03/31/12

Permalink Thousands in US to march to seek justice for Trayvon Martin

Thousands of people are expected to march in the US city of Sanford to call for justice for the slain African American teenager Trayvon Martin, who was shot by a neighborhood watch captain.

The rally organized by the prominent civil rights organization, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), is the third major rally in Sanford since the incident.

Protesters are expected to march about a mile to the steps of the Sanford Police Department on Saturday to demand justice and answers in the murder case of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old, who was shot on Feb 26 in his father’s gated community by George Zimmerman.

Zimmerman, who says he acted in self-defense, claimed that the victim punched him, knocked him to the ground and slammed his head into the pavement repeatedly before he fired the gunshot. He has not been charged.

Before the incident, Zimmerman told a police dispatcher he thought Martin, who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, looked suspicious and said he had decided to follow the teenager.

Recently released police security video shows Zimmerman shortly after the shooting without any injuries to his head or face visible on camera.


Permalink Sen. Rand Paul blocks Iran sanctions bill, calls for ‘thoughtful debate’ before we start another war

The Senate was about to pass a bi-partisan bill imposing tough sanctions on Iran through "unanimous consent" - that means no floor debate or discussion. - But Rand Paul, Kentucky's 'Tea Party' senator, objected, which immediately prevents the easy passage. According to a notice from his office, Paul wants insert an amendment, "that would ensure that nothing in the act shall be construed as a declaration of war or an authorization of the use of force against Iran or Syria, and that any such use of force must be authorized by Congress." Manu Raju from Politico also has the story:

"Our young men and women, our soldiers, deserve thoughtful debate," Paul, the tea party freshman with libertarian leanings, said on the floor. "Before sending our young men and women into combat, we should have a mature and thoughtful debate over the ramifications of war, over the advisability of war and over the objectives of war."


Permalink US Blocking Investigation of Afghan Massacre, Bales’s Lawyer Says

The inconsistency of the official story and the Pentagon's apparent attempt to hide evidence smacks of a government cover-up. - The lawyer defending the U.S. soldier accused of murdering 17 Afghan civilians said on Friday U.S. authorities are blocking his ability to investigate the incident. “We are facing an almost complete information blackout from the government which is having a devastating effect on our ability to investigate the charges preferred against our client,” said John Henry Browne, who is defending the accused Staff Sgt. Robert Bales. Staff Sgt. Robert Bales has been charged with murdering eight adults and nine children in cold blood. But the official story – that he left his base to kill only once and that he acted alone – has been challenged by eyewitnesses and other Afghan villagers.


Permalink Why Does The Department Of Homeland Security Need 450 Million Hollow Point Bullets?

Somebody out there has decided that the Department of Homeland Security needs a whole lot of ammunition. Recently it was announced that ATK was awarded a contract to provide up to 450 million hollow point bullets to the Department of Homeland Security over the next five years. Is it just me, or does that sound incredibly excessive? What in the world is the DHS going to do with 450 million rounds? What possible event would ever require that much ammunition?


Permalink Attack on WikiLeaks mounts as cables are withheld

The Australian government has renewed its attacks on WikiLeaks, condemning the transparency group for "reckless, irresponsible and potentially dangerous" disclosures of secret information. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has also delayed release, under freedom of information, of sensitive Australian diplomatic cables relating to Julian Assange until after a legal challenge to the WikiLeaks founder's extradition to Sweden has been decided. The delay follows expressions of concern by United States authorities about disclosure of US-Australian discussions about WikiLeaks.


Permalink One Killed, 37 Injured, by Israeli troops Gunfire in Gaza Land Day Protests

A Palestinian 20 year old youth was killed, 37 injured, among them a journalist when Israeli troops opened fire at Palestinian protesters marking land day in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian sources reported that soldiers opened fire at protesters who marched up to the borders with Israel near Gaza city killing Mohamed Zakout, 20, and injuring 37 others. Among those injured were 3 in critical conditions and a local journalist.

In the West Bank Israeli troops injured 100 civilians including an American activist who marked land day in different parts of the West Bank today.

Marking the 36th anniversary of land day today Palestinians and their supporters marched for Jerusalem demanding an end to the Israeli occupation of the city. Protests were organized near the Israeli Lebanese borders as well as the borders with Jordan.

The Land day commemoration started in 1976, when Palestinian residents of the Galilee to the Negev protested Israel’s plan to expropriate thousands of dunams of land for security and settlement purposes. Israeli military and police attacked the protests leaving 6 killed, hundreds injured.

IMEMC: On Land Day; Israel Orders West Bank Sealed For 24 Hours
PIC: IOF troops injure dozens of Palestinian, arrest 30 youth in Eisaweyyah
PIC: Palestinian youth killed and dozens, including journalist injured in Gaza

Tighe Barry: Commemorating Palestinian Land Day in Jordan
Ghada Karmi: THE GLOBAL MARCH TO JERUSALEM:
AN ACT OF HOMAGE TO A PRECIOUS CITY IN DANGER


Permalink Former head of Russian SVR foreign intelligence service commits "suicide"

(Wayne Madsen:) Veteran KGB officer in Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Former Russian spymaster Leonid Sherbarshin believed, along with British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook (head of MI-6 and GCHQ), that "Al Qaeda" was a notion, not a group. Both Sherbarshin and Cook died suddenly and suspiciously.


Permalink CORRUPTION IN SPAIN AND THE JUDICIAL ‘FRAMING’ OF JUDGE BALTASAR GARZÓN REAL (Part one)

Born in 1955, from a working-class Andalucian family, Baltasar Garzón Real was a radical newcomer in a court which was yet to recover from the Francoist dictatorship. - On 17 January 2012 Judge Baltasar Garzón Real walked into one of the ornate courtrooms of the Spanish Supreme Court, which is housed in the former convent known as the Palacio de las Salesas Reales, and followed his lawyer to the red velvet chair opposite the prosecution, and before seven judges of the Spanish Tribunal Supremo - Supreme Court. He was appearing as defendant in the first of three cases brought against him by private parties. This is possible under Spanish law. The case had been brought by defence lawyers and their clients, businessman Francisco Correa and his right hand man Pablo Crespo. Correa and Crespo cultivated links with officers of the Partido Popular - Popular Party, have been in gaol since 12 February 2009, and they and their associates are accused of bribery, money laundering and tax evasion. On 9 February the Court, in a sentence which is not subject to appeal, handed down an 11-year ban on Judge Garzón holding office. Judge Garzón is now 56; he will be 68 by the end of the debarment. The decision is likely to end his legal career.


Permalink US terror drone kills 18 in southern Somalia

At least 18 people have been killed and a dozen others injured in an attack by US assassination drones in southern Somalia, Press TV reports.

The causalities come after an unmanned aircraft fired several missiles at al-Shabab positions in the Daynile District in west Mogadishu on Saturday.

Hussein Mohamed Uraag, a Somali military official, confirmed the attack, saying the aerial strike happened early in the morning.

The US military uses remote-controlled drones in Somalia to carry out reconnaissance operations and targeted killings. The US has been using its drones in other countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen and Libya. The attacks have led to massive civilian deaths.

The UN has slammed the US drone attacks as targeted killing and says they pose a challenge to international law.


Permalink Sarkozy uses his propaganda bounce from the Merah false flag attacks to round up Islamists

Whether its the Frank Murrah Building or Mohamed Merah shootings, its false flags followed by false news, 24x7. Related story: Merah visited Israel. Merah visit approved by Israeli security. Just like Israel frequent visitor Mohammed Atta. (Wayne Madsen) - Police in France have arrested 19 suspected Islamist militants and seized weapons in a series of dawn raids, President Nicolas Sarkozy says. The raids were in Toulouse, the home of gunman Mohamed Merah, and other cities. Merah, who killed seven people in three separate attacks, was buried in Toulouse on Thursday after being killed in a shoot-out with police on 22 March. Police have been hunting possible accomplices but sources said there was no direct link with the raids. Mr Sarkozy told Europe 1 radio after Friday's raids: "It's our duty to guarantee the security of the French people. We have no choice. It's absolutely indispensable."


Permalink PetroChina overtakes Exxon as biggest oil producer

US giant Exxon Mobil has lost its crown as the world's biggest listed producer of oil to PetroChina, figures suggest. - The Chinese firm said it produced 886.1 million barrels of oil last year - the equivalent of 2.43 million barrels a day. In January, Exxon said it produced 2.3 million barrels a day. Exxon's production fell in 2011 by 5%, while PetroChina's rose 3.3%. Exxon remains the more valuable firm, with a market capitalisation of $400bn (£250bn) against PetroChina's $280bn. The development comes as US President Barack Obama proposed scrapping subsidies and tax breaks for oil companies "raking in record profits". Exxon remains more profitable than PetroChina, making a net profit in the final three months of last year of $9.4bn. According to figures from the Reuters news agency, state-owned PetroChina made $4.7bn over the same period.


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