The New Dark Age

16 February 2012 — Information Clearing House

Graham Doesn’t Believe Clapper: ‘I’m Very Convinced’ Iran Is Building Nuclear Weapons
By Eli Clifton
Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee today, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, repeated his position that Iran has not yet decided whether to develop a nuclear weapon. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30556.htm

Bipartisan Support for World War III
By Philip Giraldi
It is a sad commentary on the state of the United States that ignorant, blowhard warmongers such as the BPC receive money, political support, and press coverage while groups that want to restore sanity and balance to American foreign policy are forced to scramble to raise nickels and dimes. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30555.htm

Iran Seems an Unlikely Culprit for the Attacks on Israeli Diplomats
By Arshin Adib-Moghaddam
It is hard to imagine that the Iranian government would send Iranian operatives to friendly countries, completely equipped with Iranian money and passports – making the case against them as obvious as possible. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30543.htm

Syrian Gore Or US Awe: Looking For The Moral High Ground
By Mike Carey
On the ABC’s AM program, US president Barack Obama was quoted as describing the killings in Homs as outrageous. Outrageous in what sense? http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30557.htm

High-Tech Trickery in Homs?
By Sharmine Narwani
What was surely meant to be a clever display of media-friendly visuals to illustrate Syrian regime violence in Homs, has instead raised more questions than answers. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30545.htm

“Washington’s War in Yemen Backfires,”
By Jeremy Scahill
U.S. Has Ignited Islamist Uprising in Impoverished, Divided Yemen. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30549.htm

450 Bases and Counting
By Nick Turse
The American military in Afghanistan doesn’t want to talk about it, but one day soon, it will be a new hub for the American drone war in the Greater Middle East. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30554.htm

Saving Khader Adnan’s Life Is Saving Our Own Soul
By Richard Falk
The world watches as tragedy unfolds beneath its gaze. Khader Asnan is entering his 61st day as a hunger striker in an Israeli prison, being held under an administrative detention order without trial, charges, or any indication of the evidence against him. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30550.htm

Solitary Confinement
A First-Hand Reflection On Domestic Torture In A Time Of Terror
By Younus Abdullah Muhammad
I am a pretrial federal inmate housed in solitary confinement and in conditions that best resemble those of Guantanamo Bay. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30552.htm

U.S.- Mexico: Border Battleground
By Ed Warner
There is a state sponsor behind some of Mexico’s cartel violence, but it isn’t Iran. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30553.htm

Guatemala Pres: Seeks Regional Support For Drug Legalization
By ROMINA RUIZ-GOIRIENA
“We are not doing what the United States says, we are doing what we have to do,” said Perez, who was elected on promises of an “iron-fist” approach to rampant crime and surprised observers by proposing drug legalization. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30544.htm

It’s Official: Money Now Governs America
By Jim Hightower
American politics has developed into a game for the fun and profit of a few superrich narcissists. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30548.htm

Poor America
Must Watch P a n o r a m a [B B C] – Video Documentary
With one and a half million (1.5 million) American children now homeless, reporter Hilary Andersson meets the school pupils who go hungry in the richest country on Earth. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30546.htm

Instead of Being Disgusted by Poverty, We Are Disgusted By Poor People Themselves
By Suzanne Moore
Empathy has crashed. No more cruel to be kind. We must simply be cruel. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30551.htm

Australia’s ‘Child Labour Camp’
Video
Right in the middle of a quiet suburb is a place where children are separated from their parents, and forced to work full time for no pay, and live in squalid conditions. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30547.htm

US kills 14 people in Pakistan: A US drone attack today in North Waziristan, in Pakistan has killed about 14 people. http://bit.ly/w394PO

Pakistan’s Afghan border remains closed to NATO: The U.S. Embassy says Pakistan‘s border with Afghanistan remains closed to NATO despite comments by a senior Pakistani official that seemed to indicate the coalition would be allowed to transport some food items. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19974987

In Pakistan, rightwing alliance is revived: Bound together by hatred of the United States and support for insurgents fighting in Afghanistan, a revived coalition of supposedly banned Islamist extremists and rightwing political parties is drawing large crowds across Pakistan. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/10095936

How the CIA’s fake aid projects put real humanitarian workers at risk in Pakistan: The US has been exploiting aid operations as cover for CIA agents and black ops. http://tgr.ph/yfDtCw

4 “Taliban” Insurgents Killed in Afghan Raid: Four “Taliban insurgents” were killed in joint Afghan and Nato operation in northern Kunduz province on Wednesday night, the media office of the 303 Pamir Corps based in northern Afghanistan said on Thursday. http://bit.ly/zBbax2

Afghan Taliban denies having talks with government: The Afghan Taliban rejected on Thursday claims by President Hamid Karzai that the U.S. and Afghan governments had begun exploratory three-way talks with the Islamist group aimed at reaching a peace deal to end the 10-year Afghan war. http://bit.ly/A2jg6h

Probe finds Iraqi VP behind death squads: An Iraqi investigation panel says the country’s Sunni vice president and his employees were behind years of deadly attacks on security officials and Shiite pilgrims. http://bit.ly/zgWoLE

Four killed in violence in Syrian province of Daraa, says “watchdog”: Three security personnel were, killed in clashes with army defectors in Daraa. One local man was killed when government forces fired randomly during a crackdown on the dissident province, said the “Syrian Observatory for Human Rights”. http://bit.ly/yTqVdb

Syria to Hold Elections and Enact a New Constitution in Less than Two Weeks … Will U.S. and Its Allies Attack Anyway?: Given that the U.S. government has been consistently planning regime change in Syria for 20 years, and that the U.S., Britain, Qatar and other countries have already started a covert war in Syria – it is uncertain whether democratic elections and a new constitution can avoid a Syrian war involving the West. http://bit.ly/zQL9gU

Al-Qaeda has likely infiltrated Syria opposition, behind recent suicide bombings: U.S. intelligence chief: Clapper voiced concern that Al-Qaeda militants had inserted themselves inside a divided opposition amid the spiraling violence. http://natpo.st/yJ1fvc

Arab League to arm Syrian opposition: Currently, the diplomatic efforts regarding the growing crisis in Syria focus on the development of the idea of ??Arab – U.N. force as proposed by the Arab Ministerial Council. According to Arab sources, the parties wait for discussion and approval of the Arab draft resolution at the General Assembly of the United Nations. This is scheduled to happen before this weekend. http://bit.ly/xrDbk6

Russia opposes U.N. vote on Syria as Arabs urge implementation of League plan:
Russia has opposed a draft resolution on Syria at the U.N. General Assembly, saying it focuses entirely on Bashar Assad’s regime and fails to address the armed opposition, a top Russian diplomat said Thursday. http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/02/16/195145.html

Russian envoy: Embassies closure in Syria could mean preparations for military intervention: The closure of European and Arab embassies in Damascus could mean possible preparations for a foreign military intervention in Syria, Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said http://en.trend.az/regions/met/arabicr/1992801.html

Russia: West ‘slammed door’ on Syria at UN: Russia’s foreign minister on Wednesday blamed “external actors” for prolonging Syria‘s agony, suggesting that the U.S. and its allies opposed negotiations to end the bloodshed there and were responsible for torpedoing a U.N. resolution aimed at calming the situation. http://bit.ly/zOnUNJ

Western countries should observe democracy: China Daily Editorial: Western countries should observe democracy in international relations and their media does not speak for everyone http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2012-02/16/content_14619470.htm

Sen. Graham: US Must ‘Break Up’ Syrian-Iranian Alliance: Sen. Lindsey Graham says it is in America’s national security interest to break up the Syrian-Iranian alliance and to replace Syria‘s President Bashar Assad, because the two countries pose a serious threat not only to the nation but to the world. http://bit.ly/ysbCIZ

Libya invites Syria rebels to open Tripoli office: Libya will let Syria‘s opposition National Council open an office in Tripoli, Libya‘s interim leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil told Al Jazeera television on Wednesday Reuters reported http://en.trend.az/regions/met/arabicr/1992812.html

Engineering Consent For An Attack On Iran:
Iran strengthening ties with al-Qaeda, say intelligence chiefs: Iran has improved its ties with al-Qaeda as part of a campaign to target Western interests around the world that could lead to a spectacular attack in Europe, The Daily Telegraph has learned. http://tgr.ph/yT6i6U

Netanyahu: International sanctions against Iran not working: “The United States – and any other country – should be concerned because we have information of ongoing efforts and attempts by Iran to conduct terrorism in many parts of the world. Fortunately until now there has been no loss of life,” he said after talks with Cypriot President Demetris Christofias. http://bit.ly/wC6CrM

Israel teams with terror group to kill Iran’s nuclear scientists, U.S. officials tell NBC News: – Deadly attacks on Iranian nuclear scientists are being carried out by an Iranian dissident group that is financed, trained and armed by Israel’s secret service, U.S. officials tell NBC News, confirming charges leveled by Iran‘s leaders. http://bit.ly/A8yhSx

In case you missed it:
When Is a Terrorist Not a Terrorist? : Answer: When he or she is an Israeli Mossad agent or asset. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30252.htm

Bomber hired for Delhi’s sticky-bomb attack may be of Indian origin, say sources: 5 big facts: Investigations suggest that the bomber hired may be of Indian origin. Sources have told NDTV http://bit.ly/zMxCkn

Russian military drafts options for responding to attack on Iran: Makarov said international pressure on Iran has been growing and could be followed by military action. He said the current sanctions on Teheran could lead to a confrontation in mid-2012. http://bit.ly/wTdWYj

China urges IAEA cooperation with Iran: “The International Atomic Energy Agency should strengthen contact and cooperation with Iran in order to restore the international community’s trust in the peaceful nature of Iran‘s nuclear program,” China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Weimin said on Thursday. http://www.presstv.ir/detail/227001.html

Feds see no specific terror threat against the U.S.: There’s “no credible or specific” evidence of an Iranian terror plot targeting the U.S., but officials are closely tracking the threat, the country’s top homeland security official said Wednesday. http://nydn.us/yvkiE3

Libyan militias “torture detainees to death”: While most of the Western world was busy praising the Arab spring as a long-awaited “triumph of democracy”, the voices of t few skeptics were completely ignored. However, soon it turned out that not only did the revolution fail to bring about any improvements, it actually made the situation much worse http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_02_16/66227599/

Amnesty International report brands Libya’s militias ‘out of control’: Six months since the Libyan civil war ended in Muammar Qaddadi’s death, a new report from Amnesty International says hundreds of militias remain active in the country, extorting money and killing their enemies. http://bit.ly/wFOD2S

Documentary sheds light on events that led to fall of Tripoli: The documentary titled “Businessmen” shows the role of Libya‘s businessmen in helping and aiding the rebels, and most importantly, the transformation of these businessmen into revolutionaries. 
http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/02/15/194892.html

General Says Russia Could Use Nuclear Weapons to Keep Country Intact: Russia’s armed forces would be within their full rights to use nuclear weapons if any threats to the integrity of the country arise, Russian General Staff head Nikolay Makarov said Wednesday. http://bit.ly/xIjVCE

NATO to spend nearly $4 billion on US drones: NATO will spend US$3.9 billion on five US-built drones over 20 years in an effort to fill the gap exposed in the Libyan air war, an official said on Wednesday. http://bit.ly/xw3hk8

Heartland Institute claims fraud after leak of climate change documents:
The free-market Heartland Institute has moved to contain the damage from explosive revelations about its efforts to discredit climate change and alter the teaching of science in schools, claiming on Wednesday it was the victim of theft and forgery. http://bit.ly/zHKpP6

Honduras in Flames: The Comayagua fire must be understood in the context of the near-total breakdown of the Honduran state since the June 28, 2009, military coup that overthrew democratically elected President José Manuel Zelaya. http://www.thenation.com/print/article/166313/honduras-flames

Vote Fraud In Maine. It’s real.: Rachel Maddow “Maine Republicans May Have To Withdraw Their Declaration That Romney Won!” http://runronpaul.com/mainstream-media/vote-fraud-in-maine-its-real/

FBI Purges Hundreds of Terrorism Documents in Islamophobia Probe: An internal FBI investigation into its counterterrorism training has purged hundreds of bureau documents of instructional material about Muslims, some of which characterized them as prone to violence or terrorism. http://bit.ly/xGmMbt

Department Of Homeland Security Tells Congress Why It’s Monitoring Facebook, Twitter, Blogs: One thing is for sure: If you’re the first person to tweet about a news story, or if you’re a community activist who makes public Facebook posts–DHS will have your personal information. http://bit.ly/xXDPuY

Moody’s may downgrade UBS and Morgan Stanley: It said among 17 banks and securities firms with global capital markets operations, it might cut the long-term credit rating of UBS, Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley by as much as three notches following the review. It said the guidance was indicative. http://yhoo.it/AihE3D

Germany’s smear campaign against Greece: Germany’s Wolfgang Schäuble is entering into ever more dangerous waters. His apparent demand that Greece postpone elections scheduled for April, and impose a technocrat junta (a l’Italiana) for another year without PASOK and New Democracy, takes your breath away. Is this really the position of the German government? Greek democracy be damned? http://tgr.ph/A5FZBy

Greek couple stage suicide threat in jobs protest: Video –
A Greek couple fearing for their jobs threatened to commit suicide by jumping from the window ledge of their office in Athens. http://bit.ly/z8txwG

Poor America: ‘Some kids are making ketchup soup’: – Video – Children told of going to bed hungry and worrying about their families, while school officials said some children were resorting to eating “ketchup soup”. http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_9695000/9695217.stm

Unemployment agency extending hours: This coming weekend around 80,000 people in Michigan are set to lose their jobless benefits, so the Michigan Unemployment Agency is offering extended hours to help people with questions. http://bit.ly/AvN6Zt