Interesting how Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty uncritically accepts Putin’s talk of a fight against “terrorism.” Basayev was assuredly a bad dude, but the Russian state’s counterinsurgency war in the North Caucasus is hardly less terroristic—and, as this report actually notes,… Read moreChechnya: Shamil Basayev reported killed
Jose Ramos Horta, winner of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, is a figure of towering moral authority, and will hopefully be able to restore both stability and real sovereignty to his nation. But it is painful to watch him take… Read moreRamos Horta to lead East Timor
Some 60,000 teachers were set to return to their classrooms on July 10 in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, after a seven-week strike that included numerous sit-ins at government buildings and an encampment in the central plaza in the… Read moreMexico: Oaxaca teachers to end strike?
On June 23, US District Judge Stephen Wilson in Los Angeles ruled that Palestinian immigrant Aiad Khaled Barakat should be allowed to become a naturalized US citizen. Barakat is one of the so-called “LA 8”: seven Palestinians and a Kenyan… Read morePalestinian gets citizenship in “LA 8” case
In an 8-1 decision on June 22, the US Supreme Court ruled that immigrants who return to the US after being deported are “continuous lawbreakers” who lose the right to remain in the US, even after they marry US citizens…. Read moreSupreme Court upholds deportation
French hypocrisy exposed at last! It seems all the official pomposity and condescension about the barabric American torture state was merely for political show. We are shocked, shocked! From the New York Times, July 6: PARIS, July 5 — A… Read moreFrance interrogated Gitmo detainees
From the New York Times, July 6: MILAN — Two officials with the Italian intelligence agency were arrested Wednesday in the kidnapping of a radical Egyptian cleric here in 2003. It was the first indication that Italian intelligence agents might… Read moreItaly arrests two in “rendition” case
More sacrifices for the American way of life. From Newsday, July 6: Two killed in livery cab crash on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway Two people were killed and another critically injured early Wednesday when a livery cab rear-ended a tractor trailer on… Read moreWHY WE FIGHT
The Times of India reported June 22: SRINAGAR: Terrorists on Thursday tossed a grenade at the house of a holy man in Sopore, north Kashmir, killing two of his devotees and injuring 15, even as the saint escaped unhurt. This… Read moreSufis under attack in Kashmir
From the New York Times, links and annotation added: MEXICO CITY, July 6 — Felipe Calderón, a conservative former energy minister, won a narrow victory in the race for president today after election officials finished their official tally, but his… Read moreMexico: Calderón declared victor; López Obrador pledges challenge
North Korea notoriously test-fired at least seven missiles July 4—although the intercontinental Taepodong-2, which we were told could reach parts of the Western US, failed less than a minute after launch, falling into the Sea of Japan, along with the… Read moreJuly 4th fireworks threaten life on Earth
Both left-populist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) and right-technocratic Felipe Calderon of the ruling National Action Party (PAN) continue to claim the victory in Mexico, while the Federal Electoral Institute conitinues to tally the vote… Read moreMexico: electoral crisis deepens
