Long missing Iranian scientist Shahram Amiri has finally emerged publicly after over a year of speculation as to his whereabouts. Incredibly enough, and giving a big boost to those who claimed he was kidnapped by Western spy agencies, Amiri showed up at the door of the Pakistani Embassy in Washington DC (which houses the Iranian interest section) asking for help in returning to Iran. Amiri, a nuclear scientist at a Tehran university, disappeared last summer during his pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Iranian officials claimed Amiri had been kidnapped by the United States and with the help of Saudi Arabia. For months the US State Department declined having ever heard of the incident. But earlier this year media reports, citing unnamed US officials, claimed that Amiri had “defected” and has helping the CIA to uncover the truth behind Iran’s civilian nuclear program.

NAZARETH // It is called Spot and Shoot. Operators sit in front of a TV monitor from which they can control the action with a PlayStation-style joystick. The aim: to kill. Played by: young women serving in the Israeli army.

Spot and Shoot, as it is called by the Israeli military, may look like a video game but the figures on the screen are real people – Palestinians in Gaza – who can be killed with the press of a button on the joystick. The female soldiers, located far away in an operations room, are responsible for aiming and firing remote-controlled machine-guns mounted on watch-towers every few hundred metres along an electronic fence that surrounds Gaza. The system is one of the latest “remote killing” devices developed by Israel’s Rafael armaments company, the former weapons research division of the Israeli army and now a separate governmental firm. Antiwar: Israel’s ‘Spot and Shoot’ System Aims to Perfect Joystick Based Warfare Killing Gazans by Remote Just Got a Lot More Convenient.

On July 7, 2010, at “The Spy Museum,” in Washington, D.C., the IRmep sponsored a panel discussion. It was titled: “Israel’s Nuclear Arsenal: Espionage, Opacity and Future.” One of the speakers was the IRmep’s Director, Grant F. Smith. He is the author of the books, “Spy Trade,” “America’s Defense Line” and “Foreign Agents.” Smith underscored in his remarks that President John F. Kennedy tried to stop Israel from developing nuclear weapons. And, that his brother, Robert F. Kennedy, the then-U. S. Attorney General, had “ordered” a then-leading Israeli front group in this country “to register as a foreign agent.” For background on this event and its sponsor, The Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy, go to: irmep.org/Defaults.asp (29 minutes, 04 seconds) AWIP: Obama backs Israel on nuclear conference.

Britain and the US did not believe Iraq's weapons programmes posed a ''substantial threat'' before launching the 2003 invasion that overthrew Saddam Hussein, the inquiry into the war has been told. Former UK diplomat Carne Ross claimed that the Government ''intentionally and substantially'' exaggerated its assessment of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in public documents. Mr Ross, who was First Secretary responsible for the Middle East at the UK's mission to the United Nations from 1997 to 2002, alleged that nuanced intelligence was ''massaged'' into ''more robust and terrifying'' statements about Saddam's supposed WMD. He said in a statement to the inquiry: ''It remains my view that the internal Government assessment of Iraq's capabilities was intentionally and substantially exaggerated in public Government documents during 2002 and 2003. ''Throughout my posting in New York, it was the UK and US assessment that while there were many unanswered questions about Iraq's WMD stocks and capabilities, we did not believe that these amounted to a substantial threat. AWIP: EXPOSED: Bush Planned on Invading Iraq Before 9/11-Part 1 (VIDEO) Daily Mirror: Tony Blair 'intentionally talked up WMD', Iraq inquiry told. The Guardian: Iraq war inquiry: Blair government 'massaged' Saddam Hussein WMD threat.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says the US compelled the UN Security Council to impose sanctions against Iran in order to weaken the country and lay the ground for a military attack. "The world is made to believe once again the lie that Israel's existence is being threatened by a nuclear armed Iran," Mohamad said at the opening of the Breaking the Gaza Siege summit in Kuala Lumpur. He went on to add that these sanctions were adopted despite the fact that Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), had repeatedly stated that there is no evidence of Iran pursuing military nuclear program. Mohamad said that the US followed the same pattern in its previous war against Iraq, and attacked Baghdad after weakening the country by imposing crippling sanctions against it. The former Malaysian premier added, "It is a matter of time before the war criminals in Israel and the United States launch another war of aggression, once Iran has been weakened by sanctions." The one-day International Conference on Breaking the Gaza Siege is expected to conclude with a clear plan on measures and efforts to be undertaken to challenge the siege and eventually put an end to it.

The IDF is preparing for the forceful interdiction of a Libyan sponsored ship allegedly headed for the Gaza Strip, despite lingering criticism over the handling of the interception of a Gaza-bound flotilla on May 31 in which nine people were killed, military sources told Haaretz yesterday. An internal military probe into the incident released yesterday found only professional mistakes in planning and carrying out the operation against the Mavi Marmara. The Libyan ship could come within range of the Gaza-shore tonight, but at this stage it is still unclear whether its captain will opt to head for the Sinai port of El Arish, where it will instead aim for Gaza. In its official log the ship has El Arish as its destination.

Malaysian Volunteer to Gaza claimed Arsenic poisoned on food by Israel military. Noorazaman Mohd Shamsuddin Lifeline For Gaza Malaysia Mission Chief- http://www.lifeline4gaza.org/

We all know that Israeli made products have the numbers 7 2 9 on the BarCode. We know those are the products to boycott….BUT….. what about American and European products that are sold in Israel….. shouldn’t those companies be boycotted as well? I think YES! Below the image is a list of foreign products that I found in a Jerusalem Supermarket recently….. These companies MUST be boycotted as well. Haaretz: Council approves construction of 32 new homes in East Jerusalem. Salem-News: Meet the Dead of the Mavi Marmara. Palestine Monitor: MK Haneen Zoubi: I Joined The Flotilla To Show Israel Is Not A Democracy. PCATI: Exposed
The Treatment of Palestinian Detainees during Operation “Cast Lead” (Full Text).

Israel's diplomatic and defense establishments will hold several meetings this week on how to contend with what some officials described as a "barrage" of international investigations into Israel's conduct. The most disconcerting among them, officials said, is the United Nations committee charged with examining the credibility of Israel's court system in the wake of the Goldstone report on last winter's conflict in Gaza. Two other international probes are soon set to begin over Israel's May raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla - one appointed by the UN's secretary general and the other by the organization's Human Rights Council. The inquiry into the Israeli court system was decided on at a March meeting of the UNHRC in Geneva as part of its continuing effort to monitor Israel's response to the Goldstone report. The panel is charged with examining the efficiency, independence and professionalism of Israel's court system and its adherence to internationally accepted standards. Some Israeli officials have already begun describing it as "a second Goldstone committee."

An Afghan soldier has killed three British troops during a joint patrol in the country's southern province of Helmand, a provincial security official has said. Two more British soldiers were injured in the attack, which took place near Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital of Helmand, where some 9,000 British troops are based as part of the US-led forces, a security source told Reuters on Tuesday. Meanwhile, NATO released a statement saying that three of its soldiers were killed in an attack by militants in southern Afghanistan. Their deaths bring to 36 the number of foreign soldiers killed so far this month in Afghanistan.

Controversy over job 'offers' for election favors boils over again. The controversy over allegations White House officials at least as high as Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel offered two congressional candidates jobs in return for campaign favors, which apparently would violate the law, is reheating – with a claim that one of the candidates colluded with the White House on what story to tell. Judicial Watch, a government watchdog organization, has filed a congressional ethics complaint targeting Pennsylvania Rep. Joe Sestak, a Democrat who has confirmed he was offered a post. Sestak has said publicly he was offered the job if he would agree to withdraw from a Senate primary campaign against Obama favorite Sen. Arlen Specter, another Pennsylvania Democrat. Sestak stated he declined the offer and subsequently won the nomination. Republicans also have called for investigations into ethical issues involved in the White House offer.

Due to popular rage at the ban on reporters and photographers from within 65 feet of the oil spill, Coast Guard admiral Thad Allen has rescinded the ban. Specifically, Allen announced tonight that the media will have full access, as long as they do not interfere with safety or security:

National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen today announced new procedures to allow media free travel within the 20-meter boom safety zones if they have followed simple procedures for credentialing, and provided they follow certain rules and guidelines.

The US has expressed disappointment at Switzerland's decision to free film director Roman Polanski after he was kept under house arrest for eight months over rape charges. The Swiss justice ministry also refused to extradite Polanski to the United States where he is wanted for having unlawful sex with an underage girl in 1977. Swiss authorities made the ruling after they said they had found a "fault" in Polanski's extradition request. They have stressed that the US could not appeal its decision. "We are disappointed by it," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters on Monday. "The rape of a 13-year-old girl by an adult -- who should know better and does know better -- is a crime," he said. "We will continue to seek justice in this case and we will evaluate our options." The Oscar-winning French-Polish director has been a fugitive from the United States, since 1978. He left the country before he could be sentenced for the rape of a 13-year-old after apparently plying her with drugs and champagne. The Independent: So that's OK then. It's fine to abuse young girls, as long as you're a great film director. WSWS: Swiss authorities decide against extraditing Roman Polanski. Time: Why the Swiss Won't Extradite Polanski.

[Speaks for itself...]

60 Minutes interview (Jan. 2004) with former Bush Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neil reveals the secretive nature of the Bush White House, and the clear fact that Bush was determined to invade Iraq long before 9/11.