Afghan anger over NATO Koran burning in Kandahar 13 Jan 2010 Protesters alleging that foreign troops burned a copy of the Koran have clashed with Afghan and coalition troops in Helmand province, police say. They said that at least six people were killed in the violence which took place in Garmsir district. Violence erupted on Tuesday in the Garmsir district over rumours that Nato-led forces had defiled a copy of the Muslim holy book during a military operation, local residents and police said.
Afghan protesters killed as security forces open fire 13 Jan 2010 At least six people were killed when security forces opened fire during a protest against international troops in southern Afghanistan yesterday, Afghan officials said, in the latest in a string of demonstrations fuelled by resentment of foreign forces. News agencies quoted Afghan officials as saying at least 10 people were also wounded in the clash involving Afghan security forces in Helmand province, sparked by allegations that foreign troops had destroyed copies of the Quran.
Haiti earthquake: witnesses describe scenes of devastation 13 Jan 2010 Eyewitnesses have described the scenes of devastation after a massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The tremor sparked widespread panic as it brought down buildings including the presidential palace, hotels, a hospital and the UN headquarters in the capital Port-au-Prince, leaving hundreds of people feared dead.
Health bill may be lenient on employers --Killing off the strong employer mandate in the House version would represent a substantial victory for business lobbies. 13 Jan 2010 Democratic leaders negotiating a compromise health care bill appear likely to reject a House provision requiring employers to offer generous coverage to their workers or else pay a steep payroll tax, specialist say. The handful of moderate Senate DemocRATs who hold the political upper hand in shaping the final bill are expected to insist on hewing much closer to the Senate’s relatively lenient approach, which does not include a strong requirement that employers offer coverage.
Iraq invasion violated international law, Dutch inquiry finds --Investigation into the Netherlands' support for 2003 war finds military action was not justified under UN resolutions 12 Jan 2010 The invasion of Iraq in 2003 was a violation of international law, an independent inquiry in the Netherlands has found. In a damning series of findings on the decision of the Dutch government to support Tony Blair and George Bush in the strategy of regime change in Iraq, the inquiry found the action had "no basis in international law". The 551-page report, published today and chaired by former Dutch supreme court judge Willibrord Davids, said UN resolutions in the 1990s prior to the outbreak of war gave no authority to the invasion.
Campbell: Blair wrote letters to Bush in 2002 saying 'we are with you' on Iraq --Letters raised prospect of British military backing for US, Tony Blair's former director of communications tells Chilcot inquiry 12 Jan 2010 Tony Blair wrote a series of private letters to George Bush in 2002 assuring him "we are absolutely with you" in making sure Iraq disarmed and raising the prospect of British military backing, Alastair Campbell said today. But the former Downing Street director of communications, giving evidence to the Chilcot inquiry into the war, said that the then-prime minister was hopeful of a peaceful resolution until the eve of the 2003 invasion.
US think tank seeks to connect Iran, Yemen, Qaeda 12 Jan 2010 A report says a high-profile neoconservative think tank in the United States is reportedly working to establish a link between Iran, the Yemeni opposition groups and al-Qaeda militants. The alleged connection between Iran, the Shia Houthi fighters in northern Yemen, the Yemeni separatists in the south and the militants has been the subject of discussions between Chris Harnisch and Frederick Kagan, two scholars at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI).
Occupiers kill several Afghans at demo, locals say 13 Jan 2010 Locals say troops of the US-led alliance have killed at least eight Afghan civilians at a demonstration organized to protest against the alliance forces' desecration of the Holy Quran. The mortalities were caused by fire from the alliance forces during the demonstration, which about 2,000 people attended, in the southern province of Helmand, locals said on Tuesday, the German news agency DPA reported. Residents said the troops had stormed a house and destroyed copies of the Muslim holy book in a local mosque in the province's Garmsir district on Sunday. "We have proof that they destroyed our Holy Quran. We can show it to [President Hamid] Karzai's government or the foreign forces," said resident Habibullah Jan.
'Afghan and international forces opened fire on us.' 'Afghan deaths in Nato firing' 13 Jan 2010 Villagers in southern Afghanistan have claimed that Afghan and Nato forces killed 13 demonstrators after a group of people took to the streets to protest the alleged desecration of the Quran. Residents in Garmsir district of Helmand province on Tuesday said that Nato-led forces raided a house in the area on Sunday and destroyed copies of the holy book in a local mosque. Haji Abdul Manan, one of the protesters, told the German Press Agency, DPA: "The people came out of their homes today to protest this action of foreign forces in a peaceful way, but the Afghan and international forces opened fire on us." He said more than 20 others were wounded in the firing.
Pentagon puts 3,100 troops on Afghanistan deployment list 13 Jan 2010 The Pentagon announced the latest troop deployment for Afghanistan on Tuesday, a move aimed at ensuring that the bulk of additional forces requested by President Obama will be in place this summer. The Defense Department said 3,100 troops, most from the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division based at Ft. Hood, Texas, would deploy to Afghanistan sometime this summer. With the announcement, the Pentagon has issued deployment orders for about 25,000 of the 30,000 additional troops approved by the Obama administration.
Iran accuses US, Israel in nuclear scientist murder 12 Jan 2010 Iran's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that it has found traces of US and Israel's involvement in the assassination of an Iranian nuclear physics scientist. Professor Massoud Ali-Mohammadi, a lecturer at Tehran University, was killed by a booby-trapped motorbike blast in the Iranian capital earlier in the day. The explosion took place near the professor's home in the Qeytariyeh neighborhood of northern Tehran... Mohammad Marandi, a professor at Tehran University, told Press TV that Ali-Mohammadi's colleagues at the capital's most prestigious university believe the attack was orchestrated by the West.
Iraq forces detain 25 suspects, seize explosives in Baghdad 12 Dec 2010 Iraqi security forces detained 25 'insurgent' suspects and seized explosives and mortar bombs during massive operations in Baghdad early on Tuesday, a military spokesman said. Qassim Atta, spokesman for Baghdad Operations Command, said in a statement that his troops confiscated 200 kg of C4 explosives, 200 kg of TNT, 60 mortar rounds and some 250 litre of ammonium nitrate which is used for making bombs during the search operations conducted early Tuesday morning.
Iraqis say they were forced to take Blackwater settlement 11 Jan 2010 Several victims of a 2007 shooting involving American private security guards employed by the firm formerly known as Blackwater alleged Sunday that they were coerced into reaching settlements, and they demanded that the Iraqi government intervene to have the agreements nullified. The Iraqis said they were pressured by their own attorneys into accepting what they now believe are inadequate settlements because they were told the company was about to file for bankruptcy, that its chairman was going to be arrested and that the U.S. government was about to confiscate all of the firm's assets. This would be their last chance to get any compensation, the victims said they were told.
Federal Judge Orders Release of Sealed Court Papers in Blackwater Case 11 Jan 2010 A federal judge in Washington is planning to release hundreds of pages of transcripts from sealed hearings in the government’s prosecution of five former Blackwater Worldwide security guards, saying there is no justification for keeping the information secret indefinitely. Judge Ricardo Urbina of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said in a ruling Jan. 7 that the transcripts, from three weeks of closed-door hearings in October, will be released to the public Feb. 2--the day after the deadline for the Justice Department to file an appeal in the case to challenge the dismissal of charges.
US veterans committing suicide at higher rate 12 Jan 2010 Young male veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have been committing suicide at a higher rate. The Veterans Affairs Department in the US has said data collected from 18 to 29-year-old male veterans has shown a significant increase in the rate of suicides, which went up 26 percent between 2005 and 2007. In 2005, the rate per 100,000 veterans among men ages 18-29 was 44.99, compared with 56.77 in 2007.
Venezuela to reinforce troops on Colombia border with Russian tanks 11 Jan 2010 Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has announced plans for the deployment of new Russian-made tanks and combat helicopters on the border with Colombia. Ties between Venezuela and Colombia deteriorated last August after Washington signed a deal with Bogota allowing U.S. forces to run anti-drug operations from Colombian bases. Chavez has criticized the deal and called for the Venezuelan people and army to prepare for a war.
Court extends remand of cops who allegedly beat Palestinian 12 Jan 2010 Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court on Tuesday extended the remand of four Tel Aviv policemen who were arrested yesterday for allegedly assaulting a Palestinian detainee. According to the Justice Ministry's Police Investigations Department, new evidence has emerged in the investigation which ties the three officers to the crime. The Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court extended their detention by four days.
Expert: CIA missed glaring red flags on double-agent bomber 12 Jan 2010 A Jordanian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said last week that authorities in Jordan arrested Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi more than a year ago, but released him because of a lack of evidence. Al-Balawi had written about his arrest on his blog, and ignoring that was another fatal error by the intelligence agencies, sources said.
Obama Establishes Council of Governors to Advise DoD, DHS on 'Civil Support Missions' --'The President shall establish a bipartisan Council of Governors to advise the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the White House Homeland Security Council on matters related to the National Guard and civil support missions.' 11 Jan 2010 The President today signed an Executive Order establishing a Council of Governors to strengthen further the partnership between the Federal Government and State Governments to protect our Nation against all types of hazards. When appointed, the Council will be reviewing such matters as involving the National Guard of the various States; homeland defense; civil support; synchronization and integration of State and Federal military activities in the United States; and other matters of mutual interest pertaining to National Guard, homeland defense, and civil support activities.
Sec. 2. Functions. The Council shall meet at the call of the Secretary of Defense or the Co-Chairs of the Council to exchange views, information, or advice with the Secretary of Defense; the Secretary of Homeland Security; the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism; the Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement; the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security Affairs; the Commander, United States Northern Command; the Chief, National Guard Bureau; the Commandant of the Coast Guard; and other appropriate officials of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense, and appropriate officials of other executive departments or agencies as may be designated by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Suspect in Northwest Airlines bomb attack had round-trip ticket --It had been widely reported that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab had a one-way fare. Obama administration officials brief congressional aides on the Christmas Day attack. 12 Jan 2010 The alleged Christmas Day airline bomber had purchased a round-trip ticket -- not a one- way fare, as has been widely reported -- the Obama administration told congressional aides in a closed briefing Tuesday. According to a person who attended the meeting, the administration also said it was not unusual for international air travelers to buy their tickets using cash, as Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab had done.
Passenger On 'Do Not Board' List Flies From PIA 12 Jan 2010 The Centers for Disease Control said a passenger with tuberculosis has been detained after boarding a flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco despite being on a "do-not-board" list. [?!?] CDC officials said the passenger was detained and taken to a local hospital after a U.S. Airways flight arrived in San Francisco Saturday night. The unidentified male passenger was apparently placed on a do-not-board list submitted to the TSA and CDC on January 8, 2010.
Stop and search powers illegal, European court rules --Judges in Strasbourg say UK powers under Terrorism Act 2000 violate convention on human rights 12 Jan 2010 The ability of UK police to use "arbitrary" counter-terror stop and search powers against peace protesters and photographers lay in tatters today after a landmark ruling by the European court of human rights. The Strasbourg court ruled it was unlawful for police to use the powers, under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, to stop and search people without needing any grounds for suspicion. The use of these powers has grown fourfold, from 33,177 times in 2004 to more than 117,200 in 2008.
The fight against full-body scanners at airports --'We don't need to look at naked 8-year-olds and grandmothers to secure airplanes,' a lawmaker says. TSA is adding machines to screen more passengers, much to the chagrin of privacy advocates. 13 Jan 2010 The government has promised more and better security at airports following the near-disaster on Christmas Day, but privacy advocates are not prepared to accept the use of full-body scanners as the routine screening system. Privacy concerns slowed the move to put more body-imaging scanners in the airports. Currently, 19 airports have at least one scanner in use. The Transportation Security Administration had already announced plans to buy 300 devices, and is likely to purchase more.
Many Caribbean, Latin America airports lack safety zones 12 Jan 2010 Many of the busiest airports in the Caribbean and Latin America lack basic safety features that could have prevented the recent crash of an American Airlines jet in Jamaica, according to pilots, aviation safety experts and public documents... As a result of a string of similar crashes in this country, Congress and U.S. regulators have required airports to install safety zones at the end of each runway by 2015 to minimize the chances of damage when a jet skids off the pavement.
North Carolina port closed by hazardous scare --9 containers with potentially explosive materials are punctured 12 Jan 2010 Officials shut down a North Carolina port and a stretch of highway and urged people to leave the area Tuesday after nine containers with highly explosive materials were punctured. Morehead City Police Chief Wes Lail told WTVD that the chemical involved is pentaerythritol tetranitrate, a powerful explosive, also known as PETN. It's not clear what form the chemical was in.
Thousands feared dead as huge earthquake destroys UN headquarters in Haiti 13 Jan 2010 Thousands of people were feared dead after a powerful earthquake measuring 7.0 rocked the impoverished Caribbean nation of Haiti last night, toppling buildings and causing widespread damage and panic. The United Nations headquarters was one of scores of buildings that were toppled, including the presidential palace, government buildings and a cathedral. Roads and bridges also lay in ruins. Communications were widely disrupted, making it impossible to get a clear picture of the damage as violent aftershocks shook the country, where many buildings are flimsy. Electricity was lost in some places.
Fears of huge death toll as earthquake rocks Haiti --Presidential palace and hospital among buildings reported to have collapsed 13 Jan 2010 A devastating earthquake struck the impoverished Caribbean nation of Haiti last night, causing what first reports said was widespread damage in the densely populated capital of Port-au-Prince with one hospital among numerous buildings said to have collapsed. Part of the national palace, which is home to Haiti's first family, had also collapsed... Early reports suggested the numbers hurt and killed could turn out to be very significant.
SEC order helps maintain AIG bailout mystery --SEC agreed with AIG to keep some bailout terms sealed 11 Jan 2010 It could take until November 2018 to get the full story behind the U.S. bailout of insurance giant American International Group because of an action taken last year by the Securities and Exchange Commission. In May, the SEC approved a request by AIG to keep secret an exhibit to a year-old regulatory filing that includes some of the details on the most controversial aspect of the AIG bailout: the funneling of tens of billions of dollars to big banks like Societe Generale, Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank and Merrill Lynch. The SEC's Division of Corporation Finance, in granting AIG's request for confidential treatment, said the "excluded information" will not be made public until Nov. 25, 2018, according to a copy of the agency's May 22 order.
Emails implicate Treasury Secretary Geithner in cover-up of AIG deal to bail out the banks By Barry Grey 12 Jan 2010 A financial scandal has erupted that implicates Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in efforts to conceal the funneling of $62 billion in taxpayer funds to 16 large banks as part of the government bailout of the insurance giant American International Group (AIG). The revelations coincide with the imminent announcement by the big US banks of their profits and year-end bonuses for 2009. Most of the major banks are expected to report huge profits--in the case of Goldman Sachs, its highest profits ever--and combined bonuses of $30 billion or more.
US must cut spending to save AAA rating, warns Fitch 12 Jan 2010 Fitch Ratings has issued the starkest warning to date that the US will lose its AAA credit rating unless acts to bring the budget deficit under control, citing a spiral in debt service costs and dependence on foreign lenders. Brian Coulton, the agency's head of sovereign ratings, said the US is shielded for now by its pivotal role in global finance and the dollar's status as the key reserve currency, but the picture is deteriorating fast enough to ring alarm bells.
'Was her head really that empty?' --Chris Matthews on Sarah Palin, Tuesday's 'Hardball.' Senile coward John McInsane *forgets* that he picked this dimwitted bimbo (and polar bear killing-terrorist) under the rubric of 'Country First.'
McCain complains of 'double standard' for Reid 12 Jan 2010 The GOP's 2008 presidential candidate decried Tuesday what he called a "stunning double standard" between the treatment of a top Democrat and Republican leader caught making racially insensitive remarks. Sen. John McCain of Arizona ripped the decision among most leading Democrats largely to dismiss the recent revelation that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said in 2008 that Barack Obama could succeed as a black presidential candidate partly because of his "light-skinned" appearance and speaking patterns "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."
McCain Voted Against Creating Martin Luther King Holiday. (Color Of Change) In 1983, McCain voted against a motion to suspend the rules and pass a bill to designate the third Monday of every January as a federal holiday in honor of the late civil rights leader, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The motion passed 89-77. [HR 3706, Vote 289, 8/2/83; CQ 1983]
The Complicated History of John McCain and MLK Day 03 Apr 2008 Tomorrow Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., will honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by speaking in Memphis on the 40th anniversary of King's assassination. He will no doubt sound a bit different than he did in April 1987, when McCain was interviewed by USA Today about his five and a half years as a P.O.W. Could you keep up with what was going on in the world? He was asked. "They never gave us any meaningful news," McCain said. "They told us the day that Martin Luther King was shot, they told us the day that Bobby Kennedy was shot, but they never bothered to tell us about the moon shot. So it was certainly selected news." Surely the John McCain of 2008 would not hold that the assassinations of King and Kennedy were not "meaningful."
Previous lead stories: Blackwater/Xe mercs arrive in Somalia, Al-Shabab says --There are also allegations of US-sponsored bomb plots in the capital. 12 Jan 2010 At least 18 people have been killed in clashes between rival factions in southern and central Somalia, and there are reports that Blackwater/Xe mercenaries have entered the country. A battle broke out between the pro-government Ahlu Sunnah militia and Hizbul Islam fighters in the town of Baladwayne on Sunday and went well into Monday, during which at least 13 people lost their lives, witnesses said... There are also allegations of US-sponsored bomb plots in the capital. The bombings will be carried out in order to create a pretext to launch a campaign against Al-Shabab, a spokesman of the group, Sheikh Ali Mohammed Rage, told Reuters. "We have discovered that US agencies are going to launch suicide bombings in public places in Mogadishu," he told reporters. "They have tried it in Algeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan… We warn of these disasters. They want to target Bakara Market and mosques, then use that to malign us." At a meeting with tribal elders in Mogadishu on Monday, the Al-Shabab spokesman said that mercenaries of the Xe private security firm -- formerly known as Blackwater -- have arrived in the Somali capital, the Press TV correspondent in Mogadishu reported on Monday.
Iran diplomat says was tortured in US custody 11 Jan 2010 An Iranian diplomat who was detained by the US military in Iraq and held for more than two years, says that he was tortured while in American custody. Majid Qaemi-Heydari was among the five Iranian diplomats who were abducted by American forces in a raid on Iran's consulate in Arbil on January 11, 2007. In an interview with Fars News Agency, Heydari said the behavior of his American captors was worse than the violence they showed against Iraqis. "They had put covers on our heads, they cuffed our hands," he said adding that the soldiers were later criticized for not cuffing the diplomat's hands behind them.
