After 5+ years, how are the "wars" going?
Afghanistan (5+ years into the war, Bush's handpicked puppet leader can't even walk the streets!)
● Authorities probe attack on Afghanistan's president Attempts on Afghan president's life. US Marines deploying in Afghanistan for first time in years. Defense Min.: Afghan president safe after fleeing gunfire. KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Afghan security officials hunted Monday for suspects in the attempted assassination of President Hamid Karzai during an attack that killed three people and underscored the fragility of his U.S.-backed government. Militants also wounded eight people when they fired rockets and automatic rifles at Karzai and other dignitaries during a Sunday ceremony in Kabul to mark the mujahedeen victory over the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the assault, which sent Karzai and foreign ambassadors scurrying for cover. Three of the attackers were killed, the government said, but the Taliban said additional attackers were involved.
Iraq (5+ years later, the most secure area of Iraq, the "Green Zone", is regularly under attack!)
● American, Iraqi troops kill 38 militants in Baghdad. BAGHDAD (AP) -- American and Iraqi troops killed 38 militants in the fiercest clashes with militants in weeks in Baghdad, including 22 who attacked a military checkpoint in a Shiite militia stronghold, the U.S. military said Monday. Suspected Shiite extremists, apparently taking advantage of a sandstorm that blanketed the capital, attacked several checkpoints and hammered the U.S.-protected Green Zone in the fiercest salvo in weeks on Sunday. The sandstorm had grounded the American aircraft that normally prowl for launching teams. Attacks continued Monday morning as insurgents lobbed more rockets or mortar shells toward the Green Zone, which houses the U.S. embassy and much of the Iraqi government on the west side of the Tigris River, benefiting from continued limited visibility that gave cover to the launching teams. Alarms could be heard and the public address system in the area warned residents to take cover and stay away from windows.
● 'Disneyland' comes to Baghdad with multi-million pound Green Zone entertainment park
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Democracy NOW! DISH channels 9410 & 9415, DirecTV channel 275:
Scott Ritter: By Releasing Intel, U.S. Endorses Israel’s Illegal Bombing of Alleged Syrian Nuke Site
The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog group Mohamed El Baradei has criticized the United States for withholding intelligence that it says showed the construction of a nuclear reactor in Syria that Israel bombed in September. The International Atomic Energy Agency chief was critical of both the U.S. delay in releasing the information and of Israel’s bombing of the site before the IAEA could inspect it. We speak with former UN weapons inspector in Iraq, Scott Ritter.
The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog group Mohamed El Baradei has criticized the United States for withholding intelligence that it says showed the construction of a nuclear reactor in Syria that Israel bombed in September. The International Atomic Energy Agency chief was critical of both the US delay in releasing the information and of Israel’s bombing of the site before the IAEA could inspect it. Syrian officials say the site was an unused military facility under construction.
On Thursday, top U.S. intelligence officials presented lawmakers evidence they said proved Syria was building a nuclear reactor with North Korean assistance. Among the evidence they displayed were pictures–said to have been obtained by Israel–allegedly taken inside the facility showing the reactor core being built. Officials said the US believed the site was nearing operational capability but they declared “low confidence” the site played a role in a Syrian nuclear weapons program.
Meanwhile the Syria Ambassador to the United States Imad Moustapha dismissed the allegations.
For more we are joined on the telephone by Scott Ritter. He is a former UN weapons inspector in Iraq and is author of “Target Iran: The Truth About the White House”s Plans for Regime Change."
Scott Ritter, Ritter served from 1991 to 1998 as a United Nations weapons inspector in Iraq in the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM). He is author of “Target Iran: The Truth About the White House”s Plans for Regime Change."
● Watch Democracy NOW! Video (click here)
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Also from DN!
Former Marine Returns to Iraq as Embedded Photographer Only to Be Ordered Home
James Lee is a former Marine from California who served two tours of duty in Iraq in 2001 to 2004. He’s been back in Iraq more recently—this time as an embedded photographer. Lee is now a journalism student at San Francisco State University and filed reports from Iraq for the college newspaper, the “Golden Gate XPress.” But earlier this month Lee was abruptly de-embedded. On April 2nd, just before General Petraeus was due to brief Congress on progress in Iraq, Lee was ordered to leave Basra.
James Lee is a former Marine from California who served two tours of duty in Iraq in 2001 to 2004. He’s been back in Iraq more recently—this time as an embedded photographer. Lee is now a journalism student at San Francisco State University and filed reports from Iraq for the college newspaper, the “Golden Gate XPress.” But earlier this month Lee was abruptly de-embedded. On April 2nd, just before General Petraeus was due to brief Congress on progress in Iraq, Lee was ordered to leave Basra. He had only been there for a day. I spoke to Lee while on the road in Santa Barbara, California.
James Lee, former Marine from California who served two tours of duty in Iraq in 2001 to 2004. He is now a journalism student at San Francisco State University and filed reports from Iraq for the college newspaper, the “Golden Gate XPress.”
● Watch Democracy NOW! Video (click here)
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● Bank bail-outs to be kept secret. The Bank of England has imposed a permanent news blackout on its £50bn-plus plan to ease the credit crunch. 'Lesser of two evils': The Bank of England will guard the names of credit-crunch banks with unprecedented levels of secrecy. Ferocious and unprecedented secrecy means taxpayers will never know the names of the banks that have been supported through the special liquidity scheme, which was unveiled by Bank Governor Mervyn King last week. Requests under the Freedom of Information Act are to be denied. Details will be kept secret even after 30 years - the period after which all but the most sensitive state documents are released.
● 1,000 flee foothill homes as wildfire burns near Los Angeles
Special commentary by Big Dan, about sharks: "Sharks are in the water. Stay out of the water. Only once did I see a shark out of the water. He was in a VW Vanagon, pretending to deliver flowers to customers. Saturday Night Live had good news coverage of this "land shark" years ago. It's a good thing the parents in this article had a 'close eye on their kids' as they were swimming in the ocean, this way, when the great white shark started chomping on them, they could say, 'Hey! I think a shark's eating our kids!!!'"
● Californians head to the coast but keep eye out for sharks. SOLANA BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- Beachgoers looking to escape triple-digit temperatures inland stayed cautiously along the water's edge on Sunday as miles of sea front remained closed following a deadly shark attack near San Diego. Parents kept close watch over their bodyboarding or wading children, looking up with alarm at pods of dolphins whose fins broke the glassy water beyond the surf. There was no sign of the shark, believed to be a great white about 15 feet long, that killed triathlete David Martin on Friday. Coast Guard and San Diego County sheriff's helicopters continued to patrol the coastline, watching for signs of trouble.
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Has anything ever risen in price every single day for weeks, in history???
● Pray-in at S.F. gas station asks God to lower prices. Rocky Twyman has a radical solution for surging gasoline prices: prayer.
● Prayers For Lower Gas Prices Brought To California. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ― A choir director who hopes prayer can bring down high gas prices is trying out his approach at some of the costliest pumps in the country.
● The New Daily NEPA/AAA DAILY GAS RECORD:
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton Regular Mid Premium Diesel
Current $3.613 $3.808 $3.977 $4.444
Yesterday $3.603 $3.799 $3.966 $4.439
Month Ago $3.258 $3.435 $3.586 $4.250
Year Ago $2.846 $3.000 $3.133 $2.928
Highest Recorded Price:
Regular Unl. $3.613 4/28/2008
Dsl. $4.444 4/28/2008
