Breaking News and Commentary from Citizens for Legitimate Government
08 Oct 2010http://www.legitgov.orgAll links are here:
http://www.legitgov.org/#breaking_news
U.S. is lining the Taliban's pockets by spending millions of dollars
on private security in
Afghanistan<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1318762/U-S-reliance-priv
ate-security-Afghanistan-funding-Taliban-militants.html> 08 Oct
2010 Heavy US reliance on private security in Afghanistan has helped
to line the pockets of the Taliban with millions of dollars. It
also threatens the safety of coalition troops because contractors
often do not vet local recruits and wind up hiring warlords and
thugs, US Senate investigators said. The report by the Senate Armed
Services Committee follows a separate congressional inquiry in June
that concluded that trucking contractors pay tens of millions of
dollars a year to local warlords for convoy protection.
Security contractors in Afghanistan 'fund
Taliban'<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11498443> 07
Oct 2010 Heavy US reliance on private security in Afghanistan has
helped to line the pockets of the Taliban, a US Senate report says.
The
study<http://armed-services.senate.gov/Publications/SASC%20PSC%20Report%2010-
07-10.pdf> by the Senate Armed Services Committee says this is
because contractors often fail to vet local recruits and end up
hiring warlords. Some 26,000 private security personnel, mostly
Afghans, operate in Afghanistan.
Nine out of 10 of them work for the US government.
Inquiry Finds Guards at U.S. Bases Are Tied to
Taliban<http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/world/asia/08contractor.html> 08
Oct 2010 Afghan private security forces with ties to the Taliban,
criminal networks and Iranian intelligence have been hired to guard
American military bases in Afghanistan, exposing United States
soldiers to surprise attack and confounding the fight against
insurgents, according to a Senate investigation.
The Pentagons oversight of the Afghan guards is virtually nonexistent,
allowing local security deals among American military commanders,
Western contracting companies and Afghan warlords who are closely
connected to the violent insurgency, according to the report by
investigators on the staff of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Report: US Contractors Hired Taliban, Warlords to Guard US Troops
In
Afghanistan<http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/us-contractors-hired-iranian-spies-
taliban-warlords-guard/story?id=11825774> --Senate Investigators
Say Chaotic Security Contracts Pose 'Grave Risk' to US Troops 07
Oct 2010 A scathing Senate report says US contractors in Afghanistan
have hired warlords, "thugs,"
Taliban commanders and even Iranian spies to provide security at
vulnerable US military outposts in Afghanistan. The report, published
by the Senate Armed Services Committee, says lax oversight and
"systemic failures" have led to "grave risks' to US forces, including
instances where contractors have employed Afghan subcontractors who
were "linked to murder, kidnapping and bribery, as well as Taliban
and anti-coalition activities."
As CLG has asserted from the get-go: Nato contractors 'bombing own
vehicles' in Pakistan<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11489955>
--'The deputy later told the police that he had been told to plant
the bomb by the contractor.' 06 Oct 2010 The owners of oil tankers
being used to supply fuel to Nato in Afghanistan say some of the
attacks on their convoys are suspicious. They say there is evidence
to suggest that bombs have been planted in many of vehicles by the
Nato contractors... Dost Mohammad, an oil tanker owner from Nowshera
district, said a Nato contractor had recently been caught trying
to plant a bomb in an oil tanker. "This happened in the area of
Paiyee, when he was putting the bomb under the vehicle." "At that
time, a few men also opened fire on the tankers. The deputy later
told the police that he had been told to plant the bomb by the
contractor." Dost Mohammad said the contractor had apparently sold
off the fuel first. "Only 2,000 litres from the original 50,000
litres had been left in the tanker to cover up the crime," he said.
Dost Mohammad said it is a win-win situation for the contractors.
[But not the US taxpayers. It is manifest to me that the actual
*terrorists* comprise the US government and its sub-contractors.
--LRP]
Gunmen in Pakistan torch nearly 30 NATO fuel
tankers<http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69804T20101009> 08
Oct 2010 [Blackwater?] Gunmen in southwestern Pakistan set fire to
nearly 30 tankers carrying fuel for NATO troops in Afghanistan on
Saturday, an official said, two days after the United States
apologized to Pakistan for a cross-border air raid that killed two
Pakistani soldiers. About 20 gunmen set fire to around 30 tankers
parked outside at a roadside restaurant near the southwestern town
of Sibi in a pre-dawn attack, the official said.
Investigator: Bomb-sniffing dogs sent to Afghanistan, Iraq not
trained using common
explosives<http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5ijm5s
Qgbfbj3Zgy2Rd6QxwusvGJQ?docId=4781017> 08 Oct 2010 The State
Department's inspector general said Friday that bomb-sniffing dogs
in Afghanistan and Iraq are not being tested properly and may not
be able to detect explosives effectively. The inspector general's
review found that the companies hired to supply and train the animals
were not testing them for all scents of the most commonly encountered
explosives, increasing the chance that a dog would miss a bomb in
a vehicle or luggage.
Blackwater firm's embassy dogs not up to speed, audit
says<http://blog.washingtonpost.com/spy-talk/2010/10/blackwater_firms_embassy
_dogs.html> 08 Oct 2010 State Department auditors said Friday that
guard dogs deployed by two private security companies to protect
American embassies in Afghanistan and Iraq are not being properly
trained to detect bombs. The departments inspector general singled
out U.S. Training Center, an affiliate of Xe Services, the [mercenary]
firm formerly known as Blackwater, for lapses in its guard dog
program in Kabul. Another firm, the Washington-based RONCO Consulting
Corporation, was scored for its guard dog program at the U.S.
Embassy in Baghdad, as well as in Kabul. The Baghdad program alone
costs over $24 million a year, the
report<http://oig.state.gov/documents/organization/149415.pdf> said.
US-led airstrike kills 6 in
Afghanistan<http://www.presstv.ir/detail/145754.html> 08 Oct 2010
A US helicopter has claimed the lives of at least six members of
Afghan security forces in Khost province in eastern Afghanistan,
officials say. Deputy Chief of Khost province Youqib Khan said that
the men were killed on Friday in retaliatory fire by a US helicopter,
the Associated Press reported. The air strike has provoked anger
among the villagers as hundreds protested... "Death to America!"
chanted the crowd.
NATO drone crashes in E
Afghanistan<http://www.presstv.ir/detail/145671.html> 07 Oct 2010
An unmanned aerial vehicle operated by the NATO-led International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has crashed in eastern Afghanistan,
near the Pakistani border. The drone crashed on Thursday in the
remote Paktika province near the border with Pakistan's troubled
South Waziristan, the ISAF confirmed in a press release.
Three US-led troops killed in
Afghanistan<http://www.presstv.ir/detail/145794.html> 08 Oct 2010
At least three more US-led foreign forces have lost their lives in
separate, deadly incidents in the troubled southern Afghanistan, a
NATO statement says. The International Security Assistance Force
(ISAF) said on Friday that two of the soldiers were killed in
separate bomb attacks. According to the US-led military alliance,
the third soldier was killed in a militant attack.
Twin blasts kill 10 in Pakistan<http://www.presstv.ir/detail/145667.html>
07 Oct 2010 At least 10 people have been killed and 15 others
sustained injuries as twin bomb attacks ripped though a shrine in
Pakistan's largest city, Karachi. The blasts took place at about
7:00 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) on Thursday outside the Abdullah
Shah Ghazi shrine, located on a hilltop overlooking Clifton Beach
in Karachi. The explosions caused a stampede among hundreds of
people who were praying inside.
Tom Donilon to replace James Jones as National Security Council
chief<http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/43323.html> 08 Oct
2010 President Barack Obama's national security advisor, Gen. Jim
Jones, will step down in two weeks and will be replaced by his
deputy, Tom Donilon, senior administration officials said Friday.
Administration officials said Jones had previously told Obama he
intended to leave by the end of the year, mid-way through his first
term.
Wisconsin GOP Chairman Slips And Says 'Obama Should Be Executed'
During Talk About Osama Bin
Laden<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/07/reince-priebus-obama-osama_n_7
53338.html> 07 Oct 2010 Reince Priebus, Chairman of the Wisconsin
GOP, referred to the "execution" of Obama three separate times
during a recent media conference call. Probed by reporters on how
Republican Senate candidate Ron Johnson would feel on these issues,
Priebus surmised that he would also favor the execution of "Obama."
"My guess is he would believe that Obama should be executed and he
oughta be treated as a war criminal," Priebus explained. A reporter
from WisPolitics later pointed out his use of Obama instead of
Osama. "You mean Osama bin Laden I take it," the reporter said.
"Uh, right," responded Priebus.
Three dozen fall ill at Obama rally in
Md.<http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=2072822> 07 Oct 2010 About three
dozen people have been treated for illness during a rally featuring
President Obama at Bowie State University. Prince George's County
Fire and EMS spokesman Mark Brady tells WTOP numerous ambulances
have been sent to the rally after people started fainting and became
dizzy. Two people have been taken to the hospital so far, Brady
says... Officials have set up a triage area inside the gymnasium
at Bowie State.
German Terror Connection Grows; 45 More Suspects Being
Tracked<http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/ahmed-siddiqui-german-terror-connection
/story?id=11760048> --US Says 'Other Sources' Corroborate Claims
of German al Qaeda Member in Custody 07 Oct 2010 The claims of a
captured German al Qaeda recruit about a multi-city plot against
Europe have been bolstered by other "highly reliable" sources of
information, US and German intelligence officials said Thursday...
German intelligence officials told ABCNews.com Thursday that about
45 other "potentially dangerous" individuals in Germany are being
tracked as officials seek to prevent an attack from taking place.
Terrorist attack in Britain is 'very likely' according to extreme
French Foreign Ministry
warning<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1318168/Terrorist-attack-Brit
ain-likely-according-French-Foreign-Ministry-warning.html> 06 Oct
2010 The French have issued their most extreme warning in recent
years about the dangers of visiting Britain, saying a terrorist
attack is 'very likely'. A dramatic statement on the website of the
Ministry for Foreign Affairs adds that visitors need to exercise
'extreme vigilance'. This is especially so in world famous sites
like Londons Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus, and on the
capital's public transport system.
Europe Faces Persistent Terror Threat, Warns US Security
Official<http://www.rttnews.com/Content/GeneralNews.aspx?Id=1440441&SM=1>
08 Oct 2010 Days after the United States issued a travel advisory,
cautioning its citizens traveling to or residing in European countries
of potential Islamist terrorist attacks there, European Union (E.U.)
ministers said a top American security official warned Europe
Thursday that it was facing a "persistent terror threat." U.S.
Deputy Secretary for Homeland Security Jane Holl Lute confirmed
Thursday the "reality and the persistence of the threat without
specifying the exact targets," European Union counter-terrorism
co-ordinator Gilles de Kerchove told a news conference following a
meeting.
European politicians deny US claims of terror
threat<http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/oct2010/euro-o07.shtml>
By Stefan Steinberg 07 Oct 2010 A number of leading European
politicians have publicly denied recent US claims of an imminent
threat of terrorist attack somewhere in Europe. Last Sunday, the
US State Department issued a vague statement warning American
citizens in Europe of the danger of attacks by terrorist organisations
linked to Al Qaeda... At a meeting held by the German Konrad Adenauer
Foundation on Tuesday (6 October) European Union Justice Commissioner
Viviane Reding denied that there was any imminent threat of terror
attacks in Europe.
FBI Spies on Student, Retrieves GPS
Device<http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-20019113-501465.html> 08
Oct 2010 Yasir Afifi, a 20-year-old student and U.S.-born citizen
found a GPS tracking device on his car. A friend posted pictures
of the device, which resulted in the FBI coming by Afifi's Santa
Clara, Calif., apartment to retrieve the surveillance equipment.
It seems the FBI was tracking Afifi's movements, taking advantage
of a recent controversial 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
ruling<http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS197061744020100827> in
favor of warrantless GPS tracking.
Italy to become next European country to ban burka after government
report recommends forbidding it in
public<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1318498/Italy-European-country
-ban-burka-government-recommendation.html> 07 Oct 2010 Italy is set
to become the next European country to ban the burka after a
government report ruled in favour of the proposed legislation. MPs
from the anti-immigration Northern League party, a member of Prime
Minister Silvio Berlusconi's ruling right wing coalition, have
presented the proposal in a bill.
French Constitutional Court Removes Last Hurdle to Veil
Ban<http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7020159645?French%20Constitut...
l%20Court%20Removes%20Last%20Hurdle%20To%20Veil%20Ban> 08 Oct 2010
The Conseil Constitutionnel in France has approved a ban on wearing
a full-length covering and facial veil ban in public places, after
an exception was made to allow such coverings in public places of
worship. The ban will come into effect next spring. Parliament has
already approved the measure.
Heads up! Novartis, Craig Venter to Create Seed Viruses for Synthetic
Vaccines<http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-07/novartis-craig-venter-to-cr
eate-synthetic-vaccines-update1-.html> 07 Oct 2010 Novartis AG
agreed to use technology from Synthetic Genomics Vaccines Inc., a
company run by genome pioneer Craig Venter, in an effort to cut the
time needed to develop influenza shots. Novartis and San Diego-based
Synthetic Genomic Vaccines will work together to create so-called
seed viruses, templates from which large amounts of vaccine are
created, Novartis said in a statement today.
Chamber ad buys in Senate race raise questions on foreign
money<http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/oct/08/chamber-ad-buys-in-florida-sena
te-race-raise-quest/> 08 Oct 2010 Two $1 million ad buys by the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce attacking Gov. Charlie Crist could draw
the Florida Senate race into a national controversy brewing over
allegations that the Chamber is skirting laws against using money
from foreign sources in U.S. political campaigns. The accusations
originated last week on a blog called
ThinkProgress<http://thinkprogress.org/2010/10/05/foreign-chamber-commerce/>,
associated with liberal political causes and figures.
U.S. Chamber Pledges to Take Obama Policies to
Court<http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=11824880> 07 Oct
2010 The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is mounting a new legal attack
on the Obama administration's regulatory policies just weeks ahead
of congressional elections, telling voters that Democrat[ic]-driven
regulation is hurting the economic recovery. Thomas Donohue, the
chamber's president and chief executive corporaterrorist, said on
Thursday the nation's largest business lobby is beefing up its staff
so it can fight health care and financial regulation reform in
court.
Primary election early voters up
50%<http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2010-10-06-early-voting_N.htm> 06
Oct 2010 The number of voters who cast early ballots in this year's
primary elections increased 50% over the 2006 midterm, a USA TODAY
review of key states shows, the latest uptick in a trend that is
reshaping political campaigns. Nearly 6 million people took part
in early voting during this year's primary elections in the 13
states reviewed, including California, Florida and Texas. That's
up from just over 4 million voters in those same states during the
2006 primary election.
Calif. AG calls on all banks to halt
foreclosures<http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9INPLCO1.htm> 08
Oct 2010 California's attorney general wants all lenders to cease
efforts to take back homes from borrowers in the state until the
companies can prove that they are complying with a law aimed at
preventing foreclosures. Jerry Brown said Friday all lenders should
follow Bank of America Corp.'s decision to temporarily halt
foreclosures nationwide while it reviews documents used to process
foreclosures for potential flaws.
BofA Extends Freeze on Foreclosures to All 50
States<http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-10-08/bofa-extends-freeze-on-for
eclosures-to-all-50-states.html> 08 Oct 2010 Bank of America Corp.,
the biggest U.S. lender, extended a freeze on foreclosures to all
50 states as concern spread among federal and local officials that
homes are being seized based on false data. Bank of America, JPMorgan
Chase & Co. and Ally Financial Inc. already froze foreclosures in
23 states where courts supervise home seizures.
Toxic Hungarian sludge spill reaches River
Danube<http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69415O20101007> 07 Oct
2010 Toxic red sludge from a Hungarian alumina plant reached the
Danube on Thursday and crews struggled to dilute it to protect the
river from what the prime minister called an "unprecedented ecological
catastrophe." ...Tibor Dobson, a spokesman for Hungarian disaster
crews, told Reuters there were sporadic fish deaths in the Raba and
the Mosoni-Danube rivers. He said all fish had died in the smaller
Marcal River, which was hit by the spill first.
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Previous lead stories: Warplanes raid security instillations across
Gaza Strip<http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=321624>
07 Oct 2010 Israeli warplanes fired on multiple sites in the central
Gaza Strip early Thursday, witnesses said. Airstrikes targeted
security installations in northern and western Gaza City as well
as a residential area in western Gaza.
Smoke was seen rising over the city as ambulances rushed to the
bombing sites.
FBI chief: Change law to ensure surveillance in terrorism, criminal
cases<http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5h5zCgLeQbG
HIXZxP6LvpOf4xkwJA?docId=4758344> 06 Oct 2010 FBI Director Robert
Mueller is calling for changes in federal law to help his agents
with surveillance of communications in anti-terror and other criminal
investigations. At a conference of intelligence experts, Mueller
said that in some instances communications companies are unable to
provide electronic communications the FBI needs in response to court
orders. His comments come as the Obama administration considers
proposals that would require service providers to make the plain
text of encrypted conversations -- over the phone, computer or email
-- readily available to law enforcers.
US blames Pakistan for Afghan
failure<http://www.presstv.ir/detail/145558.html> 06 Oct 2010 A new
White House report says the Pakistani military is avoiding "direct
conflict" with militants near its border with neighboring Afghanistan.
The report, sent to Congress by President Barack Obama, accuses the
Pakistani army of pursuing its own interests in the volatile region...
The report comes as a non-UN-sanctioned US strike killed at least
six people and wounded several others in the country's troubled
northwestern tribal region on Wednesday.
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