U.S. and the World
U.S. Killing of Civilians Blamed on Ignorance of Afghan Society…After 8 Years
There is much the U.S. military and intelligence community don’t know about Afghanistan’s politics and culture, resulting in decisions that are born of ignorance and the product of suspect information from local sources with personal agendas. Beca... read more
Shades of the Taliban: Somali Radio Stations Stop Playing Music and Jingles
Afraid of violent consequences if they did not comply, most radio stations in Somalia have agreed to stop playing music—or even jingles—as ordered by Hizbul-Islam insurgents who believe the tunes are un-Islamic. Fourteen of the country’s 15 radio ... read more
Abu Ghraib Military Police Company May Return to Iraq for First Time Since Abuse Scandal
The 372nd Military Police Company, which became infamous during the Abu Ghraib scandal six years ago, may be sent back to Iraq
later this year. The Army Reserve unit is scheduled to undergo one to three months of training at Fort Bliss, Texas, be... read more
Former U.S. Hostages Sue Chiquita for Supporting Terrorists
Three employees of defense contractor Northrop Grumman are suing Chiquita Brands International for supporting a terrorist group in Colombia that held them hostage for five years. Keith Stansell, Marc Gonsalves and Thomas Howes were conducting a ci... read more
More Than 2 Million U.S. Jobs Lost to China
The ongoing trade deficit between the United States and China have cost American labor 2.4 million jobs since 2001, according to a new study released by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). The report also revealed that the high-tech industry has ... read more
WikiLeaks Releases Video of Killing of Journalists in Iraq
A U.S. military video released by a watchdog group raises questions about the official accounts of why an American helicopter opened fire on a group of Iraqis on July 19, 2007, killing 12, including two journalists working for Reuters.
WikiLea... read more
Is a Luxury Powerboat Being Transformed into an Iranian Weapon?
U.S. officials are worried that Iran is trying to obtain a record-breaking speedboat to use as a weapon against American or other navies in the Persian Gulf. The boat in question is the Lorne Campbell-designed Bradstone Challenger, a Bladerunner 5... read more
More Than 800 Iraqis and Afghans Have Filed for Compensation over Civilian Deaths
For many Iraqi and Afghan civilians who have suffered losses at the hands of American soldiers, getting compensated for dead relatives or damaged property often results in denials or bureaucratic redirections that lead to small payments.
After... read more
U.N. Agrees to Stricter Pollution Controls for Foreign Ships Entering U.S. and Canadian Waters
Ships entering the waters of Canada and the United States soon will have to use cleaner-burning fuel for their engines in order to cut down on the air pollution they produce in North America. Pushed by the American and Canadian governments, the In... read more
China Prepares for Ice-Free Arctic
As the Arctic heats up, so does international interest in the previously inaccessible region. A lack of territory adjacent to the Arctic Ocean has not stopped China from preparing for the day when ships will be able to sail through the once-frozen... read more
State Dept. To Hire Contractor to Babysit Misbehaving Contractors in Afghanistan
Instead of directly taking over management of a private security contractor whose employees were caught partying near the U.S. embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, the State Department has decided to hire another contractor to oversee the troubled compa... read more
U.S. Military Contractors Move into Africa
With the establishment of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) in 2007, the U.S. government decided to make security a key foreign policy objective for a continent that has long been plagued by civil war and other conflicts. But AFRICOM has ... read more
Afghan Insurgents Obtained U.S. IED-Blocking Systems
Warlocks, the jamming technology used by the U.S. military to thwart roadside bombs in Afghanistan, fell into the hands of the Taliban more than two years ago, according to an Army intelligence document obtained by WikiLeaks. The equipment may hav... read more
The $6 Billion Police Force That Afghans Don’t Want
If the successful development of an independent, effective and trustworthy police force in Afghanistan is key to the U.S. pulling out of the country, American troops have a long wait ahead of them. An investigation by ProPublica and Newsweek has r... read more
Afghanistan Government Pardons All Pre-Invasion War Criminals
Despite public assurances from President Hamid Karzai that it would not become law, a blanket amnesty for all war crimes committed in Afghanistan prior to 2001 has indeed gone into effect.
Adopted by parliament in 2007, the National Stability ... read more
Afghan District Governor Pleads for U.S. Troops
Adding tens of thousands of American troops to Afghanistan this year will still leave some provinces short on help, even in areas where the Taliban is well established. Abdul Qayoom Khan, governor of Zabul province, has begged for more U.S. soldie... read more