Hard News
26 "Taliban militants" killed in Afghan operations: The source further added Afghan police forces conducted at least 7 joint military operations in conjunction with the Afghan army, Afghan intelligence and coalition security forces during the past 24 hours. http://is.gd/gkkUMG
14 killed in Taliban attack on U.S.-Afghan base: Taliban suicide bombers attacked a joint U.S.-Afghan air base in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, detonating explosives at the gate and sparking a gun battle that lasted at least two hours with American helicopters firing down at militants before the attackers were defeated. http://is.gd/T1BkM7
Germany To Withdraw 1,000 Troops From Afghanistan:The decision has been taken by German cabinet; while the NATO-led force would complete its pullout by the end of 2014. http://is.gd/J0L57Y
US Attack Kills 4 people in Pakistan: Four militants, including a senior al-Qaeda cadre, were killed and three others injured when a US drone targeted a compound in the South Waziristan tribal region of Pakistan today. http://is.gd/FByitE
Syria: At least 10 people killed as blasts hit upscale Homs area: Sunday's blasts occurred in al-Malaab neighbourhood, an upscale government-controlled area in the centre of Homs. Security forces surrounded the area and state-sponsored television arrived to film the scene. http://is.gd/246XRX
Two killed, 15 injured in Damascus explosion : One child and a woman were killed, and at least 15 others were injured in a car bomb explosion in Esh Al-Woro in Barzah area in Damascus on Saturday. http://is.gd/2tYvql
Al-Qaeda affiliate playing larger role in Syria rebellion: Syrian opposition leaders report an alarming growth within their ranks of fighters from Jabhat al-Nusra, an extremist group linked to al-Qaeda. http://is.gd/B8Xqix
Grisly video allegedly shows rebels murder unarmed, terrified loyalists in Syria: Video - Gruesome footage has emerged apparently showing Syrian rebels executing loyalists while their victims pleaded for their lives. One of the gunmen is heard referencing an al-Qaeda-linked group behind several terrorist attacks in Syria. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvL9IuuFkac
FSA in Northern Syria Devoid Of Structure, Authority: Though Syrian National Council President George Sabra started his tenure by requesting arms on three occasions, and while the head of the opposition National Coalition Moaz al-Khatib continues to demand military support, it seems that, at least in some areas of northern Syria, calls like these are no longer given much consideration. http://is.gd/VIpLSz
U.S. Weighs Bolder Effort to Intervene in Syria's Conflict: The Obama administration, hoping that the conflict in Syria has reached a turning point, is considering deeper intervention to help push President Bashar al-Assad from power, according to government officials involved in the discussions. http://is.gd/UY368b
Report: Jordan's Intelligence Service Helping Rebels Smuggle Arms into Syria:A report by Lebanese al-Manar TV website quoted informed sources as saying that Jordan is replacing Turkey in the Syrian crisis and has declared its Northern border areas as a closed military zone. http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9107123264
Iraq's prime minister condemns arming Syrian rebels: "I call on them [foreign countries] not to support the opposition in Syria by qualitative weapons, some of which began to flow to Iraq," al-Maleki said in a news conference on Saturday. http://is.gd/Yv7smh
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: 'West's policy of iron and blood doesn't work': "In most cases it produces the opposite reaction" and leads to "the strengthening of extremists and repressive forces, decreasing the chances of real democratic change," Lavrov said at a foreign policy council meeting. http://rt.com/politics/lavrov-policy-iron-blood-052/
US Senate set to ban deals with Russian arms exporter over Syria: The US Senate has approved a measure to prohibit the Pentagon from purchasing from Russia's main arms exporter Rosoboronexport. The US's stance that the company is supplying Syria with weapons was the reason for its decision. http://rt.com/news/us-ban-russian-arms-039/
Internet and telephone services have been restored across much of Syria : Renesys, a US-based network monitoring firm that studies internet disruptions, said that service went back up around 4.30pm local time in Syria, describing it as a "largely complete restoration of the Syrian internet". http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/361885
Brahimi Warns against "Failed State" in Syria: UN Chief Ban Ki-moon said the ongoing crisis in Syria has now reached "new and appalling heights of brutality and violence". http://is.gd/7IStiD
Fact, fiction or propaganda? US 'approaching tipping point when military conflict with al-Qaeda should end': In a speech to the Oxford Union on Friday night, Jeh Johnson predicted that the terror network would become so "effectively destroyed" that it would no longer have any capacity to be able to launch another attack on America. http://is.gd/sSTwML
Israel breaks cease-fire: Palestinian killed by IOF in Gaza : A Palestinian medical official said that Mahmud Jarghun, 21, died early on Saturday morning at a hospital near the town of Rafah, of a gunshot wound to the pelvis. Palestinians said he was one of several men injured by Israeli fire in farmland close to the border fence with occupied territories, east of Rafah. http://is.gd/l7jiCl
Empty words: Britain and US "condemn" Israel's Jewish settlement plan: Foreign secretary William Hague expresses 'extreme concern', while US state department says actions are counterproductive http://is.gd/975Fqn
More $ for Israel: Obama administration pledges more funding for Israel's Iron Dome: "This spring, we announced that we would provide $70 million in fiscal 2012 on top of the $205 million previously appropriated Leon Panetta said. Panetta presented Ehud Barak, with the Defense Department's highest civilian honor -- one traditionally given to U.S. presidents when they leave office -- the Distinguished Public Servant Award. http://is.gd/5ydcf5
Why Is The US Building A Secret $100 Million Underground Facility Outside Tel Aviv?: Leave it to legendary Walter Pincus from the Washington Post to flesh out a Request for Proposal construction project planned for Israel called Site 911. http://is.gd/W51JDr
'Canada will not let the Jews or Israel stand alone': Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird, who delivered a supportive speech of Israel at the UN before its vote Thursday on the Palestinian statehood, said Friday "the bottom line is we will not let the Jewish people and the State of Israel stand alone when the going gets tough." http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=294114
ADL says Europe capitulated in Palestine UN vote: The Anti-Defamation League accused European countries of "capitulating to Arab intimidation" in voting to recognize Palestine as a non-member state at the United Nations. "They have acted without courage and capitulated to Arab intimidation and pressure," ADL National Director Abraham H. Foxman said in a statement. http://is.gd/6mM8YW
Fact, fiction or propaganda? White House opposed new Iran sanctions: The White House announced its opposition to a new round of Iran sanctions that the Senate unanimously approved Friday, in the latest instance of Congress pushing for more aggressive punitive measures on Iran than the administration deems prudent. http://is.gd/T93fbs
Morsi calls constitution referendum on Dec 15 as rifts widen: Morsi made the announcement following a ceremony where he received a copy of the charter from the head of the Islamist-dominated constituent assembly, boycotted by liberals and Christians, that adopted it the day before. http://is.gd/w4RVtz
Egypt's constitutional court puts off ruling on Assembly legitimacy surrounded by pro-Morsi protesters: "The Supreme Constitutional Court judges now have no choice but to declare the suspension of the hearing until they can continue their session and rulings without any psychological and material pressures," http://rt.com/news/egypt-constitutional-assembly-ruling-delayed-080/
Massive protests staged in Cairo: Tens of thousands rallied on Saturday in support of President Mohamed Mursi's new expanded powers and the drafting of a contested charter, highlighting Egypt's widening polarisation. http://is.gd/TUsCfB
Mursi supporters and opponents clash in Alexandria: Video - The two groups were filmed hurling rocks at each other as they faced off in Alexandria's streets. http://is.gd/n3pUMW
Orange march: Thousands join in Kuwaiti opposition demo as election looms: Tens of thousands of protesters have joined a Kuwaiti opposition march on the eve of the parliamentary election. The people are calling for a boycott of Saturday's vote, outraged at the recent electoral law change. http://rt.com/news/kuwaiti-protests-opposition-march-012/
Anti-drone protesters knocked off course by broad restraining order: Demonstrators who have gathered at New York air base for years say their constitutional right to protest has been compromised after colonel granted strict order of protection. http://is.gd/heXkXd
Camera drone to keep eye on crowds at Newport News festival: Anyone looking up in the area will be able to see a 15-foot-wide helium balloon about 400 feet high. They may not be able to see that it carries a camera capable of recording with a 360-degree view for a three-mile radius. http://is.gd/hAMw85
DIA sending hundreds more spies overseas: The Pentagon will send hundreds of additional spies overseas as part of an ambitious plan to assemble an espionage network that rivals the CIA in size, U.S. officials said. http://is.gd/r7VhCb
Congo rebels complete pullout from eastern capital less than 2 weeks after taking control: The retreat, however, may be tentative after a leader for the M23 rebels said they now wanted to negotiate with the government within 48 hours. http://is.gd/mexKfD
Dominique Strauss-Kahn denies £3.7m deal with maid who accused him of raping her: "Media reports that Dominique Strauss-Kahn has agreed to pay $6 million to settle the civil case are flatly false," the attorneys said. "The parties have discussed a resolution but there has been no settlement. Mr. Strauss-Kahn will continue to defend the charges if no resolution can be reached." http://is.gd/q1jFJ0
Fracking's Health Calamities Left to Fester: OP-Ed - Unless you've been living on a desert island for the last couple of years, you've probably heard of "fracking," or hydraulic fracturing, and you may well have seen dramatic footage of tap water being ignited. http://www.ontheissuesmagazine.com/2012fall/2012fall_Goodwin.php
Cost to the U.S. Treasury from Tax Cuts for the Wealthiest Five Percent: With the help of Citizens for Tax Justice, National Priorities Project is tracking every dollar the U.S. Treasury loses from tax breaks for the wealthiest 5 percent-American families and individuals who in 2011 made at least $176,000 and on average $477,453. http://is.gd/BdxXnK
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"Let us be peace and joy"
Tom Feeley
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