IRAQ: The elusive Iranian weapons
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 8 May 2008
Summary: Weapons in KarbalaA plan to show some alleged Iranian-supplied explosives to journalists last week in Karbala and then destroy them was canceled after the United States realized none of them was from Iran. A U.S. military spokesman attributed the confusion to a misunderstanding that emerged after an Iraqi Army general in Karbala erroneously reported the items were of Iranian origin. source: LA Timesread more

Pentagon Releases Propaganda Documents—Will the Media Pay Attention?
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 8 May 2008
Summary: With 8,000 pages of documents online for the world to see, will the networks continue their media blackout? source: PR Watchread more

Iran calls for legal action against NPT violators
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 8 May 2008
Summary: TEHRAN – Iran?s ambassador to the UN nuclear watchdog, Ali-Asghar Soltanieh, has called for the implementation of Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty which calls for total nuclear disarmament. source: Tehran Timesread more

Attack Iran? Jay should hold hearings
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 8 May 2008
Summary: This is sounding like an echo of the run-up to Iraq, when Bush and Cheney insisted that Iraq had horror weapons, was in bed with suicide fanatics, and made other false assertions that sucked America into the disastrous Iraq war. source: Charleston Gazetteread more

Author, Blogger Arianna Huffington on How John McCain Has Changed Since Telling Her He Didn’t Vote for Bush in 2000
Democracy Now - 8 May 2008
Blogger, author and nationally syndicated columnist Arianna Huffington revealed this week that Senator John McCain had told her eight years ago that he did not vote for President Bush in the 2000 election. McCain has angrily denied the claim. Huffington joins us to talk about her disillusionment with McCain, whom she says has abandoned his principles in his quest for the Republican nomination. Huffington is author of the new book, “Right is Wrong: How the Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America, Shredded the Constitution, and Made Us All Less Safe ? and What you Need to Know to End the Madness.”

Free from Nigerian Military Custody, “Sweet Crude” Director Sandy Cioffi on Oil Politics in the Niger Delta
Democracy Now - 8 May 2008
The Nigerian government, along with foreign oil companies, have reaped enormous profits over the years from the sale of oil and gas reserves, while the residents of the Niger Delta live in abject poverty. We speak to Sandy Cioffi, director of the the upcoming documentary Sweet Crude. She was recently arrested by the Nigerian military and held for a week before being released following international pressure. [includes rush transcript]

14 Killed in Sudanese Government Bombing of Darfur Village
Democracy Now - 8 May 2008
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has condemned the Sudanese government for Sunday?s air raids against three villages in north Darfur that killed 14 civilians and injured several others. Antonov bombers targeted a market place, water installations, and a village school that was holding classes. We speak to filmmaker, activist, and writer Jen Marlowe of Darfur Diaries, an independent American project that helped raise funds to restart the school last year.

Headlines for May 9, 2008
Democracy Now - 8 May 2008
UN Chides Burma Junta for Delaying Aid Relief, U.S. Denies Capture of al-Qaeda Leader in Iraq, KBR Faces New Sexual Harassment Claims in Iraq, Beirut Clashes Stoke New Fears of Civil Conflict, Israelis, Palestinians Mark 60th Anniversary of Israel?s Founding, Clinton Cites White Support to Press Case for Campaign, CIA Ordered to Release 2002 Torture Memo, Special Counsel Thwarted Siegelman Probe, State Dept. Imposes Gag Order on India Nuke Deal, Pentagon Cancels Pakistan Post for Gitmo General, House Approves Homeowner Measure, Bolivia to Hold Referendum on Morales Government

Opposition forces take control of Beirut
Electronic Intifada - 8 May 2008
rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rBEIRUT, 9 May (IPS) – Men clad in black have roamed the streets of Beirut since Wednesday, their faces covered with ski masks or dark kaffiyeh (checkered scarf), as they wreaked havoc in the large avenues leading to the airport or dividing Sunni and Shia areas. As darkness loomed over Lebanon, the winds of discord seem to set the Lebanese capital ablaze.

Protesters Return to Nottingham Weapons Manufacturer
Indymedia UK - 8 May 2008
On Tuesday May 6, anti-arms trade activists returned to the offices of small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch, Nottingham Small Arms Facility, Unit 3, Easter Park, Lenton Lane, Nottingham NG7 2PX (map). Campaigners met at Abbey Bridge before marching to the office where they staged a protest. A similar event had been held at the same location in July last year.Despite remaining entirely peaceful, the protest was heavily policed and campaigners were graced by the presence of a team of Evidence Gatherers from Nottinghamsire Police alongside PC Ian Skivens (CO5494) from the Metropolitan’s Forward Intelligence Team (FIT) and PC Paul Mather (4551) from Staffordshire Police.Upcoming Event: Heckler & Koch Campaign Meeting, Tuesday May 13, 8pm at the Sumac Centre. See article for more info.Newswire: Smash EDO interview | You can have your pigs back Boris | Surveillance at Demo at Heckler & Koch weapons manufacturers HQ in Nottingham | Demo at Heckler & Koch weapons manufacturers HQ in Nottingham | No arms trade – Shut Down Heckler & Koch! Demonstration Tuesday May 6thPrevious Feature: Protesters Target Nottingham Weapons ManufacturersLinks: NottsAntiMilitarism | Campaign Against the Arms Trade | FIT Watch | Heckler & Koch | Wikipedia on Heckler & Koch

Iran ‘blames monarchists for mosque blast’
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 8 May 2008
Summary: Shiraz BombingTEHRAN (AFP) ? Iran on Thursday blamed a mosque explosion that killed 13 people in the southern city of Shiraz last month on Western-backed monarchists who oppose the Islamic republic, the Fars news agency reported. source: AFPread more

Leader of al-Qa’ida in Iraq Reported “Captured” in Mosul Raid
AlterNet: War on Iraq - 8 May 2008
The Iraqi Defense Ministry claims Washington’s prime target, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, has been arrested, but the White House seems skeptical.

May 14: Chicago City Council Considers Resolution Opposing War on Iran
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 8 May 2008
Summary: Leading Experts to Testify Against Military Action as Tensions Rise. At the Chicago City Council meeting on Wednesday, May 14 at 10:00 AM in the City Council chambers, the body will vote on a resolution introduced by Alderman Joe Moore (with the support of Chicago’s No War on Iran Coalition) that would declare the city opposed to a U.S. military attack on Iran. source: No War on Iran Coalitionread more

The Iran Consensus Grows More Dangerous
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 8 May 2008
Summary: nuclear attackAs I’ve noted, the three candidates share a consensus, backed by the national security community, that Iran is the new strategic threat. It is radical, anti-American, anti-Israel, terrorist-supporting, nuclear-armed and provocative. But just because this is the consensus view does not mean it is right. source: Washington Postread more

Our Media Have Been So Wrong for So Long
AlterNet: War on Iraq - 8 May 2008
In his new book, E&P editor Greg Mitchell offers a stinging indictment of the media’s complicity with Washington’s war-marketing machine.

June 10, 2008 Action and National Call-in Day for Diplomacy with Iran
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 8 May 2008
Summary: The Campaign for New American Policy on Iran is planning a “Time to Talk” action and National Call-in Day for Diplomacy with Iran on June 10, 2008. source: Campaign for New American Policy on Iranread more