In the News: Jan-05

Obama picks Leon Panetta to head CIA - 5 Jan 2009 at 3:23pm - WASHINGTON -- Two Democratic officials say President-elect Barack Obama has chosen former Clinton White House chief of staff Leon Panetta to run the CIA. Panetta was a surprise pick for the post, with no experience in the intelligence world. An Obama transition official and another Democrat disclosed his nomination on a condition of anonymity since it was not yet public.

If the operation of the department under Bush is an indication of the value of "experience in the intelligence world", Panetta's lack of experience shouldn't be a big deal.

Activist Unmasks Himself as Federal Informant in G.O.P. Convention Case - 5 Jan 2009 at 1:14pm - The news that a community organizer in Texas was the F.B.I. informant whose tip led to arrests at the G.O.P. convention has caused shock in the activist community.

Court: IDs of reportedly abused detainees can be secret - 5 Jan 2009 at 11:56am - NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court has ruled that the government can keep secret the identities of detainees allegedly abused at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan issued the ruling Monday, reversing a lower court judge.

U.N. urges nations to accept Guantanamo detainees - 5 Jan 2009 at 10:19am - VIENNA (Reuters) - More countries should offer to take in Guantanamo prisoners to help U.S. President-elect Barack Obama close the detention camp for terrorism suspects, the U.N.'s torture investigator said on Monday.

News Analysis: Israel Strikes Before an Ally Departs - 5 Jan 2009 at 8:09am - Many Middle East experts believe that Israel timed its move against Hamas with the expectation of receiving backing in Washington.

France tries accused 9/11 plotter in Tunisia blast - 5 Jan 2009 at 7:17am - PARIS (AP) — A man who says he orchestrated the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States was among three people put on trial Monday in a Paris court for involvement in a deadly synagogue bombing in Tunisia. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who is being held by the U.S. at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was not present for the proceedings, which are expected to highlight the reach and complexity of al-Qaeda-linked networks in North Africa.

U.S. Opens New Embassy in Iraq - 5 Jan 2009 at 7:04am - The United States opened its new embassy building in Baghdad Monday, a step meant to symbolize its transition from occupying power to an ally of a sovereign Iraqi government.

Warning over plight of Iraqi widows - January 05, 2009 8:49:09 AM - BAGHDAD, 1 January 2009 (IRIN) - A women's rights activist and a Baghdad government official agree that the government needs to take action to help the huge number of widows in Iraq - but they disagree on how to proceed.

Thought for the day:
Any war that requires the suspension of reason as a necessity for support is a bad war. -Norman Mailer (1923 - 2007), Armies Of The Night