Major General Rick Lynch, who commands US forces south of Baghdad, told reporters May 7 recent history indicates that it takes an average of nine years to put down internal insurgencies, and there is “no instantaneous solution” in Iraq. “You… Read moreUS could be in Iraq for years: general
From AP, May 6: GREENSBURG, Kan.— The rebuilding effort in tornado-ravaged Greensburg, Kansas, likely will be hampered because some much-needed equipment is in Iraq, said that state’s governor. Governor Kathleen Sebelius said much of the National Guard equipment usually positioned… Read moreIraq war hampers Kansas tornado recovery
From AFP, May 7 via iAfrica.com: Riot squads fired tear gas on Sunday at protestors throwing stones, bottles and, in one instance, acid at police in cities across France after right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy’s presidential victory. Clashes took place at Paris’… Read moreFrance: riots greet “Sarko-fascist” election
On May 1, 2007, thousands of people around the US marched and rallied for immigrant rights. Media coverage focused on the fact that the demonstrations were much smaller than similar actions last spring—even though advocates knew well in advance that… Read moreMay Day mobilization: national round-up
Colombian prosecutor general Mario Iguarán confirmed that several foreigners, at least three from Ecuador, are among the 105 presumed paramilitary victims whose bodies were exhumed from a mass grave near La Hormiga, Putumayo department, May 5. Another 106 bodies were… Read moreColombia: AUC’s “Macaco” behind Putumayo mass grave
Three campesino leaders from San Salvador Atenco were each sentenced to 67 years and six months in prison on charges of kidnapping May 5. The sentences come almost exactly a year after a violent clash between Atenco residents and Mexican… Read moreMexico: Atenco leaders get 67 years
A group of students from Oaxaca’s autonomous State University allied with the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca (APPO) occupied Radio Universidad—the University radio station—on April 30. The students said it was a limited take-over to last until 8… Read moreOaxaca: APPO retakes Radio Universidad
Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa announced last week that he will increase military and security forces around oil facilities and allow the use of force to remove protestors. “We will not allow any more invasions of oil installations or the blockage… Read moreEcuador: army ordered to break up oil protests
Amnesty International published a report this week exposing Brazil’s public security crisis. “Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo have reached a tragic impasse. Criminal gangs … have rushed to fill the vacuum left by the state, Balkanizing the cities into… Read moreAmnesty: Brazilian cities are “violent fiefdoms”
A thoroughly uncritical May 6 AP account of the controversial Dead Sea “recovery” program portrays the new progress on the project as a straightforward victory for diplomacy in the interests of ecology. Some excerpts: GHOR HADITHA, Jordan — Jordan, Israel… Read moreDead Sea “recovery” project back on track —despite ecologist dissent
In a new video posted on the Internet by al Qaeda’s propaganda arm, as-Sahab, the organization’s number-two man Ayman al Zawahiri mocks the bill passed by Congress setting a timetable for the pullout of US troops in Iraq. “This bill… Read moreIraq: al-Zawahiri opposes pull-out
Tens of thousands of people lined the streets of Lahore to cheer on the suspended chief justice, Iftakhar Mohammed Chaudhry. They threw flowers in the path of his motorcade, and banged drums to welcome him. Addressing a crowd of lawyers… Read morePakistan: democrats rally, Taliban block roads
