In the News: Aug-13

Pentagon puts hold on USAF cyber effort - 13 Aug 2008 at 3:12pm - WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon this week delayed and may kill the Air Force's nascent Cyberspace Command, according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press. This comes as Russia used a major computer network attack to begin its assault on Georgia.

A lone anthrax mailer? Skeptics question FBI case - 13 Aug 2008 at 2:49pm - WASHINGTON -- The story has all the ingredients for a good conspiracy theory: a killer germ created in a secret government lab, a government on the brink of war, a murder investigation with unanswered questions, and a suspect who committed suicide before he could be charged.

Gitmo general calls 2nd general 'bullying' - 13 Aug 2008 at 2:17pm - GUANTANAMO BAY NAY BASE, Cuba — One general testified about another general at the war court Wednesday, describing a Pentagon official fast-tracking trials here as "abusive, bullying, unprofessional.''

Correction: Corporations-Income Tax story - 13 Aug 2008 at 1:50pm - WASHINGTON -- In an Aug. 12 story about corporate income taxes, The Associated Press reported erroneously that large corporations accounted for 25 percent of the U.S. corporations that did not pay federal income taxes in 2005. The report by the Government Accountability Office actually said 25 percent of large U.S. corporations had no federal tax liability that year.

U.N. pledges to expand in Iraq, 5 years after blast - 13 Aug 2008 at 1:26pm - BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The United Nations pledged on Wednesday to hasten its cautious steps in helping Iraq rebuild, five years after a devastating bomb pushed it to pull foreign staff out of the country.

GM crops could lead to 'disaster': Prince Charles - 13 Aug 2008 at 1:22pm - The widespread use and development of genetically modified crops could lead to "the biggest disaster environmentally of all time," Prince Charles said Wednesday.

Israel clears troops who killed Reuters cameraman - 13 Aug 2008 at 11:34am - LONDON (Reuters) - An Israeli tank crew who killed a Reuters cameraman and eight young bystanders in the Gaza Strip four months ago acted properly and will not face legal action, Israel's senior military lawyer has concluded.

Fliers without ID placed on TSA list - 13 Aug 2008 at 8:59am - The Transportation Security Administration has collected records on thousands of passengers who went to airport checkpoints without identification, adding them to a database of people who violated security laws or were questioned for suspicious behavior. The TSA began storing the information in late June, tracking many people who said they had forgotten their driver's license or passport at home. The database has 16,500 records of such people and is open to law enforcement agencies, according to the TSA.

U.N., Iraqi govt outline plans for aid through 2010 - 13 Aug 2008 at 8:45am - The United Nations and the Iraqi government have signed an agreement outlining a new strategy for streamlining aid to the wartorn country through 2010. Senior U.N. official David Shearer says the main focus will be on strengthening government capacity and expanding the private sector to provide jobs.

Inspectors for propane plant 'asleep at the switch': safety watchdog - 13 Aug 2008 at 8:43am - Questions are being asked about why the government agency that oversees safety at propane facilities had not visited the Sunrise Propane plant for nearly three years.

U.S. refuses Israel weapons to attack Iran: report - 13 Aug 2008 at 8:24am - JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The United States has turned down Israeli requests for military hardware to help it prepare for a possible attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, a frontpage report in Israel's Haaretz newspaper said on Wednesday.

Thought for the day:
In politics, absurdity is not a handicap. -Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 - 1821)