In a Sept. 18 statement on the Papal controversy, the Islamic Society of North America—which recently made headlines by electing a woman (and Canadian ex-Catholic), Ingrid Mattson, as president (LAT, Sept. 21)—calls out His Holiness on some shabby scholarship. PLAINFIELD,… Read moreIslamic Society of North America accuses Pope of poor scholarship
Still cheering on the heroic Afghan resistance? From Index on Censorship, Sept. 26: A senior Afghan official working for women’s rights has been shot dead by suspected Taliban gunmen. She was the highest placed female official to be assassinated in… Read moreAfghanistan: women’s rights defender assassinated
There is a distinct and unseemly tone of gloating here, but this article does point to Evo Morales’ unenviable dilemma: already being accused of treason by hardliners to his left, while the right-wing opposition openly salivates for his assassination. Simon… Read moreBolivia: Evo caught between opposing hardliners
La huelga de piernas cruzadas. Long overdue. Maybe it will catch on globally. From the London Times, Sept. 24: A SEX strike organised by the girlfriends of gang members in one of Colombia’s most violent cities to protest against a… Read moreColombian women go on sex strike
Having abandoned their encampments in Mexico City’s main plaza, followers of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador held protests at 22 Wal-Mart outlets around the capital, accusing the company of “system violation of labor rights,” and “an open campaign in favor of… Read moreLopez Obrador’s followers target Wal-Mart
From El Universal, Sept. 25, via Chiapas95: A group of gunmen exchanged fire with protesters outside Oaxaca’s Camino Real hotel on Sunday, injuring two and forcing dozens of guests, residents and journalists to run for cover. The shoot-out came hours… Read moreGunfire in Oaxaca City
Perhaps some of you noticed Bill Clinton’s $15,000-a-head confab at a Midtown Manhattan Sheraton hotel last week to raise funds and awareness to tackle global poverty and climate change. Hillary, Colin Powell and even Laura Bush were all on hand…. Read moreGore stumps with “World War 4” architect Woolsey
After Richard Armitage was named as the source in the Valerie Plame leak, there was a paroxysm of unseemly crowing from the right-wing pundits, who predicted that Plame would not now sue Armitage because he is such a handsome, straight-shooting… Read moreArmitage threatened Pakistan blitzkrieg
The irony is certainly not lost on Iran. From Business in Africa, Sept. 22: Cairo – The United States ambassador to Egypt, Francis Ricciardone, said his country has no problem with an Egyptian nuclear programme and was ready to supply… Read moreUS pledges nuclear aid to Egypt
From the LA Times, Sept. 25: BAGHDAD – Iraq’s sectarian leaders stepped back from a simmering constitutional crisis yesterday, agreeing to wait at least 18 months before setting up autonomous regions that would shift power away from the central government…. Read moreIraq: autonomy on hold
Don’t you just love it when the government contradicts itself? The White House responds to the National Intelligence Estimate report finding the Iraq war is fueling global terrorism. From the LA Times, Sept. 25: White House: Terrorism not linked to… Read moreWhite House denies Iraq link to terror escalation
From Shared Responsibilites, a Colombia-led international initiative to find solutions to the global problem of narcotics trafficking, Sept. 25: A recently dismantled cocaine and heroine trafficking ring tricked indigenous people into transporting drugs within Colombia. Colombian Antinarcotics Police, in a… Read moreColombia: narco gang exploits indigenous people
