Number Of Iraqis Slaughtered Since The U.S. Invaded Iraq “1,297,997"
www.justforeignpolicy.org/iraq/iraqdeaths.html
Number of U.S. Military Personnel Sacrificed (Officially acknowledged) In America’sWar On Iraq 4,217
icasualties.org/oif/
The War And Occupation Of Iraq Costs
$582,895,237,404
See the cost in your community
nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182
India Awaits Green Light for Raids on Pakistan
By Usman Khalid
It seems that Pakistan has the reincarnation of the Sheikh Mujib as a leader. And it was Mujibs’s treachery that precipitated the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war and Pakistan’s defeat.
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21536.htm
U.S. Draws India Into The Afghan War
M.K. Bhadrakumar
The time has come to carefully assess the U.S. motivations in widening the gyre of the Afghan war.
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21532.htm
Herding Humans For Profit
By: Peter Chamberlin
The duplicitous leaders in those countries then carry-out America’s will, to set them upon a path to war, in effect, driving their own people into a “kill trap” where unwanted war is forced upon them. This pattern prevails all over the earth, wherever the US has imperial designs. We are all being herded into a global war trap, some call it world war III.
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21538.htm
Secret of the Lusitania
Arms find challenges Allied claims it was solely a passenger ship
By Sam Greenhill
Her sinking with the loss of almost 1,200 lives caused such outrage that it propelled the U.S. into the First World War. But now divers have revealed a dark secret about the cargo carried by the Lusitania on its final journey in May 1915.
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21530.htm
Top Ten Myths About Iraq, 2008
By Juan Cole
1. Iraqis are safer because of Bush’s War. In fact, conditions of insecurity have helped created both an internal and external refugee problem:
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21540.htm
Seasonal Forgiveness Has a Limit
Bush and his cronies must face a reckoning
By Jonathan Freedland
Heinous crimes are now synonymous with this US administration. If it isn’t held to account, what does that say about us?
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21537.htm
The Noose Tightens
Rumsfeld, Ashcroft and other top Bush officials could soon face legal jeopardy.
By Jonathan Tepperman
The United States, like many countries, has a bad habit of committing wartime excesses and an even worse record of accounting for them afterward. But a remarkable string of recent events suggests that may finally be changing.
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21539.htm
Alternative Christmas Message
Video and full text of a Christmas message from Iran’s president
By Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
If Christ were on earth today, undoubtedly He would fight against the tyrannical policies of prevailing global economic and political systems, as He did in His lifetime.
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21529.htm
Iran Abuses Doctor’s Rights
By Cesar Chelala
Cyrus the Great, the first Achaemenid Emperor and founder of Persia would be ashamed by the actions of the Iranian government regarding two Iranian doctors, experts on AIDS.
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21534.htm
Christmas on Planet Pope
By Giles Fraser
The Holy Father has got the spirit of the season all wrong with his message of fear and exclusion
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21533.htm
Still Combating Stereotypes in the 21st Century
By: Ghada Al Atrash Janbey
From my personal experience as an Arab woman raised in the West for more than twenty years, I find myself constantly defying the stereotypes that have categorized me and my fellow Arab women as suppressed, oppressed, or imprisoned behind a veil.
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21535.htm
Justice For Mr. Madoff?
All Right, But Just This Once.”
By Dave Parts
The victims go after other victims? The perpetrator sits in his town home, living as a king in exile, and the investors must fight each other over the scraps? It is beyond absurd.
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21531.htm
20,000 Pakistan troops move toward Indian border, officials say:
The army’s 14th Division – about 20,000 troops – was being redeployed to the towns of Kasur and Sialkot, close to the Indian border, two intelligence officials said.
www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/12/26/pakistan-border.html
Bomb Kills One As Pakistan Arrests 7 Indians:
Pakistan said yesterday it has arrested seven Indians in connection with a bomb blast in Lahore on Wednesday. The bomb-rigged truck exploded in a heavily guarded neighborhood of the city, killing a woman and injuring four people.
tinyurl.com/6uawzx
India Warns Citizens: Don’t Travel To Pakistan (VIDEO):
The warning states that Pakistan has arrested Indians it suspects of being terrorists.
tinyurl.com/7j8plg
Musharraf says India ‘cannot dare cast an evil eye’ on Pak:
Amid heightened tensions between the neighbours in the wake of the Mumbai attacks, former President Pervez Musharraf on Friday said India “cannot dare cast an evil eye” on Pakistan as long as the armed forces are there to defend the country.
tinyurl.com/7k4x8p
Pak may curb fuel sale to save for war:
Pakistan is left with only 6 days of oil reserves and the government is considering to halt fuel sale to the general public citing possible war with India, highly placed official sources said.
tinyurl.com/7arlxv
U.S. Coalition: 11 Taliban Killed in Afghan Operation:
The raid in Kandahar province on Thursday targeted a bomb-maker responsible for roadside bomb attacks that killed NATO soldiers, the coalition said in a statement.
www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,473046,00.html
Bomb kills Canadian occupation Force soldier in Afghanistan:
The military said Friday that the soldiers were traveling in an armored vehicle in the Zhari district of Kandahar province when the deadly blast occurred.
tinyurl.com/7olzxq
Troop-caused civilian deaths angering Afghans: watchdog:
“Anti-insurgent” air strikes, which caused a quarter of more than 1,800 civilians deaths in Afghanistan this year, were a focus of public anger against troops in 2008, a rights groups said Wednesday.
tinyurl.com/9z3pmj
“Pro-Taliban group” claims responsibility for Lahore blast:
A hitherto unknown pro-Taliban group called Ansar Wa Mohajir has claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s bomb explosion in Lahore, for which an alleged Indian ‘spy’ was earlier arrested and search launched for three others, media reports said.
story.irishsun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid
/2411cd3571b4f088/id/446642/cs/1/
Little Blue Pills Among the Ways CIA Wins Friends in Afghanistan:
The Afghan chieftain looked older than his 60-odd years, and his bearded face bore the creases of a man burdened with duties as tribal patriarch and husband to four younger women. His visitor, a CIA officer, saw an opportunity, and reached into his bag for a small gift. Four blue pills. Viagra.
tinyurl.com/82zxpb
Iraq prison revolt leaves 16 dead; three al Qaida escape:
Prisoners in a western Iraqi prison staged an armed revolt Friday morning that lasted for at least two hours and left 10 policemen and six prisoners dead.
www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/58510.html
Baghdad: At least 6 people killed:
A car bomb exploded and clashes erupted in the different parts of the Baghdad
tinyurl.com/9g9joj
At least five Iraqis were killed and scores were injured on Christmas day attacks in Iraq:
A U.S. occupation force soldier was killed by “indirect fire” — a phrase referring to mortar or rocket attacks — in Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, the U.S. military said
newsfeedresearcher.com/data/articles_
w52/baghdad-police-bomb.html#hdng4
In case you missed it:
Missing US arms probe goes global: –
The GAO report indicates that US military officials do not know what happened to 30% of the weapons the United States distributed to Iraqi forces from 2004 through early this year.
www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/IH17Ak01.html
Russia advises Obama to plan Iran talks:
A senior Russian diplomat says the Obama transition team should take measures to pave the way for direct Tehran-Washington dialogue.
www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=78941§ionid=351020104
Report: Peres urges Obama to delay talks with Iran:
President Shimon Peres reportedly told Japanese media on Thursday that it would be wise for U.S. president-elect Barack Obama to put off dialogue with Iran until after the Islamic Republic holds presidential elections slated for June 2009.
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1050373.html
Report: Iran preps humanitarian aid ship to Gaza Strip:
An Iranian freighter carrying tons of humanitarian equipment destined for the Gaza Strip will set sail from the Islamic Republic on Saturday, Iranian media reported on Friday.
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1050377.html
Gaza Hunger In Pictures:
I stopped by al shanty bakery mid of Gaza City. It is one of the biggest bakeries across Gaza which provides tens of thousands with bread. Hundreds of people crowded outside the bakery in a very long long row waiting for bag of bread. Children, women and men were awaiting the chance to have the bread which is totally running out in Gaza.
desertpeace.wordpress.com/2008/12/26/gaza-hunger-in-photos/
Palestinian rocket accidentally kills 2 young Gaza girls:
A projectile fired by Palestinians fell short of its target in Israel on Friday, striking a house in northern Gaza and killing two schoolgirls.
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1050364.html
Israel gives Hamas 48 hours: –
Israel on Friday gave Hamas and other Palestinian militant factions in the Gaza Strip 48 hours to reduce ongoing rocket and mortar attacks from the salient or risk an Israeli military operation into the strip.
tinyurl.com/9hs6t7
Gaza bracing for Israeli attack:
The spectre of a military attack is hanging over the Gaza Strip as militants fired another volley of rockets despite Israeli warnings that failure to stop the attacks would lead to bloodshed.
tinyurl.com/8zxdst
Hamas holds UN liable for Israel crimes:
Hamas has condemned remarks by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as contribution to Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories.
www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=79565§ionid=351020202
Hamas: Our leaders do not fear death:
Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip said Thursday that they were not worried about the possibility that Israel might assassinate the movement’s top leaders. The officials said that Hamas had prepared itself for such an eventuality to ensure there would be no leadership vacuum if Israel carried out its threats.
tinyurl.com/7zbn23
Russia deploys 2nd S-400 missile system:
Russia deploys missiles fitted with S-400 Triumf air defense system, which can hit target at a distance twice the range of the US Patriot.
www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=79572§ionid=351020602
Tens of Thousands of Guineans Attend Conte Funeral:
Thousands of Guineans turned out Friday to pay their respects to former President Lansana Conte, whose death this week sparked a military coup. Mutinous soldiers have consolidated power with the resignation of Guinea’s prime minister.
www.voanews.com/english/2008-12-26-voa13.cfm
Junior army officer declares himself new Guinea ‘president’:
A military junta tightened its grip on Guinea on Thursday after a junior army officer declared himself the new president and ordered members of the government to give themselves up within 24 hours
www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=153868
Coup in Guinea largely welcomed:
In one fell swoop, most of the top politicians of this impoverished West African country surrendered themselves to the cadre of junior officers who began seizing power Tuesday after the death of the country’s longstanding ruler
www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/25/africa/25guinea-FW-396288.php
US demands immediate return to civilian rule in Guinea:
“The United States of America condemns the military coup in Guinea and rejects the communique promising elections in December 2010,” said the statement in French. “We demand an immediate return to civilian rule.”
tinyurl.com/8u4ncj
Nobel-winning playwright Harold Pinter dies at 78:
Harold Pinter, praised as the most influential British playwright of his generation and a longtime voice of political protest, has died after a long battle with cancer.
news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081225/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_obit_pinter
In case you missed it:
Harold Pinter : “Blatant state terrorism”:
As every single person here knows, the justification for the invasion of Iraq was that Saddam Hussein possessed a highly dangerous body of weapons of mass destruction, some of which could be fired in 45 minutes, bringing about appalling devastation. We were assured that was true. It was not true.
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article11239.htm
Riots push Greece to the edge:
The guards at the Bank of Greece retreated behind supposedly impregnable bronze doors, and steeled themselves for yet another assault on the symbols of wealth, prosperity and unbridled capitalism.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7798056.stm
Protectionist dominoes are beginning to tumble across the world:
The riots have begun. Civil protest is breaking out in cities across Russia, China, and beyond.
tinyurl.com/7gqccn
Blagojevich Lawyer Seeks to Subpoena Obama Aides:
An attorney for Gov. Rod Blagojevich has asked the Illinois House committee considering whether to impeach the governor to subpoena more than a dozen witnesses, including President-elect Barack Obama’s incoming chief of staff and a senior adviser.
online.wsj.com/article/SB123023389395233961.html
Rezko attorney ‘owns’ Obama mansion:
An attorney for convicted fundraiser Tony Rezko is listed as the owner and taxpayer for Barack Obama’s Chicago mansion, according to records obtained by WND.
worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=84101
Oklahoma City war veteran accused of selling bombs to gang members:
Police spent the day searching the house of a decorated, two-tour Iraq war veteran on Tuesday to investigate a tip that the former soldier was said to have been making explosive devices to sell to gang members, according to a probable cause affidavit.
tinyurl.com/8swdjs
Homeland Security forecasts 5-year terror threats:
The terrorism threat to the United States over the next five years will be driven by instability in the Middle East and Africa, persistent challenges to border security and increasing Internet savvy, says a new intelligence assessment obtained by The Associated Press.
tinyurl.com/6szd8n
USA needs nuclear explosion to turn the world into dictatorship:
Is the United States going to put dictatorship into effect under the guise of the anti-terrorist struggle? What may trigger another major transformation in 2009? The answer is obvious: another 9/11 in the USA
english.pravda.ru/world/americas/106864-0/
Japan output data casts more gloom:
The figures released on Friday shows Japanese industrial production slumped more than eight per cent in November from the month before, the biggest fall on record.
english.aljazeera.net/business/2008/12/2008122611729888367.html
U.S. Economy: Home Prices Fall Near Depression Pace:
Sales of single-family houses in the U.S. dropped in November by the most in two decades and resale prices collapsed at a pace reminiscent of the Great Depression, dashing speculation the market was close to a bottom.
tinyurl.com/8alcyc
Visits to U.S. Retailers Fell 24% on Weekend Before Christmas:
Customer visits to U.S. retailers fell 24 percent last weekend compared with a year earlier, the biggest drop on record, as deepened discounts failed to attract consumers.
tinyurl.com/7bxeww
Cash-strapped states look to cut from Medicaid:
States from Rhode Island to California are being forced to curtail Medicaid, the government health insurance program for the poor, as they struggle to cope with the deteriorating economy.
www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/nation/6182177.html
Military recruiters having no trouble filling quotas:
In a crumbling economy, jobs disappear and opportunities fade. But one employer always has openings: the U.S. military.
tinyurl.com/9ansk6