Commander wants a 'more nuanced debate'; says Iraq 'too volatile'.
Pakistani journalist in US jail on terrorism charges Nayyar Zaidi, the well-known US-based Pakistani-American journalist who has been a citizen of the United States for more than 30 years, has been in US custody for the last four months on what are said to be terrorism-related charges. According to one report, Zaidi is being held on the charge of "obstruction of justice", a very serious offence. He is also said to be awaiting a trial. The Homeland Security Department or the FBI have made no announcement about his arrest or incarceration.
Ex-insurgents Want More Money, or Else --After the bomb was finally blown up by the experts, a U.S. Soldier teased Abu Zarra, telling him: "Isn't this just like the good old days when you were the terrorist?" The Iraqi officer leading a U.S.-financed anti-jihadist group is in no mood for small talk -- either the military gives him more money or he will pack his bags and rejoin the ranks of al-Qaeda . "I'll go back to al-Qaeda if you stop backing the Sahwa (Awakening) groups," Col. Satar tells U.S. Lt. Matthew McKernon, as he tries to secure more funding for his men to help battle the anti-U.S. 'insurgents.' Most members of the Awakening groups are Sunni Arab former insurgents who themselves fought American troops under the al-Qaeda banner after the fall of the regime of executed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
Ministry of Defence misled on Iraq torture, claim MPs MPs and peers have claimed that a senior Army general and a defence minister may have misled them over British troops' use of banned interrogation techniques in Iraq. Adam Ingram, the armed forces minister, and Lieutenant General Robin Brims, Commander Field Army in 2006, had told the Joint Committee on Human Rights that hooding and sleep deprivation were forbidden. But the committee said the assurances appeared to be false, and not all troops had known these and other "conditioning techniques" were banned.
Passengers at British airports to be fingerprinted --From next year, US authorities also intend to fingerprint-scan people departing the country All passengers flying from British airports with departure lounges used by both domestic and international travellers face being fingerprinted from next year. The Home Office's Border and Immigration Agency has confirmed that it is considering forcing airport operators to introduce the measures to increase security. It is concerned that so-called 'common departure lounges' could allow an incoming international passenger – possibly a terrorist or a criminal – to switch tickets with an accomplice booked on a domestic flight.
Judge Overturns Accords in 4 Suits by 9/11 Victims A federal judge in Manhattan [Alvin K. Hellerstein] took the unusual step on Thursday of overturning settlements in four lawsuits filed on behalf of victims of the Sept. 11 attacks, saying the firm that negotiated the deals was seeking excessive legal fees and that the settlement amounts themselves were unreasonable.
Industry Gushed Money After Reversal on Drilling --Patrick C. Oxford, whose Texas-based law firm [Bracewell & Giuliani] represents several large oil companies, wrote his first check to McCain on June 27. Campaign contributions from oil industry executives to Sen. John McCain rose dramatically in the last half of June, after the senator from Arizona made a high-profile split with environmentalists and reversed his opposition to the federal ban on offshore drilling. Oil and gas industry executives and employees donated $1.1 million to McCain last month -- three-quarters of which came after his June 16 speech calling for an end to the ban -- compared with $116,000 in March, $283,000 in April and $208,000 in May.
Lobbyist Reports Show $181,000 for McCain Registered lobbyists have donated large amounts of money to Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign, even as he denounces their profession. So far, Mr. McCain has received more than $181,600 from lobbyists and trade groups, while Senator Barack Obama has received just over $6,000.
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