24 October 2013 — Information Clearing House
Marines ‘Murdered Man Live on Camera’:
By Kim Sengupta
Court martial sees graphic footage of ‘execution’ of injured Taliban fighter.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36640.htm
Treason and Treachery
CIA Consulted with Pakistani Government in Conducting Drone Strikes – Report
By RT
Pakistan’s top officials have not only had knowledge of the US drone program that is now deeply unpopular in the country, but have quietly been authorizing it for years, according to a report based on classified documents and internal Pakistani memos.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36631.htm
US and Pakistan Locked in a ‘Drone Marriage’
By Pepe Escobar
Obama didn’t even mention “drones” when talking to the media after his meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. So is it all Islamabad’s fault?
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36633.htm
Sectarianism: Redrawing the Map of Middle East
By Ramzy Baroud
It is an all-out war in the making, and there is no time for neutrality.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36634.htm
How the Sunni-Shia Schism is Dividing the World
By Robert Fisk
Kerry’s insistence – wish to disarm Shia Iran – however notional its nuclear threat may be – would ensure that Sunni military power would dominate the Middle East from the Afghan border to the Mediterranean.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36637.htm
Paranoid Saudis Fear US Treachery
By Finian Cunningham
The Saudis are sulking big time with Washington. This is not just due to a temper-tantrum by the kingdom’s spymaster, Prince Bandar. The entire House of Saud is in ructions over what the rulers perceive as “American treachery”.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36632.htm
Why Washington Can’t Stop
By Tom Engelhardt
The Coming Era of Tiny Wars and Micro-Conflicts.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36644.htm
The Tragic History of U.S. Military Supremacy
By Nicolas J.S. Davies
Killing people to save them from an oppressive government is an absurdity, and “regime change” is generally a euphemism for “regime destruction,” with no ability to ensure that what comes after will be better.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36635.htm
NSA Monitored Calls of 35 World Leaders After US Official Handed Over Contacts
By James Ball
The NSA memo seen by the Guardian was written halfway through George W Bush’s second term, when Condoleezza Rice was secretary of state and Donald Rumsfeld was in his final months as defence secretary.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36643.htm
Sheldon Adelson Says Obama Should Nuke Iran
Video
Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire supporter of Israel, said that the U.S. should fire a nuclear weapon at Iran rather than negotiate.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36630.htm
Egypt’s Lobby by Proxy Wields Outsize Influence in DC
By Zaid Jilani
Washington’s soft line on Cairo’s military coup is shaped by pro-Israel and defense lobbies, not democracy
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36627.htm
Ten Explosive U.S. Government Secrets about Israel
By Grant F. Smith
The transfer of raw NSA intercepts on American citizens to Israel was authorized under a secret doctrine that “the survival of the state of Israel is a paramount goal of US Middle East policy.”
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36636.htm
Our Harsh Logic
Inside Israel’s Army
Audio
Many former Israeli soldiers, say they feel betrayed by the harsh orders they were forced to carry out against the Palestinians.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36616.htm
Torturing and Jailing Palestinian Children
By Ziad Abbas
My hands were handcuffed behind my back and I was blindfolded. I was beaten by the soldiers everywhere on my body.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36639.htm
I’d Dump the Israelis Tomorrow
Ex-CIA Michael Scheuer Tells Congress
Must Watch – Video
House Homeland Security Committee on October 9, 2013
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36629.htm
An Angel Song for Peace and an End to Violence
By Finian Cunningham
“War violates every right of a child — the right to life, the right to be with family and community, the right to health, the right to the development of the personality and the right to be nurtured and protected.”
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36641.htm
The Struggle for Meaning in a World of Violence
By Robert J. Burrowes
What is the measure of a human being? Is it their wealth? Their wisdom? Their spirituality? Is it something that can be measured from the outside? What if it is something else altogether?
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36642.htm
They’re Coming For Your Savings
By John Rubino
Another of history’s many lessons is that governments under pressure become thieves. And today’s governments are under a lot of pressure.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36638.htm
Over 80 “Taliban militants” killed or injured in Afghan operations:
The interior ministry of Afghanistan following a statement on Thursday confirmed the report and said that the militants were killed or injured during joint operations in the past 24 hours.
http://www.khaama.com/over-80-taliban-militants-killed-or-injured-in-afghan-operations-3005
10 Afghan soldiers killed or injured militants attacks:
At least four Afghan national army soldiers were killed and six others were injured following militants attack and roadside bomb explosion in northern and eastern Afghanistan.
http://www.khaama.com/10-afghan-soldiers-killed-or-injured-militants-attacks-3007
Germany helped US with ‘illegal’ drone attacks: Amnessty:
The human rights organization has called on the German government to come clean about its involvement and slammed some of the attacks as “war crimes”.
http://www.thelocal.de/national/20131022-52515.html
American airstrikes in Yemen kill more civilians than terrorists – HRW:
A new report by Human Rights Watch once again confirms that Hellfire rockets lack selectivity and exterminate women and children more often than they hit Al-Qaeda associates.
http://rt.com/news/yemen-drone-strikes-report-538/
Each drone strike creates at least 40 new militants – ex-State Dept. official:
In a country where we are not at war, however, drones become part of our foreign policy, dominating it altogether, to the detriment of both our security and political goals.
http://www.aucegypt.edu/gapp/cairoreview/Pages/articleDetails.aspx?aid=443
Syria: Eleven Civilians Killed in Car Bomb, Mortar Attacks in Damascus, Aleppo:
A source at the police command in Damascus said that two mortar shells, fired by militants, fell on the citizens’ houses in the surrounding of al-Abassiyeen square, claiming the lives of 4 citizens and injuring 18 others who were immediately admitted to hospitals to receive treatment.
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13920802000194
Army seizes Damascus suburb from rebels: State TV:
Syrian state television said the army had “extended full control” over Hatetat al-Turkman, southeast of Damascus near the airport road, cutting off an arms and ammunition supply route to rebels occupying a crescent of suburbs around the capital.
The Obama Administration’s ‘Worst Case Scenario’ Is Happening In Syria:
The overall war continues to be largely a military stalemate, but the FSA is losing ground and fighters to better-funded and better-equipped jihadists.
http://www.businessinsider.com/worst-case-scenario-for-the-us-in-syria-2013-10
Moscow slams ‘Friends of Syria’ for undermining Geneva peace talks:
“There is no evidence to suggest that the coalition is the sole legitimate representative of either all Syrian people or even the opposition as a whole.” Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesman said
http://rt.com/news/syria-friends-geneva-russia-645/
Tripoli Lebanon clashes see 7 dead, dozens wounded:
The two districts of Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh have seen the heaviest fighting during the conflict.
Iraq attacks kill 10, including TV cameraman:
Bombings and shootings across Iraq, including the killing of a television cameraman, left 10 people dead Thursday as a wave of violent attacks striking the country raged on, officials said.
Iran Has Halted 20 pct Enrichment: Senior Lawmaker:
Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, a senior member of the parliamentary national security commission, said Iran had stopped enriching uranium above the 5 percent required for civilian power stations as it already had all the 20-percent enriched fuel it needs for a medical research reactor in Tehran.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/24/iran-nuclear-idUSL5N0IE12820131024
Iran must give up uranium enrichment:
Defense minister tells Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that the Iranian threat is the top strategic challenge facing Israel today.
http://www.jpost.com/Iranian-Threat/News/Yaalon-Iran-must-give-up-uranium-enrichment-329502
Israel’s Netanyahu warns Kerry against “partial deal” on Iran nuclear program:
ROME Israel’s prime minister said Wednesday that the world should not accept what he called a “partial deal” to curb Iran’s nuclear program – just as it is not allowing the Syrian government to keep any of its chemical weapons stockpile.
Obama briefs Congress on talks with Iran:
The briefing came amid lobbying efforts by Israelis and some hawks in Congress who are deeply concerned by the Iranian government’s diplomatic efforts to resolve the lengthy dispute with the West over Tehran’s nuclear energy program.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/10/24/331072/obama-briefs-congress-on-talks-with-iran/
Data Shows Iran as China’s Biggest Oil Supplier in September:
Reuters reported on October 21 that China’s crude oil imports from Iran increased in September 2013 from one year earlier despite the US-led sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic’s oil and financial sectors.
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13920802000357
Saudi Arabia issues warning in advance of women’s driving protest: –
The ministry in charge of Saudi Arabia’s police is warning against “disturbing public order” days before activists are calling on women to drive cars in defiance of a ban on them getting behind the wheel.
Two soldiers killed, one missing in pirates’ attack:
Two soldiers attached to the Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta, codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, have been shot dead after an attack by suspected sea pirates.
http://www.punchng.com/news/two-soldiers-killed-one-missing-in-pirates-attack/
Libyan air force colonel killed in Benghazi:
A Libyan air force colonel has been killed in the eastern city of Benghazi, the latest in a series of attacks on security forces in the post-revolution country.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/10/24/331078/gunmen-kill-libyan-colonel-in-benghazi/
Nigeria pirate attack: US sailors seized:
The captain and chief engineer of the US-flagged C-Retriever were taken on Wednesday by armed men who stormed the boat, they said.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24657515
Marikana Massacre: ‘Damning’ Evidence Emerges:
New footage appears to suggest that South African police opened fire on striking miners – killing 34 – without provocation.
http://news.sky.com/story/1158899/marikana-massacre-damning-evidence-emerges
NSA spied on 124.8 billion phone calls in just one month: watchdog:
While the majority of calls reportedly originated in the Middle East, an estimated 3 billion of the calls originated in the U.S.
Angela Merkel’s call to Obama: are you bugging my mobile phone?:
Germany sees credible evidence of US monitoring of chancellor as NSA surveillance row intensifies
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/23/us-monitored-angela-merkel-german
Report: US and UK spied on Italian government:
Information released by Edward Snowden says intelligence services also monitored private companies
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/10/24/magazine-us-and-ukspiedonitaliangovernment.html
European Parliament votes to suspend its SWIFT data exchange agreement with the US :
They’ve called for US access to the SWIFT database to be halted following concerns that the US is spying on the EU, and not simply trying to combat terrorism.
Greenwald Wants To Return To US, But Not Yet:
Greenwald would like to go home to the United States, at least for a visit. But the Guardian journalist and blogger is afraid to do so.
http://cpj.org/blog/2013/10/greenwald-wants-to-return-to-us-but-not-yet.php
Who Buys the Spies? The Hidden Corporate Cash Behind America’s Out-of-Control National Surveillance State:
Democratic leaders are full-fledged players in the national surveillance state, right along with Republicans.
http://www.alternet.org/economy/surveillance-state-and-democrats
Armed ground drones to take over battlefields in 5 years:
The United States Army is one-step closer to deploying weaponized robots to the front lines of battlefields following a recent demonstration that’s being largely considered a success.
http://rt.com/usa/robotics-rodeo-ground-drones-512/
Two US soldiers shot near Millington Naval Base:
The US Navy confirms that two people, both soldiers, were injured when a shooter opened fire near Millington Naval Base, just north of Memphis, Thursday afternoon.
http://rt.com/usa/millington-naval-base-shooting-691/
Police Shoot And Kill 13-Year-Old Boy Carrying Pellet Gun :
“I’m devastated,” he said. “There’s a difference between a cold-hearted killer walking down the street with a gun than a little kid walking down the street with a BB gun. There’s something wrong.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/23/andy-lopez_n_4152819.html
Trigger-happy cops face pushback after slew of shootings of the mentally disturbed:
“I heard, bluh, bluh, bluh, the sound of the tool as they broke the door down. There was silence, then a loud bang.”
The shot hit her husband Samuel, a Puerto Rican artist living in New Rochelle, New York, in the chest and left him dying in a pool of blood in their home.
Cop who pepper-sprayed protesters gets $38K in workers’ comp claims:
The workers’ compensation claim “resolves all claims of psychiatric injury” related to Pike’s employment with the university. Watch this YouTube video of the incident posted by asucd:
Locked Up in America: One quarter of the World’s Prisoners –
With well over half the prison population performing victimless crimes.
http://www.criminaljusticedegreehub.com/locked-up-in-america/
Jail the bankers:
Bank of America’s subprime lender Countrywide found guilty of mortgage fraud:
A federal jury Wednesday concluded that Bank of America defrauded mortgage finance firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with a lending program that fast-tracked mortgages ahead of the housing bust.
JPMorgan settlement could cost bank closer to $9 billion:
JPMorgan Chase & Co’s preliminary $13 billion mortgage settlement with the U.S. government could end up costing the bank closer to $9 billion after taxes, because the majority of the deal is expected to be tax deductible, two sources familiar with the matter said.
9 More Banks Are Getting Probed By The DoJ On Matters That Led To JP Morgan Paying $13 Billion:
At least nine banks face probes by the U.S. Department of Justice into their sales of mortgage-backed securities as part of an effort by the task force that reached the $13 billion agreement with JPMorgan Chase & Co <JPM.N>, the Financial Times reported.
http://www.businessinsider.com/ft-doj-probing-9-banks-over-mbs-2013-10
JPMorgan Faces Possible Penalty In Madoff Case:
Federal authorities are preparing to take action in a criminal investigation of JPMorgan Chase, suspecting that the bank turned a blind eye to Bernard L. Madoff’s Ponzi scheme.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/101139049
U.S. jobless claims stay elevated, manufacturing slows:
The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell less than expected last week, but a lingering backlog of applications in California makes it difficult to get a good read of labor market conditions.
http://news.yahoo.com/u-jobless-claims-fall-less-expected-california-backlog-123725046–business.html
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 : 3,393
Cost of War in Iraq & Afghanistan
Total Cost of Wars Since 2001
$1,483,245,130,955
The New Dark Age 