23 March 2013 — Information Clearing House
CIA Passing Info to Syrian Rebels: Report
By AFP
The US Central Intelligence Agency has been feeding information to select rebel fighters in Syria to try to make them more effective against government troops, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34378.htm
Obama’s Choice: Real Diplomacy With Iran — or War
By Flynt and Hillary Mann Leverett
The Iran-related messages coming out of President Obama‘s trip to Israel strongly suggest that the risk of a U.S.-initiated military confrontation with Tehran during Obama‘s second term are rising.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34380.htm
On Capitol Hill, Calls for Attack On Syria
By John T. Bennett
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., told Obama he should use air strikes and take other measures to cripple Assad’s military, boost the opposition and protect Syrian citizens.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34379.htm
Real Liars Go To Tehran
By Pepe Escobar
No wonder the rabid American neo-con/Israeli firster/Bomb Iran crowd is gloating.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34384.htm
Peace Fraud: Obama Fails to Demand Halt to Illegal Settlements
By Stuart Littlewood
Why insist on more ‘negotiations without preconditions’ unless it’s to buy Israel time to complete its illegal annexation?
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34382.htm
The Obama-Kerry-Hagel Troika
By James Petras
Selling Death and Buying Assassins In the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34388.htm
The Sociocide of Iraq by Bush/Cheney
By Ralph Nader
The Justice Department (should) pursue the proper enforcement against Bush/Cheney and their accomplices.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34389.htm
Obama Worse Than Bush And Blair: Noam Chomsky
Video and Transcript
“Let’s take Israel/Palestine. I mean, his position is shocking.”
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34385.htm
Washington Post Prints More Iraq Lies
By Peter Hart
This is complete, utter nonsense; a serious newspaper would be ashamed to print it.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34381.htm
Children Horribly Deformed by US Chemical Weapons in Iraq
Video
The depleted uranium usage in Iraq left lasting effects in babies born with horrifying deformities in Fallujah and Basra.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34392.htm
I Remember The First Person I killed In Iraq
By Justin Watt
‘I had been prepared to fight the enemy in Iraq, but I never expected to feel betrayed by my own people’
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34386.htm
Western Media Ignores Guantanamo Hunger Strike: George Galloway
By Press TV
“If this was happening in Russia, if people had disappeared into a legal black hole in Russia, and were facing indefinite, illegal incarceration without trial, without charge and without access of attorneys we’d never hear the end of it. The western media would be full of it”.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34394.htm
From Detroit to Cyprus, Banksters in Search of Prey
By Glen Ford
The global financial octopus is squeezing the life out of society, stripping away public and individual assets in a vain attempt to fend off its own, inevitable collapse.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34387.htm
Our Chavez: Huey Long
By Mike Whitney
This is a free market? Give me a break! The Fed is pumping $85 billion per month into financial assets pushing up stock prices, while everyone else faces the grinding deprivation of austerity.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34391.htm
Fortune’s Fools
Individual Calling at the Cusp of Ecological Catastrophe
By Phil Rockstroh
Resist the present, corrupt order; organize to bring it down; and strive to create more viable alternatives.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34390.htm
The Root of All Evil?
The God Delusion : Richard Dawkins
Video
The God Delusion explores the unproven beliefs that are treated as factual by many religions and the extremes to which some followers have … taken them.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19124.htm
Afghanistan: 60 Taliban Killed in Badakhshan: Local Officials Report:
The ground operation by the Afghan army, police and intelligence personnel is still in progress, according to Rasikh, who said the dead included some Taliban commanders.
3 Afghan Police Killed in Kunar Operation:
Three members of the Afghan National Police (ANP) were killed during a joint security operation in the Narang district of the Eastern Kunar province, an official said.
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9107155068
Nato Occupation Force Soldier Killed in Afghan Blast:
A Nato occupation force soldier has been killed following a roadside bomb blast in eastern Afghanistan Friday, Isaf said.
8 Security Personnel Killed in Suicide Attack in Pakistan:
Eight security personnel were killed and over a dozen others injured when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a check post in the restive North Waziristan tribal region of Pakistan today.
Pakistani Taliban seek Baloch insurgents’ help to target Musharraf:
Pakistani Taliban has set up a special death squad to target former Pakistani president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf upon his arrival, who is expected to land in Karachi on March 24, says a militant video released on Saturday.
Five killed in Iraq attacks:
Attacks in Iraq on Friday killed five people, including two anti-Qaeda militiamen, officials said, the latest in an apparent spike in violence less than a month ahead of provincial elections.
http://arabnews.com/news/445702
Obama Warns Syria Could Become Enclave For Extremists:
“Something has been broken in Syria, and it’s not going to be put back together perfectly immediately anytime soon, even after Assad leaves,” he said.
France, Britain fail to win easing of Syria arms ban:
France and Britain failed to persuade the European Union to back their call to lift an arms embargo on Syrian rebels on Friday despite warning that President Bashar al-Assad could resort to using chemical weapons.
US intel not seeing signs chemical weapons were used in Syria:
That official told CNN, “there are strong indications now that chemical weapons were not used by the regime in recent days.”
Syria: no peace through arming rebels, Aleppo’s bishops says:
The international community must help Syria end its civil war through reconciliation and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must be a part of that process, the Chaldean bishop of Aleppo, Antoine Audo, told ANSAmed in an interview on Friday.
US and UK public reject stronger military support for Syrian rebels:
Bilateral poll shows support for current ‘non-lethal’ assistance but widespread opposition to prospect of supplying arms.
Video of al-Nusra Beheading Syria – Video
Warning –
http://europenews.dk/en/node/65766
Islamic Flag Raised in Raqqa:”
Video
Syrian bishop says 30,000 Christians have fled Aleppo:
The Chaldean Catholic bishop of Aleppo, Antoine Audo, said on Thursday that up to 30,000 Christians have fled the Syrian city and spoke of his concern about two priests kidnapped weeks ago.
Hundreds of Syrian Girls Are Being Sold Into Early Marriage:
“If the war had not happened I would not marry my daughter to a Saudi. But the Syrians here are poor and have no money.”
Syria fires on Lebanon: Lebanese seethe, government mum:
Syria‘s heavy influence over Lebanon tempers government reaction to cross-border attacks, but Lebanese near the border don’t feel the same constraints – and their patience is waning.
Sniper fire kills one in Tripoli, Mufti calls for calm:
Sniper fire killed one man and wounded another in Tripoli Saturday, a day after a cease-fire was brokered in the northern city to end deadly clashes between supporters and opponents of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Lebanon’s government falls:
Lebanon’s government fell on Friday evening after Prime Minister Najib Miqati resigned from his office, dropping a political bombshell on a country suffering a week of sectarian strife that saw intense clashes explode in Tripoli.
In Moscow, new Chinese leader Xi warns against meddling:
Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against foreign interference in the affairs of other nations during a speech in Moscow on Saturday, sending a signal to the West and echoing a message often repeated by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Erdogan says Israeli apology shows Turkey’s new clout:
“We are entering a new period in both Turkey and the region,” said Erdogan, who plans to visit the Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip, next month.
Lieberman says apology to Turkey a ‘serious mistake’:
“Erdogan’s refusal to apologize for his explicitly anti-Zionist remarks alongside the Israeli apology hurts Israel‘s dignity and status in the region and the world.”
Israel opens fire on Gaza fishermen:
Israeli forces opened fire on fishermen off Gaza‘s coast Saturday, two days after the Jewish state announced that it limited Palestinian sea travel in a move widely regarded as collective punishment.
Hamas appeals to Egypt after Israel halves Gaza fishing zone:
Hamas complained to Egypt on Friday after Israel suspended part of a Cairo-brokered truce agreement by halving Palestinian access to fishing waters in response to a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip.
Mossad Hacked: Anonymous leaks names, addresses of 35,000 Israeli officials;
The Red Hack, a Turkish Internet group that operates as an affiliate of Anonymous, posted spreadsheets with the personal information online.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34383.htm
Kurdish rebels declare formal ceasefire with Turkey:
The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group declared a “formal and clear ceasefire” with Turkey on Saturday after the rebels’ jailed leader ordered an end to the decades-long armed campaign for autonomy.
Somalia: Human Rights Worker Shot and Killed in Mogadishu:
A woman working for human rights agency was shot and killed in Mogadishu’s Dharkenley district on Saturday, Garowe Online reports.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201303230174.html
US-led Libyan abuses worse than Gadhafi:
Since the U.S.-led violent regime change in Libya, Hassan El Amin, chair of Libya’s parliament human-right committee told a U.S. newspaper reporter than rights abuses are worse there than during Gadhafi’s leadership.
Libya to spend billions on defence:
The defence budget is at least 10 per cent of the total budget,” Col Nasser said. He added that all branches of the Libyan military were seeking to buy the best hardware that western defence manufacturers could offer.
Central African Republic rebels ‘enter capital Bangui’:
Residents said hundreds of Seleka rebels had entered the north side of the capital on Saturday evening.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21913926
Egypt police guard Muslim Brotherhood headquarters after clashes:
Police have been positioned outside the offices of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood (MB) a day after more than 190 people were injured in clashes
Murder Inc.
Drone base in Niger gives U.S. a strategic foothold in West Africa:
The U.S. military has built a major drone hub in Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa, and flies unarmed Reaper drones from Ethiopia. Until recently, it conducted reconnaissance flights over East Africa from the island nation of the Seychelles.
Climate Change Now Seen as Security Threat Worldwide:
Defence establishments around the world increasingly see climate change as posing potentially serious threats to national and international security, according to a review of high-level statements by the world’s governments released here Thursday.
Cyprus eyes 25 percent levy on big savers at stricken Bank of Cyprus:
Sarris told reporters that “significant progress” had been made in talks with officials from the European Union, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund – the so-called ‘troika’ – and that the discussions may conclude on Saturday evening.
U.S. Depositors Are Worse Off Than Cypriots: Jim Rickards:
Video –
Recession stalks France as business slump hits crisis levels:
French business activity shrank in March at the fastest pace in four years, defying expectations for an improvement and probably plunging the euro zone’s second-biggest economy into a recession, a survey showed on Thursday.
Fitch poised to cut UK’s AAA ratin:
Britain looked poised to lose its AAA rating from a second ratings agency after Fitch Ratings warned on Friday it was likely to downgrade the country in the coming weeks, citing high government debt levels and weak growth.
Senate Passes $3.7 Trillion Budget, Its First in 4 Years:
The Senate on Saturday adopted its first budget in four years, a $3.7 trillion blueprint for 2014 that would fast-track passage of tax increases, trim spending gingerly and leave the government still deeply in the debt a decade from now.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100584821
Neither the NYT nor Washington Post Has Heard About Unemployment: Op-Ed:
In their articles on the budget passed by the Senate last night neither the NYT or Washington Post said one word about how the budget would affect the economy over the next decade.
Poverty hits America’s suburbs:
The number of suburban residents living in poverty rose by nearly 64 percent between 2000 and 2011, to about 16.4 million people, according to a Brookings Institution analysis of 95 of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas.
Boeing plans to cut up to 2,300 jobs:
The Boeing Company says it will cut up to 2,300 jobs by the end of 2013 in line with plans to mainly downsize the production line of its cutting-edge 787 Dreamliner jets.
What US recovery? Many workers still stuck in recession:
A survey finds that low-wage employees feel worse off now than they were during the economic downturn.
Coal company kicks 10,000 workers off health care:
In a corporate sleight-of-hand, the promises won with a lifetime of hard work and hard bargaining disappeared first into a holding company. Now, if the bankruptcy judge agrees, they will disappear into thin air.
12 arrested during coal co. protest:
About 2,000 people marched from Peabody’s office to U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Twelve protesters were arrested for sitting in the street.
US Home Builder Confidence Declines for Third Month:
For the third straight month, sentiment among U.S. home builders declined in March, dropping two points on a monthly industry index.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100563301
Chicago Teachers, Parents Riled By Plan To Close 54 Public Schools:
The district says it’s closing 54 schools and programs in all; the actual buildings proposed for closure total about 60. They are overwhelmingly in black neighborhoods where there’s been a big population decline in recent years.
Cost Of War
Number Of Iraqis Slaughtered In US War And Occupation Of Iraq “1,455,590“
Number of U.S. Military Personnel Sacrificed (Officially acknowledged) In America’s War On Iraq: 4,883
Number Of International Occupation Force Troops Slaughtered In Afghanistan : 3,271
Cost of War in Iraq & Afghanistan
Total Cost of Wars Since 2001
$1,435,668,661,594
The New Dark Age 