Headlines for July 15, 2008
Democracy Now - 15 Jul 2008
Report: 150 Banks Could Fail Over Next 18 Months, Videotape of Omar Khadr at Guatanamo Released, Gitmo Prisoner Faced 50 Days of Sleep Deprivation, Suicide Bombing Kills 35 Iraqi Army Recruits, US Intensifies Air Campaign in Afghanistan, Karzai Blames Pakistan for Series of Attacks, Ex-APA President Linked to CIA Torture Program, Bush Lifts Executive Ban on Offshore Drilling, Sudan Dismisses ICC Genocide Charge, One Million Names on Terrorist Watch List, Census Bureau Refuses to Recognize Same-Sex Marriages, Italian Court Sentences 15 Officers in 2001 G8 Summit, Ex-Haitian Death Squad Leader on Trial in NYC on Mortgage Charge

“I do not struggle alone”
Electronic Intifada - 15 Jul 2008
rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rIbrahim Bornat, 25, from the village of Bil’in in the occupied West Bank, was shot three times in the left thigh with dum-dum bullets by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on 13 June 2008. Like he does every week, Ibrahim was protesting against the construction of the separation wall in his village, which will effectively result in the annexation of 58 percent of the lands by Israel. Dina Awad and Hazem Jamjoum write from occupied Ramallah.

Hamas-Israel prisoner swap remains elusive
Electronic Intifada - 15 Jul 2008
rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rCAIRO, (IPS) – Despite intensive mediation efforts by Egyptian officials, a delegation from Palestinian resistance faction Hamas departed Cairo Saturday without securing a prisoner exchange deal with Israel. According to local analysts, fresh swap proposals—featuring the release of long-time Israeli captive Gilad Shalit—continue to run up against Israeli obduracy.

Israel threatens to wage illegal, “pre-emptive” military attack on Iran
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 15 Jul 2008
Summary: On Monday July 14th Israel?s senior defence official, General Amos Gilad during an interview with BBC Radio four?s Today programme said that Israel is preparing itself to take military action against Iran and that it would do so if diplomacy fails. The statement came only a day after the Sunday Times revealed that ?President George W Bush backs Israeli plan for strike on Iran?. source: CASMIIread more

Message of peace and friendship to the people of United States of America: Request for the Congress and President of USA
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 15 Jul 2008
Summary: We are a group of independent Iranian civil society representatives engaged in scientific and humanitarian work in our country. Some of us are also engaged in social service activities beyond our borders. While working for common causes, we often hold hands with civil society partners from other parts of the world, including members of the US scientific and civil society community. Because of the many compatriots we have in your country, we feel a special human bond linking us together. We are non-partisan and have no political agenda source: CASMIIread more

The Wedding Crashers: U.S. Jets Have Bombed Five Ceremonies in Afghanistan
AlterNet: War on Iraq - 15 Jul 2008
We have become a nation of wedding crashers, the uninvited guests who arrived under false pretenses, tore up the place, offering nary an apology.