Mainstream News

Mexican police chief killed with rifle lost in ATF ‘Fast and Furious’ program

"A high-powered rifle lost in the ATF’s Fast and Furious controversy was used to kill a Mexican police chief in the state of Jalisco earlier this year, according to internal Department of Justice records, suggesting that weapons from the failed gun-tracking operation have now made it into the hands of violent drug cartels deep inside Mexico. Luis Lucio Rosales Astorga, the police chief in the city of Hostotipaquillo, was shot to death Jan. 29 when gunmen intercepted his patrol car and opened fire. Also killed was one of his bodyguards. His wife and a second bodyguard were wounded." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMexican police chief killed with rifle lost in ATF ‘Fast and Furious’ program

What Does History Say About U.S. Success in Arming Rebel Movements?

"So what does history say about how successful the U.S. has been in arming rebel opposition movements? On that, we get two views, Michael Pillsbury was assistant undersecretary of defense for policy planning during the Reagan administration. He was responsible for coordinating covert aid to the Afghanistan mujahideen in their fight against the Soviets. He's now a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and still advises the Defense Department. And Robert Dreyfuss is a journalist and contributing editor at 'The Nation' and author of the book 'Devil's Game: How the United States Helped Unleash Fundamentalist Islam.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhat Does History Say About U.S. Success in Arming Rebel Movements?

U.S. missile defense system test sputters out

"A test of the only U.S. defense against long-range ballistic missiles failed on Friday, the third consecutive failure involving the interceptor system managed by Boeing Co, the Defense Department said. The Pentagon said this week that the test would not affect its decision to bolster the U.S. missile defense system. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced the move in March following threats by North Korea. Under that plan, the Pentagon will add 14 new anti-missile interceptors at a total cost of nearly $1 billion." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. missile defense system test sputters out

Snowden leaks now threaten U.S.-EU cooperation on travel, financial data

"The European Union is threatening to suspend two agreements granting the United States access to European financial and travel data unless Washington shows it is respecting EU rules on data privacy. Struck in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks and regarded by Washington as important tools in the fight against terrorism, the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program (TFTP) provides the U.S. Treasury with data stored in Europe on international financial transfers, and the Passenger Name Record agreement covers data provided by passengers when booking tickets and checking in for flights. All such information is passed to Homeland Security." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSnowden leaks now threaten U.S.-EU cooperation on travel, financial data

Venezuela inflation soars to record monthly high 6.1%; 35% annualized

"Last month's consumer price rises, up from 4.3 percent in April, took Venezuela's annualized inflation rate to a startling 35.2 percent, the highest in the Americas. A lack of hard currency has left businesses struggling to import key consumer products. Long queues at shops, and even scuffles, have become common as Venezuelans face shortages of basic goods from toilet paper to wheat flour. A devaluation of the bolivar currency in February, and heavy government spending throughout 2012 when Chavez won re-election, have exacerbated price pressures in Venezuela, which has for decades suffered high inflation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVenezuela inflation soars to record monthly high 6.1%; 35% annualized

Nicaragua, Venezuela willing to take in Edward Snowden

"The quest by NSA leaker Edward Snowden for a safe haven has taken a turn toward Latin America, with offers for asylum coming from the leftist presidents of Nicaragua and Venezuela. But there were no immediate signs that efforts were under way to bring him to either nation after Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela and Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua made their offers during separate speeches in their home countries Friday. The offers came one day after leftist South American leaders gathered to denounce the rerouting of Bolivian President Evo Morales’ plane over Europe amid reports that the fugitive American was aboard." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNicaragua, Venezuela willing to take in Edward Snowden

California police slammed with death threats after shooting Max the Rottweiler

"The social media fallout from the Sunday shooting has the Hawthorne Police Department scrambling to protect its officers and also tell another version of the story. Police released a new video of the shooting taken from a different angle. They believe this alternative perspective will prove to viewers that the officer’s actions were justified. Max the Rottweiler was shot four times on Sunday after lunging at officers who were handcuffing his owner, Leon Rosby. The original graphic cellphone recording of Max’s death went viral on YouTube, prompting a flood of threats against the officers and their families through telephone, email and Facebook." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCalifornia police slammed with death threats after shooting Max the Rottweiler

Clashes erupt as Islamists push back in Egypt

"Enraged Islamists pushed back Friday against the toppling of President Mohammed Morsi, as tens of thousands of his supporters took to the streets vowing to win his reinstatement and clashed with their opponents in violence that killed 30 and drove the divided nation toward an increasingly dangerous showdown. The clashes accelerated after the supreme leader of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood defiantly proclaimed that his followers would not give up street action until the return of the country's first freely elected president, swept out of power days earlier by the military. Morsi opponents called out the public to defend against the Brotherhood." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingClashes erupt as Islamists push back in Egypt

Egypt army opens fire on pro-Morsi protesters

"At least three supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi were killed by gunfire as a crowd of several hundred tried to march towards the military barracks in Cairo where he is believed to be held. Al Jazeera's Matthew Cassel, reporting from near the military barracks, said several dozen people were also injured by shotgun pellets fired by the army. Security forces were cordoning the Republican Guard barracks but it was not immediately clear who had opened fire. Also on Friday, Adly Mansour, the newly appointed interim head of state, dissolved parliament by decree, state television said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgypt army opens fire on pro-Morsi protesters

Canadian military still investigating Afghan sex assaults

"After five years, the Canadian military is still investigating claims that Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan were told by their superiors to ignore incidents where Afghan soldiers and interpreters sexually assaulted young boys. The probe continues, with no specified end date, long after most Canadian soldiers have left Afghanistan and nearly five years after a board of inquiry was convened on Nov. 21, 2008, by Lt. Gen. Andrew Leslie. During the summer of 2008, the Star reported that some Canadian soldiers who had returned from Afghanistan had sought counseling to cope with feelings of guilt because they had not stopped incidents of child abuse." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCanadian military still investigating Afghan sex assaults