Oh, Michele, you are so monumentally . . . challenged. Via Buzzfeed –WT Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Dependable Renegade Discovery Date : 14/07/2011 17:21 Number of articles : 6
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Cover used by US intelligence to spy on Bin Laden in Pakistan ‘threatened immunisation work around the world’ Médecins Sans Frontières has lashed out at the CIA for using a fake vaccination programme as a cover to spy on Osama bin Laden on Thursday, saying it threatened life-saving immunisation work around the world. The international medical aid charity said the ploy used by US intelligence, revealed this week in the Guardian, was a “grave manipulation of the medical act”. The CIA recruited a Pakistani doctor and health visitors before the operation in May that killed Bin Laden in Abbottabad in northern Pakistan, to try to ascertain whether the al-Qaida leader was living in the compound. The doctor, Shakil Afridi, set up a vaccination drive for Hepatitis B in the town in order to try to gain entry to the Bin Laden compound and obtain DNA samples from those living there. On Thursday night, a senior US government official defended the practice, saying it had been intended as “an actual vaccination campaign conducted by real medical professionals”. He said the team was supposed to deliver the full course of three vaccinations to those treated in Abbottabad. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added: “And it’s not as if this kind of campaign is something the CIA runs every day.” However, on the ground in Abbottabad the Guardian discovered that while the vaccine doses themselves were genuine, the medical professionals involved were not following procedures. In an area called Nawa Sher, they did not return a month after the first dose to provide the required second batch. Instead, according to local officials and residents, the team moved on, in April this year, to Bilal Town, the suburb where Bin Laden lived. “The risk is that vulnerable communities – anywhere – needing access to essential health services will understandably question the true motivation of medical workers and humanitarian aid,” said Unni Karunakara, MSF’s international president. “The potential consequence is that even basic healthcare, including vaccination, does not reach those who need it most.” Afridi was arrested in late May by Pakistani intelligence, for working for a foreign spy agency. The United States is pressing Pakistan to let him go and allow the doctor and his family to be resettled in the US. Islamabad is infuriated by the CIA’s activities inside the country, which were kept secret from their Pakistani counterparts. “It is challenging enough for health agencies and humanitarian aid workers to gain access to, and the trust of, communities, especially populations already sceptical of the motives of any outside assistance,” said MSF. “Deceptive use of medical care also endangers those who provide legitimate and essential health services.” The impact of the fake vaccination drive may be keenly felt in Pakistan, where the public already sees an American conspiracy everywhere. Polio campaigns could be at particular risk, as Pakistan has the biggest polio problem in the world. The US official said: “The vaccination campaign was part of the hunt for the world’s top terrorist, and nothing else. If the United States hadn’t shown this kind of creativity, people would be scratching their heads asking why it hadn’t used all tools at its disposal to find Bin Laden.” The CIA has not publicly admitted that it used the doctor. A CIA spokesman, George Little, would only say: “Finding Osama Bin Laden is a major victory for the United States and Pakistan.” Vaccines and immunisation CIA Pakistan Osama bin Laden Aid United States Saeed Shah guardian.co.uk
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Agency to investigate claims Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp sought to hack into phone of victims of 9/11, reports say The FBI has opened an investigation into allegations that media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation sought to hack into the phones of September 11 victims, a law enforcement official has said. The decision to investigate was made after US Congressman Peter King, a Republican, wrote to FBI director Robert Mueller demanding an investigation, said the official, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The FBI had received letters from King and other members of Congress. News Corporation, which is based in New York, has been in crisis mode because of a scandal that forced the News of the World to close last Sunday. The Guardian reported last week that the News of the World had hacked into the phone of Milly Dowler in 2002 and may have impeded a police investigation into her disappearance. More possible victims soon emerged: other child murder victims, 2005 London bombing victims, the families of dead soldiers and former prime minister Gordon Brown. The FBI’s New York office did not immediately comment. There was no immediate response to a phone message left for News Corp. The US attorney’s office in Manhattan referred a call to the Department of Justice, which declined immediate comment. On Thursday, Murdoch bowed to pressure from parliament as he and son James first declined – and then agreed – to appear next week before politicians investigating phone hacking. Paul Wallis, a former News of the World executive editor, became the seventh person arrested by Scotland Yard relating to the inquiry into phone hacking at the now-defunct tabloid, whose closure was seen as an attempt to keep alive a bid for the highly profitable network BSkyB. FBI Phone hacking News Corporation United States Rupert Murdoch Media business Newspapers & magazines National newspapers Newspapers guardian.co.uk
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With time running short to keep the NFL’s preseason completely intact, the AP’s Howard Fendrich reports owners and player reps were back at a Manhattan law firm Thursday, trying again to work out a new labor deal. (July 14)
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Embattled media mogul Rupert Murdoch caved in to pressure from Britain’s Parliament Thursday as he and his son James first refused, then agreed, to appear next week before lawmakers. (July 14)
Continue reading …Lou Dobbs thinks President Obama is ‘beneath contempt’ for warning that debt-ceiling vote will hit Social Security payments
July 14, 2011 No Comment
Click here to view this media The usual cast of right-wing pundits was all worked up yesterday on Fox about President Obama’s simple observation that if House Republicans refuse to raise the debt ceiling, he won’t be able to guarantee that he can write Social Security payment checks come Aug. 3. He’s fearmongering! Scaring old people! How disgraceful! This, of course, from the people who brought you “death panels.” Moreover, it’s coming from the same people who then turn around and try to make seniors fearful that Obama is going to take away their Medicare coverage. The apotheosis of this miscreancy was Lou Dobbs on Bill O’Reilly’s show last night, unleashing a relentlessly vicious assessment of every Obama step, culminating in his complaint that Obama’s remarks were “so low as to be contemptible” and indeed were “beneath contempt”. Of course, Lou Dobbs knows “beneath contempt”: That pretty aptly describes his nasty and ultimately derailed career at CNN, when no lie directed at Latino immigrants was too disgusting or vicious to transmit to his audience of millions. It’s why he’s been such a good fit at Fox News . It’s doubtful, though, that Dobbs can recognize it when he sees it.
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David Saldamando is an extreme kayaking fisherman. But even this was a bit much for him. The Californian is used to scoring big fish from his little vessel, but rarely does the fight to capture a shark take him to the water. The incident, which was caught on camera (you can see it below), had Saldmando literally wrangling the thrashing shark with his hands. At points, the shark’s teeth are just inches from his feet and Achilles tendon. This shark was not going down without a fight. Though it did finally succumb to the kayaker’s brute strength, it doesn’t appear that this was an instance of shark-finning, or an illegal act. WATCH: if(typeof AOLVP_cfg===’undefined’)AOLVP_cfg=[];AOLVP_cfg.push({id:’AOLVP_1052015518001′,’codever’:0.1, ‘autoload’:false, ‘autoplay’:false, ‘playerid’:’61371448001′, ‘videoid’:’1052015518001′, ‘width’:480, ‘height’:270, ‘stillurl’:’http://pdl.stream.aol.com/pdlext/aol/brightcove/aolmaster/1612833736/1612833736_1052006073001_ari-origin29-arc-113-1310572427745.jpg?pubId=1612833736′, ‘playertype’:’inline’,’videotitle’:’Shark Strikes Back – Good Morning America’,’videodesc’:’ABC’,’videolink’:’#’});
Continue reading …ESPY Awards 2011: Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Brian Wilson <![CDATA[&]]> More (PHOTOS, POLL)
July 14, 2011 No Comment![ESPY Awards 2011: Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Brian Wilson <![CDATA[&]]> More (PHOTOS, POLL)](https://newsbreakingonline.com/wp-content/themes/transcript/timthumb.php?src=%3Cimg+src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fnewsbreakingonline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F07%2Fbb4b5abfcaS-mini.jpg.jpg%22+%2F%3E&q=90&w=190&h=100&zc=1 "ESPY Awards 2011: Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Brian Wilson <![CDATA[&]]> More (PHOTOS, POLL)")
Athletes and red carpet regulars alike flocked to Wednesday night’s ESPY Awards at the Nokia Theatre in L.A. Serena Williams stole the sartorial show in a low-cut, hot pink skirt suit paired with sparkly Louboutins, and Lindsey Vonn didn’t look too bad herself in an embellished mini dress. As for the men, basketballers Amar’e Stoudemire and Dirk Nowitzki cleaned up well, but MLB player Brian Wilson showed them up in a spandex tuxedo suit. Wilson accessorized with sunglasses, a bow tie and a cane. Classy. Take a look at who wore what and scroll down to read about the winners. Text by the Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dirk Nowitzki and his teammates were feeling so good, they broke out in another rendition of “We are the Champions.” It was definitely a fun night to be a member of the Dallas Mavericks. Nowitzki picked up a pair of trophies, including male athlete of the year, and the Mavericks were chosen as the best team Wednesday night at the ESPY Awards. Nowitzki also won best NBA player during ESPN’s live telecast from the Nokia Theatre. Rick Carlisle was named best coach for leading the Mavericks to the NBA championship. “I’ve got to tell you, any party where Dirk is singing ‘We are the Champions’ is just the best party ever,” Dallas owner Mark Cuban told reporters of the Mavs’ celebration in South Beach. Nowitzki, who was the MVP of the NBA finals, is the first NBA player to be named top male athlete since Michael Jordan in 1993. Also nominated for the award were Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson and tennis star Rafael Nadal, who each won awards in other categories. “This is humbling,” said Nowitzki, who was talked into singing Queen’s famous tune backstage. “I’m very honored to be up here tonight.” Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn won female athlete of the year for the second year in a row. She is the first female to win the honor consecutive times since Annika Sorenstam in 2005-06. Vonn won in a group that included Connecticut basketball star Maya Moore, three-time WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson and Olympic snowboarder Kelly Clark. Saturday Night Live comedian Seth Myers hosted the show for a second straight year. He opened the telecast by joking about the NFL and NBA lockouts before taking some digs at the Miami Heat. He then cracked some jokes about Brian Wilson’s unique outfit choice. The always eccentric Wilson would have won the award for best dressed athlete, had there been one. All eyes were on the San Francisco Giants closer as he walked down the red carpet in a full-body spandex tuxedo, complete with black high-tops and a cane. “Justin Bieber could have set himself on fire and not have had a crazier outfit than Brian Wilson,” Myers told reporters. Fresh off leading the Bruins to their first Stanley Cup crown in 39 years, Boston goaltender Tim Thomas won for best championship performance and best NHL player. “It’s been a month, but it still really hasn’t sunk in what it means to the city and whole New England area,” Thomas said. Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay took home two awards. The Phillies ace won as the best MLB player and for best moment for his playoff no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds. Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, who burst onto the scene in winning NBA Rookie of the Year, was chosen as breakthrough athlete. Griffin won the slam dunk competition at All-Star weekend by jumping over a Kia Optima to seal the crown. Vonn professed to having “Bieber Fever” during her acceptance speech. “Justin Bieber, will you take a picture of me for my Facebook page?” she asked the pop star as he sat in the audience. The best play of the year happened just days ago and went to U.S. women’s national team member Abby Wambach, who headed home the game-tying goal in Sunday’s dramatic win over Brazil at the World Cup. Myers and fellow SNL cast member Bill Hader poked fun at Nowitzki in spoofing the German’s unorthodox shooting style late in the telecast. The skit centered around a fake Dirk Nowitzki Basketball Camp, featuring a tagline of “The uglier the shot, the more beautiful the result.” Jay Leno presented the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance to Anthony Robles, who also won for best male athlete with a disability. Robles was an NCAA wrestling champion despite being born with just one leg. He said his goal is to become a motivational speaker. Dewey Bozella received the Arthur Ashe Courage award for his strength and conviction. Actor Kiefer Sutherland handed out the award to the boxer, who was imprisoned 26 years for a crime he didn’t commit. The year’s best game went to the Eagles and Giants, in a contest that saw Philadelphia score 28 points in the final 7:18 to rally for a 38-31 win. Super Bowl MVP Rodgers was honored as best NFL player and Serena Williams won for best female tennis player.
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Newly released Department of Homeland Security documents reveal that there have been 25,000 security breaches at U.S. airports since November 2001. More than 14,000 of those infractions were people entering “limited-access” areas, while another 6,000 incidents included travelers who made it through security checkpoints without being properly screened. Congressman Jason Chaffetz of Utah, a frequent
Continue reading …A suicide bomber detonated today at a memorial for the slain half-brother of Hamid Karzai, killing four in an attack that comes as prominent Afghans rethink their own security in the wake of Ahmed Wali Karzai’s assassination, allegedly at the hands of a close family associate. The Afghan president wasn’t…
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