On the second anniversary of the single worst massacre of Iraqi civilians committed by a private force since the US invasion, President Obama should be forced to explain to the American people and the people of Iraq and Afghanistan why he continues to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to this company and why he permits them to remain on the ground, representing the United States in these countries. At a recent hearing of the bipartisan Wartime Contracting Commission, commissioner Linda Gustitus asserted that in not canceling Blackwater's contracts after Nisour Square, the State Department "helped to send a message to other contractors that you can do a lot and not have your contract terminated."
How the Soviet Menace Was Hyped
To understand what happened to the United States over the past three decades, a good place to start is by examining the battles fought within the CIA’s analytical division over evidence of Soviet capabilities and intentions, which were systematically hyped by Cold War hardliners.
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U.S. abandons missile shield in Europe
U.S. President Barack Obama has told east European states he is abandoning plans for an anti-missile shield there, in a move that may ease Russian- U.S. ties but fuel fears of resurgent Kremlin influence.
Russia said it would welcome cancellation of the program, promoted by Obama's predecessor George W. Bush and now a source of tension overshadowing U.S. efforts to enlist Kremlin support over Afghanistan, Iran and nuclear arms control.
Insurance Companies Label Domestic Violence a 'Pre-Existing Condition'
The practice of Insurance companies denying claims on the basis of pre-existing conditions is nothing new. Using domestic abuse as justification for denying a claim is nothing new either. According to the Huffington Post article the categorization of domestic abuse as a pre-existing condition dates to before 2006, the year members of Congress attempted to block its practice.
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How UK oil company Trafigura tried to cover up African pollution disaster
The Guardian can reveal evidence today of a massive cover-up by the British oil trader Trafigura, in one of the worst pollution disasters in recent history.
Internal emails show that Trafigura, which yesterday suddenly announced an offer to pay compensation to 31,000 west African victims, was fully aware that its waste dumped in Ivory Coast was so toxic that it was banned in Europe.
FBI chief vows to protect terror detainees from rendition
Signaling a shift in the U.S.'s handling of overseas interrogations, FBI director Robert Mueller reassured Democratic lawmakers Wednesday that his agents would never turn over detainees to the CIA for rendition, despite the bureau's heightened role in the questioning of terrorism detainees.
In creating a new interagency group that manages interrogations, the Obama administration has handed the FBI more control in the questioning of high-value detainees, a decision that's diminished the CIA's central role.
Color-blindness Cured by Gene Injection in Monkeys
A simple injection of cells has cured monkeys of color-blindness—giving a green light to future research into improving human vision with gene therapy, a new study says.
Calling the procedure his gene therapy "dream," researcher Jay Neitz said that "ultimately this could be a tool that could cure all sorts of eye diseases."
Earth-like planet discovered outside solar system
Astronomers have discovered an Earth-like planet outside the Solar System, 'shortening' the odds that alien life could exist. A new study of the planet, which orbits a star 500 light years away, has shown that its density is similar to Earth's, indicating it is a solid rocky world.
Known as COROT-7b, it was discovered in February this year by the European space telescope COROT, which had been tracking the star it circles.
THE INFLUENCE GAME: Health interests fund senators
In keeping with the ways of Washington and Capitol Hill, Baucus is enjoying this donor largesse — some $3.9 million in contributions from the health care industry since 1989 — principally because of his place as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. It's the panel that has had as much or more to say than any about whatever kind of medical overhaul emerges from Congress.
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