Month: July 2009

Picnicking Outside Tehran’s Evin Prison

Outside the gates of Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, hundreds wait impatiently – some with blankets spread out in the parking lot on the street below, making time for dinner. The improvised picnic area has become a second home to the families of those arrested in the massive roundups that accompanied Iran’s post-election unrest. They were … Continue reading “Picnicking Outside Tehran’s Evin Prison”

Friday: 3 Iraqis Killed, 4 Wounded

Updated at 7:41 p.m. EDT, July, 3, 2009 U.S. Vice President Joe Biden spent part of his three-day trip to Iraq speaking with Gen. Ray Odierno and Ambassador Christopher Hill over breakfast. He also plans to meet with President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Several NFL coaches visited Iraq also, as part of a USO trip. Meanwhile, three Iraqis were killed and four more were wounded across northern Iraq.

US Lawmakers Call For Supporting Terrorists In Iran

The Obama administration should be doing more to support Iranian resistance groups — including the Mujahadeen-e-Khalq (MEK), a "cult-like" terrorist organization that has engaged in suicide attacks against their own countrymen, according to the U.S. State Department — in an all-out effort to affect regime change in Tehran, two American lawmakers said at a recent … Continue reading “US Lawmakers Call For Supporting Terrorists In Iran”

UN-Backed Troops Abusing Congo Civilians

United Nations-backed Congolese armed forces conducting intensified military operations in eastern and northern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have failed to protect civilians from brutal rebel retaliatory attacks and instead are themselves attacking and raping Congolese civilians, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Thursday. The attacks on civilians from all sides have resulted in a significant … Continue reading “UN-Backed Troops Abusing Congo Civilians”

In Afghanistan, 4,000 Marines to ‘Drink Lots of Tea’

After months of planning and putting pieces in order, aspects of the new U.S. strategy in Afghanistan are beginning to be concretely implemented — including a surge of troops and attempts to curtail the poppy trade that allegedly funds insurgents. But some aspects of the new strategy are lagging behind, and questions linger about the … Continue reading “In Afghanistan, 4,000 Marines to ‘Drink Lots of Tea’”

US Uses False Taliban Aid Charge to Pressure Iran

The Barack Obama administration has given new prominence to a Bush administration charge that Iran is providing military training and assistance to the Taliban in Afghanistan, for which no evidence has ever been produced, and which has been discredited by data obtained by IPS from the Pentagon itself. The new twist in the charge is … Continue reading “US Uses False Taliban Aid Charge to Pressure Iran”

Future of Fatah in Doubt

RAMALLAH — The future of Palestinian unity talks is far more complex than the bitter rivalry, bloodshed and division which represent the yawning chasm separating Palestine’s two main political factions, Hamas and Fatah. There are serious issues within Fatah that need to be resolved. After two decades of power struggles and acrimony within the organization, … Continue reading “Future of Fatah in Doubt”

The Lingering Effects of Torture

Like many of the other inmates interrogated at Guantánamo Bay, Adeel’s personal nightmare did not end when he returned home. Today, in his native Pakistan, the sound of approaching footsteps or the sight of someone in a uniform can trigger bad memories and set off a panic attack. The former teacher and father of five … Continue reading “The Lingering Effects of Torture”