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BP tries to put positive spin on negative report with 'Orwellian tweet'

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Energy giant BP tried Wednesday to put a positive spin on a new report that highlights the devastating impact of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill using their official Twitter account.

"Annual #Beach Water Report released today includes info on improved conditions since #BP #oilspill," the company tweeted.

But the report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) said there had been more than 9,474 oil-related beach closings, advisories and notices in Gulf states since the spill and that the clean-up effort was still underway in Alabama, Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi.

Star of David

Tear-Gassing Children: The Shame of Israel

Activist Post Editor's Note: This is a must-see video to add to the catalog of abuse taking place by Israeli forces. As the video states, "Every friday there is a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh. Last Friday, it was a colorful children's day with clowns, spidermans, kites and . .. . tear gas."

This issue has become so divisive that we can hear the comments already, but if people claim to be for human rights, then ALL abuse must be condemned. Who can defend tear-gassing children? Please distribute widely.


Bad Guys

Demystifying 9/11: Israel and the Tactics of Mistake

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© Unknown
Many years ago I read a fascinating discussion of the "tactics of mistake." This essentially entailed using a target's prejudices and preconceptions to mislead them as to the origin and intent of the attack, entrapping them in a tactical situation that later worked to the attacker's strategic advantage.

This is what unfolded in the 9/11 attacks that led us into the matrix of wars and conflicts, present (Afghanistan and Iraq), planned (Iran and Syria) and projected (Jordan and Egypt), that benefit Israel and no other country - although I concede that many private contractors and politicians are doing very well for themselves out of the death and misery of others.

I am also absolutely certain as a strategic analyst that 9/11 itself, from which all else flows, was a classic Mossad-orchestrated operation. But Mossad did not do it alone. They needed local help within America (and perhaps elsewhere) and they had it, principally from some alumni of PNAC (the misnamed Project for a New American Century) and their affiliates within and outside of the US Government (USG), who in the 9/11 attacks got the "catalytic event" they needed and craved to take the US to war on Israel's behalf, only eight months after coming into office.

Camera

Photographer Allen Clark Granted Exclusive Access to Embattled WikiLeaks Editor Julian Assange

Julian Assange
© unknown
Julian Assange
When Nashville-based photographer Allen Clark left for Europe in mid-June, he had no idea that he would soon find himself face-to-face with one of today's most controversial figures, WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange. An introduction through a mutual friend led to an unlikely friendship, and three days of rare and unprecedented access leading to an exclusive photo shoot in his home on June 22, 2011.

"Julian granted me a tiny peek behind the curtain where he has been living for this past year," says Clark. "Being a photographer has awarded me the luxury of meeting some interesting people over the years. I see myself as an observer who tries to remain neutral, so that I donʼt get in the way of a great portrait. But what I discovered was that Julian isn't the demon most people would want you to believe, and I found him to be very caring and kind to those around him. Protective, yes. But for someone in his position, I understand. People like their secrets, and they are not happy when you expose them."

Assange, who has been targeted by multiple governments for releasing large amounts of sensitive information via WikiLeaks, adamantly denies Swedish Judicial Authority claims that he committed sexual offenses in Sweden. Assange remains under house arrest at an undisclosed location in England, awaiting an extradition appeal hearing set for July 12-13, 2011 at the High Court in London.

Hourglass

WikiLeaks: What Does it Cost to Change the World?


It has been a while since we've seen or heard from Julian Assange. But WikiLeaks has just dropped a Vimeo video entitled "What Does it Cost to Change the World?" featuring none other than Assange himself in something of a MasterCard parody - take a look.

Okay, so it's still been a while since we've heard from Assange. The poster "WikiLeaks" writes about the video:

What do MasterCard, Visa, Bank of America, Paypal and Western Union all have in common? They help you pay for what you want? Well, yes... that is unless you want to help WikiLeaks make the world a better place. To see the shocking details, please go to wikileaks.org/?support.html.

Provocative, right? Though whatever your opinion about WikiLeaks and Assange, I would note that The Atlantic Wire provides the following info in terms of the various support that can be offered:

"potential donors should be aware that the WikiLeaks Legal Defense Fund does not directly support the activities of WikiLeaks. Instead it funds the legal defense of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, whose most pressing case is allegations of rape."

Laptop

Government should use former hackers to boost cyber defences

The UK's former secretary of defence, Lord Reid, has argued that the government must use a combination of education, partnerships with businesses and even recruiting former hackers to shore up the nation's online defences.

Reid was speaking at the launch of a report titled Cyber Doctrine - towards a coherent evolutionary framework for learning resilience in his new role at the Institute for Security and Resilience Studies at University College London.

Display

US: Xboxer SWATTED by armed cops after online spat

When games get (really) ugly

The family of a 15-year-old Xbox player was raided by heavily armed police after a disaffected online opponent made a hoax emergency call claiming there was a home invasion in progress.

According to news reports, SWAT, or special weapons and tactics, police entered the Naples, Florida, residence of Hunter Gelinas after receiving a false report that he had been stabbed and his family was being held captive. The reports blamed the stunt on a fellow Xbox user the youth had met online.

"They had a whole SWAT team at my door and I came out of my room and they've got their guns pointed at me," Gelinas told WINK TV news. Attempts by The Register to reach him weren't successful. An incident report from the Collier County Sheriff's Office confirmed the hoax emergency call and said it "came in through a hearing impaired relay."

Display

US: Feds on trail of LulzSec raid Ohio house

And Lulzers turn on m_nerva

The international investigation into the notorious LulzSec hacking crew has moved from the UK to the US Midwest with the search of a house in Hamilton, Ohio by FBI agents.

Feds searched the house without making any arrests - at least initially - according to local media reports (here and here). It is unclear whether intelligence that led to the arrest was secured during the investigation of Ryan Cleary, 19, the British teenager last week charged over denial of service attacks linked to the infamous LulzSec hacking crew.

Health

Venezuela's Chavez Says He was Treated for Cancer

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© Reuters
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez addresses the nation during a televised speech on June 30, 2011 in this still image taken from TV. Chavez on Thursday said he had undergone a successful operation in Cuba to extract cancerous cells and was on the road to full recovery. Chavez said the medical process was "slow and careful" and he was on the road to "full recovery".
Venezuela's flamboyant socialist leader Hugo Chavez said on Thursday he had undergone an operation to remove a cancerous tumor, posing a serious challenge to his near-total dominance of national politics.

The announcement, which confirmed rumors swirling for nearly three weeks, convulsed the South American OPEC nation ahead of what was already looking like a tight race for a presidential election next year.

Speaking from Havana where he underwent surgery June 10, a pale and emotional Chavez gave no indication when he would return to Venezuela. Nor did he name a temporary substitute to lead the country of 29 million people.

"They confirmed the existence of a tumorous abscess, with the presence of cancerous cells, which needed another operation to extract the tumor completely," he said in his first address to the nation since his surgery.

Chavez, 56, said he was receiving "complementary treatments to combat different types of cells that were found" -- possibly implying chemotherapy.

"I deeply appreciate the demonstrations of solidarity by Venezuelans and other brotherly people," he added, standing at a lectern by a Venezuelan flag and a painting of his inspiration, South American independence hero Simon Bolivar.

Attention

Strauss-Kahn Case Seen as in Jeopardy

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© Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg News
Dominique Strauss-Kahn could be released on his own recognizance, and freed from house arrest.
The sexual assault case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn is on the verge of collapse as investigators have uncovered major holes in the credibility of the housekeeper who charged that he attacked her in his Manhattan hotel suite in May, according to two well-placed law enforcement officials.

Although forensic tests found unambiguous evidence of a sexual encounter between Mr. Strauss-Kahn, a French politician, and the woman, prosecutors now do not believe much of what the accuser has told them about the circumstances or about herself.

Since her initial allegation on May 14, the accuser has repeatedly lied, one of the law enforcement officials said.

Senior prosecutors met with lawyers for Mr. Strauss-Kahn on Thursday and provided details about their findings, and the parties are discussing whether to dismiss the felony charges. Among the discoveries, one of the officials said, are issues involving the asylum application of the 32-year-old housekeeper, who is Guinean, and possible links to people involved in criminal activities, including drug dealing and money laundering.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers will return to State Supreme Court in Manhattan on Friday morning, when Justice Michael J. Obus is expected to consider easing the extraordinary bail conditions that he imposed on Mr. Strauss-Kahn in the days after he was charged.