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Costly Iraq war left U.S. no stronger in Middle East

"The US-led invasion of Iraq overthrew a dictator, but 10 years on the war is seen to have destabilized the Middle East, exposed the limits of military power and left America no stronger than before. With US forces having withdrawn after the deaths of almost 4,500 American troops and an estimated $1 trillion outlay, there is little soul-searching in Washington today about a war that has faded from public consciousness. And 10 years after the 'shock and awe' that launched Operation Iraqi Freedom, removing Saddam Hussein from power, most analysts and diplomats agree the Iraq war did nothing to improve the US position in the Middle East." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCostly Iraq war left U.S. no stronger in Middle East

MI6 and CIA were told before invasion that Iraq had no active WMD, claims new documentary

"British and US intelligence agencies were informed by top sources months before the invasion that Iraq had no active WMD programme, and the information was not passed to subsequent inquiries. Naji Sabri, Saddam's foreign minister, told the CIA's station chief in Paris at the time, Bill Murray, through an intermediary that Iraq had 'virtually nothing' in terms of WMD. Three months before the war an MI6 officer met Iraq's head of intelligence, Tahir Habbush al-Tikriti, who also said that Saddam had no active WMD. The meeting in the Jordanian capital took place days before the British government published its now widely discredited Iraqi weapons dossier in September 2002." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMI6 and CIA were told before invasion that Iraq had no active WMD, claims new documentary

MI6 and CIA were told before invasion that Iraq had no active WMD, claims new documentary

"British and US intelligence agencies were informed by top sources months before the invasion that Iraq had no active WMD programme, and the information was not passed to subsequent inquiries. Naji Sabri, Saddam's foreign minister, told the CIA's station chief in Paris at the time, Bill Murray, through an intermediary that Iraq had 'virtually nothing' in terms of WMD. Three months before the war an MI6 officer met Iraq's head of intelligence, Tahir Habbush al-Tikriti, who also said that Saddam had no active WMD. The meeting in the Jordanian capital took place days before the British government published its now widely discredited Iraqi weapons dossier in September 2002." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMI6 and CIA were told before invasion that Iraq had no active WMD, claims new documentary

U.S. denies alleged plot against Venezuelan government

"The United States on Monday emphatically denied it was involved in any plot against Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles ahead of the April 14 presidential vote. 'Let me say it here extremely clearly… the United States categorically rejects allegations of any US government involvement in any plots to destabilize the Venezuelan government or to harm anyone in Venezuela,' State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. Capriles, whom the late president Hugo Chavez defeated in October elections, is running in the upcoming election against Vice President Nicolas Maduro, Chavez’s handpicked successor." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. denies alleged plot against Venezuelan government

U.S. denies alleged plot against Venezuelan government

"The United States on Monday emphatically denied it was involved in any plot against Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles ahead of the April 14 presidential vote. 'Let me say it here extremely clearly… the United States categorically rejects allegations of any US government involvement in any plots to destabilize the Venezuelan government or to harm anyone in Venezuela,' State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. Capriles, whom the late president Hugo Chavez defeated in October elections, is running in the upcoming election against Vice President Nicolas Maduro, Chavez’s handpicked successor." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. denies alleged plot against Venezuelan government

Economists warn Cyprus will face a recession ‘for decades’ after EU deposit tax

"The controversial tax is seen hitting Russian pockets hard, with experts estimating that Russian deposits in Cypriot banks amount to at least 15.4 billion euros of the estimated 67 billion euros of deposits held by Cyprus banks. Russian President Vladimir Putin criticised the proposed tax, describing it, according to a Kremlin spokesman, as 'unfair, unprofessional and dangerous'. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev was equally forthright. 'We should say this directly: this simply looks like the confiscation of other people’s money,' Russian news agencies quoted him as saying. 'I do not know who the author of this idea is, but this is what it looks like.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEconomists warn Cyprus will face a recession ‘for decades’ after EU deposit tax

Chinese solar panel company defaults on $541 million worth of bonds

"One of the world’s top two solar cell and panel producers, targeted last year by US trade sanctions, Suntech said it had already entered an agreement with 60 percent of the bond holders to hold off legal claims while a debt restructuring can be negotiated. The European Union began an anti-dumping investigation into Chinese solar panels in September last year, followed by an anti-subsidy probe in November. The United States last October confirmed hefty anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on Chinese solar cell makers, adding to trade tensions between the two economic powers." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChinese solar panel company defaults on $541 million worth of bonds

Report: Obama officials issued $216 billion in regulations last year

"The Obama administration issued $236 billion worth of new regulations last year, according to a report from a conservative think tank. The analysis from the American Action Forum, led by former Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin, found that the administration added $216 billion in rules and more than $20 billion in regulatory proposals in 2012. Complying with those rules will require an additional 87 million hours of paperwork, the report said. The group put the total price tag from regulations during Obama’s first term at more than $518 billion." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingReport: Obama officials issued $216 billion in regulations last year

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is accused of hiding information about big losses

"Washington dealt a double blow Thursday to JPMorgan Chase as a Senate report accused its iconic chief executive of hiding information about a massive loss from regulators while the Federal Reserve unexpectedly said it had found a 'weakness' in the bank’s capital plans. The report takes the bank to task for hiding losses for three months last year, overstating the value of its trading positions and ignoring red flags. When regulators grew concerned, JPMorgan withheld information about the nature of the portfolio, Senate investigators say." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is accused of hiding information about big losses

In crisis-ravaged Greece, ‘laughter clubs’ are booming

"Three years into a crippling recession that has reduced incomes here by as much as 60 percent, increased the number of suicides by 40 percent and forced 1.3 million people onto growing unemployment lines, Greeks are grappling with ways to remain sane. Many of them are turning to what some call a free cure to just about any ailment: laughter. In one improvised routine, members are taught to laugh at the sight of an electricity bill or the kind of tax notice that Greeks have been repeatedly served in recent years as part of new austerity measures intended to make up for decades of profligate spending by the state." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIn crisis-ravaged Greece, ‘laughter clubs’ are booming