Clandestine torture centers in Iraq?
More reports of unspeakable horror, courtesy of the leader of the free world, and its junior partner. Thanks to
Author: Bill Weinberg
Europe
Blasts in Kosovo
OK, is it the Serbs or Albanians who are behind this one? From the AP, July 2: PRISTINA, Serbia-Montenegro — At least three blasts rocked the centre of Kosovo’s capital late Saturday and one targeted the UN mission headquarters. At… Read moreBlasts in Kosovo
Kurdish leader assassinated in Syria
The Kurdistan Bloggers Union notes the recent killing of Muhammad Mashouk al-Khaznawi, a Kurdish leader in Syria, providing this July 1 account of his death (refering to northern Syria as “West Kurdistan”): A Kurdish Sunni Muslim cleric in Syria who… Read moreKurdish leader assassinated in Syria
Watching the Shadows
Rove named in Plame case
Surprise, surprise! None other than Karl Rove has been named as the source who leaked that Valerie Plame was a CIA agent, a crime for which two journalists may yet do time, even though they didn’t commit it. Time magazine… Read moreRove named in Plame case
Afghanistan
Chinook down in Afghanistan; historians have deja vu
US helicopters and hundreds of troops are searching for soldiers who went missing in Afghanistan just before a helicopter coming to their aid was shot down in Kunar province June 28, killing the 16 on board, all Navy Seals and… Read moreChinook down in Afghanistan; historians have deja vu
Zapatistas announce Mexico tour
The third and apparently last installment of the Zapatistas’ Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Selva was released yesterday. While the first was entitled “Who We Are” and outlined the history of the Zapatista struggle, and the second was dubbed “How… Read moreZapatistas announce Mexico tour
Watching the Shadows
Pentagon maintains secret floating prisons?
Still only rumors at this point, but chilling ones, and a UN rapporteur considers them credible enough to warrant an investigation. Thanks to TruthOut for sending this one from AFP June 29: US Suspected of Keeping Secret Prisoners on Warships:… Read morePentagon maintains secret floating prisons?
New York City
NYC: Fascist architecture for Ground Zero
Well, the (supposedly) final design for the “Freedom Tower” that is to rise where the World Trade Center stood has been unveiled after a long, tortuous process. And the design, a brutalist product of politics and paranoia without even a… Read moreNYC: Fascist architecture for Ground Zero
Zapatistas announce “new political initiative”
After much speculation following their announcement of a “red alert” last week, on June 26 the Zapatista rebels in Mexico’s southern state of Chiapas issued a communique announcing that their “consulta,” or consultation with their base communities, was complete, and… Read moreZapatistas announce “new political initiative”
Children tortured at Abu Ghraib
What is really surreal is that the horrors of Gitmo and Abu Ghraib are in the headlines every day, and yet they continue. Here are some excerpts from the harrowing “Arrested Development” by Arlie Hochschild, on abuse of children at… Read moreChildren tortured at Abu Ghraib
Nuevo Laredo power struggle continues
In the latest development from army-occupied Nuevo Laredo, 44 kidnapping victims freed June 26 when over 200 Mexican federal agents raided three safe houses. Shots were fired at one of the houses, but nobody was injured. A crowd of relatives… Read moreNuevo Laredo power struggle continues