Haaretz: The government is losing its reason
by Haaretz Editorial
Bombing bridges that can be circumvented both by car and on foot; seizing an airport that has been in ruins for years; destroying a power station, plunging large parts of the Gaza Strip into darkness; distributing flyers suggesting that people be concerned about their fate; a menacing flight over Bashar Assad's palace; and arresting elected Hamas officials: The government wishes to convince us that all these actions are intended only to release the soldier Gilad Shalit.
But the greater the government's creativity in inventing tactics, the more it seems to reflect a loss of direction rather than an overall conception based on reason and common sense. On the face of it, Israel wishes to exert increasing pressure both on Hamas' political leadership and on the Palestinian public, in order to induce it to pressure its leadership to release the soldier. At the same time, the government claims that Syria - or at least Khaled Meshal, who is living in Syria - holds the key. If so, what is the point of pressuring the local Palestinian leadership, which did not know of the planned attack and which, when it found out, demanded that the kidnappers take good care of their victim and return him?
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Friday, June 23, 2006
MIDDLE EAST
Asia Times: The changing face of resistance
KARACHI - A charcteristic of a successful resistance movement is its ability to switch tactics as circumstances change, and the insurgencies in both Iraq and Afghanistan are proving to be capable in this respect.
In Iraq, the US killing of the leader of al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has provided the opportunity for al-Qaeda for the first time to take over the central command of the resistance, with the overall goal of fomenting a popular Arab uprising against the US presence.
Meanwhile in Afghanistan, the Taliban, after a highly organized and fruitful - though costly in terms of casualties - mass offensive in the south of the country, is reorganizing somewhat to wage a more
traditional guerrilla campaign involving carefully selected attacks.
KARACHI - A charcteristic of a successful resistance movement is its ability to switch tactics as circumstances change, and the insurgencies in both Iraq and Afghanistan are proving to be capable in this respect.
In Iraq, the US killing of the leader of al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has provided the opportunity for al-Qaeda for the first time to take over the central command of the resistance, with the overall goal of fomenting a popular Arab uprising against the US presence.
Meanwhile in Afghanistan, the Taliban, after a highly organized and fruitful - though costly in terms of casualties - mass offensive in the south of the country, is reorganizing somewhat to wage a more
traditional guerrilla campaign involving carefully selected attacks.
CLIMATE CHANGE
AP: Study: Earth 'likely' hottest in 2,000 years
Panel: 'Warmth is unprecedented for at least the last 400 years'
The National Academy of Sciences, reaching that conclusion in a broad review of scientific work requested by Congress, reported Thursday that the "recent warmth is unprecedented for at least the last 400 years and potentially the last several millennia."
See the Full Report at:
The National Academies
Panel: 'Warmth is unprecedented for at least the last 400 years'
The National Academy of Sciences, reaching that conclusion in a broad review of scientific work requested by Congress, reported Thursday that the "recent warmth is unprecedented for at least the last 400 years and potentially the last several millennia."
See the Full Report at:
The National Academies
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
WEBCOMIC
Files are not for Sharing
A very nice little Webcomic about filesharing by Matthew Baldwin & Goopymart
A very nice little Webcomic about filesharing by Matthew Baldwin & Goopymart
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
USA: GUANTANAMO
Guardian: 'Killing themselves was unnecessary. But it certainly is a good PR move'
· Bush officials' hard line provokes condemnation
· US ally admits prison is hampering war on terror
The Bush administration stared down a new wave of international condemnation of Guantánamo yesterday, dismissing the suicides by three inmates of the prison camp as a "good PR move" on their part and an "act of asymmetrical warfare".
The deaths of two Saudis and a Yemeni, who used knotted bedsheets to hang themselves in their solitary cells, brought renewed calls from European governments and human rights organisations to bring the 460 inmates to trial, or close down the camp. But Bush administration officials rejected suggestions that the three had killed themselves in despair over their indefinite confinement.
· Bush officials' hard line provokes condemnation
· US ally admits prison is hampering war on terror
The Bush administration stared down a new wave of international condemnation of Guantánamo yesterday, dismissing the suicides by three inmates of the prison camp as a "good PR move" on their part and an "act of asymmetrical warfare".
The deaths of two Saudis and a Yemeni, who used knotted bedsheets to hang themselves in their solitary cells, brought renewed calls from European governments and human rights organisations to bring the 460 inmates to trial, or close down the camp. But Bush administration officials rejected suggestions that the three had killed themselves in despair over their indefinite confinement.
Friday, June 09, 2006
IRAQ
Reuters: U.S. shows video of Zarqawi killing
Jun. 8 - A new video shows U.S. warplanes carrying out an air strike on Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al Qaeda leader in Iraq.
The strike was flown by two F-16 aircraft with two 500-pound (227 kg) bombs hitting the Zarqawi ''safe house''.
The U.S. forces also displayed a picture of the corpse of the bearded Zarqawi with his eyes shut at a Baghdad news conference.
SOUNDBITE: U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld commenting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, saying (English):
''I think arguably over the last several years, no single person on this planet has had the blood of more innocent men, women and children on his hands than Zarqawi.''
"Mr. Rumsfeld forgot to mention himself, regarding massive killings of civilians and children he has no competition"
Jun. 8 - A new video shows U.S. warplanes carrying out an air strike on Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al Qaeda leader in Iraq.
The strike was flown by two F-16 aircraft with two 500-pound (227 kg) bombs hitting the Zarqawi ''safe house''.
The U.S. forces also displayed a picture of the corpse of the bearded Zarqawi with his eyes shut at a Baghdad news conference.
SOUNDBITE: U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld commenting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, saying (English):
''I think arguably over the last several years, no single person on this planet has had the blood of more innocent men, women and children on his hands than Zarqawi.''
"Mr. Rumsfeld forgot to mention himself, regarding massive killings of civilians and children he has no competition"
Thursday, June 08, 2006
COPYRIGHT
CNET: Major League Baseball takes swing at Sling Media
LOS ANGELES--Major League Baseball wants Sling Media to stop slinging around the league's content.
Sling enables TV viewers to access their set-top or TiVo boxes from anywhere in the world via any device that connects to the Web. MLB says that's fine, but if viewers want to watch on multiple devices, they have to pay multiple times.
The situation is part of a larger fight brewing between broadcasters and the companies that relay video streams to portable devices. Proof of the growing conflict came Tuesday during a panel discussion at the Digital Media Summit here, when George Kliavkoff, executive vice president of business for MLB Advanced Media, debated the issue with Rich Buchanan, Sling Media's vice president of marketing
LOS ANGELES--Major League Baseball wants Sling Media to stop slinging around the league's content.
Sling enables TV viewers to access their set-top or TiVo boxes from anywhere in the world via any device that connects to the Web. MLB says that's fine, but if viewers want to watch on multiple devices, they have to pay multiple times.
The situation is part of a larger fight brewing between broadcasters and the companies that relay video streams to portable devices. Proof of the growing conflict came Tuesday during a panel discussion at the Digital Media Summit here, when George Kliavkoff, executive vice president of business for MLB Advanced Media, debated the issue with Rich Buchanan, Sling Media's vice president of marketing
COPYRIGHT/DRM
P2Pnet: RIAA's Rosen on student lawsuits
p2p news / p2pnet: Hilary Rosen, the woman who once ran the Big Four Organized Music cartel's RIAA, says she believes the RIAA lawsuits against students have, "outlived most of their usefulness". It's also time for another look at DRM, she says.
p2p news / p2pnet: Hilary Rosen, the woman who once ran the Big Four Organized Music cartel's RIAA, says she believes the RIAA lawsuits against students have, "outlived most of their usefulness". It's also time for another look at DRM, she says.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
IRAQ: US WARCRIMES
BBC: New 'Iraq Massacre' Tape Emerges
The BBC has obtained disturbing pictures of the aftermath of an alleged massacre of 11 Iraqis by American troops.
Iraqi police have accused US soldiers of killing the people in Ishaqi, north of Baghdad. John Simpson reports from Baghdad.
BBC NEWS
The BBC has obtained disturbing pictures of the aftermath of an alleged massacre of 11 Iraqis by American troops.
Iraqi police have accused US soldiers of killing the people in Ishaqi, north of Baghdad. John Simpson reports from Baghdad.
BBC NEWS
IRAQ: US WAR CRIMES
ICH: The shocking truth about the American occupation of Iraq
by Robert Fisk
Could Haditha be just the tip of the mass grave? The corpses we have glimpsed, the grainy footage of the cadavers and the dead children; could these be just a few of many? Does the handiwork of America's army of the slums go further?
by Robert Fisk
Could Haditha be just the tip of the mass grave? The corpses we have glimpsed, the grainy footage of the cadavers and the dead children; could these be just a few of many? Does the handiwork of America's army of the slums go further?
P2P: THE PIRATES ARE BACK
Slyck: The Pirate Bay Back Online
News of The Pirate Bay's resurrection comes as little surprise. The Pirate Bay spokesperson "brokep" promised Slyck.com the site would resolve under a different country's flag if an immediate resolution could not be reached in Sweden.
“We are not sure when it will return, but we are moving it to another country if necessary,” brokep told Slyck.com.
The Pirate Bay
Friday, June 02, 2006
P2P: PIRATES ARE FIGHTING BACK
“SITE DOWN - WILL BE UP AND FULLY FUNCTIONAL WITHIN A DAY OR TWO”
Some people are not that happy about the take down of swedish bittorrent indexing site
The Pirate Bay
ThePiratebay says that the Site will be up again in a few days.
Now the Pirates are fighting back:
Zone-H: "Zone-h noticed in last few hours that defacements have been carried out against Sony BMG and Warner Music, two big and extremely important Record Companies.
Specifically, the affected websites are:
sonymusic.it/index.php
Mirror:
http://www.zone-h.org/index2.php?option=...d=44&id=4115064
sonymusicstudios.co.uk
Mirror:
http://www.zone-h.org/index2.php?option=...d=44&id=4114849
warnermusic.com.tw
Mirror:
http://www.zone-h.org/index2.php?option=...d=44&id=4115425
While writing this article, both sonymusic.it and sony musicstudios.co.uk turn out to be still defaced, whereas warnermusic.com.tw is impossible to reach.
About those defacements that involved in such a short period of time both Warner and Sony, we wonder if this happened just by chance or if this is the expression of a far more complex plot. It could be interesting drawing out some focus points: let’s start from the concept that lately Major Record Companies are more and more under fire, every day we hear about anti-piracy countermeasures by the ri@@ (the Recording Industry Association of America). Some of these actions are quite questionable, as the decision to limit information exchanges by closing P2P networks, or by forbidding the use of P2P software. Than we can’t forget their conveying Trojan horses on P2P networks by pretending they were mp3 and videos, in order to punish those who downloaded materials under copyright. Last but not least, the rising of CD and DVD prices and the massive adoption of invasive DRM systems.
http://www.zone-h.org/content/view/4473/31/
Also earlier in the day CONFIRMATION has been given that http://www.antipiratbyran.com/ (swedish anti-piracy organisation) (which has been restored) was hacked and the following message was posted
"You have 48 hours to restore TPB or Napster and iTunes get hacked.... "
The Website of the Swedish Police has also been under attack http://www.polisen.se and is still down at the time of writing
i've also read that internet traffic was down 20% since the Pirate Bay raid
according to a forum post on slyck by memeber assasin:
the police here in sweden has messed up this time:
- they refused to allow the three arrested (one is the judicial councelor of TPB) a lawyer. This because they say they aren´t suspected of a crime that can result in jail. (Yes, it works like that here)
- BUT, if they aren´t suspected of a serious crime (jail), the police don´t have the right to get a warrant and raid the place. (Once again, swedish law)
BTW - they forced the lawyer to give them a DNA-sample.... in sweden that is a BIG violation of personal rights if they don´t have a really good reason. Remember, they where NOT suspected of anything that could result in jail.........
p2p.net has an interview with somebody from piratebay
Big up to the guys at Piratebay...may the force be with them
Fuck those greedy RIAA and MPAA bastards!
Some people are not that happy about the take down of swedish bittorrent indexing site
The Pirate Bay
ThePiratebay says that the Site will be up again in a few days.
Now the Pirates are fighting back:
Zone-H: "Zone-h noticed in last few hours that defacements have been carried out against Sony BMG and Warner Music, two big and extremely important Record Companies.
Specifically, the affected websites are:
sonymusic.it/index.php
Mirror:
http://www.zone-h.org/index2.php?option=...d=44&id=4115064
sonymusicstudios.co.uk
Mirror:
http://www.zone-h.org/index2.php?option=...d=44&id=4114849
warnermusic.com.tw
Mirror:
http://www.zone-h.org/index2.php?option=...d=44&id=4115425
While writing this article, both sonymusic.it and sony musicstudios.co.uk turn out to be still defaced, whereas warnermusic.com.tw is impossible to reach.
About those defacements that involved in such a short period of time both Warner and Sony, we wonder if this happened just by chance or if this is the expression of a far more complex plot. It could be interesting drawing out some focus points: let’s start from the concept that lately Major Record Companies are more and more under fire, every day we hear about anti-piracy countermeasures by the ri@@ (the Recording Industry Association of America). Some of these actions are quite questionable, as the decision to limit information exchanges by closing P2P networks, or by forbidding the use of P2P software. Than we can’t forget their conveying Trojan horses on P2P networks by pretending they were mp3 and videos, in order to punish those who downloaded materials under copyright. Last but not least, the rising of CD and DVD prices and the massive adoption of invasive DRM systems.
http://www.zone-h.org/content/view/4473/31/
Also earlier in the day CONFIRMATION has been given that http://www.antipiratbyran.com/ (swedish anti-piracy organisation) (which has been restored) was hacked and the following message was posted
"You have 48 hours to restore TPB or Napster and iTunes get hacked.... "
The Website of the Swedish Police has also been under attack http://www.polisen.se and is still down at the time of writing
i've also read that internet traffic was down 20% since the Pirate Bay raid
according to a forum post on slyck by memeber assasin:
the police here in sweden has messed up this time:
- they refused to allow the three arrested (one is the judicial councelor of TPB) a lawyer. This because they say they aren´t suspected of a crime that can result in jail. (Yes, it works like that here)
- BUT, if they aren´t suspected of a serious crime (jail), the police don´t have the right to get a warrant and raid the place. (Once again, swedish law)
BTW - they forced the lawyer to give them a DNA-sample.... in sweden that is a BIG violation of personal rights if they don´t have a really good reason. Remember, they where NOT suspected of anything that could result in jail.........
p2p.net has an interview with somebody from piratebay
Big up to the guys at Piratebay...may the force be with them
Fuck those greedy RIAA and MPAA bastards!
USA: STOLEN ELECTION
Rolling Stone: Was the 2004 Election Stolen?
by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Republicans prevented more than 350,000 voters in Ohio from casting ballots or having their votes counted -- enough to have put John Kerry in the White House
" The first indication that something was gravely amiss on November 2nd, 2004, was the inexplicable discrepancies between exit polls and actual vote counts. Polls in thirty states weren't just off the mark -- they deviated to an extent that cannot be accounted for by their margin of error. In all but four states, the discrepancy favored President Bush.(16)"
"a must read"
by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Republicans prevented more than 350,000 voters in Ohio from casting ballots or having their votes counted -- enough to have put John Kerry in the White House
" The first indication that something was gravely amiss on November 2nd, 2004, was the inexplicable discrepancies between exit polls and actual vote counts. Polls in thirty states weren't just off the mark -- they deviated to an extent that cannot be accounted for by their margin of error. In all but four states, the discrepancy favored President Bush.(16)"
"a must read"
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
AFGHANISTAN: ROAD TO WAR
Asia Times: The battle spreads in Afghanistan
KARACHI - The bulk of the fighting in Afghanistan in the past week, which has claimed more than 300 lives among the Taliban, US-led forces, the Afghan National Army (ANA) and civilians, has taken place in the southern Pashtun heartland of the country.
However, the Taliban's spring offensive is fast turning into a massive resistance against the foreign presence all over Afghanistan, and already some influential characters are jockeying for a post-spring role.
And the indications are that the resistance could transcend a simple Taliban-led insurgency to evolve into a powerful Islamic movement.
KARACHI - The bulk of the fighting in Afghanistan in the past week, which has claimed more than 300 lives among the Taliban, US-led forces, the Afghan National Army (ANA) and civilians, has taken place in the southern Pashtun heartland of the country.
However, the Taliban's spring offensive is fast turning into a massive resistance against the foreign presence all over Afghanistan, and already some influential characters are jockeying for a post-spring role.
And the indications are that the resistance could transcend a simple Taliban-led insurgency to evolve into a powerful Islamic movement.
IRAN
Asia Times: Iran offered 'to make peace with Israel'
WASHINGTON - Iran offered in 2003 to accept peace with Israel and cut off material assistance to Palestinian armed groups and to pressure them to halt terrorist attacks within Israel's 1967 borders, according to a secret Iranian proposal to the United States.
The two-page proposal for a broad Iran-US agreement covering all the issues separating the two countries, a copy of which was obtained by Inter Press Service (IPS), was conveyed to the US in late April or early May 2003.
WASHINGTON - Iran offered in 2003 to accept peace with Israel and cut off material assistance to Palestinian armed groups and to pressure them to halt terrorist attacks within Israel's 1967 borders, according to a secret Iranian proposal to the United States.
The two-page proposal for a broad Iran-US agreement covering all the issues separating the two countries, a copy of which was obtained by Inter Press Service (IPS), was conveyed to the US in late April or early May 2003.
USA: ANALYSIS
Asia Times: The delusions of global hegemony pt 1
Tom Engelhard interviews Andrew Bacevich
TD: You've used the word "crusade" and spoken of this administration as "intoxicated with the mission of salvation". I was wondering what kind of "ism" you think we've been living with in these years.
Bacevich: That's a great question, and it's not enough to say that it's democratic capitalism. Certainly, our "ism" incorporates a religious dimension - in the sense of believing that God created this nation for a purpose that has to do with universal values.
Drifting down the path to perdition pt. 2
Tom Engelhard interviews Andrew Bacevich
TD: You've used the word "crusade" and spoken of this administration as "intoxicated with the mission of salvation". I was wondering what kind of "ism" you think we've been living with in these years.
Bacevich: That's a great question, and it's not enough to say that it's democratic capitalism. Certainly, our "ism" incorporates a religious dimension - in the sense of believing that God created this nation for a purpose that has to do with universal values.
Drifting down the path to perdition pt. 2
Monday, May 29, 2006
AFGHANISTAN: RIOTS IN KABUL
Forbes: Afghans Riot After U.S. Truck Accident
A deadly traffic accident involving U.S. troops sparked a riot in the Afghan capital on Monday, with U.S. and Afghan security forces firing on protesters, police and witnesses said. At least five people were killed and 60 injured.
Hundreds of protesters marched on the palace of U.S.-backed President Hamid Karzai in the city center after the incident, shouting "Death to Karzai! Death to America!"
Washington Post: Anti-American Riots Erupt in Kabul After Traffic Accident
KABUL, May 29 -- This city erupted in anti-American riots Monday after rumors spread that U.S. troops had fired on and killed several civilians after a rush-hour traffic accident on the outskirts of the city.
Police and U.S. forces tried to secure the area of the accident but were surrounded by mobs of young men, including students on their way to school. The crowds ran through the streets, burned tires and set up roadblocks, and gunfire echoed across the city for hours. The mobs stopped and burned Afghan police and security vehicles.
A deadly traffic accident involving U.S. troops sparked a riot in the Afghan capital on Monday, with U.S. and Afghan security forces firing on protesters, police and witnesses said. At least five people were killed and 60 injured.
Hundreds of protesters marched on the palace of U.S.-backed President Hamid Karzai in the city center after the incident, shouting "Death to Karzai! Death to America!"
Washington Post: Anti-American Riots Erupt in Kabul After Traffic Accident
KABUL, May 29 -- This city erupted in anti-American riots Monday after rumors spread that U.S. troops had fired on and killed several civilians after a rush-hour traffic accident on the outskirts of the city.
Police and U.S. forces tried to secure the area of the accident but were surrounded by mobs of young men, including students on their way to school. The crowds ran through the streets, burned tires and set up roadblocks, and gunfire echoed across the city for hours. The mobs stopped and burned Afghan police and security vehicles.
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Counterpunch: Countdown to Apartheid
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's address to both houses of Congress was perhaps the most skilled use of Newspeak since George Orwell invented the term in his novel /1984/. (He had help: author and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel reportedly drafted large sections of the speech.) Just as Orwell's totalitarian propagandists proclaimed WAR IS PEACE and Israeli government signs placed at the Wall (sorry, fence) at the entrance to Bethlehem greet Palestinians with the blessing PEACE BE UNTO YOU, so Olmert declared in Washington: UNILATERAL REALIGNMENT IS PEACE.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's address to both houses of Congress was perhaps the most skilled use of Newspeak since George Orwell invented the term in his novel /1984/. (He had help: author and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel reportedly drafted large sections of the speech.) Just as Orwell's totalitarian propagandists proclaimed WAR IS PEACE and Israeli government signs placed at the Wall (sorry, fence) at the entrance to Bethlehem greet Palestinians with the blessing PEACE BE UNTO YOU, so Olmert declared in Washington: UNILATERAL REALIGNMENT IS PEACE.
IRAQ
Mercury News: Iranian-backed militia groups take control of much of southern Iraq
ASRA, Iraq - Southern Iraq, long touted as a peaceful region that's likely to be among the first areas returned to Iraqi control, is now dominated by Shiite Muslim warlords and militiamen who are laying the groundwork for an Islamic fundamentalist government, say senior British and Iraqi officials in the area.
The militias appear to be supported by Iranian intelligence or military units that are shipping weapons to the militias in Iraq and providing training for them in Iran.
ASRA, Iraq - Southern Iraq, long touted as a peaceful region that's likely to be among the first areas returned to Iraqi control, is now dominated by Shiite Muslim warlords and militiamen who are laying the groundwork for an Islamic fundamentalist government, say senior British and Iraqi officials in the area.
The militias appear to be supported by Iranian intelligence or military units that are shipping weapons to the militias in Iraq and providing training for them in Iran.
IRAQ: US WAR CRIMES
Times: Revealed: how US marines massacred 24
PHOTOGRAPHS taken by American military intelligence have provided crucial evidence that up to 24 Iraqis were massacred by marines in Haditha, an insurgent stronghold on the banks of the Euphrates.
One portrays an Iraqi mother and young child, kneeling on the floor, as if in prayer. They have been shot dead at close range.
The pictures show other victims, shot execution-style in the head and chest in their homes. An American government official said they revealed that the marines involved had “suffered a total breakdown in morality and leadership”.
PHOTOGRAPHS taken by American military intelligence have provided crucial evidence that up to 24 Iraqis were massacred by marines in Haditha, an insurgent stronghold on the banks of the Euphrates.
One portrays an Iraqi mother and young child, kneeling on the floor, as if in prayer. They have been shot dead at close range.
The pictures show other victims, shot execution-style in the head and chest in their homes. An American government official said they revealed that the marines involved had “suffered a total breakdown in morality and leadership”.
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