hypocrisy

U.S. soldier could face death over Afghan massacre

[Should have been a drone pilot instead.] "Bales faces 16 counts of murder, six of attempted murder, seven of assault, two of using drugs and one of drinking alcohol. Seventeen of the 22 victims were women or children and almost all were shot in the head. The 39-year-old allegedly left his base in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar province on the night of March 11 to commit the killings, which included nine children. He allegedly set several of their bodies on fire. Prosecutors at the pre-trial hearing have alleged that Bales left the base twice to carry out the killings, returning in between and even telling a colleague what he had done." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. soldier could face death over Afghan massacre

Former top fed official sentenced to 70 months for child porn

"A former top law enforcement official who helped lead the local crusade against child sexual exploitation was sentenced Friday to a little under six years in prison on a child pornography charge. Anthony V. Mangione, who headed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's South Florida office for four years, possessed up to 150 images of child pornography, some depicting the 'extreme abuse of children,' according to federal prosecutors." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer top fed official sentenced to 70 months for child porn

Former Portland Sex Offender Bureau officer pleads guilty to receipt of child pornography

"A former Portland police officer has entered a guilty plea to one count of receipt of child pornography in federal court and will be sentenced in February. The officer who once worked registering others as sex offenders will have to register as a sex offender himself, under a plea agreement he signed." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer Portland Sex Offender Bureau officer pleads guilty to receipt of child pornography

UK lawmakers urge tough new press rules

"More than 40 members of Britain’s ruling Conservative party have urged Prime Minister David Cameron to impose tough new press rules overseen by regulators outside the industry, in an open letter published in the Guardian on Friday. Senior members, including former foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind and former party chairmen Caroline Spelman and Lord Fowler were among those calling for Cameron to reject the industry’s recommendations for self-regulation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUK lawmakers urge tough new press rules

The Gun Grabbers are Stirring

"Just hours after his re-election, President Obama indicated his support for a UN treaty to regulate the international trade in small arms – that is, civilian-owned guns. In a related move, California Senator Diane Feinstein, author of the 1994 federal assault weapons ban, is reportedly drafting a new measure that would be even more restrictive than the earlier ban. Feinstein’s legislation would not remove military-grade weapons from the arsenals of government enforcement agencies. Over the past year, the federal government has dramatically accelerated its acquisition of high-caliber weaponry and ammunition." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Gun Grabbers are Stirring

Apple pays Swiss rail $21million over clock dispute

"US tech giant Apple has dished out 20 million Swiss francs ($21 million, 17 million euros) to compensate Swiss national rail operator SBB for using its famous clock without permission, a Swiss daily reported Saturday. The company agreed in October to pay the lump sum so it could continue using SBB’s Swiss-designed station clock face on its iPads and iPhones, the Tages-Anzeiger daily reported on its website, quoting several unnamed sources." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingApple pays Swiss rail $21million over clock dispute

Neo-Con Revenge: Post-Election ‘Attack Iran’ Machine on Overdrive

"US sends drone to spy on Iran, as it has done continuously for years, no doubt collecting targeting data to assist in US/Israeli attack on Iran. Iran reportedly fires at drone gathering targeting data to assist US in bombing Iran. US astonished at Iran's 'aggression' toward US drone gathering intelligence to assist a US attack on Iran. US shocked that the Iranians would have the gall to respond to US hostile gestures in the region. Oh but it was in international waters! Imagine the US response to an Iranian drone operating in international Gulf of Mexico waters off of Florida." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNeo-Con Revenge: Post-Election ‘Attack Iran’ Machine on Overdrive

As Sanctions Hit Iran’s Most Vulnerable, the Man Who Dared to Feed Sanction-Starved Iraq Remains in Prison

"Dr. Dhafir was one of many Americans, Muslims and non-Muslims, who for 13 years had raised money for food and medicines for sick and starving Iraqis who were the victims of sanctions. He had asked US officials if this humanitarian aid was legal and was assured it was - until the early morning he was hauled out of his car by federal agents as he left for work. His front door was smashed down and his wife had guns pointed at her head. Today, he is serving 22 years in prison. No executive of the oil companies that did billions of dollars of illegal business with Saddam Hussein during the embargo has been prosecuted." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAs Sanctions Hit Iran’s Most Vulnerable, the Man Who Dared to Feed Sanction-Starved Iraq Remains in Prison

Cannabis legalisation in Washington and Colorado: A game changer

"The new Colorado and Washington legislation puts the states in clear breach of the general obligation of the 1961 UN drug convention requiring the criminalisation of non-medical supply and use. The US has historically been the biggest cheerleader for such prohibitions on the global stage. It will be interesting to see whether they tone down their 'tough on drugs' rhetoric now that they themselves are the first to do the previously unthinkable. The hypocrisy of the US demanding that other nations carry on enforcing prohibition while they themselves are retreating from it, could be enough to encourage a range of countries to start agitating for reform." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCannabis legalisation in Washington and Colorado: A game changer

Welfare States: Federal Grants Now a Third of State Revenue

"The Pew Center on the States has a great new illustration of how dependent states have become on federal dollars since the recession. States now count on the federal government for $1 out of every $3 in revenue, according the 2010 Census, which offers the most recent finalized data. That’s your stimulus money at work. And $1 out of every $3 is just the national average: In Arizona, 46.9 percent of state revenue came from federal grants; in Louisiana, 48 percent; and in Mississippi, a whopping 49.6 percent." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWelfare States: Federal Grants Now a Third of State Revenue