Israeli police order two Palestinian families to leave their homes in East JerusalemThe
Israeli police today ordered two Palestinian families to leave their
homes located in Shikh Jarah neighborhood near Jerusalem's old city.
http://www.imemc.org/article/59939
New checkpoint another obstacle for isolated residents in ‘Azzun 'AtmaApril
14th, 2009-- The siege on 75 isolated villagers of ‘Azzun 'Atma has
tightened in the past weeks, and permit restrictions continue to make
life difficult for children, business owners and workers. Occupation
forces appear to be expanding the checkpoint that the isolated
residents must pass through to reach their village, indicating that
movement restrictions will tighten further.
http://stopthewall.org/latestnews/1921.shtml
IOF orders Palestinian families to evacuate their houses in Jerusalem
Jerusalem, April 14, 2009, (Ramattan)- The Israeli Occupation Forces
(IOF) ordered two Palestinian families in the occupied East Jerusalem
to "evacuate" their houses in a bid to hand them to Jewish extremist
groups.
http://english.ramattan.net/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=40208This month in Jerusalem
In
the month of March, the people of Jerusalem continued to stand against
the Occupation municipality’s campaign to marginalize and expel the
Palestinian population. A number of homes were demolished last month,
while the efforts to force several families out of their homes in
Sheikh Jarrah intensified. These incidents, while alarming, are not
surprising. Their systematic nature reflects official Occupation
planning and development plans for the city, which aim to restrict the
growth of Palestinian communities while simultaneously strengthening
and expanding Jewish ones.
http://stopthewall.org/latestnews/1919.shtml
Israel works on kicking Palestinians out of Jerusalem
Gaza Strip, April 13th, 2009 (Pal Telegraph) - Israeli attacks on
Jerusalem and Palestinian civilians saw a horrific increase this month.
Many Palestinians were injured, dozens jailed and others lost their
houses.
http://www.paltelegraph.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=540:israel-works-on-kicking-
palestinians-out-of-jerusalem&catid=59:west-bank&Itemid=183
Palestinian ResistanceYouth break through the Wall in Jayyus
Last night youth from the village of Jayyus broke through the Wall in
the village. A small group then proceeded to the site where the new
path is being constructed, destroying and setting fire to building
materials. Occupation forces responded by raiding the village, where
they remained into the early hours of the morning.
http://stopthewall.org/latestnews/1920.shtml
Israeli Aggression and Attacks/SiegeGaza: Heavy shelling along northern coastGaza
– Ma’an – Israeli warships fired heavily at Palestinian fishing boats
in the As-Sudaniyah area of the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday
morning. Witnesses reported that the gunships launched intense
barrages of shells and missiles off the As-Sudaniya shore, causing
explosions that could be heard in nearby Gaza City.
http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=37104
The Israeli police hands over the body of a Palestinian youth they killed last week in JerusalemIsraeli
police released the body of a Palestinian youth to his family on
Tuesday, allowing no more than immediate family to take part in his
funeral.
http://www.imemc.org/article/59938
Israel blocks fuel shipments to GazaGaza
– Ma’an – Israel barred deliveries fuel from the besieged Gaza Strip on
Tuesday morning while opening two crossing points for deliveries of
food and humanitarian supplies. Chair of the Gaza Committee for the
Entry of Goods Raed Fattuh said Israel closed the Nahal Oz fuel
terminal on Tuesday, effectively shutting off fuel supply to the Strip.
http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=37112
DetentionsIOF arrests 20 citizens in the West Bank Ramallah,
April 14, 2009 (Ramattan)- At least twenty Palestinian citizens were
arrested on Tuesday by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) in the West
Bank, Palestinian security sources said.
http://english.ramattan.net/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=40206
IOF troops kidnap ex-detainee who spent 15 years in Israeli jailsIOF
troops kidnapped Monday ex-detainee Ra'ed Shaheen, 38, after raiding
and ransacking his home in Dora city, south of Al-Khalil, at the
pretext of being affiliated with Hamas.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/
Israeli forces raid four villages near Jenin, detaining oneJenin
– Ma’an – Israeli forces seized one Palestinian man from a village near
Jenin and raided houses in at least three other villages in the
northernmost regions of the West Bank Tuesday. Palestinian security
sources told Ma’an’s correspondent in Jenin that Israeli soldiers
detained Muhammad Rajeh Bazzur, 27, during a raid on his house near the
Israeli separation wall in the village of Al-Matalleh.
http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=37109
Israeli forces seize eight Palestinian youths in raid south of NablusNablus
– Ma’an – Israeli forces seized eight young Palestinians, including six
who are studying for their college entrance exams, during a raid on the
West Bank village of Madama, south of Nablus on Tuesday morning.
http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=37103
Israeli soldiers seize PA intelligence officer, two others in Nablus areaNablus
– Ma’an – Israeli troops seized a Palestinian Authority intelligence
offer from the village of Qusin and two other locals at the At-Tur
checkpoint south of Nablus on Tuesday morning. According to
Palestinian security sources, Israeli soldiers took 40-year-old
intelligence officer Samer Abed Rabbo Al-Baz from his home.
http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=37111
Israeli soldiers seize four Palestinians from Safa, days after settler clashesHebron
– Ma’an – Israeli forces seized four brothers from the West Bank
village of Safa, where settler attacks sparked clashes with Israeli
forces last week. According to Ma’an’s correspondent in the nearby
city of Hebron, 14 Israeli military vehicles invaded Safa. Soldiers
conduced house-to-house searches before seizing Ahmad Ibrahim At-Teet,
35, and his brothers; Muhammad, 32, Moussa, 24, and Ma’moun, 22, and
Hassan Ibrahim Qouqas, 32.
http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=37115Undercover forces kidnap two residents near Hebron
Undercover forces of the Israeli army kidnapped on Monday evening two
residents after ambushing their vehicle at the entrance of Ithna
village, north of the southern West Bank city of Hebron.
http://www.imemc.org/article/59929
Palestinian media worker detained for documenting settler visit to Al-AqsaJerusalem
– Ma'an – Israeli police detained a Palestinian media worker who was
documenting an intrusion by right-wing Israeli settlers into the
Al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem’s Old City on Monday. According to the
Al-Aqsa Foundation, the organization’s media coordinator, Mahmoud Abu
Atta, was arrested while covering the settlers’ incursion on Monday
morning.
http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=37101
Testimonies of the fishermen abducted on 6/4/2009These testimonies were given to ISM Gaza Strip volunteers on April 9th 2009
http://fishingunderfire.blogspot.com/2009/04/testimonies-of-fishermen-abducted-on.html
Israeli troops arrest Syrian in Golan - armyJERUSALEM,
April 14 (Reuters) - Israeli soldiers arrested an unarmed Syrian who
crossed into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Tuesday, a military
spokesman said. The suspect was being questioned and may be returned
later to Syria, the spokesman said. He had no further details. Israel
Radio said the man had infiltrated a border fence by tunneling beneath
it. His motive was unclear but did not appear to be linked to any
violent intentions, the radio said.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LE229274.htm
War CrimesU.S.
shipped 989 munitions containers to Israel week
before Gaza invasion
According to
Amnesty International in the UK, the shipment
included white phosphorous.
http://story.australianherald.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/c08dd24cec417021/id/488322/cs/1/
Israel unveils the new EIDP bombs, first used in GazaIn
a high-ranking ceremony in Jerusalem on Sunday, Israeli officials
revealed the existence of a new technology that was successfully
deployed during the recent Israeli invasions of Gaza. The weapon was
developed by Raphael, the famous high tech Israeli military company.
EIDP stands for "Emotionally Intelligent Delivery Platform."
http://jewssansfrontieres.blogspot.com/2009/04/israel-unveils-new-eidp-bombs-first.html
Humanitarian Issues
Gaza woman dead in fourth so-called 'honor killing' in last weekBethlehem
– Ma’an – A woman was killed on Monday morning in the Gaza Strip in the
fourth killing related to so-called “family” honor in the last week.
According to information collected by the Palestinian Center for Human
Rights (PCHR), 28-year-old Rihab Al-Hazin, from An-Nusseirat Refugee
Camp was killed by her 21-year-old brother, who told police he killed
his sister to ‘maintain family honor.’
http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=37098
So-Called 'Honor Killings' Must Stop!It
is not an easy life to be born a Palestinian. You are most likely a
refugee, probably a young one, and earthly wealth is a dream. If you
reside in the Palestinian Territories, you live under a brutal military
and civilian occupation and are subjected to an innumerable amount of
difficulties and retardations socially, psychologically and, of course,
economically. If it is not easy being a Palestinian; it is even harder
to be a Palestinian woman.
http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article907
OPT: Israeli soldiers and settlers continued their attacks on PRCS medical teams during its humanitarian mission
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/CJAL-7R3MPP?OpenDocument&RSS20=02-P
New survey highlights urgent need to address pregnant women's health in the Gaza Strip
JERUSALEM— A new survey examining living conditions in Gaza during the
recent Israeli military offensive reveals that the conflict has
prevented four in ten pregnant women who needed pre- or post-natal care
during the crisis from receiving such services. One third of these
women could not reach health facilities due to life-threatening
dangers. Others were unable to do so because these facilities were
either destroyed by shelling, packed with war casualties or had stopped
working.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/EGUA-7R3S36?OpenDocument&RSS20=02-P
Egyptian Collaboration with Israel against the Lebanese Resistance and PalestiniansMossad, Foreign Intelligence Behind Egypt’s Incitement against Hezbollah
At
a time Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were still suffering from a
shortage of humanitarian aids due to the Israeli siege along with the
closure of the Rafah crossing that connects Gaza to the outer world
through Egypt, Cairo is engaged in a late campaign against Hezbollah
and its Secretary General who had called on the Egyptian regime to open
the Rafah crossing for the stricken Palestinians.
http://almanar.com.lb/NewsSite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=81693&language=en
Mossad tip led to capture of Hezbollah cell in Sinai
The report also states that following the assassination of Hezbollah's
terrorist mastermind Imad Mughniyeh over a year ago in Damascus, the
special branch has been led jointly by three senior operatives: Nawaf
al-Mussawi, Wafic Safa and Sheikh Ali Dugmush. The three operate in
coordination with General Faisal Bagherzadeh, head of Iran's
Revolutionary Guard mission to Lebanon......The uncovering of the ring
will result in greater understanding in Egypt of Israel's
considerations, however no one should expect an immediate improvement
in Egyptian efforts to counter arms smuggling into the Gaza Strip.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1078381.html
ANALYSIS / Egypt's rage at Hezbollah isn't on Israel's behalfIt
is sometimes hard to believe the remarks coming out of Cairo over the
past 48 hours are actually directed at Hezbollah. The Egyptian press
has tagged its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, with denigrating epithets like
the "monkey sheikh," and remarks from security officials in Cairo to
the Israeli press sound reminiscent of how generals speak in times of
war.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1078378.html
Cairo labels Hizbullah chief 'war criminal'Sayyed
Hassan Nasrallah was slammed by Egyptian government officials and press
as a provocateur and "war criminal," days after the Hizbullah leader
admitted that Sami Shihab, a Lebanese national in Egyptian custody, was
a Hizbullah operative involved in arms smuggling to the Gaza Strip.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=100971
I was born Palestinian"Its
not very comfortable in there is it?" said the stony faced official,
cigarette smoke forming a haze around his gleaming oval head. "Its OK.
We're fine" i replied wearily, delirious after being awake for a
straight period of 30 hours. You could be in there for days you know.
For weeks. Indefinitely. "So, tell me, you are taking a plane tomorrow
morning to the US?"
http://a-mother-from-gaza.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-was-born-palestinian.html
Palestinian Political DevelopmentsPA: ‘Economic peace’ irrelevant to PalestiniansJerusalem
– Ma’an – Ahmad Qurei, the head of the Palestinian Authority’s
negotiating team, called on the international community on Tuesday to
intervene and restore the ‘political track’ of the peace process with
Israel. Qurei was responding to suggestions by Israel’s right-wing new
prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, that Israel will only negotiate on
economic and security arrangements, refusing to allow the creation of a
Palestinian state.
http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=37105Islamic Jihad calls for dialogue; says no support for Fatah-based transitional government
Bethlehem
- Ma’an/Agencies - Islamic Jihad called on rival factions to re-affirm
their commitments to national conciliation during a Monday meeting with
Fatah delegates in the Gaza Strip. Member of the Fatah Central
Committee Abdullah Al-Ifranji and his colleague, President of the Gaza
Development and Reconstruction Committee Marwan Abdel Hamid entered
Gaza last week on orders of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The
mission is said to be a complimentary one to the Cairo talks.
http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=37117
Hamas Comes Out of HidingJUST
a year and a half ago, visiting Khalid Mishal, the supreme leader of
Hamas, was a cloak-and-dagger affair. In September 2007, I climbed into
the back of a curtained Mercedes to make the dash from central Damascus
to the southern suburbs, where the Palestinian group operated from a
high-security enclave reserved for senior officials of the Syrian
government. On reaching Mr. Mishal’s security-camera-covered bunker, I
was ordered to remain in the car, alighting only after the house guards
had drawn heavy curtains to envelop the vehicle entirely — ensuring an
anonymous arrival at the headquarters of a movement that had good
reason to fear prying eyes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/opinion/13mcgeough.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Paul%20McGeough&st=cse
ISRAEL-PALESTINE:
One-State Supporters Make a ComebackThe U.S. government continues to give very
generous support to Israel - where successive
governments have built Jewish-only colonies in
the occupied West Bank and taken other actions
that make a viable Palestinian state increasingly
hard to achieve.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=46457
Mitchell visit to see if Netanyahu really against 2-states'It's
one thing to hear statements in the press, it's another to hear it in a
one-on-one meeting,' Washington source tells Ynet ahead of visit from
Obama's envoy.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3701344,00.html
Other News
Ahmadinejad to attend Durban 2 anti-racism conference
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will attend the United Nations
anti-racism conference in Geneva in late April, Iran's state-run media
reported Monday.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1078272.html
Sensitive Air Force documents found in garbageCivilian
comes across papers detailing squadron's operations during Gaza
offensive, including pilots' names and launch times; military personnel
in nearby base promise to clear papers from area, but man finds them in
same spot a few days later.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3701153,00.html
Propaganda/Media BiasAccording to Tony Blair, Binyamin Netanyahu will build a Palestinian nation 'from the bottom up'
Against all the evidence, Tony Blair claims that Binyamin Netanyahu
will build a Palestinian nation 'from the bottom up'. Tony Blair, who
now serves as the
Middle East Quartet's envoy, has told
Time magazine he has concluded that the return to power of the newly elected Israeli prime minister,
Binyamin Netanyahu – universally seen as a near-fatal setback to prospects for a two-state solution – may be a blessing.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/apr/14/tony-blair-binyamin-netanyahu
Deranged Ynetnews Headline
Ynetnews is an English language Israel news and content website
operated by Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel’s most-read newspaper. Like other
Israeli media it loves bashing Germany. But this is even more deranged
than the usual stuff. See the first headline on this screenshot taken
of Ynetnews half an hour ago.
http://www.moonofalabama.org/2009/04/deranged-israeli-media.html
Ethan Bronner on Oz
Here, Ethan Bronner summarizes the Israeli war on Gaza: "Israel’s
military campaign in Gaza a few months ago, undertaken to stop Hamas
rockets from being fired at Israeli towns not far from this one, only
added to that mutual mistrust. Mr. Oz favored the attack as an
appropriate response to the rockets but wanted it called off within a
few days rather than the three weeks it lasted. Meanwhile, he says, he
has been saddened by some of the behavior of Israeli soldiers in Gaza."
So the humanity of Amos Oz can be summarized as follows: Instead of
killing 400 Palestinian children, Oz believes that Israeli should kill
only a 100 Palestinian children. This is the humanity of Israeli
liberals. Then Oz said: "In 1967 Israelis fought in heavily populated
urban areas and there were Jordanian snipers hiding behind civilian
populations. Nonetheless no streets were bulldozed to the ground.”
Here, Oz--the liberal poseur par exacellence, just look at the
accompanying picture--is lying of course. The Israeli occupation army
razed to the ground the entire Moroccan quarter in East Jerusalem to
make room for the Jewish worshippers. PS Do you notice how the Western
media now talk about "Hamas Rockets" like they are some ICBMs?
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2009/04/ethan-bronner-on-oz.html
Unh-oh, Huffpo's gone PEP
Susie Kneedler says that Huffpo is going PEP -- Progressive Excet for
Palestine. She points to two rightwing pieces. Here's Mort Zuckerman
given space on the site
to tell the untold story about Gaza, and say that Israel has no partner
for peace, and Gaza is just like Jenin 2002, a media exaggeration.
Here's
Menachem Rosensaft arguing for Bibi Netanyahu's good faith for two states. I wonder where Arianna Huffington's getting her money...
http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/04/unhoh-huffpos-gone-pep.html
Solidarity
Ten organizations launch int'l campaign in solidarity with Gaza fishermen
Ten civil and humanitarian institutions said that they embarked on
preparing an international campaign of solidarity with the Palestinian
fishermen aimed at stopping Israeli violations in Gaza waters.
Ma’an-produced documentary on occupied Jerusalem to be screened at Al-Jazeera festivalDoha,
Qatar – Ma’an – A film produced by Ma’an Network about the plight of
Palestinians in Israeli-occupied Jerusalem will be shown at the
Al-Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival which opens on
Monday, in Doha, Qatar. Amani Al-Khayyat’s film “The Price of Waiting”
documents abuses including house demolitions, land confiscation, and
the cancellation of Palestinians’ ID cards and residence permits.
http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=37099
Man who says he is former AIPAC member puts up billboards decrying Gaza as monstrous inhumanity
I keep braying that Gaza is a watershed moment in American political
life and American Jewish life. The billboard is one of ten being put up
in New Mexico by an Albuquerque-based grassroots org (the Coalition to
Stop $30 Billion to Israel)
. Here is their press release.
The group looks to be multicultural, and led by two Jews, Lori Rudolph
and Rich Forer. Forer says that he is a former member of the American
Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) who has been shaken from
ideological slumbers in the last couple of years by the Israeli New
Historians. He has learned that Jewish schoolchildren are "grossly
misinformed" about the conflict and are taught to demonize
Palestinians. Gaza was a "monstrous act of inhumanity," he continues,
and Israel must act sincerely to restore the dignity to both peoples.
http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/04/man-who-says-he-is-former-aipac-member-puts-up-
billboards-decrying-gaza-as-monstrous-inhumanity.html
Syrian aid convoy heading to GazaHamdi
Shaath, head of the governmental committee in charge of welcoming
delegates in Gaza, reported on Monday that an aid convoy, presented by
the Syrian people in aid to Gaza, left Syria on Monday in an attempt to
make it into Gaza.
http://www.imemc.org/article/59927
Frontline Doctor Touring Chicago, New York, D.C., Baltimore
On Jan 3, 2009, Dr. Mads Gilbert sent a text message to the world:
They bombed the central fruit and vegetables market in Gaza town two
hours ago. 80 wounded and 20 killed. All of them came here, to Shifa.
Hades! We are up to our knees with death, blood and amputants. Lots of
children. Pregnant women. I have never experienced anything this
terrible. Tell people, pass it on, shout it from the rooftops.
Everything. WE MUST DO MORE! We are living in the history books now,
everyone!
http://www.kabobfest.com/2009/04/frontline-doctor-in-gaza-touring.html
Analysis/Op-edIsrael’s Racist in Chief, By Chris Hedges
Israel has changed. And the racist virus spread by Kahane, whose thugs
were charged with the murders and beatings of dozens of unarmed
Palestinians and whose members held rallies in Jerusalem where they
chanted "Death to Arabs!" has returned to Israel in the figure of
Israel's powerful new foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman. Lieberman
openly calls for an araberrein Israel-an Israel free of Arabs.
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20090413_israels_racist_in_chief/
Should Palestinian citizens vote in Israel's parliamentary elections?The
moment in which boycott of Israeli elections could become a serious and
viable option is fast approaching, if the necessary preparations are
made. Nonetheless, the boycott is not an end in itself and must not be
used in the context of a feeling of resignation towards politics and
the possibility of having an impact. Otherwise, it will be no more than
another means of depriving the people of hope. Nimer Sultany comments.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10461.shtml
Portrait of an artist as a young Palestinian
MENASSAT has been featuring the work of the Palestinian cartoonist
Nidal El-Khairy for a few months now. Bitter, humorous, dark, and
unflinching El-Khairy talked to MENASSAT about his work.
http://yementimes.com/article.shtml?i=1248&p=report&a=2
IraqIraq war stories, 2003-09
The Iraq conflict has dominated the international and national agenda
for six years. As British troops prepare for their final withdrawal, we
present a Guardian and Observer archive in words and pictures
documenting the human and political cost. Use the tabs below to focus
on key aspects of the invasion and its aftermath.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2009/apr/14/iraq-war-stories
Iraqi Islamists claim credit for deadly attack on U.S. soldiers (McClatchy Newspapers)McClatchy
Newspapers - BAGHDAD A radical Islamist group thought to be a front for
al Qaida in Iraq has claimed responsibility for a Friday suicide
bombing that killed five U.S. soldiers in the northern city of Mosul.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20090413/wl_mcclatchy/3211522
Iraqi Militia Fear Reprisals After US Exit, By PATRICK COCKBURNThe
Sunni Arabs lost their dominant position in Iraq when Saddam Hussein
was overthrown, but they began to regain their strength when the United
States recruited them as foot soldiers to fight against al-Qa’ida. But
now, as American troops prepare to go home, the Sunni who changed from
insurgents to US allies over the last two years are once more fearful
for their future.
http://www.counterpunch.com/patrick04132009.html
Iraq, once a country of fervent readers, now starves for books (McClatchy Newspapers)
McClatchy Newspapers - BAGHDAD. When Maysoon Kadhim began working on
her master's thesis at Baghdad University two years ago, she braced for
the challenge. After all, her paper's subject is Shakespeare, whose
prose can perplex even native English speakers.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20090413/wl_mcclatchy/3211403
Lydia Khalil: Change the Tone Towards IraqDuring
President Obama's whirlwind tour of Europe presented a new image of
America, the president did what he did best - empathize and listen, all
the while deliberately and patiently pursuing his interests. But the
tone taken with European leaders did not carry over to his surprise
stop over in Iraq. His chidings to Iraqi leaders "to take
responsibility for their country and for their sovereignty" was
uncharacteristically tone deaf and ignores the trajectory of Iraqi
politics for the past two years. Iraqis are already committed to
regaining their sovereignty... at times
at the expense of U.S. interests and goals in the region. Iraq's
commitment to sovereignty was amply demonstrated during the
negotiations of the Status of Armed Forces Agreement, an agreement that
is to govern the presence of U.S. troops during their remaining time in
Iraq.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lydia-khalil/change-the-tone-towards-i_b_186289.html
Cost
of Iraq war will surpass Vietnam's by year's endIf Congress approves the latest funding request,
as expected, the Iraq war will have cost about
$694 billion, making it the second most expensive
conflict in U.S. history behind World War II.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-iraq-vietnam11-2009apr11,0,738307.story
Troops
Stole Boxes of Iraq Reconsruction Cash... Literally ... But There's a Lot More to the
Story.
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/136387/troops_stole_boxes_of_iraq_reconsruction_cash_..._literally_..._
but_there%27s_a_lot_more_to_the_story/
U.S. and other world newsIndictment
of Bush Officials May Come in Days
The imminent indictment in Spanish courts of
former officials of the Bush Administration is
being applauded by civil and human rights
organizations and legal scholars. The popular
wave of support for indictment of Bush officials
will inevitably lead to Bush himself.
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/april122009/lil_rebel_db_4-12-09.php
The Red Cross Torture Report: What it MeansFor
many in the United States, torture still stands as a marker of
political commitment—of a willingness to “do anything to protect the
American people,” a manly readiness to know when to abstain from
“coddling terrorists” and do what needs to be done. Torture’s powerful
symbolic role, like many ugly, shameful facts, is left unacknowledged
and undiscussed. But that doesn’t make it any less real. On the
contrary.
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article22398.htm
Realpolitik for Iran, Roger CohenFor
Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency,
“a combination of ignorance and arrogance” under the Bush
administration squandered countless diplomatic opportunities with Iran
and so allowed it to forge ahead with its nuclear program. Referring
twice to Dick Cheney as “Darth Vader,” ElBaradei told me in an
interview that “U.S. policy consisted of two mantras — Iran should not
have the knowledge and should not spin one single centrifuge. They kept
saying, wait, Iran is not North Korea, it will buckle. That was
absolutely a mistake.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/opinion/13iht-edcohen.html?_r=1
Empire and agency: "A World of Trouble: America in the Middle East"
While nowhere in his invaluable diplomatic history of eight
presidencies, A World of Trouble: America in the Middle East, does
Patrick E. Tyler use the phrase "the Israel lobby," it nevertheless
looms largest among the reasons why all US efforts to feign balance
between the competing concerns of good relations with Arab-Muslim
states and unwavering allegiance to Israel have foundered. Muhammad
Idrees Ahmad reviews for The Electronic Intifada.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10460.shtml 