 | Bush attacks Obama in Israel
President George W. Bush compares those who would talk with Iran to Nazi appeasers 5 hours ago view bio: Pepe Escobar | context links | US President George W. Bush launched what many say was a “political attack" against Democratic front-runner Barack Obama on Thursday when he addressed the Israeli parliament.
Though he didn’t name names, the statement seemed to be directed at Senator Obama’s willingness to meet with the leaders of Iran and Syria among others.
Bush said that those who would negotiate are like people who said you could negotiate with Hitler.
White House spokespersons denied that the Knesset remark was aimed in any way at Obama.
But leading Democrats were furious and struck back at Bush.
Senator Joe Biden saying "This is bullshit, this is malarkey", and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying that "I would hope that any serious person, would disassociate themselves from the President's remarks."
The Real News Network Analyst Pepe Escobar says that even Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said that the US should negotiate with Iran.  |
 | Palestinians commemorate al-Nakba--the catastrophe
Clashes mark Palestinian day of remembrance. President Bush delivers speech to Israeli Knesset 6 hours ago view context links | Sporadic clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians, marked the Palestinian day of remembrance known as al-Nakba or the catastrophe. A day of celebration in Israel, al-Nakba, for the Palestinians marks the expulsion of about 700,000 Palestinians from their homes. Meanwhile President Bush delivered a speech to the Israeli Knesset limiting his mention of the Palestinians to just one sentence. A Haaretz editorial stated that " the creeping annexation of parts of Arab neighborhoods will turn a political conflict into a religious struggle." The editorial went on to state that " The United States, Israel's greatest friend and the broker of the two-state vision, will not emerge clean either. A close friend of the Israelis is not permitted to stand on the sidelines while their government is playing with matches next to a barrel of explosives." |
 | Pakistan border bombed
Damadola struck by 2 drone missiles; US suspected to be behind bombing 6 hours ago view bio: Imtiaz Ali | context links | Several people were killed in a missile strike in northwest Pakistan's Bajaur Agency on Wednesday.
The Dawn newspaper reports that local witnesses saw unmanned US drones fire two missiles on a compound where militants had gathered for dinner.
The U.S. has not confirmed its involvement, but is believed to operate predator drones into Pakistan out of Afghanistan.
On Thursday, several thousand protesters led by Islamist political party leaders attended anti-US and anti-Musharraf rallies in Damadola and nearby Khar.
In 2006, a drone missile killed 82 people, and a spate of strikes this March killed 25 people in the same region.
The US led violence is not restricted to the tribal areas of Pakistan. Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Extrajudicial, Summary and Arbitrary Executions, Philip Alston reported that following his 12 day fact-finding mission, he found that around 200 Afghan civilians have been killed this year alone by international military forces.
From Islamabad, Washington Post special correspondent Imtiaz Ali described the situation in Damadola. |
 | Iran and Israel: Lost in translation?
Babak Yektafar explains the meaning behind Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's rhetoric 1 day ago view bio: Babak Yektafar | context links | transcript | Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterates controversial statements calling for an "end to the Zionist regime," leading different news services to translate his words in different ways, some making them sound more belligerent than others. The Real News Network Senior Editor Paul Jay speaks to Babak Yektafar of Washington Prism to discuss the meaning of the statements. |
 | What is really happening in Lebanon?
Pepe Escobar explains clashes between US-backed government and Hezbollah-led opposition 14 May 08 view bio: Pepe Escobar | context links | transcript | Clashes between supporters of the US-backed government and the Hezbollah-led opposition have shaken Lebanon. Six days of deadly sectarian bloodshed is the worst violence in the country since the end of the 15-year civil war in 1990. The Real News Network analyst Pepe Escobar examines what is happening in Lebanon. |
 | Myanmar's junta use food aid to maintain iron grip
Military junta, afraid of mutiny, accused of hoarding relief supplies for military personnel 14 May 08 view context links | transcript | The first US relief plane landed in Yangon on Tuesday. Myanmar's military junta has been accused of hoarding relief goods to placate its military rank and file at the expense of its civilian population. Brian McCartan of The Asia Times reports, that the Myanmar leadership has "an almost pathological fear of a split within its own ranks," as soldiers found it difficult to fire on citizens and monks during the September protests last year. He further states that "from the junta's perspective the group that needs to be fed first is the 400,000 strong military rather than the desperate survivors of the crisis." It is from this perspective that Myanmar's leadership "has consistently said it wants the relief supplies, but not the aid workers." The regime, by placating its rank and file, will ensure that it maintains its iron grip on power. |
 | Earthquake in China kills thousands
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao begins relief effort; international leaders join in support 14 May 08 view context links | transcript | More than 12,000 people were killed in Monday's earthquake in central China.
The 7.9 quake also left thousands buried under rubble, and rescue efforts by 20,000 Chinese security and relief workers are slowly uncovering them.
International leaders offered their support, though China is not allowing the entry of foreign relief workers yet. |
 | Making a killing from the food crisis
Devlin Kuyek: "Right now Cargill is making approximately $471 000 an hour in profits" 13 May 08 view bio: Devlin Kuyek | context links | transcript | While people around the world are suffering from hunger and protesting the rise in global food prices, major grain traders, such as Cargill, are reporting big profits. Making a Killing from Hunger, a report by international NGO, GRAIN, says that the global food crisis is more than a food shortage or a price blip, it's a structural meltdown, resulting from globalization and neoliberal policies. |
 | Bringing the Wall St. crisis to Main St.
Danny Schechter: Economic crisis is ruining people's lives, the media has failed to tell the full story 13 May 08 view bio: Danny Schechter | context links | transcript | Danny Schechter the "News Dissector" tells The Real News that the Wall St. crisis is about to become part of the political debate in America, from Hillary Clinton slamming money brokers to the FBI investigating mortgage fraud. As well, the media is also to blame for ignoring the problems until the market melted down. |
 | Myanmar generals force vote despite cyclone crisis
Larry Jagan: Myanmar generals do not care about the Burmese people view context links | transcript | Myanmar's leadership held a constitutional referendum on Sunday. As the country is still reeling from deadly cyclone Nargis which has claimed at least 70,000 casualties and displaced over 2 million people. The regime received sharp criticism from Myanmar specialist Larry Jagan who claims top general Than Shwe "only cares about his own priorities." The referendum is seen as a fait accompli and would guarantee the military junta 25 percent of the seats in parliament, allow the president exclusive power in the event of a state of emergency, and would bar Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi from running for public office. |
 | Five million orphans in Iraq
Alive in Baghdad: Most orphanages a disgrace, this is a story of one that works view context links | We show this segment courtesy of www.aliveinbaghdad.org. Alive in Baghdad employs Iraqi journalists to produce video packages each week about a variety of topics on daily life in Iraq. (more) |
 | Myanmar death toll climbs over 70 000
Cyclone transforms rice exporting country into rice importer view context links | transcript | Myanmar's cyclone has claimed at least 70,000 casualties. The World Food Programme confirms that the country will need to import rice as well as other foodstuffs. Relief efforts were previously hampered by the reluctance of the regime to issue visas to aid workers as well as logistical problems in reaching those in need. The death toll is expected to rise. |
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