New York Times Prints Third Correction In Issa Story

"New York Times Prints Third Correction In Issa Story" by Reut Cohen for Neon Tommy, August 27, 2011:

The New York Times issued additional corrections Friday, acknowledging mistakes made in an article ("A Businessman in Congress Helps His District and Himself") about Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) that ran in the front page of the newspaper Aug. 15.

The latest correction suggests the article relied on "erroneous information" relating to the sale of a mutual fund in which facts were corrected with public "redactions" by Issa.

The 2,700 word article written by Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Eric Lichtblau suggests that Issa's holdings have soared due to actions he's taken in an official capacity.

Issa's communication director, Frederick Hill, sent a letter to the New York Times in which he demanded a full retraction.

Here’s an excerpt from Hill's letter to Dean Baquet, editor with the New York Times:

As Congressman Darrell Issa’s Director of Communications, The New York Times’ acknowledgement of two more critical errors in its front page article of August 15 in addition to a previous error corrected on August 16 are steps in the right direction. The new acknowledgement of these false assertions about enormous profits from the sale of a mutual fund and the appreciation of a commercial real estate property owned by Rep. Issa fully removes all examples cited in the article as evidence that the "congressman’s government actions [help] to make a rich man even richer" and that values of his holdings have "soared" due to his official actions.

The letter, which calls the article "deeply flawed," also calls into question the Times' conduct and the objectivity of Lichtblau. ...

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Syrian Military Continues Crackdown Against Pro-Democracy Protesters

"Syrian Military Continues Crackdown Against Pro-Democracy Protesters" by Reut Cohen for Neon Tommy, August 27, 2011:

Syrian forces continued the crackdown against protesters Saturday as Syria’s Interior Ministry cautioned residents in Damascus not to protest in a statement published on the official ministry website.

"The Interior Ministry calls on the brother citizens not to respond to social networking sites to participate in rallies or assemble in public squares in Damascus in the interest of public safety,” the statement reads.

Pro-democracy activists said military forces fired at thousands gathered in the center of Damascus to prevent marching on Saturday. According to Gulf News, at least three people were killed.

One of Syria’s most powerful allies, Iran, warned of a regional crisis if Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s regime falls. Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi called on Assad to “pay heed to the legitimate demands of his people.”

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What's Next For Libya?

"What's Next For Libya?" by Reut Cohen for Neon Tommy, August 25, 2011:

In an exclusive interview with Neon Tommy, Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, a recognized expert on political Islam and American Islamist organizations, discusses the turmoil in Libya and the future of the poor but oil-rich North African country.

Jasser, a devout Muslim, founded the American Islamic Forum for Democracy in 2003. He has briefed members of the House and Senate congressional anti-terrorism caucuses about radical Islam. Jasser's organization seeks to “provide an American Muslim voice” while arguing for the founding principles of freedom in the U.S. Constitution. Jasser is a former Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy and served 11 years as a medical officer.

What are the immediate challenges Libya faces as rebels continue to take over more of the country.

Zuhdi Jasser: The Islamists in many of these countries have a disproportionate influence in the immediate vacuum that will happen in the post-departure of dictators. This is why the first few weeks, the first few months, are very important to be involved. Not with boots on the ground but covertly, such as intelligence operations and NGOs.

Describe what Libyans can do to ensure that their country doesn't transition from a corrupt regime to an oppressive theocratic one?

ZJ: We need to put things in perspective. There is no way to improve and reform Muslim interpretations of Islam against dangers of the Muslim Brotherhood and their offshoots in the environment that was Gaddafi’s Libya. That environment was nutritional support to Al Qaeda-type movements and radical Islamists. ...

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Video Shows Syrian Military Beating Detainees

"Video Shows Syrian Military Beating Detainees" by Reut Cohen for Neon Tommy, August 19, 2011:

A YouTube video posted Thursday appears to have captured an incident in which Syrian military beat detained men on a bus while forcing them to shout slogans in favor of Syrian president Bashar Assad.

In the two-minute video, the men are being abused and can be heard shouting, "With blood and soul, we sacrifice for you Bashar" and "Allah, Syria and Bashar only."

The video description does not indicate when and where in Syria it was taken.

Syrian security forces killed at least 22 people Friday amid mounting pressure from the international community calling for Bashar Assad to step down.

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GOP Contenders Spar Over Iranian Nuclear Ambitions

"GOP Contenders Spar Over Iranian Nuclear Ambitions" by Reut Cohen for Neon Tommy, August 12, 2011:

The Republican presidential debate in Iowa Thursday evening included heated exchanges on the United States’ policy regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

During the second half of the televised debate, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum clashed over the issue of a nuclear Iran.

"Why wouldn’t it be natural that they might want a nuclear weapon?" asked Paul, suggesting other countries, including India and Israel, have nuclear capabilities. "Internationally they would be given more respect."

In a heated response Santorum called out Paul, suggesting the GOP hopeful is "obviously not seeing the world very clearly."

Santorum said Iran "must be confronted," describing the government as "a mullahcracy that tramples the rights of women, tramples the rights of gays, tramples the rights of people all throughout their society – and is the greatest supporter of terrorism in the Middle East and around the world."

Paul rejoined that Santorum was churning out war propaganda.

"You’ve heard the war propaganda that is liable to lead us into the sixth war, and I worry about that position," said Paul. ...

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Crane Manufacturer, UNIC, Ends Business With Iran Following Awareness Campaign

"Crane Manufacturer, UNIC, Ends Business With Iran Following Awareness Campaign" by Reut Cohen for Neon Tommy, August 8, 2011:

Japanese crane manufacturer Furukawa UNIC has announced it has ended business with the Iranian regime following reports that its cranes have been used to stage public executions.

The decision comes on the heels of two other companies, Tadano and Terex, which ended relations with Iran following awareness campaigns by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) warning construction companies of Iran’s grisly misuse of cranes.

Officials from UNIC wrote to United Against Nuclear Iran, stating that they will no longer sell products to Iran or profit from such sales. The company added that they "will not accept orders for any of our products if such products are known to be destined for Iran."

"UANI commends UNIC for refusing to do business in Iran and taking a stand against Iran's ghastly public execution binge," said the president of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), Mark Wallace, in a public statement. "UANI calls on all crane companies to end their business in Iran and their indirect investment in Iran's barbaric execution campaign."

In a Los Angeles Times op-ed Wallace named several hydraulic crane manufacturers, including UNIC and Tadano, as doing business with Iran. In the editorial Wallace called on these companies to take a "principled stand of renouncing their business ties with the regime until Iran becomes a civilized member of the international community."

United Against Nuclear Iran first brought the issue to the attention of the crane manufacturer in May. ...

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Feds May Have Granted Drug Cartel Permission To Smuggle Drugs In Return For Information

"Feds May Have Granted Drug Cartel Permission To Smuggle Drugs In Return For Information" by Reut Cohen for Neon Tommy, August 5, 2011:

U.S. federal court documents suggest federal agents may have permitted a Mexican drug cartel, known as the Sinaloa cartel, to traffic several tons of cocaine to the United States in exchange for information on rival cartels that operate in the United States.

The court documents, which have been posted on the Internet, are part of the defense of Vicente Zambada-Niebla, who was extradited to the United States and faces drug-trafficking charges.

Fox News has more:

". …The allegations are made by Vicente Zambada-Niebla, a top ranking cartel boss extradited to the U.S. last year on drug charges. He is a close associate of Mexico's most wanted man, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and the son of Ismael "Mayo" Zambada-Garcia.

Both remain fugitives, in part, because of the deal Zambada- Niebla made with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, according to a defense motion filed last Friday in the case.

Alvin Michaelson, the Los Angeles attorney representing Zambada- Niebla who wrote the brief, refused comment.

The deal allegedly began with Humberto Loya-Castro, a Sinaloa cartel lawyer who became an informant for the D.E.A. after a drug case against him was dismissed in 2008. …"

Read the full article here.

The motion filed by Zambada-Niebla’s lawyers alleges that their client was assured he was immune from charges when he met with two Drug Enforcement Agency agents.

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