Yesterday, just a day before negotiations are scheduled to resume, Israel stages a military operation in Gaza, killing 8 and wounding at least 12.
Short video of events in Gaza from Haaretz
IHT

Posted by: Bea | Dec 12 2007 12:44 utc | 4

Another bombing in Lebanon: Top military general, who was in line to head the army should its current head (Suleiman) become President (as seemed to be the current arrangement worked out around Annapolis), has been assassinated by a large bomb.
< BBC photo essay
AFP Report
TIME

Posted by: Bea | Dec 12 2007 14:41 utc | 6

Rocket Barrage on Sderot
15 Qassams hit the oft-targeted Israeli town; mayor resigns.
Drum beats are beating loud for an invasion of Gaza… I expect it to come very soon.

Posted by: Bea | Dec 12 2007 15:08 utc | 8

For the record, another yesterday (not sure if someone already posted about this):
Truck bombings target UN offices in Algeria, killing 31

Posted by: Bea | Dec 12 2007 15:46 utc | 10

Morgan Stanley issues full US recession alert

Morgan Stanley has issued a full recession alert for the US economy, warning of a sharp slowdown in business investment and a “perfect storm” for consumers as the housing slump spreads.

Posted by: Uncle $cam | Dec 12 2007 18:58 utc | 12

The following post is rated: CD (Critical Discernment)
Iran invasion cancelled by Bilderberger?

A wonderful interview on KPFA with Daniel Estulin in which he reveals that the Iran invasion was cancelled at the recent Bilderberger meeting in Ottawa, much to the displeasure of the American attendees. Daniel’s ‘reliability credentials’ are quite in order for this kind of reporting. He even explains in the interview how he goes about gathering his intelligence on Bilderberger meetings.

Posted by: Uncle $cam | Dec 12 2007 19:26 utc | 14

‘Newfie’ Gwynne Dyer has just written an interesting piece on the unraveling Kosovo conundrum. I have included a link from my local fishwrap, the article will be syndicated through “liberal in name” rags around the planet.
In this article Dyer discusses the the cleft stick the EU nations find themselves in over Kosovo and Russian opposition to independence.
The problem is that while no one likes Russia or their new hydrocarbon pricing structure, and they certainly support some airy fairy wish like “all Kosovars should be free” they like the notion of forcing a sovereign state to fragment against it’s will, even less.
Who? What? Why? could people possibly think that a culturally distinct minority shouldn’t be allowed to up sticks and create their own state?
Well how about Spain (the Basques), Cyprus (the Turks), and Romania (Magyars and Roma). That’s just for a start the english wouldn’t be happy if the welsh or scots rediscovered their balls and flicked away hundreds of years of oppression, neither would France (Basque and Catalan) or probably even Germany – Bernhard; I imagine there are still some minorities in the East who didn’t get free when Germany was carved up after the nazi defeat, aren’t there?
We forget – those of us that live in the ‘New World’, exactly how tribal and bloody ethnic conflicts were throughout Europe. In fact delve too far and you’ll probably find that if your ancestors jumped ship into the New World back before life in the New World was imagined to be materially superior to that of Europe, and you’ll probably find your forebears were fleeing some such conflict. (Mine was Catholic/Protestant, Scots fleeing from english oppression post Culloden, and anti-semitism, a good healthy cross section of what was going around Europe in the 17 and 18 hundreds – yet it’s all forgotten, just one example – probably the most popular stop for my nieces and nephews gathering their post graduation O.E. (Overseas Experience as it is known here) is with the proddy relatives of my great grandmother in Armagh. No one ever mentions why the long lost errant son (her father) had to leave, that he took a catholic wife)
It is worth noting that the most vociferous objection to the succession of Kosovo comes from EU newbies Romania and Cyprus who just don’t understand.
Consistency and precedent have never been an integral part of Western European politics, the imaginative chap who devises the rationale for a Kosavar state is more than capable of finding reasons why it wouldn’t count in Cyprus, or to the Magyars of Romania, as for the gypsies, well no one need worry about that. When is the last time anyone got called a Nazi for telling a good gypsy joke?
Never the less as Dyer points out this is quite a conundrum. There is no way that any support for a Kosovo free from Serbian influence is legal. That and the opposition of the newbies, does raise a much bigger question.
How much longer are we (ordinary shit kickers) going to pledge support for such a manifestly unfair system. A system of laws about sovereignty which has changed little from the days of the divine right of kings to rule?
The only real hope for the future of the human being as an individual is if we can organise ourselves into small (no bigger than a couple of million people) state-lets which are largely self governing apart from the guarantee of basic human rights to all citizens.
Yet it is illegal for even ethnically distinct groups of humans to get together and democratically decide to secede.
Obviously rules about such succession need to quite sophisticated, be developed to prevent situations like Israel from occurring, where culturally distinct geographical groupings have been created by force, but how do we do that?
Until some peak multilateral forum such as the UN general assembly does force a change to international law to legitimise ‘liberation movements’ violence and injustice will prevail. Yet even those African and Asian states created over brandy and cigars at some European town cum holiday resort are unable to lawfully reorganize into more just and administratively sensible sovereign entities, so how the hell are the Kosovars, Roma or Turkomen ever going to be free?

Posted by: Debs is dead | Dec 12 2007 22:43 utc | 16

rip ike turner

Posted by: b real | Dec 13 2007 4:14 utc | 18

human rights watch: Letter to US Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates on Somalia

Dear Secretary Gates,
During your recent visit to Djibouti, a senior Pentagon official accompanying you was quoted by the Washington Post on December 4 as saying “I am unaware of specific allegations regarding the conduct of the Ethiopian troops” in Somalia. We were surprised by this comment, given the extensive public reporting on the Ethiopian military’s abusive conduct. Nevertheless, we write to bring to your attention specific information about serious human rights abuses and violations of the laws of war by Ethiopian troops operating in Somalia. Given the close relationship between the United States and the Ethiopian government, we believe that the United States can do more to curb the abusive behavior of the Ethiopian military and to assist Somalia’s beleaguered population.
…
We ask that the US government, and the Department of Defense in particular, send a very clear message to Addis Ababa to put an end to abuses by its forces and ensure accountability when abuses occur. The US should press the government to provide access to the United Nations, human rights groups and journalists to investigate abuses by all sides both in Somalia and in Ethiopia’s Somali region. It should demand that Ethiopia and the TFG end deliberate and indiscriminate attacks on civilians and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to displaced people and other populations at risk. Consistent with the Leahy Law, the US should deny assistance to any unit of the Ethiopian armed forces that has engaged in human rights abuses. In sum, the US government, and all its agencies and representatives, must send the message – privately, publicly and consistently – that Ethiopia and other parties to the region’s conflicts, will never achieve sustainable peace and security by flouting international human rights and humanitarian law.

don’t expect much in way of a response. the invasion and occupation of somalia is in itself in violation of a long-standing un arms embargo. and before that, the cia was helping out the anti-islamist warlords. anyway, stability & loyalty to u.s. interests historically trump attention to matters of human rights & int’l law. both kenya & ethiopia have been getting away w/ murder thanks to their powerful patron, the largest rogue nation of ’em all.

Posted by: b real | Dec 13 2007 4:46 utc | 20

Speaking of project ARTICHOKE…
Hear Voices? It May Be an Ad

An A&E Billboard ‘Whispers’ a Spooky Message Audible Only in Your Head in Push to Promote Its New ‘Paranormal’ Program
By Andrew Hampp
Published: December 10, 2007
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — New Yorker Alison Wilson was walking down Prince Street in SoHo last week when she heard a woman’s voice right in her ear asking, “Who’s there? Who’s there?” She looked around to find no one in her immediate surroundings. Then the voice said, “It’s not your imagination.”
Indeed it isn’t. It’s an ad for “Paranormal State,” a ghost-themed series premiering on A&E this week. The billboard uses technology manufactured by Holosonic that transmits an “audio spotlight” from a rooftop speaker so that the sound is contained within your cranium. The technology, ideal for museums and libraries or environments that require a quiet atmosphere for isolated audio slideshows, has rarely been used on such a scale before. For random passersby and residents who have to walk unwittingly through the area where the voice will penetrate their inner peace, it’s another story.
Ms. Wilson, a New York-based stylist, said she expected the voice inside her head to be some type of creative project but could see how others might perceive it differently, particularly on a late-night stroll home. “I might be a little freaked out, and I wouldn’t necessarily think it’s coming from that billboard,” she said.
Less-intrusive approach?
Joe Pompei, president and founder of Holosonics, said the creepy approach is key to drawing attention to A&E’s show.

This one definitely crosses the line.
And arguably gives credence to alleged victims of harassment. Anyone remember ‘Son of Sam’ and his orders from a dog?
As we know, the military is always 30 or 40 years ahead of what the public is aware of.
The Army’s thesaurus lists airport scarecrow as one use for voice to skull technology.
I ran across news of this technology several months ago but didn’t post about it.
In the other ad campaign, in a bookstore, the voice whispered “Have you ever though about killing someone?”
It was an ad for a murder mystery.

Posted by: Uncle $cam | Dec 13 2007 5:17 utc | 22

Robert Fisk is lying when it comes to Lebanon. Maybe he too often had dinner with Hariri? Today he writes: Syria denies killing General in car-bomb attack
He implies that Syria did assassinate the General. But does that make sense? No. As the Friday Lunch Club remarks

On the wake of the January 23, 07′ demonstrations, the World Council of the Cedar Revolution issued a plea asking that Gen. El Hajj and his officers be brought before a world tribunal and listed as “terror supporters.” El Hajj, fought the Lebanese Forces under the command of Michel Aoun, and was among the critics of Gea’gea’s visit to Michel Sleiman in Yarzeh. He is the same General El Hajj who answered M14’s allegations of borders porosity, that the ” the Lebanese Army is properly controlling its borders with Syria”, obviously, not a man after M14ers’ hearts!

The Hariri March 14 Cedar revolution movement certainly didn’t like the man. He was more on Syrias side as anywhere else. SO why is Fisk trying to put the deed on Syria?

Posted by: b | Dec 13 2007 9:37 utc | 24

@CluelessJoe – 25 – yep – now how much does the CIA skim off the Afganistan heroin trade and where does it put that money?

Posted by: b | Dec 13 2007 21:04 utc | 26

Wikileaks:Guantanamo facility caught editing Wiki

JULIAN ASSANGE (investigative editor, julian@wikileaks.org)
2007-12-12 (Wednesday)
“Guantanamo Bay deletes detainee ID numbers, labels Fidel Castro “an admitted transexual” and more.
WASHINGTON–The US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay has been caught conducting covert propaganda attacks on the internet. The attacks, exposed this week in a report by the government transparency group Wikileaks, include deleting detainee ID numbers from Wikipedia last month, the systematic posting of unattributed “self praise” comments on news organization web sites in response to negative press, boosting pro-Guantanamo stories on the internet news site Digg and even modifying Fidel Castro’s encyclopedia article to describe the Cuban president as “an admitted transexual” [sic]. Shayana Kadidal, Managing Attorney of the Center for Constitutional Rights Guantanamo Global Justice Initiative, said in response to the report:
“The military’s efforts to alter the record by vandalizing Wikipedia are of a piece with the amateurism of their other public relations efforts: their ridiculous claims that released detainees who criticize the United States in the media have ‘returned to the battlefield,’.

Also see, Neocons Revise WMD Entry on Wikipedia Propaganda Portal

TruthNews
Thursday December 13, 2007
It would be easy to shrug off the Wikipedia propaganda portal if not for the fact the online “encyclopedia” gets preferential treatment for the mega-search engine, Google.
“Hitwise put together some data which shows the increase of Google traffic to Wikipedia over the past year and reveals that Google downstream traffic to Wikipedia is up 166% year over year,” explains Loren Baker, editor of the Search Engine Journal. “Hitwise data showed that for the week ending Feb 10, 2007, 70% of Wikipedia’s upstream visits came from search engines, with 50% from Google alone.” In short, chances are high you will be directed to Wikipedia for any number of searches, for instance information on the weapons of mass destruction scam unleashed by the neocons and serving as a pretext to invade Iraq and slaughter well over a million people.
In fact, this is precisely what happened back in 2005, according to Nick Farrell of the Inquirer. Wikipedia “has been edited by a Bush friendly member of the US House of Representatives,” in other words a neocon, reports Farrell. “Apparently the person was so concerned that people no longer bought the story about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq that he or she took to tampering with the Whackypedia entry.” Of course, since just about any miscreant can “edit” a “Whackypedia entry,” it may not considered “tampering,” not exactly.
The entry was edited by someone with a House of Representatives IP address to make the bizarre claim that there was a link between the terrorist organization al Qaeda and the Iraq government.
The fact that no link has ever been found, other on Whackypedia, has been a source of embarrassment for the Bush administration. Parts of the article which show proof that there were no links have been watered down by the use of the words “it is claimed”. Thus a statement like “the sky is blue”, has become the “sky is blue it is claimed”.
There are also comments justifying Mr. Bush’s actions which at the time were made on the fiction that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.
The revision was made in 2005 but has only come to light now that software can tell who has been attempting to mess with your mind on Wackypedia.
One has to wonder how reliable an encyclopedia is when it peddles government propaganda in an almost Orwellian manner and forces people who disagree with it to ‘disappear’ from history.
See the neocon “revision” here.
Incidentally, this fallacious claim, easily debunked, was disseminated repeatedly by the corporate media, so it is not exactly correct to that it was exclusive to the Wikipedia propaganda portal, a favorite watering hole for the likes of the CIA, Republican Party, the Church of Scientology, ExxonMobil, Dow Chemical, Diebold, Boeing, the Israeli government and others.

Posted by: Uncle $cam | Dec 13 2007 22:07 utc | 28

More on the missing nukes ties in the responsibilities of six key Air Force personnel that died coincidentally just before and after the incident.
Missing Nukes: Treason of the Highest Order
But then I’m probably a conspiracy nut of the Highest Order.

Posted by: Juannie | Dec 13 2007 23:26 utc | 30

propaganda from the associated press
At Least 17 Dead in Somali Unrest

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A radical Islamic group that was driven from power a year ago by a Western-supported offensive is making a significant comeback in Somalia, and the government can do little to stop it, officials said Thursday, as shelling and gunbattles in the capital killed at least 17 people.
Sheik Qasim Ibrahim Nur, director of security at Somalia’s National Security Ministry, said the government has no power to resist the Council of Islamic Courts, which the United States has accused of having ties to al-Qaida.
He said the fighters had regrouped and were poised to launch a massive attack, adding that the government has “no power to resist the Islamists.”

stop
first, that govt is a joke & has never so much as controlled the capital city of mogadishu. second, that govt has never had any authentic power & is only still around today b/c of the ethiopian forces that have occupied somalia for nearly a year now. third, it’s sounding like even the u.s. is giving up on that govt now. and fourth, the “radical islamic group” is only one faction of the resistance in somalia. granted, it is leading the insurgency, but what is going on in somalia is by no means simply a battle between the TFG and “islamic radicals”.

The Council of Islamic Courts has been waging an Iraq-style insurgency that has killed thousands of people this year.

stop
what? no mention of the illegal invasion of somalia by their long-time enemy ethiopia? no mention of the proportionate amount of deaths due to ethiopian & govt campaigns to clean neighborhoods of any resistance? shame on you, ap.

“About 80 percent of Somalia is not safe and is not under control of the government,” Nur told the AP. “Islamists are planning to launch a massive attack against the (government) and its allied troops.”
Nur appealed for international support, saying Islamic fighters “are everywhere.”
Presidential spokesman Hussein Mohamed Mohamud also said that the Muslim fighters were regrouping, and said they have “a lot of weapons and foreign fighters.”

probably not as many “foreign fighters” as the ones wearing ethiopian uniforms.
the article does actually go on to briefly quote ted dagne from the congressional research service who suggests that many people look back on the group’s six months in power and conclude the country then “was relatively peaceful and gave hope to the people of Somalia that after over a decade of violence, they can live in peace.”
but then the very next paragraph states

After the council was ousted, remnants launched an Iraq-style insurgency, causing more bloodshed and throwing this already beleaguered nation into chaos.

funny how somalia could be “relatively peaceful” until the popular govt was routed by invading enemy forces, yet the blame for chaos and bloodshed gets pinned on the “iraq-style insurgency.”
the media is insane. we live in an insane society. this is madness.

Posted by: b real | Dec 14 2007 5:43 utc | 32

b real@31,
your right, this is big. Not just so, its stunning.
but its a mistake on GWB’s part. From all accounts, Yar’Adua is in very poor health. And he is still struggling to gain the legitimacy he needs. And theres other major looming problems for him at home. Plus Yar’Adua is not the brutal “strongman” type. So he’s not exactly the guy to pin ones hopes on for whatever it is GWB wants on the mid to longer term.
next, this turnaround by him is sure to be highly debated and resisted in Nigeria and all over Africa. There is almost no end to the speculations to come. It will certainly be viewed as a defining moment
by a lot of people. And I’m not too surprised it happened this way. Very dramatic. Surely, a big part of it is to send a message to other African leaders. But its a mistake to do so in such a public manner as its likely to be seen as an insulting show of power and hence breed major resentment.
it should also be added that its very difficult for Yar’Adua to act unilaterally on such matters, especially such a public issue. And he will not be able to sell this one at home. Especally since he already rejected it.
in sum. it was a poor move by GWB. But very very revealing for everyone. Again, this can be chalked-up as predictably characteristic of how this admin would respond to resistance from Africans. stay tuned.

Posted by: jony_b_cool | Dec 14 2007 8:44 utc | 34

first off – fsck typepad & their antispam nonsense
now
saturday’s this day online outta nigeria is running an article in which yar’adua is attempting to say that he didn’t say what we heard him say standing next to the great white godfather on thursday

The president’s … clarificaton that the partnership with the US/African Command (AFRICON) does not translate to an acceptance of the command.
Yar’Adua’s sudden volte face is coming on the heels of his meeting with President George Bush of the US at the White House, Thursday, during which he affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to partner with the US on AFRICON for the provision of security in the continent.
But in an interview with the Hausa service of the Voice of America (VOA) in Washington DC , monitored by THISDAY, he said Nigeria plans to establish military bases in Africa to be managed by Africans for the protection of oil reserves.
He stated: “I did not accept AFRICOM in my discussions with Bush. I asked for assistance and told Bush that we have our plans to establish bases for African countries. We asked for training on weapons and training to establish our bases to be managed by our people.”
“Seven countries in the Gulf of Guinea will be involved,” he stated. The president said he asked for training from the US government. The US insisted it can only render help through its AFRICOM base in Stuttgart, Germany, said Yar’Adua.
The President claimed there was a misunderstanding of his comments at the White House on Thursday. It is a partnership, not an acceptance, he stressed.

it’s not as if yar’adua isn’t fluent in the english language, so it’s also not likely many will buy into the notion that a national leader could agree to partner w/ an institution that he doesn’t accept.
the u.s. has a solid history from its very origins of tricking/coercing/bribing/you-name-it representatives of other nations into signing treaties they never got a chance to comprehend, assuming they could even read it or were allowed to see a copy of the real & binding document. there’s probably not a tactic around that’s not at their disposal. so it’s not a stretch to imagine that yar’adua got the full treatment on his visit & sold him a bill of goods while puffing up his ego.
“Nigeria plans to establish military bases in Africa to be managed by Africans” he says. is he for real?
whatever the story behind the scenes in d.c., yar’adua’s stmts yesterday were a blow to africa & a boost to AFRICOM’s imperial overlords.
stratfor mirrors my take on what’s behind yar’adua’s volte face
Nigeria: Opposition to AFRICOM Ends

Nigerian President Umaru Yaradua yielded on his government’s opposition to the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), Nigerian media reported Dec. 14. The move paves the way for greater U.S.-Nigerian security cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea region and other areas of Africa, and will likely also reduce opposition to AFRICOM in other parts of the continent.
…
Yaradua lifted his government’s opposition to AFRICOM in return for U.S. political support that is expected to be used against his domestic political detractors. At home, opposition political parties are petitioning a constitutionally mandated elections tribunal for fresh elections to replace the April 29 polls which Nigerian opposition parties and international observers criticized as severely flawed.
…
Nigeria’s yielding on AFRICOM will not go unnoticed by other African countries that have opposed locating the Pentagon command in Africa. As an anchor state — Africa’s most populous country and one of the continent’s leading economies — Nigeria possesses a foreign policy that permits it to intervene in regional affairs, and as a result its influence stretches from West and Central African affairs to continental issues at the African Union (AU) level. The United States expects to find this influence useful in encouraging other countries — notably, South Africa — to reconsider their opposition to AFRICOM.
…
Yaradua’s Dec. 13 yielding in support of AFRICOM will clear the path for greater U.S. security cooperation in West Africa and other regions of the continent, and gives a clear boost to AFRICOM as it plans to relocate to Africa in 2008.

still haven’t seen any chatter in nigerian media on this yet. all quiet on the west african front, unfortunately.

Posted by: b real | Dec 15 2007 5:06 utc | 36

stratfor mirrors my take on what’s behind yar’adua’s volte face
Nigeria: Opposition to AFRICOM Ends

Nigerian President Umaru Yaradua yielded on his government’s opposition to the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), Nigerian media reported Dec. 14. The move paves the way for greater U.S.-Nigerian security cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea region and other areas of Africa, and will likely also reduce opposition to AFRICOM in other parts of the continent.
…
Yaradua lifted his government’s opposition to AFRICOM in return for U.S. political support that is expected to be used against his domestic political detractors. At home, opposition political parties are petitioning a constitutionally mandated elections tribunal for fresh elections to replace the April 29 polls which Nigerian opposition parties and international observers criticized as severely flawed.
…
Nigeria’s yielding on AFRICOM will not go unnoticed by other African countries that have opposed locating the Pentagon command in Africa. As an anchor state — Africa’s most populous country and one of the continent’s leading economies — Nigeria possesses a foreign policy that permits it to intervene in regional affairs, and as a result its influence stretches from West and Central African affairs to continental issues at the African Union (AU) level. The United States expects to find this influence useful in encouraging other countries — notably, South Africa — to reconsider their opposition to AFRICOM.
…
Yaradua’s Dec. 13 yielding in support of AFRICOM will clear the path for greater U.S. security cooperation in West Africa and other regions of the continent, and gives a clear boost to AFRICOM as it plans to relocate to Africa in 2008.

still haven’t seen any chatter in nigerian media on this yet. all quiet on the west african front, unfortunately.

Posted by: b real | Dec 15 2007 5:09 utc | 38

gettleman @ the nyt has another article up friday on ethiopia’s crackdown on the ogaden region. the first part covers ground that has already been pointed out in other links here over the past months.
In Rebel Region, Ethiopia Turns to Civilian Patrols

NAIROBI, Kenya — The Ethiopian government, one of America’s top allies in Africa, is forcing untrained civilians — including doctors, teachers, office clerks and employees of development programs financed by the World Bank and United Nations — to fight rebels in the desolate Ogaden region, according to Western officials, refugees and Ethiopian administrators who recently defected to avoid being conscripted.
Ethiopia has been struggling with the rebels for years. But with tens of thousands of its troops now enmeshed in a bloody insurgency in Somalia and many thousands more massing on the border for a possible war with Eritrea, the government seems to be relying on civilians to do more of its fighting in the Ogaden, a bone-dry chunk of territory where Ethiopian troops have been accused by human rights groups of widespread abuses.
In a recent report, government officials in the region called upon elders, traders, women and civil servants to form local “security committees” and mobilize their clans to destroy the rebels and their bases of support. The government says that the rebels are terrorists who have carried out assassinations and bombings, and that civilians have volunteered to fight them.
But by many accounts, the militias are hardly voluntary. One Western aid official said soldiers had barged into hospitals to draft recruits and threatened to jail health workers if they did not comply. In other cases, lists of names were posted on public bulletin boards, ordering government employees to report for duty, according to a current member of the regional parliament and two Ethiopian administrators who have fled the country. Many of those who refused were fired, jailed and in some cases tortured, the administrators and parliament member said.
The civilians are serving as guides, porters, translators and foot soldiers, and they are sent into the bush with little or no training to confront hardened guerrilla fighters. In the ensuing battles, many civil servants have recently been killed, according to accounts corroborated by Western officials and aid workers.

but he ends the report w/ something else that i’ve not seen mentioned anywhere

Habsa Ghaffir, who arrived at a camp in Kenya four weeks ago, said that after Ethiopian troops burned her fields and shot her husband, her 4-year-old son starved to death.
“I remember him saying to me, ‘Mom, bring me food, Mom, bring me tea, Mom bring me water,’” Ms. Habsa said.
But she had none.
“It is like they are trying to wipe us out,” she said, nervously snapping twigs between her fingers as she spoke outside her hut. “Even here, we’re not safe.”
United Nations officials said Ethiopian intelligence agents had infiltrated Kenya, and on Nov. 2, there was a mysterious attack that only added to these fears.
According to Kenyan police, masked men burst into an apartment building in a Nairobi slum and shot five Ethiopian refugees. Two died, along with a guard outside who was shot in the head.
Nothing was taken. Witnesses said the killers went straight to the Ethiopians’ room. The Ethiopian victims had been student leaders in their country, and the Kenyan police said some of them had previously asked for protection.
Kenyan police commander Joseph Maina Migwi said he could not say whether Ethiopian security agents were involved.
“But whoever did it,” he said, “were definitely paid professionals.”

is meles zenawi pulling an operation condor in the HOA now? how many human rights atrocities and violations of international law is this guy/govt going to be allowed to get away with? and meanwhile, the u.s. propaganda organs are grinding out story after story about zimbabwe.

Posted by: b real | Dec 15 2007 6:48 utc | 40

Bush Secret Document Shredding Soars 600%

Federal spending on paper shredding has increased more than 600 percent since George W. Bush took office.In 2000, the feds spent $452,807 to make unpleasant truths go away; by 2006, the “Cheney Effect” had bumped that number up to $2.9 million. And by halfway through 2007, the feds almost matched that number, with $2.7 million and counting.

Shredded documents up 600%, CIA tapes destroyed, 10 million plus e-mails gone missing, 2.6 Trillion missing, –not counting the missing money since 911–Destruction of Evidence from Ground Zero at the World Trade Center, missing vote ballots, over two hundred scandals, and 750 Laws, those are the ones we know about…and it ain’t over yet.

Posted by: Uncle $cam | Dec 15 2007 7:14 utc | 42