Justin Elliot: From accused murderer to member of Congress? Posted on 27 September 2010 by Garibaldi LOONWATCH From accused murderer to member of Congress? BY JUSTIN ELLIOTT In a race that has largely been flying under the national radar, a former Marine who killed two unarmed Iraqi prisoners in 2004 and who has made the threat of Islam and the “ground zero mosque” centerpieces of his campaign has a real shot at being elected to Congress. Republican Ilario Pantano, 39, is taking on incumbent Mike McIntyre, a seven-term conservative Democrat, in North Carolina’s 7th District, which takes in the state’s southeast … Continue reading Kill Arabs and Become a US Politician!

James Powers and the murky world of ‘Top Secret America’ A surveillance scandal in Pennsylvania has lifted the lid on corruption and waste in the US’s private intelligence industry Matthew Harwood guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 28 September 2010 15.00 BST Article history In October of 1952, Judge Learned Hand delivered his famous speech at the University of the State of New York passionately denouncing the culture of surveillance and suspicion that had stricken the United States at the onset of the cold war. “I believe that that community is already in process of dissolution where each man begins to eye his neighbour … Continue reading ‘Top Secret America’

by Sana Saleem on dawn For seven years now, Aafia Siddiqui’s case has remained shrouded in mystery, the ghost of Bargram has haunted Pakistan ever since. From her disappearance in Karachi to her arrest at the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan and throughout her trial, Siddiqui’s case has been most peculiar. On September 23, 2010 Siddiqui was sentenced to 86 years of imprisonment by a US Federal Court in New York, after being convicted of firing at US troops at Bagram during custody. Over the years, Siddiqui’s case has been used by religious and political parties for point scoring and … Continue reading Going Beyond Aafia

Talking about change By Cyril Almeida ‘So, much of the talk about a change in Islamabad wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for the genuine grassroots unhappiness with the government’s style and substance.’ – Photo by APP Hold on to your hats, everybody, change is a coming. It’s the consensus in Islamabad: change is in the air and it will be very bad for Zardari & co and marginally good for the rest of us. But Islamabad is a funny old town. The more convinced everyone is something is about to happen, the less likely something will in fact happen. … Continue reading Talking about change in Pakistan

A landmark verdict By Kuldip Nayar Jaswant Singh, the BJP leader who has refurbished his liberal instincts, has rightly appealed to the BJP to move on and not remain stuck in the Middle Ages. But his plea has not evoked any attention. The RSS militant wing, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, has collected sadhus at Ayodhya, where the demolished Babri Masjid stood. All these things tell upon India’s pluralism which is becoming more and more elusive. – Photo by Reuters. It was a laudable judgment of the Supreme Court which upheld the right of Indian Muslims to inherit the property that … Continue reading RSS and BJP needs to move forward

Brilliant Aisam set to inspire Pakistan athletes By Anwar Zuberi Pakistan will participate in boxing, squash, tennis, wrestling, hockey, shooting, and weightlifting. -File Photo KARACHI: Tennis celebrity Aisam-ul-Haq who reached the pinnacle of his career in the US Open will be a source of inspiration for the 75-member Pakistan contingent in the Commonwealth Games which runs in the Indian capital New Delhi from October 3 to 14. He (Aisam) is in high spirits after scaling new heights and his presence in the Games village with compatriots will boost their morale in bringing laurels to the nation. Pakistan will make its … Continue reading Pakistan to play full part in Delhi Commonwealth games

Dawn Editorial Pakistani activists of the hard-line party Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) carry photographs of Pakistani scientist Aafia Siddiqui as they shout slogans while they march toward the US embassy during an anti-US protest in Islamabad. – AFP Photo Pakistan Pakistan wants Dr. Aafia Siddiqui repatriated FOR the most part, rational debate about the case of Aafia Siddiqui has not been possible. In part, it must be acknowledged, this is because an air of mystery still endures over where Dr Siddiqui and her children were for five long years between 2003 and 2008 and how she came to be ‘found’ in Afghanistan. … Continue reading Aafia Siddiqui