Virginia man accused of threatening to kill Obama

Virginia man accused of threatening to kill Obama 07 May 2012 A Virginia man has been charged with threatening to kill President Barack Obama. A criminal complaint filed in federal court in Harrisonburg said Christopher Hecker of Waynesboro made death threats against the president and threatened to bomb the White House, hotels and other places, including Philadelphia City Hall and the site of the former World Trade Center. An affidavit said the threats were emailed to various media outlets... The FBI traced the email to Hecker's account.

Officials: Al-Qaeda bomber was CIA informant --'The man the terrorists were counting on to carry out the attack was actually working for the CIA.' [LOL! Just as CLG has asserted from the get-go!] 08 May 2012 Last month, U.S. intelligence learned that al-Qaeda's Yemen branch hoped to launch a spectacular attack using a new, nearly undetectable bomb aboard an airliner bound for America, officials say. But the man the terrorists were counting on to carry out the attack was actually working for the CIA and Saudi intelligence, U.S. and Yemeni officials told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The officials spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the operation. [As CLG posted yesterday: US: CIA thwarts new al-Qaida underwear bomb plot 07 May 2012 The would-be suicide bomber was told to buy a ticket on the airliner of his choosing and decide the timing of the attack. It's not immediately clear what happened to the would-be bomber. [Oh. They 'lost' the 'would-be' bomber? LOL! Well, check with his handlers at Langley! --Turns out, his handlers *were* at Langley! -LRP]

U.S. Confirms Afghan Airstrike 'Mistake' 08 May 2012 The American military claimed responsibility and expressed regret for an airstrike that 'mistakenly' killed six members of a family in southwestern Afghanistan, Afghan and American military officials confirmed Monday. The attack, which took place Friday night, was first revealed by the governor of Helmand Province, Muhammad Gulab Mangal, on Monday. The victims were the family's mother and five of her children, three girls and two boys, according to Afghan officials. [See: US-led forces intentionally killing Afghan civilians: Former PM 07 May 2012.]

US files charges against American who alleged torture 07 May 2012 The U.S. government has issued an arrest warrant for an American citizen who is seeking asylum in Sweden after he went public with allegations of illegal detention and torture while in the United Arab Emirates – which he believes was carried out at the behest of the FBI. In newly filed documents, the U.S. government charges that Yonas Fikre, 33, an Ethiopia-born resident of Portland, Ore., was involved in money transfers set up to avoid U.S. reporting requirements.  Two weeks ago, Fikre went public with his story of alleged mistreatment by the FBI, and claims that he was detained and tortured in the UAE at the behest of the U.S. government.

FBI, DHS in CLG website logs at the same time [Here are the IPs: FBI Criminal Justice Information Systems - 153.31.113.20; Department of Homeland Security - 216.81.81.80.] 09 May 2012 Dhs.gov, dia.mil, quantico.nmci.usmc.mil and 'others' visit the CLG website almost daily. But here's a case where the FBI and DHS were in there at the same time! Here are a few of the 46 log entries from fbi.gov: 153.31.113.20 - - [08/May/2012:09:27:42 -0400] "GET /index.html HTTP/1.1" 200 20845. 153.31.113.21 - - [07/May/2012:07:14:30 -0400] "GET /Alerts-say-major-cyber-attack-aimed-gas-pipeline-industry HTTP/1.1" 200 4138. 153.31.113.27 - - [07/May/2012:14:59:49 -0400] "GET /Kobe-University-lab-creates-novel-H5N1-secret-lab HTTP/1.1" 200 7733. 153.31.113.27 - - [07/May/2012:15:14:27 -0400] "GET /Obamas-Office-Boeing-accessed-CLG-H5N1-secret-lab-article HTTP/1.1" 200 4533. 216.81.81.80 - - [07/May/2012:15:14:55 -0400] "GET /Khalid-Sheikh-Mohammed-former-military-prosecutor-denounces-trial HTTP/1.1" 200 3810. [See also: CLG Sunshine Project.]

What not to wear during the NATO summit 08 May 2012 Downtown workers may experience casual Friday and casual Monday later this month when the NATO summit arrives. Workers at some Chicago office towers are being encouraged to dress down to avoid being targeted by protesters during the meeting of world leaders May 20 and 21. Safety procedures in some high-rises include the recommendation that employees set aside suits, ties and anything with corporate logos. Tenants in the office building at 1 E. Wacker Drive received a memo encouraging them to stay away from wearing suits, urging workers to "look like a protester."

TSA agent spots gun parts hidden in toy animals 08 May 2012 A Transportation Security Administration officer discovered something more than just three stuffed animals inside a carry-on bag going through the conveyor belt of a Rhode Island airport X-ray checkpoint Monday. Hidden inside each of the three toy animals were ammunition parts that when put together become a handgun, said the TSA. A TSA official at the T.F. Green International Airport in Providence noticed the concealed parts in the bag belonging to a 4-year-old who was with his father en route to Detroit. According to the TSA, its officers alerted the airport's police, which found the main frame of a .40 caliber firearm in one animal, a firing pin and a magazine carrying two .40 caliber rounds in another animal, and a slide concealed in the third animal.

House GOP spending bills spare Pentagon, homeland security from cuts --FBI would get budget hike 08 May 2012 Republicans controlling the House are sparing the Pentagon, military veterans and most homeland security programs from the budget knife as action begins on a set of spending bills setting the day-to-day budgets for federal agencies. Foreign aid programs would absorb a 5 percent cut in legislation released Tuesday, while the FBI would receive a 2 percent budget hike in a separate measure. DemocRATs spoke glowingly of a $72 billion veterans and military construction measure approved by an Appropriations subpanel by voice vote and also backed a $600 billion-plus measure funding the Pentagon and military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Gag me with a chainsaw: Mitt Romney: 'I'll Take a Lot of Credit' For Auto Industry Recovery --Romney penned 2008 New York Times op-ed, 'Let Detroit Go Bankrupt.' 08 May 2012 Despite his 2008 call to "let Detroit go bankrupt," presumptive Republican presidential nominee [American Crossroads wh*re] Mitt Romney said Monday that he would "take a lot of credit" for his impact on the U.S. automobile industry's comeback. During an interview with WEWS-TV in Cleveland following a campaign stop, Romney said his views helped save the industry. "I pushed the idea of a managed bankruptcy," Romney said. "And finally, when that was done, and help was given, the companies got back on their feet. So I'll take a lot of credit for the fact that this industry's come back."

Sen. Richard Lugar loses primary to Richard Mourdock 08 May 2012 Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) lost his primary on Tuesday, becoming the latest Republican to fall victim to a tea party-fueled opponent. Results early Tuesday night showed state Treasurer Richard Mourdock leading the six-term senator 61 percent to 39 percent with 40 percent of precincts reporting. The Associated Press has called the race for Mourdock. His nomination also opens the door a crack to Rep. Joe Donnelly, a Democrat whose chances improve now that he doesn't have to face the more moderate longtime incumbent.

Republicans block Senate proposal to keep student loan rates low 08 May 2012 The political battle over President Obama's plan to keep student loan interest rates from skyrocketing escalated as Senate Republicans [Grade 'A' sociopaths] blocked a Democratic proposal to tax wealthier earners to pay for it. Republicans stopped the effort with a filibuster. Rates for 7 million new undergraduate student loans are set to double to 6.8% on July 1 if Congress fails to act. The vote was 52-45, failing to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to overcome the GOP filibuster.

Bank of America Showdown (MoveOn.org) 08 May 2012 While Bank of America's CEO and shareholders meet in Charlotte, NC, tomorrow, the 99% is taking to the streets across the nation to protest BofA. As the economy declined, BofA made millions in profits by dodging taxes and foreclosing on homes, which hit communities of color especially hard. Bad publicity is like kryptonite to big corporations—that's why thousands of people are protesting, marching, and raising our voices in solidarity to draw the media's attention to BofA's shameless practices. Nearly 200 communities are standing up to Bank of America this week, and there's one near you. [In Bristol, CT: Rt. 6 North St, Wednesday, May 9, at 5:00 PM.]

North Carolina passes gay marriage ban Amendment One 08 May 2012 North Carolina voters have passed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage today via a statewide ballot measure, according the Associated Press. North Carolina already had a statute banning gay marriage. Amendment One declares that "marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state" - vague language that opponents say could threaten domestic partnership protections for all couples while closing the door to any sort of same-sex unions. Until today, North Carolina was the only state in the South did not have a constitutional ban.