Number Of Iraqis Slaughtered Since The U.S. Invaded Iraq “1,213,716"
www.justforeignpolicy.org/iraq/iraqdeaths.html
 
===
 
Number of U.S. Military Personnel Sacrificed (Officially acknowledged) In America’sWar On Iraq 4,080
icasualties.org/oif/
 
The War And Occupation Of Iraq Costs
$522,087,625,752
 
See the cost in your community
nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182
 
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Iraqi Cleric Flirting With Shiite Militant Message
 
By HAMZA HENDAWI and QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA
 
Iraq’s most influential Shiite cleric has been quietly issuing religious edicts declaring that armed resistance against U.S.-led foreign troops is permissible – a potentially
 
significant shift by a key supporter of the Washington-backed government in Baghdad.
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19976.htm
 
=== 

War Abroad and Poverty at Home
 
By Paul Craig Roberts
 
The “world’s only superpower” is so broke it can’t even finance its own wars.
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19977.htm
 
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Spending On Iraq Poorly Tracked
 
By Dana Hedgpeth
 
The inspector general for the Defense Department said yesterday that the Pentagon cannot account for almost $15 billion worth of goods and services ranging from
 
trucks, bottled water and mattresses to rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns that were bought from contractors in the Iraq reconstruction effort.
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19978.htm
 
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South America Creates Regional Union, Parliament
 
By MARCO SIBAJA
 
Some see the new organization, Unasur, as a regional version of the European Union. Summit host Brazil wants it to help coordinate defense affairs across South
 
America and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez calls it a counterweight to the United States.
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19980.htm
 
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Christian Fundamentalism and Zionism
 
Time To Terminate This Unholy Alliance?
 
By Alan Hart
 
Historically speaking, Christian fundamentalists were classic Jew haters on the grounds, they said, that the Jews were the “Christ killers”. So what explains Christian
 
fundamentalism’s support for Israel right or wrong – support which today includes much of the money to fund Zionism’s on-going colonisation of the occupied West
 
Bank?
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19979.htm
 
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At least 9 killed in another bloody day of US occupation:
 
Six bodies were found in different districts of Baghdad
www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSANW35476020080523
 
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Suicide blast in Iraq kills six: police:
 
A suicide bomber killed at least six Iraqi civilians in an attack on a checkpoint in the Sunni Arab town of Fallujah, police say.
news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=568506
 
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Increased U.S. airstrikes in Iraq killing more civilians:
 
A surge in US airstrikes within densely populated areas of Iraq has led to a dramatic rise in civilian casualties.
tinyurl.com/6mg38y
 
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Report: Iraq to spend $3B on U.S. military gear :
 
Iraq is now among the top current purchasers of U.S. military equipment
tinyurl.com/4grd4o
 
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Petraeus calls Syria nuclear program troubling:
 
The four-star Army general says the U.S. must convince Syria that sparking a nuclear arms race in the region, harboring terrorists and trying to undermine stability in Lebanon are not in its own interest. Petraeus said at his Senate confirmation hearing Thursday he hopes the
 
peace talks between Syria and Israel mark a positive step.
tinyurl.com/3sz6r6
 
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Commander Dempsey: U.S. Must Confront Iranian Influence In The Middle East:
 
Comparing the Iranian influence being spread throughout the Middle East with the terrorist network of al-Qaida, Dempsey said, “We’re dealing with a network of activities that’s exactly analogous to what we face with al-Qaida. When you confront
 
a network, you have to be a network.”
tinyurl.com/6d32lb
 
===
 
China, Russia rule out military actions on Iran:
 
China and Russia on Friday called on all parties to refrain from military and extreme actions against Iran.
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/23/content_8239163.htm
 
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Iran says it has China’s backing on nuclear proposals:
 
The statement quoted the Chinese diplomat as saying: “The package of Iranian proposals has positive points that could be used to create a favorable atmosphere for future talks.”
en.rian.ru/world/20080523/108226239.html
 
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Iran mosque blast plotters admit Israeli, US links: report:
 
They also admitted carrying out “one or two minor operations,” the agency said, without providing further details except to say the group launched military operations a year ago.
tinyurl.com/5row5r
 
===
 
It’s to Iran the West should look for secure energy:
 
Iran’s deposits of natural gas are reckoned to be second only to Russia’s, and could be fed into western Europe through an extension of the existing Tabriz-Ankara pipeline.
www.dawn.com/2008/05/23/int15.htm
 
===
 
Pakistan May Turn Over U.S. ‘Spies’ to Iran:
 
In another sign of growing tensions with the United States, Pakistan is threatening to turn over to Iran six members of a tribal militant group Iran claims are “spies” for the CIA.
abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4913927&page=1
 
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Pakistani militant chief pledges to keep fighting foreign forces in Afghanistan:
 
A Pakistani militant leader said Friday his group will maintain a cease-fire with Pakistan’s new government, but would keep fighting foreign forces in neighboring Afghanistan.
www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/23/asia/AS-GEN-Pakistan-Militants.php
 
===
 
US blocks sale of armoured personnel carriers to Pakistan:
 
Annoyed over the peace talks Islamabad is conducting with Taliban rebels in the country’s restive northern areas bordering Afghanistan, the US has barred a German firm from selling 800 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) to the Pakistan Army.
story.irishsun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/2411cd3571b4f088/id/362457/cs/1/
 
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7 killed by suicide bomber in Afghanistan:
 
Seven people, including four Afghan soldiers and two children, died when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives in Afghanistan’s southeastern Khost province Friday morning
tinyurl.com/6b7dqp
 
===
 
Pre-mature blast kills 5 Taliban, militants attack police posts in S. Afghanistan:
 
Five Taliban were killed by an unexpected blast of their own mine on a road in Musa Qala district of southern Afghanistan Friday while a group of Taliban militants launched fierce attacks on several police posts in the region, an official said.
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/24/content_8240092.htm
 
===
 
Five Palestinian Resistance Members Killed By Israeli Occupation Forces:
 
Five Palestinian militants were killed in two separate attacks by Israeli occupation forces in southern and central Gaza on Friday, said Palestinian officials.
tinyurl.com/6dllo3
 
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Israeli fighter pilots threatened to blast Tony Blair’s jet out of sky:
 
Tony Blair came within moments of being killed when two Israeli fighter aircraft threatened to shoot down a private jet taking him to a Middle East conference in the belief that it might have been staging a terrorist attack.
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3987705.ece
 
===
 
US political author Norman Finkelstein denied entry to Israel:
 
Finkelstein, who is Jewish and the son of Holocaust survivors, has written critical books on Israeli policies in the Palestinian territories and on what he called ‘exploitation’ of the Jewish tragedy during World War II.
tinyurl.com/5sjasu
 
===
 
We Fought Apartheid; We See No Reason to Celebrate It in Israel Now!:
 
We, South Africans who faced the might of unjust and brutal apartheid machinery in South Africa and fought against it with all our strength, with the objective to live in a just, democratic society, refuse today to celebrate the existence of an Apartheid state in the Middle East
tinyurl.com/6bj8wc
 
===
 
Money in the Bank:
 
Many ordinary Palestinians joke that they would love to host an investment conference every month; but only because it means the Palestinian Authority will clean the streets. But there are other reasons for doubt.
www.newstatesman.com/middle-east/2008/05/palestinian-palestine
 
===
 
Poland says no missile shield without US military aid:
 
Polish media quoted a high-ranking US diplomat as saying Poland was seeking too much and should invest more of its own money in the armed forces.
tinyurl.com/6rnphm
 
===
 
Lula: United South America to shake global balance of power:
 
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Friday in Brasilia that a United South America can shift the global balance of power. “South America, united, will move the board game of power in the world, not for its own benefit, but for everyone’s,” Lula said.
tinyurl.com/69ycn5
 
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Chávez: US endangers South American union:
 
“The enemy number one of the South union is the US empire. It is something basic: divide and rule,” said Chávez.
english.eluniversal.com/2008/05/23/en_int_art_chavez:-us-endangers_23A1600919.shtml
 
===
 
Detainee treatment: new details:
 
About half of the FBI agents who have served at the Guantánamo Bay base reported to the IG that they had witnessed interrogation techniques they considered to be rough or aggressive.
www.csmonitor.com/2008/0523/p03s01-usmi.html
 
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Canada Guantanamo detainee wins :
 
Canada had “participated in a process that was contrary to [its] international human rights obligations”, it said.
tinyurl.com/62uzxx
 
===
 
McCain gets anti-Islam, pro-Israel endorsements:
 
Republican White House hopeful John McCain has rejected the endorsement of a second pastor, this time for reportedly calling Islam “the mouthpiece of a conspiracy of spiritual evil.”
www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=26071
 
===
 
Number Of Unsold Houses Rise To 23-Year High:
 
For single-family homes alone, the inventory rose to 10.7 months’ supply, the highest since 1985. For condos, the inventory of 14.2 months is the highest ever.
tinyurl.com/6bl35a