Breaking News and Commentary from Citizens For Legitimate Government 24 Apr 2011

http://www.legitgov.org

All links are here:

http://www.legitgov.org/#breaking_news

ElBaradei suggests war crimes probe of Bush team 22 Apr 2011 Former chief U.N. nuclear inspector Mohamed ElBaradei suggests in a new memoir that Bush administration officials should face international criminal investigation for the "shame of a needless war" in Iraq. Freer to speak now than he was as an international civil servant, the Nobel-winning Egyptian accuses U.S. leaders of "grotesque distortion" in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq invasion, when then-President [sic] George W. Bush and his lieutenants claimed Iraq possessed doomsday weapons despite contrary evidence collected by ElBaradei's and other arms inspectors inside the country.

ElBaradei urges ICC trial of Bush 23 Apr 2011 Former IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei says former US President [sic] George W. Bush and his administration's officials should be put on trial in the "International Criminal Court" (ICC) for waging war on Iraq. ElBaradei in a new memoir, "The Age of Deception," says that the Bush administration officials should face international criminal investigation for the "shame of a needless war" in Iraq.

Internet and 19th century radical publication 25 Apr 2011 Excerpt from "Secularism: Artisan Politics and the Cultures of Nineteenth-Century Naturalism," by Michael Rectenwald, written in connection to 19th century radical periodical publishing, but applicable no less to today’s internet publications like the CLG and WikiLeaks: "The publishing of these radical periodicals was often interrupted by emergencies, such as Charles Southwell's imprisonment for blasphemy, forcing a lapse of at least a month between numbers of the Oracle while William Chilton relocated the publishing of the magazine from Bristol to London in order to take over as its editor. Chilton, [George Jacob] Holyoake, [Charles] Southwell and others continually lamented the exigencies, sacrifices, pains and prosecutions of radical advocacy publishing. Work was long, personal sacrifice was the norm, income was never guaranteed and the publications were produced at great personal risk, including the risk of imprisonment. Add to these dangers the exposure to vehement criticism from other periodicals and the detriments could often seem to outweigh the benefits."

Heavy explosions shake Libya's capital 24 Apr 2011 Big explosions have reportedly rocked the center of Libyan capital city of Tripoli as the battle between revolutionary forces and Muammar Gaddafi loyalists intensifies. The blasts took place at 2210 GMT on Sunday in several parts of Tripoli that has been under intensive fire from NATO fighter jets since Friday, AFP reported. Signals of Libya's state TV have reportedly cut off after the blasts.

U.S. launches Predator drone airstrike in Libya: Pentagon 23 Apr 2011 The Pentagon said a U.S. Predator drone launched the first strike against government targets in Libya on Saturday. The airstrike took place in early afternoon local time, the Pentagon said without notifying the exact targets of the strike. The raid came less than two days after U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that President Barack Obama had approved the use of armed Predator drones in the military 'mission' in Libya.

Libya crisis: US involvement deepens with deployment of Predator drones --John McCain describes Libyan rebels as his 'heroes' as US appears to be attempting renewed effort to relieve siege of Misrata 22 Apr 2011 American involvement in the Libyan crisis appeared to be deepening on Friday following the announcement that US Predator drones would be deployed and praise from an influential senator for the "heroes" of the rebel opposition. John McCain, the most senior Republican on the Senate armed services committee [sociopath] and a strong advocate of intervention in the Libyan civil war, visited the rebel opposition leadership in its eastern stronghold of Benghazi for an "on the ground assessment" of the situation.

Attack of the drones: Obama approves the use of unmanned aircraft in Libya conflict 22 Apr 2011 America turned up the heat on Colonel Gaddafi last night by approving the use of killer Predator drones in Libya. The first U.S. drone attack on pro-government forces was aborted last night because of bad weather. But U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates confirmed that President Barack Obama has given military chiefs the go ahead to launch the state-of-the-art unmanned aircraft that have been so effective in Iraq and against Taliban militants along Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan.

NATO hits near Gaddafi compound, Libya says three dead 22 Apr 2011 NATO jets hit a target near Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's compound in central Tripoli early Saturday, which the government described as a car park but which Reuters reporters said looked like a bunker. Government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim said three people were killed by the "very powerful explosion" near Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziyah compound in the early hours of Saturday.

'Iraqi women sexually abused at US base' 23 Apr 2011 A number of female Iraqi interpreters have accused an American contractor of sexual harassment at a base in the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad. The women said Friday that Christopher J. Kirchmeier, then 26, who worked as a contractor mercenary in charge of security badges and clearances at a base inside Baghdad's Green Zone, sexually harassed them in 2009, The Washington Post reported. Kirchmeier's superiors at L-3 Communications and in the military knew of his behavior for several months but did nothing about it, according to the interpreters and an army officer who supports their claims of harassment.

Two US troops killed in Iraq 23 Apr 2011 The American soldiers have died in an operation in southern Iraq, despite the United States claim that it is not involved in combat operations in the country anymore. "Two US service members were killed yesterday (Friday) while conducting operations in southern Iraq," the forces said without giving further details, Xinhua reported.

Stop the presses, literally in Iraq --The US military praises Iraqi security forces as they crack down on press freedom. (Al Jazeera) 23 Apr 2011 Attacks by Iraqi forces on freedom of the press, in the form of harassment, detention, and assaults on individual journalists, raids of radio stations, the offices of newspapers and press freedom groups have also shown the dark side of Maliki's regime... Maliki's US allies, however, have turned a blind eye to the violence and repression, with the top spokesman for the US military in Iraq praising the same Iraqi units which eyewitnesses have identified as key players in the crackdown while ignoring the outrages attributed to them. In addition to providing training to these units, the US military is currently focused on upgrading the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces, including the creation a national intelligence and operations centre and more sophisticated use and understanding of social media, which some fear may further increase state repression.

US leaves Pakistan base from where drones operated: Report 23 Apr 2011 Pakistan has stopped US forces from using an airbase in Balochistan from where unmanned predator drones were operating, in fresh signs of growing rift between the two countries over the CIA operated strikes. "Yes I can confirm Shamsi air base is no more under the use of American and 150 US personnel stationed at the base have left," NBC reported quoting senior Pakistani military intelligence officials. The reports came hours after US drones struck in North Waziristhan region killing at least 25 people including foreign militants and some women and children.

Protesters arrested outside upstate NY drone base 22 Apr 2011 A protest against armed military drones operated from an upstate New York air base has led to a number of arrests. WSYR-TV in Syracuse reports that about 30 people were charged with minor violations during the demonstration outside Hancock Air National Guard Base that included 250 people at its peak. The Syracuse base is a hub for controlling Reaper drones in combat overseas.

NATO supply route blocked as Imran Khan leads 2-day sit-in [Awesome!] 23 Apr 2011 Thousands of people, led by Pakistani cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan, on Saturday blocked the main supply route for NATO troops in neighbouring Afghanistan to protest against the US drone strikes in the restive tribal regions. Several opposition and Islamist groups as wells as tribal elders have backed the protest led by Imran, the chief of Tehrik-e-Insaf party.

Five oil tankers torched in N. Afghanistan 22 Apr 2011 Armed militants attacked fuel tankers supplying oil to NATO-led troops and torched five vehicles in Baghlan province, some 160 km north of capital city of Kabul, a local official said Friday. "A group of militants opened fire on a line of oil trucks in Sya Chobak area of Dushi district late Thursday night, leaving five tankers on fire," district chief of Dushi Mohammad Khan told Xinhua on Friday.

Bomb kills 5 border police in southern Afghanistan 22 Apr 2011 At least five border policemen were killed and one wounded when a roadside bomb struck their vehicle in the southern province of Kandahar, officials said Friday. "The incident happened in the border town of Spin Boldak late Thursday afternoon, when the police were on patrol," said Ghorzang, a border officer who, like most Afghans, goes by one name.

10 Taliban join gov't in Afghanistan's Kunduz province 16 Apr 2011 Ten armed Taliban militants have given up militancy and joint the government on Saturday in Kunduz province, some 250 km north of capital city of Kabul, provincial police chief said. "A 10-member group of Taliban under Mullah Ahmad Shah surrendered to security officials in Dasht-e-Archi district this morning," Kunduz provincial police chief Samiullah Qatra told Xinhua.

U.S. appeals court orders reconsideration of Blackwater case 23 Apr 2011 An appeals court in the U.S. on Friday ordered the reconsideration of the charges against four Blackwater mercenaries involved in a deadly shooting of Iraqi citizens in 2007, more than a year after a lower court dismissed those charges. Appellate judges Douglas Ginsburg, Merrick Garland and Stephen Williams ruled that Ricardo Urbina, a federal judge who dismissed those charges in December 2009, "made a number of systemic errors based on an erroneous legal analysis." They asked Urbina to reconsider whether any evidence was tainted.

Yemen businesses close against Saleh 23 Apr 2011 Shops and businesses have shut down across Yemen in protest against the rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Up to 90 percent of shops, markets and schools were closed in Yemen's southern port city of Aden, Reuters reported Saturday, adding that the streets were mostly deserted. Many businesses were also closed for the day in the cities of Taizz, Yemen's third city, and Hudaydah on the Red Sea.

Yemen arrests defectors to opposition 22 Apr 2011 Authorities in Yemen have arrested several military officers for joining the anti-government campaign, which is calling for President Ali Abdullah Saleh's ouster. Since the beginning of anti-government protests across Yemen, a huge number of President Saleh's loyalists, tribal allies, ranking government officials and military figures have defected to the opposition. The string of defections has dealt a heavy blow to Saleh's authority.

Israeli car ad boasts run over of kids 21 Apr 2011 A new photo advertisement of a Japanese car in Israel has drawn considerable outrage for its implied promotion of running over Palestinian kids. The commercial advertisement, published by a Subaru dealership in Israel, features the scene photographed last year, when an Israeli settler struck two Palestinian children with his car in the East al-Quds (Jerusalem) neighborhood of Silwan before speeding away, Xinhua reported on Thursday. "We'll see who can stand against you," reads the Hebrew line to the right corner of the picture.

Judge cancels hearing on Twitter users' challenge to feds' WikiLeaks investigation in Va. 22 Apr 2011 A court hearing challenging the government's tactics in a criminal investigation of the WikiLeaks website has been canceled. Three Twitter users are challenging the government’s attempts to obtain some of their account information as part of a wider probe into WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange. A federal magistrate in Alexandria has already ruled in favor of the government, and prosecutors say the Twitter users' appeal is delaying their investigation.

LAPD helicopter forced to land by gunfire 24 Apr 2011 Police have fired tear gas into a building where they believe a suspected shooter is holed up after a police helicopter was shot and forced to land early Sunday morning in Van Nuys. The Los Angeles Times reports that residents of several apartment buildings were evacuated before police attempted to smoke out a suspected gunman. At least one suspect, a 20-year-old, is under arrest. Detectives believe he used a rifle.

FBI identifies suspect in attempted bombing at Colorado mall --FBI issues nationwide alert in search for Earl Albert Moore, who was seen on surveillance video 24 Apr 2011 The FBI identified a 65-year-old man with a raft of aliases as the suspect in the attempted bombing of a suburban shopping mall on the anniversary of the Columbine massacre and issued a nationwide alert Sunday, warning that he is probably armed and dangerous. Earl Albert Moore is the lone suspect in the case, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said. It listed five aliases for him and said he had an "extensive" criminal background.

9/11 Responders to be Warned They Will be Screened By FBI's Terrorism Watch List --Provision added in an by Republican Rep. Cliff Stearns (FL) during debate over bill last May; Democrats accepted 21 Apr 2011 A provision in the new 9/11 health bill may be adding insult to injury for people who fell sick after their service in the aftermath of the 2001 'Al Qaeda' attacks, The Huffington Post has learned. The tens of thousands of cops, firefighters, construction workers and others who survived the worst terrorist assault in U.S. history and risked their lives in its wake will soon be informed that their names must be run through the FBI’s terrorism watch list, according to a letter obtained by HuffPost.

3 suspicious passengers taken off United flight --Everyone was taken off the plane for a security sweep. 22 Apr 2011 A United flight had to return to the Denver International Airport gate Thursday night because of three suspicious passengers on board. The flight was United Flight 593 to Orange County. According to reports, Denver Police boarded the plane after it returned to the gate and arrested four people. According to the Transportation Security Administration, the four suspects were questioned in the terminal and were released.

TSA airport screener charged in distributing child pornography --Homeland Security agents arrested the TSA officer March 24, and he is being held without bail. 23 Apr 2011 A passenger screener at Philadelphia International Airport is facing charges that he distributed more than 100 images of child pornography via Facebook, records show. Federal agents also allege that Transportation Safety Administration Officer Thomas Gordon Jr. of Philadelphia, who routinely searched airline passengers, uploaded explicit pictures of young girls to an Internet site on which he also posted a photograph of himself in his TSA uniform.

Japan deploys 25,000 troops in search for disaster victims --Two-day operation involving aircraft, boats, divers and robots will scour towns and areas up to 12 miles out to sea 24 Apr 2011 Thousands of Japanese troops are to resume their search for the bodies of people killed in last month's earthquake and tsunami, although hopes that many will be recovered are fading. Around 14,300 people are confirmed to have died in the 11 March disaster, but more than 12,000 others are unaccounted for. Almost 25,000 troops will be deployed, along with about 90 helicopters and planes, 50 boats and 100 navy divers, to search the remains of devastated towns as well as areas up to 12 miles out to sea.

New concerns over swine flu jab after children given it 'hit by sudden sleep syndrome' --Seven reported cases of narcolepsy in UK linked to GlaxoSmithKline vaccine 23 Apr 2011 A swine flu vaccine which has been given to thousands of children in Britain may cause the sleep disorder narcolepsy. Symptoms include excessive daytime sleepiness and nodding off suddenly without warning. All packets of the vaccine Pandemrix will have to carry a warning about the risk following a ruling by the EU regulator, the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

JPMorgan Chase Settles Military Foreclosure Claims 22 Apr 2011 Banking giant [terrorist group] JPMorgan Chase & Co., which admitted earlier this year that it had improperly overcharged thousands of military families on their mortgages and foreclosed on the homes of servicemembers in Iraq and Afghanistan, will pay $26 million to settle the class action lawsuit that brought the activity to light. Marine Capt. Jonathan Rowles and his wife, Julia, filed the suit, which accused Chase of ignoring the protections they were due under a federal law known as the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.

Several hurt when tornado touches down at St. Louis airport 22 Apr 2011 An apparent tornado tore through a section of St. Louis' Lambert Field on Friday, lifting the roof off a concourse, injuring several people and forcing the airport's closure. Planes were diverted to other locations as emergency crews probed the debris for more wounded. The storm lifted the roof off Concourse C and sent plate glass flying everywhere.

Activists occupy oil rig in fight to prevent Arctic drilling --Environmental groups fear oil industry is not prepared for potentially catastrophic impact of oil spills in the Arctic 22 Apr 2011 The fight to stop the global oil industry exploring the pristine deep waters of the Arctic has been dubbed the new cold war, and early on Friday it escalated as environmental activists from 12 countries occupied the world's second largest rig on its way from Turkey to Greenland to drill among the icebergs. The protesters found the 52,000-tonne semi-submersible platform Leiv Eiriksson at around midnight, steaming due west at a stately six knots in the sea of Marmara, heading for the Dardanelle straits and the open Mediterranean.

CLG needs your support.
http://www.legitgov.org/donate.html
Or, please mail a check or money order to CLG:
Citizens for Legitimate Government (CLG)
P.O. Box 1142
Bristol, CT 06011-1142
Contributions to CLG are not tax deductible.

Those who wish to be added to the list can go here: http://www.legitgov.org/#subscribe_clg and add your name.