Anders Behring Breivik aurait envisagé d'attaquer des médias norvégiens
LE MONDE: Anders Behring Breivik, l'auteur des attaques qui ont fait 77 morts en Norvège le 22 juillet, avait envisagé de s'en prendre également aux grands médias locaux, rapporte samedi le groupe norvégien public de télévision et radio NRK, qui a eu connaissance des interrogatoires de la police.

Lors de la planification de ses attaques, l'extrémiste de droite a étudié la possibilité de déposer des bombes au siège à Oslo de NRK, ainsi que dans les locaux des journaux VG et Aftenposten de la capitale norvégienne. NRK rapporte sur son site en ligne que Breivik considérait en effet les médias et les journalistes comme "une haute cible prioritaire". » | LEMONDE.FR avec AFP | samedi 04 février 2012

Russia, China Veto UN Security Council Resolution on Syria

Article Says Israel May Attack Iran in April
The Washington Post claims that US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta believes there is a growing possibility that Israel will attack Iran as early as April.

An opinion article published on Thursday says the strike is likely to happen either in April, May, or June.

Panetta and the Pentagon both declined to comment on the report.
In Israel too, the Iran rhetoric has been stepped up, with a warning that time is running out to stop Tehran developing a nuclear weapon.

Israeli officials say Iran is developing a weapon that can reach the US, while Iran maintains its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes.

Al Jazeera's Nicole Johnston reports.

Listening Post – Boycotting Reality: 'All American Muslim'
What has an American Muslim reality TV show revealed about US media in a post-9/11 era?

Iran Says Oil Ban Will Not Halt Nuclear Work
BUENOS AIRES HERALD: Iran's oil minister said the Islamic state would not retreat from its nuclear programme even if its crude oil exports grind to a halt, the official IRNA news agency reported.

But he also called on the European Union, which accounted for a quarter of Iranian crude oil sales in the third quarter of 2011, to review its decision last week to bank Iranian oil imports from July 1.

"We will not abandon our just nuclear course, even if we cannot sell one drop of oil," Rostam Qasemi told reporters, according to IRNA. » | Saturday, February 04, 2012

Mormon Romney to Win in Nevada and Leave Rest in Scramble for Delegates
THE GUARDIAN: Elections in Nevada are usually colourful, but the result this time is not in doubt: Mitt Romney has this one sewn up

Nevada will be an easy win for Mitt Romney on Saturday, based on his performance in the 2008 Republican presidential race. Even with Romney coming off second best to John McCain in many states elsewhere, Romney easily won the Nevada caucuses, with 51.1% to Ron Paul's 13.7% and John McCain's 12.75%. The reason: Mormons.

Although they only make up about 5% of the adult population in Nevada, they accounted for an estimated 25% of Republican caucus-goers four years ago. Does it follow that a Mormon will automatically vote for a candidate of the same faith? Well, in 2008, 5% voted for someone else. But the staggering statistic is the other 95% voted for Romney.

A PPP poll suggests that Saturday's caucuses will not be significantly different; Romney on 50%, Newt Gingrich 25%, Ron Paul 15% and Rick Santorum 8%. (+ video) » | Ewen McAskill in Washington | Friday, February 03, 2012

Can the US Army Embrace Atheists?

BBC: In a land of faith and flag, Justin Griffith is challenging the US military to abandon its religious ties.

When he was a child growing up in Plano, Texas - a place he describes as the "oversized, goofy buckle on the Bible belt" - he would bring his bible to science class and debate his teachers on the finer points of evolution.

"In my head, I won every time," says Mr Griffith, now 29.

But somewhere along the way, his penchant for picking ideological fights with the non-religious got him in trouble. He found it harder and harder to argue with the points they were making. At 13, he suffered a crisis of faith.

"It was so painful. I lost my religion before I lost my first girlfriend. Nothing that big had ever happened to me, and I didn't have any coping skills," he says.

Mr Griffith found peace with his atheism, but he is not done sparring with the opposite team.
As an active-duty sergeant in the US Army, he's leading the charge to get atheists more respect in the armed forces. In the process he is earning attention, both positive and negative, from around the world. » | Kate Dailey, BBC News Magazine | Friday, February 03, 2012

Blog Talk Radio: Mark Alexander on The Gathering Storm
Listen here | Friday, February 03, 2012

WikiLeaks: Bradley Manning to Face Full Court Martial
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The US Army has approved a recommendation that Bradley Manning be court-martialed for allegedly funneling hundreds of thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks.

The decision clears the way to set a date for Manning, a private with the Army, to face a host of charges, including that he aided the enemy and wrongfully caused intelligence to be openly published on the Internet.

"A military judge will be detailed by the US Army Trial Judiciary and that military judge will set the date for Manning's arraignment, motion hearings and trial," the army statement said.

Manning is also accused of stealing public property or records, transmitting defense information and of committing computer fraud. » | Friday, February 03, 2012

Bürgerkrieg in Syrien: "Assad hält nicht mehr lange durch"

ZEIT ONLINE: Der Abgeordnete Imad Ghaliun flüchtete aus seiner Heimat. Er fordert die UN auf, eine Eingreiftruppe nach Syrien zu schicken.

Imad Ghaliun faltet die Hände, er löst sie ruhelos wieder, faltet sie, weiß nicht, was mit ihnen tun. Nervös sitzt er an einem Restauranttisch in Istanbul, fern der Heimat, und wägt seine Worte. »Ich habe gehofft, das Regime von innen heraus zu verändern. Ich musste einsehen, dass ich es nicht kann.« Der 54-jährige Sunnit ist Abgeordneter des syrischen Nationalparlaments. Als Vertreter des Distriktes Homs hatte er vor vier Jahren sein Mandat angetreten. Er ist im Januar ins Ausland geflohen, als erster von 250 Parlamentariern. Mit Frau und drei Kindern hat er sich abgesetzt. »Die Kleinste hat am Flughafen die ganze Zeit geweint«, erzählt Ghaliun, »sie hat gemerkt, wie angespannt ich war.« » | Von Wolfgang Bauer | Freitag 03. Februar 2012

Belgian Politician Risks Muslim Backlash after Using Teenage Daughter Dressed in Burka and Bikini for Campaign against Islam

MAIL ONLINE: A Belgian politician has risked causing uproar among Muslims after starting a 'Women Against Islamization' campaign featuring his 19-year-old daughter wearing a burka and a bikini.

Filip Dewinter, leader of the far-right Vlaams Belang party, uses a shot of his daughter An-Sofie Dewinter in the dark blue bikini for the political campaign.

The glamorous teenager dons a burka that covers her head and face, while the rest of the Muslim garment is draped over her back.

The provocative image is likely to inflame tensions among Islamic groups and nationalists in the racially-divided country.

The poster shows the words 'Freedom or Islam?' written on a red bar across Ms Dewinter's breasts.

Further down the poster a black panel with the words 'You choose!' is seen covering the teenager's crotch.

The extremist Vlaams Belang party claims that it wants to convince women to take a stand against Islam. » | Rick Dewsbury | Friday, February 03, 2012

Turkish Army Sets Out to Recruit the Perfect Woman

THE INDEPENDENT: The Turkish military is seeking two "physically perfect" women under the age of 25, both of whom must be "firm", "robust" and "flawless" in every respect, according to the Turkish daily newspaper Vatan. » | Justin Vela | Thursday, February 02, 2012

Bring Back the Death Penalty, Says South Africa Medical Chief
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The head of the South African Medical Association has called for the return of the death penalty after one of the country's senior dermatologists was gunned down by carjackers in the capital Pretoria.

Dr Norman Mabasa told mourners at Dr John Moche's funeral that the country was "under siege".

"The number of people who die at the hands of criminals is higher than in countries embroiled in civil wars or natural disasters," he said.

"Crime has become so bad that soon we are going to have to put burglar bars around our beds."

Dr John Moche, a father to two young children and head of Steve Biko Academic Hospital's dermatology department in Pretoria, was one of just 166 qualified dermatologists in the country because of a skills shortage in specialist medicine.

He was dropping off a nurse at her home last Friday when he was shot through the heart by carjackers who sped off in his Range Rover. The car was later found abandoned in Atteridgeville, a township ten miles to the west. No arrests have been made yet. » | Aislinn Laing in Johannesburg | Friday, February 03, 2012

Kuwait: Hardline Islamists Seize Control of Parliament
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Kuwait's Islamist-led opposition has won a landslide majority in Kuwait's snap polls, with women and liberals the big losers.

The Islamist secured 34 seats in the 50-member parliament, results showed today.

All four of the female MPs who served in the previous parliament lost their seats. Liberals, who had five seats in the previous parliament, now have just two.

Voters punished pro-government MPs during Thursday's parliamentary election, reducing them to a small minority, the results showed.

Only two of 13 former MPs who the public prosecutor questioned over corruption charges were re-elected, and the rest either lost or did not contest the poll.

Following the announcement of the results, hundreds of opposition supporters gathered at the campaign tents of candidates they backed to celebrate the outcome. » | Friday, February 03, 2012

Young, Wired and Angry: A Revised Portrait of Hungary's Right-Wing Extremists

SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: Though largely ignored by the national media, Hungary's right-wing extremist Jobbik party operates within a surprisingly well-developed and self-sustained online universe. What's more, recent studies have found that the party's supporters aren't the "losers" that many experts thought they were.

The leader of Hungary's right-wing extremists rarely expresses himself so clearly. Speaking before a crowd of a few thousand supporters in Budapest's Sportmax complex on Saturday, Jan. 21, Gábor Vona announced the end of liberal democracy in the world. In the speech traditionally delivered before party members in January, the 33-year-old politician demanded "no compromising" either with or as part of the ruling political system, calling instead for "fighting, fighting and still more fighting." "We are not communists, fascists or National Socialists," Vona said. "But -- and this is important for everyone to understand very clearly -- we are also not democrats!" » | Keno Verseck | Friday, February 03, 2012

The End of Great Britain? Scottish Separatists Have High Hopes for Referendum

SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: Though their relationship has always been fraught with problems, Scotland and England have been partners for over 300 years. But Scottish nationalists, with their charismatic leader Alex Salmond, believe their chances of gaining independence are closer than ever.

No, there are no Englishmen hanging from the trees in the Scottish Highlands. There are no Scottish terrorists setting off bombs, and someone who speaks with an English accent here isn't likely to be targeted for a beating. Likewise, it's only rarely that you'll see the "Free Scotland" slogan along the highway from Glasgow to Edinburgh. So where exactly are all these separatists supposedly intent on splitting Britain apart?

Though they might be hard to spot, they do exist, they're active and they might even reach their goal in less than four years -- and all in a way that is perfectly democratic.

On Jan. 25, the Scots were commemorating Robert Burns, their national poet. Meanwhile, in Edinburgh, Alex Salmond, the charismatic leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), announced how he intends to dissolve Great Britain. In a referendum to be held in the fall of 2014, the Scots will be asked to answer the following question: "Do you agree Scotland should be an independent country?" If a majority votes that it should be, the partition could already be completed by 2016.

The move would put an end to what will have been a 309-year partnership -- and be a serious blow. Although it boasts its own nuclear arsenal, Britain is now only a mid-sized power that sometimes still suffers from the loss of its empire. Likewise, it is increasingly isolating itself within Europe. Were Scotland to go its own way, Britain would suddenly see its population drop by 5.2 million, and its economic output could shrink by about £120 billion (€145 billion/$190 billion). However, as one of the few positive consequences for the government in London, the move would also lead to a reduction of nearly the same sum in its mountain of debt. » | Marco Evers | Thursday, February 02, 2012

L'Algérie frappée par une vague de suicides par le feu
LE FIGARO: De violentes émeutes ont éclaté dans l'ouest du pays après l'immolation d'un jeune vendeur à la sauvette.

S'immoler par le feu. Plus d'un an après le geste de désespoir de Mohammed Bouazizi, le jeune Tunisien de Sidi Bouzid, ce mode de contestation continue à se propager au Maghreb en général et en Algérie en particulier. Les immolés protestent sur fond d'émeutes contre le chômage, l'injustice ou comme on dit en dialecte algérien la hogra, le mépris.

Le 18 janvier, quatre jeunes chômeurs diplômés marocains se sont aspergés d'essence lors d'un rassemblement à Rabat. L'un d'eux a succombé à ses blessures.

Quelques jours plus tard, environ 70 demandeurs d'emploi menaçaient de commettre un «suicide collectif» s'ils n'étaient pas embauchés par la société d'État de phosphate OCP. Ils ont tenté de s'introduire dans une carrière de phosphate avec des explosifs, à proximité de la ville de Benguerir, dans le sud du pays où les forces de sécurité sont parvenues à les neutraliser.

En Algérie, c'est un incident avec un policier qui a poussé à bout Hichem Gassem, un vendeur à la sauvette de Tiaret, dans l'Ouest algérien. Le 26 janvier, un agent aurait renversé l'étal du marchand de lunettes d'un coup de pied. Selon le site d'information DNA, un policier présent sur les lieux lui aurait lancé: «Brûle-toi si t'es un homme». La victime s'est exécutée. » | Par Thierry Oberlé | jeudi 02 février 2012

Die Angst vor der muslimischen "Paralleljustiz"
WELT ONLINE: Der Justizminister von Rheinland-Pfalz hat mit seiner Äußerung zu islamischen Gerichten eine heftige Debatte ausgelöst. Doch die Scharia wird in Deutschland bereits angewandt.

Es waren nur wenige Sätze, mit denen sich der rheinland-pfälzische Justizminister Jochen Hartloff in den Mittelpunkt der deutschen Islam-Debatte katapultierte.

Im Gespräch mit dem Evangelischen Pressedienst hatte der SPD-Politiker verlauten lassen, er halte islamische Schiedsgerichte in Deutschland grundsätzlich für zulässig, solange sie sich rechtsstaatlichen Prinzipien unterwürfen und ausschließlich in zivilrechtlichen Angelegenheiten wie Erb- und Familienstreitigkeiten tätig würden.

"Steinzeit werden wir nicht tolerieren"

Dass dabei die Scharia – das Gesetz, das nach muslimischem Glauben alle Bereiche des religiösen, staatlichen und zwischenmenschlichen Lebens regelt – eine wichtige Rolle spielen würde, muss Hartloff wohl klar gewesen sein, schob er in der „B.Z.“ doch plakativ hinterher: „Steinzeit werden wir nicht tolerieren.“

Der „Steinzeit“-Begriff war treffend gewählt: Wer in Deutschland das WortScharia hört, denkt wohl unweigerlich an drakonische Strafen wie das Steinigen von Ehebrechern.

Flugs brach über Hartloff ein politischer und medialer Sturm los, in dem seine Äußerungen schnell als Forderung nach Scharia-Gerichten auf deutschem Boden interpretiert wurden. Hartloffs Sprecher teilte „Welt Online" mit: „Wir haben keinerlei Pläne, solche Gerichte in Rheinland-Pfalz einzuführen.“ Die Behauptung, Hartloff setze sich für die Einführung der Scharia ein, sei eine Entstellung, ebenso wie die Formulierung, er habe einen politischen „Vorstoß“ gemacht.

Die Klarstellung kommt zu spät: In Deutschland ist eine Scharia-Debatte hochgekocht. »

The Harassment of BBC Persian Journalists
BBC NEWS – THE EDITORS – MARK THOMPSON: For those working for the BBC Persian service, interference and harassment from the Iranian authorities has become a challenging fact of life.
I am hugely proud of how they deal with that relentless pressure, and their unswerving commitment to delivering high quality, impartial journalism.

They arguably have the most difficult jobs in the BBC. They carry them out with unstinting dedication and in the knowledge that their work makes a critical difference to the lives of millions who crave access to free and accurate information, in a part of the world where it is scarce and extremely precious.

In recent months, we have witnessed increased levels of intimidation alongside disturbing new tactics. This includes an attempt to put pressure on those who work for BBC Persian outside Iran, by targeting family members who still live inside the country.

We remain extremely concerned about these actions by the Iranian authorities and the latest case only serves to underline this.

Last week the sister of a BBC Persian member of staff was arrested. She was detained and held in solitary confinement on unspecified charges at Evin Prison in Tehran. Although she has now been released on bail, her treatment was utterly deplorable and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms. Read on and comment » | Mark Thompson * | Friday, February 03, 2012

* Mark Thompson is the Director-General of the BBC

Egyptian MP Mustafa Bakri: America and Israel Are Responsible for Port Said Soccer Bloodbath

US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Egyptians: Look to the Constitutions of South Africa or Canada, Not to the US Constitution

Egyptian Cleric Sheik Abdallah Kamal Defends the Prophet Muhammad's Marriage to Aisha: In Warm Climates, Girls Generally Reach Puberty at the Age of Eight

Bilingual Ballots: Voters Can Pick English or Spanish

Romney: Obama's Presidency Has Been a Failure
GOP frontrunner on president's record, economic policies

Why Is Obama Wading in Religious Waters?
Critics take issue with president's Bible talk on taxes

Islam Critic Backs Out of West Point Cadet Event
FOX NEWS: WEST POINT, N.Y. – A retired U.S. lieutenant general who made comments denigrating Islam withdrew Monday from speaking at a West Point prayer breakfast after a veterans' advocacy group asked the Army chief of staff to rescind the invitation.

VoteVets.org told Gen. Raymond Odierno in a letter that allowing retired Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin to speak at the U.S. Military Academy next week would be contrary to Army values and disrespectful to Muslim cadets.

Late Monday afternoon, West Point issued a brief statement saying Boykin had decided to withdraw speaking at the Feb. 8 event and that another speaker would be lined up in his place.

Boykin, a former senior military intelligence officer, had been criticized for speeches he made at evangelical Christian churches beginning in January 2002. He said that America's enemy was Satan, that God had put President George W. Bush in the White House and that one Muslim Somali warlord was an idol-worshipper.

Boykin later issued a written statement apologizing and said he didn't mean to insult Islam. But VoteVets.org said Monday that Boykin has continued to make denigrating comments about Islam since his 2007 retirement.

"These remarks are incompatible with the Army values, and a person who is incompatible with Army values should not address the cadets of the United States Military Academy," VoteVets chairman Jon Soltz said in a letter written with the group's vice chairman. » | Associated Press | Monday, January 30, 2012

New Fears Over Iran's Missile Capability
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: IRAN is developing a missile capable of hitting the east coast of the US, according to an Israeli government minister, intensifying western anxiety over the regime's nuclear ambitions.

The fresh alert was further heightened by reports that the US Defence Secretary, Leon Panetta, believes a pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities by Israel looms likely and could come as soon as April.

The increasingly murky issue of Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities is a prime focus of US foreign policy deliberations. President Barack Obama insisted in last month's State of the Union address that he would "take no options off the table" in preventing Iran from developing a nuclear arsenal.

But contrary to assertions that the chief threat was to Iran's near-neighbour, Israel's Minister for Strategic Affairs, Moshe Yaalon, said the missile project was "aimed at America, not us". » | Simon Mann | Saturday, February 04, 2012

Homegrown Jihad
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: The campsite on the 50,000-hectare cattle station in the red dirt country at Louth was booked by phone in the name of Adam George.

Expecting a group of feral fox and pig hunters on safari to the back of Bourke, the property owner left directions in a mailbox and saw just one man, who simply called himself "Joe".

The company Joe kept alarmed the locals. The seven men - led by Aimen Joud from Melbourne and Mohamed Ali Elomar from Sydney - got lost and had to ask for directions.

"They stood out to the local community when they were driving through … Some of them were wearing camouflage fatigues … Some of them are large gentlemen, so just their physical presence stands out," NSW Police terrorism investigations squad head Detective Inspector David Gawel, says.

Of course, Adam George was a fake name that had been previously used to try to buy laboratory gear to manufacture chemicals to build a bomb.

The men were on a training and bonding exercise, armed with .308 and .22 rifles and components of an explosive device. (+ video) » | Debra Jopson | Saturday, February 04, 2012

Mitt Romney Endorsed by Donald Trump
The frontrunner in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, Mitt Romney, officially receives the backing of Donald Trump at his hotel in Las Vegas on Thursday. Some commentators had expected the multi-millionaire and celebrity host of The Apprentice, who had himself considered joining the presidential race, to endorse rival candidate Newt Gingrich

Iran: We Will Help 'Cut Out the Cancer of Israel'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Iran will help anyone willing to "cut out the cancer" of Israel, its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said today.

The religious leader also told worshippers at Friday prayers that the country will continue its controversial nuclear programme.

He warned that any military strike by the West would only make Iran stronger.

"From now on, in any place, if any nation or any group confronts the Zionist regime, we will endorse and we will help. We have no fear expressing this," said Khamenei.

He said Israel is a "cancerous tumor that should be cut and will be cut".

Iran has been repeatedly defiant to hints that the US and Israel may at some point launch military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

But any statement by Iran's Supreme Leader, who has final say on all matters of state, makes it all the more unlikely that Tehran will switch tack. Read on and comment » | Friday, February 03, 2012

My comment:

Khamenei is supposed to be the supreme spiritual leader. Not much spiritual in these pronouncements. He sounds more like a warmonger than an ayatollah! – © Mark

This comment also appears here

Wilders Angry at German ‘Right-wing Populist’ Label
DUTCH NEWS.nl: PVV leader Geert Wilders has demanded the German ambassador explain why he and the anti-islam party are mentioned in a 32-page leaflet warning of the dangers posed by far-right political groupings.

The brochure, paid for by the German justice ministry, states that right-wing populist and radical parties could be a breeding ground for terrorism. Wilders is mentioned twice by name and one section includes his photograph. The folder also explains how neo-nazi strategists use social networks. » | © DutchNews.nl | Thursday, February 02, 2012

Log Off! As Facebook Plans a $5bn Stock Market Float, One Trenchant Sceptic Describes How the Social Network Is Ruthlessly Selling Your Soul
MAIL ONLINE: Log off! As Facebook plans a $5bn stock market float, one trenchant sceptic describes how the social network is ruthlessly selling your soul

The announcement that Facebook, the social media giant, is planning a $5bn float on the stock market – valuing the company at $100bn – has led to a frenzy of speculation about the fortunes its young founders will rake in. There will be hundreds of new millionaires, we hear, and several new billionaires, too.

But in all this hysteria about the vast sums involved, has anyone thought to question what exactly Facebook is selling? The answer is both obvious and sinister: You.

Terrifyingly, the social networking site turns you into a product. It makes your friendships, marriages and children into a product.

Facebook tells its users: ‘It’s free and always will be.’ Now consider this bit of wisdom: ‘If you’re not paying, you’re not the customer; you’re the product.’

The site — founded by famously low-key American Mark Zuckerberg — has always presented itself as a sort of altruistic social service. Its tagline reads: ‘Facebook helps you connect and share with the people in your life.’

Now that sounds fairly harmless. What sort of curmudgeon could object to connecting and sharing?
In actual fact, though, Facebook is a gigantic, and really quite frightening, advertising scam. Its business model is to collect information about individual consumers (you) and sell that information back to advertisers. » | Tom Hodgkinson | Friday, February 03, 2012

Thirty Degrees Below – And At Least a Hundred Dead: Europe's Big Freeze

THE INDEPENDENT: With record snowfalls, icy winds, and thousands of people trapped in remote villages, much of Central and Eastern Europe is in the grip of a cold snap that has caused more than 100 deaths. Temperatures in parts of Ukraine and other Eastern European countries are hovering around -30C (-22F).

The Adriatic islands of Croatia have had a rare dusting of snow, while in Romania, parts of the Black Sea have frozen over. Several towns in Bulgaria have recorded their lowest temperatures since records began more than a century ago, [sic]

At least 11,000 people were trapped in mountain villages in Serbia yesterday as ice and snow made roads impassable. Emergency crews were working to gain access to deliver supplies as the country tackled its coldest winter for decades.

"The situation is dramatic. The snow is up to 5m high in some areas. You can only see rooftops," said Milorad Dramacanin, a member of a helicopter evacuation team. Among those airlifted to safety were mourners who had travelled to a funeral but were unable to get back. » | Shaun Walker | Friday, February 03, 2012

Related here, here, here, and here.

Kältehoch «Cooper» in Europa

Critics Take On on Romney's 'Poor' Line

Israel Could Attack Iran This Spring

Egyptian Comedian Sentenced for Offending Islam
THE GUARDIAN: One of the Arab world's best known Egyptian comedians has been sentenced to three months in jail for offending Islam, a judge said Thursday, in the latest such case against a high-profile figure, underlining concerns about freedom of expression in Egypt.

The judge confirmed that Adel Imam, a veteran actor who first starred in a play in 1964, was convicted in absentia of insulting the religion.

The judge said Imam can appeal. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief reporters.

Tarek el-Shinnawi, an entertainment reporter in Egypt, said that Imam was in Egypt recently filming a television series. Egypt's Actors' Syndicate said Imam's whereabouts are unknown. Imam could not be reached for comment. » | Aya Badrawy | Associated Press | CAIRO | Thursday, February 02, 2012

Inside Story: US – Theocracy versus Democracy [December 24, 2011]
How important a role does religion play in next year's US election? Guests on the show: Frank Schaeffer, Michelle Goldberg, and Melissa Rogers.

Inside Story: Is the American Dream Fading?
With more people living on the breadline in the United states, we ask how can prosperity be restored for the Americans. Inside Story US2012 discusses with guests: Tavis Smiley, Barbara Ehrenreich and Cornel West.

Google Joins Twitter in Censorship Storm: Site May Now Block Blog Posts in Line with Requests from Oppressive Regimes
MAIL ONLINE: Blog posts will be blocked at national government request / Campaigners fear 'the end of the global internet community' / But Google claims move will allow MORE free speech

Google's informal motto is 'don't be evil', but a huge change to its Blogger service could see the search giant help oppressive governments stamp out voices of protest.

Bloggers who have relied on the popular service to organise dissent as seen during the Arab Spring could find their posts being blocked by Google itself.

The company will now block posts or blogs from being seen in a country if they their local laws, handing a victory to regimes that crack down on free speech to keep a lid on dissent.

The move has caused widespread concern - and echoes Twitter's recent decision to block Tweets on a similar 'per country' basis to comply with local laws.

Internet freedom group Open Net Initiative said of Twitter's recent policy change, 'The change marks a new trend in American Internet companies bowing to the demands of authoritarian regimes.'

Amnesty International said, 'As with other sectors, business decisions in the digital world have human rights implications. Human rights monitors and advocates have a lot more work to do since the digital revolution.'

'Our collective vigilance is needed more than ever.'

Thailand heartily backed Twitter's recent decision to block Tweets at the request of governments, as did China's state-run newspaper.

But Google claims that the move will actually allow more freedom of speech. Read on and comment » | Rob Waugh | Thursday, February 02, 2012

Fears that Western Sanctions on Iran Could Cripple Local Economy
THE GUARDIAN: Iran's dependency on oil means an embargo, if fully implemented, has potential to bring the economy to its knees

Western sanctions on Iran are compounding the country's economic woes, sending the national currency tailspinning, making dollars hard to come by and forcing ordinary citizens to rush to stockpile staples.

Iranian officials have in the past been quick to play down the impact of the raft of sanctions imposed on Tehran because of its nuclear programme, arguing they have in fact made the regime "self-sufficient" in many areas.

But the latest US and EU embargo on the imports of oil from Iran introduced in the past five weeks has left the leadership little choice but to admit the severity of the problem. In a recent speech at the Iranian parliament, president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad described the embargo "the heaviest economic onslaught on a nation in history".

Iran relies on crude sales for 80% of its exports revenue and also providing most of the foreign currency in the country. The full impact of the embargo is likely to be felt in summer when the new sanctions kick in properly, but evidence of knock-on effects through the Iranian economy are multiplying. The initial impact was felt on the local currency market where a shortage of foreign exchange caused a looming crisis. As a result, the value of Iran's rial against the dollar has fallen to a record low, even experiencing devaluation of more than 50%. » | Saeed Kamali Dehghan | Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Islamists Favourites as Kuwait Goes to the Polls
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Kuwaitis were casting ballots on Thursday in a snap vote to elect the fourth parliament in less than six years, with unofficial polls showing the Islamist-led opposition in the lead.

The vote in the wealthy Gulf state, which follows a campaign marred by violence, seeks to end political disputes that have hurt the country for years.

Female voters, dressed in clothes ranging from black traditional abayas to casual Western-style jeans, lined up in short queues in voting stations set up for women, as lines of men formed at separate polling booths.

Women voters make up 54 per cent of the electorate and 23 women are among 286 candidates running for the 50-seat legislative body.

Pollsters and analysts expect the 400,000 electorate to deliver a resounding victory for the Islamist-led opposition which has campaigned vehemently for fundamental reforms and against corruption. » | Thursday, February 02, 2012

Mitt Romney 'Glitter-bombed' by Gay Rights Ac[t]ivists in Minnesota
Mitt Romney was subject to the latest in a series of 'glitter bombings' by gay rights activists from the Glitterati group at a rally in Minnesota on Wednesday in protest at the former Massachusetts governor's anti-gay marriage stance. Previous targets have included Romney's rival candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, Rick Santorum

Ellen DeGeneres: Michelle Obama Talks About Her Husband

Libyans Try to Reclaim Lost Property
Libyans try to take back millions of dollars worth in property that they say was taken from them under Muammar Gaddafi's law number four. The law, originating in the deposed leader's Green Book, allowed for property to be seized by Gaddafi supporters in a moment's notice. Now, the victims of the law are seeking justice for land that they say is rightfully theirs. Al Jazeera's Stefanie Dekker reports from Tripoli.

European Cold Snap
Extreme cold and heavy snow fall have paralysed much of southeastern Europe and Russia. Several countries have called in the army to help distribute food and set up heating shelters. Al Jazeera's Catherine Stancl reports.

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Egyptian Violence Amongst Worst in Football History
Wednesday's violence following a match between al-Masry and al-Ahly in Port Said, is among the worst in football history. Al Jazeera sports journalist, Khalid Abdel Kareem explains tension leading up to Wednesday's match between the long-time rivals.

Men Who Stabbed and Stoned Lesbian to Death Are Sentenced to 18 Years' Jail
THE GUARDIAN: Cape Town court sentences four over the murder of Zoliswa Nkonyana, 19, in what activists say was a homophobic attack

A court in Cape Town has sentenced four men to 18 years in jail for a murder that rights activists say was carried out because the victim was a lesbian. » | Associated Press, Johannesburg | Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Belhassen Trabelsi ira devant une commission au Canada

LA PRESSE: Le statut de résident permanent au Canada du beau-frère de l'ancien dictateur tunisien Zine El Abidine Ben Ali a été révoqué par Ottawa peu après son arrivée au pays l'an dernier, mais Belhassen Trabelsi a fait appel de cette décision et il peut rester ici en attendant.

Il comparaîtra en avril devant la Commission de l'immigration et du statut de réfugié pour contester cette décision.

Le ministère de l'Immigration avait décidé l'an dernier de révoquer son statut parce que M. Trabelsi n'a pas respecté ses obligations de résidence au Canada. Pour que son statut de résident permanent soit valide, la personne doit avoir résidé au pays pendant au moins deux ans pendant chaque période de cinq ans.

On croit que Belhassen Trabelsi s'est discrètement réfugié à Montréal avec sa famille, en janvier 2011, suite à l'effondrement de la dictature de Zine El Abidine Ben Ali en Tunisie. Le milliardaire a alors fait usage de son statut de résident permanent au Canada pour se réfugier au pays. » | La Presse Canadienne, Montréal | mercredi 01 février 2012

Canada Looks for Ways to Prevent Honour Killings in Wake of Shafia Trial
THE GLOBE AND MAIL: British Crown lawyers are trained in bringing perpetrators of “honour crimes” to justice. Immigrant boys in Sweden perform in plays against domestic violence. Muslim interest groups who challenge such violence have formed in the United States.

This is all taking place because young, immigrant women were so gruesomely sent to their graves by male relatives that people in these countries banded together to say “never again.”

And now, observers are asking which long-term lessons Canada will learn from the Shafia trial. How will police, teachers, social workers, and immigrants join forces to prevent any more women from meeting horrific fates?

“The lesson for me in this very sad story is, if we want to keep the legacy of Sahar, Zainab, Rona, and Geeti alive, we have to look at the issue as a national issue – a national project,” said Shahrzad Mojab, a University of Toronto expert who served as a prosecution witness.

Sunday’s first-degree murder convictions in the quadruple-homicide case have been eye-opening for Canadians – not least because the three perpetrators and four victims all came from the same nuclear family. The trial not only aired the facts of the crime, but also glaring deficits in Canada’s ability to safeguard vulnerable women and children.

Missed signals and squandered opportunities are, tragically, recurring themes in “honour” killings. When family patriarch Mohammad Shafia began threatening the lives of his daughters and first wife, the victims did not know where to turn. Some eventually sought help, only to encounter skeptical officials who failed to grasp the gravity of their peril. » | Colin Freeze | Published: Tuesday, January 31, 2012; updated: Wednesday, February 01, 2012

THE GLOBE AND MAIL: No culture experts required for ‘honour’ crimes: Male authoritarianism and control are deeply embedded in many cultures. A close study of Canada’s South Asian communities will reveal that male authoritarian inclinations are hidden deep beneath the displays of higher education and affluence. The greatest facilitators of this control are women themselves, who are coerced into silent acceptance. The convictions in the Shafia trial present an opportunity to lead the examination to the correct place. ¶ As Sunday’s conviction spread around the country, it released a gamut of emotional responses. Vilification, affirmation of human rights, grief for three beautiful teenagers and a spurned first wife. Justice had to be meted out and so it was. Meanwhile, the ready acceptance that this murder came from the mind of an Afghan patriarch gave air to a fabricated concept that the act was linked to a light-filled term called “honour.” » | Nazneen Sheikh * | Wednesday, February 01, 2012

* Nazneen Sheikh’s latest book is Moon Over Marrakech, a memoir.

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Extreme Cold Weather Claims More Than 40 Lives in Ukraine
High pressure across the Eurasian continent is causing freezing temperatures from central Europe to Siberia. In Ukraine more than 40 people have died, as temperatures have fallen below -33C (-27F). Several hundred heated tents have been set up around the country to provide makeshift accommodation and dispense food and drinks to homeless people

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Saudi Journalist and TV Host Nadin Al-Badir Calls the Saudi Religious Police the "Enemy of Society" and Says: Most of Them Are Ex-Cons Who are "Violently Extreme"

Saudi Cleric Sa'd Bin Al-Shathari: It Is Forbidden to Pray to Allah to Place Steve Jobs in Paradise

Iranian MP Hossein Ebrahimi, Deputy Head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee: "The Persian Gulf Will Be Turned into a Graveyard" for International Forces

Sunni Scholar Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi: Islamic Law Should Be Implemented Gradually in Egypt; There Should Be No Chopping Off of Hands in the First Five Years

Saudi Cleric Praises Islamic Limb Amputation of Criminals

Islam in the Philippines

Philippines: Des hommes armés enlèvent un Suisse et un Néerlandais
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Deux touristes, un Suisse et un Néerlandais, ont été enlevés avec leur guide philippin dans le sud du pays. Leurs ravisseurs se sont enfuis en bateau.

Un touriste suisse et un autre, néerlandais, ornithologues amateurs, ont été enlevés sur une île du sud des Philippines, ont indiqué mercredi les autorités locales. Des militants islamistes sécessionnistes opèrent dans cette région.

Les trois hommes ont été enlevés sur une petite île de l’archipel de Tawi-Tawi et ont été obligés par leurs ravisseurs de monter dans une vedette, a dit à l’AFP un porte-parole de l’armée dans ce secteur, Randolph Cabangbang. Cinq hommes armés de fusils, de pistolets et d’un lance-grenade ont abordé le bateau qui les transportait et ont demandé aux autres personnes présentes - un policier qui n’était pas armé, le capitaine et un homme politique - de sauter par dessus bord. » | ATS/AP/Newsnet | mercredi 01 février 2012

Syriens First Lady Asma al-Assad: Die Schöne und der Schlächter

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Ist sie das skrupellose Luxusweibchen eines Herrschers im Blutrausch? Oder eine weltoffene, reformorientierte First Lady, die hilflos mit ansehen muss, wie ihr Land im Bürgerkrieg versinkt? Selbst Syrien-Kenner rätseln, welche Rolle Baschar al-Assads Ehefrau Asma in Damaskus spielt.

"Asma al-Assad ist glamourös, jung, sehr schick - die frischeste und magnetischste aller First Ladies. Sie ist eine seltene Mischung: Eine schlanke, schlaksige Schönheit mit einem analytischen Geist, die sich mit überlegtem Understatement kleidet. 'Paris Match' nennt sie 'das Element des Lichts in einem Land voller Schattenzonen.' Sie ist die First Lady von Syrien."


Man könnte noch ganze Passagen aus dem hymnischen Porträt der 36-jährigen Ehefrau Baschar al-Assads zitieren, mit dem sich das amerikanische Modemagazin "Vogue" im vergangenen März in die Nesseln setzte und das inzwischen von der Web-Seite der Zeitschrift entfernt wurde. Das Stück liest sich heute wie ein langer, schlechter Witz. Denn noch während die Ausgabe, in dem die Assads so gepriesen werden, an den Kiosken lag, erhob sich das syrische Volk gegen sein Regime. Die glitzernde Fassade des jungen Präsidentenpaares, von der sich die "Vogue"-Journalistin hatte blenden lassen, begann zu bröckeln.

Heute, zehn Monate nach Beginn des Aufstands gegen Assad und sein Regime, sind weit mehr als 5000 Menschen ums Leben gekommen, in Syrien herrscht Bürgerkrieg. Vor allem in Großbritannien fragen sich die Leute, was Asma al-Assad von all dem hält. Denn Syriens Präsidentengattin ist Britin. » | Von Ulrike Putz, Beirut | Mittwoch 01. Februar 2012

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Affront gegen Hillary Clinton: Russlands Außenminister geht nicht ans Telefon

SPIEGEL ONLINE: 24 Stunden lang versuchte US-Außenministerin Clinton, ihren russischen Kollegen zu erreichen, um über Syrien zu sprechen. Doch Sergej Lawrow verweigerte sich. In Sachen Assad ist für Moskau alles gesagt: Sanktionen kommen nicht in Frage - der Diktator ist der letzte Verbündete in der Region.

Die Welt blickte in den Abgrund: Die Sowjetunion und die USA standen 1962 am Rande eines Nuklearkrieges, weil Moskau zunächst unbemerkt Atomwaffen auf Kuba stationiert hatte. Falken in den USA forderten im Gegenzug einen nuklearen Erstschlag. Die Welt stand kurz vor einem verheerenden Krieg.

Danach richteten Washington und Moskau 1963 den "heißen Draht" ein, eine direkte Kommunikationslinie zwischen Weißem Haus und Kreml. Regelmäßig wurde die Leitung auf Fehlfunktionen getestet. Techniker jagten einen Prüftext über den Draht, der alle Buchstaben des Alphabets enthielt: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog", lautete der. Wenn es brenzlig wird, sollte der heiße Draht einsatzfähig sein.

Aber was hilft die beste Direktverbindung, wenn an einer der beiden Leitungen jemand sitzt, der gar nicht reden möchte?

Das russisch-amerikanische Ringen um eine Lösung des Syrien-Konflikts treibt derzeit bizarre Blüten. Die USA bemühen sich um die Durchsetzung einer starken Uno-Resolution gegen Damaskus, Russland dagegen blockiert alle Vorstöße, die es als Einmischung in die inneren Angelegenheiten seines engen Verbündeten Syrien auffasst. "Sanktionen sind nicht die geeigneten Mittel, das kann nur der Dialog sein", sagte Uno-Botschafter Witalij Tschurkin. » | Von Benjamin Bidder, Moskau | Mittwoch 01. Februar 2012

Russia and Syria's Alliance Remains Resilient
Russia has repeatedly blocked efforts towards a UN resolution that could pave the way for intervention in Syria's 10-month crackdown on protesters. Moscow, a long-standing ally of Damascus and veto-wielding member of the UN, says it fears NATO intervention in Syria would result in another Libya-like scenario and could destabilise the region. Western countries accuse Russia, which continues to sell heavy weapons to its close Arab friend, of failing to "uphold human rights" by backing the government's military offensive, which has claimed thousands of civilian lives across the country. Al Jazeera's Neave Barker reports from Moscow on the enduring alliance between the two countries.

Obama Eyes Gingrich As Easiest Rival
With four candidates left in the Republican race, and Mitt Romney topping the polls, who would Barack Obama prefer to face in November? Romney polls tends to poll better in swing states and with Newt Gingrich prone to the occasional gaffe, the answer seems clear. Al Jazeera's Patty Culhane reports from Washington.

Pakistan Rejects Leaked Nato Report
Pakistan has rejected a leaked Nato report that says it's secretly helping the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan's foreign minister, says the claims should be ignored. Khar is in Kabul, where she has been meeting Afghan leaders for high level reconciliation talks and to end what she calls the blame game between the countries.

Al Jazeera's Patty Culhane reports from Washington, Imtiaz Tyab from Islamabad. and Jennifer Glasse from Kabul.

Four UK Men Plead Guilty in London Bomb Plot
Four British men plead guilty to taking part in plot to blow up the London Stock Exchange in 2010.

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Qatar Asserts Its Diplomatic Presence
The diplomatic clout of the tiny Gulf state of Qatar is causing growing controversy amongst its Arab neighbours.

Extreme Freeze Claims Lives in Eastern Europe
Dozens killed by cold in Ukraine, while Turkish coast guards seek missing sailors after cargo ship sinks in snowstorm.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Extremkälte friert Europa ein: Deutschland genießt trotz Dauerfrost die Sonne - in Osteuropa aber haben die Minustemperaturen bereits Dutzende Menschen das Leben gekostet. Und es wird noch schlimmer: Jetzt nahen die kältesten Nächte des Jahres. » | ala/siu/dpa/dapd/AFP | Mittwoch 01. Februar 2012

Michelle Obama on Jay Leno: The First Lady Spills the Beans on Life in the White House
The first lady talks to The Tonight Show with Jay Leno about how to cope with raising kids in the White House and being married to the President. Report by Sam Datta-Paulin.

How ‘Europe’ Became a Dirty Word in the US Election

BBC: As Florida goes to the polls in its primary election for the Republican presidential candidate, how did Europe-bashing become such an issue?

"J'accuse!"

There is only one presidential contender fluent in the French tongue.

But if Mitt Romney wins the US Republican nomination, he is likely to stick to plain English when he delivers what he hopes will be a killer blow against President Barack Obama in November's general election.

Mr Romney and his chief Republican rival, Newt Gingrich - who is also said to have a passing acquaintance with French - have spent the past few months arguing that the current US president wants to turn the US into a European country.

In the US, this is not as crazy a line of attack as it might sound from Europe.

The eurozone debt crisis, and fears that Greece, Portugal, Spain and the rest might yet drag the faltering US economy down with them, has turned Europe into a dirty word in American politics.

Accusing Mr Obama of wanting to follow the same path of ever-growing welfare budgets and high taxes that supposedly led the EU nations to this pass will strike a chord with many voters.

Those who already view Europe with suspicion, deriding the continent as an economic backwater with a dubious military record, may be particularly receptive to the argument.

'Welfare state'

With the US economy starting to show signs of recovery, it could turn out to be the best shot the Republicans have of unseating Mr Obama.

Newt Gingrich has constantly accused the president of being a "European Socialist", often adding in a reference to an all-but-forgotten community activist from Chicago, who died in 1972, but whose Democratic-leaning writings are thought to have influenced the current president.

"I am for the Declaration of Independence; he is for the writing of Saul Alinsky. I am for the Constitution; he is for European socialism," Mr Gingrich told voters in Florida last week.

When pushed, Mr Romney will also use the "S" word. » | Brian Wheeler, BBC News, Washington | Monday, January 30, 2012

Terror Gang Who Plotted to Blow Up London Stock Exchange Could Be Free in Six Years
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A terrorist gang involved in a plot to blow up the London Stock Exchange, the American Embassy and the home of Boris Johnson could be free in just six years.

The group of four Qaeda-inspired fundamentalists admitted planning to send mail bombs to their targets during the run up to Christmas 2010 and discussed launching a Mumbai-style attack on Parliament.

But they could all be out after just six years after the two ringleaders of the group were given an indication of their sentences before deciding whether or not to plead guilty.

Mohammed Chowdhury, described as the group’s “lynchpin”, and Shah Rahman, his accomplice, pleaded guilty following a so-called Goodyear hearing where the judge gave them an indication of their maximum sentences should they plead guilty.

The judge, Mr Justice Wilkie, told Chowdhury, 21, that he would be sentenced to no more than 13 and half years, while Rahman, 28, was told he would be given 12 and a half years if he admitted his involvement in the plot.

The two, along with fellow conspirators Gurukanth Desai, 30, and Abdul Miah, 25, admitted the charges of preparing for acts of terrorism after being made aware of the sentences they were likely to serve.

It was part of a controversial 'Goodyear Direction' which allows defendants to judge whether they should plead guilty, depending on the sentence they are likely to face.

Had they been opted to go to trial instead and been found guilty by a jury, they would likely have been sentenced to approximately 20 years.

But now they could be out in fewer than six years. They will be released automatically at the half-way point in their sentence and spend the remainder on licence.

They will also have a year deducted for time already spent on remand. » | Mark Hughes, Tom Whitehead and Duncan Gardham | Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Generation of Terrorists Being Groomed in British Jails
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A new generation of “lone killers” is being groomed for terrorism in UK jails, a think-tank has warned.

Major sporting events such as this year’s Olympic Games could be targeted by Muslim ex-prisoners who were radicalised whilst behind bars, according to a study published in the journal of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).

It warned that up to around one in 10 of the UK’s 8,000 Muslim inmates were being successfully targeted by extremists inside jail and could form the next generation of terrorists. » | Victoria Ward | Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Israeli Ad Campaign Unsettles US Jews

Mitt Romney's Florida Primary Victory Speech
Former Massachusetts governor and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney addressed a crowd of supporters in Tampa after winning Florida's Republican primary. "Thomas Paine was reported to say, 'Lead, follow, or get out of the way.' Mr President, you were elected to lead, you chose to follow, and now it's time for you to get out of the way," he told the crowd.

Conquest 1453 – Official Trailer

HT: Islam versus Europe »

PORT TURKEY.COM: ”The Conquest 1453” Movie to Be Released in February: Turkey is set to release an epic war-time movie named Fetih 1453 (‘Conquest 1453’ in English) provides a historical view of the battle for Constantinople, as well being filled with special effects by the popular Pixar Studios. The big release captures the epic war fought in 1453 in which the Ottoman Empire took over the city of Constantinople. The film is based on two main characters, Sultan Mehmed II, and Ulubatlı Hasan, a soldier believed to be the first person to have planted the Ottoman flag on the walls of Istanbul during the final assault on the city. » | Thursday, January 12, 2012

Iranian Attack on America and Allies Increasingly Likely – Intelligence Chief
THE GUARDIAN: Washington openly blames Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei for first time over Saudi ambassador plot

The head of US intelligence has warned that there is an increasing likelihood that Iran could carry out attacks in America or against US and allied targets around the world.

The warning from the director of national intelligence, James Clapper, reflects rapidly rising tensions over Iran's nuclear programme after the US and EU announced embargoes on the Iranian oil trade in the past few weeks, Israel leaked details of its preparation for a possible conflict and both the west and Iran boosted their military readiness in the Gulf.

The US plans to send a third aircraft carrier to the region in March, while Iran's military has threatened to block the entrance to the Gulf in the strait of Hormuz and is planning to hold naval exercises there in the next few weeks involving a host of new weapons.

Presenting his annual "worldwide threat assessment" to Congress, Clapper said an alleged plot to blow up the Saudi ambassador in Washington last year, which the US blamed on the Iran's Revolutionary Guard, "shows that some Iranian officials – probably including the supreme leader Ali Khamenei – have changed their calculus and are now more willing to conduct an attack in the United States in response in response to real or perceived US actions that threaten the regime."

Clapper added: "Iran's willingness to sponsor future attacks in the US or against our interests abroad probably will be shaped by Tehran's evaluation of the costs it bears for the plot against the ambassador as well as Iranian leaders' perceptions of US threats against the regime." » | Julian Borger, diplomatic editor | Tuesday, January 31, 2012

ARAB NEWS: Iran adds laser-guided munition to its armory » | Associated Press | Monday, January 30, 2012