When US/NATO began its invasion of the Marjah farming region, the general consensus among analysts was that the offensive, the single largest operation since the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan against a relatively anonymous little town in the middle of nowhere, was mostly a “PR” invasion to sell the continued to an increasingly skeptical Western public. But it is increasingly clear that wasn’t the whole story.

The captured ringleader of the Jundallah terrorist group, Abdolmalek Rigi, was scheduled to meet US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke at the Manas Air Base for talks on waging an insurgency against the Islamic Republic of Iran, a journalist says. Rigi had planned to meet a high-profile US official at the Manas Air Base near Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek. This senior US official must have been Holbrooke, who was in Kyrgyzstan to visit the only US air base in Central Asia, the IRNA news agency quoted journalist Wayne Madsen as saying on Saturday. (Asia Times: Holbrooke: An AfPak star over Central Asia. ) Webster Tarpley: The Battle for Baluchistan: Iran Nabs Top NATO Terrorist with Help from Pakistan VIDEO + Article

Thousands of dead fish washed up on the shores of a popular beachside lagoon in Rio over the weekend, offending joggers' olfactory senses and leading the city to fight the stench with disinfectant. The official state news service Agencia Brasil said about 100 city employees working full-time cleared nearly 80 tons of fish as of Sunday. There was no immediate estimate of how many died, but several species were involved.

Rio's environmental secretary speculated that increased levels of a harmful algae may be the immediate cause of the sudden die-off Friday. She told Globo's G1 Web site that authorities were still investigating, but the problem was not affecting the fish anymore. The smell of rotting fish dampened runners' and cyclists' usual enthusiasm for leisurely jaunts along the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon's paths. The 2-square-mile (4.5-square-kilometer) body of water is just north of Rio's Ipanema Beach. A canal connects it to the Atlantic. MSNBC: Thousands of dead fish raise stink at Rio lagoon. 3News New Zealand: Thousands of dead fish raise stink at Rio lagoon.

Using fossil fuel in vehicles is better for the environment than so-called green fuels made from crops, according to a government study seen by The Times. The findings show that the Department for Transport’s target for raising the level of biofuel in all fuel sold in Britain will result in millions of acres of forest being logged or burnt down and converted to plantations. The study, likely to force a review of the target, concludes that some of the most commonly-used biofuel crops fail to meet the minimum sustainability standard set by the European Commission.

Here’s a blast from the past. Dr. James Hansen’s view in 1989 seemed a lot more temperate than it does today. Back then, he’s ready to accede to a study that says something counter to what his theory predicts, saying “I have no quarrel with it”. Today, he uses labels like “deniers” (see here) when such contradictory essays and facts are made public. What a difference 20 years makes. And even back then, with no firm evidence in hand, Gore was pushing to cede White House environmental policy to “world policy”.

In early 2007, B'Tselem launched a camera distribution project in which it supplies video cameras to Palestinians living in areas in the Occupied Territories where confrontations commonly occur. The project’s objective is to aid Palestinians under occupation to bring the reality of their lives to the attention of the Israeli and international public, expose violation of their rights, and demand redress. There is no law prohibiting filming, including during operational activity, and that filming is forbidden only if its aim is to obtain confidential information or if it disturbs ongoing army activity. They also pointed out that the forces serving in the field have been given explicit directives regarding the matter.

"Iran is not just a challenge for Israel. I believe it is a challenge for the whole world," Barak said in a speech in Washington. "I can hardly think of a stable world order with a nuclear Iran."

[Editor's Comment:] ■ Barak is a war criminal. Israel has nuclear weapons. Israel does in fact endanger world stability and has been doing so for a long time. Israel wants war. ■ Ahmadinejad is not a war criminal. Iran is not developing nuclear weapons. Iran will not endanger world stability. Iran wants peace. ■ Barak's statement ("I can hardly think of a stable world order with a nuclear Iran.") therefore means that Barak can hardly think or that he's lying. As for "the whole world", it can speak for itself. -It probably thinks nothing of Mr. Barak and is not unduly worried about Iran. It is however seriously worried about a shitty little state in the Middle East. Needless to say, "the world" is fed up with it.

The Israeli Embassy in Madrid has recently been received hundreds of schoolchildren's letters protesting against Tel Aviv's conduct toward the Palestinians. One letter directed at Israel's ambassador in Madrid, Rafael Shotz, asked, "How many Palestinians have you murdered today?" Another read, "Mr. Ambassador, you should think about not killing the Palestinian children and elderly. I don't know if it doesn't bother you, having to murder people. You should leave Palestine."

Israel has blockaded all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than two years. The illegal Israeli imposed blockade on the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the coastal enclave. Some 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education. Poverty and unemployment rates stand at approximately 80% and 60% respectively in the Gaza Strip. Jeff Gates: Criminal State Documentary -VIDEO.

The final moments of a Hamas enforcer murdered in his Dubai hotel room have been revealed. Police have confirmed Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was drugged and then suffocated, to make it look like he died of natural causes. The findings come as British police arrived in Israel to investigate how at least six passports belonging to Britons living in Israel were used by suspects in the killing. AWIP: 'Netanyahu authorized Dubai assassination'. Sydney Morning Herald: It is time for Israel's friends to condemn its acts of terrorism. PressTV: 2 suspected Dubai assassins escaped to US.

Has the NY Times response to the complaints about Ethan Bronner led it to be even more forceful in pushing its pro-Israel agenda including getting the US to attack Iran? Apparently so. In today’s op-eds, they’ve imported the thoughts of a British Jewish professor, Efraim Karsh, (another Bernard Lewis, and a Nakba denier) who uses his abbreviated paternalistic version of Islamic history to conclude that the Arabs countries will not object to the US attacking Iran. And, in passing, he welcomes Washington’s less "imperious" attempts at bringing Israel to the bargaining table

Rescue workers in central Chile are searching for survivors under the rubble of collapsed buildings, a day after one of the world's most powerful earthquakes struck the South American country. At least 708 people were killed in the 8.8-magnitude earthquakethat rocked the nation early on Saturday, Michelle Bachelet, Chile's outgoing president, said in an address to the nation on Sunday. But officials warned that the toll could rise as rescue workers dig through debris to unearth scores of people believed trapped beneath the rubble. Examiner: Chilean earthquake generated tsunami affects entire Japanese Pacific coastline. + Athlete from Chile stays in Vancouver to represent country in Winter Games closing ceremony. Breitbart: Coastal damage in Chile -VIDEO. Shanghai Daily: Quake, tsunamis kill more than 700 in Chile.

European Union data privacy regulators are telling Google Inc. to warn people before it sends cameras out into cities to take pictures for its Street View maps, adding to the company's legal worries in Europe. Google should shorten the time it keeps the original photos from one year to six months, regulators also said in a letter to the company obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday. In a statement, Google said its need to retain Street View images for one year is "legitimate and justified."

One of the defenses that John Yoo and Jay Bybee made in response to the OPR Report with which I’m sympathetic is the argument that, if they are going to be held accountable, so should all the other Executive Branch lawyers who approved of torture. Jay Bybee even included a pretty little graph of all the other lawyers who approved torture (I’ve excerpted the list at the end of the post). To support his case that everyone in the Bush Administration signed off on this torture, Bybee included extensive descriptions of the approval top Bushies gave to torture (though he admittedly seems to have forgotten to include Cheney and Addington–maybe that has something to do with the defense fund that got set up around the time this letter got drafted).

A man died in a central China detention house with cut-off nipples, injured penis and a hole in his head, while police claimed he died from an acute disease after drinking a cup of water. Wang Yahui died three days after being taken into custody as a theft suspect in Lushan County, Henan Province. The police informed Wang's family on February 22 that he had died from an acute disease, but Wang's family found it hard to believe when they saw the damaged body, Chongqing Evening News reported yesterday. Wang's aunt surnamed Wu told the newspaper that the relatives saw big bruises on Wang's back. His nipples were ripped off, skull was fractured, and his penis was covered with injuries. Wu said Lushan police told the family that Wang died during an interrogation but collapsed only after given a cup of hot water.

Polish air traffic control has officially confirmed CIA airplanes did land in their territory in 2003. The admission comes amid reports that Poland also hosted a secret U.S. prison, although that's been denied by the country's leaders. For more analysis, RT talks to Adam Bodnar from the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights.

More invaluable work from the Environmental Justice Foundation, in collaboration with Anti-Slavery International. Their latest thoroughly researched report estimates that one million children were subjected to slave labout during the 2009 cotton harvest in Uzbekistan. This is essential work because it gives the lie to false UK, US and EU claims that the human rights situation under the Karimov regime is "improving", thus "justifying" their continued alliance with Uzbekistan as a logistics base and route for operations in Afghanistan. The full report can be downloaded from HERE. AWIP/Stephen Lendman: Global Sweatshop Wage Slavery. Daily Telegraph: Apple admits using child labour.

[February 12, 2010:] South Korea and Uzbekistan yesterday signed accords to build a chemical plant and develop a gas field in the Central Asian country, after their leaders held a summit in Seoul to discuss measures to boost bilateral economic and political cooperation. The two countries signed a bilateral investment treaty on their $4 billion project to build a chemicals plant and develop a gas field in the Uzbek region of Surgil, South Korea’s presidential office said.

The Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou, told parliament on Friday that the worst fears about Greece's economy had been confirmed. He made the comments following a visit by European Union inspectors, who delivered a grim assessment of the Greek economy. Mr Papandreou said that the previous Conservative administration had "fled from its responsibilities", understating the budget deficit by half. "The damage is incalculable. It is not only financial or fiscal but also affects the position of the state," he said.

In the glorious surroundings of Mystic Monkeys & Feathers Wildlife Park in Pretoria, South Africa, three-week old white lion cub Lily feels safe at last. The rare creature was only born on February 8 to parents Alex and Saharav but had to be taken away for her own safety as her father had begun to show signs of aggression towards her. Now, though, she has found someone much more tranquil to spend her time with; a little cuddly toy panda.

Lilly dozes most of the day on a shaded pile of cushions. Every two hours she is woken and fed. Still toothless, her diet consists of an imported milk product. When she has had her fill, she deigns to make a public appearance to her admiring hordes. Lilly ambles across the grass to the collective 'oohs' and 'aahs', grunting like a hippo. Perhaps not quite so much like a princess, after all, but the public still adore her. 'Some people go crazy,' says park owner Christa Saayman. But what she lacks in elegance, Lilly makes up for in rarity. White lions are classified as a vulnerable species.

A businessman who claimed he was fined by police for blowing his nose while driving has had the case against him dropped. Michael Mancini said he had been given a fixed penalty notice after using a handkerchief while his van was stationary in traffic in Ayr. The 39-year-old refused to pay the £60 fine and the case had been expected to be heard by a court. But prosecutors said no further action would be taken.

Avenging an earlier loss the United States in the preliminary round, the Canadian men’s ice hockey team needed overtime to beat the U.S. team to earn the Gold medal in this year’s Olympic Games in Vancouver. With the loss, the United States earned the Silver medal. Canada had been a heavy favorite to win Gold from the start of the Games, though The U.S. team showed in a preliminary game last Sunday that Canada was not impervious.

Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader, has begun to outline his defence at the resumption of his genocide trial at The Hague in the Netherlands. Karadzic, 64, faces two counts of genocide and nine other counts of murder, extermination, persecution, forced deportation and the seizing of 200 UN hostages. Al Jazeera: Crunch time for Karadzic.

The man picked by China as the second-highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism has been appointed to the country's top legislative advisory body. According to Chinese state media the 19-year-old Panchen Lama was named a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on Sunday.