Afghanistan’s Sham Army

By Chris Hedges

American military advisers who work with the Afghan National Army, or ANA, speak of poorly trained and unmotivated Afghan soldiers who have little stomach for military discipline and even less for fighting. They describe many ANA units as being filled with brigands who terrorize local populations, exacting payments and engaging in intimidation, rape and theft. Continue

'These People Just Want To Be Left Alone'

By Real News

Sean Smith spent a month embedded with the US Army's 501st Parachute Regiment in June this year. With inadequate vehicles, relations with Afghan security forces at a standstill and the constant threat of IEDs, the soldiers are losing heart for a fight they feel their presence is only prolonging. Continue

Afghanistan: Karzai Rival 'Withdrew Under US Pressure'

By Syed Saleem Shahzad

The United States put pressure on Afghan president Hamid Karzai's rival, Abdullah Abdullah, to withdraw from the country's presidential race and hand victory to Karzai, sources have told Adnkronos International (AKI). Continue

Admiral Mullen Announces Afghanistan Strategy

Prepare to Nonviolently Resist
By Jeff Leys

Instead, it’s a matter of the Obama Administration now leading us down the path of the most expensive year in war funding since President Bush began the so-called “Global War on Terror” (now morphed into the “Overseas Contingency Operations” under President Obama). Continue

Air Force Document Reveals Intentions Behind the US-Colombia Military Agreement

By Eva Golinger

An official document from the Department of the US Air Force reveals that the military base in Palanquero, Colombia will provide the Pentagon with “…an opportunity for conducting full spectrum operations throughout South America…” Continue

Kucinich Withdraws Amid Uproar over His Israel Stance

By George Bennett

U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich lasted less than 24 hours as headliner for the Palm Beach County Democratic Party's annual fundraising dinner after some of the party's elected officials blasted the Ohio Democrat's stance on Israel and threatened to skip the event. Continue

Profit Not Solutions To Hunger

By GRAIN

Corporate investors lead rush for control of poor countries' farmland. Continue

Free Market Flawed, Says Survey

By James Robbins

Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, a new BBC poll has found widespread dissatisfaction with free-market capitalism. n the global poll for the BBC World Service, only 11% of those questioned across 27 countries said that it was working well. Continue

The Battle in Seattle; 10 years after WTO

By Mike Whitney

The images of cops dressed in black stormtrooper gear, firing concussion grenades, plastic bullets and tear gas at protesters, business people and shoppers on the streets of America's most self-consciously progressive (and white) city revealed how thoroughly infected the nation's police forces had become with these brutal tactics and anti-constitutional measures. Continue

NATO officials, Afghans claim 130 Taliban fighters killed in Kunduz: However, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said only five fighters had died, and called the death toll given by NATO and Afghan officials "propaganda."

Allied occupation forces ‘may abandon most of northern Helmand’: A new strategy for Afghanistan that could lead to a British troop withdrawal from a former Taleban stronghold in northern Helmand province sparked immediate controversy yesterday.

Karzai Claims Mystery Helicopters Ferrying Taliban to North Afghanistan: While the Western press has been occupied recently with accounts of fraudulent elections in Afghanistan and the alleged role of President Hamid Karzai’s brother as a paid CIA agent, a stranger but perhaps more instructive story was playing out in Afghanistan that reveals the rather shallow penetration NATO and Coalition efforts have made in building trust and confidence in that country

Seven security personnel among 17 killed in Pakistan violence : Seventeen people, including six soldier and a policeman, were killed Monday when Taliban militants targeted security personnel with a suicide bombing, rocket attack and a roadside blast in restive north-western region, the officials said.

3 U.S. occupation force personnel killed in Iraq: Three American service members, including two pilots, were killed in two incidents in Iraq on Sunday, the U.S. military said Monday.

Ex-UK occupation force soldier says colleagues caused Iraqi's death: A former British soldier told an inquiry on Monday into allegations of abuse by British troops in Iraq that he saw two of his colleagues kick and hit a handcuffed Iraqi detainee shortly before he died.

U.S. top brass: Nuclear Iran is existential threat to Israel: Mullen said he would prefer that the U.S. work diplomatically to keep the country from acquiring nuclear weapons, but hinted that should such efforts fail, the U.S. air force and navy could be put into action as well.

Iran accuses Americans of spying: The US government and the families of Shane Bauer, 27, Sarah Shourd, 31, and Josh Fattal, 27, say they were on a hiking holiday and crossed the Iranian border by mistake.

Israeli envoy tells U.S. Jews: Push for sanctions on Iran : Israel's Ambassador to the United States on Sunday told American Jewish groups that they must press for sanctions on Iran, and condemned the findings of a United Nations commission on the Gaza conflict between Israel and Hamas, which he said helped to "cast widespread doubts about Israel's legitimacy."

Full text of Netanyahu's speech at Jewish Federations of North AmericaA: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly on Monday. The following is the full text of his address:

UN Calls for Israel to Open Crossing for Goods: The United Nations and its non-governmental organization (NGO) partners today called yet again on Israel to immediately open crossings into the Gaza Strip to give Palestinians access to desperately needed materials, especially in view of the coming winter and rainy season.

Study: Israeli employers prefer not to hire Arabs: Israeli employers prefer not to hire Arabs, Ethiopians and Haredis - even those holding at least an undergraduate degree, according to a study published on Monday.

Yemen rebels show 'seized' Saudi: Yemeni rebels have released a video of a man who they identify as one of several Saudi soldiers in their custody, as fighting between Houthi rebels and the Yemeni government spilled over into Saudi Arabia.

Thousands protest at Japanese US air base: Thousands of Japanese gathered in sweltering heat on the southern island of Okinawa yesterday to demand that a US Marine base be moved out of the region, days ahead of a visit by US President Barack Obama.

Soldiers not surprised by Fort Hood massacre: “It’s basically that the Army has an awesome way of getting you ready for war,” he continued. “It gets you in that mindset to go over there and fight, but whenever you come back, they don’t have a way of turning that switch off.”

Officials: U.S. Army Told of Hasan's Contacts with al Qaeda: U.S. intelligence agencies were aware months ago that Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan was attempting to make contact with people associated with al Qaeda, two American officials briefed on classified material in the case told ABC News.

Demonizing Islam: Top US lawmaker sees base attack as 'Islamist extremism': – The chairman of the Senate's Homeland Security committee, Joe Lieberman, on Sunday said that the deadly shooting at Texas' Fort Hood military base was an act of "Islamist extremism."

AIG taps $2.1 bln from US for ILFC share purchase: American International Group Inc (AIG.N) tapped the U.S. government for another $2.1 billion to buy shares of its aircraft leasing arm, International Lease Finance Corp, or ILFC, the insurer said in a regulatory filing on Friday.

U.S. Joblessness May Reach 13 Percent, Rosenberg Says: Rosenberg said the recession, the deepest since the Great Depression, “is truly secular in nature” and said the economy is “in a post-bubble credit collapse.”

November 08, 2009

America Owned by Its Army

By William Pfaf

It is possible that the creation of an all-professional American army was the most dangerous decision ever taken by Congress. The nation now confronts a political crisis in which the issue has become an undeclared contest between Pentagon power and that of a newly elected president. Continue

US Generals Flood Israel for Exercise against ‘Specific Threats'

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

An unprecedented number of American generals, along with 1,400 U.S. army soldiers, are participating with top IDF brass in the high-level Juniper Cobra military exercise that one U.S. Navy commander said is aimed at “specific threats.” Continue

Lies, War, and Empire

By Dr. Michael Parenti

Parenti speaks about lies, dissent, and how we arrive at the truth of our situation and still retain our sanity. He raises the question whether the Iraq war was not a failure but a success for some parts of the empire - and why. Continue

Broader Measure of U.S. Unemployment Stands at 17.5%

By DAVID LEONHARDT

In all, more than one out of every six workers — 17.5 percent — were unemployed or underemployed in October. The previous recorded high was 17.1 percent, in December 1982. Continue

The Coming U.S. Budget Attack
 
By Shamus Cooke 
 
The United States is moving backwards…fast.  State budget cuts are decimating essential health and social services; public education is being destroyed; the social safety net is in tatters. To make matters worse, all of this is occurring when the loss of jobs stands at a twenty-six year high with no end in sight.  Continue

Memo to Obama:
"For God Sakes, strap on a pair and get to it"

By Mike Whitney

This is bad. 10.2% unemployment. 16 million people out of work. Payrolls have been slashed 22 months in a row. The real jobless rate is now 17.5%. These are Great Depression numbers. Unemployment benefits have been extended, but policymakers still resist jobs programs. Why? Why no federal work programs? Why no WPA? Continue

Congress Is Teeming With Millionaires

Apparently, times aren't so tough all over.

By David Knowles

According to a new study compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, 237 members of the U.S. Congress, or 44 percent, are millionaires. Continue

Why I Voted NO

By Dennis Kucinich

We have been led to believe that we must make our health care choices only within the current structure of a predatory, for-profit insurance system which makes money not providing health care. Continue

Pakistan: 20 "Taleban" killed in offensive: The military provides the only regular information coming from the frontlines. None of the details can be verified because communication lines are down and journalists and aid workers barred from the area.

Suicide bombing kills 15 including mayor in Pakistani city: Sources said that a suicide bomber, in his early 20s, blew himself up near the Mayor, adding it was "a targeted killing.

17 "rebels" killed in 'fierce' Afghan battle: ministry: Afghan troops and NATO war jets pounded "insurgents" during a "fierce battle" in southern Afghanistan, killing 17 rebels, the defence ministry said on Sunday.

US Attack kills 20 including 12 civillians: The district's mayor, Abdul Shukor, put the death toll at 20 -- six Afghan soldiers, two policemen and 12 civilians.

Two British occupation force soldiers killed in Afghanistan: Hours earlier, it had announced that a soldier with 2nd Battalion, The Rifles, had been killed on Saturday afternoon in a blast in the same area of Helmand, where most of Britain’s 9,000 troops are based.

Afghan insurgents learn to destroy key U.S. armored vehicle: Taliban-led insurgents in Afghanistan have devised ways to cripple and even destroy the expensive armored vehicles that offer U.S. forces the best protection against roadside bombs by using increasingly large explosive charges and rocket-propelled grenades, according to U.S. soldiers and defense officials.

U.S. Gen. Casey says more troops needed for occupation of Afghanistan: "I believe that we need to put additional forces into Afghanistan to give General McChrystal the ability to both dampen the successes of the Taliban while we train the Afghan civilian forces," Gen. Casey said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Obama likely to send 34,000 new troops to Afghanistan: Combat troops would be drawn from four Army brigades and one Marine brigade, and they would be joined by 7,000 support troops to man the command center in Kandahar, in southern Afghanistan --so this would make it 40,000 (or 41,000, to be precise).

Afghanistan: more troops may not be the answer, says Obama adviser: "You can keep on putting troops in, and you could have 200,000 troops there and Afghanistan will swallow them up as it has done in the past," he said, according to comments published by the magazine's website in English and German.

7 Killed in Saudi border battle: Saudi forces battled Yemeni rebels for a fifth straight day on Saturday as medics said seven Saudis and an unknown number of rebels had been killed.

Fighter jet down near Yemen border: Yemen’s Al Houthi rebels, who are engaged in battles with government troops and Saudi forces, claimed that they had shot down the aircraft

Saudis claim gains, Yemen rebels deny it: The rebels yesterday denied they had lost control of Jabal Dukhan and said the kingdom’s offensive was continuing, with Yemeni villages the target of heavy bombing.

Iraq approves 2010 election law: parliament: – Iraqi MPs on Sunday approved a law to govern the country's general election due in early 2010, paving the way to agree a date for the vote, said the parliament's vice president.

Iran 'proposes' two-staged uranium exchange: Diplomats closed to nuclear negotiations between Iran and the West say the country seeks a two-staged, simultaneous exchange of enriched uranium with potential suppliers.

Medvedev Says Russia May Back Sanctions on Iran if Deal Falls Apart; President Dmitri A. Medvedev said Russia might back sanctions against Iran if the Iranians did not take a “constructive position” on an international plan to temporarily diminish their stockpile of enriched uranium.

Iran calls on Russia to keep word on missile defence system: Russia should keep its word on selling a missile defence system to Iran, an influential parliamentarian was quoted by Iranian media as saying on Sunday.

Former US Embassy hostage handed Iran post: The United States has appointed veteran diplomat John Limbert, who was held hostage at the US embassy in Tehran in 1979, as its senior Iran official at the State Department.

Hezbollah gears up for new war: Hezbollah is rapidly rearming in preparation for a new conflict with Israel, fearing that Benjamin Netanyahu's government will attack Lebanon again prior to any assault on Iran's nuclear facilities.

Abbas admits failure of the peace process: Mahmoud Abbas, the beleaguered head of the Palestinian Authority, has finally but belatedly admitted that the so-called Peace process with Israel has completely failed and that the Palestinian people will have to seek an alternative to it.

Fatah considers reverting to popular warfare: Following Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' announcement that he would not run for another term, a senior Fatah official told Ynet that if serious progress was not made soon in peace talks, the organization would consider reverting to popular warfare.

PM heads to U.S. under threat of Palestinian statehood declaration: Concerns are growing in Israel's government over the possibility of a unilateral Palestinian declaration of independence within the 1967 borders, a move which could potentially be recognized by the United Nations Security Council.

Israeli lawmaker floats idea of talks with Hamas: A senior opposition leader in Israel unveiled a peace plan Sunday that held out the possibility of negotiations with Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group in control of the Gaza Strip

Norway drops war crimes case against Israel: Chief prosecutor Siri Frigaard said last Friday that she is dismissing the complaint because "there is no good reason" for Norwegian authorities to investigate further and Norway should be judicious in deciding when to investigate alleged war crimes by individuals with no connection to the country.

US Senators Act to Force Recognition of Jerusalem as Capital: Seven United States senators have sponsored a bill that would abolish the “security” waiver that American presidents have used to prevent implementing a 1995 law declaring that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.

Germans press for removal of US nuclear weapons in Europe: Pressure is growing within Nato for the removal of the remaining US nuclear weapons on European soil, and for a new doctrine for the alliance that would depend less on nuclear deterrence.

Fiji expels Australian and New Zealand diplomats: Tensions between Fiji and the two South West Pacific regional powers, Australia and New Zealand, intensified further this week after Suva expelled two top diplomats for interfering in the country’s internal affairs.

Chavez tells troops to ready for war with Colombia: President Hugo Chavez ordered Venezuela's military on Sunday to prepare for a possible armed conflict with Colombia, saying the country's soldiers should be ready if the United States attempts to provoke a war between the South American neighbors.

Killing of Venezuelan troops exacerbates Colombia-Venezuela tensions: Venezuelan officials claimed that a plot involving Bogotá and Washington is under way to destabilize Venezuela by igniting violence on the border with Colombia and in major towns in Venezuela

Honduras' attorney general escapes unharmed after gunmen open fire on his convoy: After the June coup, it was Rubi who filed criminal charges against ousted President Manuel Zelaya.

Fort Hood: Focus turns to internet link: Computers belonging to army major examined as chief of staff warns against anti-Muslim backlash

Army general warns of anti-Muslim 'backlash': US army chief of staff George Casey has warned deadly shootings at Fort Hood could prompt a backlash against Muslim soldiers, undermining diversity needed to fight wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

Demonizing Muslims: Fort Hood shooting: Texas army killer linked to September 11 terrorists: Major Nidal Malik Hasan worshipped at a mosque led by a radical imam said to be a "spiritual adviser" to three of the hijackers who attacked America on Sept 11, 2001.

Gold rallies on India buy, hits $1,100 mark: Gold prices struck a series of record highs this week, eventually spiking above $1,100 for the first time, as Asian central banks snapped up the precious metal as an alternative to the dollar.

Five more banks fail - 120 for the year: Banks in California, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota and Missouri were shuttered, costing the FDIC a total of $1.5 billion.

Fannie Mae to allow borrowers in foreclosure to lease back homes: The mortgage giant's move is part of an attempt by lenders to keep a wave of foreclosed properties from slamming a housing market that has shown some signs of recovery.

November 06, 2009

Hollow Victory

By John Mearsheimer

According to the Republicans, the United States is once again at the crossroads of losing another critical war because of feckless Democrats. Only this time it's Afghanistan. Continue

Breaking the Australian Silence

By John Pilger

In a speech at the Sydney Opera House to mark his award of Australia's human rights prize, the Sydney Peace Prize, John Pilger describes the "unique features" of a political silence in Australia: how it affects the national life of his homeland and the way Australians see the world and are manipulated by great power "which speaks through an invisible government of propaganda". Continue

The Evil Empire

By Paul Craig Roberts

Obama’s credibility is shot. And so is Congress’s, assuming it ever had any. The US House of Representatives has just voted to show the entire world that the US House of Representatives is nothing but the servile, venal, puppet of the Israel Lobby. Continue

U.N. Affirms Israeli-Hamas War Crimes Report

By Thalif Deen

The report, which was favourably voted by the 47-member Human Rights Council in Geneva last month, received overwhelming support Thursday in the 192-member General Assembly. The vote was 114 in favour and 18 against, with 44 abstentions. The 18 countries that voted against the resolution included the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Israel. Continue

Goldstone and Gaza

By Jimmy Carter

Knowing of the ability of Israeli forces, often using U.S. weapons, to strike targets with pinpoint accuracy, it was difficult to understand or explain the destruction of hospitals, schools, prisons, United Nations facilities, small factories and repair shops, agricultural processing plants and almost 40,000 homes. Continue

The Real Intelligence Failure

By Philip Giraldi

United States intelligence agencies, most notably the CIA, have failed to appreciate that both the Cold War and the so-called Global War on Terror were fought in error against enemies that were deliberately distorted and magnified to create fear. Continue

Horror at Fort Hood Inspires Horribly Predictable Islamophobia

By John Nichols

Because a soldier identified as the gunman had a name that led to the presumption that he was Muslim, the incident inspired an all-too-predictable outbreak of Islamophobia. Continue

Can You Hear Us Now?

By David Michael Green

Where we go from here could be very, very ugly. The GOP right now is in the process of alienating and crushing every last scrap of moderately sensible politics from within its ranks. Continue

Credit Card Firms Hurry to Raise Rates

Some top 30% as new rules loom

By Megan Woolhouse

Credit card companies are rushing to increase interest rates to historic highs of more than 30 percent, cut credit limits, and add new fees, even for customers who pay their bills on time. Continue

Nine civilians, US occupation force soldier killed in Afghanistan: An overnight airstrike by international forces killed nine civilians, including three children, said villagers on Thursday. Afghan authorities said they had no reports of civilian deaths.

Three occupation force soldiers killed in Afghan attacks: Two US soldiers were among those who died in the attacks, which took place in the south of the country on Thursday, ISAF said, without giving details of the third victim.

Two NATO-Led Force Members Missing in Afghanistan: The Taliban later said they are holding the soldiers’ bodies, the British Broadcasting Corp. said, citing Reuters.

Taliban: 'We've Got Drowned Troops' Bodies': The claim comes as Nato revealed a manhunt was under way to find two Nato troops missing in western Afghanistan since Wednesday.

US Fed Up With Troops Dying to Prop Up Karzai: It seems that Hamid Karzai just can't be trusted on his own.

Rep. Eric Massa calls for a conclusion to the war in Afghanistan: On the 2950th day of the War in Afghanistan, Rep. Eric Massa went to the floor of the House of Representatives and called for an end.

Australia: No more troops, Faulkner tells US: Australia has made it clear to the US it is not in a position to increase troop or training commitments in Afghanistan if the Obama Administration decides to add to its troop levels in response to General Stanley McChrystal's report, the Defence Minister, John Faulkner, said in Washington.

Powerful Afghan Governor Challenges President: Defiant Former Warlord With Popular Backing and Armed Supporters Demands a Say for Karzai's Defeated Rival Abdullah

Afghan war 'controls immigration': Removing troops from Afghanistan would "significantly increase" the number of asylum seekers coming to the UK, the immigration minister has said.

Pakistan: Seven militants killed in fresh South Waziristan clashes: The Pakistani army has reached the strategically crucial Taliban stronghold of Makeen, Pakistani daily DawnNews reported on Friday. As battles continued across South Waziristan, the Pakistani army claimed to have killed seven militants in clashes around Ladha and Sararogha.

Pakistan: Two suspected suicide bombers killed in Mansehra: On a tip off, police was deployed at the entry point to Balakot, SHO Balakot police Khursheed Khan told DawnNews. When a suspected car entering the district was intercepted, the bombers present in it opened fire, Khan said.

Pakistan army 'storms Taliban town': The operation in South Waziristan, the main Taliban and al-Qaeda sanctuary in Pakistan, has sparked a wave of retaliatory attacks that have killed about 300 civilians and troops in the past month.

Mukhtar hints at military operation in N Waziristan: A military operation will also be conducted in North Waziristan after the completion of Operation Rah-e-Nijat, Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar said on Thursday.

Fort Hood shooting update: Suspect Nidal Hassan is alive, stable: Of course, the wingnuts -- led by Michelle Malkin and Pam Geller -- are going ape in their campaign to paint this as a terrorist attack by a Muslim jihadi.

Investigators seek motive for base massacre: An Army psychiatrist suspected of opening fire on fellow soldiers at Fort Hood cleaned out his apartment in the days before the rampage that left 13 people dead, a neighbor said Friday.

Counter-terror plans will be revised to reflect Fort Hood and Afghan attacks: 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.

Religious outrage over Iraqi MP expenses: Religious outrage over Iraqi MP expenses: Iraq's presidential council, which normally rubber stamps legislation, earlier this week said it twice opposed moves by MPs to secure the perks but had been powerless to stop the law from passing at its third reading.

Deputy FM: Israel threat to attack Iran is not bluff: Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon has said that Israel is not bluffing in its threats to take military action against Iran's contentious nuclear program, in remarks broadcast Friday on Sky News.

Manufacturing Consent For Attack On Iran: Iran tested advanced nuclear warhead design – secret report: : Watchdog fears Tehran has key component to put bombs in missiles

IAEA: We found 'nothing to worry about' at secret Iran nuke site: Mohammed ElBaradei also told the New York Times that he was examining possible compromises to unblock a draft nuclear cooperation deal between Iran and three major powers that has floundered over Iranian objections.

Iran cleric: IAEA obligated to supply Iran nuclear fuel: The United Nations nuclear watchdog is legally obliged to provide Iran with nuclear fuel for its research reactor without setting any conditions, a "hardline" Iranian cleric told worshippers on Friday.

Lieberman satisfied with UN vote on Goldstone war crimes report: "On the whole, we are satisfied with the fact that 18 countries, which are a moral majority, supported Israel's stance and 44 abstained and did not vote with the automatic majority," he said.

Report: U.S. stopped Israel from attacking ship: Hezbollah has vehemently denied any link to the weapons and denounced "Israeli piracy" in international waters.

Supporters urge Abbas to run again: "I have told our brethren in the PLO [Palestine Liberation Organisation] ... that I have no desire to run in the forthcoming election," he said in a speech broadcast live from his headquarters in Ramallah on Thursday.

Zelaya: Power-sharing deal dead: : Honduras's deposed president says that a US-brokered agreement has failed to end the country's political crisis. Manuel Zelaya made the announcement on Friday after a deadline for forming a unity government passed.

U.S. Unemployment Rate Hits 10.2%, Highest in 26 Years: “The guy on the street is going to ask, ‘What recovery?’ ” said Stuart G. Hoffman, chief economist at the PNC Financial Services Group in Pittsburgh. “The job market is still in reverse.”

Obama signs bill to extend unemployment benefits: It doesn’t help people who will run out of benefits in 2010 – though Congress is expected to come back and pass legislation this year that extends that eligibility window into next year.

Fannie Mae seeks $15B more in government aid after 3Q loss: The government-controlled company continued to see a dramatic surge of borrowers fall behind as the unemployment rate climbs. At the end of last month, about 4.7% of Fannie Mae's borrowers had missed at least three payments. That's nearly triple last year's level.

November 05, 2009

Former UK Ambassador: CIA Sent People to be ‘Raped with Broken Bottles’

By Daniel Tencer

The CIA relied on intelligence based on torture in prisons in Uzbekistan, a place where widespread torture practices include raping suspects with broken bottles and boiling them alive, says a former British ambassador to the central Asian country. Continue

EXCLUSIVE: Convicted CIA Spy Says "We Broke the Law"

By MATTHEW COLE, AVNI PATEL, and BRIAN ROSS

Sabrina deSousa Says U.S. "Betrayed" Her and Others Found Guilty in Kidnapping of Muslim Cleric in Italy. Continue

America's New Crusader Castles

By Simon Tisdall

Across the Middle East, the US is building heavily fortified embassies which cut off diplomats and create hostilities. Continue

Truth, Human Dignity and the Goldstone Report

How Your Representative Voted

By Congressman Dennis Kucinich

“Today we journey from Operation Cast Lead to Operation Cast Doubt. Almost as serious as committing war crimes is covering up war crimes, pretending that war crimes were never committed and did not exist. Continue

Bipartisan Attack on International Humanitarian Law

By Stephen Zunes

Since this report documented apparent war crimes by a key U.S. ally, however, Congress has taken the unprecedented action of passing a resolution condemning it. Perhaps most ominously, the resolution also endorses Israel's right to attack Syria and Iran on the grounds that they are "state sponsors of terrorism." Continue

Pornographic Past vs Murderous Present

By Gilad Atzmon

“Why would any writer make up stories about the Holocaust?” Continue

Zionism’s Version of History

This is a must watch - By Norman Finkelstein

The reason why Finkelstein is vilified by Jewish supporters of Israel right or wrong can be simply stated. In his writing and public speaking, as in his doctoral thesis, he is committed to exposing books which present Zionism’s version of history. They are, he writes and says, part of a “monumental hoax”, “fraud” and “nonsense”. Continue

Shut Down This Murderous Racket

Change We Need and Crave

By Matt Reichel

Al Capone is awake in his grave in awe at the criminal racket promulgated by the health care industry: a murderous multi-billion dollar industry that keeps the world’s Superpower in the sociological Stone Age. Continue

At least 40 killed as Saudi jets bomb Yemen: : Saudi officials as saying that the air force had attacked fighters who had seized a border area, killing about 40 Houthis.

Iran Arabic channel taken off air: Al-Alam's coverage of the war in Yemen including statements from the rebels accusing Saudi Arabia of involvement may also have angered Riyadh, analysts say

33 killed in Pakistan's tribal area operation: At least 28" militants" were killed and five others apprehended during ongoing military operations in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal area in the last 24 hours, an army statement said Thursday.

US Kills 4 In Pakistan: : According to sources, the identity of the injured and killed persons has yet to be ascertained but the wounded men have been rushed to hospital for treatment, the private channel GEO News reported.

More than dozen civilians, one US occupation force soldier killed in Afghanistan: In the southern province of Helmand, villagers brought the bodies of nine civilians to Lashkargah, the capital, claiming they had been killed by a mortar round from occupation forces.

Afghanistan: Children among 9 civilians killed by occupation forces: : Artillery and mortar shelling by the NATO-led international troops killed nine civilians including three children in southern Afghanistan, locals said, quoted by Afghan news agency Pajhwok on Thursday.

British occupation force soldier killed by explosion in Afghanistan: The serviceman, who has not yet been named, was killed in an explosion near Sangin in central Helmand province this morning. His family have been informed.

UN to evacuate staff in Afghanistan: About 600 non-essential workers to be moved temporarily while safer housing is found

Karzai 'corrupt' but 'our guy', French FM tells NYT: “Karzai is corrupt, O.K.,” Mr. Kouchner said, but corruption is endemic in Afghanistan and “he is our guy,” despite being weakened by the recent election marked by fraud. “We have to legitimize him”

US 'spending money to reach Taliban': Washington is ready to spend a huge sum of money to start talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan, a former Pakistani lawmaker says.

Iraq: Two US occupation force soldiers killed in separate incidents: Two American soldiers have been killed in Iraq in separate incidents, the US army said on Thursday. Both soldiers died on Wednesday

Iraq Misses Deadline on Election Law: Iraqi lawmakers failed Thursday to pass an election law, heightening uncertainty over whether next year's parliamentary polls will be delayed.

ElBaradei warns against any Israeli attack on Iran: ElBaradei said he was convinced the Iranians were prepared at one point to stop their enrichment program but that the previous US administration and the European powers missed an opportunity to end the standoff by imposing conditions on Iran that were "impossible to accept".

U.S. dodges UN debate on Goldstone Gaza war crimes report: The United States on Wednesday openly eschewed a United Nations General Assembly debate on a resolution that would call on Israel and the Palestinians to investigate charges of war crimes during the Gaza war detailed in the Goldstone Commission's report.

Israel and Gaza Deserve Better than a Misguided Resolution : Congressman Brian Baird : What will it say about this Congress and our country if we so readily seek to block "any further consideration" of a human rights investigation produced by one of the most respected jurists in the world today: - In my judgment, far from meriting the obstruction called for in H.Res. 867, the Goldstone report is without question worthy of further investigation.

Gideon Levy: The IDF is pushing the media - and Israel - into a war dance: Every few weeks you have to sow fear, every few months you need to make threats, and once every year or two you have to have another little war.

Abbas 'not to seek re-election': Mahmoud Abbas, who heads the Fatah faction in the West Bank, will give a speech later on Thursday explaining his decision not to run.

Palestinian aides: Abbas will not seek re-election: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday he will not seek re-election in a January ballot because of the lack of progress in peace talks with Israel, Palestinian officials said.

UN report finds no evidence of arms smuggling to Lebanon: In the report, Ban wrote that the Lebanese government had not informed the UN of a single incident of weapons smuggling to its territory, whether by land, sea or air.

Honduras de facto leader 'to quit': The panel overseeing a deal to end the four month political crisis in Honduras has said that Roberto Micheletti, the country's interim president, will stand down although it has not given details as to when.

Deal or no deal in Honduras: But the ink was barely dry on the accord when leaders of the coup regime indicated that they had no intention of honouring it. Some of them clearly saw the agreement as just another delaying tactic

The Real Winner in Honduras: The United States?: The US also likely secures another puppet in the region who will be opposed to the progressive social, economic and political reforms being articulated and demanded by the country’s social movements.

November 04, 2009

Italian Court Sentences 23 CIA Agents Over Rendition Flight

By Richard Owen in Rome

The Americans were all tried in absentia, but the verdicts were nevertheless hailed by human rights campaigners as an important victory that could open the way to further prosecutions. Two lower-ranking agents of the Italian military agency SISMI were sentenced to three years each. Continue

A Court Decision that Reflects What Type of Country the U.S. is

By Glenn Greenwald

Even when government officials purposely subject an innocent person to brutal torture, they enjoy full immunity. Continue

Who Are The Six Uighurs Released From Guantánamo To Palau?

By Andy Worthington

I have written at length about the plight of Guantánamo’s Uighurs, innocent men caught up in the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001, who were mostly seized and sold to U.S. forces by Pakistani villagers after fleeing a settlement in Afghanistan’s Tora Bora mountains where they had been living a Spartan live for several months, free from Chinese oppression. Continue

America is Performing its Familiar Role of Propping Up a Dictator

By Robert Fisk

After Disneyworld elections, they are on the Karzai-government side against the Pashtun villagers of southern Afghanistan among whom the Taliban live. Where is the next My Lai? Journalists should avoid predictions. In this case I will not. Our Western mission in Afghanistan is going to end in utter disaster. Continue

President Obama's Deep Love Of Peace?

By William Blum

Question: How many countries do you have to be at war with to be disqualified from receiving the Nobel Peace Prize? Continue

Zionism's Jewish Enemy

Alan Hart Interviews Professor Ilan Pappe

Like all Israelis, Ilan Pappe was brought up, conditioned, to believe Zionism’s version of the history of the making and sustaining of the Arab-Israeli conflict. It wasn’t until he went to England to continue his academic studies that he had access to documentation which enabled him to understand that Zionism’s version is a propaganda lie. Continue

Plan Colombia: Cashing in on the Drug War Failure

Video Documentary - Narrated By Ed Asner

Plan Colombia: Cashing in on the Drug War Failure documents what many believe to be dangerous hypocrisy on the part of the American government. Continue

Thirty "militants" killed in South Waziristan street battles: A senior military official told AFP the army had ‘taken’ the strategic town of Sararogha in the third week of fighting, while 30 insurgents were reported killed in the last 24 hours.

Pakistan: Refugee camp raided, 2 children die in police firing: Pakistani security forces Tuesday raided an Afghan refugee camp near the northwestern city of Peshawar and killed two children when they opened fire on the refugees, a refugee said.

Eyewitness: Fleeing Waziristan's war: Life became very tough in the last few months in my home town of Jandola.The army sealed off the entire tribal agency [district] for more than three months and there were constant artillery shellings and bombings by Cobra helicopters and F-16 fighter jets.

5 British Occupation Force Troops Killed By Afghan Cop, Says UK Military: An Afghan policeman opened fire on British soldiers in the volatile southern province of Helmand, killing five before fleeing, British and Afghan authorities said Wednesday

Taliban takes blame for five British soldiers' deaths in Afghanistan: The Taliban claimed responsibility today for the killing of five British soldiers by a rogue Afghan policeman.

Afghan police infiltrated by Taliban ‘at every level’: Afghanistan’s police are poorly trained, plagued by drug addiction and infiltrated by the Taliban “at every level”, a former British soldier has claimed.

Abdullah: Karzai's re-election as Afghan leader 'illegal': Three days after pulling out of a run-off against the incumbent, Abdullah said a subsequent decision by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) to hand Karzai another five years in power had no basis in law and underlined its bias.

Headlines Continued

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