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Russia and China veto resolution on Syria at UN Posted: Sunday, February 5, 2012
Exposed: The Arab agenda in Syria Here's a crash course on the "democratic" machinations of the Arab League - rather the GCC League, as real power in this pan-Arab organization is wielded by two of the six Persian Gulf monarchies composing the Gulf Cooperation Council, also known as Gulf Counter-revolution Club; Qatar and the House of Saud.
Russia and China veto resolution on Syria at UN An Arab and Western-backed resolution condemning the violent crackdown in Syria has been vetoed at the UN Security Council by Russia and China.
Clinton and Lavrov square off over Syria Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gave opposing public speeches Saturday on what should be done in Syria, and then took their dispute behind closed doors in a heated bilateral meeting, in advance of Saturday's U.N. Security Council action in New York.
Libyan militia accused of torturing to death ambassador to France One of Libya's many new militias has been accused of detaining and apparently torturing to death a former ambassador to France, the latest allegation of brutality to mar the victorious revolutionaries' reputation since the fall of Col Muammar Gaddafi.
During an interview last month on CBS' Face the Nation, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta set the record straight on Iran: "Are they trying to develop a nuclear weapon? No." But if you read recent news reports lately, you'd think otherwise.
Lawmakers, "Experts" Spin Tales of Iranian Terror in Latin America Through its ties with Venezuela and other nations in Latin America, Iran is building an anti-U.S. alliance in the Western Hemisphere that poses a direct, imminent threat to the United States, an influential U.S. lawmaker said Thursday.
U.N. Nuclear Inspectors' Visit to Iran Is a Failure, West Says DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — American and European officials said Friday that a mission by international nuclear inspectors to Tehran this week had failed to address their key concerns, indicating that Iran's leaders believe they can resist pressure to open up the nation's nuclear program.
Assassination Unit set up inside Iran The Chief of world most dangerous intelligence agency, Israeli Mossad recently secretly paid an unpublicised visit to the United States apparently to seek American support for overt and covert operations inside Iran.
Are Obama and Netanyahu Trying to Push Iran toward a Nuke? Opponents of war with Iran got a boost the other day from an unlikely source. Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper told a Senate committee, "We do not know … if Iran will eventually decide to build nuclear weapons."
Iran says oil ban will not halt nuclear work Iran's oil minister said the Islamic state would not retreat from its nuclear program even if its crude oil exports grind to a halt, the official IRNA news agency reported on Saturday.
Iranian warships dock at Saudi port Iranian naval ships docked on Saturday in the Saudi port city of Jeddah on a mission to project the Islamic republic's "power on the open seas," the Fars news agency reported.
Iran mass producing anti-ship cruise missile: TV The Zafar missile, as it is dubbed in the report, "is a short-range, anti-ship cruise missile capable of destroying small- and medium-sized targets with high precision."
CIA tactics in Pakistan include targeting rescuers and funerals The findings are published just days after President Obama claimed that the drone campaign in Pakistan was a 'targeted, focused effort' that 'has not caused a huge number of civilian casualties.'
India tells Britain: We don't want your aid India's Finance Minister has said that his country "does not require" British aid, describing it as "peanuts". Pranab Mukherjee and other Indian ministers tried to terminate Britain's aid to their booming country last year - but relented after the British begged them to keep taking the money, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal.
30 years later, Argentines still want 'their' islands back from Britain London's tabloids and British leaders are depicting Argentina as dangerous and belligerent 30 years after its invasion of the Falkland Islands. Argentines say Britain should consider its own history of waging war around the globe, and acknowledge that the islands and seas around them rightfully belong to Argentina.
Aggression born of American 'exceptionalism' Posted: Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Aggression born of American 'exceptionalism' Most recently, American exceptionalism jumped to the political fore at the start of this century. It did so with a swagger, ironically, because of the 9/11 attacks. In his speech that night, President George W. Bush put forward the United States as "the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world."
Taliban, US negotiators meet in Qatar KABUL: Taliban negotiators have begun holding preliminary talks with US officials in Qatar on plans for peace negotiations aimed at ending the decade-long war in Afghanistan, a former Taliban official said on Sunday.
Rival Libya militias fight gunbattle in capital Rival militias fought a gunbattle near office buildings and a five-star hotel in the centre of the Libyan capital on Wednesday, underscoring how volatile the country still is three months on from Muammar Gaddafi's death.
Pakistan slams illegal US drone strikes Islamabad reiterated its opposition on Monday to Washington's illegal drone assassination campaign in Pakistan, branding it "unlawful, counterproductive and unacceptable."
Syrian opposition figure says Assad, family 'will be killed like Gaddafi' Damascus, Jan 31 (ANI): Syrian President Bashar al Assad and his family will meet a bloody end like former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi', as his regime falls from power, a leading member of the opposition movement has warned.
Iraq detains 16 vice presidential guards BAGHDAD — Iraqi security forces have detained 16 of Tareq al-Hashemi's bodyguards, the interior ministry said, in a move the fugitive vice president said Tuesday was the latest in a string of false accusations.
U.S. culpable in African atrocities The United States is shamefully implicated in the terror that Charles Taylor, erstwhile leader of Liberia, inflicted on the people of West Africa.
Obama defends drone strikes President Obama is defending his use of unmanned drone attacks in Pakistan and elsewhere, saying they have been used to kill more terrorists than civilians.
IAEA nuclear inspectors begin Iran visit Posted: Monday, January 30, 2012
IAEA nuclear inspectors begin Iran visit IAEA visit coincides with planned debate in Iran's parliament over cutting flow of crude to Europe in retaliation for sanctions
India says it won't participate in Iran oil embargo India, the world's fourth-largest oil consumer, said it would not take steps to cut petroleum imports from Iran despite US and European sanctions against Tehran Sunday night.
China faces tough call in Iran showdown A showdown between the West and Iran will partly be turned into a West-China showdown, namely whether China should comply with the West's geopolitical decision. In previous major world political conflicts, China has sought to avoid direct confrontation with the US and Europe. The tradeoff is a relatively mild policy from the West toward China. Now the West has the same expectations of China.
Russia asserting itself against West, this time over Syria regime change With the United States and its allies pressing President Bashar al-Assad to step down, the Arab League last week issued a detailed plan for a political transition in Syria. The plan was welcomed by the Obama administration, and Arab leaders quickly said they would refer it to the United Nations. And a day later, Russia had its say: Not a chance.
US Meets With Taliban as Karzai Govt. Looks to Start Own Talks Maulvi Qalamuddin, a former leader of the Afghan Taliban’s religious police, has confirmed that meetings are now taking place between US and Taliban negotiators in Qatar, where the Taliban has opened its new office.
U.S. Drones Patrolling Its Skies Provoke Outrage in Iraq A month after the last American troops left Iraq, the State Department is operating a small fleet of surveillance drones here to help protect the United States Embassy and consulates, as well as American personnel. Some senior Iraqi officials expressed outrage at the program, saying the unarmed aircraft are an affront to Iraqi sovereignty.
Halt in Iran oil could push crude up 30%: IMF Posted: Friday, January 27, 2012
Iran Set to Turn Off Oil Supply to Europe The European Union embargo on Iranian oil will only come into effect in six months, but the leadership in Tehran wants to act first: Exports to Europe are set to be halted immediately. It is a move which could mean added difficulties for struggling economies in southern Europe.
China says EU ban on Iran oil not "constructive" China on Thursday criticized the European Union for banning oil imports from Iran, Beijing's third biggest crude supplier and a major trading partner.
Halt in Iran oil could push crude up 30%: IMF WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned on Wednesday that global crude prices could rise as much as 30 per cent if Iran halts oil exports as a result of United States (US) and European Union (EU) sanctions.
US has arrested Iranian scientist The United States has arrested and charged an Iranian semiconductor scientist with violating U.S. export laws by buying high-tech U.S. lab equipment, a development likely to further worsen Iranian-U.S. tensions.
What are the experts saying about Iran? American and Israeli security experts warn that a military strike on Iran would fail to stop its nuclear program, provide the Iranian regime with additional impetus to pursue a nuclear weapon, and risk igniting a regional war that would expose Israeli citizens and even Americans to devastating retaliation.
'Massive' Blockade Needed to Stop Iran Threat, Steinitz Says A "massive" aerial and naval blockade of Iran, reminiscent of the 1962 U.S. quarantine of Cuba, is needed to stop the Islamic regime from pursuing nuclear weapons, Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said.
US/Israel: Iran NOT Building Nukes Exclusive: Recent comments by U.S and Israeli military leaders indicate that the intelligence services of the two countries agree that Iran has not decided to build a nuclear bomb, a crack in the Western narrative that the U.S. press corps won't accept, as ex-CIA analyst Ray McGovern explains.
Arms from Libya could reach Boko Haram, al Qaeda - U.N. The Libyan civil war may have given militant groups in Africa's Sahel region like Boko Haram and al Qaeda access to large weapons caches, according to a U.N. report released on Thursday.
In Libya, rebels still dominate Tripoli streets Despite repeated pledges by Libya's transitional government to find jobs for the rebel fighters who forced Moammar Gaddafi from power, tens of thousands of them are still operating in armed militia groups, patrolling streets and guarding buildings in Tripoli and other cities.
Medical group claims torture in Libyan prisons The medical aid group Doctors Without Borders said Thursday it has suspended its work in prisons in the Libyan city of Misrata because it said detainees are being tortured and denied urgent medical care.
The human rights "success" in Libya It quickly became ossified conventional wisdom that NATO's war in Libya to aid rebel factions in overthrowing Moammar Gaddafi was a clear human rights victory. But the reality in post-Gaddafi Libya has long been in tension with that claim, and that's true today more so than ever.
Iraq says to take legal action for Haditha victims Iraq plans legal action on behalf of families of victims killed by U.S. troops in a 2005 massacre after the last soldier involved was spared jail time by a guilty plea with military authorities, a government spokesman said Thursday.
Syrian troops fight rebels near Damascus A 10-month-old revolt against President Bashar al-Assad edged closer to the Syrian capital on Thursday as troops battled rebels in a town just north of Damascus and a provincial governor spoke of negotiating local ceasefires.
62 killed as Arab League heads to UN with Syria plan Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi said he would brief the United Nations Security Council on a plan to end 11 months of bloodshed in Syria, which claimed another 62 lives on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia to recognize Syrian National Council: report Saudi Arabia will recognize the Syrian National Council as the "official representative" of the Syrian people, a senior member of the opposition group said in remarks published on Friday.
Russia Won't Give up Support for Syria Russian Experts and Analysts: AL Stance towards Syria Serves the West and U.S., Russia Won't Give up Support for Syria
Putin accuses US of attempts to dominate world Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused the United States of attempts to dominate the world and challenging internal political procedures in other countries as a tool for achieving that goal.
20 militants killed in Pakistan Islamabad, Jan 26 : At least 20 militants were killed and 22 Pakistani soldiers injured in a gun-battle in the northwest tribal region early Thursday.
Thousands of Nato trucks in Pakistan backlog Two months into Pakistan's blockade on Nato supplies crossing into Afghanistan, thousands of trucks are crowding the port in Karachi where drivers, fed up with waiting, are starting to desert.
New drone has no pilot anywhere, so who's accountable? The Navy is testing an autonomous plane that will land on an aircraft carrier. The prospect of heavily armed aircraft screaming through the skies without direct human control is unnerving to many.
How Swedes and Norwegians broke the power of the '1 percent' While many of us are working to ensure that the Occupy movement will have a lasting impact, it's worthwhile to consider other countries where masses of people succeeded in nonviolently bringing about a high degree of democracy and economic justice. Sweden and Norway, for example, both experienced a major power shift in the 1930s after prolonged nonviolent struggle.
Palestinian leader Barghuti demands 1967 borders The Middle East conflict will end only when Israel withdraws to the pre-1967 lines and a Palestinian state is established, jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghuti said Wednesday in a rare court appearance.
Papua New Guinea military coup fails Government troops regain control of army barracks and top military commander is released but peace remains fragile.
EU agrees Iranian oil embargo Posted: Monday, January 23, 2012
EU agrees Iranian oil embargo Foreign ministers' deal in Brussels could lead to soaring fuel prices and Iran closing the strait of Hormuz
Iran 'definitely' closing Strait of Hormuz over EU oil embargo Tensions in the Gulf could reach a breaking point as a senior Iranian official said Iran would "definitely" close the Strait of Hormuz if an EU oil embargo disrupted the export of crude oil, the semi-official Fars news agency reports.
Britain, US and France send warships through Strait of Hormuz Britain, America and France delivered a pointed signal to Iran, sending six warships led by a 100,000 ton aircraft carrier through the highly sensitive waters of the Strait of Hormuz.
'Iran can shut Hormuz if threatened' A senior member of Iran's Majlis says it is the right of the Iranian nation to close the Strait of Hormuz if US-led Western states proceed with threats to impose an oil embargo on Iran.
Touch Iran in a War, You Will Hear Russia and China With the inclusion of the Chinese, the Russian Federation and Iran are widely considered to be allies and partners. Together the Russia Federation, the People's Republic of China, and the Islamic Republic of Iran form a barrier against the United States.
'Iran will make world unsafe for US' An Iranian lawmaker says in the event of US "military adventurism" in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will respond in the shortest possible time by making the entire world unsafe for Americans.
Gaddafi supporters seize control of Libyan town Fighters loyal to Libya's overthrown leader Muammar Gaddafi took control of a town south-east of the capital on Monday, flying their green flags in defiance of the country's fragile new government.
Libya suspends transitional government members The head of Libya's transitional government on Sunday suspended delegates from Benghazi, the city that kicked off the movement that toppled ruler Moammar Gadhafi last year.
US-NATO war crimes in Libya A report released last week by Middle East human rights groups presents extensive evidence of war crimes carried out in Libya by the United States, NATO and their proxy "rebel" forces during last year's war, which brought down the regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
Egypt's Islamist-led parliament meets, rivalries on display Egypt's first free parliament in six decades got to work Monday with Islamists holding by far the most seats and opponents comparing their grip on the chamber to that enjoyed by the now defunct party of deposed President Hosni Mubarak.
AL mission: Syria violence decreased Head of the Arab League's monitoring mission in Syria says violence decreased in the country after the arrival of Arab observers.
Report: Russia to deliver combat jets to Syria Business daily Kommersant cites source close to Russia's Rosoboronexport state arms trader, that $550-million deal envisages delivery of 36 Yak-130 aircraft.
Rivalry among Syrian defectors could mean another military coup Disagreements between the army officers and soldiers could lead to the creation of separate militias, which could make it difficult to build a consensus around a leadership that could serve as an alternative to the regime.
Condolence payments to Afghans total millions One week after 15 civilians were killed during a U.S. night operation at an Afghan village in 2009, U.S. commanders went to the village and passed out $40,000 in cash "condolence" payments.
U.S. flouts law at Guantanamo, despite Obama vow: U.N. The United States is still flouting international law at Guantanamo Bay, despite President Barack Obama's election pledge to shut the facility, the United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay said on Monday.
Nigeria: Police confirm 186 dead in Kano blast The Police authority in Kano on Monday confirmed that a total of 186 persons died from last Friday multiple bomb blast that rocked the ancient city of Kano.
Critics say Haditha sends message that U.S. won't punish military Several analysts said they feared that the deal Monday to end Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich's court-martial in the killing of 24 Iraqis would harden the widespread conviction in the international community that the U.S. does not hold its troops accountable for misdeeds or meet the standards of conduct it attempts to impose on other countries.
The World War On Democracy Posted: Friday, January 20, 2012
Man behind Megaupload remains defiant Kim Dotcom, the 37-year-old man behind Megaupload.com, was already a notorious figure in the online file-sharing world before he was forced out of the "panic room" of his $24m New Zealand mansion and arrested, in one of world's largest criminal copyright cases.
Government takedown of Megaupload leads to new fears The government takedown of Megaupload, a popular file-sharing site, has stoked simmering fears that hard-line enforcement of copyright infringements could profoundly disrupt Internet commerce.
China gets jump on U.S. for Brazil's oil Off the coast of Rio de Janeiro — below a mile of water and two miles of shifting rock, sand and salt — is an ultradeep sea of oil that could turn Brazil into the world's fourth-largest oil producer, behind Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United States.
The World War On Democracy Lisette Talate died the other day. I remember a wiry, fiercely intelligent woman who masked her grief with a determination that was a presence. She was the embodiment of people's resistance to the war on democracy.
SAS on ground during Libya crisis The British involvement in the campaign to overthrow Col Muammar Gaddafi was a very public one, particularly the part of it involving the use of RAF aircraft. The fighting on the ground was said to have been done by Libyans but Newsnight has learned that British soldiers were on the ground in Libya, alongside the anti-Gaddafi forces.
Inside story of the UK's secret mission to beat Gaddafi British efforts to help topple Colonel Gaddafi were not limited to air strikes. On the ground - and on the quiet - special forces soldiers were blending in with rebel fighters. This is the previously untold account of the crucial part they played.
Mali military says 47 killed in northern clashes Mali's military said on Thursday its armed forces had killed 45 gunmen and lost two soldiers in attacks on two towns in the north of the country this week, a toll immediately rejected by a spokesman for the Tuareg-led rebels.
Nigeria puts $310,000 bounty on escaped bomb suspect Nigeria's police are offering a 50 million naira ($309,600) reward for information leading to the recapture of the main suspect in a Christmas Day bomb attack, who escaped within 24 hours of his arrest this week.
Officials: U.S. seeks new home for Yemen's Saleh The Obama administration is engaged in an intensive effort with Yemen's embattled strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh to find him a new home, preferably not in the United States, so that his violence-wracked Arabian homeland can proceed with a transition to democracy, U.S. officials say.
Charles Taylor 'worked' for CIA in Liberia US authorities say former Liberian leader Charles Taylor worked for its intelligence agencies, including the CIA, the Boston Globe reports.
Nato not even thinking of Syria operation: Top general Nato is not planning or even 'thinking' of intervening in Syria, the alliance's most senior officer said on Thursday, days after a top Russian official said such plans were in the making.
Who wants war with Iran? Netanyahu is desperate to have the United States launch air and missile strikes to stop Tehran from becoming the world's ninth nuclear power. And he is echoed not only by U.S. neocons, but GOP candidates save Ron Paul.
Britain pulls the plug on Iran's Press TV Iranian news channel Press TV will disappear from British television screens on Friday after Britain's media regulator revoked its licence in a move that could fuel diplomatic tensions with the Islamic nation.
Beating Up on Chavez Since inaugurated in February 1999, he's faced open US hostility, including by go-along major media scoundrels.
SOPA – Don't Just Protest – Get Even The entire reason why SOPA's authors and supporters have the money, influence, and power to put draconian bills like it forward in the first place is because of our daily patronizing of their corporations and the goods and services they provide.
This is the horror of war Posted: Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Inside Mossad's war on Tehran Small groups of Israeli agents were watching key points in the Iranian capital. Their target was Roshan. They would be dead themselves if they were caught.
'Iran will respond to nuclear killings' A senior Iranian commander has warned of a crushing response to the Israeli regime as well as the US and Britain for their role in the assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists.
Iran sends rare letter to U.S. over killed scientist Iran said on Saturday it had evidence Washington was behind the latest killing of one of its nuclear scientists, state television reported, at a time when tensions over the country's nuclear program have escalated to their highest level ever.
Iran says nabbed suspects in scientist's murder Iran's parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani claims several suspects arrested for involvement in death of nuclear scientist Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan.
What's behind Europe's tough stance on Iran? European powers have agreed in principle to embargo Iranian oil, the lifeblood of Iran's economy, adding to tough sanctions already in place.
Will Netanyahu's Provocations Backfire? Netanyahu's combined efforts to push the U.S. into a war on Iran as a smokescreen for his plan to absorb the West Bank and to manipulate the U.S. presidential election may open the door to an alliance of U.S. and Israeli national security officials who believe in security through peace and justice.
Iranians proud over US award win for 'A Separation' Iranians reacted with pride on Monday after an Iranian film, "A Separation", won a major US prize -- a triumph on the international stage that, for a moment, eclipsed geopolitical tensions.
Rival Libyan militias clash in Tripoli; 3 killed Rival militants clashed in the Libyan capital Sunday, killing three people, officials said, in the latest example of the challenges facing the country's new rulers in uniting armed militias and overcoming long-standing tensions among them.
Libya bank denies receiving Qaddafi's $20 billion "We have not received" the funds, central bank governor al-Seddiq Omar al-Kabir told reporters when asked to confirm whether Libya had received the money as announced by Foreign Minister Ashur bin Khayyal on Tuesday.
Pakistani government faces critical day in court A political crisis gripping Pakistan could take a decisive turn Monday when its embattled government appears before the Supreme Court, which is ordering it to reopen a stalled graft probe against the president or face dismissal.
Pakistani Prime Minister Faces Off with the Military In Pakistan, civilian governments never exit gracefully. They have all been given a mighty heave amid crisis. Sometimes Prime Ministers have been trampled by direct military coups.
Pakistan Supreme Court Issues Premier Gilani Contempt Notice... Pakistan's Supreme Court began contempt of court proceedings against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for failing to obey its order to pursue corruption charges against President Asif Ali Zardari, a step that may lead to Gilani's dismissal.
$million bounty on Musharraf's head Just days ahead of former Pakistan president General Pervez Musharraf's planned return to Pakistan from self-exile, a grandson of slain Baloch nationalist leader Akbar Bugti has put a bounty worth Rs 101 million (USD 1,118,370) on the former military ruler's head.
Robert Fisk: This is not about 'bad apples'. This is the horror of war How many other abuses took place off camera? How many Hadithas? How many My Lais? So now it's snapshots of US Marines pissing on the Afghan dead. Better, I suppose, than the US soldiers pictured beside the innocent Afghan teenager they fragged back in March of last year.
Russia presents new Syria resolution at UN Russia on Monday distributed a new draft resolution on the Syria crisis at the UN Security Council after facing weeks of criticism over the slow pace of talks, diplomats said.
'Nuclear assassinations disgrace IAEA' Posted: Friday, January 13, 2012
'Nuclear assassinations disgrace IAEA' The assassination of Iranian scientists has disgraced the UN nuclear agency as the body has provided Western intelligence agencies with confidential information on Iran's nuclear experts, a political analyst tells Press TV.
Anti-US chants as slain Iran nuclear expert buried Thousands of mourners chanted "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" on Friday during the funeral of a slain nuclear expert whom Iranian officials accuse the two nations of killing in a bomb blast this week as part of a secret operation to stop Iran's nuclear program.
Iran: The Neocons Are At It Again The same neocons who persuaded George W. Bush and crew to, in Ron Paul's inimitable words, "lie their way into invading Iraq" in 2003, are beating the drums of war more loudly these days to attack Iran. It is remarkable how many of these war-mongers are former draft dodgers who wanted other Americans to fight the war in Vietnam.
Iran and the Terrorism game In the few venues which yesterday denounced as "Terrorism" the ongoing assassinations of Iranian scientists, there was intense backlash against the invocation of that term. That always happens whenever "Terrorism" is applied to acts likely undertaken by Israel, the U.S. or its allies...
Russia warns EU over Iran oil sanctions A senior Russian official warns the European Union not to join US oil sanctions against Iran because the measure will have adverse economic consequences for the bloc's member states.
Use of force tops agenda on Iran How close is the west getting to all-out conflict with Iran? As 2012 gets under way, the question is right at the top of the international security agenda.
Taliban set terms as US pushes for talks Group says it will step up "political efforts" but not give up armed struggle as US prepares way for Afghan peace talks.
Yemen's rival forces given two-day deadline to demilitarize A Yemeni committee of security and military agencies has given rival forces two days to remove military barricades and gunmen from the capital Sana'a as part of an effort to re-establish security in the country, reported state news agency SABA Thursday.
