Two of the wind turbines at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, are seen from the base of the highest of the four new structures. Photo by Kathleen T. Rhem
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Temporary idling of plants could further reduce firm's revenue, analysts warn
...Most of its factories will be closed for up to nine weeks, a person familiar with the planning said. The move would likely send shock waves through the already struggling supplier industry, which does not make money when factories are not using their parts to build cars and trucks.
Thomas Pyden, a GM spokesman, declined to comment Wednesday, saying that "if and when we have production news, our intent is to share it with employees first, and we have had no such announcements."...
Thomas Pyden, a GM spokesman, declined to comment Wednesday, saying that "if and when we have production news, our intent is to share it with employees first, and we have had no such announcements."...
Senator Carl Levin says abuse was systematic
Report vindicates soldiers prosecuted over Abu Ghraib abuses, lawyers say
Lawyer for Charles Graner to seek presidential pardon
Report a 'great opportunity,' says Lynndie England's attorney
...A Senate inquiry published today directly implicates senior members of the Bush administration in the extensive use of harsh interrogation methods against al-Qaida suspects and other prisoners round the world.
The 232-page report, the most detailed investigation yet into the background of torture, undercuts the claim of the then deputy defence secretary, Paul Wolfowitz, that the abuse of prisoners in Iraq was the work of "a few bad apples".
The report's release added to the debate raging within the US after Barack Obama, who regards the techniques as torture, opened the way for possible prosecution of members of the Bush administration.
Carl Levin, the Democratic chairman of the senate armed services committee, which ordered the inquiry, said today: "The paper trail on abuse leads to top civilian leaders, and our report connects the dots." The report shows a paper trail going from the then defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, to Guantánamo to Afghanistan and to Iraq....
Lawyer for Charles Graner to seek presidential pardon
Report a 'great opportunity,' says Lynndie England's attorney
...A Senate inquiry published today directly implicates senior members of the Bush administration in the extensive use of harsh interrogation methods against al-Qaida suspects and other prisoners round the world.
The 232-page report, the most detailed investigation yet into the background of torture, undercuts the claim of the then deputy defence secretary, Paul Wolfowitz, that the abuse of prisoners in Iraq was the work of "a few bad apples".
The report's release added to the debate raging within the US after Barack Obama, who regards the techniques as torture, opened the way for possible prosecution of members of the Bush administration.
Carl Levin, the Democratic chairman of the senate armed services committee, which ordered the inquiry, said today: "The paper trail on abuse leads to top civilian leaders, and our report connects the dots." The report shows a paper trail going from the then defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, to Guantánamo to Afghanistan and to Iraq....
You are going to die "bin.' This time you're going to die.
US signs Afghanistan transit deal with Tajikistan (click here)
1 day ago
DUSHANBE (AFP) — The United States and Tajikistan have agreed a deal on the transit of non-military cargoes for Western operations in Afghanistan, US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher said on Tuesday.
"Yes, it's done," Boucher said in response to a question about the long-expected transit deal with the ex-Soviet republic that neighbours Afghanistan.
The transit of cargoes destined to support Western troops in Afghanistan could begin as soon as one month from now, Boucher said during a visit to the Tajik capital.
Washington has been seeking new routes for supplies to Afghanistan after Kyrgyzstan announced earlier this year that it was closing a key US airbase, and amid increasing instability along the main transit route through Pakistan....
Bin Laden Deputy Mocks Obama`s Strategy for Afghanistan
Monday April 20, 2009 (2116 PST)
(Quqnoos)-Ayman Al-Zawahri, the fugitive deputy of Osama Bin Laden, the top leader of Al Qaeda network in a new internet recording criticises the new plan of the US President Barack Obama to send extra troops to Afghanistan.
Al-Zawahri`s comments were posted on a militant Web site Monday, AP Reports.
The reaction comes as the US President approved in February to send an additional 17,000 troops to the restive Afghan south where the Taliban-led insurgency is mounting.
According to the Associated Press, in the new Internet recording, Ayman al-Zawahri also urges al-Qaida in Iraq to "break the borders" of neighboring countries and liberate Jerusalem from the Israelis.
Osama Bin Laden`s top lieutenant also lashed out at Egypt for mediating talks between rival Palestinian factions.
Al-Zawahri says those talks are aimed at pressuring the Islamic Hamas group to accept peace with Israel.
Osama Bin Laden and Amyan Al Zawahri are the two most wanted Al Qaeda leaders that hold millions of dollars US prize on their heads.
End.
Al-Zawahri`s comments were posted on a militant Web site Monday, AP Reports.
The reaction comes as the US President approved in February to send an additional 17,000 troops to the restive Afghan south where the Taliban-led insurgency is mounting.
According to the Associated Press, in the new Internet recording, Ayman al-Zawahri also urges al-Qaida in Iraq to "break the borders" of neighboring countries and liberate Jerusalem from the Israelis.
Osama Bin Laden`s top lieutenant also lashed out at Egypt for mediating talks between rival Palestinian factions.
Al-Zawahri says those talks are aimed at pressuring the Islamic Hamas group to accept peace with Israel.
Osama Bin Laden and Amyan Al Zawahri are the two most wanted Al Qaeda leaders that hold millions of dollars US prize on their heads.
End.
Eight Taliban militants have reportedly been killed by Afghan security forces and US troops in separate attacks in southern Afghanistan.
Afghanistan's Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday that the insurgents were killed in the province of Uruzgan near the Pakistani border.
According to the US military, another militant was killed and a suspect detained during an operation in neighboring Kandahar....
US asks Pakistanis to snub govt policy
...“Pakistan poses a mortal threat to the security and safety of our country and the world,” Hillary Clinton said. “And I want to take this occasion ... state unequivocally that not only do the Pakistani government officials, but the Pakistani people and the Pakistani diaspora ... need to speak out forcefully against a policy that is ceding more and more territory to the insurgents ... .”“(We) cannot underscore the seriousness of the existential threat posed to the state of Pakistan by the continuing advances now within hours of Islamabad that are being made by a loosely confederated group of terrorists and others who are seeking the overthrow of the Pakistani state.”...
Secretary Clinton is correct in that the Taliban have broken the 'treaty' with the Pakistani government. They have moved out of Swat as they stated they would not do.
And isn't it 'timely' of Perez to leave the country before the Civil War breaks out. Just in time to save his sorry 'butt' to make a comeback when the coast is clear !
And while the Pakistan government continues to meet with Secretary Clinton and Afghanistan, the Taliban are attempting to take a stand. Why not? The Taliban are on the move in Pakistan, why shouldn't they reignite things in Afghanistan.
General: Insurgents targeting southern Afghanistan (click here)
By LARA JAKES – 12 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. troops have reached a stalemate against insurgents in Afghanistan's Taliban-dominated south and so far have been unable to stop attackers from returning, a senior U.S. commander said Wednesday.
An estimated 80 percent of Afghanistan's insurgent attacks now are happening in the nation's southern region, Maj. Gen. Michael S. Tucker said during a Pentagon briefing. He said insurgents have pushed south over the last year after military troops and police largely have thwarted their threats in eastern Afghanistan.
"We're at a stalemate," Tucker said in a 35-minute videoconference call from Afghanistan. "We just simply do not have enough forces to address the needs of the people down there to set the conditions for governance to take hold."...
By LARA JAKES – 12 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. troops have reached a stalemate against insurgents in Afghanistan's Taliban-dominated south and so far have been unable to stop attackers from returning, a senior U.S. commander said Wednesday.
An estimated 80 percent of Afghanistan's insurgent attacks now are happening in the nation's southern region, Maj. Gen. Michael S. Tucker said during a Pentagon briefing. He said insurgents have pushed south over the last year after military troops and police largely have thwarted their threats in eastern Afghanistan.
"We're at a stalemate," Tucker said in a 35-minute videoconference call from Afghanistan. "We just simply do not have enough forces to address the needs of the people down there to set the conditions for governance to take hold."...
I don't think the talks are working. The Taliban will talk all you want while the militias take over the two countries and clear the way from Perez to come back and declare the Taliban and al Qaeda in charge of a nuclear nation.
The Afghan government said it has held positive talks with Taliban militants in an effort to encourage peace in the face of an increasingly bloody insurgency.
Presidential spokesman Humayun Hamidzada said Tuesday officials were in contact with militants at various levels but gave no other details....
...U.S. President Barack Obama has said he would consider holding talks with Taliban militants who are willing to renounce violence and reconcile. The idea is part of his revised strategy to stabilize Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan.
Taliban and other insurgents have made a comeback in Afghanistan, causing the highest level of violence since a U.S.-led coalition ousted the Taliban government in 2001.
Petraeus: "Tough months" ahead in Afghanistan (click here)
By Steve LeBlanc
Associated Press Writer / April 21, 2009
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—Gen. David Petraeus warned Tuesday of "tough months ahead" as the U.S. steps up its presence in Afghanistan to help stabilize the country....
..."We are going to make progress but it's going to get worse before it gets better," Petraeus said. "When you go into an enemy's territory ... they are going to fight you for it."...
No, it isn't the same war all over again. It is many times worse.
The same war all over again (click here)
Redwood Times
Posted: 04/22/2009 09:24:57 AM PDT
To the Editor:
Has it sunk in yet? President Obama recently threw a fast one right past the peace bloc in Congress. These Democrats of varying stripes, including our own Blue Dog Mike Thompson, have in the past voted a righteous No on special war appropriations from the Bush regime. It is shocking to see all but 20 Democrats stamping their approval on $130 billion dollars worth of Live War money coming from the new regime.
By tucking these war appropriations back in the budget under the guise of “transparency,” the money for Afghanistan and Iraq became nothing more than a pair of bloody earmarks, easily “overlooked” in the larger factional struggle over the Democrats’ plan to save corporate capitalism. The Republicans played their part in the two-party charade by sticking to the economic stimulus theme, meanwhile rejecting paying out money for a war Americans are currently killing and dying in!
Dennis Kucinich wasn’t fooled. As one of only two Progressive Caucus members voting No to this sleight of hand, Kucinich said: “I will not vote for a budget that ties military spending to the operational funding of our government. This year, the budget includes $130 billion for war funding.”...
Redwood Times
Posted: 04/22/2009 09:24:57 AM PDT
To the Editor:
Has it sunk in yet? President Obama recently threw a fast one right past the peace bloc in Congress. These Democrats of varying stripes, including our own Blue Dog Mike Thompson, have in the past voted a righteous No on special war appropriations from the Bush regime. It is shocking to see all but 20 Democrats stamping their approval on $130 billion dollars worth of Live War money coming from the new regime.
By tucking these war appropriations back in the budget under the guise of “transparency,” the money for Afghanistan and Iraq became nothing more than a pair of bloody earmarks, easily “overlooked” in the larger factional struggle over the Democrats’ plan to save corporate capitalism. The Republicans played their part in the two-party charade by sticking to the economic stimulus theme, meanwhile rejecting paying out money for a war Americans are currently killing and dying in!
Dennis Kucinich wasn’t fooled. As one of only two Progressive Caucus members voting No to this sleight of hand, Kucinich said: “I will not vote for a budget that ties military spending to the operational funding of our government. This year, the budget includes $130 billion for war funding.”...
Did I tell you? Did I? Yes, I did. I said the Taliban wouldn't stay in Swat. Right? Well, here we go.
Taliban activists are seen at an entrance of the shrine of the famous saint Pir Baba adjacent to a mosque, which was closed by Taliban after taking it over in Buner, 160 kilometers north of Peshawar, Pakistan. -- PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Oh, I love this part. The Taliban are committing a coup. They are throwing out a freely elected government and replacing its authority with Sharia Law, a religous cult.
Where is Musharraf? This is the same garbage that happened before when Benazir Bhutto was accused of crimes and jailed to remove her from government. WHERE IS MUSHARRAF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PESHAWAR (Pakistan) - HUNDREDS of armed Taleban from the scenic north-western valley have entered Buner district, only 110km from the capital Islamabad, officials said on Wednesday.
The militants have set up checkpoints, occupied mosques and ransacked the offices of non-governmental organisations, a local official said.
A Taleban commander said they would set up strict Islamic sharia courts in Buner as they have already done in Swat but would not interfere with police work....
They won't interfer with police work, TODAY. Ah, but, tomorrow after they have control of town after town after town, THEN, they'll not only interfer with police work, but, they'll kill them.
Musharraf has every reason to be siding with a change of power with the assistance of the Taliban. Not only that, but, he would be the Taliban's best buddy because he has knowledge of the nuclear weapons facility.
Musharraf is WANTED.
Do you think he's going to turn himself in?
Noooooo...he'll wait until the anarchy facilitates his return. That'll be what happens next and The West will be left wondering what the 'heck' happened, while he sets out to align with Iran and wipe the USA military in Iraq. Oh, this is just perfect !
Musharraf ruined PAF project, says ex-air chief (click here)
Updated at Thursday, April 23, 2009
By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: Former chief of the Pakistan Air Force Air Chief Marshal Saadat Kaleem has accused the ousted dictator, General Pervez Musharraf, of ruining the PAF’s $1.2 billion Saab Surveillance System deal for possible kickbacks....
MNAs seek exemplary punishment for Musharraf (click here)
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Ask Altaf Hussain to return to Pakistan
By Muhammad AnisISLAMABAD: MNAs belonging to the two major political parties, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, on Tuesday demanded exemplary punishment for Pervez Musharraf for playing havoc with the Constitution and causing irreparable damage to the country....
Dig this. He's on his way to Saudi Arabia. On vacation? Nooooo. He's there to let Saudi Arabia know that the government-military complex would have to formulate a strategy to combat terror. Really? Who is Perez to be conducting himself as if he was still the President-General of Pakistan?
Musharraf calls for govt-mily joint strategy to fight terror (click here)
By: Irfan Bukhari Published: April 20, 2009
ISLAMABAD - While embarking upon a visit to Saudi Arabia to perform Ummrah, former president General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf Sunday said that the government and military establishment would have to devise a joint strategy to combat terror. Talking to media at Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad, Musharraf said that Pakistan was in danger therefore getting stuck in minor and old issues would create further problems. Talking about Swat peace deal, he said that if the deal had been cut for ensuring speedy and cheap justice within Pakistan’s legal structure and system, then it was right and if the agreement had been made against the writ of the government and TNSM wanted to promote its agenda all over the country, then it was dangerous....
I hesitate to say it, but, I haven't heard of any more attacks or deaths.
Boston's Finest did a great job. Congratulations.
...The underpants were described as "mementos" from the crimes, according to another law enforcement official, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity. It was not known from which victims the garments were taken, the officials said. Investigators are testing the gun to determine whether the semi-automatic weapon was used to fatally shoot a 26-year-old masseuse last week at the Boston Marriott Copley Place.
Markoff, 23, is a Boston University medical school student who pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges stemming from attacks against two women in posh Back Bay hotels. Police in Warwick, R.I., say a prostitute who also advertised on Craigslist was attacked in a hotel there last Thursday, but Markoff has not been charged with that crime. No new victims have come forward so far, one of the law enforcement officials said today....
Markoff, 23, is a Boston University medical school student who pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges stemming from attacks against two women in posh Back Bay hotels. Police in Warwick, R.I., say a prostitute who also advertised on Craigslist was attacked in a hotel there last Thursday, but Markoff has not been charged with that crime. No new victims have come forward so far, one of the law enforcement officials said today....
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