From the Trenches World Report

AWIP

A senior Syrian opposition figure warned Washington that all its interests in the region will be attacked by battalions of suicide bombers formed by the Syrian opposition forces if it dares to attack Syria, stressing that homeland is more important to the dissidents than opposition to the government.

“Although, we are among the Syrian government’s opposition forces, we assume our homeland’s interests to be more important than any other interest and therefore, we have formed a number of battalions to conduct suicide operations and target the US interests in the Middle-East,” Secretary-General of al-Shabab Party Mahir Marhaj told FNA on Saturday.   Continue reading “Syrian Opposition Vows to Join Ranks with Assad if US Attacks Syria”

New York Times – by Stephanie Strom

The Department of Agriculture on Friday approved four Chinese poultry processors to begin shipping a limited amount of meat to the United States, a move that is likely to add to the debate over food imports.

Initially, the companies will be allowed to export only cooked poultry products from birds raised in the United States and Canada. But critics predicted that the government would eventually expand the rules, so that chickens and turkeys bred in China could end up in the American market.   Continue reading “Chinese Chicken Processors Are Cleared to Ship to U.S., Will Not Require Country-of-Origin Labeling”

Kansas City Star – by DONALD BRADLEY

Tech Dirt – by Glyn Moody

We’ve been reporting for several years about the extraordinary levels of secrecy surrounding the TPP negotiations, where little information was released about what was going on, and there were few opportunities for representatives of civic and other groups to meet with negotiators to present their point of view. More recently, there have been some indications that this lack of transparency is fueling increasing discontent among some of the participating nations.   Continue reading “Desperate To Sew Up TPP Negotiations At Any Cost, Politicians Agree All Future Meetings Will Be Completely Secret”

Policy Mic – by Carly Pildis

Ann Jarrell, a 54-year-old software trainer, received an urgent phone call at work from her 23-year-old daughter, Jennifer, in March of this year.

“It smells terrible out here, Mom,” she said. “I don’t know what’s going on, but you need to get home.”

What was going on was that the Pegasus pipeline, which carried Alabasca heavy crude oil (tar sands) from Illinois to Texas, had ruptured en route and the Jarrell’s tiny town of Mayflower, Ark. had a river of oil flowing through its streets.   Continue reading “Exxon Made Us Sick: Ann Jarrell Is Outraged, and She’s Not Alone”

Reuters – by Aaron Sheldrick and Mari Saito

Radiation readings around tanks holding contaminated water at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant have spiked by more than a fifth to their highest levels, Japan’s nuclear regulator said, heightening concerns about the clean-up of the worst atomic disaster in almost three decades.

Radiation hotspots have spread to three holding areas for hundreds of hastily built tanks storing water contaminated by being flushed over three reactors that melted down at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in March 2011.   Continue reading “Record radiation readings near Fukushima contaminated water tanks”

World Events and the Bible

(Voice of Russia) – Japan’s nuclear regulator has raised safety concerns about the hastily built storage tanks at Fukushima’s NPP after seeing signs of more radiation-contaminated water leaks. David Webb, Chief Executive Officer of Origin Investments AB, talked to the Voice of Russia about his opinion on the latest measures that are being taken to prevent further leaks and about the effectiveness of international help.   Continue reading “Fukushima radioactive leak is ‘the greatest threat humanity ever faced’ – expert”

The Guardian

The environment secretary is due to meet the Food Standards Agency, food suppliers and retailers on Saturday to discuss the horsemeat scandal after Aldi became the latest supermarket to confirm its withdrawn beef products contained up to 100% horsemeat.

Owen Paterson said it was unacceptable that consumers were mis-sold products, but that the problems originated overseas.   Continue reading “Aldi confirms up to 100% horsemeat in beef products”

The Guardian – by Jonathan Kaiman

The retired US basketball star Dennis Rodman is back in North Korea and the stakes are high. Rodman could influence the fate of an American political prisoner toiling in one of the country’s labour camps. Or he may start a basketball league.

One thing is certain: before Rodman leaves the “hermit kingdom” five days from now, another chapter will unfold in one of the world’s strangest friendships. Call it “absurdist diplomacy” – a notoriously erratic retired NBA player meets a despotic boy king; the two become close friends.   Continue reading “Dennis Rodman returns to North Korea to meet ‘my friend Kim’”

Yahoo News – by TOM KRISHER

DETROIT (AP) — As cars become more like PCs on wheels, what’s to stop a hacker from taking over yours?

In recent demonstrations, hackers have shown they can slam a car’s brakes at freeway speeds, jerk the steering wheel and even shut down the engine — all from their laptop computers.   Continue reading “Hackers find weaknesses in car computer systems”

III Percent Patriots – by Kerodin

Our hostess in Alabama submitted the above picture of her EDC bag.  I have no idea what she has inside, nor would I discuss it if I did…but I bet dollars to donuts a Bad Guy won’t enjoy finding out…

Patriots across America are preparing for dark times ahead.  I hope you managed to get a bit of prep work in this weekend.  When the North American Liberty Games begin again at full-speed (most of us understand the starter pistol has already fired), there will be little time for OJT, there will be very few preps available, and even movement from one AO to another is likely to be very difficult, especially if you are moving with family and defensive capabilities.   Continue reading “There is no cavalry coming – John Wayne is dead…”

Press TV – by Finian Cunningham

1913 Intel – by Matt

With Republican leaders backing a military strike on Syria, it’s all but certain that Barack Obama will win the vote in Congress, says Raf Sanchez in Washington