NORAD to Conduct Flight Exercise Over DC Area --Exercise to include air force F-16s, Coast Guard helicopters 30 Sep 2009 The North American Aerospace Defense Command and the Continental U.S. NORAD Region plans a training flight exercise over Washington. The exercise, called Falcon Virgo 10-01, will take place late Wednesday and early Thursday. The exercise is comprised of a series of training flights held in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, National Capital Region Command Center, Joint Air Defense Operations Center, Continental U.S. NORAD Region (CONR), Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard and CONR's Eastern Air Defense Sector.
F-16 jets intercept plane with unresponsive pilot: US 30 Sep 2009 Two F-16 fighter jets trailed a small plane with an unresponsive pilot on Wednesday before the aircraft crashed in rural Indiana, the North American Aerospace Defense Command said. The small civilian plane had departed Grand Rapids in Michigan but lost communications with air traffic controllers, NORAD said in a statement.
Canadian soldiers stationed in U.S. will learn French --U.S. to pay contractor $285,000 to pay Americans to teach one of Canada's official languages to Canadians stationed in the U.S. [Wow. And I thought I'd heard 'it all.'] 30 Sep 2009 After receiving poor reviews for its record on bilingualism, the Defence Department plans to hire a U.S. company to give French lessons to Canadian Forces personnel stationed at Norad headquarters in Colorado. The department issued a notice Tuesday saying it intends to award the work to Globelink Foreign Language Center in Colorado Springs through a standing offer worth up to $285,000 -- effectively paying Americans to teach one of Canada's official languages to Canadians.
Man On 24-Hr Surveillance in Terror Case Denies Terrorist Connections --NY Man Says Backpacks, Scale Found in His Apartment Not For Attack 30 Sep 2009 A Manhattan coffee cart operator currently under 24-hour surveillance by federal agents told ABC News he is not affiliated with al Qaeda [al-CIAduh] and that about one dozen black backpacks and a small scale found in his apartment, identified as suspicious in court documents, are purely coincidental. Facts in the case that have led officials to keep him under constant watch, he said, have been misconstrued. "I am not a terrorist," said Naiz Khan, 27.
Swine flu shot protests may be the next Tea Party 30 Sep 2009 If Trends Research Institute Director Gerald Celente is right another volley may have been fired in what he is calling the "Second American Revolution." Here's part of an e-mail trend alert he sent to clients, "While there are many wild cards that could light the fuse, The Trends Research Institute forecasts that if the threat of government-forced Swine Flu vaccinations is realized, it will be the fourth shot (of the second American Revolution). Tens of millions will fight for their right to remain free and unvaccinated." According to a UPI report, Hospital Corp. of America, with clinics and hospitals in 20 states including Tennessee and Virginia, is requiring its 120,000 employees to be vaccinated... Lori Price of Citizens for Legitimate Government, a Connecticut-based group that opposes government [corporate] expansion. "It's all part of an encroachment on our liberties," Price told The Wall Street Journal The Washington Post in a story published Saturday.
Critics say pandemic emergency bill tramples privacy rights 28 Sep 2009 Mandatory vaccinations, home searches without a warrant and forced quarantine for those who resist. Critics of a pandemic preparedness bill pending in the Legislature say it would allow all those things and sets the stage for a medical police state where any response to an epidemic of flu or other illness has the potential to steamroll civil liberties. The bill’s supporters and its sponsor, Sen. Richard Moore, D-Uxbridge, have found themselves in recent weeks defending against attacks from critics. Senate Bill No. 2028 – An Act Relative to Pandemic and Disaster Preparation and Response in the Commonwealth – passed the Senate (MA) by a unanimous vote on April 30 with almost no public notice.
Canadians on hook for any H1N1 vaccine damages 30 Sep 2009 If there are lawsuits over the H1N1 vaccine, it will be the federal government, not the vaccine maker, that picks up the tab for any damages awarded by courts. Contracts between governments and vaccine manufacturers usually include an indemnity clause that exempts companies if there are problems with a vaccine, Canada's chief public health officer, Dr. David Butler-Jones, told reporters Wednesday. [In the US, both the government and the pharma-terrorists are exempt from any legal liabilities, thanks to Barack Opharma. The little coward snuck that one in at 8PM on Friday night, in the middle of July. --LRP]
Santa Clara County declares emergency to spend $500,000 for swine-flu vaccine clinics 30 Sep 2009 (CA) the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency Tuesday and set aside $500,000 to pay for specialized vaccination clinics in the community. The $500,000 will be transferred from the county's general fund contingency reserve to the Office of Emergency Services. Government Code Section 8630 authorizes the Board of Supervisors to proclaim a local emergency when the county is threatened or likely to be threatened by conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the county that are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of the county.
Some Pregnant Women Say No to H1N1 Vaccine --Pregnant Women are High Risk for Swine Flu, but Many Fear Effects of Vaccine 30 Sep 2009 State officials told the federal government Wednesday how much vaccine they'll need to combat H1N1. Some of the first doses 'should' go to pregnant women... But not all pregnant women are eager to get the vaccine, reports CBS News. Many pregnant women are nervous about whether this new vaccine, which was produced and tested so quickly, is really safe. Only one in six pregnant women even get a regular flu shot.
Appeals court upholds dismissal of vaccine suit 29 Sep 2009 A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld a program that requires some members of the military to be vaccinated against anthrax over objections from service members who say the vaccine, produced by Bioport Corp., has not been proven to be effective. The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington upheld a lower court's decision dismissing a case brought by eight service members who challenged the Food and Drug Administration's determination that the [deadly] vaccine was effective.
U.S. troops call Afghan region 'Vietnam without napalm' 30 Sep 2009 The men of Bravo Company have a bitter description for the irrigated swath of land along the Arghandab River where 10 members of their battalion have been killed and 30 have been wounded since the beginning of August. "Like Vietnam without the napalm," said Spc. Nicholas Gojekian, 21, of Katy, Texas. [Right, but there's gas and opium pipelines to protect -- the reason the US invaded.]
UN 'to remove Afghanistan envoy' --Mr Galbraith angered Afghan President Hamid Karzai by reportedly calling for a complete recount of the vote. [
Suicide bomber kills American in Afghanistan 30 Sep 2009 A suicide bomber rammed a car into a military convoy of foreign forces in southeastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing one American, officials said. The attack occurred as the convoy crossed a bridge in the Mandozai district of Khost province, bordering Pakistan, district chief Wali Shah said.
Suicide bomber hits military convoy in Afghanistan 30 Sep 2009 A suicide bomber rammed his car into a foreign military convoy in southeastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, causing casualties, a provincial official said. The attack occurred as the convoy crossed a bridge in the Mandozai district of Khost province bordering Pakistan, district chief Wali Shah said.
Biden welcomes son home from guard service in Iraq 30 Sep 2009 Having been welcomed home by his father, Vice President Joe Biden, Delaware's attorney general traded hugs and handshakes Wednesday with other members of his Army National Guard unit after a yearlong deployment in Iraq. Beau Biden, a captain and military lawyer in the 261st Theater Tactical Signal Brigade, stood with other members of the unit as they were welcomed home by a crowd of about 1,000 people gathered in front of Legislative Hall.
Press TV: IAEA letter thanks Iran over notification 30 Sep 2009 The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has thanked Iran for providing the agency with information about the construction of its new pilot enrichment plant. "With reference to the letter of 21 September 2009... from HE Ambassador Soltanieh to the Director General of the Agency Dr ElBaradei, I wish to thank the Islamic Republic of Iran for providing the Agency with information about Iran's activities related to the construction of a new pilot enrichment plant," read a letter by the IAEA to Iran, a copy of which was obtained Press TV. Iran, on September 21, informed the agency that it was constructing an enrichment plant in Fordu, south of the capital Tehran.
U.S. Story on Iran Nuke Facility Doesn't Add Up By Gareth Porter 29 Sep 2009 The story line that dominated media coverage of the second Iranian uranium enrichment facility last week was the official assertion that U.S. intelligence had caught Iran trying to conceal a "secret" nuclear facility. But an analysis of the transcript of that briefing by senior administration officials that was the sole basis for the news stories and other evidence reveals damaging admissions, conflicts with the facts and unanswered questions that undermine its credibility. Iran's notification to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the second enrichment facility in a letter on Sep. 21 was buried deep in most of the news stories and explained as a response to being detected by U.S. intelligence.
Israel gets two more German submarines 29 Sep 2009 Israel has taken delivery of two German submarines ordered four years ago, a military spokesman said on Tuesday. "We have received two Dolphin-class submarines built in Germany," he said, on condition of anonymity. The submarines, called U212s, can launch cruise missiles carrying nuclear warheads, although when it confirmed the sale in 2006 the German government said the two vessels were not equipped to carry nuclear weapons.
IDF jeep hits, kills Palestinian teen in West Bank 30 Sep 2009 An Israel Defense Forces jeep hit and killed a 17-year-old Palestinian in the West Bank on Wednesday, a Palestinian security official and the IDF said. The IDF called the incident an accident and said soldiers had come under attack from stone throwers. A Palestinian official claimed the vehicle deliberately ran down the teenager.
U.S., Cuba Held Extended Talks --State Department Discloses 6 Days of Meetings on the Island 30 Sep 2009 In an unusual move, Cuban authorities this month invited a State Department official to turn a brief visit to the Communist[as opposed to corpora-terrorist]-ruled island into a six-day stay that included meetings with officials, opposition figures and people from Cuban civil organizations, U.S. officials said Tuesday. State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley said that Bisa Williams, the deputy assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, was "taking advantage of an opportunity to have further talks on specific subjects."
US relaxes grip on the internet 30 Sep 2009 The US government has relaxed its control over how the internet is run. It has signed a four-page "affirmation of commitments" with the net regulator Icann, giving the body autonomy for the first time. Previous agreements gave the US close oversight of Icann - drawing criticism from other countries and groups.
Did California police use a Taser on an unarmed, legless man in a wheelchair? 21 Sep 2009 The Merced Police Department's Internal Affairs Division is investigating whether an officer twice used a Taser on an unarmed, wheelchair-bound man with no legs. The man who was Tasered, Gregory Williams, 40, a double-leg amputee, spent six days in jail on suspicion of domestic violence and resisting arrest, but the Merced County District Attorney's office hasn't filed any charges.
GAO report: Millions in fraud, drug abuse clogs Medicaid 30 Sep 2009 A report issued Wednesday finds that state and federal officials failed to detect millions of dollars in Medicaid prescription drug abuse. An audit of the government program in five large states found about 65,000 instances of beneficiaries improperly obtaining potentially addictive drugs at a cost of about $65 million during 2006 and 2007 -- including thousands of prescriptions written for dead patients or by people posing as doctors.
Grayson Calls Level of Uninsured a "holocaust" 30 Sep 2009 Tuesday, Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) warned that the Republican health care plan was to "die quickly." On Wednesday, Grayson riled up Republicans again, likening the lack of health care reform to a "holocaust in America." Republicans [aka 'death panel' hypocrites] howled and threatened to try to sanction Grayson for his comments on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Grayson refused to apologize. "Because I said the truth," Grayson noted in an interview with FOX News. But the Florida Democrat did apologize. At least in one context. Grayson again took to the floor after speaking with FOX. "I apologize to the dead and their families that we haven’t voted sooner to end this holocaust in America."
Does Obama have a secret deal with insurance companies? By Brent Budowsky 30 Sep 2009 It is time for progressives, consumers, workers, populists and anyone who supports affordable healthcare to ask: Was the fix in from the beginning through a secret deal between the White House and insurance companies to kill the public option? I don’t know, but I do know that a secret deal with Big Pharma was made in similar fashion. Sure, the fact of the pharma deal was known, but many details remain secret today.
Mega barf alert! Panel votes to restore abstinence education money 30 Sep 2009 A Senate committee voted Tuesday night to restore $50 million a year in federal funding for abstinence-only education that President Barack Obama has pushed to eliminate. The 12-11 vote by the Senate Finance Committee came over objections from its chairman, Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana. Two DemocRATs -- Kent Conrad (ND) and Blanche Lincoln (AK) -- joined all 10 committee Republicans in voting "yes" on the measure by Republican [nutjob] Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah.
EPA moves to regulate smokestack greenhouse gases 30 Sep 2009 The Environmental Protection Agency took steps Wednesday to control the emissions blamed for global warming from power plants, factories and refineries for the first time. The EPA proposal would require polluters to reduce six greenhouse gases by installing the best available technology and improving energy efficiency whenever a facility is significantly changed or built. The rule applies to any industrial plant that emits at least 25,000 tons of greenhouse gases a year.
Indonesia quake death toll may be thousands: health minister 30 Sep 2009 Thousands may have died in an earthquake that struck the city of Padang on Indonesia's Sumatra island, the health minister said on Thursday, with officials saying many victims remain buried under toppled buildings. The 7.6 magnitude quake hit Padang on Wednesday afternoon, knocking over hundreds of buildings, but with communications cut it took officials some time to determine the extent of the destruction and loss of life.
Indonesia shaken by another quake 30 Sep 2009 The U.S. Geological Survey says another powerful earthquake has shaken western Indonesia. The 6.9 magnitude struck at 8:52 a.m. local time (0152GMT) Thursday on Sumatra island, about 180 miles (280 kilometers) from the epicenter of a more powerful quake on Wednesday.
Tsunami death toll likely to rise 01 Oct 2009 Relief workers in American Samoa and Samoa are searching for survivors after a series of tsunamis smashed into the tiny Pacific islands, killing at least 140 people and flattening villages. Images show homes ripped apart, cars submerged in the sea or lodged in trees and large fishing boats hurled ashore by the waves generated by a 8.3 magnitude quake south-west of American Samoa.
Previous lead stories: General: 400 U.S. Troops Ready to Assist Feds If Flu Virus Mutates 29 Sep 2009 Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart also told The Associated Press that as many as 400 troops are ready to go to five regional headquarters around the country to assist federal health and emergency management officials if needed as the flu season heats up. Inoculating the military is a key requirement of the Pentagon's emergency plan, as a way to ensure that troops are available to 'protect' the nation. They also will be on tap to provide help [!] to states if problems come up as the flu season continues. So far, Renuart said that between 15 and 20 troops have been dispatched to each of the five regional headquarters, to work with officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state leaders. But the military presence could rise to 80 in each regional office if needed, he said. "If you see the virus begin to mutate or have a broader affect, or pockets where the vaccine isn't available or is less effective," and the local authorities need help, the military would send the additional support, Renuart said. [The CLG has been predicting this for five years. We covered this issue long before anyone else. See: The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 and CLG's DoD to carry out 'military missions' during pandemic, WMD attack and DoD to 'augment civilian law' during pandemic or bioterror attack. --LRP]
American Police Force Corporation Takes Over Small Town Police Force and Prisoner-Less Jail 29 Sep 2009 (MT) This is the strange story of how American Police Force, a little known company which claims to specialize in training military and security forces overseas, has seemingly taken control of a $27 million, never-used jail, and a rural Montana town's nonexistent police force. After arriving in this tiny city with three Mercedes SUVs marked with the logo of a police department that has never existed, representatives of the obscure California security company said preparations were under way to take over Hardin's jail, which has no prisoners.
