A New Jersey High school to test for students' weekend drinking -- Students at Pequannock Township High School in Morris County New Jersey will soon undergo random testing that can determine if they've consumed alcohol in the previous 80 hours.

US 'victory' against cult leader was 'massacre' -- There are growing suspicions in Iraq that the official story of the battle outside Najaf between a messianic Iraqi cult and the Iraqi security forces supported by the US, in which 263 people were killed and 210 wounded, is a fabrication. The heavy casualties may be evidence of an unpremeditated massacre.

Forget your brats and beer: Tailgating is banned at the Super Bowl -- Fans who planned to show up at the Super Bowl this year to enjoy a little tailgating are in for a nasty surprise: It's banned.

FBI turns to broad new wiretap method -- The FBI appears to have adopted an invasive Internet surveillance technique that collects far more data on innocent Americans than previously has been disclosed.

UK News: Police raids target 'terror plot' -- Eight people have been arrested under the Terrorism Act in Birmingham after a "significant" operation involving police and security service MI5.
Germany issues CIA arrest orders -- Germany has ordered the arrest of 13 suspected CIA agents over the alleged kidnapping of one of its citizens.
Fake drugs caught inside the pack -- A new technique can trace counterfeit drugs while they are still in their packs, UK government scientists say.

Cheap, safe drug kills most cancers -- It sounds almost too good to be true: a cheap and simple drug that kills almost all cancers by switching off their “immortality”. The drug, dichloroacetate (DCA), has already been used for years to treat rare metabolic disorders and so is known to be relatively safe.

Rep. Maxine Waters, Rep. John Conyers, Rep. Lynn Woolsey, Navy Seaman Jonathan Hutto, Bob Watada & Others Call for End to Iraq War at Anti-War Rally in Washington -- Anti-war protesters filled the streets of Washington on Saturday in one of the largest protests since the invasion of Iraq.
Related Article: "Silence Is No Longer An Option": Jane Fonda, Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins Speak Out

Israel to get smart bombs in kit form -- Israel is buying thousands of kits for advanced smart bombs from the US that the Jewish state first used during the Lebanon war.

MAINE ISSUES DRIVER’S LICENSE WITHOUT PHOTO -- Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap recently issued a Valid Without Photo Driver’s License to David Deschesne. The without photo Driver’s license was obtained as a result of Deschesne’s plea for religious exemption based upon his belief that the digital biometric face scanned photos contained on them are a foundational building block of the Biblical ‘Mark of the Beast.”

Mandatory Military Draft of Women on the Horizon -- This is a call to action. Your wife or daughter or granddaughter may be drafted! Yes, that's right! There are several bills going before the house which would allow the drafting of women. (Thanks Billy-Joe) Read More...

Fair Tax Act of 2007 -- There is no thing as a "fair Tax" as long as the Federal Reserve exists. The Department of the Treasury is not of this country! In 1921 under the Independent Treasury Act the Treasury of the United States was turned over to the Federal Reserve (PRIVATE) and the IMF (United Nations). This nation will never prosper as long as these two intities exist! (Thanks Billy-Joe)

Military Creates Mental Health Hotline -- U.S. troops who have been reluctant to seek help for mental health problems may soon be able to find it with a phone call. A new automated phone-in assessment program is the latest effort by the military to reach out to soldiers and family members who might not otherwise seek help for post-traumatic stress or other psychological issues.

Soldier's Death Strengthens Senators' Antiwar Resolve -- Just before Christmas, an Army captain named Brian Freeman cornered Sens. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.) and John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) at a Baghdad helicopter landing zone. The war was going badly, he told them. Troops were stretched so thin they were doing tasks they never dreamed of, let alone trained for. This young man was killed in action which in turn has radicalized Dodd, energized Kerry and girded the ever-more confrontational stance of Democrats in the Senate. Freeman's death has reverberated on the Senate floor, in committee deliberations and on television talk shows.

Bush warns Iran against fueling violence in Iraq -- President George W. Bush vowed on Monday to respond firmly if Tehran foments violence inside Iraq, but said he had no intention of invading Iran.

America ‘poised to strike at Iran’s nuclear sites’ from bases in Bulgaria and Romania -- PRESIDENT BUSH is preparing to attack Iran's nuclear facilities before the end of April and the US Air Force's new bases in Bulgaria and Romania would be used as back-up in the onslaught, according to an official report from Sofia.
"American forces could be using their two USAF bases in Bulgaria and one at Romania's Black Sea coast to launch an attack on Iran in April," the Bulgarian news agency Novinite said.

Injury count in Iraq disputed -- Injury count in Iraq disputed. Some say Pentagon hides full impact of the war toll.

Threat level raised for Super Bowl -- The last Super Bowl to be given a level one security designation was the 2002 New Orleans Super Bowl, held three months after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

National Guard general says soldiers on border acted correctly -- The head of the Arizona National Guard on Tuesday told lawmakers that four soldiers who backed away from their post earlier this month, rather than confront gun-toting border crossers, did the right thing.
"Our guardsmen follow the procedures they were told to do," Maj. Gen. David Rataczak told members of the House Committee on Homeland Security and Property Rights. "They followed the SOP (standard operating procedures) to the letter of the law."

Police Detain 9 in Capitol Hill Protests -- Nine anti-war protesters were arrested Monday when they gathered in a House office building to read off the names of American and Iraqi war dead.

Beware of Child Predators -- You see, "This Man Wants Your Children" was not about sex offenders – even though some of them are sex offenders – it was about Army recruiters.

3 helicopters lost in Iraq since Jan. 20 -- Three helicopters have been lost in Iraq in the past 10 days, including one over the weekend. While insurgents and militias have plenty of weapons capable of shooting down helicopters, the U.S. has developed tactics to minimize the risk, and many experts doubt the threat to the military's workhorse has significantly increased.

Today Iraq, Tomorrow the World -- According to the latest edition of the "Active Duty Military Personnel Strengths by Regional Area and by Country," published by the Defense Department’s Directorate for Information Operations and Reports (DIOR), the U.S. has troops in 142 countries.

The Three US Armies in Iraq -- America's three armies in Iraq exceed a quarter of a million. It is a commitment of people and money that is comparable to the Vietnam war. But it has not proved to be enough. The experience of Vietnam showed that adding more troops (or changing the local leadership, which may be the next U.S. policy initiative in Iraq) cannot rescue a doomed mission.

Israel May Have Violated Arms Pact, U.S. Says -- The Bush administration will inform Congress on Monday that Israel may have violated agreements with the United States when it fired American-supplied cluster munitions into southern Lebanon during its fight with Hezbollah last summer, the State Department said Saturday.

250 Are Killed in Major Iraq Battle -- At least 250 militants were killed and an American helicopter was shot down in violent clashes near the southern city of Najaf on Sunday, Iraqi officials said.

BORDER PATROL AGENTS IN JAIL, DRUG SMUGGLER FREE -- Someone should do George W. Bush and Karl Rove a favor and explain to them that a president who remains silent while these Border Patrol agents are in prison is not getting anywhere with the American public.

Mexican Terrorists Invade United States -- Regarding illegal immigration, a former military analyst recently said to me, "We are under attack. Twenty million have already entered the country, and more are to come. And sadly, many of our leaders are siding with the invaders. They are willing to spend billions of dollars to deport foreigners from Iraq and defend Iraq's borders, but won't lift a finger to save the USA."

World War III has already begun, says Israeli spy chief -- A third World War is already underway between Islamic militancy and the West but most people do not realize it, the former head of Israel’s intelligence service Mossad said in an interview published Saturday in Portugal.

Iran condemns U.S. raids against its operatives -- A top Iranian lawmaker denounced the United States on Saturday for allowing its troops to kill or capture Iranians in Iraq whom U.S. forces believe pose a threat.

Army probes war contractor fraud -- From high-dollar fraud to conspiracy to bribery and bid rigging, Army investigators have opened up to 50 criminal probes involving battlefield contractors in the war in Iraq and the U.S. fight against terrorism, The Associated Press has learned.

Thousands may be involuntarily called for tours -- Hundreds of thou sands of National Guard and Reserve members previously mobilized for tours in Iraq and Afghanistan are exposed anew to involuntary call-up under a policy change unveiled with President Bush's plan to "surge" forces into Baghdad.

US military: Afghan leaders steal half of all aid -- Corrupt police and tribal leaders are stealing vast quantities of reconstruction aid that is intended to improve the lives of ordinary Afghans and turn them away from the Taliban, The Sunday Telegraph has learnt.

Toll Road Giant Buys Newspapers to Silence Critics -- Critics charge that the Macquarie purchase of American Consolidated Media is designed to silence critics of a Texas toll road project. Australian toll road giant Macquarie agreed Wednesday to purchase forty local newspapers, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma, for $80 million. Macquarie Bank is Australia's largest capital raising firm and has invested billions in purchasing roads in the US, Canada and UK. Most recently the company joined with Cintra Concesiones of Spain in a controversial 75-year lease of the 157-mile Indiana Toll Road.

Ride Against NAIS -- Granny Warriors Freedom Ride! Support crew will be handing out packages of information on NAIS and support for Ron Paul for our next President as well as the DVD of the movie by Aaron Russo. Wally the Steer will make the long long trip between his home in Carbon Iowa to the Frontier Days Celebration in Cheyenne Wyoming. To SPONSOR A MILE go to the above link. Read More...

Update on the Michael New Case -- In the end, if the Supreme Court refuses to hear our case, or if it rejects our case, then the net result will be that Americans CAN be forced to serve under foreign commanders, against their will, and their oath of allegiance will no longer be exclusive to America, nor to the US Constitution.

Blackwater And The Privatizing Of The War Machine -- As President Bush took the podium to deliver his State of the Union address Tuesday, five American families received news that has become all too common: Their loved ones had been killed in Iraq. But in this case, the slain were neither "civilians," as the news reports proclaimed, nor were they U.S. soldiers. They were highly trained mercenaries deployed to Iraq by a secretive private military company based in North Carolina -- Blackwater USA.

Drug company 'hid' suicide link -- Secret e-mails reveal that the UK's biggest drug company distorted trial results of an anti-depressant, covering up a link with suicide in teenagers.

Israel planes dump "suspicious green balloons" on southern Lebanon -- Israeli planes violated Lebanese airspace Saturday and dumped green balloons over the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanese security sources said.

Americans Keep Dying -- Links to various news articles related to Americans dying in the Iraqi War. (Thanks to Dan for the links)

Amends for ordeal -- -- In what was called a "triumph of innocence," torture victim Maher Arar received a long-awaited apology and $10.5 million legal settlement from the government of Canada yesterday.
Arar's young family and career as a computer software engineer were ripped apart in 2002 when he was tagged as a terrorist and shipped to prison in Syria.

This Marine's death came after he served in Iraq -- When Jonathan Schulze came home from Iraq, he tried to live a normal life. But the war kept that from happening. Citing privacy laws, Veterans Affairs officials wouldn't comment specifically on the case. Read more...

Public revolt quashes biometric ID chips -- While opposition grows to a national ID card in the U.S., citizens of the southeast European nation of Serbia have successfully pressed their government to back off on a plan to make biometric data chips compulsory in the country's new citizen cards.

Chlorine in the bathwater is linked to cancer -- Researchers found that those living in areas with high-chlorine content water, who bathed in it regularly, were 83 per cent more likely to get a tumour than those in low-chlorine areas.

Mobile phone use 'linked to tumour' -- Long-term users of mobile phones are significantly more likely to develop a certain type of brain tumour on the side of the head where they hold their handsets, according to new research.

A Growing Military Credibility Gap? -- Equally disturbing is the fact that someone in the U.S. military chain of command lied about what happened and put out false information to the press and the American people. It is one thing to lie in order to preserve operational security. It is another thing to lie simply to cover your behind so you do not look like a complete fool. Read More...

Russia not co-operating in uranium sale probe -- It was one of the most serious cases of smuggling of nuclear material in recent years: A Russian man, authorities allege, tried to sell a small amount of nuclear-bomb grade uranium in a plastic bag in his jacket pocket.

MARCH ON WASHINGTON TO END THE WAR! Saturday, January 27, 2007 -- Last Push Toward Massive Peace March on Washington.

Troops Authorized to Kill Iranian Operatives in Iraq -- The Bush administration has authorized the U.S. military to kill or capture Iranian operatives inside Iraq as part of an aggressive new strategy to weaken Tehran's influence across the Middle East and compel it to give up its nuclear program, according to government and counterterrorism officials with direct knowledge of the effort.

AG Shuts Down Scheme With Bogus Fuel Pill -- There's a consumer alert Tuesday from Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. Abbott's office is calling for a refund to all people who bought the so-called "top secret gas pill."

U.S. not scared enough of bird flu, Senate told -- Bird flu poses as big a threat to the world as ever, and people need to worry about it more, U.S. senators and health leaders agreed on Wednesday.

Depleted Uranium Poison Explosions Target US Citizens -- There are efforts underway to oppose explosions of radioactive materials by the US government into the air in which we breathe. This article will outline various reasons why and how radioactive explosive "tests" are harming America - and describe the efforts of citizens in one area of the country who are now working to try to put a stop to them.

U.S. Military's new ray gun makes targets feel as if they are on fire -- The military's new weapon is a ray gun that shoots a beam that makes people feel as if they will catch fire. The technology is supposed to be harmless — a non-lethal way to get enemies to drop their weapons. The weapon is not expected to go into production until at least 2010, but all branches of the military have expressed interest in it, officials said.

Maine revolts against digital U.S. ID card -- Maine lawmakers on Thursday became the first in the nation to demand repeal of a federal law tightening identification requirements for drivers' licenses, a post-September 11 security measure that states say will cost them billions of dollars to administer.

Feds Fear a Dam Break in Ky. and Tenn. -- Fearing a dam break that could cause catastrophic flooding in Kentucky and Tennessee, the Army Corps of Engineers began lowering the water level on Lake Cumberland on Monday.

Scientists tighten security over germ terror threat -- Britain’s laboratories have been ordered to strengthen security on stocks of more than 100 deadly viruses and bacteria after an MI5 warning that Islamic terrorists are training in germ warfare. The biological agents include polio, rabies, tuberculosis and avian flu. Food poisoning bacteria such as E. coli and the sources of a number of rare tropical and Middle Eastern illnesses are also included.

US plane 'bombed Somalia targets' (2nd time this month) -- US forces carried out a fresh air strike in southern Somalia on Monday, a senior US official has said.

Israel raises nuclear stakes with Iran -- The Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, dramatically raised the stakes in the international showdown with Iran last night, with a clear warning that his country was prepared to use military force to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

No man is above the law - except Cheney -- Don't worry, Dick Cheney says it's all perfectly legal. The vice president made it a point to go on "Fox News Sunday" last week and declare that the recently reported spying being done on Americans by the military is all just fine and dandy. Read More...

Ohio election workers convicted of rigging '04 presidential recount -- Two election workers were convicted Wednesday of rigging a recount of the 2004 presidential election to avoid a more thorough review in Ohio's most populous county.

A Warning About New Washing Machines and Nanotechnology -- The U.S. EPA has determined that clothes washing machines using silver ion disinfectants need to be registered as a pesticide. The EPA's decision has no effect because companies can avoid registering washing machines simply by removing any statements that silver can kill bacteria from their advertising.

Chemtrail Website called Planetary Alert -- The purpose of this web site is: To inform billions of humans on planet earth about a worldwide aerosol spray program that is currently taking place overhead.

Supermarkets told to come clean about packaging -- Pressure mounted yesterday on Britain's supermarkets and retailers to reduce packaging drastically as political support intensified for The Independent's anti-waste campaign. (Notice the USA is not on the list--Thanks Laurel)

Sept. 11 cop dies just as his son faces Bush -- A former New York policeman died in a Manhattan hospital, just as his 21-year-old son prepared to appear at the State of the Union speech to symbolize the desperate health problems of some Sept. 11 workers.

Russian Admiral Says U.S. Navy Prepares Missile Strike on Iran -- U.S. Navy nuclear submarines maintaining vigil off the coast of Iran indicate that the Pentagon’s military plans include not only control over navigation in the Persian Gulf but also strikes against Iranian targets, a former commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Eduard Baltin has told the Interfax news agency.

UPDATE: Information on NAIS REGISTRATION -- Survey being sent out entitled "The 2006 Agricultural Identification Survey and the NASS/NAIS Identity". Be sure to see what Mary Zanoni, Ph.D., J.D. has to say about this form.

Watergate figure E. Howard Hunt dies -- He served as a Navy and CIA officer, and helped orchestrate a coup in Guatemala and the botched Bay of Pigs invasion, but E. Howard Hunt is best known as something he always said he wasn't: a Watergate burglar.

U.S. warns Iran to back down -- A second U.S. aircraft carrier strike group now steaming toward the Middle East is Washington's way of warning Iran to back down in its attempts to dominate the region, a top U.S. diplomat said here Tuesday.

Arctic ice cap melting fast according to NASA -- The north polar ice cap is melting at an alarming rate due to global warming, NASA scientists said today, with satellite images showing the ice cap continuing to shrink. "It is happening now. We cannot afford to wait a long period of time for technological solutions," said David Rind of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York. "Change is in the air -- literally." Notice the date of article: October 24, 2003.

Judge Roy Moore Poem -- Judge Moore vaulted to national prominence a few years ago when, as Alabama's Chief Justice, he installed a 5,000-pound monument emblazoned with the Ten Commandments in the state's Supreme Court building.

POLL: Do you believe President Bush's actions justify impeachment? -- Be sure to cast your vote!

Bush Readies State of the Union Speech -- President Bush will tell Americans tonight he has important plans for health care, education and other kitchen table topics that have little to do with Iraq. Yet if the state of the union is strong, so is the nation's skepticism that he can deliver. The 9 p.m. EST speech is a chance for Bush to pull his domestic agenda out from the shadow of the Iraq war, if only briefly. So Bush will focus on issues he hopes will appeal to mainstream America _ and to Democrats on Capitol Hill, shifting pressure onto them to govern.

Congressman Ron Paul of Texas Discusses His Political Future -- Congressman Paul is a staunch advocate of asset based currencies and he shares these views regularly with his constituents in Washington D.C. The Congressman is on record as stating that he believes in the following “FREEDOM PRINCIPALS”: Read More...

The dilemma of a deadly disease: patients may be forcibly detained -- South Africa is considering forcibly detaining people who carry a deadly strain of tuberculosis that has already claimed hundreds of lives. The strain threatens to cause a global pandemic, but the planned move pits public protection against human rights.

ED Brown Info: New Hampshire Tax Evader Prepares for Raid -- Ed Brown, 63, and his wife, Elaine, 65, were convicted Thursday of plotting to conceal their income and avoid paying federal income tax. They argued the tax is illegitimate and they are not required to pay it.  (Be sure to listen to TPH archives in which Joyce and Dave interviewed Ed Brown on Jan. 22, 2007)
GOOGLE VIDEO CLIP: Ed Brown v. IRS/Feds New Hampshire
ARTICLE: All of a sudden, Ed Brown has a lot of friends (anti-tax stance)
Author To Interview N.H. Tax Evader- "Before he gets killed he wants Americans to listen to him"

What About The Bio-Weapons Labs? -- According to the non-profit Sunshine Project of Austin, Texas, some 113 university, government, hospital and corporate laboratories engaged in research tied to germ warfare, have refused to disclose their operations to the public as required by law, a nonprofit watchdog agency says. Despite this, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in Bethesda, Md., the government entity tasked with oversight of these laboratories, allows them to continue to operate instead of shutting them down.

Ethics Bill Sails Through the Senate -- Under the bill, passed 96-2, senators will give up gifts and free travel from lobbyists, pay more for travel on corporate jets and make themselves more accountable for the pet projects they insert into bills.

Bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii - Wired to report US unwittingly evolved superpathogen in Iraqi combat hospitals -- A drug-resistant bacteria that is infecting wounded US soldiers in Iraq -- and has spread to civilian hospitals in parts of Europe -- accidentally evolved in US military hospitals in Iraq, Wired Magazine will report in a massive expose on Monday, RAW STORY has learned.
Related Article from WIRED -- The Invisible Enemy in Iraq

Registered Traveler starts at JFK Airport -- A long-delayed program aimed at speeding trusted travelers through airport security took a small but dramatic step Tuesday when it opened at one terminal in New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Iraqi leader drops protection of militia -- Iraqi officials said on Sunday that the gunmen who attacked the meeting wore military uniforms and arrived in black sport utility vehicles commonly used by foreign dignitaries -  an apparent attempt to impersonate American forces. The gunmen who carried out the attack on the Provincial Joint Coordination Center were using SUVs similar to ones used by the U.S. authorities.

Unabomber Wages Legal Battle to Halt the Sale of Papers -- Nine years after he began serving a life sentence for the Unabomber crimes, Theodore J. Kaczynski is fighting to reclaim more than 40,000 pages of his writings and correspondence so he can preserve them in their rawest form for the public to read.

Official link to post-9/11 illness debated while death toll rises -- After five years, doctors have definitively established a link between work at ground zero and chronic respiratory illness; a study published last fall by the largest monitoring program for post-9/11 workers found nearly 70 percent were likely to have lifelong breathing problems.

THE TRUTH ABOUT CONSPIRACY THEORIES By Tom DeWeese -- What is a conspiracy theory? There seems to be a lot of them because every time I write about another government program or policy, the denials begin as someone starts smirking "conspiracy theory" and calling me a fringe wacko. It's getting tiresome.

FBI details threat from gangs in military -- The report by the FBI's National Gang Intelligence Center said gang members sneak into the military by failing to report criminal convictions or using fake documents. Some have sealed juvenile records unavailable to recruiters. And most of the recruiters are not properly trained to recognize gang affiliation, the report said.

UK News: Cancer study ordered into mobile phones -- A mass study of the long-term impact of mobile phones is to be undertaken amid fears that people who have used them for more than ten years are at greater risk from brain cancer.

Invisible 'Radio' Tattoos Could Identify Soldiers -- Somark Innovations co-founder Mark Pydynowski noted that the RFID ink is fully biocompatible and was safe for use in humans. He noted that RFID ink tattoos could be used to track and rescue soldiers. "It could help identify friends or foes, prevent friendly fire, and help save soldiers' lives," Pydynowski said.

Folic acid boosts elderly brains -- Folic acid supplements can improve the memory and brain power of ageing brains, research shows.

Vitamin D pill for prostate cancer -- Scientists have developed a vitamin D pill to treat advanced prostate cancer. Exposure to Vitamin D from sunlight is known to improve the prognosis of certain cancers.

Bush has done 'tremendous damage', says Nobel peace prize winner -- US President George W. Bush is a terrible leader who has done tremendous damage worldwide, Bangladeshi Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus has said in an interview.

Soldiers may not get needed mental help -- Mental health screening isn’t consistent for U.S. troops returning from war, and if they don’t say they need help, they often don’t get it, the Army’s top medical officer said Friday. Join the ongoing discussion: Does the Gulf War Syndrome exist?

Resignation of Lawyers At FEC Raises Concern -- The announcement yesterday that the top two lawyers for the Federal Election Commission had resigned helped spread an undercurrent of concern about the diminishing role of a once-prominent public voice on the intersection of money and politics.

Brown wants a 'new world order' -- Chancellor Gordon Brown has spoken of the need for a "new world order" to deal with future security and environmental challenges.

Senate Bill 1 - Congress preparing to criminalize critics? -- The Senate is considering legislation that would regulate grassroots communications, with penalties for critics of Congress.
To read Senate Bill One just CLICK HERE!

Pentagon sets rules for detainee trials -- The Pentagon has drafted a manual for upcoming detainee trials that would allow suspected terrorists to be convicted on hearsay evidence and coerced testimony and imprisoned or put to death.

Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907 -- Make sure you read the words under the picture.

Chinese missile destroys satellite in space -- Britain has joined the US, Japan and Australia's condemnation of China after the communist country destroyed a satellite in space using a ballistic missile.

Please Don’t Support My Troop by Michael Gaddy -- My son returned from Iraq last weekend after a year’s service. I confess to breathing much easier now that he is out of that quagmire. I have a personal request for all of you George W. Bush supporters and Christian warhawks: please do not support my troop. I have visions and aspirations of having him around, seeing him settle down and start a family at some point, and being near as I grow older. Your support would mean that he would be sent back to this war started and continued on lies to become a target for those who would rather live their lives without the interference of a foreign, empire-seeking, new-world-order, invader.

Treat soldiers as children? -- Some in Congress would treat them as children when it comes to seeking veterans' benefits for injuries inflicted in combat. They are coiled to repeal an option embraced by the 109th Congress for veterans to retain a lawyer to present often medically complicated claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Roof-collected rainwater fails health test -- More than half of 560 samples from private dwellings in New Zealand exceeded the minimal standards for contamination and 30 percent showed evidence of heavy faecal contamination. “I’m utterly amazed at the number of roof water supplies that fail the New Zealand drinking water standards,” says Stan Abbott, a microbiologist at the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health.

240,000 ILLEGAL ALIEN SEX OFFENDERS IN U.S. -- There are approximately 240,000 illegal immigrant sex offenders in the United States. This staggering statistic, rarely mentioned by the media, was revealed in a study by Deborah Schurman-Kauflin of the Violent Crimes Institute in Atlanta, Georgia. "It is clear," she says, "that the U.S. public faces a dangerous threat from sex predators who cross the U.S. borders illegally." What's more, she adds, "Then they gradually commit worse crimes and are continually released back into society or deported. Those who were deported simply returned illegally again."

Ground zero workers hold vigil at NYC hospital -- Ground zero workers who are still suffering from World Trade Center smoke and dust held a vigil Thursday outside the hospital where one of their number _ a retired NYPD officer _ is awaiting a lung transplant.

U.N. diplomats' NYC parking fines near $18 million, despite crackdown -- The new U.N. secretary-general expressed support for New York City's goal of recouping nearly $18 million in traffic fines owed by U.N. diplomats and members of the consular community.

Court to Oversee U.S. Wiretapping in Terror Cases -- The Bush administration, in a surprise reversal, said on Wednesday that it had agreed to give a secret court jurisdiction over the National Security Agency’s wiretapping program and would end its practice of eavesdropping without warrants on Americans suspected of ties to terrorists.

Crews burn off remaining chemicals -- Fire officials started a controlled burn Wednesday of thousands of gallons of a flammable liquid left over after a derailment set off a huge chemical fire that led to evacuations and the closing of a busy highway.

Troop buildup for Afghanistan? -- Concerned by Taliban gains and worried about more violence, U.S. military commanders have recommended that more U.S. troops come to Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday.

Taliban commander seized in Afghanistan -- NATO-led troops and Afghan forces detained a prominent Taliban commander during a raid on a compound in southern Afghanistan, the alliance said Wednesday.

Senate to protest Bush plan -- Senate leaders will introduce a bipartisan resolution of opposition to President Bush's new Iraq policy as early as today, taking the lead from House Democrats who are increasingly divided on how far to go to thwart additional troop deployments to Iraq.

Give us guns – and troops can go, says Iraqi leader -- Asked how long Iraq would require US troops, Mr al-Maliki said: “If we succeed in implementing the agreement between us to speed up the equipping and providing weapons to our military forces, I think that within three to six months our need for American troops will dramatically go down. That is on condition that there are real, strong efforts to support our military forces and equipping and arming them.”

Firm Hired to Improve VA Security -- The Department of Veterans Affairs will pay a defense contractor millions of dollars to help the agency improve data security after the theft last year of a computer packed with personal information, company officials said Wednesday.

U.S. Attorneys Quit; Senator Blames Bush -- California attorney who went after DUKE CUNNINGHAM "forced" to resign?

Vegetative state drug review call -- The husband of a woman in a persistent vegetative state who was given an experimental treatment has said she would not have wanted the drug. The treatment, which has worked in a handful of cases, was unsuccessful and the woman was allowed to die.

A Rifle in Every Pot -- IT’S a phenomenon that gives the term “gun control” a whole new meaning: community ordinances that encourage citizens to own guns.

Iran shoots down U.S. spy drone amid growing U.S. military pressure -- Iranian troops have shot down a U.S. pilotless spy plane recently, an Iranian lawmaker announced on Tuesday as the Islamic Republic was facing increasing military pressure from its arch rival --the United States.

Train Cars Derail, Catch Fire in Ky. -- Several train cars carrying volatile chemicals derailed and exploded Tuesday south of Louisville, shutting down a highway and forcing evacuations of homes, businesses and a school, authorities said. The chemicals on the CSX train contributing to the fire were cyclohexane, methyl ethyl ketone, butadiene and alcohol, said Gary Sease, a CSX spokesman.

Minn. police give meds for nuke incident -- Residents and workers near two Minnesota nuclear plants are being offered pills to protect thyroid glands against radiation from a nuclear incident. The Pioneer Press reports residents and businesses within 10 miles of the Monticello and Prairie Island nuclear plants will receive vouchers for potassium iodide doses as well as an emergency planning guide.

Ivanov: Russian Missiles Delivered to Iran -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov has confirmed that Russia has sold new anti-aircraft missiles to Iran.

Iran Gets Army Gear in Pentagon Sale -- The U.S. military has sold forbidden equipment at least a half-dozen times to middlemen for countries - including Iran and China - who exploited security flaws in the Defense Department's surplus auctions. The sales include fighter jet parts and missile components. In one case, federal investigators said, the contraband made it to Iran, a country President Bush branded part of an "axis of evil."

North Dakota Lawmaker Tries to Become Nation's First Licensed Hemp Farmer -- Last month, the state Agriculture Department finished its work on rules farmers may use to grow industrial hemp, a cousin of marijuana that does not have the drug's hallucinogenic properties. The sturdy, fibrous plant is used to make an assortment of products, ranging from paper, rope and lotions to car panels, carpet backing and animal bedding.

YouTube video clip of the Brecker's doing "Some Skunk Funk" LIVE -- Michael Brecker (March 29, 1949 – January 13, 2007) was a popular US jazz saxophonist of the post-Coltrane era. He won 11 Grammys as both performer and composer. Passed away Jan. 13, 2007 from complications of leukemia in New York City. (Thanks James for the info).

Aaron Russo Announces Full Support Of Ron Paul -- "Ron Paul needs not just our "affirmative nod," he needs our time, energy, financial contributions, and willingness to see him win. He needs us to use our precious accrued "vacation time" to go to New Hampshire to knock on doors, pass out AFTF DVDs, to be as dedicated to helping him win as he is to running the Race. His campaign must be organized District by District."

How Congress voted on Read I.D. Act - We salute Ron Paul! -- Ron Paul not only voted AGAINST it but spoke out in opposition to it. Check out the link to see the information. Sorted by Ayes and Nays. (Thanks Diana)

POLL: Are you confident the Iraqi government will meet President Bush's challenge to step up? -- Yes or No...You decide, we report.

Be Very Careful Eating Chickens You Buy at the Supermarket -- Campylobacter was present in 81 percent of the chickens, salmonella in 15 percent; and both in 13 percent. Only 17 percent contained neither pathogen. No major brand fared better than others overall. Most of the bacteria tested showed resistance to one or more anti­biotics. Premium brands costing $3 to $5 per pound were actually more likely to harbor salmonella than broilers costing $1 per pound. One exception was Ranger, a no-antibiotics brand sold in the Northwest, which was extremely clean.

New Law Could Subject Civilians to Military Trial -- Private contractors and other civilians serving with U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan could be subject for the first time to military courts-martial under a new federal provision that legal scholars say is almost certain to spark constitutional challenges.

OREGON STATE TROOPER SUSPENDS FIRST AMENDMENT -- An Oregon man says he and his family were accosted and harassed by an Oregon State trooper while exercising their constitutional right to protest the war on a public sidewalk in Portland on December 9, 2006.

Cloudy apple juice 'healthier' -- Cloudy apple juice is better for you than clear varieties, say researchers.

What's wrong with these photos -- HINT: Lady Liberty, US Flag & Tax Preparation.

What did MLK say about war? -- More than King for a Day - Nearly 40 years ago, Martin Luther King, Jr., gave a speech that is amazingly applicable today. In fact, if we would substitute the names of players and places, you might think that he was speaking of Iraq, Bush, and the various social indicators and government spending priorities that tell us how very wrong American leaders are. Read More...

YouTube Video: Congressman Ron Paul warns of a new "Gulf of Tonkin" -- Congressman Ron Paul warns of a contrived incident to provoke war with Iran, a "Gulf of Tonkin" type incident, January 11, 2006

U.S. and Iraqis Are Wrangling Over War Plans -- Just days after President Bush unveiled a new war plan calling for more than 20,000 additional American troops in Iraq, the heart of the effort — a major push to secure the capital — faces some of its fiercest resistance from the very people it depends on for success: Iraqi government officials.

US warns Iran on Iraq 'meddling' -- US Vice-President Dick Cheney has warned Iran not to interfere in Iraq.

2 Hussein Allies Said to Hang -- Saddam Hussein’s half-brother and the head of his revolutionary court were executed before dawn on Monday, according to a lawyer for one of the hanged men and a former minister with close ties to Iraq’s Shiite-led government.

Zyprexa Drug - Documents Borne by Winds of Free Speech -- A showdown is scheduled for a federal courtroom in Brooklyn tomorrow afternoon, where words like “First Amendment” and “freedom of speech” and “prior restraint” are likely to mix seamlessly with references to “BitTorrent” and “Wiki.” It is a messy plot that pits Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical giant at the center of several articles in The New York Times suggesting that the company tried to hide or play down the health risks of its leading antipsychotic drug, Zyprexa, and lawyers representing various individuals, organizations and Web sites — all arguing that their online speech has been gagged.

MindFreedom Web Site Is Targeted for Censorship by Eli Lilly. MindFreedom in Court Showdown About Eli Lilly's Formerly "Secret" Zyprexa Files -- New York Times reports today that Eli Lilly's supposedly "secret" files on the psychiatric drug Zyprexa are still readily available on the Internet. Times also reports that Eli Lilly is seeking permanent court gag order that includes this MindFreedom.org web site. MindFreedom attorney appears in court 16 Jan. for third time to defend the public right to know.

Cheney: Credit checks aren't illegal -- Vice President Dick Cheney said Sunday the Pentagon and CIA are not violating people's rights by examining the banking and credit records of hundreds of Americans and others suspected of terrorism or espionage in the United States.

Navy dismisses chaplain who prayed 'in Jesus' name' -- A U.S. Navy chaplain who prayed "in Jesus' name" as his conscience dictated is being ejected from the military service "in retaliation" for his victorious battle to change Navy policy that required religious rites be "non-sectarian."

The amazing story of how Serrapeptase has been improving my health since January 2006 -- Serrapeptase Adventure is the amazing story of how Serrapeptase has been improving Mike Tawse's health since January 2006. (Made Site of the Day)

"Major cleric says US, UK support terrorists in Iraq" -- Speaking in the second sermon of the Friday Prayers, Ayatollah Jannati said, "The United States of America has failed in its policies."

Uganda launches HIV vaccine trials for babies -- Uganda has screened and vaccinated at least a quarter of the 50 babies needed for vaccine trial focused on prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child during breastfeeding.

A voice from Gitmo's darkness -- A current detainee speaks of the torture and humiliation he has experienced at Guantanamo since 2002.

Did you know?  Date change in 2007 for Daylight Saving Time -- President George W. Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This Act changed the time change dates for Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. Beginning in 2007, DST will begin on the second Sunday in March and end the first Sunday in November. The Secretary of Energy will report the impact of this change to Congress. Congress retains the right to resume the 2005 Daylight Saving Time schedule once the Department of Energy study is complete. Remember...it used to began at 2:00 AM on the first Sunday in April and ended at 2:00 AM on the last Sunday in October.

G.I.’s in Iraq Raid Iranians’ Offices -- American troops backed by attack helicopters and armored vehicles raided an Iranian diplomatic office in the dead of night early Thursday and detained as many as six of the Iranians working inside.

Military Is Expanding Its Intelligence Role in U.S. -- The Pentagon has been using a little-known power to obtain banking and credit records of hundreds of Americans and others suspected of terrorism or espionage inside the United States, part of an aggressive expansion by the military into domestic intelligence gathering.

America's Germ Warfare Capabilities developed in secret in US Corporate Labs -- Some 113 university, government, hospital and corporate laboratories engaged in research often with potential to be used for germ warfare have refused to disclose their operations to the public as required by Federal rules, a nonprofit watchdog agency has charged.

H.R. 1 PUTS AMERICA IN A GIANT BIRD CAGE -- The very first bill passed by the House of Representatives this year was H.R. 1 named, "Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act." The vote was 299 Ayes, with 68 Republicans voting with the majority, and 128 Nays.

JAYWALKING PROFESSOR -- 'Atlanta police are barbaric, brutal, out of control' - Last week, after living in the USA for more than a year without understanding the country, I acquired — briefly — a jailbird's authority. I can now share insights you can only get from being assaulted by the police and locked up for hours in the company of some of the most deprived and depraved dregs of the American underclass.

Somali raids miss terror suspects -- The US air strikes in Somalia failed to kill any of the three al-Qaeda suspects they targeted, a top US official says.

After two accidents, Navy orders all its subs to stand down -- The Navy has ordered an operational “stand-down” for all submarines following two recent accidents, charging commanders to “focus energy and intellect back onto the basics of submarine operations,” according to the Submarine Force’s leader.

Rocket slams into U.S. Embassy in Athens -- An anti-tank shell was fired at the U.S. embassy early Friday, striking the front of the building but causing no injuries. Greece's Public Order Minister said the blast was probably an act of domestic terrorism, raising fears of resurgent violence by far-left Greek militants.

US tactic exposes growing rift with Britain -- President George W Bush's decision to dispatch another 21,500 soldiers to Iraq exposes a widening rift between British and American military strategy.

Texas Congressman Ron Paul files for GOP presidential bid -- Ron Paul, the iconoclastic nine-term congressman from southeast Texas, took the first step Thursday toward launching a second presidential bid in 2008, this time as a Republican.

Pentagon Abandons Active-Duty Time Limit -- The Pentagon has abandoned its limit on the time a citizen-soldier can be required to serve on active duty, officials said Thursday, a major change that reflects an Army stretched thin by longer-than-expected combat in Iraq. In other words, a citizen-soldier could be mobilized for a 24-month stretch in Iraq or Afghanistan, then demobilized and allowed to return to civilian life, only to be mobilized a second time for as much as an additional 24 months. In practice, Pace said, the Pentagon intends to limit all future mobilizations to 12 months.

Defense Dept. warns about Canadian spy coins -- In a U.S. government warning high on the creepiness scale, the Defense Department cautioned its American contractors over what it described as a new espionage threat: Canadian coins with tiny radio frequency transmitters hidden inside.

CONTROLLED WEATHER INFORMATION -- This Act is cited as the `Weather Modification Research and Technology Transfer Authorization Act of 2005'.

LIVE VOTE: Do you agree with President Bush's plan to add 21,500 troops to those now in Iraq? -- Vote and see the results!

Troop Surge Already Under Way -- The troop surge in Iraq is already under way. 90 Advance troops from 82 Airborne Arrive in Baghdad.

British troops in Iraq to be cut by 3,000 -- Britain will cut troop levels in Iraq by almost 3,000 at the end of May, the Daily Telegraph reported on Thursday. Within the next two weeks, Prime Minister Tony Blair would announce the reduction to Britain's 7,200-strong force based in the south of the war-ravaged country, it said.

Study: Number of wounded veterans could cripple VA -- The Veterans Administration is in danger of collapsing under the burden of caring for the medical and psychological needs of returning U.S. forces from Iraq and Afghanistan if it does not receive a huge infusion of cash, a new Harvard study warns.

Tucson Marine's death baffling -- The parents of a Tucson Marine who developed an extremely rare blood disease while serving in Iraq have agonized about the cause of his sudden illness, but have no answers.

Uranium 'killing Italian troops' -- Italian soldiers are still dying following exposure to depleted uranium in the wars in Bosnia and Kosovo, their relatives say.

Emergency and Disaster Information Service Website -- Up to Date showing any hazard occurring the world whether it be hazardous materials, volcano activity, earthquakes, plane crashes, bird flu, storms, etc., etc., etc.

How spicy foods can kill cancers -- Scientists have discovered the key to the ability of spicy foods to kill cancer cells. They found capsaicin, an ingredient of jalapeno peppers, triggers cancer cell death by attacking mitochondria - the cells' energy-generating boiler rooms.

Invisible RFID Ink Safe For Cattle And People, So Says Company -- Somark Innovations announced this week that it successfully tested biocompatible RFID ink, which can be read through animal hairs. The passive RFID technology could be used to identify and track cows to reduce financial losses from Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (mad cow disease) scares. READ MORE...

CIA gets the go-ahead to take on Hizbollah -- The CIA has been authorised to take covert action against Hizbollah as part of a secret plan by President George W. Bush to help the Lebanese government prevent the spread of Iranian influence. The finding was signed by Mr Bush before Christmas after discussions between his aides and Saudi Arabian officials. Details of its existence, known only to a small circle of White House officials, intelligence officials and members of Congress, have been passed to The Daily Telegraph.

U.S. sends stealth fighter planes to South Korea -- The United States is deploying a squadron of stealth fighters to South Korea, a U.S. military spokesman said on Wednesday, amid speculation that North Korea may be ready to test a second nuclear device. The United States is sending about 15 to 20 of its F-117A Nighthawk fighters to South Korea, the spokesman for U.S. Forces Korea said.

New U.S strikes hit 4 places in Somalia -- U.S. forces hunting al Qaeda suspects hit four sites in air strikes in southern Somalia on Wednesday, a Somali government source said, as international criticism mounted over Washington's military intervention.

Bush set to reveal Iraq strategy tonight -- In a pivotal moment of his six years in the White House, President Bush goes before the nation tonight to announce a strategy to salvage the most controversial decision of his presidency: the 2003 invasion of Iraq. (Wednesday Jan. 10, 2007)

YOUTUBE VIDEO of CNN/DOBBS --  George W. Bush FULFILLS HIS DAD'S DREAM OF A NEW WORLD ORDER. IN THIS CLIP YOU WILL SEE: 1. THE 1991 VIDEO OF DADDY BUSH ANNOUNCING THE NEW WORLD
ORDER.

Tasty curry might have a fringe benefit -- A study in the November issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism suggests turmeric, one component of curry spice, almost completely prevented joint swelling in rats with arthritis. Other studies have suggested that the spice could protect against diseases such as heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's, a degenerative brain disease that afflicts nearly 5 million people in the USA. Don't forget to check out more Curcumin News by clicking here.

S.M.U. Faculty Complains About Bush Library -- Intimates of President Bush have singled out Southern Methodist University as the likely site of his presidential library, but faculty members, complaining of being bypassed, are raising sharp questions about the school’s identification with his presidency.

Checkpoints to Combat New Orleans Crime -- Police plan to set up checkpoints beginning Wednesday to help curb a crime wave that has claimed nine lives since the start of 2007, Mayor Ray Nagin said, stopping short of imposing a curfew on this tourism- dependent city.

TAXPAYERS CHARGE VDOT PROMOTES FOREIGN HIGHWAYS -- The Virginia Taxpayers Association says a resolution opposing the NAFTA Superhighway and North American Union introduced by Sen. Roscoe Reynolds, D-Martinsville, "will be a major tool in preventing highway crashes, saving lives and preserving freedom for Virginians and all Americans.

9/11 bill may face scrutiny in Senate -- An anti-terrorism measure that easily passed the House faces tougher scrutiny from senators skeptical of its call for tougher screening for cargo aboard ships, a new way to divide federal security aid among states and other provisions.

House passes anti-terror legislation -- Anti-terror legislation sailed through the House on Tuesday, the first in a string of measures designed to fulfill campaign promises made by Democrats last fall.

Now thousands of birds fall from sky in Australia -- Wildlife officers baffled, autopsies shed no light on mystery.

Reagan Lawyer Ready To Return To White House -- President Bush has chosen Fred F. Fielding as the new chief White House lawyer, adding to his team a longtime Washington legal hand and veteran of the post.
White House officials said Mr. Bush would announce as early as Tuesday that Mr. Fielding would return as White House counsel, succeeding Harriet E. Miers, who announced her resignation last week.

New Oil Law Means Victory In Iraq For Bush -- The new bill will "radically redraw the Iraqi oil industry and throw open the doors to the third-largest oil reserves in the world," says the paper, whose reporters have seen a draft of the new law. "It would allow the first large-scale operation of foreign oil companies in the country since the industry was nationalized in 1972." If the government's parliamentary majority prevails, the law should take effect in March.

Jamestown Seeds Reflect Survival Efforts -- Seeds and plant remains preserved in a well at America's first permanent English settlement suggest the Jamestown colonists were not just gentlemen with few wilderness survival skills, as they are often portrayed, but tried to live off the land by gathering berries and nuts.

US N-submarine, Japanese tanker collide -- Commander Kevin Aandahl of the US Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain confirmed that "an incident took place between one of our subs and a Japanese merchant ship", but added it would be a while before he could make other details public.
There were no injuries and no oil leaks, a spokesman for the Japanese shipping firm said.

Dozens of dead birds shut down Austin, Texas -- Public health officials were scratching their heads over what killed more than 60 grackles, pigeons and sparrows found dead along Congress Avenue near Texas' Capitol on Monday morning, prompting a downtown lockdown that scrambled traffic and kept thousands of employees home from work.

Russia cuts oil across Belarus -- Russia shut off crude-oil supplies Monday that flow by pipeline across Belarus to Germany, Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe, charging that the Minsk government was illegally siphoning off oil meant for the other countries.

U.S. Airstrike Aims at Qaeda Cell in Somalia -- A United States Air Force gunship carried out a strike Sunday night against suspected operatives of Al Qaeda in southern Somalia, a senior Pentagon official said Monday night.

American Passports Found on Bodies of Al Qaeda Fighters in Somalia -- A senior official in the Somali government's new Ministry of the Interior told ABC News government forces had recovered "dozens of foreign passports," including several American passports, on the bodies of al Qaeda fighters killed in combat between forces affiliated with the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) and Ethiopian forces in Somalia.

Britain TV puts Blair on trial -- The British TV channel behind "Death of a President" - a drama in which US President Bush was assassinated - plans to broadcast a dramatization of Prime Minister Tony Blair's retirement from office and the buildup to his trial on war crimes charges.

9/11 Associate Is Sentenced in Germany to 15 Years -- A German court on Monday sentenced a friend of the Sept. 11 hijackers to 15 years in prison for being an accessory in the murders of 246 people aboard the commercial planes used in the terrorist attacks.

Blair refuses to match US troop 'surge' in Iraq -- Tony Blair will make clear this week that Britain is not going to send more troops to Iraq even if the US pushes ahead with a "surge" of 20,000 extra soldiers.

Boost Your Health With Spices -- By replacing traditional seasonings like sugar, salt and fat with herbs and spices, you can improve your overall health -- along with the flavor of your food.

A IVAW (Iraq veterans Against The War) bus is staged just outside of Ft. Lewis gates in support for Lt. Watada -- IVAWdeployed members Dennis Kyne, Ethan Crowell, Eric Salza, and Damon Murphy took it to the curb here at Camp Resistance -- Camp Resistance HAS been established by the IVAW Deployed Vets with the permission of a brave property owner, RIGHT OUTSIDE THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO FORT LEWIS! The actual court martial begins on February 5, 2007.

Check out the Blue/Orange Super Bowl Website -- "Is it truly possible that with all of this Psychological Warfare colors of UN Blue & Orange could mean that our soon to be New Future.....( North American Union ) North Continental Official Flag will be of these colors?" Good question from a Power Hour Team Member!

Mystery smell spooks New York -- They bombarded 911 with calls, crowded the sidewalks in front of evacuated buildings and tuned to the news for word of what was happening. The question on the minds of many New Yorkers this morning was: “What’s that smell?” A natural gas-like odour hung over much of Manhattan and parts of New Jersey, confounding authorities. The smell seemed to be gone by early afternoon.

Canadian victim of CIA brainwashing seeks class-action against government -- Janine Huard says she was a young mother of four with mild post-partum depression when she checked herself in for psychiatric treatment at a Montreal hospital more than five decades ago. Huard says what happened after that still haunts her today and she will be in a federal courtroom this week seeking to launch a class-action lawsuit against the Canadian government for Cold War-era brainwashing experiments carried out on her and hundreds of other patients. "I was a guinea pig," Huard told The Canadian Press.

Leahy Introduces Bills To Combat War Profiteering, Public Corruption -- Signaling a renewed emphasis on combating corruption at home and abroad, incoming Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), introduced a package of bills Thursday targeting corrupt officials and private companies seeking to defraud American taxpayers and troops.

Teheran: Israel will regret any attack -- Iran came out strongly in response to a report on Sunday that Israel planned to attack Teheran's nuclear sites, declaring that any attack would be met with a response and that "anyone who attacks will regret their actions very quickly."

Pope Urges Need for 'Renewed Humanism' -- Religious leaders of all faiths must play a role in ensuring that the spiritual and cultural aspects of life are not forgotten as mankind tackles the challenges of globalization, Pope Benedict XVI said Saturday.

1,000 PEOPLE SPELL OUT "IMPEACH!" IN PELOSI'S DISTRICT -- Over 1000 people gathered in Nancy Pelosi's district, on Ocean Beach in San Francisco, to spell out the message "IMPEACH!" Be sure to check out the photo that goes along with this article.

With Each Fallen Soldier, A Field Of Flags Grows -- The flags are cut from rolls of yellow plastic tablecloth, then woven onto thin wire rods. Each is about as long as a man’s size 7 shoe, as wide as an outstretched hand.

U.N. threatening to trump U.S. Constitution -- As the political cauldron heats up for the coming 2008 presidential election, few Americans seem to realize that their personal freedoms secured under the Constitution are perilously close to being trumped by the United Nations. Read More...

Outcry Over Pets in Pet Food -- The practice of boiling down euthanized dogs and cats for industrial fat and protein causes an uproar in St. Louis by Stephanie Simon.

Video: License Plate Recognition System -- Watch the video to see how the system is geared to work.

How Monsanto Manipulates the System to Poison Your Health -- Sir Richard Doll was a British cancer specialist who died last year. He was noted for making the connection between smoking and lung cancer. But for years,20 he was being paid as a consultant by Monsanto, a fact not revealed in his reports. Be sure to check out the hyperlinks in this article. Read More...

Saddam Is Dead - So Are 3,000 Americans (by Ron Paul) -- Obviously the turmoil in Iraq is worse than ever, and most Americans no longer are willing to tolerate the costs, both human and economic, associated with this war.

Democrats warn Bush not to boost US troop numbers in Iraq -- Members of the new Democratic majority in the U.S. Congress are calling for American troop reductions in Iraq, amid reports that President Bush is preparing to announce an overhaul of his Iraq policy that could include a short-term surge of thousands of troops into the country. Democrats are planning a series of hearings into the conduct of the war in an effort to hold the administration accountable for a conflict that is unpopular with the American people.

For Female Soldiers, Sexual Assault Remains a Danger -- According to the Pentagon, there were 2,374 reported cases of sexual assault against women in uniform over the past year. But as the saga of military police officer Suzanne Swift shows, numbers alone don't tell the whole story.

Army asks dead to sign up for another hitch - Army to Apologize for Letters -- The Army said Friday it would apologize to the families of about 275 officers killed or wounded in action who were mistakenly sent letters urging them to return to active duty.

LT Watada's Pre-Trial Hearing Ignites Camp Resistance -- On January 4th, 2007 the pre-trial of LT Ehren Watada began, sparking a fire of resistance that sustained IVAW members and activists as they gathered in the cold rainy weather outside the gates of Fort Lewis. Protesters held signs denouncing the war and supporting war resisters. It was in the midst of this action, IVAW Deployed established Camp Resistance, a semi-permanent encampment to support LT Watada.

Israeli Experts Say Middle East Was Safer With Saddam in Iraq -- Although few tears were shed in Israel over Saddam Hussein’s death last week, a small but growing chorus — including government officials, academics and Iraqi émigrés — is warning that Israel could find itself in more danger with him gone, and that it might even regret having welcomed his toppling.

Canada moves to RFID system for cattle -- As of Sept. 1, 2006, all Canadian cattle leaving their farm of origin were tagged with a CCIA approved RFID tag. Bar code ear tags will still be recognized until Dec. 31, 2007.

Israel's Bad Influence -- "Sooner or later, Americans are going to wake up to the fact that Israel's influence on the American government is detrimental. If Israel wants a war with Iran, let the Israelis fight it. Of course, seeing how poorly they did against Hezbollah, I suspect that the Israelis, despite their public threats, would not choose to fight the Iranians".

They have made a killing -- The US has spent a million dollars for every dead Iraqi - is that what they mean by value for money?

Bush nominates Negroponte, McConnell -- President George W. Bush on Friday nominated John Negroponte to be deputy secretary of state and retired Navy Adm. John McConnell as director of national intelligence.

Guardsmen overrun at the Border -- A U.S. Border Patrol entry Identification Team site was overrun Wednesday night along Arizona's border with Mexico. According to the Border Patrol, an unknown number of gunmen attacked the site in the state's West Desert Region around 11 p.m. The site is manned by National Guardsmen. Those guardsmen were forced to retreat.

Governor  to seek insurance for all children -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will propose that all Californian children, including those in the state illegally, be guaranteed medical insurance as part of the health-care overhaul he intends to unveil next week, according to officials familiar with the plan.

Louisville Enacts Major Changes to Animal Control Law -- The provisions in the ordinance contain a pet limit, severe restrictions on the keeping of intact animals, licensing of in-home kennels, extreme differential licensing and vague definitions. Read More...

Nuclear weapons chief leaving under pressure -- Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman on Thursday ousted the head of the National Nuclear Security Administration, which maintains the nuclear weapons stockpile and oversees the nation’s weapons research laboratories.
“I have decided it is time for new leadership at the NNSA,” Bodman said in announcing that the agency’s chief, Linton Brooks, would resign within the month.

22,000 Returning Vets Discharged With Personality Disorder -- Since 2001, the military has discharged more than 22,000 service members from its ranks for "personality disorder," a classification once referred to as a "Section 8," according to the Department of Defense. Kathleen Gilberd, a counselor with the San Diego-based Military Counseling Project, said many service members discharged because of personality disorders, medical issues and other grounds are in fact struggling with post-traumatic stress.

Were pleas of Marine ignored? -- Friends of Walter Smith say he had post-traumatic stress and that the VA repeatedly brushed off his cries for help. Read More...

Bush puts finishing touches on Iraq plan -- President Bush is putting the finishing touches on his new Iraq plan, reshuffling his national security team and scheduling private briefings with lawmakers. The president also planned to replace his two top generals in Iraq, according media reports.

Bush shaking up his Iraq team -- President Bush is overhauling his top diplomatic and military team in Iraq, as the White House scrambles to complete its new war policy package in time for the president to unveil it in a speech to the nation next week, officials said.

Bush says feds can open mail without warrants -- President Bush has "quietly claimed sweeping new powers to open Americans' mail without a judge's warrant," the New York Daily News reported.

Britain News: Health warning over safety of bottled water -- Possible problems associated with shop-bought water include excess sodium, the leaching of toxins and benzene contamination, according to a report published yesterday by the sustainable food and farming group Sustain.

YouTube Video: Explosion at WTC AFTER collapse! -- Firefighters shocked by explosions on 911.

Useful Food Chart -- Take a look and feel free to share.

SONG: "Not on the Test" performed by Tom Chapin -- For students out there who may be stressed out, here is a lullaby for our times called "Not on the Test". It was written by John Forster and Tom Chapin. It is performed by Tom Chapin.

U.S. Helped Saddam Acquire Biological Weapons -- Congressional Record: September 20, 2002 (Senate). A listing of materials for which export licenses were approved between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1984 are also listed in this report. A Must Read...

Study: Poultry Antibiotics a Money-Loser -- Antibiotics in chicken feed have long been targeted by critics as a health issue, but a new study by Johns Hopkins University researchers says they also are a money-loser for poultry farmers.

Blair fails to condemn hanging as Bush ducks the question -- George Bush said he had not seen the illicit video of the hanging because he was focused on the "way forward" in Iraq ­ dodged questions about the execution as the Americans sought to distance themselves from the way it was handled.

Minnesota police give meds for nuke incident -- Residents and workers near two Minnesota nuclear plants are being offered pills to protect thyroid glands against radiation from a nuclear incident. The Pioneer Press reports residents and businesses within 10 miles of the Monticello and Prairie Island nuclear plants will receive vouchers for potassium iodide doses as well as an emergency planning guide.

Official Held in recording Saddam Hanging Video -- The person believed to have recorded Saddam Hussein's raucous execution on a cell phone camera was arrested Wednesday, an adviser to Iraq's prime minister said.  Read More...

Pat Robertson predicts 'mass killing' -- In what has become an annual tradition of prognostications, religious broadcaster Pat Robertson said Tuesday God has told him that a terrorist attack on the United States would result in "mass killing" late in 2007.

France to publish UFO archive online -- The French space agency said it will publish its archive of UFO sightings and other phenomena online, but will keep the names of those who reported them off the site to protect them from pestering by space fanatics.

A NATION HELD HOSTAGE - THE FINAL PHASE by Devvy Kidd -- Happy new year!" 2007 is not going to be that, not by a long stretch. The old Congress is back with a few new faces and Bush is still in the White House. The Democrats are licking their chops, just waiting to be sworn in so they can begin the further carnage of this nation with a very dangerous female at the helm: Nancy Pelosi.

Military Officers Association says War on Terror NOT for survival of our nation! -- Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) symposium panelists dismiss talk of resuming the draft, barring war for national survival. But sparks fly over force size and the quality of new recruits.

Tactical Implications of the 'Smoky Bomb' Threat -- In an op-ed piece that appeared in The New York Times on Dec. 19, Peter D. Zimmerman, a nuclear physicist and a professor of science and security in the Department of War Studies at King's College London, discussed the terrorist threat posed by polonium and, more specifically, the way polonium-210 (or other radioisotopes that emit alpha radiation) could be used to make what he termed a "smoky bomb."

Rings Of War -- Think of a war as a violent center of a circle with concentric rings of people surrounding it. At the center are the soldiers who have to fight the war. In the next ring are the people whose loved ones are doing the fighting. In the third ring, at a safe distance, are the politicians who started the war.

BUTTER VS. MARGARINE -- Check it out.

Betrayal Of The Big Easy -- Hurricane Katrina Forced Out New Orleans's Poor Residents, And Developers Don't Want Them Back.

Dear Dubya: Time For A Military Makeover! -- Hey there you old cowpoke! Now you’ve "decided" what to do about Iraq. Abandoning "stay the course" for "a new way forward," you have decided on a "surge" of troops. During Viet Nam days we used to call this an "escalation." So… what’s the difference? Read More...

Acrylamide Level in Food Largely Unknown -- Maureen Cohen read a newspaper article about cancer-causing acrylamide in her kids' favorite snacks and wanted to know more. "I just got curious," said Cohen, a mother of three in Vienna, Va. "If it's known that it's a cancer-causing substance, I sure would like somebody to look into it and find out." Acrylamide turns up in all kinds of tasty foods, including french fries, potato chips, breakfast cereals, cookies and crackers. But it's difficult for consumers to figure out how much acrylamide is in a particular meal or snack.

Superbug emerging across Canada -- A superbug that causes infections from large, boil-like lesions to hemorrhagic pneumonia and, in rare cases, ''flesh-eating'' disease is poised to ''emerge in force'' across Canada, a new report warns.

Guards taunted Saddam in final seconds -- Saddam Hussein went to his death in a scornful exchange with the masked hangmen who taunted him with sectarian jibes even as the noose was tightened around his neck.

VIDEO: Saddam Hussein Execution -- Video of Saddam Hussein being executed.

Saddam Hussein Hanged for the Wrong Reason -- It was not the Iraqi government but its American masters that chose to execute Saddam Hussein in a great rush as soon as the first sentence was confirmed, thus canceling all the other trials on far graver charges that awaited him. The current Iraqi government had nothing to hide if those trials went ahead; the United States government did.

Gates visited Baghdad to quell US soldiers mutiny in Anbar, US imminent attack on Ramadi soon -- Iraqi military sources told the newspaper that the reason that the American Secretary of Defense Robert Gates visited Baghdad urgently after two days he received his new post as a Defense Minister; is to extinguish a military mutiny carried out by American VI Battalion based in Anbar, after refusing to obey orders and prefer not to leave their base in Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province.

FEDERAL HATE BILL COULD BE INTRODUCED THIS WEEK By Rev. Ted Pike -- With Congress back in session on January 3, the federal "hate crimes" bill could be reintroduced any time. The Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith introduced the same legislation last January 6, three days after Congress convened.

Detailed Breakdown Of US Deaths in Iraq - As Official Toll Hits 3000 -- The US military death toll in Iraq reached 3,000 on Sunday, with the reported deaths of two more Americans. It came on the day after the execution of Saddam Hussein.

Cows Engineered to Lack Mad Cow Disease -- Scientists have genetically engineered a dozen cows to be free from the proteins that cause mad cow disease, a breakthrough that may make the animals immune to the brain-wasting disease.

The vaccine to prevent every strain of flu -- British scientists are on the verge of producing a revolutionary flu vaccine that works against all major types of the disease.

WILL IGNORING ILLEGALS INVASION FOSTER VIGILANTISM? by Devvy Kidd-- As the carnage from drunk, unlicensed, illegal aliens continues to mount, some wonder if the refusal by Congress and Bush to stop this full blown invasion will lead to such frustration, Americans begin to take action on their own?

MORE