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21 May 2010 11:29

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World: Sri Lanka may have violated human rights in Tamil Tigers conflict

  • Two human rights groups reportedly have the goods on them. A year after the end of a longstanding civil war in Sri Lanka, both Human Rights Watch and the International Crisis Group are suggesting there’s evidence that the Sri Lankan army brutalized men, women, and children in an attempt to end a 30-year war. In HRW’s case, they have photos that we don’t want to see. Sri Lanka’s government dismisses the claims. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

30 Mar 2010 22:19

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Politics: Oops: U.S. general apologizes for criticizing gay Dutch soldiers

  • I am sorry that my recent public recollection of those discussions of 15 years ago inaccurately reflected your thinking on some specific social issues in the military. To be clear, the failure on the ground in Srebrenica was in no way the fault of the individual soldiers.
  • Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander John Sheehan • Regarding some comments he made about Dutch soldiers last week. He claimed that European armies had been weakened by those who tried to “socialize” them (a.k.a. allow gay soldiers), and specifically mentioned the Srebrenica massacre, a 1995 atrocity where a small group of Dutch peacekeepers were ambushed by Serbian soldiers – an attack that led to the deaths of over 7,000 Muslims men and boys, as well as the resignation of many Dutch leaders in 2002. Sheehan’s comments sparked such outrage that a defamation suit was threatened against him – well, until this apology was accepted not long after Sheehan wrote it. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 Mar 2010 10:38

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World: So, how did Obama’s Afghan visit go over with the Afghans?

  • It is proof of his cowardice. He came stealthily in the dark, and left in the dark.
  • Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujabid • Regarding their group’s take on Obama’s visit to Afghanistan yesterday. You might suspect that the Taliban might be a little biased, but they’re not alone. “The foreigners only have their own interests at heart,” said Kabul teacher Amirqul Etina. “His coming here doesn’t benefit this country.” Others, however, are happy that he’s taking on Hamid Karzai’s pesky corruption problem. After this, though, Obama has to work on ours. We just love corruption! source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

15 Mar 2010 10:22

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World: Georgian TV station has never heard of “War of the Worlds”

  • Want to panic your country? Simple. Simulate war conditions on a news broadcast and say that the president has been killed. And just watch the ratings roll in! This actually happened in Georgia, when they claimed under the guise of a “simulation” that the Russian army was invading and the president had been killed. Great public service, guys. Part two is here, by the way. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 Feb 2010 09:36

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World: The state of the Taliban in Marjah, told using dots and stuff

  • Here’s a graphic of the state of the Taliban in Marjah. Each dot represents roughly 25 of the 400 fighters who were reportedly in Marjah when the offensive began on Friday, according to the allies. As you can see, they’re not doing so well, but still have some fight in them. source

killed

escaped

still fighting

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Feb 2010 12:55

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World: The Taliban apparently missed NATO’s massive Taliban offensive

  • Actually, the resistance is not there. Based on our intelligence reports, some of the Taliban have left the area. But we still expected there to be several hundred in the area. Just yesterday, we received reports that reinforcements had arrived from neighboring provinces.
  • Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak • Regarding the Taliban’s stranglehold on Marja, which turned out to be much smaller than anticipated. As a result, the U.S. had an easy time occupying the city. Among Afghan troops, none were killed and only a handful were wounded. Apparently, the U.S.’ early call that they were coming was successful in scaring the Talban away. Or they’re hiding. One of the two. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Jan 2010 10:53

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World: Iraq’s 2009 civilian death toll way down, still really high

  • 9,226 civilians died due to violence in 2008 – the biggest year yet
  • 4,497 died in 2009 – the lowest since the war began in 2003 source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

29 Dec 2009 21:06

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U.S., World: New Year’s fireworks: U.S. could strike back in Yemen. WHOO!

  • why? Because al-Qaeda’s new loft is in sunny Yemen, where the unemployment is high and the government is weak.
  • plans Right now, the U.S. is reportedly looking at targets, biding their time until Obama gives the OK. Get yo popcorn ready! source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Dec 2009 12:06

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World: Blackwater’s relationship with the CIA became a bit too complex

  • It became a very brotherly relationship. There was a feeling that Blackwater eventually became an extension of the agency.
  • A former top CIA officer • Describing the relationship between the CIA and the private Blackwater firm. The firm, which has been under fire for years for its actions during the Iraq war, was involved in secret CIA raids, according to the New York Times. Apparently, this relationship got so cozy that lines started to blur between the federal and private organizations. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Dec 2009 09:55

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U.S., World: Obama had to make a peace speech as a war president. Painful.

  • To say that force is sometimes necessary is not a call to cynicism – it is a recognition of history, the imperfections of man and the limits of reason.
  • Barack Obama • Offering a defense of his wartime strategy while accepting his Nobel Peace Prize. If that’s not ironic, then we don’t know exactly what is. Really good speech, though. He handled a potentially bizarre situation without a lot of trouble. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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