Counter-terror plans will be revised to reflect Fort Hood and Afghan attacks [Wow, that was quick!] 05 Nov 2009 (UK) A soldier turning on his comrades at Fort Hood, an Afghan policeman killing the British soldiers who trained him - two uncannily similar events in two days, but incidents which, across the Western world, security authorities have been planning for and dreading. Since the Mumbai attacks counter-terrorism planning has seen a major shift. The shootings in Afghanistan and Fort Hood carry echoes of the attacks in India with the added danger that the enemy has come from within.
AP: Authorities Had Concerns About Suspect Over Internet Postings [Wow, that was quick, too!] 05 Nov 2009 Federal law enforcement officials say the suspected Fort Hood, Texas, shooter had come to their attention at least six months ago because of Internet postings that discussed suicide bombings and other threats. The officials say the postings appeared to have been made by Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who was killed during the shooting incident that left least 11 others dead and 31 wounded... The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case. One of the Web postings that authorities reviewed is a blog that equates suicide bombers with a soldier throwing himself on a grenade to save the lives of his comrades.
Two charged in Massachusetts terrorism case 05 Nov 2009 U.S. federal prosecutors have charged two men with providing material support to terrorists and other crimes, including conspiracy to kill in a foreign country and lying to law enforcement officers. Additional charges were made against Tarek Mehanna of Sudbury, Massachusetts, who was charged on October 21 of conspiracy to provide support to terrorists, the U.S. Justice Department said in a news release. Ahmad Abousamra, who currently resides in Syria, was also charged in Wednesday's 10-count indictment. Abousamra was named, but not charged, in October's filing.
Fannie Mae seeks $15B more in government aid after 3Q loss 05 Nov 2009 Fannie Mae is asking for an additional $15 billion in government aid after posting another big loss in the third quarter as the taxpayer bill from the housing market bust keeps rising. The government-controlled company continued to see a dramatic surge of borrowers fall behind as the unemployment rate climbs.
Breaking: Guy Fawkes Day attack? Gunman Kills at Least 7, Wounds 12 at Ft. Hood 05 Nov 2009 (Texas) Third Gunman has opened up on SWAT team - Fort Hood, the largest military base in the US, is under lockdown --Details forthcoming
'US officials offered me 500,000 dollars to set meeting with Taliban' US 'spending money to reach Taliban' --The US has already planned to allocate a specific budget from its annual 680 billion dollar defense bill to the Taliban. 05 Nov 2009 Washington is ready to spend a huge sum of money to start talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan, a former Pakistani lawmaker says. Javed Ibrahim Paracha, a former member of Pakistan's National Assembly said that top US diplomats contacted him in 2005 and offered him a huge sum of money to broker the talks. "US officials had offered me 500,000 dollars in that meeting for mediating. I refused that offer and had asked US officials to first take permission from the government and corps commanders," The Daily Times quoted Paracha, as saying. Paracha is known for having contacts with the Taliban leadership.
UN to evacuate staff in Afghanistan --Some 600 non-essential staffers will be moved to more secure locations while the body works to find safer permanent housing 05 Nov 2009 The United Nations is temporarily relocating more than half its staff in Afghanistan following last week's deadly Taliban attack against UN workers. The UN mission is still reeling from a pre-dawn assault on a guesthouse in the capital last week that left five UN staffers dead. The Kabul attack was the most direct targeting of UN employees during the organisation's decades of work in the country.
Two Pakistanis killed in US drone attack 04 Nov 2009 Two people have been killed as a result of a US drone missile attack in the tribal region of North Waziristan bordering Afghanistan. Pakistani intelligence officials confirmed that there were casualties in early Thursday's strike that targeted a house in a village near the town of Miranshah.
Justice Department won't appeal order to free Guantanamo detainee 03 Nov 2009 A Kuwaiti Airways engineer who the U.S. military has accused of being a key aide to Osama bin Laden has been moved to the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detention center's minimum-security section that's reserved for prisoners slated to be released. Fouad al Rabiah, who the Pentagon says was bin Laden's logistics chief during the 2001 battle at Tora Bora in Afghanistan, was transferred to Camp Iguana after the Justice Department decided not to appeal a judge's order that he be released, his civilian lawyer, David Cynamon, said Tuesday.
Italian court finds CIA agents guilty of kidnapping terrorism suspect --First prosecution for US abduction of suspects to torture states --Italian court convicts Robert Lady and 23 others in absentia 04 Nov 2009 Twenty-three Americans were tonight convicted of kidnapping by an Italian court at the end of the first trial anywhere in the world involving the CIA's "extraordinary rendition" programme for abducting terrorist suspects. The former head of the CIA in Milan Robert Lady was given an eight-year jail sentence for his part in the seizure of Osama Moustafa Hassan Nasr, known as Abu Omar, who claimed that he was subsequently tortured in Egypt. Lady's superior, Jeff Castelli, the then head of the CIA in Italy, and two other Americans were acquitted on the grounds that they enjoyed diplomatic immunity. But another 21 alleged CIA operatives and a US air force officer were each sentenced to five years in jail. All were tried in absentia and those who were convicted will be regarded as fugitives under Italian law.
CIA agents guilty of Italy kidnap --22 Americans convicted were sentenced to five years in prison, in absentia 04 Nov 2009 An Italian judge has convicted 23 Americans - all but one of them CIA agents - and two Italian secret agents of the 2003 kidnap of a Muslim cleric. The agents were accused of abducting Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, known as Abu Omar, from Milan and sending him to Egypt, where he was allegedly tortured. The trial, which began in June 2007, is the first involving the CIA's so-called "extraordinary rendition" programme. Three Americans and five Italians were acquitted by the court in Milan. The Americans were all tried in their absence after the US refused to extradite them.
Venezuelan Authorities Seize 2 Tons of Cocaine [God, the CIA's got to be hopping mad about that one!] 04 Nov 2009 Venezuelan authorities seized 1,100 kilograms (2,402 lbs.) of cocaine in an area very close to the border with Colombia, the commander of Venezuelan’s National Guard announced Wednesday. The drug was found in the Buena Vista del Meta sector in Apure state "a few kilometers from the border with Colombia, in an area of medium vegetation near the end of a clandestine landing strip," Gen. Freddy Alonso Carrion told the official ABN news agency.
Government agrees to pay $3 million in CIA lawsuit --The CIA itself was a defendant in the lawsuit until early this year. 04 Nov 2009 The government has agreed to pay $3 million to a former agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration who sued CIA officers for illegal eavesdropping. The proposed settlement followed a ruling by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth in July that CIA officials committed fraud to protect a former covert agent against the eavesdropping allegations. The lawsuit was brought by former DEA agent Richard Horn, who says his home in Rangoon, Burma, was illegally wiretapped by the CIA in 1993.
Iraq Fails to Agree on Election Law 04 Nov 2009 Iraqi lawmakers failed again to agree on national-election legislation on Wednesday, and the country's 'election' commission warned the vote—scheduled for January—would have to be delayed if the law doesn't pass this week. That ultimatum sets up Thursday's session as the last one in which Iraq's various blocs can hammer out a deal. Delaying the elections will likely require approval by a high court, because the Iraqi constitution requires the country to hold an election by the end of January.
Palestinians will prosecute Israel in ICC 04 Nov 2009 The Palestinians have warned that they will seek justice for the case of Israeli war crimes in the Gaza Strip through the International Criminal Court. Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian UN observer, urged the General Assembly on Wednesday to support a resolution that called on Israel and the Palestinians to carry out independent investigations into human rights violations during the Gaza war, AP reported.
Busy Day Four for Exercise Vigilant Guard 04 Nov 2009 The four-star general who heads the National Guard Bureau, Gen. Craig McKinley visited the Erie and Niagara counties on Wednesday, Nov. 4, as Vigilant Guard entered its forth day. Major General Joseph Taluto, the Adjutant General of New York, and commander of the New York National Guard, escorted McKinley to the exercise locations as well as the Erie County Emergency Operations Center in Cheektowaga, where he met with state, county and city emergency responders. Army and Air National Guard General's from a number of states were on hand to view the exercise and pick up lessons learned on Wednesday.
Ex-NY police chief Kerik guilty --In December 2004, George W. Bush nominated Kerik as Secretary of Homeland Security 05 Nov 2009 Former New York City police chief Bernard Kerik has pleaded guilty to lying to the White House and has also said he will admit tax crimes. Mr Kerik, who was police commissioner at the time of the 9/11 attacks in 2001, was facing a corruption trial. He had his bail revoked two weeks ago for passing on secret pre-trial documents and has been in prison since. He was charged with lying to the White House in 2004 while being considered for a job as homeland security chief.
Secret copyright treaty leaks. It's bad. Very bad. By Cory Doctorow 03 Nov 2009 The internet chapter of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, a secret copyright treaty whose text Obama's administration refused to disclose due to "national security" concerns, has leaked. It's bad. It says that: *ISPs have to proactively police copyright on user-contributed material. *ISPs have to cut off the Internet access of accused copyright infringers or face liability. *The whole world must adopt US-style "notice-and-takedown" rules that require ISPs to remove any material that is accused -- again, without evidence or trial -- of infringing copyright. This has proved a disaster in the US and other countries, where it provides an easy means of censoring material, just by accusing it of infringing copyright. *Mandatory prohibitions on breaking DRM, even if doing so for a lawful purpose...
Goldman Sachs Received H1N1 Vaccine Before Several Hospitals 05 Nov 2009 As noted on The Today Show this morning, several banks have been among the early recipients of H1N1 vaccine, allowing them to get ahead of hospitals in some instances. The story was originally broken by BusinessWeek this week. Goldman Sachs has received 200 doses in total -- the exact same as Lennox Hill hospital. Health officials say corporate partners are always part of the distribution of any vaccine. [Not to mention, the pandemic itself. --LRP]
World first as swine flu found in US cat 04 Nov 2009 Vets in the US state of Iowa said Wednesday that a household cat had tested positive for swine flu -- the first known case in the world of the new pandemic strain spreading to the feline population. The 13-year-old male domestic shorthair apparently caught A(H1N1) from its owners -- two of the three members of the family had previously contracted the virus.
Universal Health Care Protesters Arrested at Lieberman's Office 05 Nov 2009 Protesters backing a universal health care system occupied Sen. Joe LieberBush's office this morning. Protesters were arrested, one by one, and dragged out of his office amid chants of "Everyone in and no one out, universal healthcare now!" and "Represent Connecticut, not AETNA!" The whole affair, from occupation to final arrest, lasted 40 minutes. Lieberman, the Connecticut Israel Independent, has said he will join Republicans to filibuster a Democratic health bill if it contains a public health insurance option to operate alongside the private insurance market.
CLG: ABC Series 'V': Invading, Fascist Lizards Arrive With 'Universal Health Care' and 'Message of Hope' --ABC Network Portrays Aliens, Hell-bent on Destroying Planet Earth, as the Obama Administration By Lori Price 04 Nov 2009 The ABC television network has brought back the science fiction series, 'V,' in a remake of the 1980's classic by the same name... During the interview, interspersed with scenes from a meeting of a nascent resistance movement, Anna, the Visitors' leader, announces that the Visitors 'want to provide complete medical services for all.' The interviewer actually asks, 'You're talking about universal health care?' And Anna, the scourge of mankind, replies, 'Yes, I believe that's what you call it.' The implication by the ABC producers of 'V': An alien lizard fascist, trying to take control of earth and who must be destroyed at any cost, will provide universal health care as a cover to control all earthlings and to take over the planet.
House Votes to Expand Homebuyer Tax Credit 05 Nov 2009 Buying a home is about to get cheaper for a whole new crop of homebuyers -- $6,500 cheaper. First-time homebuyers have been getting tax credits of up to $8,000 since January as part of the economic stimulus package enacted earlier this year. But with the program scheduled to expire at the end of November, the House voted 403-12 Thursday to extend and expand the tax credit to include many buyers who already own homes. The Senate approved the measure Wednesday, and President Barack Obama is expected to sign it.
U.S. Senate approves unemployment extension 04 Nov 2009 The U.S. Senate voted unanimously tonight to extend unemployment benefits by as much as 14 weeks to out-of-work Americans, including about 100,000 Michiganders who have exhausted their jobless benefits or would do so by year’s end.
Prejean Sex Tape Triggers Settlement 04 Nov 2009 Carrie Prejean demanded more than a million dollars during her settlement negotiations with Miss California USA Pageant officials -- that is, until the lawyer for the Pageant showed Carrie an triple x home video of her handiwork. The video the lawyer showed Carrie is extremely graphic and has never been released publicly. We know that, because TMZ obtained the video months ago but decided not to post it because it was so racy... We're told it took about 15 seconds for Carrie to jettison her demand and essentially walk away with nothing.
Previous lead stories: FBI knew of CIA torture, considered prosecution By Tom Eley 04 Nov 2009 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents witnessed the torture of inmates at secret Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) overseas prisons in 2002, according to documents partially declassified in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the advocacy group Judicial Watch. In September 2002, the FBI agents saw prisoners chained naked to chairs, "manacled to the ceiling and subjected to blaring music around the clock," and knew of written orders to CIA agents asking them to compare "How close is each [interrogation] technique to the 'rack and screw' " (an extreme method of torture). The Obama administration resisted release of the documents, and continues to withhold critical information, including a transcript of an interview between FBI Director Robert Mueller and investigators on the question of "terror suspect" interrogations.
US Offers Taliban 6 Provinces for 8 Bases 02 Nov 2009 The emboldened Taliban movement in Afghanistan turned down an American offer of power-sharing in exchange for accepting the presence of foreign troops, Afghan government sources confirmed. "US negotiators had offered the Taliban leadership through Mullah Wakil Ahmed Mutawakkil (former Taliban foreign minister) that if they accept the presence of NATO troops in Afghanistan, they would be given the governorship of six provinces in the south and northeast," a senior Afghan Foreign Ministry official told IslamOnline.net requesting anonymity for not being authorized to talk about the sensitive issue with the media. He said the talks, brokered by Saudi Arabia and Turkey, continued for weeks at different locations including the Afghan capital Kabul. [See: Persistent accounts: Western forces in Afghanistan using their helicopters to ferry Taleban fighters By Ahmad Kawoosh 26 Oct 2009.]
