Masked Gunmen Rule in Damascus: Video

By RT

In many parts of the county it is not clear who is actually in control. The situation is certainly very dangerous for civilians. Continue

The Human Rights “Success” In Libya

By Glenn Greenwald

When the West invokes human rights concerns to justify an attack on a dictator whom it has long tolerated (and often even supported), that is rather compelling evidence that human rights is the packaging for the war, not the goal. Continue

Israeli Assassinations and US Presidents

By Alison Weir

There is evidence that in 1991 an Israeli undercover team planned to assassinate a U.S. President. The intended victim was George Herbert Walker Bush. Continue

The Fruit that Did Not Fall
The 'idiocy and ignorance' of US Republican race

By Fidel Castro

News from Spain, France, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Syria, England, the Malvinas and several other parts of the planet are serious and all foretell political and economic disaster due to the foolhardiness of the United States and its allies. Continue

Not a Peep About the President's Praise for War

By Laura Flanders

It's chilling to see just how few hits the president takes for couching his entire address in unqualified celebration of the US military. Continue

Mind Control: Weapon of Mass Persuasion

Must watch 3 minute video

"We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of." Click to view

Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media

Video
How government and big media businesses cooperate to produce an effective propaganda machine in order to manipulate the opinions of the United States populace. Continue

Banks Weren’t Meant to Be Like This

By Michael Hudson

The urgent issue is who will control the economy: governments, or the financial sector and monopolies with which it has made an alliance. Continue

Free-Market Medicine: A Personal Account

By Michael Parenti

When I recently went to Alta Bates hospital for surgery, I discovered that legal procedures take precedence over medical ones. Continue

The Shame and Pride of Joining Food Stamp Nation

By Christopher D. Cook

I call myself frayed white collar—part of the privileged poor. Continue

How Swedes and Norwegians Broke the Power of the ‘1 Percent’

By George Lakey

Both countries had a history of horrendous poverty. When the 1 percent was in charge, hundreds of thousands of people emigrated to avoid starvation. Continue

50 killed in Syria as Arabs go to U.N.: An Arab League team is to take the 10-month-old crisis in Syria to the U.N. Security Council, as activists said almost 50 people were killed in unrest Thursday, including 10 children.

UN Security Council convenes after 37 killed in Syria: Syrian activists and residents say security forces killed 37 people in Homs today as locals mourned 14 members of a family they said were slain by militiamen in one of the worst sectarian attacks in a revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.

AL Stance towards Syria Serves the West and U.S., Russia Won't Give up Support for Syria: – Head of the Moscow-based Academy of Geopolitical Sciences Leonid Ivashov criticized the stance of the Arab League, especially the Gulf Countries, towards Syria, Libya and Iran, stressing that they adopt a policy which serves the interests of the West and the U.S.A.

Russia to promote its own Syria resolution at U.N.: The remarks indicated that a Western-Arab draft resolution supporting a plan for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step aside will be a tough sell for Russia, a veto-wielding council member, but he did not rule out a compromise.

Putin Says U.S. Seeks `Vassals` Not Allies : The U.S. “wants to control everything” and takes decisions unilaterally on key questions, Putin said on a campaign stop yesterday in the Siberian city of Tomsk, 3,100 kilometers (1,900 miles) east of Moscow. “Sometimes I get the impression the U.S. doesn’t need allies, it needs vassals.”

Saudi Arabia to recognize Syrian National Council: report: Saudi Arabia will recognize the Syrian National Council as the "official representative" of the Syrian people, a senior member of the opposition group said in remarks published on Friday.

Suicide bomber kills 31 in Baghdad attack: A suicide bomber detonated his explosive-filled taxi near a Shi'ite funeral procession in Baghdad on Friday, killing 31 people and bringing the death toll from violence since an Iraqi political crisis erupted in December to more than 400.

Fifteen killed in Iraq attacks: At least 15 people were killed Thursday in a series of attacks across Iraq, said security sources, despite an attempted crackdown by the authorities on suspected insurgents, dpa reported.

Iraq says to take legal action for Haditha victims: Iraq plans legal action on behalf of families of victims killed by U.S. troops in a 2005 massacre after the last soldier involved was spared jail time by a guilty plea with military authorities, a government spokesman said Thursday.

Sectarian clashes kill 22 in Yemen: At least 22 people were killed in clashes between rebels and fighters from an Islamist group in a province under rebel control in rugged northern Yemen, tribal sources said on Thursday.

20 "militants" killed in Pakistan : At least 20 militants were killed and 22 Pakistani soldiers injured in a gun-battle in the northwest tribal region early Thursda

Bomber targets NATO occupation force convoy in Afghanistan; 4 killed: Three Afghan civilians were killed Thursday when a suicide bomber targeted a convoy of the NATO-led force in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province, according to officials.

Bahrain confirms teen died in police custody: Government doesn't say how 18-year-old died in hospital, but an opposition leader claims cause of death was torture.

'Bahraini forces attack mourners': The demonstrators had gathered to mourn the deaths of four Bahrainis killed by regime forces in the past 24 hours.

Libyan detainees tortured to Death: : Several people have died after being tortured by militias in Libyan detention centres, human rights group Amnesty International has said.

Detainees held by Libya rebels still tortured-UN: "The lack of oversight by the central authorities creates an environment conducive to torture and ill-treatment," Pillay said. "My staff have received alarming reports that this is happening in places of detention that they have visited."

Aid group halts work in Libya over 'torture': Medecins Sans Frontieres suspends work in Misrata prisons where doctors are asked to "patch up tortured detainees".

In Libya, rebels still dominate Tripoli streets: Many of the fighters say they will respect only an elected government and do not recognize the authority claimed by the unelected, transitional government.

Retaliation for EU Sanctions: Iran Set to Turn Off Oil Supply to Europe: The European Union embargo on Iranian oil will only come into effect in six months, but the leadership in Tehran wants to act first: Exports to Europe are set to be halted immediately. It is a move which could mean added difficulties for struggling economies in southern Europe.

'No one can sell oil if Iran cannot': "In the absence of Iranian supply, oil prices will go up and they (the Western states) know it; However, Iran will never allow itself to be in a situation in which it cannot sell oil but other regional states can," Ali Akbar Velayati, senior adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, told Press TV

Halt in Iran oil could push crude up 30%: IMF: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned on Wednesday that global crude prices could rise as much as 30 per cent if Iran halts oil exports as a result of United States (US) and European Union (EU) sanctions.

U.S. to deploy more warships to Gulf in March: The U.S. plans to deploy a third convoy of warships led by USS Enterprise to the Gulf in March.

‘Massive’ Blockade Needed to Stop Iran Threat, Israeli Finance Minister : - A “massive” aerial and naval blockade of Iran, reminiscent of the 1962 U.S. quarantine of Cuba, is needed to stop the Islamic regime from pursuing nuclear weapons

'Senior IDF officer told cabinet Israel cannot stop Iran's nuclear program': Time Magazine quotes Israeli defense official as saying that Israel can only delay Tehran's nuclear program by several months, at most a year.

Will Israel Attack Iran?: (And If It Does, Can It Really Stop Tehran’s Nuclear Program?): In the effort to stir global action against the Iranian nuclear program, Israel has played its hand brilliantly.

'Israel must have credible military option on Iran': Former IDF chief of staff Ashkenazi says "everything that can be done under the radar" must be done, alongside "painful, crippling sanctions."

Engineering Consent For An Attack On Iran : Netanyahu cites Holocaust lesson in dealing with Iran: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing the lessons of the Nazi Holocaust and the danger a nuclear-armed Iran, said on Tuesday that Israel must not shy from acting alone to thwart any threat to its existence.

What are the experts saying about Iran?: Video - J Street is today releasing a video featuring the views of former Mossad Directors Ephraim Halevy and Meier Dagan, former Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, and Middle East advisor to six U.S. Secretaries of State Aaron David Miller, among others, who have sought to challenge the facile assumptions and rhetoric of those arguing for war.

Palestinian leader Barghuti demands 1967 borders: "The conflict will be finished the moment the Israeli occupation ends, and there is a full withdrawal to the 1967 borders and a Palestinian state is established," he said in Hebrew at Jerusalem Magistrates Court.

Water for all: The case for a one-state solution: Many academics, such as Rashid Khalidi, point to the fact that a de facto one-state reality has already emerged, with different classes of citizenship designated for Israeli Jews, Israeli Arabs, and Palestinians; effectively constituting an apartheid system.

What the Adelsons will want for their money: Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and his wife Miriam have transformed the Republican primary by pumping $10 million into a pro-Newt Gingrich super PAC, thereby enabling his surge against Mitt Romney. So it’s surprising that comments Gingrich made last week about what the Adelsons expect in exchange for their money haven’t gotten more attention.

Egypt Bars Son of U.S. Official From Leaving: The Egyptian authorities have blocked the son of a United States cabinet member and at least five other American employees of two Washington-backed nongovernmental organizations from leaving Egypt in an apparent escalation of a politically charged criminal investigation into foreign-financed groups promoting "democracy".

Talks Signal Possible US Return to Philippines: Officials involved in preliminary negotiations said the two governments are favorably inclined toward such an arrangement -- which would come about two decades after the United States had to close its bases in the Philippines.

Papua New Guinea military coup fails: Government troops regain control of army barracks and top military commander is released but peace remains fragile

Julia Gillard `rescued` amid Australia Day protests : Australian PM Julia Gillard and leader of the opposition Tony Abbott had to be rescued by riot police after angry protesters surrounded them.

Fidel Castro Calls for LatAm Unity in Opposition to FTA: Fidel Castro described as disastrous the Free Trade Agreement the White House tries to impose on Latin America, as it did with Mexico

EU countries sign unpopular anti-counterfeit treaty: The international treaty was created in behind-closed-doors talks between EU countries and select other World Trade Organisation members over the past five years to enforce intellectual property rights on both digital and physical products.

New drone has no pilot anywhere, so who's accountable?: ith the drone's ability to be flown autonomously by onboard computers, it could usher in an era when death and destruction can be dealt by machines operating semi-independently.

'Predictive policing' could come to UK: A pioneering technique to predict crime before it happens could be imported from the United States to this country, a senior British police chief said yesterday.

U.S. Drops in Press Freedom Rankings: Last year, the United States came in 20th. After 2011, however, the United States finds itself tied for 47th place with Romania and Argentina on the list, which is compiled by Reporters Without Borders

Security video shows police lied about Rand Paul’s behavior: Although police described him as “being irate” in an incident report, footage published Thursday shows Paul sitting calmly inside an airport checkpoint, and occasionally picking up his phone.

Tom DeLay: Newt Gingrich Was ‘Erratic, Undisciplined’: Former Speaker of The House Tom DeLay tells syndicated radiothat Newt Gingrich isn't a true conservative, and compares him with Bill Clinton:

Top Justice officials connected to mortgage banks: U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Lanny Breuer, head of the Justice Department's criminal division, were partners for years at a Washington law firm that represented a Who's Who of big banks and other companies at the center of alleged foreclosure fraud, a Reuters inquiry shows.

FDA Panelists Had Ties to Bayer: Food and Drug Administration advisers, in a recent vote, said the benefits of four popular Bayer AG birth-control pills outweigh the blood-clot risk. What the FDA didn't disclose is that three of the advisers have had ties to Bayer, serving as consultants, speakers or researchers.

January 25, 2011

US/Israel: Iran NOT Building Nukes

By Ray McGovern

America’s newspaper of record won’t even report accurately what Israel (or the CIA) thinks on this important issue, if that goes against the alarmist conventional wisdom that the neocons favor. Continue

Bring on the Sanctions. Send in the Clowns

By Robert Fisk

We've been here before – and it suits Israel that we never forget 'Nuclear Iran'. Continue

Pups on Parade
EU Obediently Pushes Toward War with Iran

By Chris Floyd

The aim of this endless string of sanctions, this constant tightening of the noose, is not more "negotiations." It is regime change, by any means necessary. Continue

The Reality Behind the Coming "Regime Change" in Syria

By Shamus Cooke

This is the strategy that the U.S. is using to channel the Arab Spring into the bloody dead end of foreign military intervention. Continue

U.S. Fueling Human Rights Abuses in Colombia

By Dan Kovalik

Human Rights Watch (HRW) just released its annual human rights report on Colombia, and it is not pretty. Continue

What Kind of Christianity Is This?

By Gary G. Kohls

Christianity has justified some of the most brutal slaughters in human history, from the wars of the late Roman Empire to the Crusades to the Inquisition to world wars to genocides against “heathens,” Muslims and Jews. Continue

Occupying Libido
Negotiating a Landscape of Hypocrisy and Hungry Ghosts

By Phil Rockstroh

Newt Gingrich's booty calls are forgivable. Stones shall not be cast. His transgressions humanize him and the balms of forgiveness of Christian believers rising from this sin-buffeted earth cause the Baby Jesus to coo into the dawn of a coming golden age. Continue

Occupy Movement Exposes Uncomfortable Facts

By Ross T. Runfola

The savage corporate plunder that led to our current recession, seems to have exploded for all time the belief in the existence of a harmonious, prosperous society. Continue

From Cloud Cuckoo Land
Obama 2012 State Of The Union Address

- Video -

Lies, Arrogance, Hypocrisy, Ignorance and ..... Continue

19 killed in clashes between soldiers and militants in Pakistani agency: At least six soldiers and thirteen militants were killed and several others were wounded in clashes between the two sides in a Pakistani tribal agency, bordering Afghanistan.

Pakistan: Senate session: Shoot down US drones, urge lawmakers: Senators across party lines urging the government first and foremost to implement the recommendation of the parliamentary committee on national security to shoot down US Predators entering Pakistani territory. They were lodging their protest over the recent drone strikes in North Waziristan which allegedly killed innocent citizens.

British Occupation Force Soldier Killed in Southern Afghanistan: The British Ministry of Defence said the death of the soldier, from 200 Signals Squadron, at a Nato patrol base in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province was not thought to be the result of hostile action.

U.S. envoy in Kabul denies partition rumours: A senior American diplomat has issued an unusually blunt denial of rumours of a U.S. plan to break up Afghanistan as part of a peace deal with the Taliban.

9 killed as U.S. military frees hostages in Somalia: U.S. Special Forces troops flew into Somalia on a nighttime helicopter raid early Wednesday, freed an American and a Danish hostage and killed nine of the "kidnappers" in a mission that President Barack Obama said he personally authorized.

Sunni militia leader killed in Baghdad: Iraqi officials said a leader of a Sunni militia that turned against al-Qaeda in Iraq and sided with the U.S troops to fight the militants has been killed in Baghdad.

No Jail for US Marine in Haditha Massacre Case: Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich demoted to rank of private but will not go behind bars, a military spokesman said.

In Iraqi town of Haditha, disbelief at light sentence for Marine who led raid that killed 24: Residents expressed disbelief and sadness that the Marine sergeant who told his troops to “shoot first, ask questions later” reached a deal with prosecutors to avoid jail time.

Dave Lindorff: US Media Iraq Reporting: See No Evil: The Iraq war may be over, at least for US troops, but the cover-up of the atrocities committed there by American forces goes on, even in retrospectives about the war.

U.N. rights chief shocked at numerous Iraq executions: The top United Nations human rights official criticized Iraq on Tuesday for carrying out a large number of executions, including 34 on a single day last week, and voiced concern about due process and the fairness of trials.

"Terrorists" Assassinate Head of Red Crescent Branch in Idleb, Kill Aged Man and Wife: An informed official source told SANA correspondent that an armed terrorist group opened fire on Dr. Jbeiro and killed him with a shot to the head after which he was transported to Maaret al-Numan Hospital where he passed away.

Gulf Arab states pull observers from Syria: Monitors from Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain left the Syrian capital and those from other Gulf states were expected to follow suit soon.

Australia urges UN action on Syria: Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has called for the UN Security Council to take tough action on Syria to prevent "murder" on the streets of Damascus.

Nations try to oust Syria from UNESCO rights panel: A growing group of countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany and Qatar, want to unseat Syria from the Committee on Conventions and Recommendations.

Netanyahu: Iran sanctions won't necessarily halt Iran's nuclear program: PM urges international community to continue imposing sanctions on Tehran, but says he is unsure whether the move will foil Iran's attempts to develop its nuclear program.

U.S. to grant three-year extension of loan guarantees to Israel: The U.S. government has informed Israel that it will recommend that Congress approve a three-year extension of loan guarantees to Israel, worth $3.8 billion. The announcement came after several months of worry in Israel that the loan guarantees would not be extended, despite Israel's request.

"Pro-Gaddafi" fighters retake Bani Walid: "Loyalists of Libya's deposed leader" seize control of former government stronghold and raise Gaddafi's green flag.

Libyan protesters lash out at new ‘monster’ in power: Libyans are accusing their new rulers of corruption, secrecy and nepotism, as protests grow across the country only three months after the death of dictator Moammar Gadhafi fueled hopes for democratic change in the North African nation.

US raid frees Western hostages in Somalia: White House confirms that US Special Forces conducted a helicopter rescue of two aid workers abducted in October.

Al-Qaeda-linked fighters leave Yemeni town: Group leaves Rada in exchange for the promised release of 15 imprisoned colleagues, having held town for nine days.

Rick Santorum thinks pregnancy through rape is God's gift? Seriously?: Invoking God's will as a supporting argument to his position on abortion hardly fits with the constitution he claims to uphold

January 24, 2012

Stop the Madness

BY YOUSAF BUTT

Despite all the hype, Iran's nuclear program has yet to violate international law. It's time to calm down, think, and above all halt the rush to war. Continue

Europe Should Call Israel's Bluff

By Stuart Reigeluth and Dimitris Bouris

The figures say it all. Over 1,200 Jewish colonists occupied outposts in the West Bank in 1972; in 2012, over 300,000 live in fortress-like colonies on hilltops overlooking the Jordan Valley, excluding the illegal colonies and gradual annexation of occupied east Jerusalem. Continue

A Sad Day for the Rule of Law
Rules of American Justice: A Tale of Three Cases

By Glenn Greenwald

When the purpose of American justice is to shield those who with the greatest power who commit the most egregious crimes, while severely punishing those who talk publicly about those crimes, it’s hard to imagine how it can get much more degraded or corrupted than that. Continue

US Steps Outside the Law as the War on Terror Drones On

By Justin Randle

The use of unmanned aircraft belies America's rhetoric about its values. Continue

US Drowning in Hypocrisy

By Paul Craig Roberts

As the western “democracies” become increasingly lawless, the mask of law that imperialism wears is stripped away and with it the sheen of morality that has been used to cloak hegemonic ambitions. Continue

Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich Wish Fidel Castro To Hell

By Elise Foley

Rick Santorum said that ending dictatorships in Cuba and Venezuela is essential because the nations may collaborate with al Qaeda. Continue

In Police Training, a Dark Film on U.S. Muslims

By MICHAEL POWELL

Ominous music plays as images appear on the screen: Muslim terrorists shoot Christians in the head, car bombs explode, executed children lie covered by sheets and a doctored photograph shows an Islamic flag flying over the White House. Continue

The Washington-Wall Street Revolving Door Keeps Spinning

By Bill Moyers and Michael Winship

We’ve already made our choice for the best headline of the year, so far: “Citigroup Replaces JPMorgan as White House Chief of Staff.” Continue

George Soros on the Coming U.S. Class War

By John Arlidge

The best-case scenario is a deflationary environment. The worst-case scenario is a collapse of the financial system.” Continue

From Freedom To Fascism
The Uprising: Is it Time?

Must Watch Video

"Its easier to kill a million people than it is to control them". Zbigniew Brzezinski: Continue

An ACTA of War
Secret Censor Tool To Shake Up World Wide Web

By RT

The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, or ACTA, has been quietly signed or ratified by most of the developed world and is arguably the biggest threat to Internet freedom yet. Continue

At least 19 killed in spate of attacks in Iraq: At least 19 people were killed in Iraq on Tuesday as insurgents targeted day laborers, government workers and an anti-terrorism police captain amid a continuing surge of violence, according to security officials.

Iraqis condemn U.S. Haditha sentence as insult: A three-month jail sentence for a U.S. Marine sergeant accused of leading a massacre of 24 civilians in Haditha is "an insult to all Iraqis," a relative of one of the victims said Tuesday

US kills another 5 people in North Waziristan: At least five people have been killed in two US drone attacks in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan on Monday.

"Condolence" payments to Afghans total millions: One week after 15 civilians were killed during a U.S. night operation at an Afghan village in 2009, U.S. commanders went to the village and passed out $40,000 in cash “condolence” payments.

Rivalry among Syrian defectors could mean another military coup: Disagreements between the army officers and soldiers could lead to the creation of separate militias, which could make it difficult to build a consensus around a leadership that could serve as an alternative to the regime.

Syria agrees to extend Arab monitoring mission: State news agency SANA said Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem informed the Arab League in a letter that Syria agreed to extend the monitoring mission until February 23

Syria: New Constitution to Limit Presidential Mandate to Two Terms?: Syria's new constitution could limit presidential term to a maximum of two seven-year mandates and put an end to the Assad dynasty.

Saudi Arabia’s Gulf Arabs quit Syria monitoring mission: Saudi Arabia’s Gulf allies joined Riyadh on Tuesday in pulling out of an Arab League monitoring team to Syria, risking the collapse of a mission whose presence has not halted violence in a 10-month-old revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.

Syria complains other states have "killed" Arab League plan: - Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem attacked some Arab states for interfering in Damascus' internal affairs and trying to 'kill' the Arab League plan by resorting to the United Nations.

"West" seeks support for UN resolution against Assad: Russia pressed to back security council resolution endorsing Arab demands for Syrian president to step down

Russia can't accept intervention in Syria: Russia will not accept any foreign intervention in its old ally Syria, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem said on Tuesday.

Iran lawmaker: Closing Strait of Hormuz legal: A senior Iranian lawmaker said his country has the right to shutter the strategic Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for oil sanctions on Tehran.

UK warns Iran it could send more naval forces to the Gulf: "The UK has a contingent capability to reinforce that presence should at any time it be considered necessary to do so."

'India to buy Iran oil in gold not dollars': India has agreed to pay the price of crude oil it imports from Iran in gold, which makes it the first country to drop the US dollar for purchasing the Iranian oil.

Chinese supertankers hired for Iran oil: Clarkson Research Services Ltd., a unit of the world's largest shipbroker, announced the two supertankers were booked to carry about 2 million barrels of crude from Iran's Khark Island to China.

U.S. imposes sanctions on Iran’s third-largest bank: The United States on Monday sought to tighten the financial screws on Iran by imposing sanctions on the country's third-largest bank for allegedly helping Tehran develop its nuclear program.

Israel to UN: Tomorrow will be too late for action against Iran: Israel's envoy to the UN Ron Prosor levies harsh criticism at the Security Council, saying it is obsessed with Israel and ignores crimes of other countries.

Barak to Ashton: We may need more action for Iran: Defense Minister Ehud Barak welcomed on Tuesday the European Union embargo on Iranian crude, telling EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton much more may still be needed to deter Tehran from pursuing its nuclear program.

Former Gadhafi stronghold revolts against Tripoli: Libya's ramshackle government lost control of a former stronghold of Muammar Gadhafi on Tuesday after local people staged an armed uprising, posing the gravest challenge yet to the country's new rulers.

Libya: Competing claims over Bani Walid fighting: Confusion surrounds events in the Libyan town of Bani Walid after fighting broke out between armed groups on Monday, leaving four people dead.

Officers: Mutinies spread to 4 Yemen air bases: A wave of mutinies demanding the ouster of Yemen's air force commander spread to four military air bases on Monday, officers said, a day after the nation's outgoing president departed the country.

Atlanta Jewish Times publisher resigns over Obama 'assassination' column: Andrew Adler suggested Israel should assassinate U.S. President Barack Obama to counter Iran’s nuclear weapons program.

Newt Gingrich: I Will Overthrow Castro "Regime": "We will not tolerate four more years of this [Castro] regime," Gingrich said.

U.N. asked to probe U.S. efforts to squelch Spain torture probe: Two legal rights groups on Thursday asked the United Nations to investigate allegations that Spanish and U.S. officials collaborated to quash criminal probes into whether the Bush administration authorized illegal killings and torture of terrorism suspects.

Ex-CIA agent John Kiriakou charged over leaks: John Kiriakou is accused of disclosing the names of agents who interrogated a suspected al-Qaeda financier, who was allegedly waterboarded 83 times.

Ruling could force Americans to decrypt laptops: American citizens can be ordered to decrypt their PGP-scrambled hard drives for police to peruse for incriminating files, a federal judge in Colorado ruled today in what could become a precedent-setting case.

Supreme Court Court Rejects Willy-Nilly GPS Tracking: The Supreme Court said Monday that law enforcement authorities might need a probable-cause warrant from a judge to affix a GPS device to a vehicle and monitor its every move — but the justices did not say that a warrant was needed in all cases.

IMF warns of global recession if governments cut too deeply: "The world recovery, which was weak in the first place, is in danger of stalling," Olivier Blanchard, the fund's chief economist, said at a news conference. "The epicenter of the danger is Europe."