Two passengers arrested after RAF jets escort diverted Pakistan plane

May 24, 2013 by legitgov

Two passengers arrested after RAF jets escort diverted Pakistan plane 24 May 2013 Two men have been arrested after a passenger jet from Pakistan was escorted into Stansted airport by RAF fighter planes following a security alert. The Pakistan International Airlines plane took off from Lahore with 297 passengers people on board and had been due to land at Manchester airport at 2pm local time. However, the Guardian understands that the pilot, concerned about at least one disruptive passenger who had started shouting 10 minutes before landing, asked to divert to Stansted as a precaution.

'Guantanamo guards shot my client 5 times for no reason'

May 24, 2013 by legitgov

'Guantanamo guards shot my client 5 times for no reason' 24 May 2013 Over 100 Guantanamo prisoners continue their hunger strike in protest against unlawful - and as it turns out, violent - detention. RT met with the lawyer of inmate Moath al Alawi, who has been shot by guards, denied medical treatment and force-fed. A reported 103 of Guantanamo's 166 prisoners are participating in the hunger strike, which has lasted for more than 100 days. RT spoke with Ramzi Kassem, who represents Moath al Alawi, a prisoner held at Guantanamo without charge for 11 years.

UK sends fighter jets to escort Pakistani passenger plane

May 24, 2013 by legitgov

UK sends fighter jets to escort Pakistani passenger plane 24 May 2013 Britain launched fighter jets on Friday to escort a Pakistan International Airlines passenger plane arriving from Lahore in Pakistan to an airport near London after it was diverted from Manchester, the Defense Ministry said. Britain is on high alert after a soldier was hacked to death on a London street on Wednesday in what police are treating as a terrorist incident, but a security source said early indications were that the diverted plane was not the target of a terrorist attack. Flight PK709, carrying 297 passengers, landed at Stansted Airport, northeast of London - one of London's less busy airports, preferred as a location for handling airplane security incidents.

Parents of fallen SEALs speak out, blame US government for deaths

May 24, 2013 by legitgov

Parents of fallen SEALs speak out, blame US government for deaths --The families said a meeting with top military leaders after the crash led them to believe the men were not on the right helicopter and they were ordered not to fire back at the Taliban that night. 09 May 2013 Families of three Virginia Beach based Navy SEAL Team Six members and a national guardsmen are blaming President Obama and top military leaders for the August 6, 2011, helicopter crash that claimed the lives of 30 U.S. servicemen in Afghanistan. "The U.S. government and many high-ranking military people own more credit for the shoot-down than the Taliban," said fallen Navy SEAL Aaron Vaughn's father Billy during a Thursday morning news conference in Washington, D.C. Military leaders said the servicemen were all on one Chinook helicopter when Taliban members launched the rocket-propelled grenade that killed them.

Father of Chechen shot by FBI says he thinks son was tortured

May 24, 2013 by legitgov

Father of Chechen shot by FBI says he thinks son was tortured 24 May 2013 The father of a Chechen immigrant killed during questioning over his [alleged] links with one of the Boston Marathon bombings suspects said on Thursday he plans to travel to the United States where he thinks his son was tortured and killed. Ibragim Todashev, 27, was killed by a federal agent in his apartment complex when he [allegedly] became violent during questioning over his ties to Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the older of two brothers suspected of planting two bombs at the marathon on April 15. "I suspect that they tortured my son and that he suffered a painful death," said Abdulbaki Todashev, wiping away tears at the home in the mostly Muslim region of Chechnya in Russia's North Caucasus.

I-5 bridge collapses in NW Wash.; people in water

May 24, 2013 by legitgov

I-5 bridge collapses in NW Wash.; people in water 23 May 2013 The Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River at Mount Vernon collapsed Thursday evening, dumping vehicles and people into the water, the Washington State Patrol said. The four-lane bridge collapsed about 7 p.m., Trooper Mark Francis said. Francis said he had no immediate estimate of how many people were in the water or whether there were any injuries or deaths. He did not know what caused the collapse.

US Says 4 Americans Killed by Drones in Counterterror Strikes

May 24, 2013 by legitgov

US Says 4 Americans Killed by Drones in Counterterror Strikes 22 May 2013 Attorney General Eric Holder has disclosed in a letter to Congress that four Americans were killed by U.S. drones in the course of the government's attacks on terrorists. "Since 2009, the United States, in the conduct of U.S. counterterrorism operations against al-Qaida and its associated forces outside of areas of active hostilities, has specifically targeted and killed one U.S. citizen, Anwar al-Aulaqi," Holder wrote. "The United States is further aware of three other U.S. citizens who have been killed in such U.S. counterterrorism operations over that same time period: Samir Khan, 'Abd al-Rahman Anwar al-Aulaki and Jude Mohammed. These individuals were not specifically targeted by the United States," Holder wrote.

Boy Scouts vote to lift ban on gay youth

May 24, 2013 by legitgov

Boy Scouts vote to lift ban on gay youth 23 May 2013 The Boy Scouts of America voted Thursday to end its controversial policy banning gay kids and teens from joining one of the nation's most popular youth organizations, ditching membership guidelines that had roiled the group in recent years. Over 61 percent of Scouting's National Council of 1,400 delegates from across the country voted to lift the ban, BSA officials said. The final tally was 757 yes votes, to 475 no. The ban on gay leaders was not voted on and will remain in place.

Cars, people in the Skagit River after I-5 Bridge collapse

May 24, 2013 by legitgov

Breaking: Cars, people in the Skagit River after I-5 Bridge collapse 23 May 2013 The Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River collapsed Thursday evening, injuring an unknown number of people. Both the northbound and southbound portions of the bridge dropped into the river sometime before 7 p.m., according to Washington State Patrol trooper Mark Francis. Francis said several cars were on the bridge when it collapsed, and many are now in the water.

Holder OK'd search warrant for Fox News reporter's private emails, official says

May 24, 2013 by legitgov

Holder OK'd search warrant for Fox News reporter's private emails, official says 23 May 2013 Attorney General Eric Holder signed off on a controversial search warrant that identified Fox News reporter James Rosen as a "possible co-conspirator" in violations of the Espionage Act and authorized seizure of his private emails, a law enforcement official told NBC News on Thursday. Rosen, who has not been charged in the case, was nonetheless the target of a search warrant that enabled Justice Department investigators to secretly seize his private emails after an FBI agent said he had "asked, solicited and encouraged ... (a source) to disclose sensitive United States internal documents and intelligence information."

Alabama mystery illness determined to be flu, cold or pneumonia

May 24, 2013 by legitgov

Alabama mystery illness determined to be flu, cold or pneumonia 23 May 2013 Seven Alabama residents sickened by a mysterious illness this month that resulted in two deaths actually had cases of the flu, a cold virus or pneumonia, state health officials announced Thursday. State and local authorities had been conducting laboratory tests from samples taken from the seven patients in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The lab samples revealed a combination of influenza A, rhinovirus (the virus associated with the common cold), and bacterial pneumonia.

Police ponder conspiracy after soldier murder

May 24, 2013 by legitgov

Police ponder conspiracy after soldier murder 24 May 2013 Police investigating the murder of a soldier hacked to death on a busy London street were looking on Friday into whether the two suspected killers, British men of Nigerian descent, were part of a wider conspiracy. The two suspects, aged 22 and 28, are under guard in hospitals after being shot and arrested by police following the murder of 25-year-old Afghan war veteran Lee Rigby on Wednesday in broad daylight. They have not yet been charged. Detectives were also questioning another man and a woman, arrested on Thursday on suspicion of conspiracy to murder, as they tried to determine whether those responsible had links to militants in Britain or overseas.

Bill Drafted in Secret Would Block Release of Some Newtown Massacre Records

May 23, 2013 by legitgov

Bill Drafted in Secret Would Block Release of Some Newtown Massacre Records --Options considered: Blocking release of 911 calls, photos, statements 'made by a minor' 21 May 2013 The staffs of the state's top prosecutor and the governor's office have been working in secret with General Assembly leaders on legislation to withhold records related to the police investigation into the Dec. 14 Newtown elementary school massacre -- including victims' photos, tapes of 911 calls, and possibly more. The behind-the-scenes legislative effort came to light Tuesday when The Courant obtained a copy of an email by a top assistant to Chief State's Attorney Kevin Kane, Timothy J. Sugrue. Sugrue, an assistant state's attorney, discussed options considered so far, including blocking release of statements "made by a minor." The bill that's being crafted has not been handled under routine legislative procedures -- it hasn't gone through the committee process, which includes a public hearing, for example.

U.K. Officials Add Homegrown Radicalism to Attack Mysteries

May 23, 2013 by legitgov

U.K. Officials Add Homegrown Radicalism to Attack Mysteries 23 May 2013 The young man dripping with blood after the murder of a U.K. soldier declared in a south London accent that he was acting in defense of "our lands." He didn't mean Britain. The intent of the words and deeds are among the puzzles law enforcement has set to solving. As investigators piece together the attackers' path to a vicious daylight assault outside a military barracks in London, security experts are again confronting the issue of home-grown terror.

CT House Approves Driver's Licenses For Undocumented Immigrants

May 23, 2013 by legitgov

CT House Approves Driver's Licenses For Undocumented Immigrants --As Many As 54,000 Could Qualify Under Legislation 23 May 2013 Following a debate that stretched on for more than seven and a half hours, the state House of Representatives approved a bill just after dawn on Thursday that offers undocumented immigrants the opportunity to obtain a Connecticut driver's license. The 74 to 55 vote broke along party lines, with all the Republican members of the House voting no and all but nine Democrats voting yes. Twenty one members did not vote.

Chief CT Attorney: 'Truthers changed Freedom of Information landscape, so release of Sandy Hook details must be blocked'

May 23, 2013 by legitgov

Chief CT Attorney: 'Truthers changed Freedom of Information landscape, so release of Sandy Hook details must be blocked' --CT bill would suppress Sandy Hook crime scene photos 22 May 2013 A bill was brokered Wednesday by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy [regarding the crime scene] photos from the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. But civil libertarians oppose the legislation and Connecticut's newspaper and radio executives warned Wednesday that suppression of information could set a bad precedent and create unintended consequences. The bill, a draft of which was released by the governor's office late Wednesday afternoon, is crafted specifically to cover the crime-scene photos and 911 audio recordings of the December 14 shootings at the Newtown school. But it would also allow Town Clerk Debbie Aurelia to continue to withhold the death certificates for the 20 first graders and six adults murdered there... Chief State's Attorney Kevin T. Kane said Wednesday that while mainstream news media traditionally avoid the use of graphic photos, bloggers and so-called truthers -- who claim the Newtown murders are a hoax by officials with an anti-gun agenda -- have changed the Freedom of Information landscape. Kane was seeking broader powers to prevent photos and recordings of graphic 911 calls from public release, but the draft narrows the scope to those murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary.

Secretly Drafted CT Bill: Sandy Hook Details Would Remain Blocked

May 23, 2013 by legitgov

Secretly Drafted CT Bill: Sandy Hook Details Would Remain Blocked --The only reason the public was made aware of this bill, drafted in secret, was because The Hartford Courant obtained an email regarding the drafting of a 'special act.' Secretly Drafted Bill Would Leave Release of Some Newtown Investigative Records Up to Families 22 May 2013 A secretly drafted bill to block release of photos, tapes of 911 calls and death certificates related to the Dec. 14 Newtown elementary school massacre could be acted on in the General Assembly as early as the end of the week, officials said Wednesday. Family members of victims would have discretion over release of some of the records. A draft of the bill was released Wednesday afternoon by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's office, which has been working behind the scenes in recent weeks on drafting the language with legislative leaders and the office of the state's top prosecutor, Chief State's Attorney Kevin Kane. Word of the planned legislation was kept from the public until Tuesday, when The Courant obtained a copy of an email written by a Kane assistant that said Malloy's legal staff told him a draft of a "special act" would be quickly "forthcoming." A Courant story about the secret plan to withhold information on the Newtown investigation has sparked intense interest and concern in Connecticut and nationwide -- based both on what the bill would do and the way it was put together outside the normal legislative process, without a public hearing. Lawmakers at first were talking about trying to vote on the bill Wednesday, but they abandoned that idea as criticism mounted. [See also: Sandy Hook Shooting 'Oddities'.]

Woolwich: 'Soldier Dead After Terror Attack'

May 23, 2013 by legitgov

Woolwich: 'Soldier Dead After Terror Attack' --A man is filmed trying to justify a deadly attack on a man thought to be a serving soldier. Warning: Contains distressing images. 22 May 2013 A man reported to be a serving soldier has been hacked to death in Woolwich, south east London, in what is being treated as a terrorist attack. Dozens of weapons - including a number of knives - and pools of blood could be seen on the ground in John Wilson Street, where a man said to be wearing a Help for Heroes T-shirt was attacked by two men. Witnesses say the pair appeared to deliberately drive their car at the victim, before getting out with various bladed weapons and launching their attack.

Woolwich: EDL Demo and Mosques Attacked

May 23, 2013 by legitgov

Woolwich: EDL Demo and Mosques Attacked --Riot police contained an English Defence League demo following the Woolwich killing, while elsewhere two mosques were attacked. 23 May 2013 English Defence League [fascist sociopaths] supporters took to the streets of Woolwich and threw missiles at police after the suspected terrorist killing earlier in the day. Elsewhere, two men were arrested following separate attacks on mosques. In Woolwich, a group of between 75 and 100 men gathered at The Queen's Arms pub on Burrage Grove, where they sang nationalistic songs.  Earlier, two men were arrested following separate attacks on mosques in the hours following the suspected terrorist incident in southeast London. A 43-year-old man is in custody on suspicion of attempted arson after reportedly walking into a mosque with a knife in Braintree, Essex.

Pentagon wants $450M for Guantanamo prison

May 23, 2013 by legitgov

Pentagon wants $450M for Guantanamo prison --Pentagon wants $450 million for maintaining, 'upgrading' Guantanamo prison [while Obusha, the GOP and their Wall Street overlords push to slash Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid? Start reading.] 22 May 2013 The Pentagon is asking Congress for more than $450 million for maintaining and upgrading the Guantanamo Bay prison that President Barack Obama wants to close. The budget request for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 calls for $79 million for detention operations, the same as the current year, and $20.5 million for the office of military commissions, an increase over the current amount of $12.6 million. The request also includes $40 million for a fiber optic cable and $99 million for operation and maintenance. The Pentagon also wants $200 million for military construction to upgrade temporary facilities.

BP to invest $2.85 billion in Iraq's largest oilfield

May 23, 2013 by legitgov

Mission accomplished! BP to invest $2.85 billion in Iraq's largest oilfield 22 May 2013 Oil major BP has allocated $2.85 billion to develop Iraq's Rumaila oilfield in 2013, up from $2.2 billion last year, the head of the joint management committee for the field told Reuters On Wednesday. Boosting output from Rumaila, Iraq's most prolific oilfield is vital for the country to realize its US ambition of raising oil exports to 6 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2017. Salah Mohammad said production from the field would rise to 1.450 million bpd by the end of 2013 from around 1.4 million bpd now. [See: KBR Tells U.S. Army It Will Cost $500 Million and Take 13 Years to Close Its Iraq Contract. Hopefully, Iraqis will become busy little bees, and do what Hungary did with Monsanto. Hungarian farmers burned Monsanto's crops, then kicked the terrorists out of the country. Burn, then boot. Got it? --LRP]

FBI agent kills man after questioning him about link to Boston bombing suspect

May 23, 2013 by legitgov

FBI agent kills man after questioning him about link to Boston bombing suspect 22 May 2013 An unidentified FBI agent shot and killed a man in Orlando, Fla., early Wednesday after questioning him about his link to one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects. Dave Couvertier, a special agent and spokesman for the FBI's Tampa field office, told Yahoo News the shooting is under investigation. He identified the man as Ibragim Todashev, a 27-year-old Chechen-born Orlando resident and apparent acquaintance of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, one of the brothers suspected of planning and carrying out the terror attack at last month's Boston Marathon.

Soldier beheaded by two alleged terrorists, citing Allah, in London machete attack

May 23, 2013 by legitgov

Soldier beheaded by two alleged terrorists, citing Allah, in London machete attack 22 May 2013 A major police operation was launched today after two alleged terrorists murdered a soldier in the street in broad daylight. Eyewitnesses said the victim was hacked to death, with some suggesting his attackers tried to behead him, before charging at police when they arrived on the scene in Woolwich, south east London. One of the men behind the attack in Woolwich, south east London, was filmed wielding a bloodied meat cleaver and saying, "We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you", in footage shown on ITV News tonight. Metropolitan Police Commander Simon Letchford confirmed that the victim's two attackers were shot by armed officers.

Riots grip Stockholm suburbs after police shooting

May 23, 2013 by legitgov

Riots grip Stockholm suburbs after police shooting 22 May 2013 Rioters have lit fires and stoned emergency services in the suburbs of Stockholm for the third night in a row after a man was shot dead by police. Incidents were reported in at least nine suburbs of the Swedish capital and police made eight arrests. On Sunday night, more than 100 cars were set alight, Swedish media report.

US Admits for First Time Drones Killed 4 Americans

May 22, 2013 by legitgov

US Admits for First Time Drones Killed 4 Americans 23 May 2013 One day before President Obama is due to deliver a major speech on national security, his administration on Wednesday formally acknowledged that the United States had killed four American citizens in drone strikes in Yemen and Pakistan. In a letter to Congressional leaders obtained by The New York Times, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. disclosed that the administration had deliberately killed Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical Muslim cleric who was killed in a drone strike in September 2011 in Yemen. The American responsibility for Mr. Awlaki's death has been widely reported, but the administration had until now refused to confirm or deny it. The letter also said that the United States had killed three other Americans: Samir Khan, who was killed in the same strike; Mr. Awlaki's son Abdulrahman al-Awlaki, who was also killed in Yemen; and Jude Mohammed, who was killed in a strike in Pakistan.

EarthLink removes block on CLG Newsletter's mail server

May 22, 2013 by legitgov

EarthLink removes block on CLG Newsletter's mail server by Lori Price, www.legitgov.org 22 May 2013 Earlier today, I requested that EarthLink.net remove the block that they had imposed on CLG's mail server, hosted at MayFirst.org. The block was preventing EarthLink and MindSpring CLG readers from receiving their newsletter. See more, at: EarthLink (and MindSpring) blocking CLG Newsletter since 15 May 2013. Earlier, I received the following response, shortly after I sent my request for unblocking.

From: "Blocked By Earthlink"
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 5:07 PM
To: clg_news @ legitgov.org
Subject: Re: Blocked 209.51.172.11
Hello clg_news @ legitgov.org,

We have removed the block on mail originating from 209.51.172.11, please allow 2-24 hours for normal email traffic to resume. Please understand that IPs previously removed from the EarthLink Correct Connect database may be re-added in the future should the server be discovered to again be open for relay.
Regards,
Earthlink Abuse Department

EarthLink (and MindSpring) blocking CLG Newsletter since 15 May 2013

May 22, 2013 by legitgov

And, today's obstacle (so I can't get to posting news) is: EarthLink (and MindSpring) blocking CLG Newsletter since 15 May 2013 by Lori Price, www.legitgov.org 22 May 2013 EarthLink and MindSpring (they merged in 2000) have been blocking delivery of the CLG Newsletter since 15 May 2013. A 'trouble ticket' has been submitted in the Tech Support forum of CLG's webhoster, MayFirst. EarthLink and MindSpring folks, here is a suggestion from CLG reader/EarthLink customer Jim: 'No block here. I've been getting mail. Your address is in my ELN [EarthLink Network] address book. Folks might want to do that. Also, never delete a message from a non spam source from the ELN known spam folder. Move it to the inbox, and delete it from there if desired. --JP'

Anthony Weiner declares he's running for NYC mayor

May 22, 2013 by legitgov

Anthony Weiner declares he's running for NYC mayor 22 May 2013 Former congressman Anthony Weiner (D) officially jumped into the race for New York City mayor, ending weeks of speculation by declaring his political comeback bid in a video posted late Tuesday on YouTube. "I am running for mayor because I have been fighting for the middle class and those struggling to make it my entire life, and I hope I get a second chance to work for you," Weiner said.

Appeals court won't release Osama Bin Laden photos

May 22, 2013 by legitgov

Appeals court won't release Osama Bin Laden photos 21 May 2013 A federal appeals court has ruled that the Central Intelligence Agency is under no legal obligation to release photos of Osama bin Laden taken after he was 'killed by U.S. commandos at a hideout in Pakistan in 2011.' The unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit said the photos were properly classified "TOP SECRET" and therefore exempt from the Freedom of Information Act. "The CIA's declarations [filed in the case] give reason to believe that releasing images of American military personnel burying the founder and leader of al Qaeda could cause exceptionally grave harm," the appeals court wrote in an opinion filed Tuesday. [See: News of Bin Laden's Death and Funeral - December 2001.]

Oklahoma tornado death toll in Moore at 24

May 22, 2013 by legitgov

Oklahoma tornado death toll in Moore at 24 21 May 2013 The search for survivors and the dead is nearly complete in the Oklahoma City suburb that was smashed by a mammoth tornado, the fire chief said Tuesday. Gary Bird said he's "98 percent sure" there are no more survivors or bodies to recover under the rubble in Moore, a community of 56,000 people. His comments came after emergency crews spent much of the day searching the town's broken remnants for survivors of the twister that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school. The storm killed at least 24 people, including at least nine children.