US marine officers at all levels failed to investigate conflicting reports of killings in the Iraqi town of Haditha, a report quoted by US media says. The report has been completed and reviewed by Lt-Gen Peter Chiarelli, the second-ranking US commander in Iraq. Twenty-four civilians died in the incident in November. The US military initially said they were killed in a bomb blast and exchange of fire. But reports subsequently emerged that US soldiers killed them. Gen Chiarelli's investigation is separate from a second, criminal inquiry into whether a group of marines was guilty of murder. A number of women and children were among those killed in an incident that has become the most serious allegation against US troops in Iraq since the invasion. Gen Chiarelli's inquiry looked into how the military handled the killings on 19 November. According to US media reports, Gen Chiarelli has found that senior officers failed to investigate inconsistencies ... http://news.bbc.co.uk censor News |
Editor - 23:58:00 07-07-06 |
Afghan Legislator Says Coalition Attacked His Family, Killing 1 |
An Afghan member of Parliament accused the American-led coalition of opening fire on his family as they traveled by car in one of the most troubled provinces of southern Afghanistan, killing his brother-in-law and wounding five others, including his wife and two of his children.Haji Abdul Khaliq, a legislator from Uruzgan province, said in a telephone interview that the shooting occurred on Wednesday and that American and Australian troops were responsible for it. "My wife, my son, my daughter, my nephew and my wife's brother were traveling with a driver from Uruzgan to Kandahar for medical checkup at Kandahar hospital when they were attacked by American and Australian troops from the top of a hill," he said. It was the middle of the afternoon, he added. ... http://fairuse.100webcustomers.com/fairenough/nyt300.html
full News |
Editor - 23:26:00 07-07-06 |
UN small arms conference ends in "total meltdown |
A U.N. meeting meant to expand a five-year-old crackdown on the illicit global trade in small arms ended in chaos on Friday as delegates ran out of time without reaching agreement on a plan for future action. "There was a total meltdown at the end. You don't know if it was a conspiracy or just a screw-up," said one delegate, speaking on condition of anonymity. Other delegates said negotiations had simply proceeded too slowly, leaving too much to accomplish on the last day. But Rebecca Peters of the London-based International Action Network on Small Arms accused governments of letting a few states "hold them all hostage and to derail any plans which might have brought any improvements in this global crisis." Best they disarm all Governments, as they are the ones that are doing 9999.9% of all the killings. Leave the people with the guns so they can keep their Governments under control. The world would be much safer with armed citizens and disarmed Governments... http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060708/ts_nm/arms_un_dc
full News |
Editor - 20:51:00 07-07-06 |
Israelis Send Mixed Signals On Swap Still Not Prepared To Accept Deal For Release Of Abducted (Captured) Solider |
Two weeks into Israel's violent standoff with Hamas, Israel sent conflicting signals Friday on whether it is prepared to swap Palestinian prisoners for a 19-year-old Israeli soldier whose capture by Palestinian militants has touched off a harsh Israeli military campaign. Israeli troops have killed 32 Palestinians in two days of air strikes and artillery barrages, Palestinian officials said. The campaign is aimed at stopping rocket attacks on Israel and pressuring the ruling Hamas movement to release the kidnapped soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit. Israel's public security minister, Avi Dichter, suggested Friday that Israel is ready to cut a deal that would fall short of a direct prisoner swap. Dichter said Israel could free some Palestinian prisoners as a goodwill gesture, provided Shalit is released and Hamas stops rocket attacks on Israel. If there is calm, "Israel will need to, after some time, release prisoners as a reciprocal gesture," Dichter said. "Israel knows how to do this. ... http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/07/world/main1783064.shtml?source=RSS&attr=World_1783064
full News |
Editor - 20:42:00 07-07-06 |
Firefighters gain on remaining Southern California wildfires |
Firefighters made progress Friday against the biggest of several brush fires that erupted in Southern California this week. A 420-acre blaze ignited by fireworks on Thursday was 75% contained after racing through the Reche Canyon area of Colton, said San Bernardino County fire spokeswoman Tracey Martinez. A 420-acre blaze ignited by fireworks on Thursday was 75% contained after racing through the Reche Canyon area of Colton, said San Bernardino County fire spokeswoman Tracey Martinez.People who evacuated 200 mobile homes were allowed to return late Thursday after more than 250 firefighters, aided by cooler evening temperatures, helicopters and air tankers, stopped the fire's advance, she said.Authorities were looking for two teenagers suspected of lighting fireworks in dry brush.... http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2006-07-07-socal-wildfires_x.htm?csp=34
full News |
Editor - 20:39:00 07-07-06 |
Desert of death takes its toll on beleaguered troops |
Locals call it the "desert of death" - a stark landscape of burned flats, furnace-like heat and choking dust storms that sprawls across Helmand province. But the wry nickname for the neighbourhood around Camp Bastion, Britain's main military camp, has started to acquire a more sinister meaning.At dawn on Thursday a Chinook helicopter returned to base carrying a mournful cargo - the remains of Private Damien Jackson, a cheery 19-year-old paratrooper who died in a Taliban firefight hours earlier. Commanders shut down the camp's satellite internet system to prevent word of the fatality leaking out before his parents were informed.Still, the bad news gusted across the camp as fast as the scorching desert wind. Six British deaths in three weeks - the previous fatalities just four days earlier - brought home the perilous reality of "peacekeeping", Helmand style, to many British soldiers.... http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanistan/story/0,,1815792,00.html
full News |
Editor - 20:33:00 07-07-06 |
|
post The Good, The Bad and The Ugly |
|