In the News: Jan-19

Bush commutes sentences of former US border agents - 19 Jan 2009 at 1:09pm - WASHINGTON -- In his final acts of clemency, President George W. Bush on Monday commuted the prison sentences of two former U.S. Border Patrol agents whose convictions for shooting a Mexican drug dealer ignited fierce debate about illegal immigration.

Guantanamo court convenes amid chaos - 19 Jan 2009 at 11:57am - GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba (Reuters) - The Guantanamo war crimes court convened in a chaotic session on Monday with accused September 11 plotters disrupting the proceedings while U.S. government lawyers debated whether an administrative hiccup had left them facing any charges at all.

U.S. military judge denies Khadr lawyer's request to call off hearings - 19 Jan 2009 at 2:19pm - A U.S. military judge denied a request by Canadian Omar Khadr's defence lawyer on Monday to call off proceedings in his case over a procedural dispute between defence and prosecution lawyers at the military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Iran names two brothers in U.S.-backed plot: report - 19 Jan 2009 at 8:11am - TEHRAN (Reuters) - Two Iranian brothers, whose arrests last year sparked concern in the West, are among people accused of involvement in a U.S.-funded plot to overthrow the Islamic system of government, Iranian media said on Monday.

Editorials worldwide pillory Bush one final time - 19 Jan 2009 at 8:07am - BERLIN (Reuters) - Editorial writers around the world have been taking their final printed whacks at George W. Bush, accusing the president of tarnishing America's standing with what many saw as arrogant and incompetent leadership.

Rulings of Improper Detentions as the Bush Era Closes - 19 Jan 2009 at 7:11am - In the last three months, courts or a tribunal have declared at least 24 detainees at Guantánamo Bay improperly held.

Pentagon exonerates itself in Iraq war TV spin investigation - January 18, 2009 9:15:00 PM - The Pentagon says that it finds "insufficient evidence" to confirm allegations that it recruited retired military officers to cheerlead the Iraq war on TV.

Thought for the day:
You have not converted a man because you have silenced him. -John Viscount Morley