Hard News
10 finance ministry workers killed in Syria bus attack:
Ten Syrian government workers have been killed and several more injured in Damascus amid reports of fierce clashes between the army and foreign-backed militants
Dozens killed in battle near Damascus: watchdog: Actvists say:
At least 69 people, many of them rebels, have been killed in a four-day battle pitting Syrian insurgents against government forces in Jdaidet al-Fadl near Damascus, a monitoring group said on Saturday.
Rebels battle with tribesmen over oil in Syria's east:
Islamist rebels are clashing with tribesmen in eastern Syria as struggles over the region's oil facilities break out in the power vacuum left by civil war, activists said on Saturday.
Engineering Consent For Attack On Syria:
John Kerry warns of 'enclave breakup' in Syria:
US Secretary of State John Kerry announced to US Senators on Thursday that Syria's ongoing conflict is a timely matter which will lead to more "violence, more extremism, an enclave breakup of Syria," without outside intervention, AFP reported.
Jordanian source: Washington will deploy "Patriot" on the border with Syria:
Jordanian sources confirmed the presence of an American force, made up of 300 soldiers, in Jordan who have been training in advanced communications technology devices for several months with the help of their Jordanian counterpart.
More US Soldiers Deploying To Jordan From Fort Bliss:
More than 100 soldiers assigned to the 1st Armored Division headquarters at Fort Bliss, Texas are gearing up for their deployment to Jordan to aid that country's military - as conflict continues in neighboring Syria.
Syria shoots down balloon carrying US-made spying devices near Idlib:
According to Syria's official news agency, SANA, the balloon, which was equipped with US-made spying devices including cameras, was shot down over town of Maaret al-Numan on Thursday.
A "rebel "divorce with al-Qaeda will not be easy in Syria:
Western supporters of the Syrian opposition, led by the United States, have long been concerned about the rise of an al-Qaeda-affiliated group, the al-Nusra Front, in Syria while the Syrian National Council (SNC) and the Muslim side of the anti-regime camp, including Turkey, have tried to avoid criticism over cooperation with Islamists fighters.
US readies $130 million aid package for Syrian "rebels":
Secretary of State John Kerry meets with opposition leaders in Istanbul.
Russia is one of Syria's major donors - Russian Foreign Ministry:
Russia is one of Syria's 20 major donors with the volume of target contributions over $7mln in 2012, spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich said in Moscow.
Illinois man tried to join Syrian, Al Qaeda-linked group, FBI says:
A suburban Chicago teenager has been arrested on terrorism-related charges and accused of seeking to join an Al Qaeda-affiliated group in war-torn Syria, the FBI announced Saturday.
Israel 'set to hit Syria rebels over arms':
Tension is rising on the Israel-Syria cease-fire line on the Golan Heights and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu says he's ready to launch military operation to prevent the weakening Damascus regime's chemical and other advanced weapons falling into Islamist hands.
Israel seeking to buy $2.67 billion in fuel from U.S.:
The Israeli government is seeking to buy 864 million gallons of petroleum products from the United States, including jet and diesel fuel, at an estimated cost of $2.67 billion, the U.S. Department of Defense has announced.
Israeli bulldozers flatten Bedouin village 49 times:
Israeli forces have repeatedly demolished homes in Al-Araqib in a bid to get the community to move into townships.
US report: Israel discriminates Arabs, women and migrants:
State Department report on human rights practices criticizes Israel for its treatment of various sectors of Israeli society
Israel has struck it rich:
The government take from the gasfields alone is forecast to reach at least $140bn over the next three decades - a staggering sum for a relatively small economy such as Israel's.
Shekel Strengthens as Israel Lifts 2013 Economic Growth Outlook:
The shekel rose 0.2 percent to 3.7834 a dollar at 4:41 p.m. in Tel Aviv, the sixth-best performer among an expanded list of 31 major currencies tracked by Bloomberg.
American taxpayers give Israel over $8 million per day.
This is to a nation, at its peak, of 7.4 million people - smaller than West Virginia. Israel has received more American money than any other nation on earth.
Congress Should Not Reward Israel With Visa Waivers:
There are currently several pieces of legislation being considered in the U.S. Congress that would include Israel in the Visa Waiver Program -- thus allowing Israeli citizens to enter the U.S. without first obtaining a visa.
Iran dismisses concerns of nuclear-armed states:
"Iran, one of the first countries to sign the NPT, adheres to its commitments to the treaty," he said, noting that Tehran's nuclear activities were monitored by the IAEA.
Diplomats: Top aide to UN nuke chief resigns, suggesting tensions among the organization's top leadership:
The move by IAEA Assistant Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi comes at a critical time for the International Atomic Energy Agency. It is the outside world's only window on Iran's nuclear program
Iraq mosque blasts kill nine worshippers:
The attacks came a day after a suicide bombing on a Baghdad cafe killed 36 people and wounded dozens. Violence has been on the rise ahead of local elections set for today.
Five persons killed in clashes S. Yemen:
Five people were killed and others injured in fierce clashes between pro-government armed popular committees and armed tribesmen in southern Abyan governorate Saturday, an official said.
'Qaeda' gunmen assassinate Yemen intelligence officer:
Suspected Al-Qaeda militants shot dead a Yemeni intelligence officer overnight in Mukalla, capital of the southeastern Hadramawt province, a security official said on Saturday.
Bahrain protesters battle police a day before F1 race: -
Bahraini protesters clashed with police on Saturday, a day ahead of a Formula One race that the island kingdom's opposition hopes will draw attention to its campaign for democracy.
Female suicide bomber kills 4 in Pakistan:
"It was a female suicide bomber, about 18-20 years old. We have found her legs and head," local administration official Abdul Haseebhe said. The dead included a security personnel, a hospital worker and two civilians, he added
Pakistan judge remands ex-president Musharraf in custody: -
A Pakistani court remanded former president Pervez Musharraf in custody for two weeks on Saturday as judges pushed ahead with plans to put the former army chief on trial for a crackdown on the judiciary during his time in office.
After Airstrike, Afghan Points to C.I.A. and Secret Militias:
The spokesman for President Hamid Karzai said Thursday that the C.I.A. was responsible for calling in an airstrike on April 7 that left 17 Afghan civilians dead, 12 of them children, and that the secret Afghan militias that the agency controls behaved as if they were "responsible to no one."
Barbaric force feeding continues as:
Nearly half of Guantánamo prisoners now on hunger strike:
Army Lt. Col. Samuel House released the hunger strike figure -- 77 of the 166 captives considered hunger strikers, 17 being force-fed via tubes snaked up their nose and into their stomach -- in an an email Saturday morning from the remote base a day after reporters left the island.
Transcript of secret meeting between Julian Assange and Google CEO Eric Schmidt:
Also in attendance was Jared Cohen, a former Secretary of State advisor to Hillary Clinton, Scott Malcomson, Director of Speechwriting for Ambassador Susan Rice at the US State Department and current Communications Director of the International Crisis Group, and Lisa Shields, Vice President of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Raw Video - : Ambulance Carries Tsarnaev in Custody:
Crowds shouted obscenities at an ambulance driving 19-year-old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev through a Watertown neighborhood after a manhunt left the city virtually paralyzed and his older brother and accomplice dead.
It Costs $333 Million to Shut Down Boston for a Day:
While that may be necessary as a security precaution, it carries an economic cost. A pretty steep one, according to Jim Diffley, a vice president and chief economist at IHS Global Insight (IHS).
Friends of captured Boston bomber suspect arrested in dramatic raid:
The two men arrested last night in connection with the Boston Marathon bombings drive a car with the licence plate that reads: 'Terrorista #1'
Chechen insurgents deny any link to marathon bombing:
The militant group responsible for the Chechen insurgency cast doubt Friday on allegations that the two known suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing - who are of Chechen origin - carried out the attacks.
Rachel Maddow: No Miranda Rights For Boston Bombing Suspect :
Video -
Why does the Miranda issue matter?:
Beginning several hours before Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's capture, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) wrote on Twitter that the suspect ought to be placed in military custody.
Lest we forget:
Sen. Lindsey Graham on the NDAA, Indefinite Detention of American Citizens:
The bill allows the president to send the military literally anywhere in the world to detain civilians - even American citizens in the United States itself - without charge or trial.
FOX News banging the anti-Muslim drum:
Boston Marathon suspects Islamic terrorists, not Chechen separatists:
Terror expert Steve Emerson spoke with Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly Friday about suspects' possible motives in the Boston Marathon terror attacks. The following is a summary of the information he shared with her:
In case you missed it:
We Japanese Americans Must Not Forget Our Wartime Internment:
Seventy years ago, US soldiers bearing bayoneted rifles came marching up to the front door of our family's home in Los Angeles, ordering us out.
Bush aide leverages Boston explosion to boost Big Brother:
A conservative warhorse exploits the Boston bombings to argue for more government surveillance. He's wrong
Egypt police arrest 39 after Cairo clashes, judicial source says:
Egyptian police made 39 arrests after clashes between Islamists and opponents that saw both sides use firearms in central Cairo, leaving more than 100 people injured, officials said on Saturday.
Growing The Empire;
Spain Authorizes US Rapid Reaction Force For Africa:
Spain has authorized the "temporary" deployment of a force of 500 U.S. marines and eight U.S. aircraft to the southwestern Moron de la Frontera air base as part of rapid reaction force to deal with crisis situations in Africa.
Maduro sworn in as Venezuela president:
Latin American leaders attend ceremony as election council agrees to expand audit of results in disputed vote.
Obama taking action on gun background check system:
Stung by the defeat, Obama vowed to keep up the fight for the background check expansion but also to do what he could through executive action.
===
"Let us be peace and joy"
Tom Feeley
| 
