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SOPA Will Take Us Back to the Dark Ages

By Lance Ulanoff

Fear is a powerful motivator. It will grind the engine of the Internet to a halt.  http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30277.htm

A Close Look at the Stop Online Piracy Act Bill

By Jonathan Zittrain

A detailed guide on what the Stop Online Piracy Act legislation, if passed in its current form, would affect.    

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30279.htm

Brave New World?
School district bans books by Chicano, Native American authors

By Rheana Murray

Ethnic book ban in Arizona school district includes all books about Mexican-American history, even Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'.   http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30281.htm

Brave New World?
Neo-Racism in the Southwest

By Jorge Mariscal

Yolanda Sotelo was informed last week that monitors would visit her classroom to make sure banned books were not being used.    http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30282.htm

"My Country 'Tis of Thy People You're Dying"

By Buffy Sainte-Marie

"My point in the song is that the American people haven't been given a fair share at learning the true history of the American Indian."   http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30280.htm

NATO vs. Syria

By Philip Giraldi

Americans should be concerned about what is happening in Syria, if only because it threatens to become another undeclared war like Libya but much, much worse.   http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30278.htm

How Iran Could Whip the United States
and Israel Without Firing a Single Shot

By Mark R. Crovelli

The conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has absolutely nothing to do with nuclear power or nuclear weapons. Instead, the pointless conflict is all about cold, hard political power in the Middle East, with the Israelis hoping to secure a vice-like grip on the region.   http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30285.htm

The Emergency Committee For Israel
 Israel Creates a Super PAC to Attack Ron Paul
 
 Video   
 Max Blumenthal exposes Israel's role in American politics.  http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30284.htm

The Man Who Bought Washington
Jack Abramoff: 'Congress Corrupt To Core'

Video

When it comes to big money in America's politics, lobbyists are the people who know exactly how it works. RT talks to former lobbyist Jack Abramoff who explains why he thinks Washington is corrupted to the core.   http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30283.htm 

16 killed in two attacks in southern Afghanistan:   Two attacks just hours apart killed 16 people and wounded more than 20 others on Wednesday in the insurgency-wracked southern Afghan province of Helmand, officials said.  http://yhoo.it/z8Mskq

Afghanistan blasts kill 13 in Helmand province:   In the first, a suicide bomber on a motorcycle killed seven civilians and two police officers in a bazaar in Kajaki district. Ban is part of termination of ethnic studies program in Tucson  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16620589#TWEET64250

Report: UK soldiers rape Afghan kids:   According to the paper, the solders filmed raping a boy and a girl separately and showed the video to other servicemen who reported them.  http://www.presstv.ir/detail/221763.html

Two British soldiers 'abused kids aged ten':
The accused pair - a sergeant and a private in the Mercian Battle Group - allegedly encouraged a boy and a girl to touch them through their clothes.  http://bit.ly/xD2WSK

Pakistan refused to receive US special envoy Marc Grossman:   The development indicates further deterioration in a relationship which has continued to decline at a regular pace since the May 2 US raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad.  http://bit.ly/z02xEc

Ceasefire 'agreed' in Syrian mountain town:   Under the deal, troops and tanks were to withdraw from Zabadani, a town of about 40,000 people, and opposition fighters would withdraw from the streets, according to Labwani.  http://bit.ly/wLsxXV

Russia Insists U.S., Allies Discussing Military Option in Syria:   Russia dismissed denials by NATO and three alliance members about plans for military intervention in Syria, saying it has information that a no-fly zone and humanitarian corridors are under discussion.  http://bloom.bg/y06tL0

Russia, China to block any UN action on Syria: -   Russia will offer Washington no explanation for arms deliveries to Syria and together with China will prevent the UN Security Council from approving any military intervention in the conflict-torn nation, its foreign minister said on Wednesday.  http://bit.ly/xdTy84

Friend turned foe: Turkey rounds on Syria in regional power bid:   Turkey, Syria's neighbor and long-time ally, is now taking an active role in attempts to dethrone Assad. Ankara is backing Western actions, reportedly providing a base for training Syrian rebels and even discussing a no-fly zone with the US.  http://rt.com/news/turkey-syria-neighbors-policy-077/

Syria accuses Qatar of arming rebels: state media:
The Gulf state "can help Syria get out of its crisis... by stopping its financing of armed (groups) and the trafficking of weapons" to insurgents, wrote the daily.  http://bit.ly/yvZ4Vu

Qatari Emir secretly visited Israel:   Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has made a secret visit to Israel despite the fact that Doha and Tel Aviv have no political relations, a video has revealed.  http://www.presstv.ir/detail/221741.html

Iraqi local leader, his 3 sons killed: -   Gunmen stormed a home in a small town south of Baghdad early Wednesday, Jan 18, killing a local leader and three of his sons, according to police.  http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/88664/

Four armed Americans arrested in Baghdad:   Iraqi police announced Thursday the arrest of four armed-Americans while roaming suspiciously near Baghdad Governor Salah Abdul Razzak's residence.  http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2214367&Language=en

US 'liberates' Iraq, but bars Iraqi refugees:
EACH time Uncle Sam ventures abroad he leaves an unfinished story, and nothing is most unfinished than the story of Iraq, where despite flowery speeches regarding freedom and sovereignty by the Obama administration, despite assurances that tyranny has been "cast aside," the tragedy caused by the United States invasion, occupation and inevitable abandonment is on an epic proportion.  http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=492660&type=Opinion

Israeli attack kills two Palestinians in Gaza:   Residents of the north Gaza town of Beit Hanoun said Israeli planes and tanks had fired into the area.  http://bit.ly/ymgBYI

Map of Holy Land - 1709 :
'Canaan, Palestine or The Holy Land'.  http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30286.htm

Israel spied for the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK):   According to reports by Turkish intelligence agencies, Heron unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operated by Israel that have been observed in Hatay and Adana provinces in recent months spied for the terrorist Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK).  http://www.todayszaman.com/news-268815-.html

Israel says decision on Iran attack 'far off':   Israeli defence minister Ehud said on Wednesday January 18 no decision has been made to take such action, as Israel prepares for a visit this week by U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Martin Dempsey.  http://bit.ly/w4Ni86

IDF conducts first major paratroopers drill in 13 years:   Some 1,000 Israel Defense Forces paratroopers participated in the Paratroopers Brigade's first complete exercise in 13 years on Tuesday.  http://bit.ly/wPrtaZ

Russia says western strike on Iran would be 'catastrophe':   A Western military strike on Iran would be a 'catastrophe' that would aggravate dangerous divisions already present in the Muslim world, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.  http://bit.ly/wfqHsn

Former CIA chief: Military is 'bad option' against Iran: -   Former CIA acting director John McLaughlin said the United States can engage Iran through diplomacy, sanctions or military action, but warned the latter choice "would be a very bad option."  http://bit.ly/wZEqu6

Worries Mount over Blowback of Israeli Attack on Iran:   A former senior adviser on the Middle East to the last four U.S. presidents says that "the negatives far outweigh the positives" of war with Iran and the United States should augment Israel's nuclear weapons delivery systems to dissuade it from attacking the Islamic Republic.  http://www.ipsnews.net/text/news.asp?idnews=106478

Russia says it will block any UN oil embargo on Iran:   Kremlin has reaffirmed its opposition to new sanctions targeting Iran's oil exports, warning that Russia would block any possible UN resolution in this regard, RTTNews reported on Tuesday.  http://www.payvand.com/news/12/jan/1195.html

Iran currency hits new low in blackmarket trading:   The rial has lost 40 percent of its value against the dollar in the past three months, as the United States and European countries have ramped up their sanctions.  http://yhoo.it/xRnZOv

Fact or fiction?
Iranian lawmaker says Obama proposed talks:   U.S. President Barack Obama has called for direct talks with Iran in a secret letter to the Islamic Republic's supreme leader that also warned Tehran against closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a conservative Iranian lawmaker was quoted as saying Wednesday.  http://bit.ly/x6Rq5f

Washington denies letter was sent to Iran:   The Obama administration is denying that the president sent a letter to the supreme leader of Iran, calling for direct talks.  http://bit.ly/xSB4oM

Libyan war spreading south: One solider was killed in northern Mali :   In a clash with Tuareg fighters of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA)-who authorities said were backed up by former pro-Qaddafi Libyan soldiers.  http://ww4report.com/node/10734

Libyan Resistance and western hypocrisy:
Resistance leaders spoke about the creation of a temporary government in Libya. - This government is being launched on a temporary basis until full Libyan liberation from the NATO invaders.  http://bit.ly/zqtEZO

Libyan militia chief said tortured, killed:   Former Libyan rebel leaders allegedly detained, tortured and killed a militia leader, family members say.  http://bit.ly/xunFrs

Boko Haram attacks army outpost, police patrol, kills two:   Suspected Boko Haram militants attacked a military outpost near Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, killing a soldier and a hospital worker.  http://bit.ly/AuaWGl

Refugee drownings reveal mistreatment and military involvement:   It's now a month since around two hundred asylum seekers drowned when their boat capsized south of Java.  http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2012/s3410046.htm

Obama administration to deny Keystone XL oil pipeline permit:   The Obama administration has decided that it will not issue a permit before Feb. 21 for the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada, according to people with knowledge of the decision.  http://trib.in/ziPVWj

End Piracy, Not Liberty: Tell Congress: Don't censor the Web:   Millions of Americans oppose SOPA and PIPA because these bills would censor the Internet and slow economic growth in the U.S.  https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

Homeland Security Hired Contractor to Monitor Websites:   DHS engaged in monitoring comments on Facebook, Twitter and blogs  http://bit.ly/AbYpqk

Muslim College Student Reports Sexual Harassment, Gets Reported To FBI For Terrorism And Expelled  http://bit.ly/wV812C

Occupy Congress video: Police arrest OWS protesters : Video:   On Tuesday the Occupy Wall Street movement took their protest to Congress. This marks the movement's four month anniversary and hundreds gathered outside the Capitol where protesters held signs and chanted slogans.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhWqXjf1bnU

World Bank warns of 'very difficult year':   Bi-annual report slashes growth projections and predicts a downturn in 2012 that "no country and no region will escape".  http://bit.ly/wqYZ6P