Iran – Breaking News

Why the Gaza calm crashed?

By Alastair Crooke, Conflicts Forum, January 11, 2009

Many have asked in the wake of Israel’s attack on Gaza, how Hamas, if it saw the consequences of ending the ceasefire — and Hamas did foresee the likelihood of disproportionate Israeli military action — nonetheless could have acquiesced to the inevitable bloodshed — bloodshed that an Israeli army, fixated on restoring its deterrence after its failed 2006 war with Hesballah, would visit on the citizens of Gaza. Some may read into this decision the cynicism of a movement that prioritises resistance; but to do so would be to misread how Hamas analyses their situation and understands the nature of resistance.

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Turkish President Abdullah Gul held a series of talks with Saudi, Egyptian and Iraqi officials in Istanbul on Thursday. Gul… Read More »Turkish president talks with saudi Egyptian and Iraqi officials

Where Principles Go to Die

 In America, Speaking the Truth is a Career-Ending Event

by Paul Craig Roberts

[Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration. He is coauthor of The Tyranny of Good Intentions.]

"The evidence is sitting on the table. There is no avoiding the fact that this was torture."

These are the words of Manfred Nowak, the UN official appointed by the Commission on Human Rights to examine cases of torture. Nowak has concluded that President Obama is legally obligated to prosecute former President George W. Bush and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

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(source: express.uk)

US defence secretary Robert Gates has blocked the release of 44 pictures of foreign detainees abused by their captors, saying it would endanger American soldiers.

The Obama administration filed a brief with the Supreme Court on Friday night saying Mr Gates had invoked new powers blocking the release of the photos.

The American Civil Liberties Union had sued for the release of 21 colour photographs showing prisoners in Afghanistan and Iraq being abused by Americans. Read More »Release of abuse photos blocked