Archive - Sep 2010

• Police protest in Ecuador destabilizes central government
• Lawmakers depart for campaign trail leaving unfinished business
• Intelligence bill to broaden congressional oversight of executive power
• Advocates, economists push for veteran trust fund to cover ‘real cost’ of war
• UN investigation finds execution style killings of activists on Gaza aid ship
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• UN lifts sanctions on Sierra Leone

• Argentina passes glacier protection law
• Canadian province decriminalizes prostitution
• JP Morgan Chase delays thousands of foreclosures over federal rule violation
• EU comes down on UK for not providing adequate internet privacy protections
• Right Livelihood laureates honored for grassroots activism

Thousands have poured into the streets of Ecuador in response to an apparent coup attempt by members of the police. What began as a large police protest over wage bonuses rapidly escalated into acts of violence against top officials - including President Rafael Correa. Police launched tear gas at the president soon after he addressed a crowd of protestors.

US lawmakers departed the nation’s capitol today, leaving unfinished business on hold until after the November elections. FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell reports on what was accomplished this week and what remains.

Congress also passed a bill that gives it more oversight over the intelligence community. The legislation requires the president to brief more legislators on top-secret intelligence, and actions such as covert operations. The Senate unanimously passed the bill earlier this week, the House passed it yesterday and Obama is expected to sign it into law. But as FSRN’s Jacob Fenston reports, some think Congress still needs more oversight.

Some lawmakers stayed in DC this morning for a hearing on the “True Cost of War.” Veterans, their family members, military officials and economists testified before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. Veterans advocates said many wounded vets face hardships in accessing resources, getting proper diagnosis and treatment and securing benefits. And according to Veterans for Common Sense, despite the Obama Administration’s emphasis on a de-escalation of US wars, the number of wounded veterans continues to rise at A constant rate, bringing 9 thousand new patients to VA hospitals each month.

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On Wednesday the UN Human Rights Council endorsed a report which found that Israeli commandos killed six passengers execution style on the Mavi Marmara aid flotilla last May. One of them, 19-year-old Turkish American Furgan Dogan, was shot five times, once in the face. At the time of the attack, he was filming with a video recorder. The report is based on a UN fact-finding mission that began in June...

The US was the only country to vote against the endorsement of the report, calling it “unbalanced.” Israel has called it "biased" and "distorted." Investigators also said they found enough evidence to move forward on a prosecution.

For more on the details, we're joined by Gareth Porter, investigative journalist and historian specializing in US security policies. He has reported on the findings of the investigation.

Read Gareth Porter’s reporting on the investigation here: http://www.truth-out.org/un-fact-finding-mission-says-israelis-executed-...

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