Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Information Clearing House Newsletter News You Won't Find On CNN June 17, 2011 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wanted 171 Readers To Help ICH Survive Out of the Million Or so People who visit this website every month, 163 people have provided assistance . (Thank you) I need another 171 readers to step forward and support Information Clearing House in this effort to ensure that an alternative source of news and information exists to inform and cut through the distortions and lies told by a manipulative Main Stream Media. Matching Donation Opportunity  A long time supporter of Information Clearing House has generously offered to match any donation of $100.00 or over, made by 12pm (Pacific Time) on Sunday July 19th by readers like you. Your donation will be doubled by our benefactor, which will enable us to continue to publish our daily newsletter and website. Please act now! Click the link below http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/support.htm  or if you prefer to send a check or money order, Information Clearing House, PO Box 365 Imperial Beach, CA 91933. USA. Low income readers: DON'T send money, just encourage others to subscribe. http://informationclearinghouse.info/subscribe.htm  ==== "Although we give lip service to the notion of freedom, we know that government is no longer the servant of the people but, at last, has become the people's master. We have stood by like timid sheep while the wolf killed -- first the weak, then the strays, then those on the outer edges of the flock, until at last the entire flock belonged to the wolf." -- Gerry Spence - Lawyer and author - Source: From Freedom To Slavery = Number Of Iraqis Slaughtered Since The U.S. Invaded Iraq "1,455,590" www.justforeignpolicy.org/iraq/iraqdeaths.html  = Number of U.S. Military Personnel Sacrificed (Officially acknowledged) In America's War On Iraq:  4,780 www.icasualties.org/oif/  Number Of  International Occupation Force Troops Slaughtered In Afghanistan : 2,529 = Cost of War in Iraq & Afghanistan Total Cost of Wars Since 2001 $1,208,158,803,298 http://www.costofwar.com/  = Obama, We're At War. Stop Insulting Us. By Stephen M. Walt In plain English, we are killing (or helping to kill) Qaddafi loyalists (and occasionally innocent civilians), in an openly-acknowledged campaign to drive him from power.  http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28353.htm  === Bahrain's Dictatorship and the Pentagon By Jacob G. Hornberger Sometimes it's good to look at foreign dictatorships to see what the president and the U.S. military have done to our country. Consider, for example, the trial of 20 doctors that is currently taking place in Bahrain.  http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28359.htm  === Eisenhower's Worst Fears Came True. We Invent Enemies To Buy the Bombs By Simon Jenkins There is no strategic defence justification for the US spending 5.5% of its gross domestic product on defence or Britain 2.5%, or for the Nato "target" of 2%.  http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28352.htm  === The Bush Administration's CIA Smear Campaign By Juan Cole It is shocking to discover that the Bush White House would stoop to suborning the CIA to try to discredit a critical blogger like me.  http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28357.htm  === Peres Warns Israel in Danger of Ceasing to Exist as Jewish State By Yossi Verter President Shimon Peres is concerned that Israel might become a binational state, in which case, he warned, it would cease to exist as a Jewish state.  http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28356.htm  === Return of the One-State Solution? A Realist's Utopia By Landon Frim What was once the utopian dream of Jewish intellectuals like Martin Buber, Gershom Scholem, and Albert Einstein, has now become the banner of hard-nosed realists. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28358.htm  === Stop The Greek Hostage Crisis! Will everyone please stop lying about crisis in Europe? By Brett Arends This isn't about "bailing out Greece." Yes, the Greeks owe about $500 billion, but they already have spent the money. This is about bailing out the banks that lent to them.  http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28361.htm  === Only the "Crazies" Get the Bank Giveaway Right Free money creation to bail out financial speculators, but not Social Security or Medicare By Michael Hudson In the case of bailing out Wall Street - and thereby the wealthiest 1% of Americans - while saying there is no money for Social Security, Medicare or long-term public social spending and infrastructure investment, the beneficiaries are obvious. So are the losers.  http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28354.htm  === IMF Warns U.S. On Debt By Andrew Stiles The International Monetary Fund has cut its economic growth forecast for the United States and warned that we are "playing with fire" by not taking immediate step to address our long-term debt.  http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28360.htm  === Struggling Single Mom Sells Obama Letter By Liz Goodwin A Michigan woman sold a letter from Obama in October for $7,000 to help pay for her cancer treatment.  http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28355.htm  === At least 16 killed as fresh protests rock Syria: The Local Co-ordination Committee, a group that documents the demonstrations, said nine people were killed in the central city of Homs, two in Harasta, a suburb of the capital Damascus, and one in the northern city of Aleppo, while a teen died in the southern village of Dael. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/2011617104839976447.html  === 11 "Militants" Killed in Clashes with Pakistani Forces: Friday's fighting in the Mamund area of the Bajaur tribal area also killed a local tribesman. http://bit.ly/lZLxcT  === Pakistani Tribesmen Protest Against Increase in U.S. Drone Attacks:  Hundreds of tribesmen in Pakistan's rugged and lawless North Waziristan blocked the main road in Miranshah on Thursday (June 16) to protest against the increase of U.S. drone attacks in the region. http://tv.ibtimes.com/pakistani-tribesmen-protest-against-increase-in-u-s-drone-attacks/918.html  === Pakistan: Tax on NATO containers: There had been a general perception that Pakistan might be collecting toll tax and transit duties for use of its road network and other facilities but the disclosure that they were enjoying free movement has surprised everyone. http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=97868  === 4 Afghan children killed by rocket attack: It was unclear who fired the rocket, though Mohammad said there had been Pakistani military airstrikes in the region. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/06/17/501364/main20071973.shtml  === Two UK Occupation Force Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan: Their deaths bring to 373 the total number of UK service personnel to have been killed in the Afghanistan occupation since 2001. http://bit.ly/iqTdZe  === Pentagon wants to extend Afghanstan troop surge until 2012: report: The timeline would mean the president could promise large troop reductions to a war-weary public just ahead of the November 2012 presidential elections in which he seeks a second term, but military officials told the Journal that the electoral schedule had nothing to do with their proposal. http://bit.ly/jufwq2  === Afghanistan facing insolvency within a month, say officials: IMF rejection of proposals over Kabul Bank crisis, $820m bailout debts and suspension of aid leaves country in deepening crisis http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/17/afghanistan-insolvency-within-month  === Seven Iranian soldiers killed in landmines blasts on Iraqi Kurdistan-Iran borders: "Four land mines have blown off consequently against an Iranian patrol inside the Iraqi borders, close to Qandil Mountain at the border village of Koya Kani-Rush in northeast Erbil, killing and wounding a number of its elements," the Commander of the 43rd Peshmerga Force, Major-General Halgurd Khidher, told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2011/6/state5187.htm  === Iran wins IMF praise: The IMF's latest report on the Iranian economy represents a surprising departure from expectation by lauding the Islamic regime's success in cutting inflation and praising the sweeping http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MF18Ak01.html  === Two dead in sectarian clash in north Lebanon: At least two people were killed in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on Friday when armed residents from rival sectarian factions clashed, a military source said, hours after a demonstration in support of Syrian protesters. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4083570,00.html  === Gunmen kill soldier in Iraq -- police: Unidentified gunmen killed a soldier of the Iraqi Army and wounded three others in an attack on a military checkpoint in the Baghdad suburban district of Al-Sader early on Friday. http://bit.ly/jerLBm  === Thousands Rally in Baghdad Against US Presence:  Thousands of followers of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr staged a mass rally in Baghdad on Thursday against US forces, as Iraqi leaders consider asking for an extended American troop presence. http://bit.ly/krgQOc  === Defected soldiers attack military base in north Yemen, one soldier killed: Defected military soldiers, who supported the anti-government protesters' demand of ousting Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, launched an attack on a government military base in the northern province of Hajja on Thursday, killing a soldier and injuring a passerby, state-run Saba news agency reported. http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/7412841.html  === Yemen govt says Saleh to return despite protests: Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh's government vowed on Friday the wounded leader would return to his country within days, as thousands of demonstrators in the capital demanded he step down for good. http://in.news.yahoo.com/yemen-govt-says-saleh-return-despite-protests-181307880.html  === President Saleh will not return to Yemen, Saudi official says:  "It has not been decided where he will stay," the Saudi official said, apparently suggesting that Saleh might seek exile in another country. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/president_saleh_will_not_return_uD7WXuug1TgcvvmmNdyJtK  === Report: Libyan Rebels Wounded by NATO:  At least 16 Libyan rebels were wounded Friday in an attack by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on their position 30 kilometers/19miles northwest of the eastern city of Ajbayah, according to Reuters. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/213002  === Rebels reject Gaddafi's son's elections offer, eye Tripoli push: Saif al-Islam told an Italian newspaper on Thursday the elections could be held within three months and his father would step aside if he lost, but that proposal was swiftly rejected by the rebel leadership and the United States. http://www.todayszaman.com/news-247740-rebels-reject-gaddafis-sons-elections-offer--eye-tripoli-push.html  === Nato the First to Blink As Defiant Gaddafi Steps Up War of Nerves:  "The mightiest military alliance in history is only 11 weeks into an operation against a poorly armed regime in a sparsely populated country," Robert Gates said, "yet many allies are beginning to run short of munitions, requiring the US, once more, to make up the difference." http://allafrica.com/stories/201106170977.html  === Lawmakers mock Obama claim on Libya hostilities: Republicans and Democrats on Thursday derided President Barack Obama's claim that U.S. air attacks against Libya do not constitute hostilities and demanded that the commander in chief seek congressional approval for the 3-month-old military operation. http://apne.ws/mrUdrE  === Kuwaiti Twitter user arrested for criticizing Bahrain, Saudi Arabia: Nasser Abul, a Shi'ite Muslim, tweeted information about anti-government protests in Bahrain; this is not the first time a blogger has been detained in Kuwait. http://bit.ly/lvbSib  === Report: US consul says Grapel is 'in big trouble': Alleged Israeli 'spy' Ilan Grapel meets with US embassy representative. Cairo's indictment expected soon http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4083508,00.html  === Lieberman: Israel will renounce past agreements if Palestinians seek unilateral statehood: In Jerusalem, EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton says "it is more urgent than ever" for Israel-Palestinian peace talks to take place. http://bit.ly/luPI6b  === Turkey to vote for Palestine recognition in UN, says president: "We hope that an independent Palestine [is] established based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital," Gül was quoted as saying by Japanese newspaper Nikkei. "We are among the strongest supporters of Palestine," he also said. http://www.todayszaman.com/news-247561-turkey-to-vote-for-palestine-recognition-in-un-says-president.html  === Freedom Flotilla II sets sail for Gaza:  The mission is named after the first Freedom Flotilla, which Israeli naval commandos attacked on May 31, 2010, in international waters, killing nine Turkish activists and injuring around 50 others. http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/06/16/freedom-flotilla-ii-sets-sail-for-gaza/  === Senator wants U.S. Navy to help block flotillas to Gaza: Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois sure is earning the hundreds of thousands of dollars the Israel lobby dumps into his coffers. http://bit.ly/mGaxdx  === U.S. arms makers look overseas as domestic demand shrinks: As the U.S. government eyes cuts in military purchases, defense contractors' sales overseas are likely to hit a record this year. The boom is drawing fire from arms-control advocates, who worry that weapons could end up in the wrong hands. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-weapon-exports-20110616,0,4979624.story  === Gang warfare kills 33 in Monterrey, Mexico: Security officials in the northern state of Nuevo Leon, where Monterrey is located, said most of those killed had links to the country's drug cartels. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13801617  === ACLU of Ohio report says War on Drugs is waste of time and money, urges reform: "After 40 years, 40 million arrests and over a trillion dollars spent, the war on drugs should finally be shelved as a failed experiment," ACLU of Ohio policy director Shakyra Diaz said at news conference. http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/06/aclu_tires_of_war_on_drugs_urg.html  === Jimmy Carter: Call off the global drug war: There are 743 people in prison for every 100,000 Americans, a higher portion than in any other country and seven times as great as in Europe. Some 7.2 million people are either in prison or on probation or parole - more than 3 percent of all American adults! http://www.startribune.com/opinion/124061414.html  === Greenspan: The 'almost certain' Greece default could cause US double-dip: In an interview with Bloomberg Mr Greenspan said the "chances of Greece not defaulting are very small". http://bit.ly/lkuSNw  === IMF urges US Congress to raise debt limit: The International Monetary Fund on Friday joined calls for the US Congress to raise the country's debt limit, warning that failure to act would risk a major global market upheaval. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110617/bs_afp/imfuseconomypublicdebtcongress  === A Mass 'Strategic Default' Movement Begins - Time to Rebel Against Economic Tyranny By Walking Away From Your Mortgage Payments http://bit.ly/luM6i6  === 6 more activist arrested in Orlando for Sharing food with the hungry.  2 young children are being served as close to 20 police officers swarm in and arrest the food servers. http://revolutionarypolitics.tv/video/viewVideo.php?video_id=15362  === "Let us be peace and joy" Tom Feeley