NEWS and PROPAGANDA

Sanctions Proposed Against Eritrea
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The UN's Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) asked the Security Council to impose 'tough' sanctions on Eritrea Thursday due to its call for the ouster of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki is quoted saying "this so-called [Somali] government is not a government in terms of legitimacy. It cannot even influence one very small neighbourhood in Mogadishu, let alone Somalia."

http://atheonews.blogspot.com/2009/05/sanctions-proposed-against-eritrea.html



Deadly battles in Somali capital
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At least seven people have been killed after Somali government forces launched an attack in an attempt to drive opposition fighters from the capital, Mogadishu.
Witnesses said at least four members of al-Shabab, an armed group, and a journalist from Shabelle Radio, a local independent station, were among the victims of Friday's clashes.
"They have recaptured four police stations between here and the palace, and they are advancing further."
But al-Shabab rejected the claims of military success.
"...our fighters are defending themselves," Sheikh Ali Mahmoud Rage, a spokesman for al-Shabab, said. "They have not not taken any positions from us."
Reporters confirmed that several bodies had been left on the ground and at least eight civilians injured while trying to escape.
Sources at two Mogadishu hospitals told Reuters that they received a total of 85 wounded civilians on Friday.
In the past 10 days, more than 100 people have been killed and 46,000 have been displaced as the fighting has escalated.
Earlier this week an East African group called on the UN to impose an aerial and maritime blockade on Somalia to prevent the opposition fighters from acquiring more weapons.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2009/05/200952271510325.html



Sept. 11 Commission official selected to head US National Intelligence Council
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National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair has tapped the deputy director of the Sept. 11 Commission to head the top U.S. office for intelligence analysis.
Blair's first choice, Charles Freeman, bowed out of consideration two months ago under congressional criticism for his public comments about Israel and allegations about his ties to foreign governments.

http://wire.antiwar.com/2009/05/21/sept-11-commission-official-to-lead-intel-group/



Senate O.K.'s $91 Billion in War Funds
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The Senate approved $91 billion in funding for the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan yesterday, with all senators but three voting for the bill. This, along with a House vote last week in favor of $97 billion

http://www.truthout.org/052209J?n



Obama's War: Drunk, Bored Trigger Happy Mercenaries Kill Afghan Civilians
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For those of you who have been following the intricacies of the various ongoing Blackwater/Xe scandals (hard to keep up with indeed), the situation unfolding in Kabul is certainly on your radar. In short, four Blackwater/Xe operatives working for Paravant LLC, a subsidiary of Blackwater/Xe are alleged to have fired on a civilian car they say they saw as a threat, killing at least one Afghan civilian.

http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m54479&hd=&size=1&l=e



Two Sides of the Same Coin... Heads-Heads
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This baby was the victim of an air strike, a bombing that killed her entire family and leveled her modest home to the ground. My father pointed at this heartbreaking baby and said, "Sibel, this is war. This is the real face of war. This is the result of war. Do you think anything can justify this? I want to replace the glamorous exciting phony images of those war movies in your head. I want you to remember this for the rest of your life and stand against this kind of destruction…"

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7172#more-7172




No, I Do Not Support "The Troops"
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Our national catechism tells us that America is Good -- and that America's murders are Good Murders. You may not say otherwise.

http://powerofnarrative.blogspot.com/



Biden in the Balkans: US asserts interests in shattered region
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Jones declared that, “Americans are not satisfied with the Brussels leadership in the Balkans” and criticized a number of European countries that are calling for a delay in the accession of more Balkan states to the EU and NATO.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=13700