Fmr. UN Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter Warns Against “Politically Motivated Hype” on Iran Nuke Program

Democracy Now!
September 30, 2009

Fmr. UN Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter Warns Against “Politically Motivated Hype” on Iran Nuke Program

Former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter joins us to discuss what he calls “politically motivated hype” over Iran’s nuclear program. The Obama administration has warned of sanctions unless Iran allows inspections of a newly disclosed nuclear site. Iran insists the site has been used for peaceful purposes. The row comes just after Iran’s test-firing of medium- and long-range missiles and before Iranian officials are due to hold talks with the US and five other nations in Geneva. [includes rush transcript]

Rep. Schakowsky Denies Lesbian Spy Charges + CIA Vet: FBI Whistleblower Sibel Edmonds ‘Very Credible’

by Brad Friedman
The Brad Blog
Sept 28, 2009

President Obama: Give Peace a Meeting by Cindy Sheehan

by Cindy Sheehan
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
Cindy Sheehan’s Soapbox Blog
Cindy Sheehan’s Soapbox
Sept. 30 2009

President Obama,

I know that you are only fulfilling your campaign promises to increase the violence in Afghanistan and Pakistan and I notice that not a significant amount of troops have been withdrawn from Iraq. However, even with your hostile rhetoric and promises to escalate the violence, many people voted for you because they believed you were the peace candidate.

Since the election, you have betrayed the progressive base that gave you victory on many occasions already, but the cause that keeps many of us motivated is the continued carnage in the Middle East. What bothers me even more, especially, is the fact that the so-called anti-war movement has given you a nine-month free pass and thousands of people have died, including hundreds of our own troops.

A Truly Shocking Guantánamo Story: Judge Confirms That An Innocent Man Was Tortured To Make False Confessions by Andy Worthington

by Andy Worthington
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
www.andyworthington.co.uk
30 Sept. 2009

In four years of researching and writing about Guantánamo, I have become used to uncovering shocking information, but for sheer cynicism, I am struggling to think of anything that compares to the revelations contained in the unclassified ruling in the habeas corpus petition of Fouad al-Rabiah, a Kuwaiti prisoner whose release was ordered last week by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly (PDF). In the ruling, to put it bluntly, it was revealed that the US government tortured an innocent man to extract false confessions and then threatened him until he obligingly repeated those lies as though they were the truth.

Wrestling With Politics by Guadamour

by Guadamour
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
Guadamour’s blog post Sept. 27, 2009
Sept. 30, 2009

Jesse Ventura, the former governor of Minnesota is a phenomenon unique to America politics, someone outside of the political arena who uses his renown to secure a political position of power.

In Don’t Start The Revolution Without Me, (Skyhorse Publishing 2,008) written with Dick Russell, Ventura offers insights into the American political situation that no one else is in the position to put forward.

The fast and easy to read book is a loose biography of Ventura’s life and beliefs. A native of Minneapolis, a Vietnam Navy Seal veteran, professional wrestler and radio and television talk show host, Ventura invented his own life filled with integrity, the love of his country, wife and family.

Ventura’s parents were both veterans of WWII, and growing up in the Eisenhower 50’s and Kennedy’s and Vietnam era sixties shaped his life.

British intelligence services accuse Iran of designing nuclear warhead

Propaganda Alert

compiled by Cem Ertür
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
30 September 2009

Is Bagram the new Guantanamo? by Andy Worthington

by Andy Worthington
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
www.andyworthington.co.uk
30 Sept. 2009

Yesterday, I was delighted to take part in “Is Bagram The Other Guantánamo?,” a discussion about the US prison at Bagram airbase in Afghanistan on The Riz Khan Show on al-Jazeera, following a recent announcement by the Obama administration that it is planning to introduce Guantánamo-style tribunals for the 600 or so prisoners held at Bagram. The show is available below in two parts, via YouTube:

Protesters at the G20 in Pittsburgh + G20 Protest Assault and Arrest footage

Forelan740
September 24, 2009

I went out with some friends today and spent the entire day following the protests throughout the city. I used my Canon G10 to shoot photos and videos. i just want to say, i support and enjoy the right to assembly, but i also saw many childish acts today that overstep that right. i just want to share a different point of view.

higher res photos at flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27071311…