Waqar Kiani assaulted by men in police uniforms five days after he publishes story about torture by intelligence agents Five days after he published an account of abduction and torture by suspected Pakistani intelligence agents, a journalist working for the Guardian has been badly beaten by uniformed men who said they wished to “make an example” of him. The assault revived concerns about media freedom in Pakistan, one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists. Three weeks ago, another reporter, Saleem Shahzad, was beaten to death after disappearing from the capital. Men wearing police uniforms stopped Waqar Kiani, a 32-year-old local journalist who has worked for the Guardian, as he drove through Islamabad on Saturday night, and ordered him to get out of his car. As he stepped out, four men landed a flurry of blows with fists, wooden batons and a rubber whip. Two others watched from inside the jeep. “They said ‘You want to be a hero? We’ll make you a hero’,” said Kiani, who was recovering from his injuries . “Then they said: ‘We’re going to make an example of you’.” It was the second time Kiani had been targeted. Last Monday the Guardian revealed he had been abducted from central Islamabad in July 2008, blindfolded and taken to a safe house where interrogators beat him viciously and burned him with cigarettes. The ordeal ended 15 hours later when his abductors dumped him 120 miles from Islamabad, warning they would rape his wife “and post the video on YouTube” if he told anyone. Kiani had been working on a story about the illegal detention and torture of Islamist militants by Pakistani intelligence in collaboration with MI5. His research led him to an office of the Intelligence Bureau, the main civilian spy agency. Although his abductors did not identify themselves they displayed detailed knowledge of Kiani’s bank account, movements and contacts with Guardian journalists, leading him to conclude they worked for the government.The Guardian withheld Kiani’s story for three years until last Monday. Kiani later gave a detailed interview about his experience to a local television channel. He believes the coverage triggered Saturday’s vicious assault, which occurred after he went out to buy milk. “There is zero tolerance among our government and military establishment,” he said. “They don’t want us to speak the truth.” The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists condemned the attack, demanding the government ensure security for journalists “at all costs”. Interior minister Rehman Malik ordered a judicial inquiry by a magistrate and a police inquiry. “I have acted without any delay. The investigation is on, without any issue,” he said. The assault comes amid an unprecedented anger over the behaviour of Pakistan’s intelligence and security forces. There was widespread shock earlier this month at video footage of paramilitary soldiers shooting an unarmed 22-year-old man in a Karachi park, then leaving him to bleed to death. Six soldiers and one civilian face murder charges. A similar shooting of five unarmed Chechens, one a pregnant woman, in Quetta last month is also under investigation. The normally voluble media has been shaken by the discovery of the battered body of Shahzad, a specialist in Islamist militancy and the secretive military, in a canal in Punjab three weeks ago. Human Rights Watch said it had credible proof that Shahzad had been abducted by Inter-Services Intelligence, the military’s top spy agency. The army strenuously denied involvement, describing the claims as “unfounded and baseless”. A government investigation into his death has become mired in controversy after a judge nominated to head the probe said he would not participate. With 16 journalists killed in the past 18 months, Pakistan is the world’s most dangerous country for journalists. Reporters die in suicide bombs, political violence and assassination, targeted by both Islamist militants and government agents. Kiani was discharged from hospital on Saturday night after being treated for injuries to his chest and back. Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger said he was “extremely disturbed” to hear of his maltreatment. “We call on the Pakistani authorities to investigate this latest beating and to give Mr Kiani meaningful protection against further attacks,” he said. Kiani said he had no regrets about going public with his account of torture. “I don’t feel I did anything wrong. Journalists can’t be silent forever in Pakistan,” he said. “If we don’t bring up the facts, then it’s no longer journalism – we become spokesmen of the government.” Pakistan Journalist safety Declan Walsh guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Waqar Kiani assaulted by men in police uniforms five days after he publishes story about torture by intelligence agents Five days after he published an account of abduction and torture by suspected Pakistani intelligence agents, a journalist working for the Guardian has been badly beaten by uniformed men who said they wished to “make an example” of him. The assault revived concerns about media freedom in Pakistan, one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists. Three weeks ago, another reporter, Saleem Shahzad, was beaten to death after disappearing from the capital. Men wearing police uniforms stopped Waqar Kiani, a 32-year-old local journalist who has worked for the Guardian, as he drove through Islamabad on Saturday night, and ordered him to get out of his car. As he stepped out, four men landed a flurry of blows with fists, wooden batons and a rubber whip. Two others watched from inside the jeep. “They said ‘You want to be a hero? We’ll make you a hero’,” said Kiani, who was recovering from his injuries . “Then they said: ‘We’re going to make an example of you’.” It was the second time Kiani had been targeted. Last Monday the Guardian revealed he had been abducted from central Islamabad in July 2008, blindfolded and taken to a safe house where interrogators beat him viciously and burned him with cigarettes. The ordeal ended 15 hours later when his abductors dumped him 120 miles from Islamabad, warning they would rape his wife “and post the video on YouTube” if he told anyone. Kiani had been working on a story about the illegal detention and torture of Islamist militants by Pakistani intelligence in collaboration with MI5. His research led him to an office of the Intelligence Bureau, the main civilian spy agency. Although his abductors did not identify themselves they displayed detailed knowledge of Kiani’s bank account, movements and contacts with Guardian journalists, leading him to conclude they worked for the government.The Guardian withheld Kiani’s story for three years until last Monday. Kiani later gave a detailed interview about his experience to a local television channel. He believes the coverage triggered Saturday’s vicious assault, which occurred after he went out to buy milk. “There is zero tolerance among our government and military establishment,” he said. “They don’t want us to speak the truth.” The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists condemned the attack, demanding the government ensure security for journalists “at all costs”. Interior minister Rehman Malik ordered a judicial inquiry by a magistrate and a police inquiry. “I have acted without any delay. The investigation is on, without any issue,” he said. The assault comes amid an unprecedented anger over the behaviour of Pakistan’s intelligence and security forces. There was widespread shock earlier this month at video footage of paramilitary soldiers shooting an unarmed 22-year-old man in a Karachi park, then leaving him to bleed to death. Six soldiers and one civilian face murder charges. A similar shooting of five unarmed Chechens, one a pregnant woman, in Quetta last month is also under investigation. The normally voluble media has been shaken by the discovery of the battered body of Shahzad, a specialist in Islamist militancy and the secretive military, in a canal in Punjab three weeks ago. Human Rights Watch said it had credible proof that Shahzad had been abducted by Inter-Services Intelligence, the military’s top spy agency. The army strenuously denied involvement, describing the claims as “unfounded and baseless”. A government investigation into his death has become mired in controversy after a judge nominated to head the probe said he would not participate. With 16 journalists killed in the past 18 months, Pakistan is the world’s most dangerous country for journalists. Reporters die in suicide bombs, political violence and assassination, targeted by both Islamist militants and government agents. Kiani was discharged from hospital on Saturday night after being treated for injuries to his chest and back. Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger said he was “extremely disturbed” to hear of his maltreatment. “We call on the Pakistani authorities to investigate this latest beating and to give Mr Kiani meaningful protection against further attacks,” he said. Kiani said he had no regrets about going public with his account of torture. “I don’t feel I did anything wrong. Journalists can’t be silent forever in Pakistan,” he said. “If we don’t bring up the facts, then it’s no longer journalism – we become spokesmen of the government.” Pakistan Journalist safety Declan Walsh guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Waqar Kiani assaulted by men in police uniforms five days after he publishes story about torture by intelligence agents Five days after he published an account of abduction and torture by suspected Pakistani intelligence agents, a journalist working for the Guardian has been badly beaten by uniformed men who said they wished to “make an example” of him. The assault revived concerns about media freedom in Pakistan, one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists. Three weeks ago, another reporter, Saleem Shahzad, was beaten to death after disappearing from the capital. Men wearing police uniforms stopped Waqar Kiani, a 32-year-old local journalist who has worked for the Guardian, as he drove through Islamabad on Saturday night, and ordered him to get out of his car. As he stepped out, four men landed a flurry of blows with fists, wooden batons and a rubber whip. Two others watched from inside the jeep. “They said ‘You want to be a hero? We’ll make you a hero’,” said Kiani, who was recovering from his injuries . “Then they said: ‘We’re going to make an example of you’.” It was the second time Kiani had been targeted. Last Monday the Guardian revealed he had been abducted from central Islamabad in July 2008, blindfolded and taken to a safe house where interrogators beat him viciously and burned him with cigarettes. The ordeal ended 15 hours later when his abductors dumped him 120 miles from Islamabad, warning they would rape his wife “and post the video on YouTube” if he told anyone. Kiani had been working on a story about the illegal detention and torture of Islamist militants by Pakistani intelligence in collaboration with MI5. His research led him to an office of the Intelligence Bureau, the main civilian spy agency. Although his abductors did not identify themselves they displayed detailed knowledge of Kiani’s bank account, movements and contacts with Guardian journalists, leading him to conclude they worked for the government.The Guardian withheld Kiani’s story for three years until last Monday. Kiani later gave a detailed interview about his experience to a local television channel. He believes the coverage triggered Saturday’s vicious assault, which occurred after he went out to buy milk. “There is zero tolerance among our government and military establishment,” he said. “They don’t want us to speak the truth.” The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists condemned the attack, demanding the government ensure security for journalists “at all costs”. Interior minister Rehman Malik ordered a judicial inquiry by a magistrate and a police inquiry. “I have acted without any delay. The investigation is on, without any issue,” he said. The assault comes amid an unprecedented anger over the behaviour of Pakistan’s intelligence and security forces. There was widespread shock earlier this month at video footage of paramilitary soldiers shooting an unarmed 22-year-old man in a Karachi park, then leaving him to bleed to death. Six soldiers and one civilian face murder charges. A similar shooting of five unarmed Chechens, one a pregnant woman, in Quetta last month is also under investigation. The normally voluble media has been shaken by the discovery of the battered body of Shahzad, a specialist in Islamist militancy and the secretive military, in a canal in Punjab three weeks ago. Human Rights Watch said it had credible proof that Shahzad had been abducted by Inter-Services Intelligence, the military’s top spy agency. The army strenuously denied involvement, describing the claims as “unfounded and baseless”. A government investigation into his death has become mired in controversy after a judge nominated to head the probe said he would not participate. With 16 journalists killed in the past 18 months, Pakistan is the world’s most dangerous country for journalists. Reporters die in suicide bombs, political violence and assassination, targeted by both Islamist militants and government agents. Kiani was discharged from hospital on Saturday night after being treated for injuries to his chest and back. Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger said he was “extremely disturbed” to hear of his maltreatment. “We call on the Pakistani authorities to investigate this latest beating and to give Mr Kiani meaningful protection against further attacks,” he said. Kiani said he had no regrets about going public with his account of torture. “I don’t feel I did anything wrong. Journalists can’t be silent forever in Pakistan,” he said. “If we don’t bring up the facts, then it’s no longer journalism – we become spokesmen of the government.” Pakistan Journalist safety Declan Walsh guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Waqar Kiani assaulted by men in police uniforms five days after he publishes story about torture by intelligence agents Five days after he published an account of abduction and torture by suspected Pakistani intelligence agents, a journalist working for the Guardian has been badly beaten by uniformed men who said they wished to “make an example” of him. The assault revived concerns about media freedom in Pakistan, one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists. Three weeks ago, another reporter, Saleem Shahzad, was beaten to death after disappearing from the capital. Men wearing police uniforms stopped Waqar Kiani, a 32-year-old local journalist who has worked for the Guardian, as he drove through Islamabad on Saturday night, and ordered him to get out of his car. As he stepped out, four men landed a flurry of blows with fists, wooden batons and a rubber whip. Two others watched from inside the jeep. “They said ‘You want to be a hero? We’ll make you a hero’,” said Kiani, who was recovering from his injuries . “Then they said: ‘We’re going to make an example of you’.” It was the second time Kiani had been targeted. Last Monday the Guardian revealed he had been abducted from central Islamabad in July 2008, blindfolded and taken to a safe house where interrogators beat him viciously and burned him with cigarettes. The ordeal ended 15 hours later when his abductors dumped him 120 miles from Islamabad, warning they would rape his wife “and post the video on YouTube” if he told anyone. Kiani had been working on a story about the illegal detention and torture of Islamist militants by Pakistani intelligence in collaboration with MI5. His research led him to an office of the Intelligence Bureau, the main civilian spy agency. Although his abductors did not identify themselves they displayed detailed knowledge of Kiani’s bank account, movements and contacts with Guardian journalists, leading him to conclude they worked for the government.The Guardian withheld Kiani’s story for three years until last Monday. Kiani later gave a detailed interview about his experience to a local television channel. He believes the coverage triggered Saturday’s vicious assault, which occurred after he went out to buy milk. “There is zero tolerance among our government and military establishment,” he said. “They don’t want us to speak the truth.” The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists condemned the attack, demanding the government ensure security for journalists “at all costs”. Interior minister Rehman Malik ordered a judicial inquiry by a magistrate and a police inquiry. “I have acted without any delay. The investigation is on, without any issue,” he said. The assault comes amid an unprecedented anger over the behaviour of Pakistan’s intelligence and security forces. There was widespread shock earlier this month at video footage of paramilitary soldiers shooting an unarmed 22-year-old man in a Karachi park, then leaving him to bleed to death. Six soldiers and one civilian face murder charges. A similar shooting of five unarmed Chechens, one a pregnant woman, in Quetta last month is also under investigation. The normally voluble media has been shaken by the discovery of the battered body of Shahzad, a specialist in Islamist militancy and the secretive military, in a canal in Punjab three weeks ago. Human Rights Watch said it had credible proof that Shahzad had been abducted by Inter-Services Intelligence, the military’s top spy agency. The army strenuously denied involvement, describing the claims as “unfounded and baseless”. A government investigation into his death has become mired in controversy after a judge nominated to head the probe said he would not participate. With 16 journalists killed in the past 18 months, Pakistan is the world’s most dangerous country for journalists. Reporters die in suicide bombs, political violence and assassination, targeted by both Islamist militants and government agents. Kiani was discharged from hospital on Saturday night after being treated for injuries to his chest and back. Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger said he was “extremely disturbed” to hear of his maltreatment. “We call on the Pakistani authorities to investigate this latest beating and to give Mr Kiani meaningful protection against further attacks,” he said. Kiani said he had no regrets about going public with his account of torture. “I don’t feel I did anything wrong. Journalists can’t be silent forever in Pakistan,” he said. “If we don’t bring up the facts, then it’s no longer journalism – we become spokesmen of the government.” Pakistan Journalist safety Declan Walsh guardian.co.uk
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A Colbert Commencement by digby Forget the Sabbath gasbags. They are especially useless this morning. Just watch Stephen Colbert’s Northwestern commencement speech and enjoy: Happy Father’s Day, Dads. . Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Hullabaloo Discovery Date : 18/06/2011 00:35 Number of articles : 3
Continue reading …Bonus Overnight Video- Sheila Jackson Lee turns the tables on “Muslim Extremism” hearing
June 19, 2011 No Comment
HEH! I may not agree with her all the time, but you have to admit it’s pretty sweet how she turns exactly what they think will exonerate them into that which condemns them. Non foreign state provacateurs? That’s called treason. … Continue reading → Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : The Political Carnival Discovery Date : 17/06/2011 05:21 Number of articles : 4
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Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have been an influential force in my musical interests, and by extension, my life. I have seen them Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Kid Dynamite’s World Discovery Date : 19/06/2011 03:30 Number of articles : 4
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Click here to view this media Chris Wallace says he just doesn’t understand the difference between Fox News’ activism and the type of material presented by Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart. Stewart tried to spell out the differences Sunday when he appeared on the conservative network but Wallace just didn’t seem to get it. Wallace accused Stewart of playing politics by comparing a video for former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s bus tour to a herpes medication ad. “You’re insane,” Stewart charged. “Here is the difference between you and I. I’m a comedian first. My comedy is informed by an ideological background. No question about that. The thing that you will never understand and things that conservative activists will never understand is Hollywood, yeah, they’re liberal. But that’s not their primary motivating force. I’m not an activist. I’m a comedian.” “Honestly, I think you want to be a political player,” Wallace insisted. “You can’t understand because of world you live in that there is not a designed ideological agenda on my part to affect partisan change. Because that’s the soup you swim in. I appreciate that. I understand that. It reminds me of, you know, you know, ideological regimes. They can’t understand that there is free media other places. Because they receive marching orders.” “I don’t think the viewers are the least bit disappointed with us,” Wallace said. “Our viewers think finally we’re getting somebody to tell the other side of the story.” “Who are the most consistently misinformed media viewers?” Stewart asked. “The most consistently misinformed? Fox viewers. Consistently. Every poll.” “I’m just trying to understand you,” Wallace claimed. “Is that really true? Here is the thing that surprises me about that. I’ve existed in this country forever. There have been people like this who satirized the political process,” Stewart explained. “I’m sitting here talking to Jon Stewart. I’m trying to get it. Understand you and what I believe to be true: there is as much bias on the other side as you subscribe to Fox and why you go easy on that.” “I think there is, probably a liberal bias that exists in the media because of the medium in which it exists. The majority of people working in it probably hold liberal view points, but I don’t think they are as relentlessly activist as the conservative movement that has risen up over the last 40 years,” Stewart said. “Do you get me?” “Well, you know what? When you come back we can explore this some more,” Wallace concluded.
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Click here to view this media Chris Wallace says he just doesn’t understand the difference between Fox News’ activism and the type of material presented by Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart. Stewart tried to spell out the differences Sunday when he appeared on the conservative network but Wallace just didn’t seem to get it. Wallace accused Stewart of playing politics by comparing a video for former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s bus tour to a herpes medication ad. “You’re insane,” Stewart charged. “Here is the difference between you and I. I’m a comedian first. My comedy is informed by an ideological background. No question about that. The thing that you will never understand and things that conservative activists will never understand is Hollywood, yeah, they’re liberal. But that’s not their primary motivating force. I’m not an activist. I’m a comedian.” “Honestly, I think you want to be a political player,” Wallace insisted. “You can’t understand because of world you live in that there is not a designed ideological agenda on my part to affect partisan change. Because that’s the soup you swim in. I appreciate that. I understand that. It reminds me of, you know, you know, ideological regimes. They can’t understand that there is free media other places. Because they receive marching orders.” “I don’t think the viewers are the least bit disappointed with us,” Wallace said. “Our viewers think finally we’re getting somebody to tell the other side of the story.” “Who are the most consistently misinformed media viewers?” Stewart asked. “The most consistently misinformed? Fox viewers. Consistently. Every poll.” “I’m just trying to understand you,” Wallace claimed. “Is that really true? Here is the thing that surprises me about that. I’ve existed in this country forever. There have been people like this who satirized the political process,” Stewart explained. “I’m sitting here talking to Jon Stewart. I’m trying to get it. Understand you and what I believe to be true: there is as much bias on the other side as you subscribe to Fox and why you go easy on that.” “I think there is, probably a liberal bias that exists in the media because of the medium in which it exists. The majority of people working in it probably hold liberal view points, but I don’t think they are as relentlessly activist as the conservative movement that has risen up over the last 40 years,” Stewart said. “Do you get me?” “Well, you know what? When you come back we can explore this some more,” Wallace concluded.
Continue reading …Gordon Murray reveals new Batmobile, Dark Knight gets serious about reducing carbon footprint
June 19, 2011 No Comment
So you’ve finished building your Batman Forever -style Batmobile , your Tumbler ‘s up on blocks in the front yard, and you’re itching for a new project. It’s not too early to start planning a DIY version of Gordon Murray’s newly unveiled Bat-ride (part of the Batman Live World Arena Tour). The designer drew on his experience with the McLaren F1 for his new concept car, which includes a healthy dose of imagineering: there’s a carbon-fiber body that “breathes,” as well as LED-lit “virtual wheels.” We’re not sure how carbon fiber breathes or what virtual wheels are, but as Murray explains in the video below, they’re based on Formula One materials as he imagines them 15-20 years from now. He also envisions a greener Dark Knight, whose ride runs on hydrogen fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries — no longer will the caped crusader suffer a guilty conscience due to his excessive carbon dioxide emissions. Continue reading Gordon Murray reveals new Batmobile, Dark Knight gets serious about reducing carbon footprint Gordon Murray reveals new Batmobile, Dark Knight gets serious about reducing carbon footprint originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Jun 2011 12:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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