In the News: Jan-21

Just for fun, Andrew Sloat's "A More Perfect Union":.

Trés cool.

Canada to reassess position on Omar Khadr: MacKay - 21 Jan 2009 at 2:40pm - The Canadian government is reassessing its position on Omar Khadr in the wake of a U.S. military judge granting an adjournment of 120 days in his war-crimes case at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said Wednesday.

11 Taliban, two soldiers killed in Afghan fighting - 21 Jan 2009 at 2:17pm - Heavy fighting between Taliban and security forces in Afghanistan's remote north-west killed 11 militants as two soldiers died in a Taliban suicide attack on Wednesday, local authorities said.

Obama draft order calls for closing Guantanamo Bay - 21 Jan 2009 at 12:45pm - WASHINGTON -- The new Obama administration circulated a draft executive order Wednesday that calls for closing the controversial detention center at Guantanamo Bay within a year and halting any war crimes trials in the meantime.

Israel completes Gaza troop withdrawal - 21 Jan 2009 at 12:36pm - JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel completed a troop pullout from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Wednesday, starting its relationship with U.S. President Barack Obama by leaving Palestinian land devastated by its 22-day offensive.

Guantanamo trial halted for 9-11 accused - 21 Jan 2009 at 11:50am - GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba (Reuters) - A U.S. military judge on Wednesday halted the trial of five prisoners accused of plotting the September 11 attacks, giving President Barack Obama the time he sought to decide whether to scrap the Guantanamo war crimes tribunals.

Switzerland to consider hosting Guantanamo inmates - 21 Jan 2009 at 11:09am - ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland is ready to consider taking in detainees from the U.S. prison for terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba if that helps to shut it down, the Swiss government said on Wednesday.

U.S. judge halts proceedings against Omar Khadr - 21 Jan 2009 at 9:47am - The U.S. military judge presiding over Canadian Omar Khadr's war-crimes case at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, granted an adjournment on Wednesday of 120 days at the request of the new administration of President Barack Obama.

Obama seeks halt to Guantanamo trials - 21 Jan 2009 at 7:37am - GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba (Reuters) - Hours after taking office on Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama ordered military prosecutors in the Guantanamo war crimes tribunals to ask for a 120-day halt in all pending cases.

U.S. investigates Afghan civilian deaths claim - 21 Jan 2009 at 7:07am - The U.S. military said Wednesday that it was investigating an Afghan news report that a coalition operation may have left more than two dozen civilians dead. Two Afghan officials said a government investigation found only militants were killed. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has long urged U.S. and NATO troops to avoid civilian casualties. The deaths could undermine his re-election bid this year, and also erode support that the foreign forces need to help Karzai's government extend its reach across the country.

Thought for the day:
You are not superior just because you see the world in an odious light. -Vicomte de Chateaubriand (1768 - 1848)