THE HEADLINES

PALESTINE PAPERS SHOW ONE-SIDED U.S. SUPPORT OF ISRAEL AGAINST PALESTINE IN 3 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIONS.

(Al Jazeera/EPA)

(Counterpunch)

New documents leaked to and published by al Jazeera show a pattern of consistent offers of compromise by a craven Palestinian leadership, consistently rebuffed by an Israeli leadership bent on total elimination of Palestine, and consistently supported by U.S. disdain for Palestian leaders and their demands. Current U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asked one of these leaders why they are “always in a chapter of Greek tragedy” while her predecessor Condoleezza Rice once put down Palestinian complaints with the observation that “bad things happen to people all around the world all the time.”

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JESSE VENTURA GOES FOR A BODY SLAM AGAINST DHS AND TSA.

(Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

The former wrestler and Minnesota Governor sues these agencies over his treatment at airports, as he is required to submit to intimate pat down inspections after the metal in a 2008 hip replacement sets off TSA monitoring equipment. TSA insists that these measures are essential for public safety and that Ventura’s status as a frequent traveler does not exempt him from their application.

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NO RUNS, NO HITS, NO ERRORS: NOT A SUMMARY OF AN INNING OF BASEBALL BUT PRETTY MUCH THE SUMMARY OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICIAL’S CAREER IN OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

(New York Times)

Carol Browner prepares to leave her post as White House coordinator of energy and climate change policy with her “goal unmet” of major changes toward reductions in air pollution. Though this “goal” will be re-articulated in tonight’s State of the Union address, the administration has given up on any such legislation “for at least 2 years.” Browner will stay on coordinate “transition” in the office but it is unclear that the job will even be filled once she vacates it.

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CAN YOU SPELL “AUSTERITY?” TRY ECONOMIC DISASTER/VIOLENCE/REPRESSION.

(Alternet)

As leaders from the one giving tonight’s State of the Union address to Governors and Mayors through the US demand “courageous” acts of sacrifice to deal with budget deficits, Ames notes the consequences of just such austerity programs (for the poor, not the rich) across a sweep of time and place that includes the likes of Russia, Britain, nazi Germany, Venezuela and Chile. In each of these instances, belt-tightening efforts have created mass mutinies, individual acts of violence and repressive government reactions. Just so we were warned!

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PROSECUTORS IN ORLANDO AREA NOT INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH INNOCENCE COMMISSION IN PREVENTING WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS.

(Orlando Sentinel)

After a high-profile case of a Haitian woman detained in jail for months on a false charge finally results in her release, the Innocence Commission calls on county prosecutors to join in a public discussion of how to prevent such further miscarriages of justice. Prosecutors “politely” refuse the officer, saying in effect that they can handle these matters by internal investigations of their procedures.

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Quote of the day…

Thank you for the kind invitation but we have already conducted an extensive review internally and the State Attorney participated and encouraged closer intake scrutiny of eyewitness cases, We will not participate however in any group public discussion and feel that each entity should review their own policies and procedures to assure that justice prevails.

Chief Assistant State Attorney Bill Vose, in Orange County FL, rejecting invitation for public discussion of botched convictions.

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