Syrian activist calls Arab League mission "mockery"
Beirut - Syrian opposition activists have described as a 'mockery' an Arab League mission inspecting whether Damascus is complying with a peace plan to end a crackdown on protesters, doubting the mission would be able to fairly assess the situation.
'Offsetting Iran oil, political bluff'
An Iranian lawmaker describes as "political bluff" the announcement of Persian Gulf littoral states to compensate for the loss of Iran's oil products if sanctions are imposed against the country.
For Iran, cost of closing strait may outweigh gain
With missile batteries, fleets of attack boats and stocks of naval mines, Iran can disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz but probably cannot completely shut down the world's most important oil route, military analysts say.
Neither the U.S. Nor Israel Have Any Defense Capabilities Whatsoever
. . . despite their large military establishments and their possession of hundreds of nuclear missiles and thousands of equally deadly bombs. The trillions spent on "national defense" have no deterrent effect at all. And everyone in Iran is insane.
Egypt police raid U.S.-backed pro-democracy groups
Egyptian prosecutors and police raided offices of 17 pro-democracy and human rights groups on Thursday - drawing criticism from the United States which hinted it could review its $1.3 billion in annual military aid.
Turkish airstrike aimed at militants kills 35 Kurdish villagers
Turkish warplanes launched airstrikes against suspected Kurdish militants in northern Iraq near the Turkish border overnight, the military said on Thursday, but local officials said the attack killed 35 smugglers who were mistaken for guerrillas.
US Seals $30 Billion Deal to Sell Arms to Saudi Arabia
The Obama administration said it has reached a $30 billion agreement to sell advanced fighter aircraft to Saudi Arabia, part of a broader push by Washington to counter Iranian power.
In the land of facades, mark the first signs of an Indian spring
When I was first sent to report India, I seldom raised my eyes to the gothic edifices and facades of the British Raj. All life was at dust and pavement level and, once the shock had eased, I learned to admire the sheer imagination and wit of people who survived the cities...
Afghanistan Blasts US for Striking Off Taliban Leader from Terror List
The office of Afghan President Hamid Karzai lambasted the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for removing the name of Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar from the list of most wanted terrorists, and called on Washington to present explanation for such an unexpected action.
Safety concerns: 'US to export all NATO cargo out of Pakistan'
Barely a month after Pakistan's retaliatory decision to block Nato supplies for the coalition forces stationed in Afghanistan, the United States has decided to export all its cargo, including military hardware and arms, out of Pakistan.
Libyan society falling apart without anti-Gaddafi glue
Libya is heading into the New Year with new leaders and hopes. But it turns out, as the immediate post-revolutionary excitement fades, the different factions of the former rebels are turning on each other in what may become a competition for power.
December 28, 2011
Venezuela's Chavez: did U.S. give Latin American leaders cancer?
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez speculated on Wednesday that the United States might have developed a way to give Latin American leaders cancer, after Argentina's Cristina Fernandez joined the list of presidents diagnosed with the disease.
U.S., Israel Discuss Triggers for Bombing Iran's Nuclear Infrastructure
The Obama administration is trying to assure Israel privately that it would strike Iran militarily if Tehran's nuclear program crosses certain "red lines"—while attempting to dissuade the Israelis from acting unilaterally. Eli Lake reports exclusively.
Obama administration secretly preparing options for aiding the Syrian opposition
As the violence in Syria spirals out of control, top officials in President Barack Obama's administration are quietly preparing options for how to assist the Syrian opposition, including gaming out the unlikely option of setting up a no-fly zone in Syria and preparing for another major diplomatic initiative.
Shifting Ground for Vital Resources
As competition for oil, water and other resources intensify, global power relationships are shifting, providing backdrops for a string of conflicts from Iraq to Libya. Brazilian-born journalist Pepe Escobar, one of the most perceptive analysts of these trends, was interviewed by German Lars Schall.
December 26, 2011
Iran says it warns off foreign helicopter near naval maneuvers
Iran's Navy ordered a helicopter from an unspecified foreign country to leave to leave the area of maneuvers it is conducting in the Persian Gulf, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported Monday.
'Hormuz naval drill, message to West'
A senior Iranian lawmaker says the ongoing Velayat 90 naval drill aim to send a warning to the West that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed if Iran is threatened.
Iran says ready to expand military links with Iraq
Iran stands ready to expand its military and security ties with Iraq, its armed forces chief of staff said Sunday, a week after the exit of US forces from the neighbouring Arab country.
Egypt Islamists take two-thirds of 2nd-round vote
Egypt's two leading Islamist parties won about two-thirds of votes for party lists in the second round of polling for a parliament that will help draft a new constitution after decades of autocratic rule, the election committee said Saturday.
December 23, 2011
Egyptians stage mass rally against army
Tens of thousands gather for rally in Tahrir Square, as competing demonstrators display support for ruling military.
Russian push to investigate Libyan civilian deaths 'cheap stunt' — US
As Russia submits a draft resolution on Syria to the UN Security Council, Washington's response to a call by Moscow for an investigation into civilian deaths in Libya raises some eyebrows over the question of human rights.
Hezbollah says U.S. behind Syria attacks
BEIRUT: Hezbollah accused the United States Friday of orchestrating the suicide bombings that ripped through the Syrian capital earlier in the day killing over 40 people and wounding scores more.
Lebanon warned Syria of al-Qaeda infiltration
Lebanon warned Damascus two days ago that al-Qaeda had infiltrated into Syria from its territory, Syria's Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Friday, after two explosions rocked Syria's capital killing at least 40 people.
Yemenis march to 'bring down regime'
March from Taiz to capital calls for trial of president and rejects power transfer deal that grants him immunity.
Saudis begin nationwide mosque sit-in
Saudi police have surrounded several mosques across the country, including in the capital Riyadh, as activists begin a nationwide mosque sit-in.
Pakistan rejects US probe into border deaths
Pakistani military on Thursday rejected the conclusions of a United States (US) investigation into a Nato airstrike that killed two dozen Pakistani soldiers last month along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
Iran's spies score 'stunning achievements'
Israeli officials say Iran, which has been hit several times by mysterious computer viruses, has launched an "ambitious plan" to boost its cyberwar capabilities and is investing $1 billion in cutting-edge technology.
US concedes responsiblity for Nato airstrike
The US has conceded for the first time it bears significant responsibility for a Nato airstrike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, but stopped short of the apology that would help repair relations with its ally.
Pakistan Needs to Declare Its Independence
Officially America's ally in the so-called War on Terror, Pakstan has actually been one of its biggest victims. Just recently, Pakistan was punished as the US Congress passed a bill imposing m ore conditions on aid, including specifically linking receipt of that aid to Islamabad's cooperation in the War on Terror, and to efforts to curb terrorists, including the Haqqani network.
Iran and Syria in Imperial Crosshairs
There's no difference between the National Transitional Council and the Syrian National Council. The first overthrew and lynched Moammar Gaddafi in Libya and second is following a similar agenda against Bashar al-Assad in Syria. The uprising in Syria is as 'indigenous' as it was in Libya – both within the same year.
Hamas moves to join Palestine Liberation Organization
Hamas has moved to join the Palestine Liberation Organization - a key step toward unifying the long-divided Palestinian leadership, the Associated Press reported on Thursday.
NATO Forced to Admit Air Strikes Killed Dozens of Libyan Civilians, Contradicting Initial Denials
NATO has admitted for the first time Libyan civilians were killed and injured during its seven-month bombing campaign that led to the ouster and death of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The acknowledgment came after a New York Times investigation revealed at least 40 civilians, and perhaps more than 70, were killed by NATO air strikes, including at least 29 women or children.
December 21, 2011
Judges: UK has 4 weeks to free US-held Pakistani
LONDON – British judges Wednesday gave the government four weeks to obtain the release of a Pakistani man held in U.S. custody in Afghanistan — a ruling that could make for prickly discussions between Britain and the U.S.
Russian navy in Syria: Thorn in US side
The US-based intelligence-gathering firm Stratfor says most of the claims by the Syrian opposition about the seriousness of the country's crisis are untrue. The company insists protesters are exaggerating, to win support from powers like the US.
NATO's Depraved Disregard for Libyan Civilian Casualties
NATO's outrageous claim that no civilians were killed in the 7-month air war against Libya has been challenged by Russia and, in a very modest way, the New York Times. "NATO's policy of refusing to investigate civilian deaths is evidence on its face of a depraved disregard for civilian lives and the intention to avoid prosecution for crimes against civilians." The Times recent concern over Libyan victims of NATO bombing lacks credibility, given its wildly biased reporting of the war. "Thousands of black Libyan citizens and African migrant workers are dead at least partially as a result of western media lies."
The worst case for war with Iran
There is a simple and time-honored formula for making the case for war, especially preventive war. First, you portray the supposed threat as dire and growing, and then try to convince people that if we don't act now, horrible things will happen down the road. (Remember Condi Rice's infamous warnings about Saddam's "mushroom cloud"?)
December 20, 2011
Gulf states issue warnings to Syria and Iran
Gulf Arab states on Tuesday urged Syria's government to immediately halt its "killing machine", and called on arch rival Iran to stop interfering in their internal affairs.
Egyptian women decry abuse by soldiers
Thousands of women, enraged by images of female protesters being dragged through the streets by soldiers during weekend protests, marched Tuesday in central Cairo to decry the Egyptian military's recent use of force against demonstrators.
Seeing Terror Risk, U.S. Asks Journals to Cut Flu Study Facts
For the first time ever, a government advisory board is asking scientific journals not to publish details of certain biomedical experiments, for fear that the information could be used by terrorists to create deadly viruses and touch off epidemics.
The Occupy Wall Street movement has experienced severe crackdowns nationwide. Many of the occupiers suspect the CIA has been aiding local law enforcement to try to thwart the movement. The Partnership for Civil Justice filed a Freedom of Information Act request to try to see if the CIA was involved in the OWS crackdowns, but the PCJF was denied the information. Is the CIA covering up evidence?
Israel lobbying for Iran oil embargo
A senior Israeli official has called on the US to impose sanctions on Iran's oil sector in a meeting with a number of American foreign and defense ministry officials.
Syria finally lets in Arab observers
Syria agreed on Monday to let Arab League observers into the country to monitor implementation of a deal it agreed last month to pull troops from protest-hit towns, free political prisoners and start talking to dissidents.
Army defectors kill six Syrian troops
Syrian army defectors killed six government troops in heavy fighting yesterday in the country's rebellious central region, activists said, in the latest sign that the nation's uprising may be shifting toward civil war. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said an officer was among those killed in the town of Qusair in Homs province, near the border with Lebanon.
China supports Russia's resolution on Syria
China's Foreign Ministry said Monday, December 19, it supports a new, beefed-up draft resolution on the violence in Syria presented by Russia to the UN Security Council last week.
'Young general' seen poised to take over North Korea dynasty
Young and inexperienced, Kim Jong-un is seen as poised to take over North Korea with the death of his father and extend the Kim dynasty's rule over the reclusive state for a third generation.
Pakistan ignores US threats on Iran
Pakistan has brushed aside US "threats of sanctions" if it does not abandon the gas pipeline project with Iran, expressing eagerness to finish the venture as soon as possible.
Islamists win 70 percent of the vote in second round of Egypt elections
The Muslim Brotherhood party secured 39 percent of the vote, while the Salafi Al Nour party won 31 percent of the vote in the second stage of Egypt's landmark post-Mubarak elections, according to unofficial results published on the website of Egypt's Al-Ahram newspaper on Sunday.
Secret US-Taliban talks reach turning point
After 10 months of secret dialogue with Afghanistan's Taliban insurgents, senior U.S. officials say the talks have reached a critical juncture and they will soon know whether a breakthrough is possible, leading to peace talks whose ultimate goal is to end the Afghan war.
NATO airstrike flaws killed Libyans
The NATO air campaign in Libya appears to have caused 40-70 civilian deaths despite its surgical precision, The New York Times reported.
In Strikes on Libya by NATO, an Unspoken Civilian Toll
NATO's seven-month air campaign in Libya, hailed by the alliance and many Libyans for blunting a lethal crackdown by Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi and helping to push him from power, came with an unrecognized toll: scores of civilian casualties the alliance has long refused to acknowledge or investigate.
No, the U.S. is not leaving Iraq
Thousands of armed U.S. private contractors will be based in the country, and the potential for violence is real.
In Strikes on Libya by NATO, an Unspoken Civilian Toll
NATO's seven-month air campaign in Libya, hailed by the alliance and many Libyans for blunting a lethal crackdown by Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi and helping to push him from power, came with an unrecognized toll: scores of civilian casualties the alliance has long refused to acknowledge or investigate.
New Photos Released of Iraq Atrocity, With Documents and Video
U.S. Army Ranger John Needham, who was awarded two purple hearts and three medals for heroism, wrote to military authorities in 2007 reporting war crimes that he witnessed being committed by his own command and fellow soldiers in Al Doura, Iraq. His charges were supported by atrocity photos which, in the public interest, are now released in this video. John paid a terrible price for his opposition to these acts. His story is tragic.
Report: Iran 'blinded' CIA spy satellite
European intelligence source claims Iran stuns West by 'aiming a laser burst quite accurately' at US satellite in never before reported incident. US official: If Russians provided Iran with sophisticated jamming equipment it means a lot else is at risk too.
After making your selection, copy and paste the embed code above. The code changes based on your selection.
Pakistan arrests those who helped get Osama bin Laden
WHEN Islamabad's ambassador to Washington, Husain Haqqani, lectured army officers last month at Pakistan's National Defence University, he asked the assembled colonels whom they regarded as the greatest enemy.
Why Do They Hate Us?
Even as President Obama and War Secretary Leon Panetta announce the "end" of the Iraq War, a US "covert war" against Iran, as the National Journal put it in a December 4 article, has already begun.
Russia proposes new UN resolution on Syria
RUSSIA has surprised fellow UN Security Council members by proposing a resolution on the Syria crisis. The resolution condemns the violence by President Bashar al-Assad's government and opposition groups, but proposes no sanctions.
'NATO wants a simmering civil war in Syria — as a prelude'
Washington is ready to discuss Russia's UN Security Council draft resolution on Syria, describing some provisions as however "unacceptable" and still not acknowledging that the anti-regime protesters are well-armed.
'Iran will hunt any intruding US drone'
A senior Iranian military official has lashed out at the United States over the recent US spy drone incident, stressing that Iran will hunt out any American recon aircraft that violates Iranian airspace.
In the Former Rebel Capital: Benghazi Protests Libya's New Regime
In mid-February, protests in Libya in front of the Benghazi courthouse swelled into a revolution and civil war that brought down Muammar Gaddafi. Now, blocks away, Libyans are again demonstrating in Benghazi.
December 15, 2011
Arab Spring yields different outcomes in Bahrain, Egypt and Libya
At the dawn of the first winter after the Arab Spring, Bahrain is an island of sadness. Every few minutes, U.S.-made Apache helicopters buzz Rula al-Saffar's suburban walled community, a collection of pleasant, sand-colored stucco houses that is home to teachers, engineers, nurses and other middle-class families. Black armored vehicles filled with commandos stand guard at checkpoints along quiet lanes.
UK told to release Pakistani in US custody
An appeals court has issued a landmark ruling ordering the British government to free a Pakistani detainee who has been held in US custody for nearly eight years without charge.
Crashed drone was looking at Iran nuclear sites
The Sentinel drone that crashed in Iran last week was on a surveillance mission of suspected nuclear sites in the country, U.S. military officials tell CNN.
Syrian rebels kill 27 soldiers in south
Army deserters killed 27 soldiers in southern Syria on Thursday, an activist group said, in some of the deadliest attacks on forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad since the start of an uprising nine months ago.
US interference in Syria could bring about another Iraq
The withdrawal of most United States forces from Iraq this week is anything but the end of American military involvement in the Middle East. The latest focus of Washington's attention is Syria, where the United Nations says 5,000 people have been killed since the uprising erupted in March.
Putin regrets that USSR did not fight
RUSSIAN Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says he regrets that the leaders of the USSR did not fight to the last to prevent its collapse two decades ago.
Obama at Fort Bragg: A hypocritical embrace of a criminal war
President Barack Obama used his speech to US troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina Wednesday to embrace the nine-year war in Iraq that he had ostensibly opposed and to declare the destruction of the country a "success."
December 14, 2011
President Obama Richly Deserves To Be Dumped
As evidence of a failed Obama presidency accumulates, criticism of his administration is mounting from liberal Democrats who have too much moral authority to be ignored.
NATO dreams of civil war in Syria
Every grain of sand in the Syrian desert now knows there won't be a "responsibility to protect"—enabled North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) "humanitarian" intervention to provoke regime change in Damascus. A protracted war like in Libya is not feasible - even though those faultless democratic practitioners, the House of Saud, have offered to pay for it, lavishly.
Defectors kill eight Syrian troops, 46 killed in two days
Gunmen believed to be army defectors opened fire on a military convoy in central Syria on Wednesday, killing eight soldiers in a retaliatory ambush after troops destroyed a civilian car, an activist group said.
Who, What, Why: How useful is a captured drone?
An American surveillance drone has been captured and filmed in Iran, where experts are apparently examining it. But how much valuable information are they likely to glean?
4 killed as rivals clash in Libya
Clashes erupted between former rebel fighters that toppled Gaddafi and a tribe seen as loyal to the fallen regime, killing four people, sources said on Monday.
U.S. pursuing legal protections for contractors still in Iraq
The United States is still pursuing an agreement with the government of Iraq that could provide defense contractors working for the U.S. State Department with some legal protections in 2012, U.S. embassy and military officials said last week.
December 13, 2011
US lawmakers freeze $700 million to Pakistan over IEDS
The leaders of a US House-Senate negotiating panel said on Monday they had agreed to freeze $700 million in US aid to Pakistan until it provides some assurances of assistance in the fight against improvised explosive devices in the region.
Pak says US decision to freeze $700m aid could hurt ties further
A decision by a US Congressional panel to freeze $700 million in aid to Pakistan until it gives assurances it is helping fight the spread of homemade bombs in the region could hurt already strained ties, a senior Pakistani senator warned on Tuesday.
Panetta in Kabul as US ties with Pakistan erode
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta arrived in Afghanistan Tuesday to meet with commanders, as the U.S. grapples with an eroding relationship with Pakistan that has complicated supply routes and helped fuel insurgents in the east.
Ahmadinejad slams IAEA report on Iran
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has once again lashed out at the latest report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the Islamic Republic's nuclear energy program, describing it as illegal and politically-motivated.
Engineering Consent For Attack On Iran? Iran Conducting Anti-U.S. Operations from Latin America
Iran is conducting anti-U.S. operations from Latin America, including military training camps in Venezuela, and expanding its reach across the border from the U.S. in Mexico, according to footage unveiled late Thursday by the largest Spanish-language network in the United States, Univision.
Panetta Says Drone Campaign Over Iran Will Continue
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, in an exclusive interview with Fox News, said that the stealth drone campaign along the Iran-Afghanistan border will "absolutely" continue despite the loss of a valuable and sophisticated drone to Iran.
UN's Navi Pillay Makes Up Syrian Casualties Numbers
The United Nations top human rights official Navi Pillay is obviously (see below) exaggerating numbers of people killed in skirmishes in Syria. At the same time she is calling for the U.N. Security Council to refer the situation to the International Criminal Court. Such blatant political manipulation of the dead should be below the UN's honor.
US troops surround Syria on the eve of invasion?
A former official from within the ranks of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is reporting that US and NATO forces have landed outside of Syria and are training militants to overthrow the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Syrian army defectors kill 7 government forces
Syrian army defectors killed seven government security forces in an attack on a convoy Tuesday, a strike in response to the killings of 11 civilians, an activist group told CNN.
Russia accuses West of 'immoral' stance on Syria
Russia's foreign minister has accused the West of an "immoral" stance on Syria, saying it should condemn the opposition as well as security forces.
As Syria death toll soars, so does US frustration with Russia
The death toll from the crackdown in Syria has topped 5,000, the top UN human rights official told the Security Council. With Russia blocking action, the US and others are voicing increasing frustration.
LIBYA: Rocky road ahead for Libya's Tawergha minority
A major challenge facing Libya as it emerges from a nine-month civil war will be reconciling and integrating thousands of Tawergha accused of killing and raping residents of Misrata on behalf of deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Empty village raises concerns about fate of black Libyans
This town was once home to thousands of mostly black non-Arab residents. Now, the only manmade sound is a generator that powers a small militia checkpoint, where rebels say the town is a "closed military area."
Benghazi protesters tell new Libya ruler to quit
Libyan protesters in Benghazi, cradle of the uprising that ousted Muammar Gaddafi, called yesterday for the man they helped bring to power in place of the slain dictator to quit over slow reforms.
Obama: I can't comment on Wall Street prosecutions
President Obama was interviewed by 60 Minutes' Steve Kroft last night. Kroft mentioned a new poll showing that 42% of Americans believe Obama's policies most favor Wall Street rather than average Americans (only 35% believe the opposite).
Rare Photographs Show Ground Zero of the Drone War
The epicenter of global terrorism, and the CIA's highly classified drone war against extremist groups, is a black hole on the map -- a region of Pakistan off limits to outsiders, and especially Westerners.
China to open its first military base abroad in Indian Ocean
In a move that may cause unease in India, China on Monday announced that it will set up its first military base abroad in the Indian Ocean island of Seychelles to "seek supplies and recuperate" facilities for its Navy.
Leaders are defiant, but many Iranians fear war
The Shiite Muslim clerics who rule the country laud the might of Iran's armed forces, and military commanders boast that the country could shoot "150,000 missiles to Israel" if one Israeli bomb struck Iranian territory.
Iran says it's recovering data from US drone
Iranian experts are in the final stages of recovering data from the U.S. surveillance drone captured by the country's armed forces, state TV reported Monday.
How Iran Assertions Turn Into 'Facts'
The New York Times today (12/8/11), reporting on the CIA drone that went down in Iran, refers in passing to the recent public debate in Israel about whether time is running out for a military strike to slow Iran's progress toward a nuclear weapon. Of course, the assumption here is that Iran is making "progress towards a nuclear weapon." That is what some political elites and many in the media say, but that doesn't make it true. And there is no evidence to support that assertion.
Gingrich would "instruct" CIA to "hunt down" freed Palestinian prisoners
After declaring that Palestinians are an "invented people," US presidential hopeful and former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich, has said that he would instruct the CIA to hunt down Palestinian prisoners released last October in an exchange negotiated by Israel and Hamas, presumably to kill them.
Libya on the verge of chaos and civil war — experts
Warnings from many experts are coming true: Libya is being pulled into a civil war. Now anti-Gaddafists are carving up power and Libya's capital of Tripoli is already seeing clashes as the rebels are fighting for the local airport.
Secret US-French drone base in Libya?
The website Algeria ISP reports (citing unnamed "Arab" sources) Dec. 11 that the US and France have jointly established a secret drone base in the Libyan desert, near the area of Katroune.
Syria's Bashar Assad Speaks to Western Press
Before watching this full 46 minute interview by ABC News with Syrian President Bashar Assad, and the disgraceful behavior of ABC's Barbra Walters it would useful to note several facts completely dispelling the false premises from which Walters is operating from.
Factional Splits Hinder Drive to Topple Syria Leader
Even as the government of President Bashar al-Assad intensifies its crackdown inside Syria, differences over tactics and strategy are generating serious divisions between political and armed opposition factions that are weakening the fight against him, senior activists say.
Drone Crash in Iran Reveals Secret U.S. Surveillance Effort
The stealth C.I.A. drone that crashed deep inside Iranian territory last week was part of a stepped-up surveillance program that has frequently sent the United States' most hard-to-detect drone into the country to map suspected nuclear sites, according to foreign officials and American experts who have been briefed on the effort.
U.S. Made Covert Plan to Retrieve Iran Drone
U.S. officials considered conducting a covert mission inside Iran to retrieve or destroy a stealth drone that crashed late last week, but ultimately concluded such a secret operation wasn't worth the risk of provoking a more explosive clash with Tehran, a U.S. official said.
Protest in Libya capital against former rebels
Hundreds of residents and policemen in Tripoli protested jointly on Wednesday against former rebels who toppled Moamer Kadhafi but are still camping out in the capital and parading their weapons.
Libya rejects US anti-Iran claim
Libya has denied allegations by the US officials that Iran had supplied the toppled regime of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi with weapons.
Mexico: Qaddafi Son Tried to Sneak Into Country's Posh Resort
Mexico said Wednesday that a son of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi and three relatives had plotted to sneak into Mexico under false names and move to a safe house at a posh Pacific coast resort.
Syria's Assad Denies Ordering Deadly Crackdown
Speaking to ABC's Barbara Walters in a rare interview that aired Wednesday, President Bashar Assad maintained he did not give any commands "to kill or be brutal."
Egypt's rulers: Parliament won't be representative
Egypt's military rulers said Wednesday the next parliament will not be representative enough to independently oversee the drafting of a constitution, and they will appoint a council to check the influence of religious extremists on the process.
December 06, 2011
Playing With Fire: Obama's Risky Oil Threat to China
When it comes to China policy, is the Obama administration leaping from the frying pan directly into the fire? In an attempt to turn the page on two disastrous wars in the Greater Middle East, it may have just launched a new Cold War in Asia -- once again, viewing oil as the key to global supremacy.
40 Al Shabaab killed in air strikes
Air strikes by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have destroyed two Al Shabaab camps in Afmadow inside Somalia, killing scores of militants and destroying their military equipment.
Has the War with Iran Already Begun?
The evidence of an extensive Western covert program against Tehran, and Iranian retaliation, is now too obvious to ignore
Drone that crashed in Iran may give away U.S. secrets
The Sentinel drone has cutting-edge stealth and surveillance technology that other nations could exploit. One of the aircraft crashed in Iran, and a U.S. official says it was on a CIA mission.
After drone was lost, CIA tried a head fake
Hours after Iranian news outlets reported that the country had recovered a sophisticated American surveillance plane, U.S. officials responded with an apparently deliberate media misdirect.
America's Shadow State in Pakistan
U.S.-Pakistani relations may be on the rocks, but the CIA's secret friends in the country fight on in units, prisons, and bases the United States has been building up since 9/11 to counter the pro-Taliban side of Pakistan's military and intelligence services. Eli Lake reports exclusively.
US, Israel covert war against Iran suspected: report
Many former US intelligence officials and Iran experts believe last month's explosion at a military base near Tehran was part of a covert effort by the US, Israel and other states to disable Iran's nuclear and missile programs, The Los Angeles Times reported late Sunday.
How Iran Acquired A Stealth Drone
It seems that Iran has acquired a U.S. stealth drone which was illegally flying within its airspace.
Iran is not Iraq
I felt quite uneasy when our man in Tehran, Dominick Chilcott, said the attack on the British Embassy was state-supported.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards prepare for war
Iran's Revolutionary Guards have been put on a war footing amid increasing signs that the West is taking direct action to cripple Iran's nuclear programme.
Argentina flirts with Iran as West watches nervously
Argentina is quietly reaching out to Iran, worrying key Western powers and Israel as they try to tighten Tehran's international isolation over its nuclear programme, U.N. diplomats told Reuters.
U.S. Asks South Korea to Cut Petrochemical Imports From Iran
A senior American diplomat urged South Korea on Monday to suspend imports of Iranian petrochemicals as Washington tried to rally international pressure on Iran to stop its nuclear program.
Syria Offers to Allow Observers, With Strings
Syria said Monday that it would agree to allow an Arab mission of military and civilian observers into the country as part of an Arab League proposal to end months of bloodshed there, but it attached a number of conditions, among them the cancellation of economic sanctions decreed by the league.
Russia downgrades relations with Qatar over attack on ambassador
Russia will downgrade its diplomatic relations with Qatar following an attack on the Russian ambassador by customs officers at Doha airport, the Foreign Ministry said on its website on Monday.
Qatar is Arming, Funding Armed Groups in Syria
Russia Today TV on Monday said that Qatar is providing weapons to the armed groups in Syria and providing financial funding for them, according to intelligence and media reports.
Egypt's Islamists 'win 65% of list votes'
Islamist parties have won 65 percent of votes for party list seats in the first round of parliamentary elections, according to official figures obtained by AFP on Sunday.
December 04, 2011
George Orwell on the Evil Iranian Menace
The U.S. has long had Iran virtually encircled as a result of the American occupation of Afghanistan on Iran's Eastern border, its invasion of Iraq on its Western border, its NATO ally Turkey hovering on Iran's Northwestern border, some degree of military relationship with Turkmenistan on Iran's Northeastern border, and multiple U.S. client states sitting right across the Persian Gulf (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain, where the massive U.S. Fifth Fleet is stationed).
Swiss reporters discredit Chilcott tale
Two Swiss reporters reveal the fabricated nature of remarks made by former British envoy to Iran Dominick Chilcott, who claimed that he and his staff suffered an ordeal when protesters entered the embassy.
Iran TV: US Spy Drone Shot Down By Military
Iran's military has shot down an unmanned US aircraft over the east of the country, state TV has reported. "Iran's military has downed an intruding RQ-170 American drone in eastern Iran," Iran's Arabic-language Al Alam state television network quoted an unnamed military source as saying.
Rejecting Apology, U.S. May Hasten End of Pakistan as Client
President Barack Obama has sided with U.S. military and Defense Department officials in rejecting a proposal by the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan for a U.S. apology for last weekend's attack on two Pakistani border posts, and approving an investigation into the attack that won't be completed until Dec. 23 at the earliest.
US starts vacating Shamsi airbase in Pakistan
The US on Sunday started pulling out its nationals from Shamsi airbase, reportedly used by CIA- operated drones, on the orders of Pakistan government after a deadly NATO cross-border airsrike killed 24 of its soldiers.
Obama Offers 'Condolences' in Deaths of Pakistanis
President Obama phoned the president of Pakistan on Sunday to offer "condolences" for the deaths of two dozen soldiers killed in NATO airstrikes along the Afghan border, the White House said.
Inside the shell of Gaddafi's gleaming city
In this showpiece city, with its wide boulevards and ornamental hedges, there were scores to be settled. Sirte was once Gaddafi's dream in the desert, the gleaming city he built next to the place of his humble birth. Today it lies in ruins, testament to the folly of the fallen leader and the vengeance of men at war.
Activists say 25 killed in Syria, most in battle between army defectors and regime forces
Violence sweeping across Syria killed 25 people on Saturday, most of them in a battle between troops and a growing force of army defectors who have joined the movement to oust the autocratic president, activists said. The Arab League, meanwhile, agreed on the details of economic and diplomatic sanctions against the regime.
WikiLeaks suspect wants Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton as witnesses
An Army intelligence analyst charged with leaking a huge trove of diplomatic cables and military reports to WikiLeaks is demanding that President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testify as witnesses at a preliminary hearing set to begin next week.
December 03, 2011
China not obliged to besiege Iran
The retaliatory revenge from the West ignited by Iranian protesters storming the British Embassy on Tuesday is likely to plunge Iran into a bottomless abyss of war.
France withdraws embassy staff from Iran
France is repatriating a number of diplomats and their families from Iran following an attack on the British embassy in Tehran.
Pakistan friendly fire deaths were due to "errors" by US officers
American officers gave the wrong coordinates to their Pakistani counterparts as they sought clearance for the air strike that killed 24 friendly troops last weekend, admit officials in both countries.
Countrywide protests continue against Nato attack
Thousands of people turned out on the streets of Pakistan Friday to denounce the unprovoked Nato attacks of last Saturday that resulted in the deaths of over two-dozen Pakistani soldiers.
Rival militias wage turf war near Libyan capital
One local official was killed and a militia base reduced to ruins in a clash between rival armed groups near the Libyan capital, the latest flare-up of tension between militias that is destabilising the new Libya.
Former Tripoli Brigade leader Mahdi al-Harati outed as US asset
An article in Ireland's Sunday World has drawn attention to relations between Mahdi al-Harati, former leader of the Tripoli Brigade of the National Transition Council which played a central role in the NATO assault on Libya, and an unnamed US intelligence agency.
Israel's Barak plays down "shadow war" against Iran
Defense Minister Ehud Barak played down speculation on Saturday that Israel and U.S.-led allies were waging clandestine war on Iran, saying sanctions and the threat of military strikes were still the way to curb its nuclear program.
'Syria solution: Federation without Assad'
The Western plan to dismantle Syria would mean a terrible civil war, so Bashar Assad should sacrifice his presidency to protect the country from splitting up, believes Professor Johan Galtung, rector of the Transcend Peace University in Switzerland.
New Latin American body raps Britain, United States
A new Latin American and Caribbean organization backed Argentina's claim to sovereignty over the British-ruled Falkland Islands and slammed U.S. sanctions on Cuba at Saturday's end of a two-day summit.
December 02, 2011
Pakistani soldiers cleared to retaliate without orders
Pakistan on Friday stuck to its guns vis-à-vis boycotting next week's Bonn Conference on Afghanistan even as the Government accused certain unnamed quarters of subverting Islamabad's efforts for reconciliation in Afghanistan and the Army hardened its stance by permitting the rank and file to respond to any attack without awaiting directions from the command.
Done deal: Russia supplies cruise missiles to Syria
Fulfilling a contract signed in 2007, Russia has supplied Bastion coastal missile systems with Yakhont cruise missiles to Syria under a contract signed in 2007, a diplomatic source in Moscow has told Russian media.
'West's policy on Syria could ignite WWIII'
The situation in Syria is just a warm-up before a real confrontation, which will draw Russia and China into action, believes Lawrence Freeman from the Executive Intelligence Review magazine.
American Enterprise Institute Admits The Problem With Iran Is Not That It Would Use Nukes
Suddenly the struggle to stop Iran is not about saving Israel from nuclear annihilation. After a decade of scare-mongering about the second coming of Nazi Germany, the Iran hawks are admitting that they have other reasons for wanting to take out Iran, and saving Israeli lives may not be one of them. Suddenly the neoconservatives have discovered the concept of truth-telling, although, no doubt, the shift will be ephemeral.
Dateline: Tahrir Square
Standing at Tahrir Square, ground zero of Egypt's revolution, is exciting and intimidating. The explosive anger, pent-up frustrations, and yearning for revenge of tens of thousands of demonstrators and onlookers breaks like waves across this vast, unsightly plaza.
Egypt's Islamist Blocs Claim 70% Vote Share in Delayed Count
Egypt's two main Islamist blocs said they may have won more than 70 percent of votes in parliamentary elections this week that are the first major test of public opinion since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak.
Paul Craig Roberts: Congress is Repealing the Constitution
There is a bill in the Senate that is attempting to keep torture alive as an interrogation technique. The National Defense Authorization Act is being debated in Congress and if passed, American citizens could be detained without a court hearing anywhere in the world.
All Eyes on Israel After Second Iranian Blast
CLOUDS of smoke billowed above the city of Isfahan - evidence that the latest strike against Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program had hit its target. The second blast in as many weeks at an atomic or missile facility has sparked Iranian denials and claims of accidents, but a new phase in efforts to destroy its nuclear ambitions is said to be under way.
Libyan hospital offers refuge for wounded Gaddafi loyalists
The elevators at Tripoli Medical Hospital don't stop on six anymore. Take the stairs to the sixth floor and you are immediately confronted by three men in desert camouflage, each carrying a Kalashnikov.
NATO Kills Two Pakistanis, Wounds Others in Helmand Attack
At least two Pakistanis were killed and others were reported wounded this morning when NATO attacked the vehicle they were traveling in. The attack came in the southernmost district of the Helmand Province, near the border crossing into Baluchistan.
Germany uncovers alleged Iranian sabotage plot
An alleged Iranian plot to attack US bases on German soil is being investigated in Germany, Prosecutor General Harald Range said in Karlsruhe on Thursday.
EU adopts new sanctions against Iran and Syria
Sanctions against Syria, over its crackdown against protesters, set to be wide-ranging; actions against Iran could include controversial oil embargo; U.S. says would support sanctions on Iran central bank.
Turkey is Ready to Invade Syria
Turkey and its western allies are transferring the Libyan fighters whom they trained and armed to depose Muammar Gaddafi to Syria. Around 600 Libyan 'volunteers' have entered Syria.
UK: Britain must learn lessons from Libya crisis
Britain should consider changing its policy on recognizing self-declared nations after it lagged behind others in legitimizing the rebel council in Libya, the country's national security adviser said Thursday in a report on the conflict.
Demons Unleashed in Libya: NATO's Islamists Continue Program of Ethnic and Ideological Cleansing
All of the good that Muammar Qaddafi did for his people, and the immeasurable contribution he made to the oppressed peoples of the world is catalogued everywhere for those who have eyes to see. NATO's war crimes are also catalogued — they went viral, so even in the absence of a court where NATO and their mercenaries can be tried, millions of people worldwide watched, at their computers and TV screens, the horrific war crimes that unfolded in Sirte and elsewhere in Libya. The verdicts are in. The question is what can be done about it?
