Speaking at Luxembourg on a tour of NATO countries one day after ruling out closing the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Donald Rumsfeld responded to reporters’ questions on the issue: “Our goal is not to obviously have these people, but… Read moreRumsfeld softens on Gitmo?
President Bush says today he has receieved reports of covert Syrian interference in Lebanon, and the White House charged that it had information that Damascus had drawn up an assassination hit list targeting Lebanese political leaders. “Obviously we’re going to… Read moreBush accuses Syria on Lebanon
When Alejandro Dominguez was sworn in as police chief of violence-torn Nuevo Laredo June 8, reporters asked him if he was afraid of dying. “I believe the corrupt officials are the ones who are scared,” replied Dominguez, 52, former head… Read moreNorthern Mexico violence escalates
World military spending rose for a sixth year running in 2004, growing by 5% to $1.04 trillion on the back of “massive” US budgetary allocations for its war on terror, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) says in its annual… Read moreWorld military spending tops $1 trillion
Global outrage at Gitmo and Pentagon detainment centers in Iraq and Afghanistan is growing. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, in a report to the Security Council June 8, said that in Iraq, “one of the major human rights challenges remains… Read moreCriticism of Gitmo mounts; Rumsfeld intransigent
Kudos to TruthOut for pairing these two gems from the UK Guardian and the NY Times: Revealed: How Oil Giant Influenced Bush by John Vidal The Guardian Wednesday 08 June 2005 White House sought advice from Exxon on Kyoto stance…. Read moreExxon shaped Bush Kyoto policy
Rumsfeld’s visit to Norway reveals that Iraqi officers are being trained by NATO in this Nordic country. Who knew? This from the Pentagon news site Defenselink: NATO’s Iraqi, ISAF Training Site in Norway Hosts Rumsfeld Visit STAVANGER, Norway, June 8,… Read moreIraqi troops train in Norway
There was an old joke back in the ’70s: Getting Nixon for burglary was like getting Hitler for tax evasion. Now it seems life imitates black humor. From the BBC, June 7: Mixed day in court for Pinochet Augusto Pinochet… Read morePinochet to be charged with tax-evasion
Violence continued in Nepal June 7, with 14 soldiers and six Maoist guerillas killed in a clash in the southwest, even as the rebels publicly apologized for killing 38 civilians in a land mine blast the day before. The civilians… Read moreNepal: Maoists apologize for atrocity; repression continues
The 9-11 Commission, its formal mission completed, is staying on as a private body, the 9-11 Public Discourse Project. In its first efforts, this private body is finding fault with the FBI for perceived inefficiencies in its intelligence capabilities, and… Read more9-11 Commish goes private, baits FBI
From the June 3 Stars & Stripes: Advocates See Veterans of War on Terror Joining the Ranks of the Homeless By Leo Shane III Stars and Stripes Friday 03 June 2005 Washington – Advocates for the homeless already are seeing… Read moreIraq, Afghan vets turning up homeless already
More Koran desecration is being reported — this time in Israel. Israeli parliamentarian Ahmed Tibi has called for a Knesset investigation of the incident, which is supposed to have taken place in Megiddo prison on June 7. Ha’aretz reports: Prisoners… Read moreKoran desecration reported in Israel
