Winning Hearts & Minds

Glenn Greenwald: MLK’s vehement condemnations of US militarism are more relevant than ever

"Obama's policies are a manifestation of exactly the militaristic mindset which King so eloquently denounced. Obama has always been fond of invoking King's phrase 'fierce urgency of now', yet ironically, that is lifted from this anti-war speech, one that stands as a stinging repudiation of the continuous killing and violence Obama has spent the last four years unleashing on many countries around the world (Max Blumenthal suggested that Obama's second inaugural speech be entitled 'I have a drone')." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGlenn Greenwald: MLK’s vehement condemnations of US militarism are more relevant than ever

British man who ‘vanished’ after being stripped of citizenship says he was tortured, forced to sign a confession by the CIA

"Mahdi Hashi, who vanished last summer in Somalia, has described for the first time his 'horrific' ordeal at the hands of the secret police in the neighbouring state of Djibouti, who he claims worked closely with US interrogators. The 23-year-old, who lived in London, alleges that he was stripped and repeatedly slapped before being threatened with electrocution and sexual abuse by officers who were attached to Djibouti's intelligence service. Speaking from a top security prison in New York, where his family tracked him down just before Christmas, Mr Hashi claims he was so frightened by the threats of torture that he signed the confession demanded by his American interrogators." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBritish man who ‘vanished’ after being stripped of citizenship says he was tortured, forced to sign a confession by the CIA

Torture of prisoners persists in Afghanistan: UN

"The UN issued a follow-up to a report on torture a year ago, as Kabul seeks full control over prisons and prisoners from NATO’s International Security Assistance Force despite the misgivings of the US-led ISAF. Other forms of torture included hanging suspects by the wrists from chains for long periods and threatening them with sexual violence, the UN mission in Afghanistan said in its 139-page analysis released late Sunday. Many of those tortured to extract confessions were children under the age of 18, it said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTorture of prisoners persists in Afghanistan: UN

Obama turns ‘austerity inauguration’ into a dash for corporate cash

"What a lot has changed in four years. As Obama prepares to revel in his second inauguration, on Monday, there is no ceiling on what an individual can give, corporations and lobby groups are very welcome and the presidential inaugural committee has been going on a fundraising binge as though there was no tomorrow. On surface appearance, the inauguration is a sober and scaled-down affair compared with 2009. But don’t be fooled by the outward semblance of austerity. In fact, says the government transparency watchdog, the Sunlight Foundation, this year’s inauguration has been turned into an orgy of cash generation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama turns ‘austerity inauguration’ into a dash for corporate cash

Sex is major reason military commanders are fired

"Sex has proved to be the downfall of presidential candidates, members of Congress, governors and other notables. It's also among the chief reasons that senior military officers are fired. At least 30 percent of military commanders fired over the past eight years lost their jobs because of sexually related offenses, including harassment, adultery, and improper relationships, according to statistics compiled by The Associated Press. The figures bear out growing concerns by Defense Department and military leaders over declining ethical values among U.S. forces." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSex is major reason military commanders are fired

Japan should let elderly ‘hurry up and die’: finance minister Taro Aso

"Japan’s finance minister Taro Aso said Monday the elderly should be allowed to 'hurry up and die' instead of costing the government money for end-of-life medical care. Ageing is a sensitive issue in Japan, one of the world’s oldest countries, with almost a quarter of its 128 million people over 60. That figure is expected to rise to 40 percent within the next half-century. At the same time a shrinking number of workers is placing further strain on an already groaning social security system, with not enough money going into the pot to support those who depend on it." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJapan should let elderly ‘hurry up and die’: finance minister Taro Aso

Washington greets the New Year by assaulting your rights

"Fortunately, at least 15 local governments, in addition to four states, have passed resolutions opposing the domestic military detention provisions of the NDAA. The local coalitions that have secured these resolutions continue to gather momentum and build a national voice to restore the Bill of Rights. Find a local campaign to join today, or contact us for help starting one in your town!" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWashington greets the New Year by assaulting your rights

Inside the Incredibly Repellent Mind of a Bureaucrat

"...Marthe Kent, OSHA's director of safety standards program and head of the ergonomics effort, couldn't be happier at her job. 'I like having a very direct and very powerful impact on worker safety and health,' she recently told The Synergist, a newsletter of the American Industrial Hygiene Association. 'If you put out a reg, it matters. I think that's really where the thrill comes from. And it is a thrill; it's a high.' Later in the article, she adds, 'I love it; I absolutely love it. I was born to regulate. I don't know why, but that's very true. So as long as I'm regulating, I'm happy.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingInside the Incredibly Repellent Mind of a Bureaucrat

Utah Cops Interrupt Husband’s Last Goodbyes to Grab Dead Woman’s Pain Pills

"Barbara Alice Mahaffey, an elderly resident of Vernal, Utah, died at home of colon cancer on May 21 as her husband of 58 years stood at her side. The death of his long-time spouse was bad enough, but what came next has Ben Mahaffey furious -- and heading to court. Mahaffey, 80, filed a lawsuit against the city of Vernal earlier this month charging that Vernal police interrupted his last goodbyes by searching his house for her prescription pain medication without a warrant within minutes after her death. Mahaffey said he was distraught and trying to ensure that his wife's body would be transported to a funeral home with dignity when police insisted he help them look for drugs." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUtah Cops Interrupt Husband’s Last Goodbyes to Grab Dead Woman’s Pain Pills

Kim Dotcom poised for return with Megaupload successor

"Internet tycoon Kim Dotcom will launch a new file-sharing site at his Auckland mansion on Sunday, exactly a year after armed police arrested him at the same venue in the world’s largest online piracy case. Dotcom’s new venture, mega.co.nz, aims to recreate the success of his Megaupload empire, which boasted 50 million daily visitors and accounted for four percent of all Internet traffic before it was shut down after the police raid. Details of the planned service are scarce, but the site promises to use state-of-the-art encryption methods that mean only users, not the site’s administrators, know what they are uploading." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingKim Dotcom poised for return with Megaupload successor