POLICE STATE WATCH:National Guard scraps plans to invade rural town;'This operation could be pretty intrusive to the people'

Hopgood further told WND that in past cooperative exercises with the community, the people of Iowa have welcomed learning how their sons and daughters operate in action.Plans for the urban operation training, Hopgood explained, are still set to continue, but will be conducted in a smaller, platoon-by-platoon basis in the near vicinity of the Carroll armory.
By Drew Zahn
As in the days of Noah...
BIG BROTHER WATCH:UK:"CCTV cameras at supermarkets to keep track of alcohol sales"

By James Slack
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ENVIRO CRAZE WATCH:Health expert warns of "Psychological Instability" as climate heats up

BY DANIELLE BLEWETT HEALTH REPORTER
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Drought to cut off federal water to California farms

By GARANCE BURKE
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Saudi officials block children's marriages

By AFP
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25089806-23109,00.html
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Sri Lanka rebels say suicide air raids successful

By Ranga Sirilal and Shihar Aneez
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US finds 13 civilians died in Afghanistan strike

KABUL-An operation the American military at first described as a "precision strike" instead killed 13 Afghan civilians and only three militants, the U.S. said Saturday, three days after sending a general to the site to investigate.Civilian casualties have been a huge source of friction between the U.S. and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has stepped up demands that U.S. and NATO operations kill no civilians and that Afghan soldiers take part in missions to help prevent unwanted deaths.A U.S. military statement said the decision to dispatch a general to the western province of Herat to investigate shows how seriously the U.S. takes civilian casualties. The U.S. rarely releases the findings of civilian casualty investigations, and the disclosure this time could show the effect of Karzai's criticisms.The U.S. military originally said 15 militants were killed Tuesday in a coalition operation in the Gozara district of Herat province, but Afghan officials said six women and two children were among the dead, casting doubt on the U.S. claim.Afghan officials say the group targeted in the airstrikes were living in two tents in a remote area. An ethnic group of Afghans known as Kuchis travel the countryside with livestock and live in tents. Photographs obtained by The Associated Press from the site showed the body of a dead young boy-bloodied and dirtied.In response, Brig. Gen. Michael Ryan traveled to the site to meet with Afghan elders. Investigators found weapons and ammunition, but concluded that 13 civilians were killed along with three militants, the U.S. said.An expert on civilian casualties said she was "cautiously optimistic" the U.S. is taking a new approach in dealing with civilian casualties. Sarah Holewinski, the executive director of The Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict, said more high-ranking military officials are visiting gravesites and apologizing.In recent weeks, she said, Defense Secretary Robert Gates "turned the old way of doing things on its head.""Instead of immediately denying civilian deaths, which deeply angers Afghans and with good reason, he said the U.S. will instead immediately investigate, make apologies and provide amends where appropriate," she said.The U.S. on Saturday released photos of Ryan talking with Afghan elders and embracing a mourning man.
By JASON STRAZIUSO.AP Writer
By JASON STRAZIUSO.AP Writer
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US tests military exit routes out of Iraq

By CHELSEA J. CARTER, Associated Press Writer
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090221/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq_exit_routes;_ylt=An2apBctE.HcdgEV0AKZxbhw24cA
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Abu Ghraib Reopens With New Name
Iraq's infamous Abu Ghraib prison reopened, with a new name and official promises Saturday of humane treatment in a lockup notorious as a center for abuse.
Iran offered nuclear deal to stop Iraq troop attacks: BBC

LONDON-Iran offered to stop attacking troops in Iraq if the West dropped opposition to its nuclear programme, a top British official said in comments to be broadcast Saturday.Sir John Sawers, Britain's current ambassador to the United Nations, told the BBC that Iranian officials had privately admitted their role in supporting insurgents' roadside bomb attacks on British and US troops.But the proposed deal, floated in teatime meetings at London hotels, was rejected by the British government.It was not clear exactly when the deal was suggested, according to pre-released extracts of the interview, which will appear in a documentary later Saturday."The Iranians wanted to be able to strike a deal whereby they stopped killing our forces in Iraq in return for them being allowed to carry on with their nuclear programme," Sawers told the BBC.He paraphrased the terms of the proposed deal as: "'We stop killing you in Iraq, stop undermining the political process there, you allow us to carry on with our nuclear programme without let or hindrance'."It was proposed in a series of meetings between Iranian and European officials, he added."There were various Iranians who would come to London and suggest we have tea in some hotel or other," Sawers told the broadcaster."They'd do the same in Paris, they'd do the same in Berlin, and then we'd compare notes among the three of us."Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi was quoted by the Mehr news agency as saying in response that the country's authorities "have many times stressed that Iran has no role in attacks on American and British troops.""The Islamic Republic of Iran from the beginning of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq has played a role for the return of peace, stability and calm in these countries," he said."It had regular dialogues and cooperation with international forces with regard to these issues."The revelation is one of several in the documentary about backroom talks between the West and Iran since 2001.Quoting Iranian and American officials, the programme also says Tehran cooperated closely with the United States to oust the Taliban in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks, even providing intelligence information to help with bombing raids.Hillary Mann, a former senior official under ex-president George W. Bush, told the BBC how one Iranian military official "unfurled the map on the table and started to point to targets that the US needed to focus on."Iran's then president Mohammad Khatami was reportedly willing to help get rid of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, saying he was also Iran's enemy.But relations reportedly soured when Bush labelled Iran part of the "axis of evil" in 2002.The former third-highest ranking official at the US State Department, Nicholas Burns, told the documentary: "We had a very threatening posture towards Iran for a number of years. It didn't produce any movement whatsoever."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090221/wl_mideast_afp/britainiraniraqusmilitaryunrestdiplomacy_20090221170849As in the days of Noah...
Iran blocks Web sites promoting reformist Khatami

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI,AP Writer
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New pro-Saudi terrorist group suspected of Katyusha attack from Lebanon

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Egyptian war game in Sinai practices rebuffing "Israeli attack"

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Barack Obama concludes secret pact with Saudi King

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'Iran secretly accelerated A-bomb drive'

But Tanter challenged the UN dismissal, saying, "Contrary to explanations by the UN officials, the regime probably smuggled enriched uranium out of the Natanz plant for additional processing at a secret location, such as a military site called Lavizan-2 in the northeastern area of Teheran."Because Lavizan-2 is a military site, it is my understanding that it is not open to inspection. Buried deep in tunnels, the regime conducts covert enrichment activities at Lavizan-2, operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps [IRGC]," Tanter said."The regime has a sophisticated method to hide its bomb-making research and development. The Islamic Republic of Iran hides a secret nuclear program under the cover of a legitimate program to complete the construction of the Bushehr civilian facility."Materials legitimately acquired for Bushehr are diverted to the covert military program operated by the IRGC," Tanter said.The IAEA report exposed an urgent need for more intelligence on the ground in Iran, Tanter said.He added that "one of the best sources of intelligence about the Iranian regime's quest for nuclear weapons status are Iranian opposition organizations - the National Council of Resistance of Iran and its largest component, the Mujahedeen-e Khalq. They first revealed the parallel Iranian nuclear military program in 2002 and continue to make startlingly accurate revelations."The EU recently took the Mujahedeen-e Khalq off of its list of terrorist organizations, but the US has kept the organization on its own list of such groups.Teheran was also swiftly developing missile technology that would enable delivery of any future nuclear weapon, said Emily Landau, director of the Arms Control and Regional Security Program at Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies."Iran is moving full steam ahead, not only with uranium enrichment but missile development as well. It's going to reach its goal - whether nuclear weapons or remaining one step short of them - very soon, or it could be that they are indeed already at the 'one step before' stage," Landau said."The situation is very serious, and you can see already a certain escalation in statements issued in Israel about the severity of the threat and preparations for the possibility of some kind of action," she said.No substantial diplomatic efforts to put real pressure on Iran had been attempted so far, Landau said."I'm not very optimistic to say the least, because I don't think the right approach is being taken, and mainly because so much time is slipping away with nothing at all being attempted - the last sanctions were decided upon in March of 2008, almost a year ago - and Iran of course is pushing forward all the time," she said.Landau stressed that "pressure on Iran is not an alternative to engagement, but rather a prelude to it. In other words, pressure is essential to get Iran to be serious about negotiating. But, as I said, I don't see any indication that things are going in that direction."The Foreign Ministry released a statement on Friday saying the new IAEA findings indicated "a continuation of the uranium enrichment project which goes against the Security Council's resolutions, and proves Iran's lack of cooperation with the IAEA's effort to clear up heavy suspicions over the military goals of Iran's plan."Thursday's IAEA report also said that traces of uranium were found at the Syrian site which the international media says was bombed by IAF planes in September 2007. Syria had alleged the the uranium came from Israeli munitions, but UN inspectors said that was unlikely."Iran and Syria are secretly working on nuclear technology in a manner which risks peace in the region and the world, while blatantly ignoring their international obligations," the Foreign Ministry said.•
By YAAKOV LAPPIN
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Kadima urges Livni to hear Netanyahu out on unity gov't

Netanyahu vowed in that deal to to add Shas first to any government."The Likud will form a government, and we hope it will be with Kadima and even Labor, but we won't give up our majority that we have without them from the factions that recommended us to the president," Likud MK Reuven Rivlin said.A Likud source said he believed Barak would like to join the government, especially because he knew he would not be opposition leader if Kadima remained outside the coalition.The source revealed that there was "engagement between Likud and Labor," but predicted that it would only get in high gear after Kadima gave Likud a final "no."Sources close to Barak said his views about Labor remaining in the opposition had not changed and he was under no pressure to change them.A senior Labor official said the party would be more likely to join if Israel Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman remained outside the government, something that was only expected to happen if he were indicted on the money laundering allegations police are investigating before a new government is formed. Netanyahu and Lieberman met on Friday but neither side revealed the content of their conversation.
By GIL HOFFMAN
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US has given green light for Hamas-Fatah gov't, PA says

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
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"Iran,Syria continuing nuke projects"

By JPOST.COM STAFF AND AP
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Israeli warning to Obama:"Your talk gives Iran nukes";Ex-Mossad chief says Tehran stalling, worries about president's 'learning curve'

By Aaron Klein
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Palestinian TV unveils teddy bear terrorist:Children's character desires to be Islamic 'holy warrior'


A new character has been introduced on the Hamas children's television show "Pioneers of Tomorrow," the teddy bear Nassur, who immediately expressed a desire to be an Islamic "holy warrior" and carry a gun.Likely, he won't be around long, though.WND reported when Assud, a bunny character, was "martyred" on the program, as well as when a Mickey Mouse-lookalike earlier was "martyred" for the Palestinian cause.The new report comes from the Middle East Media Research Institute, which has posted the video on its website, which requires viewers to register and log in.The brief program excerpt shows the teddy bear, Nassur, lounging on a chair in a room with children's toys. "I have come today to the Gaza Strip. Saraa, Allah willing, I will be one of the mujahideen, one of the fighters," Nassur states. "I will join the ranks of the 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades,' and I will wage jihad among them and carry a gun."Addressing Saraa, the child hostess of the program, he continues, "Do you know why?""Why," says Saraa."To defend the children of Palestine," Nassur says.Befire the bunny Assud recently was "martyred," he gave a lengthy message to children that they must occupy Israeli cities."We should teach our children that we have a land to which we must return: Jaffa, Acre, Haifa, and Tel Aviv," said Assud. "We will return to all these cities, Allah willing."Previously on the program, Assud was caught stealing and sentenced to having his hand cut off, although the penalty later was lifted because he repented.Earlier episodes of the program featured President Bush being "killed" as well as a children's Mickey Mouse-lookalike who also was "martyred" for the Palestinian cause .The latest episode on the program "Pioneers of Tomorrow", broadcast on Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV, was aired Feb. 13 MEMRI said. In January, the "dying" bunny said, "The Zionist enemy is treacherous, and it kills everything, but I never thought it would kill the children of Palestine, and that it would bomb the Al-Aqsa TV station. As you know, Saraa, Al-Aqsa TV has a special section for children. Children always go there to play and have fun. They come to me and you to listen to beautiful stories for their benefit."But Saraa,"Assud said, "I went to Al-Aqsa TV when they said it would be bombed. I couldn't believe it would really be bombed. I went there, and I collected the gifts, books, magazines, and stories, which belong to the children of Palestine, the Pioneers of Tomorrow, so I could remove them before the station was bombed. But Saraa, when I went in – I don't know what happened. All I know is that they brought me here, to Shifa' Hospital, and left me here, Saraa. Praise be to Allah." [...]Assud continued: "Saraa, my will is that you tell our beloved children never to forget Jerusalem, Saraa. You must pass this legacy on to our beloved children. They must never forget Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa, the prisoners, or the refugees."Remind them, Saraa, that we have a land to which we must return, by means of the steadfastness of the resistance and the mujahideen, by means of the steadfastness of knowledge and the fear of God. Tell them that Assud died as a hero, as a martyr. Tell them that Assud died a martyr's death, Saraa."[...]"We should teach our children that we have a land to which we must return: Jaffa, Acre, Haifa, and Tel Aviv. We will return to all these cities, Allah willing," the character continued."Saraa, I implore you... I entrust you with the legacy of protecting Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the blessed land of Palestine. Listen to me, Saraa: I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and the Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," Assud said.MEMRI is an independent nonprofit that provides translations of media reports from the Middle East and analysis of those reports.The organization previously reported on Palestinian messages to children through Nahoul, the bee who wept over his "martyred" family.Hamas, which won a majority in parliament in January 2006 elections, officially is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. As WND reported, a prominent Hamas leader was captured on video boasting of using children, women and the elderly as human shields in its firefights with Israeli soldiers.WND also reported Hamas launched a children's website in 2002 that encourages kids to follow the example of terrorist suicide bombers.
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Hamas: Kerry's visit 'big sign' U.S. will engage:Senator most senior American official to come to terrorist-controlled Gaza

By Aaron Klein
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Hamas to Obama: Let's talk!:Terrorist letter invites discussion of change to U.S. policy

By Drew Zahn
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=89597
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Lebanon Fires 2 Rockets Towards Israel

By AP
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Senator Kerry meets Assad in Damascus

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