Have lobby, will travel

A PR Campaign to Sell The Libyan Karzai?

By Pepe Escobar
Asia Times

"....We want the money

The "rebel" government - which is now named, after numerous permutations, the Interim Transitional National Council of Libya - has hired Patton Boggs, one of Washington's leading (and one of the most profitable) PR firms, to "advise and assist" them in, well, winning the war - or at least providing the illusion they are winning the war (shades of NATO's PR campaign in Afghanistan).

Patton Boggs is already furiously lobbying for the "rebels" to be globally accepted as the "legitimate government of the sovereign nation of Libya". The agreement was signed between Patton Boggs and former Libyan ambassador Ali Suleiman Aujali, the "rebel" top dog in the US. Senior partner Thomas Hale Boggs Jr will be in charge of the account.

Italy, Britain, France, Qatar and now Turkey have already recognized the Interim Transitional National Council; the Barack Obama administration has already allowed them to open a Washington office. But inevitably this is most of all about money; what the council wants are the billions of dollars in frozen funds from the Gaddafi regime held in the US.

Patton Boggs, by some reports, bags a maximum of US$50,000 a month - charged by the hour. The "rebels" will only pay when they have funds - virtually dry at the moment. For nearly three months they've already had another top Washington PR firm, The Harbour Group, spinning their case on a pro-bono basis - especially on that crucial "unfreeze the funds" front.

It's relevant to note that one of the Patton Boggs lobbyists already involved with the "rebels" is Vincent Frillici, a former director of operations at NATO for the alliance's 50th Anniversary Host Committee. That's sweet; a NATO-connected lobbyist selling Libya's alleged popular/indigenous uprising....."

Syrian forces 'targeting mobile-phone videos'

The Independent

"One of Syria's leading human rights activists has claimed that protesters shooting videos on their mobile phones are now being deliberately targeted by the security services as the government tries to get a grip on the propaganda war.

Radwan Ziadeh, who has become one of the most prominent opposition figures outside Syria since the uprising began in mid-March, said that the security services were now trying to forestall negative media attention by sweeping through neighbourhoods before operations and ordering civilians not to film them.

It comes after disturbing footage emerged of a man apparently being shot while filming a gun-toting soldier in Homs on Friday. The video, uploaded on to YouTube over the weekend, shows an unseen cameraman trying to film the soldier from what appears to be his balcony....

The internet has played a pivotal role in Syria's 14-week uprising – perhaps more so than in any of the other Arab insurrections.

Numerous videos have emerged offering evidence of government brutality, most notably the footage of Hamza al-Khatib, the Syrian schoolboy who was tortured to death in police custody and who became a cause célèbre when shots of his battered body were posted on YouTube after it was returned to his parents in May.

Given the power such videos have to fuel anti-government feeling, it is no wonder the government appears determined to crack down on them.

"For a long time the security services have been confiscating footage from people they arrest," said Nadim Houry, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch based in Beirut."

Egypt clashes after police released on bail

Meet The New Boss......As Bad As The Old One.

Riots in Cairo after seven police officers accused of killing protesters during uprising are freed

The Guardian

"Hundreds of Egyptians scuffled with security guards in a court in Cairo and blocked a major road for hours after a judge ordered the release of 10 police officers charged with killing protesters during the country's uprising.

Monday's unrest added to tensions already running high in Egypt over the ruling military council's failure to hold accountable security forces involved in killing protesters during the demonstrations that toppled the former president, Hosni Mubarak.

Nearly five months later, only one police officer has been convicted in the deaths of more than 846 people killed in a government crackdown on protesters. He was tried in absentia.....

The policemen were charged with killing 17 people and injuring more than 350 in Suez during the 18-day uprising that ended with the ousting of Mubarak on 11 February. The court released seven of them on bail and postponed their trials until 14 September. Three are being tried in absentia.

Suez was a flashpoint of violence during the uprising, with many deadly confrontations between tens of thousands of protesters and security forces. Footage posted on YouTube showed police officers at a police station in the main square opening fire on protesters.....

The release of the officers has strengthened plans for a million-strong rally on 8 July to push for fair trials of former regime members, including senior security personnel suspected of giving the order to shoot protesters during the uprising.

Mahmoud Ibrahim, one of the youth groups that led the uprising, said Suez residents were planning to turn out in force for the demonstration....."

Chomsky on Sheilk Raed Salah's arrest

I was deeply disturbed to learn Sheikh Raed Salah is under threat of deportation on grounds that this action would be "conducive to the public good" (Inquiry after banned Palestinian enters UK, 30 June). On the contrary, it would be very harmful to the public good, at least if the public good is construed as encouraging free and open discussion of issues of great significance. Sheikh Salah, former mayor of the most important Arab town in Israel, Umm al Fahm, has played a very important role as a representative of the Arab community, domestically and internationally. He has been a respected voice advocating rights and justice, a voice that most definitely should be heard in the west. I trust that this decision of the government will be rescinded, that he will be released from detention without delay, and that he will be able to continue with his talks and discussions in Britain.

Noam Chomsky
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Britain's Arrest of Sheikh Raed Salah

The Real Preachers of Hate

By JONATHAN COOK
CounterPunch

"....So why is Britain being even "more Israeli rather than the Israelis", as two Arab members of the Israeli parliament caustically observed?

One reason is that Britain appears to be increasingly vulnerable to the influence of the pro-Israel lobby. Unfounded claims against Sheikh Salah were first made by the Jewish media in Britain, which has become an uncritical cheerleader for Israel, and by the Board of Deputies, Britain's representative body for Jews.....

It is worth highlighting a point British commentators overlooked in their coverage of Sheikh Salah. He was coming to the parliament, the cradle of British democracy, to talk not about jihad or infidels but about "building peace and justice in Jerusalem".

His message is one Western publics desperately need to hear but one that Israel and its supporters keenly want silenced. Thanks to the British media and government, for a while longer Britons will be shielded from a real discussion."

Al-Jazeera Video: Greece blocks Gaza flotilla

Al-Jazeera Video: Syria's crackdown affects Hama

Current Al-Jazeera (Arabic) Online Poll

This poll asks:

Do you support carrying out the decision of the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon concerning the assassination of Rafiq Hariri?

With over 2,800 responding so far, 48% said yes.

NOTE:

This is one of the early indications of the loss of support for Hizbullah among the larger Arab public, since Nasrallah took an open and aggressive position in support of the murderous Syrian regime.

If this question was asked a year ago, I doubt that support would have exceeded 15% (instead of the 48%). There is a clear backlash against Nasrallah and Hizbullah.

Ali Farzat: The power of non violence

Al-Jazeera Video: Syrian protesters capture own death on camera

Al-Jazeera Video: Inside Story - Outsourcing the Gaza blockade

With Huwaida Arraf and Mustafa Barghouthi



"Greek authorities have arrested the captain of the Audacity of Hope, a flagship vessel in a flotilla delivering aid to Gaza. It was banned from sailing from Greek ports on Friday. So, is Israel outsourcing its blockade to Greece?"

Anger Grows Over Slow Pace of Justice

....................Virginity-Tester-in-Chief of the Egyptian Junta....................

By Cam McGrath

"CAIRO, Jul 4, 2011 (IPS) - The violence that engulfed downtown Cairo last week and left over 1,000 civilians injured took everyone by surprise, but was not unexpected. It had been brewing for nearly five months.

On Wednesday morning, Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square appeared much as it did during the 18-day uprising that led to the ouster of former president Hosni Mubarak. Tear gas lingered in the air, hastily erected metal barricades blocked access roads, and the streets were littered with chunks of pavement, broken glass and spent tear gas canisters.

"It was January 25 all over again," said one man nursing a bandaged arm, referring to the historic day that Egypt's uprising began. "Mubarak is gone, but nothing has changed. The police are still using the same brutal tactics."....

"Mubarak's first court appearance isn't scheduled until August," says Habib. "Why is it taking so long?"

The glacial pace of trials involving senior officials from the former regime contrasts with the hasty trials of citizens arrested since the start of the uprising.

Egyptian military courts have handed down sentences to thousands of civilians since February, say rights lawyers. Most court sessions last just five minutes and lack the elements of a fair trial. Sentences are severe and cannot be appealed.

"It is inexplicable that civilians, including protesters arrested during peaceful demonstrations, are being tried in unfair military courts, while those responsible for murdering over 800 protesters will stand before civil courts," says Adel Ramadan, a lawyer at the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR). "

Syrian regime thugs using an Ambulance to detain civilians

Another damning video. Those Syrians that do this or support it are void of any sense of humanity. They are no better than the Israelis that treat the Palestinians the same way.

Egypt: Explosion hits gas pipeline in northern Sinai

Continue reading the main story

Related Stories

• Egypt gas pipeline hit by blast
• Egypt lifts ban on gas to Israel
• Egypt 'must halt' Israel gas deal

A pipeline carrying gas from Egypt to Israel and Jordan has been hit by an explosion, officials have said.

The blast happened at a pumping station at Nagah, in the Bir al-Abd region of the North Sinai governorate.

One security source told the AFP news agency that the pipeline had been bombed by saboteurs.

If confirmed, it would be the third attack on a pipeline in Sinai since February, when a popular uprising toppled President Hosni Mubarak.

The security source told AFP that a car parked near the pipeline shortly before the blast. Previous attacks have been blamed on armed gangs.

The explosion sent flames into the sky and cut the flow of gas.

Emergency services have been deployed to the area to try to bring the fire under control. There have so far been no reports of any casualties.

Jordan depends on Egyptian gas to generate 80% of its electricity, while Israel gets 40% of its natural gas from its neighbour.

Egypt began supplying Israel with gas in 2008 under a 20-year deal, despite widespread public opposition because of Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip and claims that Israel was being offered preferential rates.

Syria: Man appears to film himself being shot by sniper

YouTube video follows footage of 'activist and blogger' Diyya al-Najjar being shot in the head by security forces in Homs

Ian Black and Nidaa Hassan in Damascus
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 3 July 2011

"Shocking video footage has emerged from the Syrian city of Homs in which a young man filming gunfire in the streets appears to be shot dead in cold blood by the sniper he zooms in on. [Enough to cause Hassan Nasrallah to have an orgasm while watching!]

A clip circulating on YouTube begins with a male voice describing "someone shooting at citizens in Karm al-Sham on 1 July without any reason and no demonstrations."

The cameraman is filming from an upper floor against a background of slogans being chanted. Jerky images of the street and balconies are followed by a blurred glimpse of a man in olive green, standing in the shadows, carefully moving forward and raising and firing a weapon – followed by a single shot, moaning, and distraught voices pleading for help.....

The caption describes the gunman as a member of the Shabiha, a militia used by the Assad regime. Last Friday's demonstrations were described as the biggest yet in the three and a half month uprising. Human rights groups say the death toll in Homs, Syria's third city, is continuing to rise as security forces and gangs loyal to the Assad regime seek to crush protesters who come out in growing numbers in separate neighbourhoods on a daily basis. Tanks remain positioned in the city.

Separate films posted online on Saturday and Sunday appear to show the killing of a young man named as Diyya al-Najjar when security forces opened fire on protesters in the al-Qarabis neighbourhood of Homs. Crowds are seen running and scattering as gunfire rings out. One young man is shot in the middle of the street, as two men point weapons from the cover of parked cars. A witness told Human Rights Watch: "I saw Diyya al-Najjar shot by a sniper in his head right in front of me. The sniper was in a Land Cruiser car four or five metres away from protesters."

Najjar was described by some Syrian sources as an activist and blogger. His body was taken to al-Barr hospital in Homs, where a doctor confirmed to Human Rights Watch that he died from a bullet to the head. According to the doctor, 10 protesters wounded by bullets had arrived at his hospital by 6pm on Friday...."

Today's Cartoon by the Syrian Cartoonist Ali Ferzat

(By order of the Syrian Regime: Click on cartoon to enlarge)
The Thugs of the Syrian Regime.

Video: تأثير قنابل غاز ٢٨ يونيو على المتظاهرين

From Hossam El-Hamalawy

Why I reject dialog with the regime...

This is from the opposition conference held in Damascus. The mere mention by this brave Syrian that the regime wants to overthrow the regime, the regime thugs attack him and shower the world with that nauseating " Allah , Syria and Bashar only" ....This regime is good only good to be thrown into the garbage bin not to be recognized to negotiated with....
 I think after the revolution overthrows the regime , we must set up a committee and go over the 1000's of youtube videos and make sure these regime supporters and criminals get punished according to law for their role in perpetuating oppression of the Syrian people.

Real News Video: Gaza Flotilla: The Media Battle in Israel

Israeli press reports Gaza Flotilla will be carrying "lethal acid" with "the intention of killing as many IDF soldiers as possible"

Real News Video: Greece Should Default

David Harvey: Greece should call europe's bluff