Updated - News & Collage of Current Topics - - to continue coming in...

Since the US was the ONLY UN vote abstaining on the truce, then there is a real disconnect between Congress & many of the people I hear & see...this is so so wrong!
here 14 minutes ago when first posted at 9:56 PM EST

So which of these is it that will stick? The one just above or the one just below? Or none? Doesn't it depend on ALL parties? Even & perhaps most especially Americans?

Gaza: Arab & West Agree? 15 minutes ago when posted here (around 9 PM EST)
here

What about Rahm Emanuel?
here This man is well worth reading - whether or not one agrees

A challenge for us all? Read more of the Wall Writings--Go
here

Cheney: CIA did nothing illegal (ha, ha, ha this blogger)
here

Petraes: Afghan, Pakistan problems really one(?)
here

For Alternet's new Economy postings, try
here
(also note the CONTEST: 100 words for 100 days to let Obama know what YOUR memo for him might be)

EXCUSE THAT THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT AN EASY CLICK...RAN OUT OF TIME BUT WANTED TO RECORD THE FOLLOWING ON JANUARY 08, 2000 WHEW!!! WE WHO WANT PEACE WORLDWIDE HAVE OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR SURE...LET'S NOT GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are some who are NOT giving up even when they are (at their own courageous choice) in great peril:

Women Protest in Bil'in for Gaza - Thursday, January 8th

The women and children of Bil'in today marched in a solidarity protest for Gaza. The protest was joined by international women. Palestinian flags were carried and also symbolic coffins presenting the massacres against the citizens of Gaza and especially women and children.The women walked through the streets of the village singing slogans in solidarity with the women in Gaza who have been killed or lost children and family. They also called for a national unity among Palestinians and called for help from the Arab leaders.

The protest headed from the center of the village towards the apartheid wall which is built on Bil'in's land. An Israel army unit was situated behind the wall and when the women tried to go through the gate, the army fired tear gas canisters to disturb the crowed and caused dozens to suffer gas inhalation.

Umm Samarah expressed her rage and anger on what's happening in Gaza and called on the Arab leaders to open the borders to save the Palestinian people. "We cry every moment for hundreds of times when we see our people and especially children being killed in cold blood. We call on Egypt to open the border crossing and all the neighboring countries to save the people of Gaza “.

Yesterday, Amro Hisham Nasir was shot in the thigh and was taken to Sheik Zaid hospital in Ramallah for treatment.

here

Thank you for you continued support, Iyad Burnat- Head of Popular Committee in Bilin
Head of Friends of Freedom and Justice in Bilin

Email- ffj.bilin@yahoo.com
Mobile- (00972) (0) 547847942
Office- (00972) (2) 2489129
Fax- (00972) (2) 2489129

www.bilin-ffj.orgat their own chosen peril...
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Listen To The Victims (in Gaza)

3 Minute Video

Palestinians describe life and death while under attack in Gaza.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21684.htm
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Gaza Medics Describe Horror of Israeli Attack That Killed 70

By Tim Butcher in Jerusalem

Growing evidence emerged today of the bloodiest single incident of the Gaza conflict when around 70 corpses were found by a Palestinian paramedic near a bombed-out house.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21682.htm

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Starving Children Of Gaza

Channel 4 UK Report From Gaza

This Is A Must Watch Video

Meet the children left to die amoung the bodies of their parents and families.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21689.htm

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Red Cross Finds Starving Children with 12 Corpses in Gaza 'House of Horrors'

By Martin Fletcher, in Jerusalem

The International Committee of the Red Cross has accused the Israeli military of "unacceptable" conduct and breaching international humanitarian law after discovering four emaciated children living next to the corpses of their mothers and other adults in bomb-shattered houses in Gaza City.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21683.htm

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Masters In Distortion Of The Truth

By Yvonne Ridley

The media coverage of the war in Gaza by Western television companies is largely unfair and biased because of a refusal to show viewers the real images of the victims.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21691.htm

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US Senate Supports Israel's Gaza Attacks

By Reuters

"When we pass this resolution, the United States Senate will strengthen our historic bond with the state of Israel, by reaffirming Israel's inalienable right to defend against attacks from Gaza, as well as our support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said before the vote.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21686.htm

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How Israel Brought Gaza to the Brink of Humanitarian Catastrophe

By Avi Shlaim

Oxford professor of international relations Avi Shlaim served in the Israeli army and has never questioned the state's legitimacy. But its merciless assault on Gaza has led him to devastating conclusions.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21681.htm

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An Unnecessary "War"

By Jimmy Carter

I know from personal involvement that the devastating invasion of Gaza by Israel could easily have been avoided.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21687.htm

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Blue Star Rampage

Israel's dress rehearsal for Lebanon

By Mike Whitney

Israel has never recovered from its defeat at the hands of Hezbollah during the 33 Day war in 2006, so it is preparing for a reprisal. The attack on Gaza is just a "dry run"; a confidence-building exercise to strengthen morale and put the finishing touches on the battle plan.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21685.htm

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The Difficulty of Being an Informed American

By Paul Craig Roberts

The function of the "mainstream media" is to sell products and to brainwash the audience for the government and interest groups. By subscribing to it, Americans support their own brainwashing.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21690.htm

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America's Soul Sickness & Permanent War

Obama's Rude Awakening

By Roberto Rodriguez

Obama's first challenge will not be the unresolved Middle East crisis. Nor will it be Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo or the economy. His primary challenge will come in coming face to face with the Bush/Cheney doctrine of permanent worldwide war. Unless Obama renounces it on inauguration day, this doctrine will continue to be U.S. policy.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21688.htm

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At least 770 Palestinian's killed in Israel's attack on gaza:

Israel said its troops had killed 130 guerrillas since Saturday, a figure that suggested the total Palestinian death toll since Dec. 27 might be close to 770 and that bodies could still be on the battlefield.
http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSL6222934._CH_.2400

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Airstrike kills three sisters during supposed lull:

Israeli warplanes killed three Palestinian civilians on Wednesday afternoon during what Israel had earlier declared to be a unilateral three hour halt in its attacks on Gaza.
http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=34714

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In Pictures: Carnage in Gaza:

Warning - Viewers discretion advised
http://home.online.no/~unnelin/gazabilder.cfm

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Israeli troops kill U.N. truck driver at Gaza crossing:

Israeli soldiers opened fire Thursday on a truck attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the beleaguered Gaza Strip, killing one United Nations-contracted driver and seriously wounding another, U.N. officials said.
http://www.kansascity.com/451/story/970718.html

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UN agency halts Gaza operations over Israeli fire:

"UNRWA decided to suspend all its operations in the Gaza Strip because of the increasing hostile actions against its premises and personnel," Adnan Abu Hasna, the agency's Gaza-based spokesman, said.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/middleeastCrisis/idUKL892282

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Petition: IDF targets ambulances:

Eight different human rights organizations filed an urgent petition with the High Court of Justice Wednesday, demanding that the IDF be prevented from attacking medical teams and ambulances operating in Gaza.
http://tinyurl.com/99a3d4

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Red Cross slams Israel over access to wounded:

"The ICRC believes that in this instance the Israeli military failed to meet its obligation under international humanitarian law to care for and evacuate the wounded," the Geneva-based group said in a statement.
http://tinyurl.com/9ljyff
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Egypt Pulls Down the Shutters on Aid:

Egyptian authorities have almost fully sealed the border with Gaza, preventing delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=45334

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Rockets from Lebanon hit Israel:

At least three rockets landed in the town of Nahariya, about 8km south of the Lebanese border, on Thursday causing slight injuries.
http://tinyurl.com/7ctj3a
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Claiming Impartiality, Europe Leans Towards Israel:

Even though almost all of the people killed over the past fortnight have been Palestinians, some top-ranking leaders in the 27-country bloc have tacitly offered their support for Israel's bombing and invasion of Gaza.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=45328
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Half of Gazan children under 12 have lost their "will to live."

Can anyone fathom the kind of oppression that leads small children en mass to lose their will to live?
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2009/01/palestinians-will-never-forget/

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Jordan 'reconsidering Israel ties':

Jordan's prime minister has said his country may review its diplomatic ties with Israel in the wake of the offensive in Gaza.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/2009154531941584.html
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'Iran aid ship nears Gaza':

According to IRIB, the ship, with 2000 tons of humanitarian aid, passed through the Suez Canal and will head for Gaza "After obtaining needed permissions".
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=81228§ionid=351020202
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Israel bent on blocking Iran-US talks:

Israel has reportedly stepped up efforts to block the prospect of high-level negotiations between Washington and the Islamic Republic.
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=79569§ionid=351020104
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Demonizing Iran::

Former Pentagon chief predicts Iran crisis soon:

William Perry, who headed the Pentagon during a 1994 nuclear standoff with North Korea, predicted on Thursday that President-elect Barack Obama will soon face a nuclear crisis with Iran.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090108/ap_on_el_pr/obama_nuclear_challenges

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Iran likely taking US nuclear threat seriously:

US ex-defense chief: Iran may regard the threat of a US nuclear attack as "much more likely" in light of Hillary Clinton's warning during the US presidential campaign that Washington can obliterate Tehran, a former US defense secretary said Thursday.
http://tinyurl.com/6tmos3
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U.S attack kills 17 civilians: Afghan president:

Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned on Thursday a U.S.-led coalition military operation that his office said killed 17 civilians, including women and children.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=1155311
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U.S. Adds Eight Bases in Afghanistan:

The U.S. Army is building eight major operating bases in southern Afghanistan in an expansion that underscores a new, larger troop commitment to try to defeat the stubborn Taliban insurgency.
http://www.military-world.net/Afghanistan/958.txt
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Gates estimates 2009 war costs at $136 billion:
Defense Secretary Robert Gates says military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan will cost almost $136 billion for the 2009 budget year that began Oct. 1 if they continue at their current pace.
here
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Kissinger: Obama primed to create 'New World Order':
Policy guru says global upheaval presents 'great opportunity'
here
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Value of 2008 Bailouts Exceeds Combined Costs of All Major U.S. Wars:

The total value of the bailouts undertaken by the federal government in 2008 now exceeds the combined cost of every major war the United States has ever engaged in, according to a comparison of war costs calculated by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) and the value of the bailouts as calculated by Bloomberg News or Bianco Research.
here