From Military Families Speak Out, March 23: House Votes to Continue Funding Iraq War; Military Families Tell Pelosi: “You Bought This War—Now You Own It ” Today, Military Families Speak Out, the largest organization of military families speaking out against a… Read moreMilitary families protest Pelosi capitulation
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mamediarov and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed a memorandum of understanding on energy cooperation in Washington March 22. Azerbaijan announced it is seeking political support from the US to build new gas export pipelines,… Read moreUS-Russia race for Balkan pipeline access?
At least three were killed and scores injured in clashes between Chechens and Kazakhs outside Kazakhstan’s chief city of Almaty this week. The violence apparently began with an alcohol-fueled brawl in the town of Kazatkom in Almaty Region. Akhmed Muradov,… Read moreAnti-Chechen pogrom in Kazakhstan
John Dugard, a UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories likened Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in the occupied territories to “apartheid,” and said that failure to address the situation will make it hard to solve abuses elsewhere…. Read moreUN rights rapporteur on Palestine: Yes, it’s apartheid
British soldiers are accused of shooting dead a 12-year-old boy close to the Afghan capital, Kabul. NATO told AlJazeera March 22 that an investigation into the incident is under way. The soldiers apparently opened fire on the vehicle in which… Read moreAfghanistan: Britain accused in death of child
During his unannounced visit to Baghdad, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon felt the shockwaves of a nearby rocket attack while giving a press conference. Ban and his staff left the press meeting shaken but unscathed. Iraqi deputy prime minister Salam… Read moreIraq carnage round-up
Moktada al-Sadr’s Shi’ite militia, the Mahdi Army, is breaking into splinter groups, with up to 3,000 gunmen financed directly by Iran and no longer loyal to the militant cleric, Iraqi and US officials say. Two senior Mahdi Army commanders also… Read moreIran backs Mahdi Army splinter faction?
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, joined by MPs, military chiefs and diplomats, say up to 3,800 PKK fighters in Iraqi Kurdistan are preparing for attacks into Turkish territory—and Turkey is ready to hit back if the US fails to act…. Read moreTurkey rattles sabre at Iraqi Kurdistan —again
British authorities have arrested three men in connection with the July 7, 2005 London bombings that killed 52. Police say they have long suspected that others were involved in the attack besides the four suicide bombers. Two of the suspects… Read more7-7 arrests —and media revisionism
From the UK Press Association, March 23: Fifteen Royal Navy sailors have been seized by Iranian warships in Iraqi territorial waters, the Ministry of Defence said. Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has summoned the Iranian ambassador in London to demand their… Read moreIran seizes 15 British sailors
The Somali government says al-Qaeda has appointed a young militant as its commander of the resistance forces in Mogadishu. Deputy Defense Minister Salad Ali Jelle told a news conference the insurgency is being directed by Aden Hashi Ayro, an Afghanistan-trained… Read moreAl-Qaeda running Somali resistance?
From the British computer trade journal The Register, March 22: US Marines in Iraq staged an elaborate fake gunfight to foil an overhead surveillance drone and cover up a murder, according to court testimony. Wired reports that the Marines successfully… Read moreIraq: Marines spooked drone to cover murder
