time to go back under the bed

[Guest guest]

US Plans for Attack on Iran Revealed

The BBC is reporting the US military has drawn up contingency plans for massive

air strikes against Iran. The plans call for attacks on Iran's nuclear sites,

air bases, naval bases, missile facilities and command-and-control centers. As

part of the plan, long-range B2 stealth bombers would drop so-called

" bunker-busting " bombs to penetrate Iran's underground uranium enrichment plant

at Natanz.

Second U.S. Aircraft Carries Arrives in Middle East

The BBC's report comes at a time of heightened tension between the United States

and Iran. Earlier today the US aircraft carrier USS Stennis arrived in Middle

Eastern waters. The US will soon have two aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf

for the first time since the start of the Iraq war. Defense Secretary Robert

Gates has admitted the Stennis was deployed to the Gulf to send a message to

Iran.

 

Iran Refuses To Suspend Uranium Enrichment

Iran has announced it will not agree to suspend uranium enrichment by tomorrow's

deadline set by the U.N. Security Council.

 

Nine U.S. Troops Die In Iraq; U.S. Military Base Attacked

In Iraq, the Pentagon has announced the deaths of nine more U.S. service

members. This brings the US death toll in Iraq to three thousand one hundred and

forty four. At least two soldiers died when assailants raided a US military

outpost in Tarmiya in what has been described as one of the biggest assaults in

months on a US military base. Suicide bombers began the attack by driving cars

laden with explosives into the base. Gunmen then opened fire.

 

Sunni Woman Says She Was Raped by Shiite-Led Police Force

In Baghdad, two members of the Shiite-led police force have been accused of

raping a Sunni woman during the massive security crackdown in the capital. The

woman appeared on Al Jazeera on Monday and said she was raped after being

detained over the weekend. Soon after the report aired, Iraqi Prime Minister

Nuri al-Maliki promised a full investigation. But four hours later he dismissed

the rape allegations and commended the police officers. He accused the woman of

spreading propaganda to undermine the security forces. Sunni leaders accused the

Shiite-led government of covering up the rape. One Sunni group said " This is

evidence of the failure of the security plan which was supposed to secure our

women before our men. "

 

Israeli & Palestinian Talks Accomplish Little

Analysts in the Middle East says Monday's peace talks in Jerusalem have

accomplished little. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice met with Israeli Prime

Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas. Rice briefly spoke

to reporters after the summit.

 

Condoleeza Rice: " The president and the prime minister discussed their views of

the diplomatic and political horizon and how it might unfold towards the vision

of the two-state vision of President Bush. The president and prime minister

agreed that they would meet together again soon. They reiterated their desire

for American participation and leadership in facilitating efforts to overcome

obstacles, rally regional and international support and move forward towards

peace. In that vain I expect to return to the region soon. "

Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert publicly rejected the new Palestinian

coalition government.

Ehud Olmert: " We will not recognise any government that does not carry out these

obligations, and we will not cooperate with it or any of its ministers. I

decided ... we have to maintain a channel of communications with the

Palestinian, and the sole possible channel is the president of the Palestinian

Authority who was elected directly by the public. "

Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum criticized the stance of Israel and the United

States.

Fawzi Barhoum: " Until now they are dealing negatively with this situation and

force all of their pressure against Abbas in order to break this unity and this

solidarity with all Palestinian parties and with all the Palestinian people

towards this political situation to form this unity government. Until now

America supports only Israeli occupation towards all these decisions and

sanctions and aggressions and commissions against our Palestinian people. "

Bush Given Power to Deploy US Troops Domestically & Declare Martial Law

In news from Capitol Hill, Congress is coming under criticism for approving a

little noticed provision last year that makes it easier for President Bush to

declare martial law and to send US troops into American cities. At the

administration's request, Congress approved the changes to a law known as the

Insurrection Act without ever holding a public hearing. Under the new law, the

president now has the authority to use both active-duty armed forces and the

National Guard on American soil -- not just during a rebellion -- but also a

natural disaster, terrorist attack, pandemic or other chaotic situation. All 50

of the nation's governors have opposed the rule changes. Earlier this month

Senators Patrick Leahy, the chair of the Judiciary Committee, and Republican

Christopher Bond introduced legislation to repeal the changes Congress approved

last year.

 

Cheney To Ask Japan & Australia to Send More Troops to Iraq

Vice President Dick Cheney has arrived in Japan on the first stop of a trip that

will also take him to Australia. U.S. officials have said Cheney is expected to

urge both countries to send more troops to Iraq and Afghanistan. Cheney is

scheduled to meet with Japan's emperor and prime minister. But one official

Cheney won't be meeting is Japan's defense minister Fumio Kyuma. He recently

said the U.S. invasion of Iraq was " a mistake. "

 

Cheney's visit to Japan comes a week after two small bombs exploded outside the

U.S. military base Camp Zuma south of Tokyo. No one was injured in the blasts. A

group called the Revolutionary Army claimed responsibility saying it was meant

to disrupt the vice president's visit and to protest the presence of U.S. troops

in Japan. The United States has about 50,000 troops based in Japan.

 

On Saturday, Cheney will meet with Australia " s Prime Minister John Howard who is

expected to urge Cheney to expedite the trial of Australian citizen David Hicks

who is being held at Guantanamo.

 

 

 

 

I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to

tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of war, corporations have been

enthroned, and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money

power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the

prejudices of the people until all the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and

the republic is destroyed. I feel, at this moment, more anxiety for the safety

of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war. God grant that my

suspicions may prove groundless. " Lincoln in a letter to Col. William F. Elkins

on November 21, 1864

[Guest guest]

Very sad - very depressing :-(

 

Jo

 

, fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote:

>

> US Plans for Attack on Iran Revealed

> The BBC is reporting the US military has drawn up contingency plans

for massive air strikes against Iran. The plans call for attacks on

Iran's nuclear sites, air bases, naval bases, missile facilities and

command-and-control centers. As part of the plan, long-range B2

stealth bombers would drop so-called " bunker-busting " bombs to

penetrate Iran's underground uranium enrichment plant at Natanz.

> Second U.S. Aircraft Carries Arrives in Middle East

> The BBC's report comes at a time of heightened tension between the

United States and Iran. Earlier today the US aircraft carrier USS

Stennis arrived in Middle Eastern waters. The US will soon have two

aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf for the first time since the

start of the Iraq war. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has admitted

the Stennis was deployed to the Gulf to send a message to Iran.

>

> Iran Refuses To Suspend Uranium Enrichment

> Iran has announced it will not agree to suspend uranium enrichment

by tomorrow's deadline set by the U.N. Security Council.

>

> Nine U.S. Troops Die In Iraq; U.S. Military Base Attacked

> In Iraq, the Pentagon has announced the deaths of nine more U.S.

service members. This brings the US death toll in Iraq to three

thousand one hundred and forty four. At least two soldiers died when

assailants raided a US military outpost in Tarmiya in what has been

described as one of the biggest assaults in months on a US military

base. Suicide bombers began the attack by driving cars laden with

explosives into the base. Gunmen then opened fire.

>

> Sunni Woman Says She Was Raped by Shiite-Led Police Force

> In Baghdad, two members of the Shiite-led police force have been

accused of raping a Sunni woman during the massive security crackdown

in the capital. The woman appeared on Al Jazeera on Monday and said

she was raped after being detained over the weekend. Soon after the

report aired, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki promised a full

investigation. But four hours later he dismissed the rape allegations

and commended the police officers. He accused the woman of spreading

propaganda to undermine the security forces. Sunni leaders accused

the Shiite-led government of covering up the rape. One Sunni group

said " This is evidence of the failure of the security plan which was

supposed to secure our women before our men. "

>

> Israeli & Palestinian Talks Accomplish Little

> Analysts in the Middle East says Monday's peace talks in Jerusalem

have accomplished little. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice met with

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmood

Abbas. Rice briefly spoke to reporters after the summit.

>

> Condoleeza Rice: " The president and the prime minister discussed

their views of the diplomatic and political horizon and how it might

unfold towards the vision of the two-state vision of President Bush.

The president and prime minister agreed that they would meet together

again soon. They reiterated their desire for American participation

and leadership in facilitating efforts to overcome obstacles, rally

regional and international support and move forward towards peace. In

that vain I expect to return to the region soon. "

> Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert publicly rejected the new

Palestinian coalition government.

> Ehud Olmert: " We will not recognise any government that does not

carry out these obligations, and we will not cooperate with it or any

of its ministers. I decided ... we have to maintain a channel of

communications with the Palestinian, and the sole possible channel is

the president of the Palestinian Authority who was elected directly

by the public. "

> Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum criticized the stance of Israel

and the United States.

> Fawzi Barhoum: " Until now they are dealing negatively with this

situation and force all of their pressure against Abbas in order to

break this unity and this solidarity with all Palestinian parties and

with all the Palestinian people towards this political situation to

form this unity government. Until now America supports only Israeli

occupation towards all these decisions and sanctions and aggressions

and commissions against our Palestinian people. "

> Bush Given Power to Deploy US Troops Domestically & Declare Martial

Law

> In news from Capitol Hill, Congress is coming under criticism for

approving a little noticed provision last year that makes it easier

for President Bush to declare martial law and to send US troops into

American cities. At the administration's request, Congress approved

the changes to a law known as the Insurrection Act without ever

holding a public hearing. Under the new law, the president now has

the authority to use both active-duty armed forces and the National

Guard on American soil -- not just during a rebellion -- but also a

natural disaster, terrorist attack, pandemic or other chaotic

situation. All 50 of the nation's governors have opposed the rule

changes. Earlier this month Senators Patrick Leahy, the chair of the

Judiciary Committee, and Republican Christopher Bond introduced

legislation to repeal the changes Congress approved last year.

>

> Cheney To Ask Japan & Australia to Send More Troops to Iraq

> Vice President Dick Cheney has arrived in Japan on the first stop

of a trip that will also take him to Australia. U.S. officials have

said Cheney is expected to urge both countries to send more troops to

Iraq and Afghanistan. Cheney is scheduled to meet with Japan's

emperor and prime minister. But one official Cheney won't be meeting

is Japan's defense minister Fumio Kyuma. He recently said the U.S.

invasion of Iraq was " a mistake. "

>

> Cheney's visit to Japan comes a week after two small bombs exploded

outside the U.S. military base Camp Zuma south of Tokyo. No one was

injured in the blasts. A group called the Revolutionary Army claimed

responsibility saying it was meant to disrupt the vice president's

visit and to protest the presence of U.S. troops in Japan. The United

States has about 50,000 troops based in Japan.

>

> On Saturday, Cheney will meet with Australia " s Prime Minister John

Howard who is expected to urge Cheney to expedite the trial of

Australian citizen David Hicks who is being held at Guantanamo.

>

>

>

>

> I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and

causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of

war, corporations have been enthroned, and an era of corruption in

high places will follow, and the money power of the country will

endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the

people until all the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the

republic is destroyed. I feel, at this moment, more anxiety for the

safety of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war. God

grant that my suspicions may prove groundless. " Lincoln in a letter

to Col. William F. Elkins on November 21, 1864

>