Feb
03
2011
The Pentagon on Thursday said it had no plans to halt weapons deliveries to Egypt in coming months despite a popular revolt against President Hosni Mubarak’s rule.
While the US administration was examining its economic and military aid to Egypt in light of political upheaval there, military assistance had not been suspended, a spokesman said.
“There’s a difference between halting the aid and reviewing it,” said Colonel Dave Lapan.
As senior US officers closely monitored fast-moving events in …
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Feb
02
2011
The U.S. and Egyptian militaries enjoy an open dialogue that may be pivotal as the U.S. works with Egypt in the weeks ahead.
The close ties stem from decades of strong U.S. support that began with the 1979 Israeli-Egyptian peace agreement and has grown to $1.3 billion in assistance that includes weapons sales, training and joint missions.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates spoke to Defense Minister Mohammed Hussein Tantawi yesterday, the second time in recent days. And …
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Feb
01
2011
Hundreds of environmentalists, union members and liberal activists converged on Rancho Mirage on Sunday to rally against what they see as the influence of two of the nation’s leading financial backers of conservative causes.
The protestors waved signs condemning “corporate greed,” chanted slogans and surged toward a line of helmeted police officers at the entrance to a resort where billionaires Charles and David Koch were holding a retreat for prominent conservative elected officials, major political donors …
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Feb
01
2011
The king of Jordan dismissed his government Tuesday and appointed a new prime minister with orders to implement political reform.
The dismissal follows several protests calling for change in Jordan — protests that echo demonstrations that have swept across North Africa and the Middle East in the last few weeks.
King Abdullah II asked Marouf Al Bakhit to form a government in Jordan that will implement “genuine political reform,” the Royal Court said in a statement.
The government …
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Jan
27
2011
The other day I was talking with a friend who was dismayed over the departure of Keith Olbermann from MSNBC. She expressed a hunch that I think many progressives share: that Olbermann’s exit foreshadows the inevitable transformation of the cable news outlet by its new owners Comcast into a less progressive, less “left”, voice.
She then turned to me and said, “Air America’s gone, MSNBC is doomed, you guys (Pacifica) are going to be the only …
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