Day of Mass Action to Stop War on Iran

February 4, 2012

NO war - NO sanctions - NO intervention - NO assassinations. Continue

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Exclusive: Israel Warns US Jews: Iran Could Strike Here

By RICHARD ESPOSITO

Israeli facilities in North America -- and around the world -- are on high alert, according to an internal security document obtained by ABC News that predicted the threat from Iran against Jewish targets will increase.Continue

Engineering Consent For An Attack On Iran
US Fears Iran's Links to Al Qaeda

BY SIOBHAN GORMAN

Officials believe country may have provided aid to terror group. Continue

Iran : Fact Checking the Media

By Dennis Kucinich

The media coverage on Iran is mirroring the coverage in the lead-up to the Iraq war: grand claims about a smoking gun that doesn't exist. Continue

Iran is the Root of all Evil

By Glenn Greenwald

Is there anything those Persian Monsters aren’t guilty of? Continue

How Hollywood Spreads Propaganda.

By Danny Schechter

Iran seems to many observers to be next in line for the Iraqi freedom treatment, the latest in a long line of “enemy” nations menaced by overt and covert military threats by the United States and its allies. Continue

US Preparing Something Against Iran

By Gennady Yevstafyev
Retired Lieutenant-General of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence.

Iran is a key, it is a lynchpin of the security situation in the Gulf as far as anti-American forces are concerned. Continue

Russia, US Acting Together

By BERIL DEDEOGLU

The Syrian crisis has shown once again that the members of the UN Security Council are much more interested in the strategic chess game than the number of civilians who have lost their lives. Continue

Evil in the Crosshairs
'I Only Wish I Had Killed More'

By Laurence Vance

Savage, despicable evil. That's what we were fighting in Iraq. That's why a lot of people, myself included, called the enemy "savages." Continue

“An Eagle Does Not Hunt Flies”
The Genius of Chavez

By: Fidel Castro

Venezuela today is the site of a great battle. Internal and external enemies of the revolution prefer chaos —as Chavez has said— to the just, organized and peaceful development of the country. Continue

Obama’s Refinancing Swindle

By Mike Whitney

Barack Obama’s new housing refinance plan has nothing to do with “lowering monthly mortgage payments so responsible borrowers can stay in their homes”. That’s all public relations bunkum. Continue

Pakistan: 25 killed in Taliban attack: The overnight attack on Shidano Dand post in the Kurram region triggered clashes in which 18 militants and 7 Pak troops were killed, according to a senior military official.

Cost of NATO’s adventurism: Russia has to understand that if the US and NATO troops decimate or make the Taliban ineffective, the US would maintain a contingent of a few thousand troops plus a strong air force base in Afghanistan to meet any eventuality and pose a palpable threat to it.

At least 17 killed in Syria violence: "activists": Nine Syrian soldiers were killed in separate clashes with Free Syrian Army rebels in two villages in Daraa province, south of Damascus

Russia refuses to sign draft UN resolution on Syria: Talks to secure a United Nations resolution on Syria have dragged on into the weekend after Russia refused to sign up to a watered down draft which removed references to the departure of President Bashar al-Assad.

Moscow Dismisses Iran-for-Syria Deal: - The Russian Foreign Ministry rejected reports on Friday that it could strike a deal on Iran with the United States in exchange for non-intervention by the West in Syria.

Israel preparing to attack Iran: Defense Secretary Leon Panetta believes there is a strong likelihood that Israel will strike Iran in April, May or June

Iran’s Supreme Leader Threatens Retaliation Against Attack: Warning that the United States in particular would face severe damage to its interests if any strike were carried out against its nuclear sites.

US push to arm Israel: . A policy group in the US has called for providing Israel with 200 additional bunker-buster bombs and aerial refuelling tankers to increase the credibility of a military strike aimed at thwarting Iran's nuclear program.

U.S. anxiety grows over possible Israeli plans on Iran: European and U.S. diplomats say Obama administration worried about Israeli leaders' provocative public comments on Iran's nuclear program.

Shin Bet chief: Iran trying to hit Israeli targets in response to attacks on nuclear scientists: Yoram Cohen tells audience at a closed forum in Tel Aviv that Iran's Revolutionary Guards are working tirelessly to attack Israeli targets abroad in order to deter Israel.

Less than One-Fifth of All Americans Favor Military or Covert Action Against Iran : A new United Technologies/National Journal “Congressional Connection Poll,” finds that only 13% Americans think the U.S. should “take covert action against Iran such as sabotage and assassination of scientists working on their nuclear program”.

Iran successfully launches new satellite into orbit: Navid-e Elm-o Sanat is a telecom, measurement and scientific satellite whose records could be used in a wide range of fields.

Don’t knock the media’s bias and double standards on Israel: Disproportionate coverage is the flip side of disproportionate support for Israel, and thus a critical element in its national security.

Tortured to death: Libya: Diplomat Dies in Militia Custody: A Libyan diplomat who served as ambassador to France died less than 24 hours after he was detained by a Tripoli-based militia from the town of Zintan, Human Rights Watch said today. Dr. Omar Brebesh, who was detained on January 19, 2012, appears to have died from torture.

Gaddafi's bloodied shirt and wedding ring to go up for auction: Libyan national Ahmed Warfali is apparently asking for $2million for the items after somehow coming into their possession.

Deaths in Egypt protests over football riot: Two killed in Suez, two in Cairo and 1689 wounded after two days of clashes following deadly football violence.

Kuwaiti Islamist-led opposition wins majority: Opposition secures 34 out of 50 seats in snap parliamentary elections held after anti-corruption protests in December.

China intensifies criticism of sanctions on Iran: "In the near term, the sudden spike in tensions between the United States and Iran is now posing the greatest uncertainty. This factor is disrupting global energy markets and has cast a shadow over the global economic recovery."

Baghdad says US Iran sanctions a problem for Iraq: American sanctions on Iran pose difficulties for Iraq because of its close economic ties with the Islamic republic, so Baghdad plans to seek a waiver from the US, the government spokesman told AFP.

Turkey bombs northern Iraq: Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) said in a statement on Friday that Turksh fighter jets bombed three PKK targets in Zap. There were no immediate reports on causalities

Judges retire to consider Assange’s last chance on extradition: Supreme Court is final shot for WikiLeaker-in-chief

WikiLeaks aside, Assange case strikes core of civil liberty: JULIAN Assange's current court appearance in Britain has nothing to do with sex or United States diplomatic cables or even with WikiLeaks. But it may make an important contribution to European law.

US 'no-fly' list of suspected terrorists doubles in 12 months: The size of the US government's secret list of suspected terrorists who are banned from flying to or within the country has more than doubled in the past year.

Do You Like Online Privacy? You May Be a Terrorist: A flyer designed by the FBI and the Department of Justice to promote suspicious activity reporting in internet cafes lists basic tools used for online privacy as potential signs of terrorist activity.

Roseanne Barr Seeks Green Party Presidential Nod: "The Democrats and Republicans have proven that they are servants -- bought and paid for by the 1% -- who are not doing what's in the best interest of the American people," Barr said.

Stolen Babies? Immigrant Mother Loses Four Kids: The scars of childbirth were still healing on Amelia Reyes Jimenez's stomach in 2008 when police came to her Phoenix apartment and took her three-month-old daughter from her arms.

Greece’s leaders oppose new austerity measures: All three party leaders in Greece’s teetering national unity government have opposed new austerity measures demanded by international lenders, forcing eurozone finance ministers to postpone approval of a new €130bn bail-out and moving the country closer to a full-blown default.

Unemployment hits record high in Spain: Jobless rate is twice the average for the rest of the EU, with young people particularly badly affected, new data show.

Canada: Unemployment rises as just 2,300 jobs created in January: Canada's economy squeezed out a paltry gain of 2,300 jobs last month as the country's unemployment rate increased due to more people looking for work.

Why Today's "Very, Very Suspicious" NFP Number Is Really Down 2.9 Million In Past 2 Months: "Actual jobs, not seasonally adjusted, are down 2.9 million over the past two months. It is only after seasonal adjustments – made at the sole discretion of the Bureau of Labor Statistics economists – that 2.9 million fewer jobs gets translated into 446,000 new seasonally adjusted jobs."

GOP Rep. West: Someone's 'playing around with' unemployment numbers: There is something suspicious about the job numbers released today and it has me very concerned," West wondered Friday.

Working Poor: Almost Half Of U.S. Households Live One Crisis From The Bread Line: According to the report, 43 percent of households in America -- some 127.5 million people -- are liquid-asset poor. If one of these households experiences a sudden loss of income, caused, for example, by a layoff or a medical emergency, it will fall below the poverty line within three months.

Home prices drop, consumers turn gloomier: The S&P/Case-Shiller composite index of single-family home prices in 20 metropolitan areas, released on Tuesday, declined 0.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis, a bigger drop than the 0.5 percent economists expected.

February 02, 2012

Dempsey Told Israelis U.S. Won't Join Their War on Iran

By Gareth Porter

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey told Israeli leaders Jan. 20 that the United States would not participate in a war against Iran begun by Israel without prior agreement from Washington. Continue

Divining the Truth about Iran

By Ray McGovern

You will almost never see in a major U.S. newspaper the assessment – backed by the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies – that Iran is NOT building nuclear weapons. Continue

Iran: This Is What Propaganda Looks Like

By Peter Hart

For sheer propaganda value, ABC World News' January 31 broadcast would be tough to top. Continue

Syria is Used to the Slings and Arrows of Friends and Enemies

By Robert Fisk

For Syria as a nation – rather than a regime – there is much sympathy as well as respect in the Arab world. Continue

Syria's Long Black Tunnel

By Ehsani

Here are some of the main divisions running through Syrian society. Continue

UN Shenanigans on Syria

By Aisling Byrne

At stake in this diplomatic battle of "historic importance" is the campaign led by the United States, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and France to secure a UN mandate for external interference in Syria with the aim of deposing President Bashar al-Assad. Continue

Managing Public Perception
Psywar: The Real Battlefield is Your Mind

Must Watch Video

A superb account of how we're manipulated from birth to death. Continue

NATO Troops Disguise Themselves as Civilians in Afghanistan

By Canadian Veterans Advocacy Operations

This practice invites Taliban attacks on Afghans and NGOs. Continue

Robot Wars
How Military Drones Are Changing War

Video

Today there are more than 7,000 drones and 12,000 ground robots in use by all branches of the military. These systems mean less "American" deaths and also less political risk for the US when it takes acts of lethal force – often outside of official war zones. Continue

Obama: Not Cool, Just Cold-Blooded

By Glen Ford

“When the U.S. president arrogates to himself the right to bomb and kill at will, he makes himself an outlaw.” Continue

The US Health Care Industry Racket

By Ralph Nader

Here is a partial example of what I mean. Continue

Santorum To Sick Kid:
Don’t Complain About $1 Million Drug Costs

By David Edwards

“People have no problem paying $900 for an iPad,” the candidate explained. “But paying $900 for a drug they have a problem with — it keeps you alive. Why? Because you’ve been conditioned to think health care is something you can get without having to pay for it.” Continue

3 policemen killed in Taliban attack in northwest Pakistan: The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was carried out in retaliation for arrests made by security forces during a recent search operation

Pakistan will no longer tolerate "unilateral US actions": Pakistan Foreign Minister: "No unilateral action at any level, of any type. Like Abbottabad. Like what happened in Salala," The News quoted Khar, as saying.

Pakistani Militant Gives Ultimatum To US: "America has started a war against Pakistan and also attacked our army checkpoints. That is why all the political parties are here and we are united until America leaves the region."

Panetta: US to end combat in Afghanistan next year: U.S. and other international forces in Afghanistan aim to end their combat role next year and switch to training and advising Afghan forces through 2014, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Wednesday.

Romney criticizes U.S. decision to end Afghan combat next year: [Obama’s] naivete is putting in jeopardy the mission of the United States of America and our commitments to freedom. He is wrong.

NATO combat role in Afghanistan through 2014: - NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Thursday insisted that the military alliance would be carrying out combat operations in Afghanistan until 2014, following a day of speculation about its withdrawal plans.

Britain to pull out troops from Afghanistan frontline role by the end of next yea:r British troops will step back from their lead combat role in Afganistan by the end of 2013 under plans drawn up by the Nato-led Isaf international alliance, Downing Street said today.

Australia's defense minister hints at longer stay of troops in Afghanistan: Australian Defense Minister Stephen Smith on Wednesday said Australian special forces could stay in Afghanistan for years after an official international troop withdrawal.

Afghan Taliban deny plans for peace talks in Saudi Arabia: The Afghan Taliban have denied planning to hold preliminary peace talks with representatives from the Afghan government in Saudi Arabia.

UN resolution drops demands for Assad’s resignation, arms embargo - reports: Russia and China were the only permanent Security Council members opposing the draft, reminding others that it was not their place to intervene in the domestic affairs of another country.

U.S., Russia set for high-octane clash over Syria : On Friday, Gennady Gatilov, a Deputy Foreign Minister, said Russia would reject any call seeking Mr. Assad's resignation. Analysts say Moscow can also be expected to find fault with any language in the draft that suggests adoption of punitive measures against the Syrian regime if it did not comply with the listed demands.

Beijing against sanctions on Syria: "We firmly oppose forcefully pushing for 'regime change', which violates the purpose and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations," Li Baodong, China's ambassador to the United Nations, said during a Security Council debate on Syria on Tuesday.

Free Syrian Army soldiers may have armored vehicles, YouTube videos show: Two videos posted on YouTube in recent days demonstrate rebel claims that defected soldiers fighting in the name of the Free Syrian Army have access to at least some infantry fighting vehicles, which were either captured from the regular army or acquired when whole units defected.

Engineering Consent For An Attack On Iran: Israel Says Iran Has Material For Four Nuclear Bombs: General Aviv Kochavi said on February 2 that Iran has accumulated nearly 100 kilograms of material at an enrichment level of 20 percent.

Engineering Consent For An Attack On Iran: Iran developing missile to hit US, senior Israeli official says: Iran is developing a missile with a 10,000 kilometre range, which would put the US within range of attack, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Ya'alon said Thursday.

Engineering Consent For An Attack On Iran: Ya'alon: Iran was working on US-range missile: Vice Prime Minister says December explosion at Iran base occurred where long-range missile was being developed.

Engineering Consent For An Attack On Iran: Israel Vice PM: Military strike can hit all of Iran's nuclear facilities: Moshe Ya’alon calls the possibility of a nuclear Iran a 'nightmare to the free world,' says explosion at Iranian missile base targeted missile system that would have threatened the U.S.

Engineering Consent For An Attack On Iran: The Aftermath of “Israel v. Iran”: Israel requires no more than an “understanding” of its need to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities. The official made clear they are “not looking for the international community’s support or consent” or even tacit approval, “but rather a sympathetic view of Israel’s difficult situation.”

US, Britain, France up for war: The United States, Britain and France have begun to deploy troops in the Gulf in a move which experts say suggests preparations for a war with Iran. The first strikes could be carried out at the beginning of the summer

Israel's military leaders warn against Iran attack: Almost the entire senior hierarchy of Israel's military and security establishment is worried about a premature attack on Iran and apprehensive about the possible repercussions, a former chief of the country's defence forces told The Independent yesterday

IAEA sets date for new nuclear talks in Teheran: Chief UN nuclear inspector Herman Nackaerts told reporters on his return from a three-day trip to Teheran that his six-member team had had a 'good' visit.

Iran warns currency speculators as rial continues to fall: Faced with a plummeting currency in the wake of toughened international sanctions, Iran is cracking down on black-market money changers and warning that major speculators could face execution.

Turkish General Staff knew 34 victims were civilians ahead of strike: The order for an airstrike which killed 34 civilians smuggling goods into Turkey over the border with Iraq in late December were given in full knowledge that the border-crossers were not Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorists, contrary to the initial explanation the General Staff offered for the error.

American drone strikes provoke Yemenis against interim government: Groups will take advantage of public panic and will make recruitment efforts, convincing people that they will die anyways because of air strikes and that it's better to die as martyrs, fighting on their side.

See also - US to expand network of secret bases: THE Pentagon plans to expand its global network of drones and special-operations bases in a fundamental military realignment designed to project US power even as it cuts back conventional forces.

74 killed as Egyptians blame military, police for deadly riot : Crowds of Egyptian soccer fans fleeing supporters of the opposing team armed with knives, clubs and stones rushed into the corridor, only to be crushed against a locked gate, their rivals attacking from behind, survivors and witnesses said.

Interior Minister guilty for 'Port Said massacre', says PA : The People’s Assembly (PA) held the interior minister responsible for what they described as the “Port Said massacre” and ordered the inclusion of the case to the fact finding committee of the January 25 Revolution’s martyrs and injured.

Tear gas during Cairo clashes: Demonstrators angered by the deaths of 74 people after a football match in the city of Port Said on Wednesday have clashed with police outside the Egyptian interior ministry in Cairo.

UN staff accused of raping children in Sudan: Members of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in southern Sudan are facing allegations of raping and abusing children as young as 12, The Daily Telegraph reported today.

Kuwaitis vote to choose new government: Opposition expected to fare well in snap parliamentary polls aimed at ending damaging political disputes.

Swedes press their case against Assange in appeal: It was the second and final day of the hearing in central London before seven Supreme Court judges. They were expected to defer judgment for several weeks.

Republicans push to stop automatic spending cuts: - The U.S. military would be spared from automatic spending cuts set for next year under a proposal some top Senate Republicans offered on Thursday that instead would save money by reducing the federal workforce.
 

UK Law Firm Sues WikiLeaks Founder Assange Over Pending Fees: Finers Stephens Innocent LLP - the law firm in question, dragged the 40 years old Australian national to court over pending legal fees. Apparently, the firm which mainly specialises in commercial litigation was replaced by Assange last year when a UK court overruled his defence and upheld the Swedish arrest warrant.

ACLU sues to force release of drone attack records: The American Civil Liberties Union asked a federal court Wednesday to force the Obama administration to release legal and intelligence records related to the killing of three U.S. citizens in drone attacks in Yemen last year.

FBI agents chainsaw through mother's front door and hold her at gunpoint for 30 minutes after raiding WRONG apartment: The 29-year-old was then held face down on the floor as her three-year-old daughter Ji-anni cried in another room.

American Airlines Wants To Eliminate 13,000 Jobs, End Pension Plans: The company proposes to end its traditional pension plans, a move strongly opposed by the airline's unions and the U.S. pension-insurance agency, and to stop paying for retiree health benefits.

The experts' view on the euro's future: it doesn't have one: Leading economists and politicians issue stark warning over eurozone

February 01, 2012

An Alternative View
What Is Really Going On In Syria: Insider Update

By Boris DOLGOV

The armed opposition which conducted terrorist attacks in Syria is represented by a number of groups from a military wing of the Muslim Brotherhood to the Libyan radical Islamists and Al Qaeda. Continue

Petrodollar Pumping US Policy on Iran, Backfire Looms

By Michael T. Winter

Any rhetoric regarding Iran’s nuclear program and the insistence on crippling it is nothing more than a US attempt to force regime change for one more receptive to maintaining the hegemony of the petrodollar. Continue

Israel's War on Democracy

By Conn Hallinan

While that equality never fully applied to the country’s Arab citizens, Israel was, for the most part an open society. Continue

We Are All Suspects Now

By John Pilger

Washington's enemy is not "terrorism" but the principle of free speech and voices of conscience within its militarist state. Continue

A Journey To The End Of Empire:
It Is Always Darkest Right Before It Goes Completely Black

By Phil Rockstroh

Atrocious acts can be committed by the state, with increasing frequency, because, over the passage of time, such outrages will have been allowed to pass into the realm of the mundane, and are thus bestowed with a patina of acceptability. Continue

Hatuey's Rebellion
The First American Freedom Fighter

By William Loren Katz

This February 2nd stands as the 500th anniversary of the death of Hatuey, an Indigenous American fighter for independence from colonialism not mentioned in the same breath as Patrick Henry, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson. Continue

Whitewashing Black History Month

By Gary Younge

Arizona's suppression of Mexican American studies fits a pattern of making history serve an exclusionary nationalist mythology. Continue

What Real Journalism Looks Like
Vincent Browne v The European Central Bank

Video

Vincent Browne takes on Klaus Masuch over the issue of the Irish people having to foot the bill for unguaranteed bondholders. Continue

Syria troops move on new rebel areas near capital: Syrian troops battled army defectors in a string of towns in the mountains overlooking Damascus on Wednesday in a new assault to crush rebellious areas around the capital, activists said.

Syrian rebels upbeat despite government advances: Amateur video shows the Free Syrian Army exchanging gunfire with government forces as they take cover behind a rebel tank.

Canada pulls most diplomats from Syria: - Canada has evacuated all but a few of its embassy staff from Syria as that country teeters on civil war, the foreign minister said in Ottawa.

Pakistan Taliban leader, 20 others killed: - Security forces conducting an operation in Pakistan's tribal region killed a Taliban commander and 20 other suspected militants, officials said Wednesday.

Militants kill 14 paramilitary troopers in southwest Pakistan: At least 14 paramilitary troopers were killed in a militant attack on a security post in the restive Balochistan province of southwest Pakistan, official sources said on Wednesday.

Parcel with Anthrax sent to Pakistani premier’s house: Pakistani police said Wednesday they were investigating how and why a parcel containing anthrax was sent to the prime minister’s official residence in the capital Islamabad last month.

Pakistan dismisses Nato report on Afghan Taliban links: Pakistan's foreign minister says her country has no hidden agenda in Afghanistan, in response to a leaked secret Nato report on Islamabad's links to the Afghan Taliban.

Man in Afghan army uniform kills NATO soldier: "An individual wearing an Afghan National Army uniform turned his weapon against an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) service member in southern Afghanistan yesterday, killing one service member," the NATO-led ISAF said in a press release, Xinhua reported.

Taliban "poised to retake Afghanistan" after NATO: The U.S. military said in a secret report that the Taliban, backed by Pakistan, are set to retake control of Afghanistan after NATO-led forces withdraw, raising the prospect of a major failure of Western policy after a costly war.

Afghan Taliban deny they're ready to talk peace: Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid rejected those reports as "baseless," saying in a statement that exploratory talks between the insurgency and the U.S. and its allies have not yet reached the stage for negotiations.

Hundreds of slaughtered civilians isn't a 'huge number' for Obama: Those drone attacks, carried out by unmanned aircraft controlled thousands of miles away, don’t do a lot of harm, said the president.

Islamist sect kills 5 people in northeast Nigeria: The Borno state police spokesman said Tuesday that Boko Haram gunmen attacked an air force barracks, a police station and an army checkpoint Monday, about 90 miles (150 kilometers) north of the sect's stronghold in the city of Maiduguri.

Rival Libyan militias battle in Tripoli: Exchanges of fire were heard and plumes of smoke seen coming from the el-Saadi district in central Tripoli, eyewitnesses reported.

Seventeen Executions In One Day In Iraq: All seventeen executions took place yesterday, bringing the total number so far this year to 51. 68 people were executed in 2011.

UN nuclear inspectors upbeat on Iran visit, but say further talks needed: Both sides describe the three days of talks as 'good'; Iran says it was ready to show IAEA delegates its nuclear facilities, but 'they didn't ask for it'.

Destination Persian Gulf? US nuclear sub and destroyer enter Red Sea: Two ships of the US Navy, the nuclear submarine USS Annapolis and the destroyer USS Momsen have passed through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea. Although their destination is confidential, they are now getting dangerously close to the Persian Gulf.

US Keeps Up Sabre-rattling Show For Iran: News from Washington proves that the US is serious about its plan to carry out a military operation against Iran.

Engineering Consent For An Attack On Iran: Iranian (retaliatory) attack on America and allies increasingly likely – intelligence chief: Western officials say that in the past year there has been a notable increase in activity around the world by suspected members of Iran's Quds force, which they say could reflect positioning of units capable of carrying out reprisal attacks against western and Israeli targets if Iran was itself attacked.

Engineering Consent For An Attack On Iran: Iran said greater threat, while al-Qaida declines: Top U.S. intelligence officials on Tuesday asserted that Iran has the means to build a nuclear weapon but has not yet decided to follow through, in contrast to Israel's insistence that time is running out to stop Iran from developing such a weapon.. .

Mossad chief holds secret U.S. meetings on Iran nuclear "threat", Senate panel reveals: During a broadcasted meeting of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, CIA Director, panel Chairperson indicate they met Tamir Pardo in Washington this week; U.S. official: Iran willing to attack U.S. targets if threatened.

‘It May Be Too Late to Attack Iran after the Summer’: Constant chatter about an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear site may end by summer. After that, the military option may fall off the table.

Israel sets up elite command unit to strike behind 'enemy' lines: The "Depth Corps" has been organised with the aim of co-ordinating deep penetration operations in other countries at a time when the defence ministry acknowledges that the number of covert Israeli operations abroad has increased significantly in the last year.

Ban Ki-Moon, U.N. Secretary General, Urges Israel To Halt illegal West Bank Settlements Construction: U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon has harshly criticized Israel's continued settlement construction and urged it to submit detailed proposals in low-level border talks with the Palestinians.

U.S. criticizes Israel plan to subsidize illegal West Bank settlement construction: Comments by top State Department official come after Netanyahu cabinet announces plan to encourage immigration into 557 illegal 'national priority' settlements, which reportedly include 70 in the West Bank.

UN chief calls on Israel to make 'goodwill' gestures toward Palestinians: Ban told Peres that Israel must make some confidence-building gestures toward the Palestinians, in order to carry on with the direct talks between the sides in Jordan.

Ethiopian Christians to be deported from Saudi Arabia: Police arrested the group - including 29 women - after raiding a prayer meeting in the second city of Jeddah.

4 punished for blowing whistle on Dover AFB body handling: Four civilian employees at the Port Mortuary at Delaware's Dover Air Force Base were illegally punished after blowing the whistle on the mortuary’s mishandling of dead troops’ remains. Between 2004 and 2006, Dover Air Force Base workers dumped the remains of 274 troops in a Virginia landfill without notifying the soldiers' families.

Assange appeals 'invalid' warrant: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has asked the Supreme Court to block his extradition to Sweden on the grounds that the European arrest warrant issued against him is "invalid and unenforceable".

Group Says FBI Snoops on Wikileaks Supporters: A nonprofit government watchdog claims the FBI refuses to release information on "the government's identification and surveillance of individuals who have demonstrated support for or interest in WikiLeaks."

Romney: 'I'm not concerned about the very poor': Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Wednesday that he's "not concerned about the very poor" because they have an "ample safety net" and he's focused instead on relieving the suffering of middle-class people hit hard by the bad economy.