Month: May 2009

The Media Center director says the “illegal” raid signals “an intensification of Israel’s prohibition of Palestinian civil society in Jerusalem”: Israel Shuts Down Palestinian Press Center Ahead of Pope’s Jerusalem Visit (Ma’an News) Will new leadership reflect the spoken interest in limiting civilian casualties?… Commander’s Ouster Is Tied to Shift in Afghan War (NY Times)…

Saberi will be released on a suspended sentence but likely may not be allowed to leave Iran for some time: Lawyer: Iran to Free Jailed American Journalist (LA Times) Civilians blame both the Pakistani government and Taliban for “committing atrocities and cruelty against the ordinary people” as over 500,000 attempt to flee: Swat Refugees Tell…

Can Obama succeed in his message to promote democracy and justice from one of the most oppressive and autocratic states in the Middle East? Obama Picks Egypt as Speech Venue (Washington Post) A major indicator relations with Syria will not improve anytime soon: Obama Renews Syria Sanctions (Al Jazeera) “The Koran is very clear that…

U.S. forces chief alleges “evidence to support the theory that Taliban insurgents threw grenades into compounds sheltering villagers”: Afghans Protest Civilian Deaths as U.S. Officials Raise Doubts (LA Times) Pope’s visit through the Middle East will conveniently avoid morning rush at the controversial and oppressive checkpoints… What the Pope Won’t See… (The Independent) …Meanwhile, a…

After the largest civilian casualties  in a single attack since the US invasion in 2001… Afghans Protest Over Farah Deaths (Al Jazeera) … Obama, meeting with Zaradi and Karzai, , claims Al Qaeda offers a future  ” filled with violence and despair”: Emphasis on Al Qaeda at Three-Way Talks (NY Times) As displaced Pashtuns seek…

Critics argue that using professional sanctions rather than criminal charges against the attorneys who counseled in favor of torture “is to provide political cover” in the face of accusations that it is unprecedented for the winners of an American election to prosecute the losers: Report: Bush Lawyers Will Not Face Charges for Approving Torture (Christian…

“The firing [of rockets] is a method, not a goal. Resistance is a legitimate right, but practicing such a right comes under an evaluation by the movement’s leaders.” – Khaled Meshal Addressing U.S., Hamas Says It Grounded Rockets (NY Times) Conflict seems almost inevitable as Taliban forces expand into neighboring Burer district: The Taliban Tightens…

As experts wrestle with ambiguities as to when ethnic violence should be categorized as genocide … Is the Darfur Bloodshed Genocide? Opinions Differ (LA Times) …The origins of the conflict in colonialism and foreign intervention remain crystal clear: Explaining Darfur (Newsweek) A detailed look into the character of FBI provocateurs: The FBI, the Islamic Center…

Called an anti-Semite for calling Gaza “Israel’s Warsaw _ a vast concentration camp that confined and blockaded Palestinians, subjecting them to the slow death of malnutrition, disease and despair” followed by “the quick death of Israeli bombs … a slow-motion process of genocide, “… Professor’s Holocaust-Gaza Comparison Stirs Debate (Washington Post) … while a U.N.…