Archive for May 13th, 2009
U.S., Pakistan to Jointly Operate Drone Attacks
13 May 09 | PTV
Pakistan’s military is planning to join hands with the U.S. in the controversial drone attacks against militants, which usually result in civilian casualties.
Senate Panel Probes Legality of Torture Memos
Analysis by William Fisher
13 May 09 | IPS
“An ethical train wreck” was the phrase used by one witness to describe the legal reasoning behind the Justice Department’s recently released memos justifying the use of waterboarding and other forms of “enhanced interrogation techniques”.
Accountability for Torture: Questions and Answers
13 May 09 | HRW
After the attacks of September 11, 2001, U.S. officials approved various interrogation methods that were illegal under both U.S. and international law. Read the rest of this entry »
This Has Not Been a Pure Failure of Markets
by Leszek Balcerowicz
13 May 09 | FT
Only the rulers of Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and some ideologues in the west condemn capitalism. Empirically minded people know that there is no good alternative. However, capitalism takes many forms and evolves over time. The questions to ask, then, are “What capitalism?” and “Does the present crisis shed new light on this issue?” Read the rest of this entry »
‘White Phosphorus Hailed From U.S. Planes’; ‘U.S. Strike Killed 95 Children in Afghanistan’
13 May 09 | PTV
Survivors of the recent U.S. airstrike in western Afghanistan say the U.S. military used deadly white phosphorus munitions against Afghan civilians.
Israel Arrests Journalist Critical of Gaza War
Israel Police yesterday detained Haaretz correspondent Amira Hass as she left the Gaza Strip, where she had been living and reporting for the last few months.
Russia: U.S., NATO Main Threats to Global Security
13 May 09 | PTV
A national security document released by Moscow describes the U.S. and NATO as major threats to the security of the world and Russia.
Tillman’s Parents Want General’s Record Reviewed
12 May 09 | AP
The parents of slain Army Ranger and NFL star Pat Tillman voiced concerns Tuesday that the general who played a role in mischaracterizing his death could be put in charge of military operations in Afghanistan.
‘Saberi had Classified Document’
One of the lawyers of freed Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi has explained why his client was detained and convicted for espionage.
Sri Lanka War Hospital ‘Hit Again’
13 May 09 | AJE
At least 50 people have been killed in an attack on a hospital in Sri Lanka’s northern war zone, a health official has said. Read the rest of this entry »
Turnabout: Obama Blocks Release of Torture Photos; Pelosi was Told of Torture Use
12-13 May 09 | PTV, AJE, CNN and JonathonTurley.org
The U.S. president has ordered to stop the release of compromising photos depicting the abuse of prisoners in U.S. detention after initially agreeing to their publication.
Liberia Says Firestone Polluting Water
13 May 09 | VOA News
Fifty kilometers east of the capital, Harbel has always been a company town. Named after Firestone founder Harvey Firestone and his wife Idabelle, Harbel has been the center of the world’s largest single natural rubber operation for more than 75 years. Read the rest of this entry »
U.S. Lawmakers to Revive China Tariff Bill
12 May 09 | FT
A group of Republican and Democratic lawmakers will on Wednesday revive a bill that threatens to raise tariffs on Chinese goods to punish the country for what they call “currency manipulation”. Read the rest of this entry »
Libyan Whose “Confession” Facilitated Iraq War Dead
13 May 09 | PTV
The United States says it is probing into the suspected suicide of a former Guantanamo detainee and alleged al-Qaeda operative in a Libyan prison.
Obama’s Choice for Top Afghan Commander Suggests Special Ops Strikes to Continue
by Gareth Porter
12 May 09 | IPS
The choice of Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal to become the new U.S. commander in Afghanistan has been hailed by Defence Secretary Robert Gates and national news media as ushering in a new unconventional approach to counterinsurgency. Read the rest of this entry »
U.S. Rejoins U.N.’s Human Rights Forum
12 May 09 | CSM
Bush had shunned it as an ineffective dictators’ club. Obama’s team pledges to work from within to ‘improve’ it. Read the rest of this entry »
113 Civilians Killed in Mogadishu
12 May 09 | AWC News
Thousands flee Somali capital amid renewed violence. Read the rest of this entry »
Gaza and the Moment of Truth
by Haidar Eid
13 May 09 | SWO
A resident of Gaza makes an appeal for people throughout the world to absorb the meaning of Israel’s 2009 onslaught.
Gaza has returned to its pre-massacre state of siege, confronted with the usual, conspiratorial, “international” indifference after 22 long days and dark nights, during which its brave people were left alone to face one of the strongest armies in the world–an army that has hundreds of nuclear warheads, and thousands of trigger-happy soldiers, armed with Merkava tanks, F-16s, Apache helicopters, naval gunships and phosphorous bombs.
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