JERUSALEM – It’s not so much the proverbial making a mountain out of a molehill, but Israel finds itself climbing out of a stinky dung heap and onto a slippery diplomatic minefield. The new story began with a story – by all accounts a false, libelous, and unsubstantiated news report emanating from the occupied Palestinian …
Continue reading “Israeli-Swedish Row Heats Up”
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which usually concerns itself with "consumer protection" issues, is now taking an interest in the journalism industry. The financially strapped New York Times reports: "The commission is planning two days of workshops in December – titled ‘From Town Criers to Bloggers: How Will Journalism Survive the Internet Age?’ – to …
Continue reading “The Coming Media Bailout”
Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision Monday to investigate whether interrogators from the Central Intelligence Agency or its contractors violated any federal laws in applying "enhanced interrogation techniques" to detainees in U.S. custody overseas triggered immediate criticism from human rights advocates and appeared to widen the partisan divide between Republicans and Democrats. As Holder released a …
Continue reading “CIA Probe Should Go Further, Groups Say”
Western officials leaked stories to the Associated Press and Reuters last week aimed at pressuring the outgoing chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, to include a summary of intelligence alleging that Iran has been actively pursuing work on nuclear weapons in the IAEA report due out this week. The aim of the …
Continue reading “ElBaradei Foes Leaked Stories to Force His Hand on Iran”
Updated at 5:55 p.m EDT, Aug. 25, 2009
At least six Iraqis were killed and 22 more were wounded in a number of small incidents across the country. The fallout from last week’s Baghdad bombings continues with Iraq and Syria both recalling their diplomats over a spat concerning a pair of suspected Saddam loyalists who are accused of ordering the blasts. Meanwhile, a U.S. officer spoke about having less work to do since handing over security to the Iraqis.
Obama proves that smarts are not enough, says Jeff Huber
EAST JERUSALEM – Israel’s continued policy of Judaizing East Jerusalem in order to establish facts on the ground before the future of that part of the city is decided has left dozens of Palestinians homeless and sleeping on the streets. Hundreds more are at risk, amid allegations of document forgery by Israeli settlers who have …
Continue reading “Israeli Settlers Push Palestinians to Sleep on the Street”
Updated at 8:42 p.m. EDT, Aug. 24, 2009
A major political development is shaking Iraq almost as much as today’s multiple blasts in Wassit province. Shi’ite political parties are realigning themselves against the Prime Minister’s party ahead of January elections. Meanwhile, at least 15 Iraqis were killed and 25 were wounded. Most were injured in a pair of bus bombings in Wassit province, where security measures were immediately tightened. Also, a U.S. family has learned that their soldier son’s death in Iraq may have been triggered by abuse from fellow soldiers.
There was a time when Cindy Sheehan couldn’t go anywhere without having a microphone and a TV camera stuck in front of her. As she camped out in front of George W. Bush’s Crawford ranch, mourning the death of her son Casey in Iraq and calling attention to an unjust, unnecessary, and unwinnable war, the …
Continue reading “War Coverage and the Obama Cult”
Updated at 10:04 p.m. EDT, Aug. 23, 2009
At least eight Iraqis were killed and 19 more were wounded. One U.S. soldier was also killed in combat in Baghdad as well. The Iraqi military released a videotaped confession from the alleged mastermind of Wednesday’s truck bombings. The former policeman revealed that the bombers bribed their way through security. Meanwhile, relatives of the victims in last months’ deadly bank robbery distrupted a trial in Baghdad today.
