Breaking News and Commentary from Citizens For Legitimate Government
27 May 2008 http://www.legitgov.org/ All items are here:

http://www.legitgov.org/#breaking_news Bush 'plans Iran air strike
by August' 28 May 2008 The George W Bush administration plans to
launch an air strike against Iran within the next two months, an
informed source tells Asia Times Online, echoing other reports that
have surfaced in the media in the United States recently. The source,
a retired US career diplomat and former assistant secretary of state
still active in the foreign affairs community, speaking anonymously,
said last week that that the US plans an air strike against the
Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

Western powers pressure Iran over nuclear programme 27 May 2008
Germany said on Tuesday the international community must push for
a faster response from Iran over its nuclear programme, while
Washington said a new U.N. report suggested Tehran wanted to acquire
nuclear weapons.

U.S. says Iran's refusal to answer IAEA questions "troubling" 28
May 2008 The United States said Tuesday Iran's refusal to answer
questions from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on its
nuclear program is "very troubling." "It is very troubling that the
Iranian government refuses to answer questions about the military
involvement in this program, which can raise a whole other set of
issues about what were the activities vis-a-vis weaponizing or
trying to weaponize a nuclear program," State Department spokesman
Sean McCormack said.

Iraq's Sadr calls for protests against agreement with U.S. 28 May
2008 Iraq's anti-U.S. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr asked Tuesday
his followers to hold weekly protests against an envisaged Iraq-U.S.
agreement which would lead to a long-term U.S. military presence
in the country. In a statement issued by his office, the cleric
urged that "Iraqis across the country to hold demonstrations every
week after Friday prayers until further notice or until the agreement
is canceled."

Bush wants $600 million for Iraq police; but cuts aid to U.S. cops
27 May 2008 At the same time the Bush regime has been pushing for
deep cuts in a popular crime-fighting program for states and cities,
the White House has been fighting for approval of $603 million for
the Iraqi police. The White House earlier this year proposed slashing
the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program, which
helps local law enforcement officials deal with violent crime and
serious offenders, to $200 million in the next fiscal year, which
begins Oct. 1.

'It was a true massacre, a slaughter.' Blackwater Grand Jury Hears
Iraqi Witnesses --In Interviews With ABC News Before Leaving Baghdad,
the Men All Said the Blackwater Shootings Were Unprovoked 27 May
2008 The FBI has brought four Iraqi witnesses, including the father
of a dead 9-year-old boy, to testify before a federal grand jury
investigating Blackwater security guards accused of killing 17
innocent civilians last year at a Baghdad traffic square. The men
were brought in over the weekend and seen today at the federal
courthouse in Washington, D.C., where the Blackwater grand jury has
been sitting since last November. In interviews with ABC News before
leaving Baghdad, the men all said the Blackwater shootings were
unprovoked. "It was a true massacre, a slaughter," said Mohammed
Abdul Razak, whose son Ali was killed in the shootings.

U.S. soldier dies in Iraq 27 May 2008 An American soldier has died
due to a 'non-combat related' cause, the U.S. military said on
Tuesday. A soldier assigned to Multi-National Division - Baghdad
died on Saturday, a military statement said without providing further
details about the incident.

Wartime PTSD cases jumped roughly 50 pct. in 2007 27 May 2008 The
number of troops with new cases of post-traumatic stress disorder
jumped by roughly 50 percent in 2007 amid the military buildup in
Iraq and increased violence there and in Afghanistan. Records show
roughly 40,000 troops have been diagnosed with the illness, also
known as PTSD, since 2003. Officials believe that many more are
likely keeping their illness a secret.

Carter says Israel has atomic arsenal 28 May 2008 Former United
States president Jimmy Carter says Israel has 150 nuclear weapons,
something the Jewish state has never publicly acknowledged. Mr
Carter made the comments while discussing Iran's nuclear program
at an English literary festival. "The US has more than 12,000 nuclear
weapons, the Soviet Union (Russia) has about the same, Great Britain
and France have several hundred and Israel has 150 or more," he
said.

CIA watching for al-Qaida 'succession crisis' [Yeah, they're watching
for McCain to succeed Bush] 27 May 2008 The U.S. is making "a big
and continual push" to capture or kill al-Qaida [al-CIAduh] leader
Osama bin Laden [Just before the 2008 'elections'] but his demise
won't end the organization's menace, CIA Director Michael Hayden
said Tuesday in an Associated Press interview. The CIA is equally
interested in those jockeying to replace bin Laden in what he
predicted will be a "succession crisis."

New Al Qaeda Cell A Growing Threat to U.S. [The one in the White
House is an even bigger threat] Officials Warn N. African-Based
Militants Can Blend In Without Raising Suspicions In Europe, U.S.
26 May 2008 The new faces of terror are militants inside an emerging
al Qaeda [al-CIAduh] cell, which U.S.

officials warn presents a clear and growing threat to America. Based
in [oil-rich] North Africa, the group calling itself "Al Qaeda in
the Islamic Maghreb" specializes in kidnappings and suicide attacks,
reports CBS News.

Chertoff urges anti-terror fight in Pakistan 26 May 2008 The U.S.
homeland security chief called on Pakistan's new government Monday
to strike back against terrorism in its regions bordering Afghanistan
or face more attacks of the kind that killed ex-premier Benazir
Bhutto. Michael Chertoff's comments come as the Pakistani government
is pursuing peace deals with militant groups.

Roadside blast kills 3 police, 1 civilian in E. Afghanistan 27 May
2008 A roadside bombing attack on a police vehicle left three
policemen and one civilian passer-by dead Tuesday morning in Logar
province of eastern Afghanistan, an official said.

Britain ready to sign cluster-bomb treaty 28 May 2008 Britain is
ready to sign a treaty that will outlaw the use and stockpiling of
cluster bombs and millions of pounds will have to be spent on
destroying them, senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office sources
said yesterday.

McClellan whacks Bush, White House 27 May 2008 Former White House
Press Secretary Scott McClellan writes in a surprisingly scathing
memoir to be published next week that President [sic] Bush "veered
terribly off course,"

was not "open and forthright on Iraq," and took a "permanent campaign
approach" to governing at the expense of candor and competence.
Among the most explosive revelations in the book: McClellan charges
that Bush relied on "propaganda" to sell the war... The longtime
Bush loyalist also suggests that two top aides held a secret West
Wing meeting to get their story straight about the CIA leak case
at a time when federal prosecutors were after them -- and McClellan
was continuing to defend them despite mounting evidence they had
not given him all the facts.

Joseph Lieberman to Headline Upcoming Pastor Hagee Summit By Max
Blumenthal 27 May 2008 Senator Joseph Lieberman is scheduled to
headline Pastor John Hagee's 2008 Christians United For Israel
Washington-Israel Summit this July 22. In accepting Hagee's invitation,
Lieberman became the most senior elected representative confirmed
to appear at the annual gala. Last year, when Lieberman spoke at
Hagee's summit, he compared the Texas televangelist to the biblical
prophet Moses, dubbing him "an Ish Elochim," or "a man of God."

McCain's policy on fundraisers: Close them 27 May 2008 John McCain
prides himself on being a remarkably transparent presidential
candidate, with rolling news conferences on his "Straight Talk
Express" campaign bus and an open-door policy when it comes to the
media. Yet, the door closes tightly on the Republican's fundraisers.

Thomas asks state high court to stop ethics investigation 27 May
2008 Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas took to the Arizona
Supreme Court Tuesday to stop the State Bar of Arizona from
investigating him and attorneys associated with his office for
purported ethical violations. The bar complaints started when Thomas
sent private attorney Dennis Wilenchik to confront a judge last
October over Proposition 100. There were more filed when Wilenchik
ordered the arrest of two Phoenix New Times editors a month later,
and still more...

NY judge: Dell engaged in fraud, false advertising 27 May 2008 A
New York judge [State Supreme Court Judge Joseph Teresi] ruled
against Dell Inc on Tuesday, saying the computer maker engaged in
fraud, false advertising, deceptive business and abusive debt
collection practices.

Justices Favor Workers in Cases of Bias Retaliation 27 May 2008 The
Supreme Court on Tuesday adopted a broad reading of two federal
civil rights laws to protect employees from retaliation when they
complain about discrimination in the workplace.

Housing Prices Fall 14.1%% in Sign of Continuing Slump 28 May 2008
Americas home-buying season, when for-sale signs sprout like
dandelions, is shaping up to be even worse than expected this year,
with prices falling, sales slowing and few signs of a turnaround
emerging.

Foreclosures in Military Towns Surge at Four Times U.S. Rate 27 May
2008 In the midst of the worst surge in mortgage defaults in seven
decades, foreclosures in U.S. towns where soldiers live are increasing
at a pace almost four times the national average, according to data
compiled by research firm RealtyTrac Inc. in Irvine, California.

Groups sue government over new smog rules 27 May 2008 Health and
environmental organizations filed a lawsuit Tuesday arguing that
the Bush administration failed to protect public health and the
environment when it issued new smog requirements. The lawsuit
maintains that the Environmental Protection Agency ignored the
recommendation of a key advisory panel of scientists who had
recommended more stringent smog standards.

Mild American Bird-Flu Strains Gained Ability to Attack Humans 26
May 2006 Mild bird flu strains circulating [created] in North America
have gained some ability to infect human cells, and should be
monitored for dangerous mutations, government researchers said. The
virus family, called H7, is genetically different than the H5N1
strain that has killed millions of birds and hundreds of people,
said Terrence Tumpey, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention scientist in Atlanta.

Scientists warn of bird flu epidemic 27 May 2008 A strain of bird
flu has moved a step closer to developing the traits required to
create an epidemic of the disease in humans, scientists warned on
Monday. Researchers who analysed samples of recent avian flu viruses
found that a strain of the virus called H7N2 had adapted slightly
better to living in mammals.

Iowa tornado rated state's strongest in 32 years 27 May 2008 The
National Weather Service says a deadly tornado [ranked at EF5] that
leveled half a town in northeast Iowa was the state's strongest
twister in 32 years. The tornado tore through Parkersburg and nearby
towns on Sunday, killing seven people and destroying neighborhoods
with winds up to 205 mph.

CLG needs your support.

http://www.legitgov.org/#contribute Or, please mail a check or money
order to the CLG:

Citizens for Legitimate Government (CLG) P.O. Box 1142 Bristol, CT
06011-1142 Contributions to CLG are not tax deductible.

[Previous lead stories:] 'Individuals will be expected to report
to the centre every day for an intensive training programme.' Tories
plan boot camps for jobless youths --Automatic referrals if out of
work for three months --Companies and voluntary groups to run centres
26 May 2008 A future Conservative government will bring in "boot
camps" for unemployed young people aged between 18 and 21 who refuse
to take a job, Chris Grayling, the party's welfare spokesman, will
say tomorrow. Grayling plans to ask private sector companies and
voluntary organisations to run the intensive training centres.

Individuals will be expected to report to the centre every day for
an intensive training programme. Grayling will say: "We plan to
introduce much tougher rules for young people under the age of 21
claiming jobseeker's allowance. For this group, the welfare to work
process will start much earlier. There will be employment 'boot
camps' and community work programmes for those who don't find a
job. Staying at home doing nothing will be a thing of the past."
[Work camps - so corpora-terrorists get free slave labor?]

Jimmy Carter says Israel has 150 nuclear weapons 26 May 2008 Israel
has 150 nuclear weapons in its arsenal, former President Jimmy
Carter said yesterday, while arguing that the US should talk directly
to Iran to persuade it to drop its nuclear ambitions. His remark,
made at the Hay-on-Wye festival which promotes current affairs books
and literature, is startling because Israel has never admitted
having nuclear weapons, let alone how many, although the world
assumes their existence. Nor do US officials deviate in public from
that Israeli line.

Iraqi military detains 6 boys suspected as bombers 26 May 2008 Iraqi
officials say six teenaged boys purportedly being trained as suicide
bombers have been detained in the northern city of Mosul. Interior
Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen.

Abdul-Karim Khalaf says the boys are between the ages of 14 and 16.
He says initial investigations show they were being trained by a
Saudi militant who has been killed.

Please forward this newsletter to anyone you think might be interested.
Those who'd like to be added to the list can go here:

http://www.legitgov.org/#subscribe_clg and add your name. Those who
wish to be removed from the list can access the same link and click
'unsubscribe.' Please write to: signup@legitgov.org for
inquiries/issues/concerns with your subscription.

CLG Newsletter editor: Lori Price, Manager. Copyright ) 2008,
Citizens For Legitimate Government . All rights reserved. CLG Founder
and Chair is Michael Rectenwald, Ph.D.