Amnesty accuses Israel of using human shields in Gaza

from Google Hosted News, here.

Amnesty International on Thursday accused Israeli forces of war crimes, saying they used children as human shields and conducted wanton attacks on civilians during their offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The London-based human rights group also accused Hamas of war crimes, but said it found no evidence that the Islamist rulers of Gaza used civilians as human shields during the 22-day offensive Israel launched on December 28.

[read the rest, here]

Helen Thomas: Not Even Nixon Tried to Control the Media Like Obama

(Helen should read my stuff on Burson-Marsteller…)

by Penny Star from CNS, here.

Following a testy exchange during Wednesday’s briefing with White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas told CNSNews.com that not even Richard Nixon tried to control the press the way President Obama is trying to control the press.

“Nixon didn’t try to do that,” Thomas said. “They couldn’t control (the media). They didn’t try.

Coup “President” Installs Nephew as “Mayor” of Honduras’ Second City

by Al Giordano, NarcoNews

The Oligarch Diaspora shouts, again and again, in its flailing attempt to convince the Honduran people and the world that its coup d’etat was somehow legitimate, “we want democracy!”

Well, here’s a powerful example of the kind of “democracy” they apparently want.

Uninsured face stiff penalty in Senate health bill

from the AP, here

Americans who refuse to buy “affordable” medical coverage could be hit with fines of more than $1,000 under a health care overhaul bill unveiled Thursday by key Senate Democrats looking to fulfill President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority.