World Terror War Newswire Archive

Students at the University of Rochester (UR) and their supporters from the community occupied a campus building February 6 in solidarity with the victims of Israel's siege of Gaza--and in a matter of half a day declared victory after winning important concessions from the administration.

Note: Soldiers in the UK can get confidential advice from an AT EASE voluntary counsellor, please phone 0207 247 5164 on a Sunday between 5pm-7pm.

A car bomb exploded in Madrid at 9am today near the offices of Ferrovial, owners of BAA. No one was injured. The Basque separatist organisation ETA has claimed responsibility.

Imagine yourself within the mind of Barack Obama, the first African American president of the United States of America. You are a man who knows how 'the system' works. This knowledge has been accrued at hard struggle, and by a remarkable and unique ability to adapt to any environment because you spent a lifetime as an exotic specimen in every environment, from Kansas to Kenya -- both African and American, Muslim and Christian, black and white. But you always displayed your native nobility -- tribal nobility on your father's side; nobility of spirit on your mother's -- and you were, with rare exceptions, accepted on your own terms. You were born under the sign of Leo, the lion, the natural leader; and your intelligence was honed with great discipline, under the influence of strong women.

Over the December period, Israel started shelling Gaza in a major offensive against the civilian population who individually paid the price with massive fatalities, dismembered limbs and phosphorous burns penetrating skin to bone.
Sharp blades of all sizes and shapes, lethal slivers raining down slicing and piecing, amputating; arms from bodies, heads from necks...
Gazans were prevented from leaving the strip, trapped inside as the knives and fire rained down.
In Nablus people clung to their TV screens, eyes spread- eagled wide, unable to work as the seemingly endless deformities of destruction paraded night after night.

The first Democratic president in the modern era to be elected on an anti-war ticket is also, to the relief of neocons and the liberal belligerati, a hawk. Committed to escalation in Afghanistan, his foreign policy selections also indicate bellicosity towards Sudan and Iran. During his first week in office he sanctioned two missile attacks in Pakistan, killing 22 people, including women and children. And his stance on Gaza is remarkably close to that of the outgoing administration. The question now is how Obama will convince his supporters to back that stance. Bush could rely on a core constituency whose commitment to peace and human rights is, at the very least, questionable. Obama has no such luxury. In making his case, he will need the support of those "liberal hawks" who gave Bush such vocal support.

Condi Rice: “What we’re seeing here, in a sense, is the growing birth pangs of a new Middle East.”

Jon Stewart: “Birth pangs? Yes, I believe today’s contraction took out a city block.”

A High Court ruling by two British judges regarding the torture of a Guantánamo detainee has unleashed a major political crisis.

The judges have stated that they have been pressured by the United States into concealing evidence that should be made available in any country governed by the rule of law. This took the form of threats to withdraw security cooperation, instigated under the Bush administration and continued under Barak Obama's presidency.

Part II: Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law: What Remedy?

Part I: What Law Applies?

Three weeks ago Dundee University did not have a Stop the War society. Now this newly formed society, which takes support from a number of different organisations active at the university, has had some major success in having demands met. The movement has snow-balled and after several meetings, a march and significant and constant pressure being put upon the Union (including forcing an EGM) DU Stop the War continues to push for action against the perceived apartheid at the hands of Israel. This article explains the actions of the last week and particularly the EGM which had the largest attendance in years.

The spectacle of tanks back from the battlefield with the blue and white Star of David flapping from their turrets, the faces of the young soldiers, their body language—all leave no doubt concerning Israel's victory. If we compare this pullback from Gaza with the one from Lebanon over two years past, there is no need for extensive commentary: Israel has retrieved the pride and reputation of its army, which had been badly damaged by that other war in the north. The world has been reminded that the Middle East contains but a single military power worthy of the name. Deterrent capability, the magical force that is supposed to protect Israel from its enemies, has returned in full strength. Israel's Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, who promised to correct his earlier failures in accordance with the findings of the Winograd Inquiry, has indeed come through.

Last November, blogger Mohamed Adel, or General Mait (dead), was detained because of a photograph taken of him, with a Palestinian Hamas official. The damning evidence was clicked when Adel participated in a humanitarian caravan to the Gaza Strip.

There was a time, as two senior judges in the British High court reported yesterday (PDF), when "The suppression of reports of wrongdoing by officials (in circumstances which cannot in any way affect national security) would be inimical to the rule of law and the proper functioning of a democracy." As the judges -- Lord Justice Thomas and Mr. Justice Lloyd Jones -- noted, correctly, "Championing the rule of law, not suppressing it, is the cornerstone of a democracy."

NATIONAL SQUAT MEET 2009 to be held in the Bristol Area, in March. Come get involved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

According to US government propaganda, terrorist cells are spread throughout America, making it necessary for the government to spy on all Americans and violate most other constitutional protections. Among President Bush’s last words as he left office was the warning that America would soon be struck again by Muslim terrorists.

US torture and British complicity in it has been in the headlines this week, along with government cover-ups on both sides of the Atlantic, in light of the urgent case of former London resident and current Guantánamo detainee Binyam Mohamed.

Please join us for a demonstration on Friday, 6 February, from 6-7pm, outside the US embassy, Grosvenor Square, London. W1A 1AE (nearest tube: Bond Street / Marble Arch).

The Israelis invaded Gaza the day I went on leave. My Blackberry started buzzing with messages, and did not let up for 22 days. One of my contacts in Gaza City SMSed me on the first night of bombing: ``WE R NOT ALONE. ALLAH + US. 3 YEARS SIEGE. WE STILL STRONG.''

Lest one tallies up its achievements, of the 1330 dead Palestinians: 437 children, 110 women, 123 elderly men, 14 medics and 4 journalists. 5000 injured, of which 1890 are children. An estimated destruction worth $ 1.5 billion, the use of white phosphorous and other illegal weapons, and over 1.5 million horrific stories to listen to. Only the sadistic fascist type would later bathe in self-exuberance by calling this a ``success''. Yet in Israeli politics, launching the all-out war machine and destroying the lives of innocents in the name of `security' to gain or retain votes isn't new.

Extremist rabbis and their followers, bent on waging holy war against the Palestinians, are taking over the Israeli army by stealth, according to critics.