CLG News

Six US troops killed in Afghanistan 10 Jul 2010 Six American soldiers have been killed in separate incidents in Afghanistan, as militants step up their attacks against the foreign forces stationed in the country. NATO said in a statement that three of the troops died in the country's east and two more were killed in the south.

1.8M acres of Alaska drilling leases go up for bid 09 Jul 2010 The Interior Department is offering oil and gas leases on 1.8 million acres of Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve... Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Friday that the Bureau of Land Management will offer 190 tracts, covering more than 2,800 square miles, with bids to be opened Aug. 11 in Anchorage. The sale is one of dozens, mostly in Western states, that Salazar announced in November. [Impeach Obusha *now.*]

2 US-led soldiers killed in Afghanistan 10 Jul 2010 A bomb explosion has killed at least two more US-led soldiers in southern Afghanistan against a backdrop of increased violence in the war-ravaged nation. The troops were killed in a roadside bomb explosion in the province of Qandahar on Friday, NATO forces in the country have announced without disclosing the nationality of the fallen soldiers and the exact location of the explosion.

New Palin biography aimed at 9- to 12-year-olds [her academic peers] 09 Jul 2010 You might call it Sarah Palin's introduction to the cubs [that she wants to kill]. A biography of the former Alaska [half] governor and self-described "mama grizzly" is set for release in September by Christian book publisher Zondervan. "Speaking Up: The Sarah Palin Story," is one in a series of biographies aimed at 9- to 12-year-old readers.

UN agency says apartheid wall is illegal 09 Jul 2010 A United Nations agency says Israel's apartheid wall is illegal because it makes it difficult for Palestinians living in the West Bank to get proper healthcare. A report published by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Friday has found that thousands of Palestinians have limited access to hospitals in East al-Quds (Jerusalem) because of the apartheid wall.

Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan 10 Jul 2010 An Australian soldier has been killed and another injured in southern Afghanistan, bringing the death toll for the nation's troops to 17. The 23-year-old soldier was on foot patrol in the Chora Valley in Uruzgan province when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off shortly after midnight on Friday.

Hundreds of Fishermen Missing Checks From BP --BP Gives No Indication of When Payments Resume 08 Jul 2010 Hundreds of fishermen from Lake Charles to Moss Point, Miss., were supposed to get checks from BP on Wednesday but didn't. Wednesday night, their lawyer wanted answers. Jeffrey Briet represents more than 500 fishermen, and he said the payment system he set up with BP required his clients to be paid every 30 days. Now that process has suddenly changed without warning, Briet said.

Riots in California after police officer who shot dead unarmed black man is cleared of murder --53 arrests as protesters furious at verdict storm the streets 09 Jul 2010 Violent protests erupted in the city of Oakland in California today after a Los Angeles jury convicted a white former transit officer of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man. Police in riot gear watched over a crowd of protesters as emotions ran high with 500 people marching in the street and 83 people arrested. Prosecutors had wanted Johannes Mehserle to be convicted of murdering Oscar Grant.

Christie looks to privatize motor vehicle inspections, other services 09 Jul 2010 New Jersey would close its centralized car inspection lanes and motorists would pay for their own emissions tests under a sweeping set of recommendations set to be released by the Christie (R) administration today. State parks, psychiatric hospitals [where Christie belongs] and even turnpike toll booths could also be run by private operators, according to the 57-page report on privatization obtained by The Star-Ledger.

NORAD scrambles jets to patrol Obama's no-fly zone in Las Vegas 09 Jul 2010 Two pilots who flew afoul of a temporary no-fly zone surrounding President Obama's two-day visit to Las Vegas were given an unforgettable lesson in double-checking their flight paths this morning. Their reminder came from a pair of F-16 fighters that were scrambled by the North American Aerospace Defense Command in Colorado Springs to intercept the Cessna single-engine air planes. In each case, the pilots were met by authorities and interviewed, NORAD said in a written statement.

US Denies Visa to Colombian Journalist Under Patriot Act 'Terrorist Activities' Section --US Denies Visa to Colombian Journalist to Attend Harvard Program 09 Jul 2010 The U.S. government has denied a visa to a prominent Colombian journalist who specializes in conflict and human rights reporting to attend a prestigious fellowship at Harvard University. Hollman Morris, who produces an independent TV news program called "Contravia," has been highly critical of ties between illegal far-right militias and allies of outgoing President Alvaro Uribe, Washington's closest ally in Latin America. The curator of the Nieman Foundation at Harvard, which has offered the mid-career fellowships since 1938, said Thursday that a consular official at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota told him Morris was ruled permanently ineligible for a visa under the "Terrorist activities" section of the USA Patriot Act.

US gives 'secret guarantee' to Israel 08 Jul 2010 The United States has secretly given a "written guarantee" to Israel that obliges Washington to sell Israel nuclear fission materials, Israeli sources say. The materials will be used to "produce electricity," Israeli Army radio, which is an official Israeli news source, reported. Washington has also vowed to "publicly announce" that Israel is a responsible entity and can "contain its capabilities."

Iraq: Suicide bomber kills 6 in Baghdad 10 Jul 2010 A suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden car into an Iraqi army check point in western Baghdad, killing six people and injuring 20 on Friday morning, officials said. Police and hospital officials said three Iraqi soldiers and three civilians were killed in the early morning attack that occurred when the bomber detonated a car bomb in the predominantly Sunni neighborhood of Ghazaliyah.

More US wedding party bombing war crimes on the way: Petraeus reviews directive meant to limit Afghan civilian deaths 09 Jul 2010 During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, General David Petraeus promised to "look very hard" at the rules of engagement. He has since asked Lt. Gen. David M. Rodriguez, the top operational commander in Afghanistan, to review the rules. The examination will include discussions with troops around the country, military officials said.

Oil-Damaged Pelicans Released in Pinellas County 07 Jul 2010 Just a few days ago, they were oil-covered and unable to fly. But Wednesday morning, 32 rehabilitated brown pelicans took wing over Fort DeSoto Beach in Pinellas County - the largest such release in the Tampa Bay area since the spill began. The birds were caught in the oil in Louisiana and neighboring states.

Oakland protesters clash with police after verdict in BART shooting 09 Jul 2010 Dozens in downtown Oakland clashed with police in riot gear late Thursday, throwing rocks and bottles at officers, starting small fires in the street and breaking into area businesses. The demonstrators were angry that a Los Angeles County jury found former Bay Area Rapid Transit Officer Johannes Mehserle guilty of involuntary manslaughter in a racially charged an unprovoked shooting instead of on a more severe second-degree murder charge.

U.S. Judge Finds Defense of Marriage Act Invalid 08 Jul 2010 A U.S. judge declared that the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines the institution as being between a man and a woman, is unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Joseph L. Tauro in Boston today decided that Congress exceeded its authority in legislating the issue and that the measure infringed states’ rights to regulate marriage.

'Spy swap' under way as 10 plead guilty in US court --Two Obama administration sources said tonight that the Russian government would release four alleged western agents. 08 Jul 2010 Ten people accused of spying for Russia have tonight pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge, setting up what could be one of the biggest, most unusual and least secret spy swaps known to superpower espionage. The defendants, members of a deep-cover spy ring broken up last week, all told the federal judge in New York they would plead guilty. They were charged with being long term "deep cover" spies, ...but they were not accused of collecting classified information.

Appeals court denies US government's bid to keep offshore drilling moratorium 08 Jul 2010 A federal appeals court on Thursday rejected the federal government's effort to restore an offshore deepwater drilling moratorium, opening the door to resumed drilling in the Gulf while the legal fight continues. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled soon after an afternoon hearing in a lawsuit filed by companies that oppose the drilling ban. The moratorium was struck down June 22 by U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman. The Interior Department argued the moratorium was necessary while it studied deepwater drilling risks in the wake of the BP oil spill gusher. 

Under cover of LeBron James and the BP-Halliburton oil volcano, a false flag goes full circle: Terrorist-turned-canary Najibullah Zazi may land in witness protection program 08 Jul 2010 The confessed subway suicide bomber [obvious al-CIAduh troll] could wind up in the federal witness protection program - living side by side with Americans he wanted dead. Najibullah Zazi's cooperation with the feds was key to a new indictment Wednesday that tied his plan to blow up subways in Times Square and Grand Central stations to a foiled plot in England. The Afghan immigrant's singing could earn him a coveted "S" visa, given only to aliens who provide critical information on terror organizations, officials revealed.

Three Al Qaeda suspects arrested in Norway and Germany for plotting terrorist attack --The official reason for the arrest was suspicion of "preparing terror activities," police told the Associated Press. 08 Jul 2010 A day after U.S. officials said a failed suicide bomb attack on the city's subways was part of a wider 'Al Qaeda' plot, three men suspected of being part of a similar plan hatched by the terror group were arrested Thursday. Both U.S. and Norwegian officials, who had been monitoring the unidentified men for the past year, said they were devising attacks in Norway using portable bombs.

Terror Arrests: Plot Most Serious Since 9/11 08 Jul 2010 Three suspected al Qaeda members have been arrested for planning "one of the most serious terrorist plots since 9/11". Two of the men were arrested in Norway after being watched for over a year by Norwegian and US officials. A third was held in Germany. It is believed the men were planning attacks similar to the one thwarted in the New York subway system last year. Prosecutors think there may be a link to a related plot in Manchester.

Suicide bombers convicted at end of Britain's biggest terrorism investigation 08 Jul 2010 Britain’s largest and longest running terrorist investigation has come to an end with the conviction of three British Muslims for planning to become suicide bombers in an al-Qaeda [al-CIAduh] plot to blow up trans-Atlantic airliners. The three men Ibrahim Savant, 29, Arafat Waheed Khan, 29, Waheed Zaman, 26... were seen meeting with the central figures of the plot and entering the bomb factory in Walthamstow, East London, to make their videos during a six week surveillance operation by police and MI5.

US given access to Europeans' bank data under deal approved by EU 08 Jul 2010 US anti-terror investigators will be able to access Europeans' bank information under a deal approved by the European Parliament on Thursday. MEPs in Strasbourg voted unanimously to endorse an agreement that gives the US access to bulk data from Swift, the Brussels-based cooperative that handles inter-bank financial payments. The parliament rejected a similar agreement in February, citing concerns that personal information could be misused by US authorities.

Terrorist suspects cannot be sent to life in jail in US, European Court rules 08 Jul 2010 Abu Hamza and three other terrorism suspects cannot be extradited to the US because they face life in jail without parole, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled. The court said the sentences would breach the prohibition on inhuman or degrading treatment under Article Three of the European Convention of Human Rights. The judges have asked for further submissions on their preliminary ruling but if they maintain their stance Hamza and the other suspects will have to be released from the maximum security jails where they have been held pending extradition.

Anti-terror stop and search powers to be scrapped --Police forced to abandon power to stop and search the public without reasonable suspicion after European court rules it illegal 08 Jul 2010 The police's use of controversial counterterrorism stop and search powers against individuals is to be scrapped immediately, the home secretary announced today. Under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, officers can stop and search anyone in a designated area without having to show reasonable suspicion. Interim operational guidelines to be issued to the police say that in future section 44 powers will be used only to search vehicles, and officers will have to have grounds for suspecting they are being used in connection with terrorism.

Attacks on Baghdad pilgrims kill dozens 07 Jul 2010 At least 33 people have been killed and nearly 100 others have been wounded in a series of attacks on Shia pilgrims in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. The attacks, which occurred despite heavy security, targeted Shia pilgrims heading to the shrine of Imam Moussa al-Kadhim -- the seventh of the twelve Shia Imams.

'US training Iran-bound MKO spies' 08 Jul 2010 The US military forces in Iraq are training 150 members of a terrorist organization at a military base in the war-ravaged country, informed sources say. The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Press TV that the select group of terrorists, all longtime members of the Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO), has been moved from their base in Camp Ashraf near Baghdad to a US base in central Iraq. The trainings are taking place at Camp Taji, a military installation used by the coalition forces.

New bombings kill more people in Iraq 08 Jul 2010 Less than a day after bomb attacks killed over 50 people in Iraqi capital Baghdad, two new bombings have killed seven more people in the city. The bomb explosions on Thursday also injured 60 others in the capital city, despite intensive efforts by Iraqi security forces to foil such attacks. The bombs were set off as millions of pilgrims converged on a holy shrine in northern Baghdad.

2 US-led soldiers killed in Afghanistan 08 Jul 2010 Two more U-S-led soldiers have been killed in separate incidents in Afghanistan amid a surge in militant attacks in the war-torn country. A US soldier died in a rocket attack in the eastern province of Kunar. Two more American troops were injured in the incident. The other death was caused by a bomb explosion in southern Afghanistan.