French military jet opens fire in Libya, 67 exposed to radiation in Fukushima prefecture 19 Mar 2011
CLG_News
19 Mar 2011 --Early Edition http://www.legitgov.org All links are
here:
http://www.legitgov.org/#breaking_news
Breaking: French military jet opens fire in
Libya<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418> --French
aircraft have destroyed four Libyan tanks in air strikes 19 Mar
2011 The first shots have been fired in Libya by French military
jets enforcing the no-fly zone voted for by the UN. French aircraft
are preventing forces loyal to Libyan leader Col Gaddafi from
attacking the rebel-held city of Benghazi, French President Nicolas
Sarkozy says after a meeting of world leaders in Paris.
French aircraft also flew over "all Libyan territory" on reconnaissance
missions, according to French military sources. Dutch Prime Minister
Mark Rutte tells journalists he believed British, French and Canadian
aircraft would launch the first airstrikes, a BBC correspondent
reports.
Breaking: France Fires on Libyan Military
Vehicle<http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/19/france-fires-libyan-military-
vehicle/> 19 Mar 2011 A French official says a French fighter jet
has fired on a Libyan military vehicle, in a first reported strike
in the international campaign to enforce a no-fly zone. French
Defense Ministry spokesman Thierry Burkhard says the strike was
reported around 1645 GMT Saturday.
Warplane downed over Libya's
Benghazi<http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=370071>
19 Mar 2011 A warplane was shot down Saturday over the rebel-held
Libyan city of Benghazi, an AFP reporter witnessed.
French Warplane Fires First Shot in Operation Against Libya, France
Confirms<http://www.legitgov.org/French-Warplane-Fires-First-Shot-Operation-A
gainst-Libya-France-Confirms> 19 Mar 2011
Western powers launch airstrikes on Libyan military
forces<http://www.marketwatch.com/story/libyan-government-reportedly-calls-a-
ceasefire-2011-03-18> 19 Mar 2011 Western powers intervened in Libya
on Saturday to prevent Moammar Gadhafi from crushing the rebellion
in the eastern city of Benghazi. In a dramatic statement, French
president Nicolas Sarkozy announced that French airplanes were in
the air over Benghazi to prevent Gadhafis aircraft from bombarding
the city. Sarkozy said the planes would also attack tanks on the
ground if necessary to end any assault. The west will oppose any
aggression against the civilian population in Benghazi, Sarkozy
said. [Except when Israel attacks the 'civilian population' in Gaza,
or when US killer drones bomb 'civilian populations' 24/7 in Pakistan,
Afghanistan, Iraq and any other place where there's oil, gas or
opium routes to control -- then no problem! Am I the only one that
sees through this hypocritical humanitarian bullsh*t and pathetic
calls to oust dictators -- aka previous CIA assets 'going rogue,'
recipients of tons of US armaments? The US government doesn't give
a *damn* about civilians, anywhere! The US just wants oil production
to slow to a crawl so Exxon Mobil's profits can skyrocket. More
'bad economy' equals more union busting and further decimation of
the working class. --LRP]
25 killed in U.S. drone strike in
Pakistan<http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/7323356.html> 17
Mar 2011 The death toll has risen to 25 following a strike launched
late Thursday morning by a U.S. drone in Pakistan's northwest tribal
area of North Waziristan, reported local Urdu TV channel ARY.
According to the report, the U.S. drone fired four missiles at a
house located at a village in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan,
in which a group of people suspected to be militants were said to
be holding a meeting inside.
Pakistanis protest botched US air
raid<http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/19/3168267.htm> 19
Mar 2011 Thousands of people have protested against a US drone
strike that killed up to 40 people in Pakistan. Anti-US demonstrators
rallied in cities across the country, including Islamabad, Lahore
and Karachi. More than 3,000 people gathered outside the Red Mosque
in the capital, shouting "death to America"
and burning the American flag. The protesters expressed their anger
over a US missile strike in the north-west of the country on Thursday.
David Cameron sends RAF fighters to
Mediterranean<http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-sen
ds-raf-fighters-to-mediterranean-2246032.html> 18 Mar 2011 Colonel
Muammar Gaddafi's regime today announced an immediate ceasefire
after David Cameron ordered RAF fighters to the Mediterranean to
help enforce a military no-fly zone. The Prime Minister said he was
sending Typhoon and Tornado jets - as part of a joint operation
with the US and France - in order to prevent foment a "bloodbath"
in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.
Allies Set Conditions on Qaddafi, Prepare for Air
Strikes<http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-03-19/allies-set-conditions-on-
qaddafi-prepare-for-air-strikes.html> 19 Mar 2011 Libyan leader
Muammar Qaddafis promise of an immediate cease-fire, even if
implemented, falls short of the demands set by the U.S., U.K. and
France to avert allied military strikes as soon as this weekend.
President Barack Obama, speaking at the White House, described
specific demands set in coordination with U.K. Prime Minister David
Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Qaddafi must immediately
stop attacks on civilians [and leave that task to the US/UK/France],
halt his advance on Benghazi, and pull back forces from three
embattled cities, Ajdabiya, Misrata, and Zawiyah.
Obama warns of military action against
Kadhafi<http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j4sNSRnhgg5y1P_jlq
3iVZyFn-nQ> 18 Mar 2011 President Barack Obama Friday delivered a
frank ultimatum to Moamer Kadhafi, threatening military action if
he ignores non-negotiable demands for a ceasefire and a retreat
from rebel bastions. The US warning was immediately backed by France,
Britain and Arab nations which have driven demands for a no-fly
zone and other measures, now enshrined in a UN resolution mandating
action. The US president made dramatic and forceful on-camera demands
of Kadhafi, saying the world could not stand by because, if left
unchecked, Kadhafi would commit atrocities in which thousands would
die.
[Right, and only the US and/or its bribed poodle nations are allowed
to do that.]
I suffered post-traumatic stress after being waterboarded on Ken
Loach set, says
actor<http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/i-suffered-p
osttraumatic-stress-after-being-waterboarded-on-ken-loach-set-says-actor-2245
358.html> 18 Mar 20110 A former paratrooper claims he suffered
sustained panic attacks and post-traumatic stress after being
waterboarded for a scene in a new film ['Route Irish'] by Ken Loach.
Trevor Williams said he was strapped to a bench press, had his feet
elevated, hands tied and face covered with a rag while experiencing
"simulated drowning" for a total of 80 seconds, halting only when
he gave small thumb signals to the crew... Loach maintained that
the scene was aimed at highlighting the "disgusting" practice of
torture which George Bush described in his memoir, Decision Points,
as "simulated drowning".
Audit: Pentagon overpaid billionaire oilman by up to $200
million<http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/pentagon-overpaid-oilman-milli
ons-audit-finds/2011/03/17/ABQ6VFn_story.html> --'The International
Oil Trading Company overcharged by hundreds of millions of dollars
while the Bush administration looked the other way.' 17 Mar 2011 A
Pentagon audit has found that the federal government overpaid a
billionaire oilman by as much as $200 million on several military
contracts worth nearly $2.7 billion. The audit by the Defense
Departments inspector general, which was posted on the Pentagons
Web site this week, estimated that the department paid the oilman
"$160 [million] to $204 million more for fuel than could be supported
by price or cost analysis." ...Harry Sargeant III, a well-connected
Florida businessman and once-prominent Republican donor, first faced
scrutiny over his defense work in October 2008.
Israel threatens 'military action' if Iran refuses to stop nuclear
programme<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1367610/--------Israel-thre
atens-military-action-Iran-refuses-stop-nuclear-programme-weapons-equipment-i
ntercepted-cargo-ship.html> --Israeli PM said Iran has enough
material for almost three nuclear bombs 18 Mar 2011 Israel's Prime
Minister said the world must make clear that Iran would face 'credible
military action' if sanctions do not shut down Tehran's disputed
nuclear program. Benjamin Netanyahu's warning comes as Malaysian
police found equipment they suspect could be used to make nuclear
weapons smuggled on board a ship headed to Iran. Mr Netanyahu said
this week it was clear Iran was pursuing its nuclear ambitions
despite international sanctions and had enough material for almost
three nuclear bombs. [WHY is it fine and dandy for *other* nations
to have nuclear power?]
Snipers shooting Yemeni civilians<http://www.presstv.ir/detail/170613.html>
18 Mar 20111 With a state of emergency already in place, snipers
deployed by the Yemeni government are still targeting civilians
from rooftops. At least 50 people were killed on Friday alone, when
protesters took to the streets to call for an end to the three-decade
rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, a Press TV correspondent
reported.
Japan Finds Contaminated Food Up to 90 Miles From Nuclear
Sites<http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/world/asia/20japan.html>
20 Mar 2011 The government said Saturday that it had found higher
than normal levels of radioactive materials in spinach and milk at
farms up to 90 miles away from the ravaged nuclear power plants,
the first confirmation by officials that the unfolding nuclear
crisis has affected the nations food supply. While officials played
down the immediate risks to consumers, the findings further unsettled
a nation worried about the long-term effects of the damaged nuclear
power plants.
Radioactive iodine found in Tokyo
water<http://www.presstv.ir/detail/170780.html> --Radiation above
national safety level found in spinach and milk 19 Mar 2011 As
looming nuclear crisis threatens Japan, the government says small
amounts of radioactive iodine have been detected in tap water in
Tokyo and five other areas. On Saturday, the Japanese government
said a sample of tap water from the Japanese capital contained 1.5
becquerals per kg of iodine 131, well below the 'tolerable' limit
for food and drink of 300 becquerals per kg.
Japan advised iodine for people near plant -
IAEA<http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/19/japan-nuclear-iodine-iaea-idUS
LDE72I03K20110319> --Levels at plant "significantly higher" than
normal 19 Mar 2011 Japanese authorities earlier this week issued a
recommendation that people leaving the area near a tsunami-crippled
nuclear power plant should ingest iodine, the U.N. nuclear watchdog
said on Saturday. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
also said radiation at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant had
stabilised at "significantly higher" levels than normal, but these
were still in a range allowing onsite recovery measures. Earlier
this week, the Vienna-based U.N. agency said Japan had provided
230,000 units of stable iodine to evacuation centres as a precautionary
measure in the nuclear emergency.
67 exposed to radiation in Fukushima prefecture following radioactive
leaks<http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/7324928.html>
19 Mar 2011 Up to 67 people have been exposed to radiation in
Fukushima prefecture following leaks of radioactive substances from
the troubled nuclear plant, local media reported Saturday. The
prefectural authorities detected radioactive substances on their
shoes and clothes after having conducted radiation checks on 42,440
people at 13 locations in the prefecture, said the reports.
Workers at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi plant exposed to radiation
above past
limit<http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fgw-japan-nuclear-work
ers-exposure,0,2212621.story> --Six workers at the nuclear power
plant have been exposed to radiation beyond the previous limit for
an emergency operation, Tokyo Electric Power Co. says. 19 Mar 2011
Six workers at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have
been exposed to radiation beyond the previous limit for an emergency
operation, Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Saturday. Kyodo News
reported the employees, whose job titles were not known, were
continuing to work despite having been exposed to more than 100
millisieverts of radiation. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry
raised the exposure limit to 250 millisieverts for the current
nuclear crisis.
Japan radiation fallout reaches
US<http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gDLfOR2fSYWWui5-JJH
rd7BCxMKQ> 18 Mar 2011 Radioactive fallout from Japan's crippled
nuclear plant has reached the US, with experts saying there is a
small chance it could soon reach Britain. Meanwhile, the evacuation
of Britons from the disaster-hit country gathered pace as the
situation at the dangerously overheated Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear
facility continued to deteriorate. The Nuclear Energy Agency, part
of the international Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development, said radiation from the plant was likely to reach
everywhere in the northern hemisphere but in extremely small
quantities.
Radiation tests begin throughout US
airports<http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/national_world&id=801
9067> 18 Mar 2011 Travelers arriving from Japan may not know it,
but U.S.
customs agents are on alert for passengers coming into the country
with high levels of radiation. It's routine protocol for agents at
all ports of entry to screen for radiation with personal radiation
devices, but now Homeland Security is directing agents to be more
watchful. "In an exercise of caution, and just to make sure everyone
remains safe, we are doing screenings of passengers and cargo,"
said Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.
"If there happens to be a blip in terms of radiation."
Nissan scanning vehicles for radioactive
material<http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/18/japan.nissan.radiation/>
18 Mar 2011 Nissan has started scanning vehicles made in Japan for
traces of radioactive material, a company official said Friday.
Simon Sproule, corporate vice president of marketing for Nissan
Motor Company, said the monitoring began this week. Sources inside
the company said there is virtually no risk of contamination from
a car and no potential health risk to customers, but testing began
because of public concern.
Japanese finally admit radiation leak is serious enough to kill
people<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1367684/Nuclear-plant-chief-we
eps-Japanese-finally-admit-radiation-leak-kill-people.html> --Officials
admit they may have to bury reactors under concrete - as happened
at Chernobyl --Particles spewed from wrecked Fukushima power station
arrive in California 18 Mar 2011 The boss of the company behind the
devastated Japanese nuclear reactor today broke down in tears - as
his country finally acknowledged the radiation spewing from the
over-heating reactors and fuel rods was enough to kill some citizens.
Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency admitted that the
disaster was a level 5, which is classified as a crisis causing
'several radiation deaths' by the UN International Atomic Energy.
U.S. nuclear officials suspect Japanese plant has dire
breach<http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-japan-quake-wrapup
-20110318,0,2262753.story> 18 Mar 2011 U.S. government nuclear
experts believe a spent fuel pool at Japan's crippled Fukushima
reactor complex has a breach in the wall or floor, a situation that
creates a major obstacle to refilling the pool with cooling water
and keeping dangerous levels of radiation from escaping. That
assessment by U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials is based
on the sequence of events since the earthquake and information
provided by key U.S. contractors who were in the plant at the time,
said government officials familiar with the evaluation. It was
compelling evidence, they said, that the wall of the No. 4 reactor
pool has a significant hole or crack.
Tokyo Electric Says Cooling Pump Started at Fukushima Plant's No.5
Reactor<http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-19/tokyo-electric-says-cooling-
pump-started-at-fukushima-plant-s-no-5-reactor.html> 19 Mar 2011
Tokyo Electric Power Co. said it restarted the residual-heat removal
pump at the No.
5 reactor of its stricken Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant, one of
the least damaged at the facility. The utility began cooling the
pool in the reactor that contains spent fuel rods, it said in a
statement today. Temperatures in the pool had earlier fallen to
67.6 degrees Celsius from 68.8 degrees, Kyodo News reported.
Temperatures should be kept below 25 degrees Celsius, according to
international guidelines.
UN says nuclear fuel was in fire area at
reactor<http://wvgazette.com/ap/ApInternational/201103181181> 18
Mar 2011 The U.N. nuclear agency says all the fuel from a reactor
at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan was transferred
last November to the spent fuel pool where a fire broke out Tuesday.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said Wednesday the transfer
occurred when Unit 4, one of six reactors, had routine maintenance
on Nov. 30. The fire in Unit 4's fuel storage pond, an area where
used nuclear fuel is cooled, caused the release of radioactivity
into the atmosphere.
Greater Danger Lies in Spent Fuel Than in
Reactors<http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/world/asia/18spent.html>
--Electric utility: 11,125 spent fuel rod assemblies were stored
at site, about four times as much radioactive material as in reactor
cores combined 18 Mar 2011 Years of procrastination in deciding on
long-term disposal of highly radioactive fuel rods from nuclear
reactors are now coming back to haunt Japanese authorities as they
try to control fires and explosions at the stricken Fukushima Daiichi
Nuclear Power Station. Japan, like the United States, has kept
ever-larger numbers of spent fuel rods in temporary storage pools
at the power plants, where they can be guarded with the same security
provided for the plants. Figures provided by Tokyo Electric Power
on Thursday show that most of the dangerous uranium at the power
plant is actually in the spent fuel rods, not the reactor cores
themselves.
Japan raises threat level for nuclear
crisis<http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=weather/earthquake_center&id
=8020376> --Japanese officials raised the severity level of the
accident because the scope of the disaster has spread beyond Japan.
18 Mar 2011 The threat level of the nuclear crisis in Japan has
increased from 4 to 5 on a 7-level international scale. The Japanese
government is now acknowledging it has been overwhelmed by the scale
of the twin disasters that hit the country, which has slowed its
response to the nuclear crisis. It's also now welcoming U.S. help
to stabilize the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant. Damage to the
facility is extensive after several explosions.
Engineers consider burying Fukushima to block
radiation<http://www.france24.com/en/20110318-engineers-weigh-chernobyl-solut
ion-radiation-japan-nuclear-crisis?ns_linkname=20110318_engineers_weigh_chern
obyl_solution_radiation_japan> 18 Mar 2011 Japanese engineers
conceded on Friday that burying a crippled nuclear reactor in sand
and concrete may be the only way to prevent a catastrophic radiation
leak, the method used to seal huge leakages from Chernobyl in 1986.
Officials said they still hoped to fix a power cable to at least
two reactors to restart water pumps needed to cool overheating
nuclear fuel rods. Workers also sprayed water on the No.3 reactor,
one of the most critical of the plant's six.
Japan seeks US nuclear crisis
help<http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jpWG39o1apiT6606F
nwkgztciEOQ> 18 Mar 2011 Japan has asked the US for help in reining
in the crisis at its dangerously overheated nuclear complex, while
the UN atomic energy chief called the disaster a race against the
clock that demands global cooperation. At the stricken complex,
military fire trucks began spraying the troubled reactor units once
more with tons of water in an attempt to prevent meltdowns that
could spew dangerous levels of radiation.
Navy stops moving sailors to
Japan<http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/03/navy-stop-movement-sailors-japan-
031711w/> 17 Mar 2011 As the situation at the damaged Fukushima
Dai-ichi nuclear power plant worsens, the Navy has stopped sending
personnel to Japan indefinitely, according to a naval administrative
message released Thursday.
Its a move that comes as the White House urged Americans to stay
at least 50 miles away from the plant, and authorized military
dependents and families of other U.S. government employees to
relocate from northeastern Japan.
U.S. to evacuate Americans out of
Japan<http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/03/ap-us-to-evacuate-americans-from-
japan-031711/> --Voluntary evacuation offered to family members and
dependents of U.S. personnel 17 Mar 2011 The United States has
authorized the first evacuations of Americans out of Japan, taking
a tougher stand on the deepening nuclear crisis and warning U.S.
citizens to defer all non-essential travel to any part of the country
as unpredictable weather and wind conditions risked spreading
radioactive contamination. Passengers and cargo arriving from Japan
are being screened for radiation in an exercise of caution, Homeland
Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Thursday. She said no
harmful levels of radiation had been detected.
Pentagon buys social networking 'spy
software'<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/social-media/8389577/Pentagon
-buys-social-networking-spy-software.html> --'Personas must be able
to appear to originate in nearly any part of the world,' the documents
stated. 17 Mar 2011 The Pentagon has purchased a pioneering software
programme that creates fake identities on social media websites,
in an attempt to infiltrate and influence suspected terrorists and
extremists overseas. The $2.7 million (#1.7 million) programme
developed by San Diego firm Ntrepid allows one military user to
create multiple personas on the internet and engage in extended
online conversations and communications with suspects.
Wisconsin judge halts state budget law curbing unions'
power<http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/18/wisconsin.budget.restraining.order/>
18 Mar 2011 A Wisconsin judge issued a temporary restraining order
Friday halting the state's controversial budget repair law that
curbs the union power of most public employees, the Dane County
district attorney's office said. Gov. Scott Walker, who championed
the measure and signed it into law last week, said he was confident
the initiative would eventually prevail in the court system, a
spokeswoman said. The ruling by Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi came
in response to a lawsuit filed by District Attorney Ismael Ozanne,
charging such a violation of the law.
Russia lifts ban on polar bear
hunting<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8390792/Russia-lifts-ban-on
-polar-bear-hunting.html> --Russia has legalised the hunting of
polar bears for the first time in more than half a century, a move
that critics say will put further pressure on the endangered mammal.
19 Mar 2011 Roman Kopin, the governor of Russia's remote Chukotka
region, signed a decree allowing the area's indigenous people to
hunt and kill 29 polar bears each year, including 19 females. Russian
wildlife campaigners condemned the move, saying the polar bear was
already threatened by a shrinking habitat and rampant poaching.
Varvara Semonova, a wildlife campaigner, said the decision would
"threaten the survival of the polar bear in the Russian Arctic and
will have not only ecological but serious social and political
consequences for us."
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