.President Obama in the Oval Office with Thomas E. Donilon, left, the national security adviser, and John O. Brennan, his top counterterrorism adviser. (Pete Souza/The White House) The Moral Challenge of ‘Kill Lists’ by Ray McGovern In an extraordinary article in Tuesday’s New York Times, “Secret ‘Kill List’ Proves a Test of Obama’s Principles [...]
Published on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 by Bureau of Investigative Journalism Vicious Cycle: Development Aid Goes to Western Companies, Not Public in Need, says Report Biggest investments in international aid are going to private firms, tax havens by Maeve McClenaghan Last year world leaders gathered at the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid [...]
. Report: ‘Leading’ Companies Mislead Public on Climate Change Policies Top 28 publicly traded companies ‘get away with misrepresenting science to achieve their goals’ – Common Dreams staff Today, the Union of Concerned Scientists released an analysis of 28 ‘leading’ US companies who publicly express concern about climate change but, behind closed doors, [...]
Obama’s God Complex By Yvonne Ridley May 30, 2012 “Information Clearing House” – The fatal shooting of black teenager Trayvon Martin shocked a nation, inspired tens of thousands to march for justice and even prompted the US President to declare, “If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon”. It [...]
Songs of War We follow a Sesame Street composer as he learns how his music has been used to torture detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Award-winning musician Christopher Cerf has composed music for the famous children’s television show Sesame Street for 40 years. During this time, he has written more than 200 songs intended [...]
When Iraqi Kurdistan‘s oil minister announced an oil pipeline to Turkey, ‘one could feel the tectonic plates of Pipelineistan rippling all across the Middle East – and beyond’ [GALLO/GETTY] Hong Kong, China - Iraq has virtually disappeared from the news cycle – displaced by the Arab Spring/Winter seesaw and the ongoing tragedy in Syria. But when [...]
West’s Houla Syria Narrative Crumbles, Expels Syrian Diplomats Anyway UN admits almost all of the 108 killed in Houla were killed at close range by militants, not Syrian soldiers firing artillery. By Tony Cartalucci May 29, 2012 “Information Clearing House” — – The UN according to Associated Press, has stated that, “most of [...]
On May, 2012, the BBC published a photo showing several rows of dead Iraqi children to illustrate a recent massacre in the Syrian city of Houla. As the BBC came under fire for trying to sell a NATO-led attack on Syria, a BBC spokesman has shirked responsibility for checking the authenticity of the image saying [...]
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor listens to the judge at the opening of the sentencing judgement hearing at the court in Leidschendam, near The Hague, May 30, 2012. REUTERS/Toussaint Kluiters/United Photos Liberian ex-president Charles Taylor listens to the judge passing his sentencing at the court in The Hague. Video: Alice Salfield Link to this video Judges [...]
Andy Coulson has been detained by police. Photograph: Lefteris Pitarakis/AP Andy Coulson detained by police for suspected perjury Strathclyde police hold David Cameron’s ex-communications chief on suspicion of perjury at Glasgow high court Andy Coulson, David Cameron‘s former director of communications, has been detained by police investigating alleged perjury at the trial of the Scottish [...]
Can Jewish Liberals Transcend the Wiesel Doctrine? Countering the Israel Lobby’s Dominance by ALAN NASSER “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national [...]
Wikileaks founder loses extradition appeal Decision by UK supreme court means Julian Assange can be sent back to Sweden, where he faces sexual-assault charges. Julian Assange, founder of the whistle-blower website WikiLeaks, has lost his appeal at the supreme court in London against extradition to Sweden, where he faces sexual assault allegations. The judges ruled with a majority of [...]
Former Liberian president Charles Taylor has called for ‘reconciliation, not retribution’ at his sentencing for war crimes. Photograph: Reuters Charles Taylor to be sentenced for war crimes Former Liberian president faces 80-year jail term as special court at The Hague cannot impose capital or life sentence link http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/30/charles-taylor-liberia-war-crimes The former Liberian president Charles Taylor will be sentenced on Wednesday for aiding and [...]
Julian Assange can appeal to the European court of human rights if he loses his case at the supreme court. Photograph: Geoff Caddick/AFP/Getty Images The WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, will discover on Wednesday whether he is to be deported to Sweden to face allegations of rape and sexual assault when the supreme court delivers its verdict on his [...]
UN: After Single-Candidate Vote, Yemen’s Democracy ‘Largely on Track’ Ban Terms Vote a ‘Model to Achieve Peace’ by Jason Ditz, May 29, 2012 Print This | Share This The single-candidate election which installed US-backed Major General Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi as the new president of Yemen [...]
Analysis: How Obama Changed Definition of ‘Civilian’ in Secret Drone Wars by Chris Woods, May 29, 2012 Print This | Share This Two US reports published today provide significant insights into President Obama’s personal and controversial role in the escalating covert US drone war in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. In a major extract from Daniel Klaidman’s forthcoming book Kill Or [...]
Lessons From the United Fruit Company Americans puzzling over the role of today’s powerful corporations may profit from considering the example of the United Fruit Company. Ira Stoll | May 28, 2012 Americans puzzling over the role of today’s powerful corporations—Bain Capital, Goldman Sachs, Google—may profit from considering the example of the United Fruit [...]
Famous sycophant Tony Blair, now a $6-million-a-year consultant for JP Morgan, isn’t clear of his self-serving past just yet. During a supposedly secure hearing about his ties to the Murdoch scandal, a protester burst in to charge Blair with war crimes. And he is facing tough questions about newly revealed secret meetings with Libya‘s Gaddafi. [...]
Obama OKs Proliferation of US “Hunter-Killer” Drone Technology Administration plans to arm Italy‘s fleet of Reaper drones – Common Dreams staff The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that the Obama administration plans to arm Italy’s fleet of Reaper drone aircraft, a move that would open the door for sales of advanced hunter-killer drone technology to [...]
‘Green Economy’: New Disguise for Global Capitalism‘s Old Tricks? Experts warn that ‘Green Economy’ meme may be hijacked by industry for profit by Giuliano Battiston FLORENCE, Italy – Though the current global economic and financial crises are undoubtedly devastating much of the world, they present the perfect opportunity for remodeling our economic system, according to [...]
Scott Horton Interviews Gareth Porter Scott Horton, May 29, 2012 Print This | Share This | Comment Gareth Porter, investigative historian and journalist specializing in U.S. national security policy, discusses his article “Was Afghan Massacre Linked to IED Attack;” the confusing events and timeline during Sgt. Robert Bales’s alleged massacre; the Special Forces assassination raid [...]
PATNA: Over 300 intellectuals including Noam Chomsky, Tariq Ali and Jean Dreze have demanded justice to the victims and survivors of Bathani Tola massacre. The recent acquittal by Patna high court of all the accused in this carnage has shocked everyone. On July 11, 1996, 21 landless poor were slaughtered in broad [...]
Yemen’s Renewed “War on Terror” By Ramzy Baroud Columnist and the Editor of Palestine Chronicle. Monday, 28 May 2012 00:00 Yemeni forces continue to push against Islamic fighters affiliated with al-Qaeda. Their major victories come on the heels of the inauguration of Abd Rabbuh Mansur al-Hadi, who is now entrusted with the task of [...]
