With Iran’s hard-line mullahs and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps unmistakably back in control, Israel’s decision of whether to use military force against Tehran’s nuclear weapons program is more urgent than ever.
Iran’s nuclear threat was never in doubt during its presidential campaign, but the post-election resistance raised the possibility of some sort of regime change. That prospect seems lost for the near future or for at least as long as it will take Iran to finalize a deliverable nuclear weapons capability.
via John R. Bolton - Time for an Israeli Strike? - washingtonpost.com.
US Embassy in Italy, As Usual, Tells Americans to Stay Away from Vicenza
Submitted by davidswanson on Fri, 2009-07-03 00:03.Warden Message
Italy
July 2, 2009
Warden Message: Upcoming Demonstrations Regarding 4th of July and G8 Summit
American citizens are advised to be especially attentive and alert from now through the Fourth of July and the G-8 Summit in Italy. Please exercise caution as you travel in Rome and around Italy. Several demonstrations are planned over the next ten days that may affect U.S. interests or those of the G-8 countries.
On July 4, there will be a large demonstration at the U.S. military base in Vincenza. The demonstration is organized by No Dal Molin and other groups. American citizens should avoid the area around Vicenza for the period July 3-5. [NOTE: this event is organized by nonviolent activists in opposition to militarism, so the embassy indicates that the other events below are expected to be peaceful and omits that comment here. --DS]
On July 5-6, a torch-lit walk is planned through the center of L'Aquila
from 24.00 to 03.32 (time of the recent earthquake). This event is
expected to be peaceful.
Perriello Gets Third Press Event from White House / Dem Party Since War/IMF Vote
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2009-07-02 22:56.By David Swanson
There's a story deeply buried here. Set aside for a moment dishonest ads being run by Republicans against Congressman Tom Perriello of Virginia's Fifth District attacking his Yes vote on a climate bill. Set aside the fact that the climate bill will actually increase pollution. The story may involve Perriello's vote for this controversial bill, but it certainly involves his recent vote for the war supplemental / IMF bankster bailout bill -- deeply unpopular here, and Perriello claimed to oppose the IMF money while voting for it. (There is not a shadow of a doubt that had the bill failed, the war and the IMF would have been separated, and Perriello could have still voted to kill people without voting to impoverish people.)
Government Further Delays Release Of Crucial CIA Inspector General Report
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2009-07-02 22:28.CIA's Fourth Delay Seeks Extension Until August 31
NEW YORK – After agreeing three times to release an Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report on the CIA's interrogation and detention program and then reneging, the government announced today it will not release a reprocessed version of the report before August 31. The CIA had agreed to release the OIG report by June 19, 2009. It then requested two extensions – to June 26 and then July 1.
The CIA turned over a heavily redacted version of the report in May 2008 as part of an American Civil Liberties Union Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit for records related to the treatment of detainees in U.S. custody, but a year later informed the court that it would review the same report with a view toward disclosing more information.
The ACLU has informed the court that it opposes this latest request for a two-month delay.
Torturing the Rule of Law
Submitted by shahidbuttar on Thu, 2009-07-02 18:41.Sixty years ago, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson left Washington to pursue what he later called "the most important, enduring, and constructive work of [his] life": prosecuting international war crimes committed during WWII. Justice Jackson helped usher in a new international regime that promised to help deter human rights abuses.
Unfortunately, Jackson's achievements have proven less enduring than he hoped. Our nation continues to undermine international law by sweeping torture under the rug, with serious implications going forward.
The Nuremberg Trials established a timeless principle: individuals are criminally liable for violating fundamental human rights, even if their governments authorized those violations. Some laws, Nuremberg held, transcend those of any nation.
John Bolton wants Israel to attack Iran
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2009-07-02 18:14.Obama Administration Backs Bush White House on Cheney Interview
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2009-07-02 17:47.Excerpt from David Corn, Mother Jones:
When it comes to the Bush White House's decision to withhold from the public Dick Cheney's interview with FBI agents investigating the CIA leak case, the Obama administration says its predecessor did the right thing. And it's fighting hard to do the same. . . .
Which raises the question again: Is Obama withholding the memos Cheney demands released in order to protect Cheney's lies about what's in them?
July 2 Radio: Former Alabama Gov. Siegelman & DoJ Reform Advocate Charles Walker To Describe Abuses
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2009-07-02 15:30.WASHINGTON, DC (July 2, 2009) – Two of the = nation’s leading critics of alleged “selective prosecutions” by the Bush = Department of Justice to prevent the election of Democrats will appear on today’s = edition of My Technology Lawyer Radio to discuss recent legal developments -- = and last Friday’s unprecedented conference on the topic here at the = National Press Club.
To Critics, New Policy on Terror Looks Old
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2009-07-02 14:50.Is Charlie Savage asking to be Dan Froomkined? I don't know, but read his latest.
It Ain’t About Hot Dogs & Fireworks
Submitted by sibeledmonds on Thu, 2009-07-02 14:26.Reflections on this Fourth of July
Pseudo Civil Libertarians Found Who Actually Do Support an Executive Order on Preventive Detention
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2009-07-02 14:21.Daphne Eviatar has this shameful story. There are those who would like to establish the precedent that a president can decree such an unconstitutional law into being, rather than risk allowing Congress to legislate the same thing (they might come up with something worse). Hmm. Are those the only two possible courses of action here?
For $25,000 You Can Talk to Washington Post Reporters and Editors (and Obama Staff) Pay More and They'll Write About Your Issue
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2009-07-02 13:44.Washington Post sells access, $25,000+
By Mike Allen, Politico
For $25,000 to $250,000, The Washington Post is offering lobbyists and association executives off-the-record, nonconfrontational access to "those powerful few" — Obama administration officials, members of Congress, and the paper’s own reporters and editors.
The astonishing offer is detailed in a flier circulated Wednesday to a health care lobbyist, who provided it to a reporter because the lobbyist said he feels it’s a conflict for the paper to charge for access to, as the flier says, its “health care reporting and editorial staff."
The offer — which essentially turns a news organization into a facilitator for private lobbyist-official encounters — is a new sign of the lengths to which news organizations will go to find revenue at a time when most newspapers are struggling for survival.
Statement from Cynthia McKinney, Held By Israel for Trying to Aid Israel's Victims
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2009-07-02 13:40.One of Cynthia's friend received a phone call from Ramle prison. The incarcerated prisoners are calling themselves "Free Gaza 21" even though Huwaida and Lubna have been released. Below is Cynthia's statement:
We were in international waters on a boat delivering humanitarian aid to people in Gaza when the Israeli Navy ships surrounded us and illegally threatened us, dismantled our navigation equipment, boarded and confiscated the ship.
All of us on board were then taken off the ship and into custody, and brought into Israel and imprisoned. Immigration officials in Israel said they did not want to keep us, but we remain imprisoned. State Department and White House officials have not effected our release or taken a strong public stance to condemn the illegal actions of the Israeli Navy of enforcing a blockade of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians of Gaza, a blockade that has been condemned by President Obama.
Iraq Vote Could Oust US Troops Early
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2009-07-02 13:38.By Maya Schenwar, TRUTHOUT
As US combat troops retreated from Iraqi urban centers on Tuesday, signs of an incomplete withdrawal abounded. Some soldiers remained in cities, their labels changed from "combat troops" to "trainers" or "advisers," while others relocated to bases close outside city borders. However, the US-Iraq security pact approved last December requires that every single US troop withdraw from the country by December 31, 2011, and an upcoming referendum vote in Iraq may demand an even quicker deadline.
In less than a month, the Iraqi people may vote on the validity of the security pact, which permits the continuing US presence in Iraq. If Iraqis reject the pact, the US would be required to withdraw from the country within a year, speeding the deadline to July 30, 2010, unless a new deal is negotiated before then. And according to Kate Gould, legislative program assistant for foreign policy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), the negotiation of a new bilateral agreement seems unlikely.
White House to Hold Firm on European Missile Shield: Nuclear Disarmament Be Damned
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2009-07-02 13:35.By Mark Knoller, CBS News
In advance of Pres. Obama’s first trip to Russia next week, the White House is serving notice on the Kremlin that he won’t be making any concessions to win its approval of a U.S. missile shield in Europe or membership in NATO for Russian neighbors Ukraine and Georgia.
“We don’t need the Russians,” says Michael McFaul, special assistant to the president and senior director for Russian affairs on the National Security Council staff.
In a conference call with reporters, McFaul responded with unusually tough talk when asked what reassurances Pres. Obama is prepared to give in his talks starting Monday with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.
Amnesty Details Gaza 'War Crimes'
Submitted by Chip on Thu, 2009-07-02 13:34.
Amnesty details Gaza 'war crimes' | BBC
Israel committed war crimes and carried out reckless attacks and acts of wanton destruction in its Gaza offensive, an independent human rights report says.
Hundreds of Palestinian civilians were killed using high-precision weapons, while others were shot at close range, the group Amnesty International says.
Its report also calls rocket attacks by Palestinian militants war crimes and accuses Hamas of endangering civilians.
The Israeli military says its conduct was in line with international law.
Israel has attributed some civilian deaths to "professional mistakes", but has dismissed wider criticism that its attacks were indiscriminate and disproportionate.
Amnesty says some 1,400 Palestinians were killed in the 22-day Israeli offensive between 27 December 2008 and 17 January 2009, which agrees broadly with Palestinian figures. Read more.
Rally against Dal Molin expansion set for Saturday
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2009-07-02 13:16.By Kent Harris, Stars and Stripes
VICENZA, Italy — Tens of thousands of Italians traditionally gather in Vicenza to celebrate the United States’ Independence Day with members of the American military community. But the only large gathering planned for this Saturday at Caserma Ederle is a protest against the American military presence in the country.
Base officials have moved this year’s festivities to Thursday and will not be opening the gates to the Italian community as has been the practice in years past.
However, the annual celebration wasn’t altered because of the protest, according to Jon Fleshman, public affairs officer for U.S. Army Garrison-Vicenza. A number of factors — including construction, a four-day weekend and a lack of parking on base — contributed to the base shifting the festival two days forward.
Passing Health Care Reform
Submitted by Chip on Thu, 2009-07-02 13:09.Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy


















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