Archive
Human Rights Disaster Unfolding in Libya
Monday, 23 July 2012
‘Nine months after the U.S./NATO-led overthrow of the Muammar Gaddafi government in Libya, the country remains entrenched in violence and disorder; human rights abuses are rampant.
In fact, according to Nasser al-Hawary of the Libyan Observatory for Human Rights, “The human rights situation in Libya now is far worse than under the late dictator Muammar Gaddafi.” (Inter Press Service, July 14) This statement is telling, especially given that its source is a political opponent of the former government.
The National Transition Council, the pro-imperialist governing body in Libya, has been unable to establish any authority over the country. Armed militias, previously employed by the NTC to fight against Gaddafi’s supporters, continue to roam the country, looting villages and engaging in abductions, killings and torture.’
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NASA Adopts Two Spare Spy Telescopes, Each Maybe More Powerful Than Hubble
US Military-Industrial Giant KBR in Bidding to Privatize British Police Forces
Friday, 04 May 2012
‘Giant US military-industrial company Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) is in the running to win a slice of a controversial £1.5 billion (US$2.43 billion) contract to transform the West Midlands and Surrey police forces in Britain, The (London) Times reported.
Hailed as the largest police privatization scheme in the UK, it has been suggested the private companies who win the contract will be tasked to perform several police functions — including patrols, detention and criminal investigation.
KBR, a former subsidiary of the Halliburton group, has attracted its share of criticism over the large contracts it won with the US government during the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The corporation also helped to build the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.’
Read more: US Military-Industrial Giant KBR in Bidding to Privatize British Police Forces
Why Mining an Asteroid for Water and Precious Metals Isn’t as Crazy as it Sounds
Billionaire-backed space startup Planetary Resources has officially unveiled its business plan to much fanfare and with few surprises. The company’s principals–which include X-Prize Foundation founder Peter Diamandis, Space Adventures co-founder Eric Anderson, and former NASA Flight Director Chris Lewicki–today pledged that Planetary Resources would make the abundant resources of space available here on Earth, and introduced a couple of the company’s own spacecraft that will make such space prospecting possible. The rush for space resources is officially on.
Mandatory ‘Big Brother’ Black Boxes In All New Cars From 2015
Thursday, 19 April 2012 08:51
‘A bill already passed by the Senate and set to be rubber stamped by the House would make it mandatory for all new cars in the United States to be fitted with black box data recorders from 2015 onwards.
Section 31406 of Senate Bill 1813 (known as MAP-21), calls for “Mandatory Event Data Recorders” to be installed in all new automobiles and legislates for civil penalties to be imposed against individuals for failing to do so.’
Read more: Mandatory ‘Big Brother’ Black Boxes In All New Cars From 2015
Over 110,000 US Forces Used Psychotropic Medication in 2011: Report
Monday, 09 April 2012 06:52
‘According to an article published by the Los Angeles Times, more than 110,000 active-duty Army troops last year were taking prescribed antidepressants, narcotics, sedatives, antipsychotics and anti-anxiety drugs.
“We have never medicated our troops to the extent we are doing now…. And I don’t believe the current increase in suicides and homicides in the military is a coincidence,” said Bart Billings, a former military psychologist.’
Read more: Over 110,000 US Forces Used Psychotropic Medication in 2011: Report
Top-Secret US Spy Satellite Blasts Off Amid Mystery of What it Will Do (and Why Did the US Blackout Footage of Launch?)
Thursday, 05 April 2012 
‘A rocket carrying a top-secret payload blasted off from the California coast yesterday. The Delta IV rocket lifted off from the Vandenberg Air Force Base, about 130 miles north west of Los Angeles.
The rocket contained some form of spy technology – thought to be a hi-tech replacement for America’s ageing fleet of radar satellites. It’s not clear what capabilities the new generation might be armed with.’
Iran wants war
Accused soldier has ‘no memory’ of massacre
- By NewsCoreCBS News
- From:NewsCore
- March 20, 2012 10:35AM
“He has no memory,” Mr Browne told CBS News. “He has an early memory of that evening and a later memory of that evening but he doesn’t have any in between.”
Mr Browne said Sgt Bales, 38, had not admitted to the killings. He also said Sgt Bales was “in shock”.
“He’s fixated on the troops left on the ground and what they’re accusing him of and how that may have negative ramifications on his friends and patriots,” Mr Browne said.
Mr Browne also said his client was not drunk on the night of the massacre but had had a “couple of sips of something”.
Reports also emerged today about Sgt Bales’ troubled past as a financial adviser.
Reports said that Sgt Bales was accused of fraud and stealing money from clients prior to entering the army, defrauding one Ohio couple of over a million dollars in 2002.
He was also accused of assaulting a girlfriend in 2002 and leaving the scene of an accident in 2008.
Sgt Bales and his wife, Karilyn, were also in financial difficulty and planned to sell their home in Washington state for $US50,000 less than the price they originally bought it for.
Today, his wife released a statement in which she called the March 11 massacre a “terrible and heartbreaking tragedy”.
“What has been reported is completely out of character of the man I know and admire,” she wrote, adding, “The victims and their families are all in my prayers, as is my husband who I love very much.”
Sgt Bales, who was on his fourth tour of duty following previous tours in Iraq, allegedly left his base in the Panjway district of Kandahar province and walked to a nearby village, where he went on a house-to-house rampage during the early hours. Most of the victims were women and children.
Mr Browne told CBS News he would not seek an insanity defence for his client, but instead a diminished capacity defence.
Sgt Bales is expected to be officially charged later this week.
