A glimmer of hope—but it’s pretty terrifying that this was under consideration, even by the supposedly enlightened Chief William Bratton. Some of us remember the mass detention of Southern California Muslims by immigration authorities in 2002. From AFP, Nov. 16:… Read moreLAPD drops Muslim mapping plan
The only good news here is that is that it has sparked an international outcry—which comes just in time to embarrass the barbaric Saudi regime at the Riyadh OPEC summit. (AFP, Nov. 16) From The Telegraph, Nov. 17: A Saudi… Read moreSaudi Arabia: rape victim gets 200 lashes
It seems scientists at Oregon Health & Science University have cloned monkey embryos to create embryonic stem cells. “Breakthrough or an ethical nightmare?” asks News-Medical.net Nov. 15. We say it is far worse than an “ethical nightmare,” which implies some… Read moreSome monkeys push back
In a near-explicit threat, Somalia’s President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed Nov. 13 called on Mogadishu residents to help fight insurgents—or suffer in government crackdowns in the violence-torn capital. “My government is doing all it can to save the lives of the… Read moreEthiopia tightening grip on Somalia —or losing it?
In a little-noted move, the US House of Representatives Oct. 23 passed the “Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007” (HR 1955), which is being widely assailed by civil libertarians. The bill, if it becomes law, would establish… Read moreHouse passes thoughtcrime prevention act
Just as the Kurdistan crisis seemed to be de-escalating, come reports in the Turkish press that Turkish warplanes bombed three villages frequented by PKK guerillas in Iraqi territory near the border town of Zakho in pre-dawn raids Nov. 13. Officials… Read moreTurkey bombs Iraq —again?
A remotely detonated car bomb attack on the Batasan complex that houses the Philippines House of Representatives at Quezon City in Manila Nov. 13 killed four, including the suspected target—Rep. Wahab Akbar (Basilan), a former Muslim militant who backed operations… Read moreAbu Sayyaf behind Manila blast?
Colombians went to the polls on Oct. 28 to elect 18,527 local and regional officials, including mayors, governors, municipal council members and deputies. As has been usual in regional elections, turnout was low. The campaign was marked by the murders… Read moreColombia: left holds on to Bogotá
Peruvian miners began an open-ended strike on Nov. 5, affecting copper, tin, iron and zinc mines owned by Southern Copper Corp., Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., Newmont Mining Corp., Doe Run Resources Corp, Cia. de Minas Buenaventura SA, Minsur SA,… Read morePeru: strikes, protests continue
The US House of Representatives voted 285 to 132 on Nov. 8 to approve the Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA, or TLC for its initials in Spanish). The agreement, which eliminates tariffs and establishes new rules for foreign investment, was… Read morePeru: FTA advances in Washington
On Nov. 7 Chilean authorities suddenly moved prisoners José Huenchunao and Patricia Troncoso Robles to the hospital in Angol in Region IX, apparently because of the effects of a 28-day hunger strike. Along with three other prisoners—José Millalen, Jaime Marileo… Read moreChile: Mapuche prisoners hospitalized
From the all too appropriately named political blog Morons.org, Nov. 12: We apparently have a new Attorney General…. Last Thursday, Judge Michael Mukasey was confirmed as Attorney General by the Senate in a vote of 53-40 in the dead of… Read moreMichael Mukasey and the politics of capitulation
