 2009 The mayor of Pittsburgh calls it the "Fair Share Tax." But to officials at the city’s 10 colleges and universities and many of their 100,000 students, it is anything but. On Wednesday, the City Council is expected to give preliminary approval to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s proposal for a 1 percent tuition tax on students attending college in Pittsburgh, which he says will raise $16.2 million in annual revenue that is needed to pay pensions for retired city employees.
F.T.C. Accuses Intel of Trying to Stifle Competition 17 Dec 2009 The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday sued the chip maker Intel, accusing it of using its dominant market position "to stifle competition and strengthen its monopoly." In its complaint, the F.T.C. accused the chip maker of a systematic campaign to block rivals from selling their microchips by cutting off access to the market.
Gag me with a chainsaw! TIME: Person of the Year 2009 Ben Bernanke --The story of the year was a weak economy that could have been much, much weaker. Thank the man who runs the Federal Reserve, our mild-mannered economic overlord 16 Dec 2009
AP: Monsanto role in cornering seed biz revealed 14 Dec 2009 Confidential contracts detailing Monsanto Co.'s business practices reveal how the world's biggest seed developer is squeezing competitors, controlling smaller seed companies and protecting its dominance over the multibillion-dollar market for genetically altered crops, an Associated Press investigation has found. With Monsanto's [deadly] patented genes being inserted into roughly 95 percent of all soybeans and 80 percent of all corn grown in the U.S., the company also is using its wide reach to control the ability of new biotech firms to get wide distribution for their products, according to a review of several Monsanto licensing agreements and dozens of interviews with seed industry participants, agriculture and legal experts.
Danish police hold 240 climate protesters 16 Dec 2009 Danish police detained 240 people on Wednesday when protesters stormed barricades around a global climate summit and briefly broke through a police cordon, witnesses and a police spokesman said. Green Business Police, some with dogs, used truncheons and pepper spray to keep back the hundreds of protesters who gathered outside Copenhagen's Bella Center, where world leaders are meeting to try to broker a new deal on global warming.
Previous lead stories: New Obusha war front opens; lamestream media yawns. But, we all know about Tiger's girlfriends, right? US 'sends special forces to Yemen' amid crisis 14 Dec 2009 US special forces have reportedly been sent to Yemen to train its army, as the Yemeni military backed by the Saudi Arabian army has been fighting local Houthi fighters in the north of the country. The development comes amid fears that foreign military intervention in the country has put Yemeni civilians in dire condition. American officials told The Daily Telegraph on Sunday that US forces have been sent to Yemen to prevent the country from turning into a "reserve base" for al-Qaeda.
US to expand drone attacks into Pakistani cities 14 Dec 2009 After confirmation that the CIA has been operating drone strikes in Pakistani territory, a new report says the US is seeking to expand the attacks ino the country's cities. The Los Angeles Times reported on Sunday that top US officials were pushing to expand the air strikes beyond Pakistan's tribal region and into the major city of Quetta to allegedly target the Taliban.
Supreme Court rejects Guantanamo torture case --Lawsuit named then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and 10 military commanders 14 Dec 2009 The U.S. Supreme Court said on Monday that it rejected an appeal by four former Guantanamo Bay prisoners arguing that they should be able to proceed with their lawsuit against top Pentagon officials for torture and religious abuse. The justices refused to review a U.S. appeals court ruling that dismissed the lawsuit by the four British citizens over their treatment at the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba on the grounds the officials enjoyed immunity.
