In the News: Jun-30

Former Iraqi detainees sue U.S. military contractors - 30 Jun 2008 at 2:49pm - ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Four Iraqi men are suing U.S. military contractors who they say tortured them while they were detained in Abu Ghraib prison, according to lawsuits being filed at U.S. federal courts on Monday.

Prosecutors charge accused USS Cole mastermind - 30 Jun 2008 at 3:10pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. military prosecutors have charged the alleged mastermind behind the bombing of the USS Cole warship that killed 17 U.S. sailors in 2000, the Pentagon said on Monday.

Canadian loses U.S. appeal in Syrian torture claim - 30 Jun 2008 at 1:44pm - NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Canadian who accused U.S. authorities of violating his rights and illegally deporting him to Syria where he was tortured lost an appeal on Monday.

Judges site nonsense poem in Guantanamo case - 30 Jun 2008 at 12:13pm - WASHINGTON -- A federal appeals court is comparing a military decision at Guantanamo Bay to a nonsensical 19th-century poem by Lewis Carroll.

Iraq throws open door to foreign oil firms - 30 Jun 2008 at 9:56am - BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq threw open the world's third largest oil reserves to foreign firms on Monday, putting British and U.S. companies in poll position five years after U.S.-led troops invaded the country to oust Saddam Hussein.

Iraq fails to sign contracts with foreign oil majors - 30 Jun 2008 at 9:24am - BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraq said on Monday it has failed to sign technical support agreements with global oil majors which were aimed at helping boost the war-torn country's oil production.

In the News: Jun-27

Iraq veteran discharged for acknowledging he's gay - 27 Jun 2008 at 1:28pm - WASHINGTON -- The Army has discharged a decorated medic who was deployed to Iraq despite acknowledging he was gay.

Relief agencies are desperate for funds - 27 Jun 2008 at 12:03pm - Disaster relief agencies, facing natural disasters that won't quit coming and a challenging economy that's crimping fundraising, need a little relief themselves these days.

Judge refuses to postpone Osama bin Laden driver's trial - 27 Jun 2008 at 9:59am - A judge has denied a defense motion to postpone the trial of former Osama bin Laden driver Salim Hamdan, a spokesman for the ...

Citing Need for Assessments, U.S. Freezes Solar Energy Projects - 27 Jun 2008 at 2:35am - The freeze has caused widespread concern in the industry, forcing fledgling solar companies to wait just as demand for alternative energy is accelerating.

Thought for the day:
No one party can fool all of the people all of the time; that's why we have two parties. -Bob Hope (1903 - 2003)

Senate delays vote on surveillance bill

Senate delays vote on surveillance bill - 26 Jun 2008 at 8:22pm - WASHINGTON -- The Senate on Thursday put off voting on controversial electronic surveillance legislation, in spite of what appeared to be overwhelming support for the bill. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and more than a dozen other senators who oppose telecom immunity threw up procedural delays that threatened to force the Senate into a midnight or weekend session. The prospect of further delays was enough to cause Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to postpone the vote until after the weeklong July 4 vacation.... The bill amending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act represents a compromise. In exchange for telecom immunity, the inspectors general of the Pentagon, Justice Department and intelligence agencies will investigate the wiretapping program. The attorney general and national intelligence director on Thursday said President Bush would veto the bill if the immunity provisions were stripped from it.

If there's something worth investigating, why do they need an immunity deal to start the investigation? Or, conversely, if an investigation is unwarranted, why would they agree to waste their time and energies (and taxpayer dollars) in exchage for an immunity provision? If this FISA bill passes, it would be an outrageous, blatant corruption of government, or am I missing something?

In the News: Jun-26

White House says spy bill telecom protection vital - 26 Jun 2008 at 1:06pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday urged the U.S. Senate to reject any bid to deny liability protection to telecommunication companies that participated in President George W. Bush's warrantless spying program. "Failure to provide retroactive liability protection would undermine the private sector's willingness to cooperate," the White House said in a statement. "Such cooperation is essential to protecting the country from another terrorist attack."

This has been said a million times, but: if the private sector hasn't been engaging in illicit conduct -- or isn't planning to -- how is liability protection expected to impact its willingness to cooperate?

Oil crosses 140 dollars for first time - 26 Jun 2008 at 2:44pm - NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices crossed 140 dollars a barrel for the first time in New York and London Thursday amid a declining dollar and after OPEC warned prices could hit 170 dollars this year.

Iraqi bomber kills 20 at meeting between sheiks, Americans - 26 Jun 2008 at 12:12pm - A suicide bomber entered a municipal council headquarters near Baghdad on Thursday and detonated an explosive belt as tribal sheiks were holding a meeting.

U.S.-led patrol says attack in Afghanistan kills 3 - 26 Jun 2008 at 12:18pm - The U.S.-led coalition says an attack in Afghanistan has killed three service members.

California unveils ambitious climate plan - 26 Jun 2008 at 10:26am - LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California on Thursday took a major step forward on its global warming fight by unveiling an ambitious plan for clean cars, renewable energy and stringent caps on big polluting industries.

Court rules in favor of Second Amendment gun right - 26 Jun 2008 at 10:30am - WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Americans have a right to own guns for self-defense and hunting, the justices' first major pronouncement on gun rights in U.S. history.

Thought for the day:
Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others. -Groucho Marx (1890 - 1977)

In the News: Jun-25

No end seen on reliance on oil, fossil fuels - 25 Jun 2008 at 2:50pm - WASHINGTON -- World energy demand will grow 50 percent over the next two decades, oil prices could rise to $186 a barrel and coal will remain the biggest source of electricity despite its effect on global warming, government experts predict.

Senators: Don't move Guantanamo to Kansas - 25 Jun 2008 at 2:16pm - In a Senate-wide appeal, two Kansas senators released a letter Wednesday urging fellow lawmakers to abandon a bipartisan idea to move at least some Guantanamo detainees to Fort Leavenworth, an Army base in their state.

More offshore drilling does little at the pump: EIA - 25 Jun 2008 at 1:37pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Allowing oil drilling in U.S. offshore waters that are now closed to energy exploration would do little to lower gasoline prices paid by consumers, the government's top energy forecaster said on Wednesday.

Iran nuclear issue can be solved diplomatically: U.S. - 25 Jun 2008 at 1:19pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush believes the Iran nuclear issue can be solved diplomatically, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said on Wednesday.

The only sort of "diplomacy" GWB understands is threatening the other party with military action until they either submit to his will, or decline to submit, thus "necessitating" military action.

Queen Elizabeth II strips Mugabe of knighthood - 25 Jun 2008 at 12:45pm - Queen Elizabeth II has stripped Zimbabwe's leader Robert Mugabe of his honorary knighthood.

And, in other stripping news....

Man leaves Ga. jail naked, gets arrested again - 25 Jun 2008 at 12:25pm - Sometimes, it's better to look like a jailbird than sport a birthday suit.

Iraq, U.S. making progress on security pact: Talabani - 25 Jun 2008 at 1:05pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iraq and the United States are making progress in completing a security pact for U.S. forces to stay in the country after 2008, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said on Wednesday after meeting U.S. President George W. Bush.

Report: Climate change linked to national security - 25 Jun 2008 at 10:06am - Global warming is likely to increase illegal immigration, create humanitarian disasters and destabilize precarious governments in political hot spots, all of which could affect U.S. national security, according to an assessment by U.S. intelligence agencies.

Bomb in Qaeda bastion in Iraq kills 3 U.S. troops - 25 Jun 2008 at 8:24am - BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A roadside bomb killed three U.S. soldiers and an interpreter in a region of northern Iraq where U.S. and Iraqi forces are battling al Qaeda, the U.S. military said on Wednesday.

Thought for the day:
Acceptance without proof is the fundamental characteristic of Western religion; rejection without proof is the fundamental characteristic of Western science. -Gary Zukav, "The Dancing Wu Li Masters"

In the News: Jun-24

Bush administration to leave Iraq oil deals alone - 24 Jun 2008 at 2:11pm - The Bush administration indicated Tuesday that it had no plans to interfere with negotiations between Iraq and several Western oil giants to boost crude production in that country, despite concerns by some Democrats that the deal could inflame anti-U.S. sentiments. "Iraq is a sovereign country, and it can make decisions based on how it feels that it wants to move forward in its development of its oil resources," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.

Rice: Sadr City attack reminder of dangers Americans face - 24 Jun 2008 at 1:12pm - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called the deadly attack Tuesday in Sadr City, Iraq, a terrible reminder of the dangers Americans face as they work to help rebuild the country.

As if anyone were in need of such a reminder?

Taliban skim $100 million from Afghan opium trade: UN - 24 Jun 2008 at 12:46pm - A United Nations official says the Taliban skimmed more than $100 million from the Afghan opium trade in 2007, money that was probably used to buy arms and explosives.

Iraq to create new oil company - 24 Jun 2008 at 11:57am - Iraq will create a fourth state-owned oil company to develop massive reserves in the province of Maysan, the oil minister said ...

Report Sees Illegal Hiring Practices at Justice Dept. - 24 Jun 2008 at 12:25pm - Justice Department officials over the last six years illegally used "political or ideological" factors to hire new lawyers, a new report found Tuesday.

Blast kills 4 Americans, 6 Iraqis in Sadr City building - 24 Jun 2008 at 7:58am - BAGHDAD, Iraq — Two U.S. troops and two American government employees were killed today when a bomb exploded at a municipal building in Sadr City, according to the U.S. command in Baghdad.

Thought for the day:
In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. -Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 - 1968)

In the News: Jun-23

Appeals court rules for Guantanamo detainee - 23 Jun 2008 at 10:42am - WASHINGTON -- A federal appeals court, in the first case it reviewed, has overturned the Pentagon's classification of a Guantanamo detainee as an enemy combatant.

U.S. soldier reportedly killed by Iraqi official - 23 Jun 2008 at 10:38am - BAGHDAD, Iraq_One U.S. soldier was killed and five others were wounded today in a bizarre shooting incident near the town of Salman Pak, south of Baghdad, according to U.S. and Iraqi authorities.

Court rejects challenge to Arizona border fence - 23 Jun 2008 at 10:25am - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court rejected on Monday a legal challenge by two environmental groups to the U.S. Homeland Security secretary's decision to waive 19 federal laws so a fence could be built on the Arizona-Mexico border.

Senate Aims to Slash Bush's Foreign Aid Program - 23 Jun 2008 at 10:18am - The Senate is looking to cut more than $500 million from the Bush administration's key foreign aid program, the Millennium Challenge Corp. Critics say such deep cuts to the program would be deadly.

EU states agree new sanctions on Iran - 23 Jun 2008 at 9:21am - BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union states agreed on Monday to impose new sanctions against Iran, including an asset freeze on its biggest bank, over its refusal to meet demands to curb its nuclear program.

White House welcomes Saudi oil output pledge - 23 Jun 2008 at 9:28am - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Monday welcomed Saudi Arabia's pledge to increase oil output and pump more oil if needed, and said record energy prices were hurting the world economy.

Oil Rises as Saudi Pledge Fails to Ease Global Supply Concerns - 23 Jun 2008 at 8:28am - (Bloomberg) -- Oil rose to within $3 of a record on speculation Saudi Arabia's output increase may not raise global supply after an....

White House denies Army's pitch for more brass - 23 Jun 2008 at 8:08am - The Army's march to overhaul its tarnished contracting system has been slowed by an unlikely foe: the White House.

Thought for the day:
Sit down before fact as a little child, be prepared to give up every preconceived notion... or you shall learn nothing. -Thomas H. Huxley (1825 - 1895)

RCMP Agree to Restrict Taser Use

Canada's police force agrees to restrict Taser use - 19 Jun 2008 at 1:26am - VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said it will restrict Taser use after the head of its public watchdog said the force should only use the weapons in situations where suspects are combative or could cause harm.

In the News: Jun-20

Ousted Air Force chief cites dissension in Pentagon - 20 Jun 2008 at 2:42pm - WASHINGTON -- Two weeks after being ousted, Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne said Friday he had a "difference in philosophy" with his boss, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, on numerous issues - not just on the nuclear slip-up that Gates said was his reason for removing Wynne.

US asks to rewrite detainee evidence - 20 Jun 2008 at 1:46pm - WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration wants to rewrite the official evidence against Guantanamo Bay detainees. That would allow it to shore up its cases before federal judges scrutinize them for the first time.

Iraqi crackdown angers cleric's supporters - 20 Jun 2008 at 1:35pm - AMARA, Iraq (Reuters) - Supporters of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr accused Iraqi security forces on Friday of heavy-handed action in a crackdown in the southern city of Amara, calling it a "clear provocation".

U.S. court dismisses case by Canadian at Guantanamo - 20 Jun 2008 at 1:27pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A federal appeals court ruled on Friday it cannot act on an appeal by a young Canadian until after his case has been decided at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp where he faces charges of murdering a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.

House immunizes telecoms from lawsuits - 20 Jun 2008 at 12:49pm - The House has approved a compromise eavesdropping bill that, in effect, shields telecommunications companies from civil lawsuits for their alleged participation in the Bush administration's warrantless wiretapping program.

White House asserts executive privilege in California case - 20 Jun 2008 at 12:39pm - WASHINGTON — Setting up a constitutional showdown, the White House on Friday asserted executive privilege in denying a request to turn over thousands of pages of documents sought by Congress as part of an investigation involving California's air-quality standards.

Ex-press secretary decries 'secretive' White House - 20 Jun 2008 at 2:27pm - WASHINGTON -- Former presidential spokesman Scott McClellan on Friday said President Bush has lost the public's trust by failing to open up about his administration's mistakes and backtracking on a promise to tell all about the leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity.

U.S. military: American soldier killed in Iraq - 20 Jun 2008 at 10:45am - The U.S. military says an American soldier has been killed and five others wounded by roadside bombs northeast of Baghdad.

Former aide: Bush should tell all on CIA leak - 20 Jun 2008 at 10:47am - WASHINGTON -- A former White House spokesman told Congress on Friday that President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney wanted him to say that Cheney's chief of staff wasn't involved in the leak of Valerie Plame's CIA identity, an assertion that turned out to be false.

Thought for the day:
The reason of a resolution is more to be considered than the resolution itself. -Sir John Holt

In the News - July 19

More than 400 charged in mortgage probe - 19 Jun 2008 at 2:18pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than 400 people have been charged in a nationally coordinated probe of mortgage fraud that involved an estimated $1 billion in losses, the U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday.

Weapons caches turning up with more frequency in Iraq - 19 Jun 2008 at 2:16pm - BAGHDAD (AP) — Weapons caches are turning up with increasing frequency in public places in Iraq — from a bakery to a fish farm — as recent security gains embolden more civilians to come forward with tips, U.S. and Iraqi military officials say. The odd locations of many of the discoveries reflect the fine line separating civilians from the Shiite and Sunni extremists who don't wear uniforms and often live among them. Many would-be tipsters had previously looked the other way because of intimidation or because they sought protection from local militias.

Saudi Arabia announces 200,000 bpd output hike - 19 Jun 2008 at 1:46pm - LONDON (AFP) - Saudi Arabia said Thursday it planned to increase oil output by 200,000 barrels per day as it seeks to help cool soaring crude prices, according to a statement posted on its London embassy website.

Spy bill could shield phone companies from suits - 19 Jun 2008 at 12:07pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. telephone companies that cooperated with President George W. Bush's warrantless domestic spying program could be shielded from lawsuits under an electronic spy bill finalized on Thursday by congressional and White House negotiators.

Pentagon blasts KBR's operation - 19 Jun 2008 at 12:06pm - A Pentagon investigative report alleges the firm KBR Inc. held an illegal contract, overcharged millions to the Navy and produced shoddy workmanship on its South Mississippi jobs after Katrina.

Courts to review phone co. suits under spy bill - 19 Jun 2008 at 11:26am - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. federal courts would review potentially billions of dollars in lawsuits against phone companies under an electronic spy bill drafted by congressional and White House negotiators, sources said on Thursday.

Dems, GOP agree to take up wiretapping bill Friday - 19 Jun 2008 at 11:33am - WASHINGTON -- House and Senate leaders have agreed to take up a new surveillance compromise bill, potentially settling a political dispute over whether to shield from lawsuits companies that helped the government tap phone and computer lines without court orders.

Shell halts production at Nigerian oil field after attack - 19 Jun 2008 at 10:44am - LAGOS (AFP) - Militants attacked Shell's main offshore oilfield in Nigeria on Thursday, forcing the Anglo-Dutch giant to shut down production and raising fears for the security of deepsea facilities in the region.

U.N. Ambassador Khalilzad Surveys Darfur Crisis - 19 Jun 2008 at 5:34pm - U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad, now president of the U.N. Security Council, says he agrees with activists who are demanding that more pressure be applied to the Sudanese government.

Bush administration wants to give Federal Reserve more power - 19 Jun 2008 at 9:36am - WASHINGTON -- Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says the government must move quickly to give the Federal Reserve more powers to regulate the financial system.

Khadr to appear in Guantanamo military court, trial date possible - 19 Jun 2008 at 7:32am - Omar Khadr appears before a new military judge for a pre-trial hearing at Guantanamo Bay naval base Thursday where a date for his full trial on war crimes could be set.

Cheney linked to torture tactics - June 19, 2008 8:30:31 AM - A former military officer who served as chief of staff to former Secretary of State Colin Powell on Wednesday said Vice President Dick Cheney probably knew the U.S. military was using torture on Iraqi detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and at prisons in Iraq. Col. Lawrence B. Wilkerson's testimony before a House panel followed revelations this week that detainees were subjected to beatings and other aggressive interrogation techniques with the authorization of government attorneys.

Thought for the day:
Kill one man, and you are a murderer. Kill millions of men, and you are a conqueror. Kill them all, and you are a god. -Jean Rostand (1894 - 1977), Thoughts of a Biologist (1939)

In the News: Jun-18

Green group accuses Conservatives of ignoring Kyoto law - 18 Jun 2008 at 2:58pm - The federal government is ignoring a law requiring it to comply with the Kyoto Protocol and defying the will of Parliament, according to lawyers for an environmental group that has taken the accusation to court.

Swedish Parliament rejects "Big Brother" surveillance bill - June 18, 2008 12:11:00 PM - A sweeping surveillance bill in Sweden, dubbed by the public as the "Big Brother law," was unable to get enough votes by parliament during the second vote today, forcing it back for revisions. Officials now promise to include better privacy protections for Swedish citizens concerned about their phone, e-mail, and Internet traffic being monitored in the name of national security.

Audit cites lack of planning for Afghan security - 18 Jun 2008 at 1:54pm - WASHINGTON -- Six years and $16.5 billion later, the U.S. still lacks a solid plan to create a self-sustaining security force in Afghanistan, a new independent audit finds.

US watchdog upholds Boeing protest of US tanker contract - 18 Jun 2008 at 1:54pm - WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Congress watchdog agency on Wednesday upheld Boeing's protest over a huge military aerial refueling tanker contract awarded to Northrop Grumman, and recommended the US Air Force review the entire deal.

Iraq foreign minister hails US "flexibity" - 18 Jun 2008 at 1:37pm - WASHINGTON -- Iraq's foreign minister on Wednesday said prospects for a new security agreement with the United States had brightened because of U.S. flexibility on the terms.

Report: Exams prove abuse, torture in Iraq, Gitmo - 18 Jun 2008 at 8:02am - WASHINGTON -- Medical examinations of former terrorism suspects held by the U.S. military at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, found evidence of torture and other abuse that resulted in serious injuries and mental disorders, according to a human rights group.

Boomers roll over hapless Iran - 18 Jun 2008 at 8:07am - US college sensation Patrick Mills led the Boomers to their second victory in their three-match series against Iran, cleaning up the visitors 97-53 in Adelaide on Wednesday night.

Thought for the day:
I think it's about time we voted for senators with breasts. After all, we've been voting for boobs long enough. -Claire Sargent

Air Force to increase use of flying drones

Air Force to increase use of flying drones - 17 Jun 2008 at 9:38pm - The Air Force plans to double patrols by armed drones in Iraq and Afghanistan because the unmanned planes can make the difference between U.S. troops "living or dying," the nation's top military officer said Tuesday. Demand for reconnaissance patrols and attacks from drones is insatiable, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told airmen during a meeting here. There are more than 27 combat air patrols that provide 24-hour coverage, he said, and the military will need 50 patrols.

US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 447

US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 447 - 17 Jun 2008 at 10:00pm - As of Tuesday, June 17, 2008, at least 447 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department. The department last updated its figures June 7 at 10 a.m. EDT.

One-third of people shot by Taser need medical attention

One-third of people shot by Taser need medical attention: probe - 17 Jun 2008 at 10:15pm - About one in three people shot with a Taser by the RCMP receive injuries that require medical attention, according to a joint investigation by CBC News/Radio-Canada and the Canadian Press.

In the News: Jun-17

Global refugee number sees increase due to recent conflicts - 17 Jun 2008 at 1:33pm - Conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq have forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes, driving up the global number ...

Israel and Hamas agree to Gaza truce - 17 Jun 2008 at 2:04pm - GAZA (Reuters) - A ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip will begin on Thursday, Egypt said after mediating a deal that could ease a crippling Israeli blockade of the Hamas-controlled territory.

Car bomb kills 51 in Baghdad: security officials - 17 Jun 2008 at 1:54pm - BAGHDAD (AFP) - A car bomb at a bus stop in north Baghdad killed at least 51 people and wounded 75 others on Tuesday, security officials told AFP.

Weighing Bush's View of His Own Legacy - 17 Jun 2008 at 1:54pm - President Bush has recently turned to history as a way to prove that in time, he will be remembered as a great president. He has 217 days left in office. How accurate are his historical comparisons? NPR reviews with presidential historians some of his remarks.

Police silent on charges in airport Taser death investigation - 17 Jun 2008 at 1:59pm - Homicide investigators in Metro Vancouver are not confirming reports that they have recommended no charges be laid against any police officers in the death of a Polish immigrant in a Taser incident at Vancouver International Airport last year.

Pentagon: shooting of Reuters journalists in Iraq justified - 17 Jun 2008 at 12:54pm - WASHINGTON -- The 2005 shooting death of a Reuters journalist in the midst of a firefight in Baghdad was justified because U.S. soldiers believed the camera protruding from an unmarked car was a rocket propelled grenade, the Pentagon's internal watchdog has concluded.

Military judge dismisses charges in Haditha case - 17 Jun 2008 at 12:32pm - CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- A military judge has dismissed charges against a Marine officer accused of failing to investigate the killings of 24 Iraqis.

Militants found recruits among Guantanamo's wrongly detained - 17 Jun 2008 at 12:35pm - GARDEZ, Afghanistan — Mohammed Naim Farouq was a thug in the lawless Zormat district of eastern Afghanistan. He ran a kidnapping and extortion racket, and he controlled his turf with a band of gunmen who rode around in trucks with AK-47 rifles.

Democrat: Pentagon sought abusive interrogations - 17 Jun 2008 at 10:33am - WASHINGTON -- Military officials tasked with training U.S. troops to evade enemy interrogations helped Pentagon lawyers devise a list of abusive tactics that could be used in prisons like Guantanamo Bay, a top Senate Democrat said Tuesday.

Army probe of Reuters death flawed: U.S. inspector - 17 Jun 2008 at 8:15am - BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. soldiers who shot dead a Reuters journalist in Iraq three years ago acted appropriately, but the Army's probe of the incident was flawed because evidence went missing, a Pentagon investigation said.

Thought for the day:
I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. -Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826)

Words In the News: Monday evening, 2008-Jun-16

In the News: Jun-16

Oil hits historic $139.89 despite 'Saudi promise' - 16 Jun 2008 at 1:24pm - LONDON (AFP) - Crude oil rocketed to a record high of almost 140 dollars a barrel Monday despite news that Saudi Arabia was ready to raise output to help cool soaring energy costs threatening economic growth.

House panel subpoenas FBI interviews of Bush, Cheney - 16 Jun 2008 at 1:28pm - WASHINGTON -- A House committee has issued a subpoena for FBI reports from interviews with President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney in the CIA leak investigation.

Government gives UNHCR US$8 million to help refugees in Jordan - June 16, 2008 05:57:01 PM - BAGHDAD, 16 June 2008 (IRIN) - The Iraqi government has given US$8 million to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to assist more than 500,000 Iraqi refugees living in neighbouring Jordan, a government statement said on 15 June.

Judge rules for White House in e-mail controversy - 16 Jun 2008 at 10:47am - WASHINGTON -- A federal judge says a White House office that has records about millions of possibly missing e-mails does not have to make them public.

Lawmakers Appeal to Bush for More Iraq Details - 16 Jun 2008 at 9:55am - Congress has been complaining to the Bush administration that it isn't getting enough information about ongoing talks on the future of the U.S. presence in Iraq. Some lawmakers worry that they may not have a say in a pact — and that a deal could tie the hands of the next U.S. president.

Court to rule in lawsuit vs. FBI head, ex-AG - 16 Jun 2008 at 10:03am - WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court says it will decide whether former Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller (Mul'-er) must face a lawsuit that claims prisoners detained after Sept. 11 were subject to ethnic and religious discrimination.

Bush wins European backing over Iran sanctions - 16 Jun 2008 at 9:44am - LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush won Europe's backing on Monday for tighter sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program and secured a British pledge to send more troops to Afghanistan.

IRAQ: IDPs demand government return them home - June 16, 2008 02:57:00 PM - BAGHDAD, 15 June 2008 (IRIN) - Nearly 500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) took to the streets of central Baghdad on 14 June demanding the government secure their return to their homes and pay compensation to those with damaged properties.

Thought for the day:
Say not, 'I have found the truth,' but rather, 'I have found a truth.' -Kahlil Gibran (1883 - 1931)

In the News: Jun-13

Fed faces quandary as energy prices boost inflation - 13 Jun 2008 at 2:46pm - WASHINGTON — Soaring energy prices punished ordinary Americans in May, triggering the highest run-up in inflation in six months and exceeding the expectations of economic forecasters, the government reported Friday.

Lawmaker threatens contempt vote for EPA chief - 13 Jun 2008 at 2:57pm - WASHINGTON -- A House committee chairman on Friday threatened to hold the head of the EPA and a White House budget official in contempt of Congress for not handing over documents about new smog requirements and a decision blocking California greenhouse gas limits.

May's combat deaths in Afghanistan outnumber Iraq - 13 Jun 2008 at 2:14pm - BRUSSELS, Belgium -- American and allied combat deaths in Afghanistan passed the toll in Iraq for the first time last month.

U.S. general questions Pakistan plan for militants - 13 Jun 2008 at 2:32pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. general who recently handed over command of NATO troops in Afghanistan cast doubt on Friday on the ability of Pakistan's Frontier Corps paramilitary force to combat Islamist militants.

Obama wants payroll tax on incomes above $250,000 - 13 Jun 2008 at 1:07pm - COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Democrat Barack Obama said Friday he would apply the Social Security payroll tax to all annual incomes above $250,000, which would affect the wealthiest 3 percent of Americans.

Study sees discrepancies in VA care for men, women - 13 Jun 2008 at 11:03am - WASHINGTON -- Women veterans aren't receiving the same quality of outpatient care as men at many Department of Veterans Affairs' facilities, according to an agency review.

Big powers to offer Iran "generous" deal - 13 Jun 2008 at 10:25am - TEHRAN (Reuters) - The EU's top diplomat said he would hand Iran a generous offer on Saturday aimed at resolving a deepening dispute over its nuclear ambitions that has helped push up oil prices to record highs.

Gates: Detainee abuses gave US 'black eye' - 13 Jun 2008 at 7:42am - Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday that reports of detainee abuse in the early years of the Guantanamo Bay prison operation ...

Iraq says talks with U.S. on pact deadlocked - 13 Jun 2008 at 8:09am - AMMAN (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Friday talks with the United States on a new long-term security pact were deadlocked because of U.S. demands that infringed Iraq's sovereignty.

World poll: Obama more likely to 'do the right thing' - 12 Jun 2008 at 4:06pm - WASHINGTON — The matchup between John McCain and Barack Obama is close in nationwide surveys in the USA, but around the world it's no contest: Obama prevails. A survey of 24 nations taken by the Pew Global Attitudes Project finds high levels of interest in the U.S. presidential election and broad optimism that American foreign policy "will change for the better" after the inauguration of a new president next year.

Thought for the day:
I believe that truth is the glue that holds government together, not only our government but civilization itself. -Gerald R. Ford (1913 - 2006), Inaugural Address, 9 August 1974

Specter: Immunity for journalists, not eavesdropping telecoms

Specter: Immunity for journalists, not eavesdropping telecoms - June 12, 2008 - 10:45PM - Senator Arlen Specter took the stage with a panel of journalists at the American Civil Liberties Union's annual convention earlier this week to urge support for a federal shield law that would protect journalists from being compelled to disclose confidential sources. He also addressed reports of a possible compromise on legislation to grant some form of legal amnesty to telecommunications firms accused of participating in warrant-less surveillance by the National Security Agency, arguing that the lawsuits must be allowed to proceed, but with the government as defendant.

Gates Apparently Admits That U.S. Air Strike Killed 11 Pakistani Soldiers

Pentagon chief invites Pakistan into strike probe - 12 Jun 2008 at 10:49pm - BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday he regretted that a U.S. air strike killed 11 Pakistani soldiers, and invited Pakistani and Afghan officials to help investigate the incident.

In the News: Jun-12

UN climate chief spurs talks on new global warming pact - 12 Jun 2008 at 1:39pm - BONN (AFP) - UN climate chief Yvo de Boer called on industrialised countries on Thursday to start showing some of their cards in a slow-paced poker game whose prize is a new pact to tackle global warming.

Bush disagrees with court's Guantanamo ruling - 12 Jun 2008 at 2:35pm - ROME -- President Bush on Thursday strongly disagreed with a Supreme Court ruling that clears foreign terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay to challenge their detention in U.S. civilian courts. Bush suggested new legislation may now be needed to keep the American people safe.

Supreme Court rejects limits on FOIA lawsuits - 12 Jun 2008 at 11:41am - WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court has rejected limits on Freedom of Information Act lawsuits that seek the same information as earlier legal actions.

Top court rules against Americans held in Iraq - 12 Jun 2008 at 12:27pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal judges cannot block U.S. military officials from turning over two Americans held in Iraq to local authorities who want to prosecute them for involvement in the insurgency or criminal activity, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday.

Supreme Court backs rights for Guantanamo detainees - 12 Jun 2008 at 10:08am - WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court says foreign terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo Bay have rights under the Constitution to challenge their detention in U.S. civilian courts.

US releases video of clash along Afghan border - 12 Jun 2008 at 8:21am - ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) -- The U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan released footage Thursday of a skirmish with militants that Pakistan claims resulted in an airstrike on one of its border posts that killed 11 of its troops....

Thought for the day:
A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies. -Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)

In the News: Jun-11

US defends airstrike that angered Pakistanis - 11 Jun 2008 at 1:57pm - WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon is defending a deadly U.S. airstrike at the Afghan-Pakistan border that may have accidentally killed allied fighters.

Oil prices jump 4.0 dollars as US crude reserves tumble - 11 Jun 2008 at 1:17pm - LONDON (AFP) - Oil prices jumped more than 4.0 dollars to above 136 dollars a barrel on Wednesday after news that American crude reserves sank for the fourth week in a row.

Official: Italy, other countries helped in CIA kidnapping - 11 Jun 2008 at 12:45pm - MILAN, Italy (AP) — Italian investigators contacted other European countries to help piece together events surrounding the alleged kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric as part of the CIA's extraordinary renditions program, the chief investigator testified Wednesday.

Bush doesn't rule out military strike in Iran - 11 Jun 2008 at 12:14pm - MESEBERG, Germany -- President Bush on Wednesday raised unprompted the possibility of a military strike against Tehran's presumed nuclear weapons ambitions, speaking bullishly on Iran even as he admitted having been unwise to do so previously about Iraq.

Pakistan condemns "cowardly" U.S. attack; 11 dead - 11 Jun 2008 at 8:39am - ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan said on Wednesday an "unprovoked and cowardly" air strike by U.S. forces had killed 11 Pakistani soldiers on its border with Afghanistan and undermined the basis of security cooperation.

Thought for the day:
Life is a struggle, but not a warfare. -John Burroughs (1837 - 1921)

GAO report: Three Army bases fail to examine troops properly

GAO report: Three Army bases fail to examine troops properly - 10 Jun 2008 at 9:45pm - WASHINGTON — One in 10 soldiers sent to Iraq and Afghanistan from three Army bases have medical problems severe enough to significantly limit their ability to fight, according to a Government Accountability Office study released Tuesday. Pressure to rush soldiers into war zones caused leaders at Forts Stewart and Benning in Georgia, and Fort Drum, N.Y., to sometimes fail to assess health problems fully, the report says. The Army also lost files or inconsistently rated the severity of medical problems, GAO says.

In the News: Jun-10

US military seeking trainers for Afghanistan - 10 Jun 2008 at 1:35pm - WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon is scrambling to find trainers to send to Afghanistan, but it will be difficult to do that before commanders reduce the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, the top military officer said Tuesday.

Suspected U.S. missile fired in NW Pakistan - 10 Jun 2008 at 12:49pm - PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - A pilotless U.S. drone was suspected to have fired a missile into a Pakistani area on the Afghan border on Tuesday, but there was no word on the target or casualties, a government official said.

EU and U.S. seek to turn up pressure on Iran - 10 Jun 2008 at 12:54pm - BRDO, Slovenia (Reuters) - The United States and the European Union sought on Tuesday to turn up the pressure on Iran to drop its nuclear enrichment program by saying they were ready to go beyond a latest round of U.N. sanctions.

Saddam tribe leader murdered in Iraq - 10 Jun 2008 at 10:01am - The leader of the late Saddam Hussein's Sunni Arab tribe has been assassinated in Iraq, police say.

Thought for the day:
Work and struggle and never accept an evil that you can change. -Andre Gide (1869 - 1951)

In the News: Jun-09

Justices rule against public employee who lost job - 9 Jun 2008 at 2:54pm - WASHINGTON -- Individual government workers generally cannot make a constitutional case out of their workplace discrimination claims, the Supreme Court said Monday in a ruling that leaves public employees with fewer legal options than those in the private sector.

Obama says he would impose oil windfall profits tax - 9 Jun 2008 at 1:14pm - RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Monday he would impose a windfall profits tax on U.S. oil companies as he sought political gain from Americans' pain over high gasoline prices.

Markets expect another rate cut Tuesday - 9 Jun 2008 at 1:30pm - The Bank of Canada is widely expected to deliver another interest rate cut Tuesday morning amid signs that the economy is cooling.

Bush orders contractors to check legal status of employees - 9 Jun 2008 at 11:25am - WASHINGTON -- President Bush has signed an executive order requiring contractors and others who do business with the federal government to make sure their employees are working in the country legally.

House bill would extend protections to ex-vice presidents - 9 Jun 2008 at 11:18am - WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Dick Cheney would continue to be shielded by the Secret Service for at least six months after he leaves office under legislation the House is taking up Monday. The measure, endorsed by both Democrats and Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee last month, writes into law a common practice of extending federal protections for the vice president and his family in the months immediately after his time in office ends.

Lawyer: U.S. Destroyed Gitmo Torture Notes - 9 Jun 2008 at 8:07am - (AP) The Pentagon urged interrogators at Guantanamo Bay to destroy handwritten notes in case they were called to testify about potentially harsh treatment of detainees, a military defense lawyer said Sunday.

Court sets limits in government fraud suits - 9 Jun 2008 at 10:44am - WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday that a whistleblower law intended to expose fraud can be applied to subcontractors and other indirect recipients of federal funds.

Global military spending soars 45 pct in 10 years - 9 Jun 2008 at 10:22am - STOCKHOLM (AFP) - World military spending grew 45 percent in the past decade, with the United States accounting for nearly half of all expenditure, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said Monday.

Iraqis Displaced as Government Reclaims Property - 9 Jun 2008 at 7:21am - The improved security situation in Baghdad has allowed government officials to reclaim abandoned government property. Squatters are being kicked out — often with no warning. Displaced Iraqis had been living in the buildings after they were forced to flee their homes because of fighting. Now, they find themselves homeless again.

U.S., German lawyers demand Germany extradite CIA agents - 9 Jun 2008 at 7:56am - A group of German and American civil rights attorneys on Monday sued the German government to demand that it pursue the extradition ...

U.S. presence is Iraq's main problem: Iranian leader - 9 Jun 2008 at 8:09am - TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's supreme leader told visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Monday that the presence of U.S. forces in Iraq was the biggest obstacle to its development as a united country.

Late U.S. tipoff hurts U.N. Syria probe: ElBaradei - 9 Jun 2008 at 8:15am - BERLIN (Reuters) - U.N. inspectors set to examine a Syrian site for signs of a secret nuclear reactor project may find little in part because of tardy intelligence-sharing by Washington, their chief said in remarks published on Monday.

Thought for the day:
Small communities grow great through harmony, great ones fall to pieces through discord. -Sallust (86 BC - 34 BC)

In the News: Jun-06

Stocks fall sharply on surge in oil, jobs data - 6 Jun 2008 at 3:35pm - NEW YORK (AP) -- Wall Street plunged Friday on two troubling economic developments: oil prices that surged more than $10 a barrel to a fresh record and a jump in unemployment that was much larger than the market anticipated. The Dow Jones industrial average fell more than 360 points.

US lowers role in UN human rights body - 6 Jun 2008 at 3:31pm - WASHINGTON -- The United States says it is fed up with the United Nations Human Rights Council and will only participate in its debates when absolutely necessary.

Oil surges to new heights after Israeli warning on Iran - 6 Jun 2008 at 3:29pm - NEW YORK (AFP) - Crude oil prices went on a record-setting surge Friday as fears of a new Middle East conflict were fanned by comments from a top Israeli official about Iran.

Former Air Force exec to be named as service chief - 6 Jun 2008 at 2:15pm - WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates is likely to recommend to President Bush that he nominate a former Air Force executive, Michael B. Donley, to the service's top civilian post, a senior defense official said Friday.

Iraq says it wants to restrict movement of U.S. troops - 6 Jun 2008 at 1:53pm - BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq said on Friday it would not grant U.S. troops freedom of movement for military operations in a new agreement being negotiated on extending the presence of American troops on its soil.

Israel to attack Iran unless enrichment stops: minister - 6 Jun 2008 at 1:31pm - JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites looks "unavoidable" given the apparent failure of sanctions to deny Tehran technology with bomb-making potential, one of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's deputies said on Friday.

Marine charged with voluntary manslaughter in Iraqi deaths - 6 Jun 2008 at 1:14pm - CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- A Marine sniper has been charged with two counts of voluntary manslaughter in the shootings deaths of two civilians in Iraq.

Thought for the day:
The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons. -Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821 - 1881)

In the News: Jun-05

U.S. attorney general revising FBI probe guidelines - 5 Jun 2008 at 3:51pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey said on Thursday that he is working to revise the guidelines for FBI investigations as the bureau seeks to transform itself into an intelligence-gathering agency that seeks to prevent terrorist attacks.

Bush misused Iraq intelligence: Senate report - 5 Jun 2008 at 1:23pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush and his top policymakers misstated Saddam Hussein's links to terrorism and ignored doubts among intelligence agencies about Iraq's arms programs as they made a case for war, the Senate intelligence committee reported on Thursday.

Top U.S. Air Force official resigns: report - 5 Jun 2008 at 12:53pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley has resigned, and Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne may also be on the brink of resigning, the defense publication InsideDefense.com reported on Thursday. "Top-level Pentagon officials gave Moseley the option to resign or be fired during a meeting this morning," the website reported, quoting an unidentified military official. "Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne also could resign later today," it said.

US reopening review of torture charges - 5 Jun 2008 at 12:13pm - WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration said Thursday it is re-examining the conclusions of an investigation that found the U.S. acted appropriately in seizing a Canadian engineer suspected of al-Qaida ties and sending him Syria where he allegedly was tortured.

US ambassador says no permanent bases in Iraq - 5 Jun 2008 at 12:23pm - WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is not trying to set up permanent military bases in Iraq, even surreptitiously, the diplomat leading tense talks with Iraq said Thursday.

Senate: Iranian intel concealed from CIA, DIA - 5 Jun 2008 at 10:39am - WASHINGTON -- Pentagon officials in late 2001 and 2002 concealed from the CIA and other intelligence agencies potentially useful information gleaned from Iranian agents, said a Senate report released Thursday.

Senate committee: Bush knew Iraq statements were untrue - 5 Jun 2008 at 9:49am - WASHINGTON— A long-awaited Senate Select Intelligence Committee report made public Thursday concludes that President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney made public statements to promote an invasion of Iraq that they knew at the time were not supported by available intelligence.

Sweden On Verge of Passing Sweeping Wiretap Plan - June 05, 2008 03:54:00 AM - Sweden is close to passing a far-reaching wiretapping program that would greatly expand the government's spying capabilities by permitting it to monitor all email and telephone traffic coming in and out of the country. If a bill before parliament becomes law, the country's National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA) will monitor all internet traffic that passes in or out of the country. As the article notes, there's a good chance email traveling from, say, the UK to Finland would be fair game, since it's likely to traverse through Sweden before reaching its final destination. So far, there's been nary a peep from Swedish media about the plan.

Iraqi Government contributes to WFP food aid operations - June 05, 2008 02:57:00 PM - BAGHDAD, 5 June 2008 (IRIN) - The Iraqi government has said its US$40 million donation to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to provide internally displaced persons (IDPs) nationwide with food assistance would help ease the displacement problem.

Guantanamo hearing of 9/11 co-conspirators opens - 5 Jun 2008 at 9:21am - GUANTANAMO BAY (AFP) - The US military hearing opened here Thursday of five alleged co-conspirators charged for their role in the September 11, 2001 attacks.

9/11 mastermind making military court appearance - 5 Jun 2008 at 8:30am - Alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed walks into his first court appearance Thursday at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, launching ...

Thought for the day:
There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost. -Martha Graham (1894 - 1991)

In the News: Jun-04

Obama appoints team to help find running mate - 4 Jun 2008 at 2:34pm - WASHINGTON (AP) -- Barack Obama has asked a three-person team, including Caroline Kennedy, to help lead the vetting of a prospective vice presidential candidate. Kennedy has begun managing the process with high-profile Democratic insiders Jim Johnson and Eric Holder....

It'll probably be Dick Cheney.

Obama says Iraq war makes US, Israel less secure - 4 Jun 2008 at 2:39pm - WASHINGTON (AP) -- The war in Iraq has made Iran stronger and the United States and Israel less secure, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Wednesday in a speech to Jewish political activists....

US: Baghdad explosion was accidental detonation - 4 Jun 2008 at 1:15pm - BAGHDAD (AP) -- The U.S. military says an explosion that killed 15 people was caused by a tractor-trailer loaded with Shiite militia rockets, not by a suicide bomber....

Suicide bomber kills 13 in Baghdad - 4 Jun 2008 at 1:13pm - BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A suicide bomber killed at least 13 people in an attack aimed at a senior Iraqi police officer in Baghdad on Wednesday and gunmen shot dead three U.S. soldiers in northern Iraq, officials said.

McCain urges joint town halls with Obama - 4 Jun 2008 at 12:46pm - BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- John McCain is challenging Barack Obama to join him in 10 town hall meetings with voters between now and the Democratic National Convention in August....

Not debates, my friends?

California top court won't delay gay marriages - 4 Jun 2008 at 12:57pm - SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California's Supreme Court denied requests on Wednesday to delay the start of same-sex marriages this month in the most populous U.S. state.

Study secretly tracks cell phone users outside US - 4 Jun 2008 at 1:01pm - WASHINGTON (AP) -- Researchers secretly tracked the locations of 100,000 people outside the United States through their cell phone use and concluded that most people rarely stray more than a few miles from home....

Mukasey defends military commissions for terror cases - 4 Jun 2008 at 11:27am - FARMINGTON, Pa. -- Attorney General Michael Mukasey, defending military commissions to prosecute suspected terrorists, told federal judges Wednesday the upcoming trials will be "in the best traditions of the American legal system."

Ex-Bush health chief's firm wins Sept. 11 work - 4 Jun 2008 at 10:54am - WASHINGTON -- As President Bush's health chief, Tommy Thompson was criticized for not doing enough to help workers exposed to toxic debris from the Sept. 11 attacks at the World Trade Center.

3 U.S. soldiers killed, 23 bodies found in Iraq - 4 Jun 2008 at 7:56am - Iraqi villagers and soldiers unearthed at least 13 bodies from a shallow, dusty grave in farmland south of Baghdad, and the U.S. ...

Thought for the day:
I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it. -Edith Sitwell (1887 - 1964)

In the News: Jun-03

Judge dismisses obstruction charge in Haditha case - 3 Jun 2008 at 1:46pm - CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- A military judge has dismissed one of the charges against a Marine lieutenant accused of helping cover up a squad's killings of 24 Iraqis, including women and children.

Waxman wants FBI documents about CIA leak probe - 3 Jun 2008 at 1:10pm - WASHINGTON -- A House committee chairman said Tuesday he is seeking more documents from the CIA leak probe because Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff made a significant disclosure to the FBI that warrants further congressional follow-up.

Guantanamo Bay guards think Khadr's a 'good kid': document - 3 Jun 2008 at 10:30am - Omar Khadr is "salvageable" and a "good kid," say the U.S. soldiers who guard him at Guantanamo Bay prison.

New U.S. general takes command of Afghan NATO force - 3 Jun 2008 at 8:26am - KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. General David McKiernan took command of around 50,000 troops in NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan on Tuesday, pledging that anyone who stood in the way of security would be dealt with.

Thought for the day:
It is of interest to note that while some dolphins are reported to have learned English -- up to fifty words used in correct context -- no human being has been reported to have learned dolphinese. -Carl Sagan (1934 - 1996)

In the News: Jun-02

U.S. stands by July target for Iraq security deal - 2 Jun 2008 at 3:16pm - BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A senior U.S. official said on Monday that the United States still hopes to reach a new security agreement with Iraq by July, even though Iraqi officials say negotiations are at an early stage.

Olmert under fire over settlements ahead of US visit - 2 Jun 2008 at 2:57pm - JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert faced a chorus of international criticism over his government's plans to expand Jewish settlements in Arab east Jerusalem on Monday as he prepared for a US visit.

White House has "serious concerns" about climate bill - 2 Jun 2008 at 10:27am - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Legislation to control climate change that the Senate will consider this week could cut U.S. economic growth by as much as 7 percent in 2050 and raise gasoline prices by as much as 53 cents a gallon by 2030, a White House official said on Monday.

U.S. kills 2, captures 31 suspects in Iraq - 2 Jun 2008 at 9:31am - U.S. troops killed two suspects, captured 31 others and destroyed bomb-making materials over the past two days in raids targeting ...

Juveniles languish for months in US-run prisons in Iraq - June 02, 2008 02:57:02 PM - BAGHDAD, 2 June 2008 (IRIN) - The traffic light turned to red and as cars stopped at one of Baghdad's central intersections, Haider Jassim Mohammed emerged with tissue boxes, urging drivers to buy one. Seconds later, a roadside bomb targeted a US military convoy nearby and Mohammed was arrested.

Thought for the day:
If they give you ruled paper, write the other way. -Juan Ramon Jiminez