Less Than Human
Must Read - A quote...."Around the world, Guantánamo is viewed as a stain on the honor and reputation of the United States. It stands as visual evidence of a decision by the United States to repudiate its human rights commitments and the human rights standards that every modern American administration up to the arrival of George W. Bush had championed. Britain’s Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, the senior law officer in the English-speaking world, called the existence of Guantánamo a “shocking affront to the principles of democracy.” And he and others have pointed to the opinions handed down in American courts that sustain and nurture Guantánamo as evidence of the corruption and collapse of the integrity and independence of American courts. This criticism is painful for American lawyers. Doubly painful because of its certain truth."

The Subhuman Stain: Federal Court Upholds Torture and Tyranny
A comment regarding the article shown above - a quote...."Last week, a federal appeals court upheld George W. Bush's outrageous claims of dictatorial powers, ruling that he and his designated minions can torture captives -- seized and held outside any legal process -- as they see fit. What's more, the judges -- all of them appointed by one of the Bushes who have stained the Oval Office with their bloodstained filth -- further ruled that these captives are "non-persons" in the eyes of the law: subhumans, without rights, without redress -- no matter what was done to them, no matter if they were innocent.

Legal mist stokes US-Iran tensions in strait
A quote...."Given that the approximately three-kilometer-wide inbound traffic lane in the Strait of Hormuz is within Iran's territorial water, the US Navy's invocation of "transit passage" harking back to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, (UNCLOS) is hardly surprising. [1] "  --  "Although the US has yet to ratify the UNCLOS, it has been a strong advocate of its provisions regarding navigational rights, thus explaining the US officers' availing themselves of "international law". [2]"

Oh Ho! Look at this.  The US elites who have basically spat upon or broken every single international treaty this nation ever entered into and who have also willingly violated their oath of office by eviscerating this nation's constitution, are now claiming rights under a treaty they haven't even ratified yet.

They are just disgusting, degenerate morons. – mpg
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Gulf Arabs know better than to follow Bush's path to confrontation with Iran - posted at Info Clearing House
A quote...."US President George W. Bush used his speech in Abu Dhabi on Sunday to reiterate many of the same accusations about Iran that we have heard him throw around since his first weeks in office seven years ago."

Arab press Reactions to Bush Visit - 'An Absurd, Sadistic Image' - posted at Info Clearing House
A quote...."Papers in the Middle East are sharply critical of Bush's current Middle East visit, saying the United States is obsessed with Iran and that he is backpedaling on the positions he staked out at Annapolis."

Illusions of peace
A quote...."Almost to the last one, all US presidential candidates agree on one thing: the need for change. In the run-up for the August primaries and the November elections, many names will pop up and disappear as the American people ponder their options. The next president may be an African American, Barack Obama, or a woman, Hillary Clinton. But on both sides of the Democratic-Republican divide, Americans are visibly disenchanted with the policies of the Bush administration. The Democrats say the Bush administration undermined US international standing, wrecked the economy, and boosted joblessness. The Republicans are all working hard to disassociate themselves from Bush's legacy."

Bush Disowns U.S. Intel, Tells Israelis Iran NIE ‘Doesn’t Reflect My Own Views’
A quote...."Just days after the NIE was released, Bush quickly announced he would make the first visit to Israel of his presidency to mend differences over Iran.  --  In private meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert this week, Newsweek reports that President Bush disowned the U.S. intelligence community’s judgments:"

King George ignores the NIE just like he ignores this nation's laws by the use of his "signing statements". - mpg
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Muqtada al-Sadr Denounces Bush
A quote...."We wonder, will visit by the leader of evil (Bush) to the Middle East be a lever lifting the sufferings of others. No and a thousand no[s]. It came to impose US domination and hegemony on the rest of the states so that their fate will be the same as the fate of others before them. - While we denounce and condemn this visit, which will only spread corruption and wars, we tell him: You brought us wars, and the bringer of war cannot bring peace and the bearer of corruption cannot spread wellbeing. Go away with your freedom and spread it among your own people, who suffer from your suppression. Spread peace among your own people who suffer from fear and hatred of others due to you. Get out of our land and it will be safe."  --  *Muqtada al-Sadr*

Who's Left In The Coalition? - posted at BuzzFlash
Full quote...."When the U.S. invaded Iraq in the spring of 2003, we had 47,200 combat troops from three nations with us. In March 2004, there were 24,000 troops from 33 countries. Today, the number of foreign troops has dropped below 12,000, according to the Brookings Institution’s Iraq Index. That includes 4500 British troops, 2000 from the former Soviet Republic of Georgia and 1200 from South Korea. Other coalition members, such as Spain, Italy and Japan, left Iraq months or years ago. By this summer, the numbers could diminish by an additional 50%. Britain and South Korea are halving their forces, and Georgia is pulling out 1700 troops. The new prime ministers of Australia and Poland also have promised to remove all of their soldiers—600 and 900, respectively—which would leave the foreign troop strength under 6000. (Right now, the U.S. has about 160,000 troops there.) Says Brookings’ Michael O’Hanlon: “The military mission in Iraq is increasingly just a U.S.-Iraqi enterprise.” He adds that we can expect less help as time passes, “even given improvements on the ground and a new President.”

Oil for Iraqi citizens
A quote...."Precedent exists in international law that could explode the US occupation of Iraq, its genocidal strategy, and be a step towards healing the wounds of the Iraqi nation.  --  Some 4.7 million Iraqi citizens -- one fifth of the population -- have been forcibly displaced, within and outside their country, by the US occupation and the policies of the sectarian governments it installed since the illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003. It is a human catastrophe, a national tragedy, and a destabilising factor for the region. This exodus has been labelled "the fastest growing humanitarian crisis on the planet", unprecedented in size since the 1948 Nakba that uprooted at least one million Palestinians from their land."

The End of the Road for George W. Bush
A quote...."The Gilbert and Sullivan charade of statesmanship played out by George W. Bush and his enabler, Condoleezza Rice, as they wander the Middle East is a fitting end to seven years of misrule.  Despots stripped of power are transformed from monsters into buffoons.  And this is the metamorphosis that is eating away at the Bush presidency. "

Bush branded 'unwelcome murderer'
A quote...."US President George W. Bush, due to visit Egypt on Wednesday as part of his Middle East tour, was branded a murderer not welcome in the country by the main opposition party." - “We say to Bush Junior - whose hands are not just bloodstained but soaked in our blood - that neither you or your American administration assistants are welcome in our land or under our skies,” the Muslim Brotherhood said."
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B'Tselem: Does Diskin view kids as terrorists?
A quote...."The human rights organizations in Israel and the Gaza Strip were angered by data presented Sunday by Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin during Sunday's cabinet meeting, according to which Israel had killed 1,000 terrorists in the past two years. - The B'Tselem organization expressed its surprise over Diskin's remarks, saying that according to its figures, 816 Palestinians were killed by the IDF in that same period, including 150 minors, 48 of them under the age of 14. - Security sources later corrected Diskin's remarks, saying that 810 terrorists were identified among the casualties, which included civilians."

Layla Anwar – An Arab Woman Blues: Indicting The Reader
Site Review - A quote...."Layla Anwar is the pseudonym for an Iraqi blogger, in her early to mid-forties, who appears to be writing directly from Baghdad, right in the line of fire, so to speak. She comes from a secular, upper-middle class, Sunni background and remains loyal to Saddam Hussein. Unlike the blogger Baghdad Burning, Layla does not write for the American left. Rather, she writes to all Americans, including the American left, and condemns us all along with the Bush-Cheney regime. She indicts every single American for being a part of the destruction and devastation of her motherland. She writes to the enemy."

Italian judge seeks trial of 140 over Operation Condor repression
A quote...."An Italian judge has issued orders for the preventive arrest pending deportation of at least 140 former officials of military dictatorships that ruled seven Latin American countries between the 1960s and 1980s. They are charged with responsibility for the deaths of 25 Italian citizens, who were among the tens of thousands of opponents of these regimes murdered, tortured and illegally imprisoned under a US-backed campaign of repression known as Operation Condor."

Poland toughens stance on US missile shield
A quote...." US ambitions to place a missile defence shield in Central Europe are running into trouble, as Polish prime minister Donald Tusk says his country will not rush into a decision."

Peru en route to become regional natural gas power
A quote...."Spain's Repsol announced the discovery of a new gas deposit at block 57 in Peru's Cuzco department that holds 56.6 billion cubic meters. The discovery was made at exploratory well Kinteroni X1 where initial production tests have reached 1Mm3/d of gas and 198m3 of associated liquid hydrocarbons."

President Putin's visit to Bulgaria to bring pipeline deal, NPP contract
A quote...."MOSCOW, January 14 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian president's visit to Bulgaria this week will bring a package of deals, including on an ambitious oil pipeline project and a nuclear power plant, the foreign minister said on Monday."

European press: It wasn't a miracle - Hillary won via a rigged vote
A quote...."The mainstream Italian media are reporting both the rigging of the New Hampshire primary for Senator Hillary Clinton and the official demands for a swift, accurate and impartial recount. In an article written by Marcello Foa, one of Europe's most respected journalists, it appears that vote tallies for all Democratic candidates as well as Republicans were reduced by Diebold vote-counting machines."

We Deserve What We Get
A quote...."This column is not about Hillary vs. Obama vs. Edwards. The truth is if I had the choice I'd vote for Dennis Kucinich because he's against the war, for the impeachment of war criminals in government, smart on the environment and the economy, and he has a sense of humor about UFOS. He's not afraid to joke about 'em for fear he'll be labeled a nutcase — as indeed he was.  --  But I don't have that option. Kucinich represents my views, but he only got 1% in New Hampshire. Too bad.  --  I want to talk not about candidates but about our media turning every presidential election into a high school popularity contest. And we let them get away with it. And we don't stop Rupert Murdoch, Clear Channel, Disney, GE, Sumner Redstone and a few others from owning all the media all the time."
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[1] - Organs to be taken without consent
A quote...."Gordon Brown has thrown his weight behind a move to allow hospitals to take organs from dead patients without explicit consent."  -- But how did they get to be  "dead" -  that's the question.  You were warned gentle readers, you knew what the rich were going to do....you were told this was coming. - mpg

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[2] - Southern California plant turning treated sewage into drinking water - posted at BuzzFlash
A quote...."LOS ANGELES - As a hedge against water shortages and population growth, Orange County, Calif., has begun operating the world's largest, most modern reclamation plant - a facility that can turn 70 million gallons of treated sewage into drinking water every day."

No doubt the sewage water will be taken from the rich neighborhoods and the "treated" water will be pumped into the poor neighborhoods water supply.  Just you wait and see.  The "government" will be charging people more for "non-sewage" water. - mpg

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[3] - Kids hitting puberty at three
A quote...."Shocked doctors blame hormones in food and water for some toddlers showing signs of breast growth, The Sun reports. - Other pre-school youngsters even experience periods that normally start in their teens – and have temper tantrums just like adolescents. - The phenomenon is feared to have become more common since the 1990s – with doctors having to give increasing numbers of tots jabs to keep puberty at bay."

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Escalating Ice Loss Found in Antarctica
A quote...."Climatic changes appear to be destabilizing vast ice sheets of western Antarctica that had previously seemed relatively protected from global warming, researchers reported yesterday, raising the prospect of faster sea-level rise than current estimates."


Why is Iran Still in the Cross-Hairs? - Clues from the Project of a New American Century
Must Read - A quote....""[T]here are still quite a few neoconservatives who want to go after Iran under these unbelievable conditions." 3 - The question is, why? One popular theory holds that the push for war is all about oil; but many countries have oil, and we don't normally invade them to get their assets. Why go to war for Iran's oil when we can just buy it?"
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The grave Iranian threat to world peace
A quote...."In other news, Bush yesterday, while in Israel, threatened Iran again. Also yesterday, we dropped 40,000 more pounds of bombs on Iraq in a ten-minute time-frame. In some circles, it's a cause for celebration and vindication that the completely optional war we started "only" resulted in the violent deaths of 150,000 Iraqi innocent civilians (through mid-2006), with the overall number of "excess deaths" at 400,000, and the displacement of 4 million human beings.
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Why does't Bush just change his citizenship?
A quote...."Two countries come to mind:  --  (1.)  Well, since he's obscenely joined at the hip with Osama bin laden, why doesn't he just convert to Saudi Arabia?  Remember, Osama rescued Bush with a last minute photo op during the 2004 presidential election (if you can call that criminal theft an "election").  Also, we should never forget that Bush whisked members of the bin laden family out of the country a matter of HOURS after 9/11 -- kinda sounds like he knew "something" in advance, doesn't it? And more generally, since the Bush Royal Family is indistinguishable from the Saudi Royal Family, perhaps the Saudi's would make Bush an honorary prince if he made his traitorous allegiance to Saudi Arabia known to the American public."  --  link added by website author.
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Member of Japanese Diet Doubts Official 9/11 Fairy Tale
A quote...."Don’t expect the New York Times or CNN to report on Fujita Yukihisa’s grilling of Japanese PM Fukuda over the official 9/11 fairy tale."

Bush Insists Iran Biggest Terror Sponsor
A quote...."Iran is the world's leading state sponsor of terror," Bush said in a speech about democracy that he delivered about midway through his eight-day Mideast trip, which began with a renewed push for an Israeli-Palestinian peace pact—an accord he said whose "time has come."

For more on who supports terror see....US Support of Terror
Regarding the Palestinians and the Lebanese see....US Sponsored Civil Wars
See also....It Will Happen Every Single Time
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Unraveling the Myth of Al Qaida
Must Read - A quote...."The myth of "al Qaida" is built on an expansive foundation of many half-truths and hidden facts. It is a CIA creation. It was shaped by the agency to serve as a substitute "enemy" for America, replacing the Soviets whom the Islamist forces had driven from Afghanistan. Unknown American officials, at an indeterminate point in time, made the decision to fabricate the tale of a mythical worldwide network of Islamic terrorists from the exploits of the Afghan Mujahedeen. The CIA already had their own network of Islamic militant "freedom fighters," all that was needed were a few scattered terrorist attacks against US targets and a credible heroic figurehead, to serve as the "great leader."

Inadequate Deception: The Impossible Plots Of The Terror War
A quote...."Suppose you were running a counter-terrorism unit. What would you need? A huge budget -- obviously! But what else? You'd need lots of good people, and you'd need good ways to train them, and good ways to test them. You'd also need to make sure that they passed their tests."

Toward Militarism, War, Empire, Caskets, and Bankruptcy
A quote...."The incident in the Gulf of Tonkin — excuse me, Gulf of Hormuz — this past week confirms how easy it is for an American ruler to send the entire nation into war, especially given that he is now permitted to ignore the constitutional provision requiring a congressional declaration of war."

The War in Iraq – 1,760 Days and Counting
Must Read - A quote...."It is difficult enough to absorb the reality that the United States has now been at war against the Iraqis for almost five years. An engagement sold to the public as a "cakewalk" and represented just six weeks after it began as a "mission accomplished" has now (as I write) continued for 1,760 days. Compare this duration with the time the United States was formally engaged in World War I (589 days) or World War II (1,365 days). In the 1940s, the U.S. forces (with important allies, to be sure) defeated two major economic and military powers in a globe-circling war in less time than the U.S. forces have been engaged in Iraq."

New Iraqi Law on Baath Worries Ex-Baathists
A quote...."If the new law was good for ex-Baathists, then the ex-Baathists in parliament will have voted for it and praised it, right? And likely the Sadrists (hard line anti-Baath Shiites) and Kurds would be a little upset. - Instead, parliament's version of this law was spearheaded by Sadrists, and the ex-Baathists in parliament criticized it. - Somehow that little drawback suggests to me that the law is not actually, as written, likely to be good for sectarian reconciliation."

20 Thousand Detainees in Bucca, US Report Says
Full quote...."An American report said that American occupation forces are detaining twenty thousand Iraqis in Bucca Prison, southern Iraq, for security reasons.  --  The report was made public upon handing the prison's responsibilities from Navy Captain Craig Roul to Navy Captain Bruce Derinski.  --  The report say that during Captain Roul's command of the prison, the detention witnessed an expansion at the cost of 370 million US Dollars, erecting 37 observation towers and light weapons armory."

Shiite, Sunni political blocs sign pact to maintain Iraq's unity
A quote...."BAGHDAD, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Some of Iraq's Shiite and Sunni parliamentary blocs signed on Sunday an understanding aimed at protecting the country's unity and stressing central control over oil reserves.  --  "These are political blocs which oppose the oil wealth be out of the control of the central government and have their own point of view toward the future of Kirkuk," Salih al-Mutlak, head of the Iraqi National Dialogue Front, told Xinhua."

Naser Pediatric Hospital, Gaza City, besieged
A quote...."As happened on my last 2 visits to hospitals here I was near tears going thru the hospital with my guide, Ibrahim, especially with the children. Looking into the eyes of a girl about 2 yrs old, on a ventilator, her mouth chapped, a bulge in her chest from her blood disease, her helpless condition, all that specificity embedded in the larger context of siege-induced health desperation, nearly rendered me incapable of photographing."

Report: Israel plotting to assassinate Hamas' top leaders
A quote...."Bethlehem – Ma'an – The London-based Al-Hayat newspaper quoted an anonymous Palestinian official saying that a European country had told Hamas leaders that Israel decided to assassinate Hamas' three top leaders, Isma'il Haniyeh, Khalid Mash'al and Mahmoud Az-Zahhar."

Unusual Pair Takes Over in Guatemala
A quote...."GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemala's new president, Alvaro Colom received training as a Mayan priest. His vice president is a heart surgeon.  --  As the two men prepare to take office on Monday, Guatemalans are hoping for some healing.  --  After a 36-year civil war, and still plagued by poverty, corruption and street gangs, "Guatemala is sick, very sick, in intensive care," says Vice President Rafael Espada, who gave up a decades-long medical career in Texas to return to Guatemala last year as Colom's running mate."
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Across America, Deadly Echoes of Foreign Battles
A quote...."Late one night in the summer of 2005, Matthew Sepi, a 20-year-old Iraq combat veteran, headed out to a 7-Eleven in the seedy Las Vegas neighborhood where he had settled after leaving the Army."

Brian Haw violently assaulted then arrested at Downing Street on Saturday (Updated to include video of demonstration) - A quote...."Apologies for reposting - original article wouldn't update."
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>>>  Police State  <<<

VIDEO: This is What A Police State Looks Like
Must View - A quote...."In Portland, the cops get up close and personal for the crime of exercising the First Amendment."

Videos
See also....Miami Police Shot Protester, then laugh about it. - (YouTube - 2 min 35 sec -  Added:  August 18, 2006)
See also....Union Leader stops provocateurs - Police caught - (YouTube - 5 min 23 sec - August 20, 2007)
See also....5-1-07 LAPD Assaults Immigration Reform Demonstration - (AOL - 3 min 3 sec -  May 1, 2007)

Articles
See also....Canadian Police Caught Attempting To Stage Riots
See also....Police action on journalists at melee is assailed
See also....Neo-Nazi rally was organized by FBI informant
See also....NYC City Police Spied Broadly Before GOP Convention
See also....Police Log Confirms FBI Role in Arrests
See also....Four students arrested for heckling FBI director
See also....Unreported News: Tacoma Police Aggressively Attack Peace Demonstrators
See also....Secret papers detail NYC intelligence gathering on RNC protesters
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States within the USA need to rebel
Must read - A quote...." In view of yesterday’s declaration by the Media that ‘all States will comply with the National ID Act by this coming May, or their citizens will be refused permission to fly’—The governor’s of the States within the United States need to rebel, as a body, against this completely unwarranted ORDER from the White House via Michael Chertoff, whose own US citizenship is in doubt. (2) - bold/italics/underline by website author

For more on this issue see.... Thirty Five Acts to Restore Americans' Rights 11-10-06 - mpg
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U.S. corporate elite fear candidate Edwards
A quote...." WASHINGTON, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Ask corporate lobbyists which presidential contender is most feared by their clients and the answer is almost always the same -- Democrat John Edwards. The former North Carolina senator's chosen profession alone raises the hackles of business people. Before entering politics, he made a fortune as a trial lawyer.  --  In litigious America, trial lawyers bring lawsuits against companies on behalf of aggrieved individuals and sometimes win multimillion-dollar settlements. Edwards won several.

Import Prices Spur US Stagflation Fear
A quote...."Import prices rose at their fastest pace in at least 25 years in 2007, underlining the threat of stagflation as the US enters a period of slower economic growth, according to figures from the commerce department. - The data come as other figures showed the US trade deficit widening in November, suggesting even weaker growth in the final quarter of the year."

[British] Profit warnings surged to 107 in final quarter of 2007
A quote...."The number of profit warnings issued by UK businesses in 2007 reached the highest level since 2001, and a last-quarter surge in bad news has triggered fears that 2008 could prove to be even worse."

Soaring commodities pulverized inflation targets in Latam
A quote...."Peru, Panama, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico and Uruguay are the Latinamerican countries expected to have the best economic performance in the region during 2008, according to the latest edition of World Economic Prospects from the World Bank."


"Visions of Omnipotence" - 60 Years of Empire
A quote...."Look at 2008 symbolically! Some 60 years ago, the United States emerged as the world power. Henry Luce formally announced the arrival of "The American Century" even before the country entered World War II. Luce thought the United States should become the world's missionary, spreading Christian values and democracy. US history had woven together a people with noble purpose, Luce argued, and had "the most exciting flag of all the world and of all history," blowing toward the "triumphal purpose of freedom."

US Seen in Middle East Policy Retreat
A quote...."CAIRO - Recent months have witnessed several notable political reorientations in the Middle East, involving Iran, the Gulf states, Egypt and Lebanon. Several experts say the changes reflect a shift in Washington's regional strategy following recent US policy setbacks.  --  "US policies in the region are either in retreat or undergoing reexamination," Ayman Abelaziz Salaama, international law professor at Cairo University told IPS. "Washington's project for a new Middle East – launched in 2001 with the aim of redrawing the region to suit US interests – has failed."

Not really, it's just a temporary pause while the MIOC / PNAC'ing elites (sans Cheney et. al.) continue the The Slow Play Option - 12-11-07 - mpg
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Bush Promised Israel that He Would Nuke Iran
War Warning - A quote...."Whether or not Bush manages to plunge the world into a new dark age may depend upon which version of the recent US/Iran confrontation is believed. So far, Bush's utter lack of credibility may be working to our advantage. One dares not think of the consequences to world peace if Bush had embarked upon this tour of the middle east with a shred of credibility, a modicum of political capital among every Middle Eastern capital but Jerusalem."

Welcome to the Monkey House...
A quote...."What century are we living in? Can someone explain to me how the US Navy quite literally almost declared war on Iran on the basis of a radio transmission from a phantom voice known as the "Filipino Monkey" (not my term by the way) radio transmission? Read the latest news about the near-war incident in the Strait of Hormuz:"

For more on this issue see....Why do you even bother?
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Pakistan president tells US to stay out
A quote...."Musharraf warned in an interview published Friday that Pakistan would resist any unilateral military action by the United States against militants sheltering in its lawless, tribal regions close to the Afghan border. - "I challenge anybody coming into our mountains," he told Singapore's The Straits Times in the interview notable for its unusually strident language. "They would regret that day."

For more on this issue see....It Will Happen Every Single Time
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Some Substance, Please
A quote...."I started this from an airport, on my way to New Hampshire to join the horde of media covering the primaries there. Having spent almost a week of being unremittingly busy as an anonymous (except perhaps to Register readers and others who checked out my blogging) member of the horde of media (that herd of independent minds) covering the primary election there, I feel even more strongly. We as Americans deserve a lot more than we are getting from our candidates when it comes to evidence of specific thought about what the country should do in the wake of the war in Iraq. To my way of thinking both friend and foe of that war, at least among the candidates, has been unhelpfully vague on the subject."
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9/11 Truth and Reconciliation
A quote...."What's the end goal of the fight for 9/11 truth and justice? Is it to see the perpetrators impeached and tried for their crimes, and then sentenced to life in jail? Or executed?  --  I think that's aiming too low. That's not going far enough.  --  Why? Because the gentlemen who carried out 9/11 will likely be replaced by some other corrupt, ruthless folks. Meet the new boss ... same as the old boss."

CIA Hid Other Tapes From 9/11 Commission
A quote...."We know now that the CIA kept from the 9/11 Commission tapes of al Qaeda suspects in violation of law. But why isn't mainstream media (MSM) reporting about other tapes U.S. Intelligence kept from the 9/11 Commission?"

Japanese question their Prime Minister about 9/11 Truth
A quote...." This series of videos in Japanese show politicians in Japan questioning their own prime minister for over 30 minutes concerning what really happened on 9/11."

Regrettably the videos have not been translated or subtitled....anybody care to try? - mpg
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How the New England Journal of Medicine Undercounted Iraqi Civilian Deaths
Must Read - A quote...."Almost five years into the destruction of Iraq, the orthodox rule of thumb for assessing statistical tabulations of the civilian death toll is becoming clear: any figure will do so long as it is substantially lower than that computed by the Johns Hopkins researchers in their 2004 and 2006 studies. Their findings, based on the most orthodox sampling methodology and published in the Lancet after extensive peer review, estimated the post-invasion death toll by 2006 at about 655,000. Predictably, this shocking assessment drew howls of ignorant abuse from self-interested parties, including George Bush ("not credible") and Tony Blair."

Saudi cannot be launchpad for Iran attack: report
A quote...."A leading Saudi newspaper on Saturday ruled out any attempt by the United States to use the oil-rich Gulf kingdom as a launchpad for a possible war on Iran over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme."

Iranian exports to Germany rose 50% in 2007
A quote...."Iranian exports to Germany were up 50 per cent in 2007 to reach 580m euros, the business daily Handelsblatt reported. It cited the German Office for Foreign Trade as saying that although German exports to Iran dropped for the second consecutive year, imports from Iran have risen almost 50 per cent over the past year. Meanwhile German exports to Iran fell 15 per cent last year to around 3.5bn euros."

Iraq parliament passes law to rehire Baathists
A quote...."BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's parliament passed a law on Saturday to ease restrictions on mostly Sunni Arab members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party returning to public life, one of the main political benchmarks set by the United States.  --  Washington has been pressing Iraq's Shi'ite Islamist-led government to pass the law in an effort to draw the minority Sunni Arab community that held sway under Saddam closer into the political process."

So, how ARE things in Iraq?
A quote...." Iraqis are returning to Baghdad from abroad, but the flow is still only a trickle. And the differences in numbers being reported by aid groups and the US and Iraqi governments underscore the political value these numbers hold for proponents of the "Surge". But what even this debate misses is the difference between reducing the number of violent deaths for now, and laying the foundations for a future of peace for Iraq."

Greens highlight Iraq destruction
A quote...."BAHRAIN'S environmentalists staged a vigil yesterday in protest at the mass destruction in Iraq.  -- 
The war in Iraq is having an irreversible impact on the country's people and the environment, said Environmental Friends Society (EFS) president Khawla Al Muhannadi."

RIGHTS-LATIN AMERICA:  ‘Operation Condor’ Was No Mystery to Washington
A quote...."LIMA, Jan 12 (IPS) - The intelligence services of Peru and Argentina kept Washington informed in real time about a 1980 joint clandestine operation in which four alleged members of Argentina’s Montoneros guerrilla movement were "disappeared," according to documents declassified in the United States."

Brian Haw violently assaulted then arrested at Downing Street on Saturday
A quote...."During the freedom to protest assembly this afternoon, brian haw (who was peacefully filming events in whitehall) was violently attacked by a territorial support group policeman who lashed out at him, smashing his camera into his face and causing a deep cut. police then arrested brian for an unspecified public order offence and further assaulted him in a police van."
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Experts Question Clinton's New Hampshire Primary Win
A quote...."Election integrity activists parsing the precinct-level results from New Hampshire's Democratic Primary say their early analyses have found anomalies suggesting vote totals may have been altered to deliver a Hillary Clinton victory."

Recount - Is Dennis Kucinich walking into a trap?
Special Note: A quote...."The election integrity community is abuzz with news that candidate Dennis Kucinich will ask for a recount in New Hampshire, and Ron Paul fans have been pushing him to recount as well. Careful."
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Jane Smiley: Bill Kristol in the NY Times Means I'm Done With the Paper
A quote...."Given my attachment to the Times over the years, I have to say that I even forgave them for Judith Miller, difficult as that was. But after the advent of Bill Kristol on the editorial page next week, that's it for the Times and me."

FCC Ok's Clear Channel Buyout
A quote...."Mitt Romney & Bain Capital's deal will make largest US radio broadcaster private. The Federal Communications Commission has signed off on the $19.5 billion deal that will take the nation's largest radio broadcaster private, an agency official said Thursday."
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Bernanke Finds his Voice
War Warning - A quote...." 12/01/08 "ICH" --- On Thursday, Fed chairman Ben Bernanke gave the keynote address on the state of the economy and financial markets at a luncheon in Washington, DC. The tone of the speech was decidedly somber and could have easily been accompanied by a funereal dirge and 8 black-suited pall bearers. Bernanke avoided the opaque, hieroglyphic-filled language of his predecessor, Alan Greenspan, and gave a clear presentation of the facts. Unfortunately, the facts are bleak. The economy is in very bad shape."
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Banks Plead They Can’t Follow Rules
A quote...."As the mortgage mess grows, we are learning more and more about just how sloppy things were in the mortgage-issuing business as loans were churned out, carved into securities and sold off. - Judges have blocked some foreclosures with rulings that purchasers of mortgages could not prove that they owned them. The buyers of the mortgages complain that it is unfair to ask them to have complied with detailed rules."

For more on this issue see article shown below....

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A technological revolution for $2,500
More on the Tata Nano, the world's cheapest car. - mpg

ISS orbit raised to host spacecraft
A quote...."MOSCOW, January 12 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Mission Control said on Saturday it had successfully adjusted the International Space Station's orbit in preparation for the docking of a Russian cargo spacecraft and a U.S. space shuttle."

Snow Day in the Sands of Baghdad
A quote...."     BAGHDAD (AP) - The flakes melted quickly. But the smiles, wonder and excited story- swapping went on throughout the day: It snowed in Baghdad."