Former PM concerned about ‘threat within the government’
Guardian (UK) Oct 15, 07 5:39 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Benazir Bhutto returns to Pakistan Thursday for the first time in 19 years, and she worries her life is at risk. A Taliban commander has vowed to murder the ex-PM with suicide bombers, but her fear is military officers “who have fought the jihad,” she told the Guardian . She's been negotiating security with the government and is expecting 3,500 guards.
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State Dept exempted security firm from Iraqi and US military oversight
Washington Post Sep 20, 07 9:54 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Blackwater, the private security firm involved in the shooting of 10 civilians in Baghdad Sunday, has operated outside US military regulations governing other security contractors in Iraq, the Washington Post reports. Deployed and protected by the State Department, they were exempted from oversight by the Iraqi Interior Ministry, and not subject to military rules on use of offensive weapons, the paper says.
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Private military contractors get second look following the Blackwater USA incident
CNN Sep 19, 07 8:03 PM CDT
(Newser)
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In the wake of the shooting deaths of 10 Iraqi civilians at the hands of private security firm Blackwater last weekend, the US and Iraq are forming a joint panel to probe the war's private security contractors. Rather than conduct forensic field studies of the incident, officials say, the committee will look at the "safety and security involving the operations of these contractors."
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With a rep for brutality, the security firm has enjoyed 'carte blanche'
Los Angeles Times Sep 18, 07 7:03 PM CDT
(Newser)
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The Iraqi crackdown on Blackwater, the private security firm implicated in Sunday’s killing of 8 civilians in Baghdad, draws attention to the lack of control the US military exerts over the 20,000 contractors who work for them in the country. Blackwater guards are the most feared of the contractors, the Los Angeles Times reports, with a reputation for firing weapons without compunction—even at other American contractors.
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Blackwater incident sparks outrage at Western contractors
Associated Press Sep 18, 07 11:15 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Private security firms have never been popular in Iraq, but after Blackwater USA’s fatal shooting of civilians Sunday, national rage may be strong enough to drive them from the country. The Iraqi government announced today that it would review the status of all private security companies, and explore rescinding a law exempting them from Iraqi prosecution, the AP reports.
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Calls download practice efficient, not shifty
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sep 14, 07 4:59 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Microsoft is reconsidering its updating practices after coming under fire for "silently"downloading a Windows patch—even for users who had opted for notifications. Microsoft defended itself, pointing out that the silent fixes affected the update software itself, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. Skeptical opponents maintain similar situations in the past came with alerts.
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6 years later, US safeguards still off the mark, Slate argues
Slate Sep 12, 07 7:16 PM CDT
(Newser)
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America’s ad hoc security is still off the mark, says Slate’s Daniel Byman: It fosters fears, ignores US Muslims and never plans from a terrorist’s point of view. “The very concept of homeland security is new for Americans,” Byman writes, “and the department was thrown together quickly and involved many already-dysfunctional bureaucracies. ”
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Pakistan bans rallies, rounds up activists day before ex-PM's return
Associated Press Sep 9, 07 12:07 PM CDT
(Newser)
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In advance of ousted PM Nawaz Sharif's return tomorrow after a 7-year exile, Pakistan banned political rallies and has arrested thousands of activists, the AP reports. "Nothing can be more pleasing to me than freeing Pakistan from the clutches of military dictatorship," said Sharif, who anticipates being arrested upon arrival in Islamabad, but still plans to reclaim his seat from President Pervez Musharraf.
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Big insurgent offensive may be in the works
CNN Aug 23, 07 2:04 PM CDT
(Newser)
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A National Intelligence Estimate released today reveals that the US intelligence community doubts Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki has the ability to lead the country effectively, CNN reports. Coming one day after President Bush defended Maliki in a speech, the report by US intelligence agencies also expresses worry over a possible large-scale, coordinated offensive by insurgents in the coming weeks.
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Officers watch passengers' facial expressions in new security program
McClatchy Newspapers Aug 17, 07 2:12 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Put on a brave face the next time you're at the airport; your expression might be under scrutiny. New security programs at more than a dozen airports are using undercover personnel who watch passengers' faces for indications of criminality. When trying to deceive others, a criminal still exhibits flashes of fear or scorn that officers are being trained to detect.
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In 17-page manifesto the candidate tackles Iraq, Palestine
Washington Post Aug 17, 07 1:40 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Bloggers are having a heyday parsing the rambling 17-page essay Rudy Giuliani has published in Foreign Affairs , laying out his big-picture foreign policy views. "Lengthy, pompous and ultimately very confused," writes Salon, and Slate is no kinder: "The breadth and depth of his cluelessness are vaster than even I had imagined."
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66-year-old mom with bad back fields question about Osama
ABC News Jul 27, 07 9:46 AM CDT
(Newser)
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This week's TSA bulletin warning of a possible attempt to penetrate security checkpoints with "peculiar items" was caused in part by an incident involving a 66-year-old woman and the ice packs she uses on her bad back. The clay-filled, tape-wrapped packages ignited hazmat suspicions, though their owner says she's been traveling with them for years, ABC News reports.
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Travelers in for increased delays
Reuters Jul 2, 07 4:55 AM CDT
(Newser)
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British police are cracking down on security at rail services and airports to thwart terror attacks in the wake of a trio of car bomb attempts over the weekend. No specific intelligence warns of an attack on the subway system or the rail network, but the increased patrols and security checks are a precaution, according to a transport police boss.
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Jeep Cherokee in flames, with two occupants, crashes at high speed into terminal; all flights suspended
BBC Jun 30, 07 11:06 AM CDT
(Newser)
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A burning Jeep Cherokee was driven at high speed into the main terminal building at the Glasgow airport today. Two men in the vehicle, described as Asian, survived the crash and were taken into custody, the BBC reports. The airport was evacuated and all flights were suspended.
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