SPB News for Thursday.

$80mil US contract to indicted Saudi
Alleged BCCI front man and early Bush investor to supply jet fuel to military.

Bush administration files nuclear dump application
Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said Tuesday he's confident the government's license application to build a nuclear waste dump in Nevada will "stand up to any challenge anywhere."

Revealed: Secret plan to keep Iraq under US control --Bush wants 50 military bases, control of Iraqi airspace and legal immunity for all American soldiers and contractors A secret deal being negotiated in Baghdad would perpetuate the American military occupation of Iraq indefinitely, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election in November. The terms of the impending deal, details of which have been leaked to The Independent, are likely to have an explosive political effect in Iraq. Iraqi officials fear that the accord, under which US troops would occupy permanent bases, conduct military operations, arrest Iraqis and enjoy immunity from Iraqi law, will destabilise Iraq's position in the Middle East and lay the basis for unending conflict in their country.

New agreement lets US strike any country from inside Iraq --Sources: US army is completing the building of military facilities and runways for permanent bases A proposed Iraqi-American security agreement will include permanent American bases in the country, and the right for the United States to strike, from within Iraqi territory, any country it considers a threat to its national security, Gulf News has learned. Senior Iraqi military sources have told Gulf News that the long-term controversial agreement is likely to include three major items:
Iraqi security institutions such as Defence, Interior and National Security ministries, as well as armament contracts, will be under US supervision for ten years
Agreement is also likely to give US forces permanent military bases in Iraq
US is granted the right to move against any country considered to be a threat against world stability or acting against Iraqi or American interests

Jury acquits Marine of covering up Iraq killings --Officer was accused of ordering troops to delete photos of 24 slain civilians A Marine intelligence officer has been acquitted of charges that he tried to help cover up the killings of 24 Iraqi men, women and children [Nov. 19, 2005, in Haditha]. A jury of seven officers delivered the verdict Wednesday in favor of 1st Lt. Andrew Grayson after more than five hours of deliberation. Grayson was accused of telling a sergeant to delete photographs of the dead from a digital camera and laptop computer... Prosecutors said Grayson also lied five times to investigators before admitting he ordered the photos deleted.

Council snoopers access 900 phone bills Councils have used laws designed to combat terrorism to access more than 900 people's private phone and email records in the latest example of Britain's growing surveillance state. Town hall spies found out who residents were phoning and emailing as they investigated such misdemeanours as dog quarantine breaches and unlicensed storage of petrol. The news prompted fresh calls from civil rights groups for a reform of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa), which was originally brought in to combat terrorism and serious crime but is increasingly being used by councils to snoop on members of the public.

Clinton Likely to Suspend Bid on Friday --Senior Adviser Says She Will Also Endorse Obama Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is moving to suspend her campaign and endorse Senator Barack Obama as the Democratic presidential nominee, probably on Friday, according to a senior adviser to Mrs. Clinton. Mrs. Clinton is likely to make the announcement in New York City, an aide said, although no final venue has been chosen.

McCain's Blogger Call Gets Slightly Heated ... I just finished up a conference call with Sen. John McCain, which became heated at times. — When Quin Hillyer of The Examiner noted the perception that some conservatives believe McCain has been disrespectful to them in the past …

Judge lets Blackwater open San Diego siteMilitary contractor sued to force city to issue permits; S.D.: We were misled.