Headlines for 09-02-08

Iran plans air force games in Ramadan: commander The Iranian air force will hold wargames during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which began in Iran on Tuesday, a military commander said.


Russia will complete Iran nuclear plant


Up to seven civilians dead in Herat air raid: US A US investigation has found that between five and seven civilians were killed in an attack in the Afghan province of Herat last month


Why CIA Veterans Are Scared of McCain Many current and former US spies expect a McCain administration guided by neoconservatives to treat them with hostility and mistrust. They also say McCain would likely weaken the CIA by giving broad new spying authorities to the Pentagon, which CIA officials believe is more amenable to giving policymakers the intelligence they want, while being subject to less congressional oversight.



Oil down sharply on Gustav relief US crude fell to a five-month low of $105.46 a barrel before closing down $5.75 at $109.71 while London's Brent crude fell $1.07 to close at $108.34.


Scenes from St. Paul -- Democracy Now's Amy Goodman arrested


Sending the U.S. to war is not the president's call


Syria warns of 'catastrophic' effect of any Israeli strike on Iran Syrian President Bashar al-Assad warned Tuesday that an attack by Israel on Iran would have catastrophic consequences for the entire world.


Lebanese speaker warns against serious Israeli threats Several Israeli officials recently vowed to destroy Lebanon's infrastructure if the Shiite Hezbollah controls the Lebanese government. Evidently, Israel decides which Arabs will govern in Arab countries.


Palin meets with AIPAC leaders "Now that both the Democrats and the Republicans have determined their respective tickets, AIPAC is pleased that both parties have selected four pro-Israel candidates," he said. "In so doing, they have reaffirmed the broad bipartisan support that exists in our country for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship."


Biden reassures Florida Jews on Israel "By any objective fact, Israel is less secure today in the world than it was eight years ago," Biden said. "I promise you ... we will make it more secure."


Commentary: Israel of the Caucasus In a secret agreement between Israel and Georgia, two military airfields in southern Georgia had been earmarked for the use of Israeli fighter-bombers in the event of pre-emptive attacks against Iranian nuclear installations. This would sharply reduce the distance Israeli fighter-bombers would have to fly to hit targets in Iran. And to reach Georgian airstrips, the Israeli air force would fly over Turkey. The attack ordered by Saakashvili against South Ossetia the night of Aug. 7 provided the Russians the pretext for Moscow to order Special Forces to raid these Israeli facilities where some Israeli drones were reported captured. A rather interesting article by Arnaud de Borchgrave of the UPI.


Report: Israel will leave disputed areas Israeli officials are denying widespread reports that Israel is ready to pull out of disputed areas on its border with Lebanon.


Allies, foes scrape through Palin bio for Jewish material The paucity of material led the Republican Jewish Coalition to tout the appearance of a small Israeli flag propped against a window of the state Capitol in an online video in which Palin touts the virtues of hiking Juneau. In an e-mail blast, RJC executive director Matt Brooks offered the screengrab as an answer for "those of you who have had questions regarding Sarah Palin and her views on Israel."


Palin Pick Shows, Awareness of the Israel Lobby Is Now Out There in the American Hinterland


PALIN MEETS WITH AIPAC A campaign official would not say who asked for the meeting, but said it was geared towards putting the American Jewish community at ease over her understanding of US-Middle East relations......Palin, joined by Sen. Joe Lieberman, expressed her "heartfelt support for Israel" and spoke of the threats it faces from Iran and others, the campaign official said.


French head to begin Syria visit Mr Sarkozy's two-day visit to Syria is the first by a Western head of state in five years.


Israeli-Georgians protest 'Putin the murderer' Hundreds rally in Israeli port town to stage protest against Russian human rights violations in their former homeland, call for EU sanctions on Moscow