Marines Extended in Afgahnistan as Violence Rises
July 03, 2008 4:18 PM

ABC's Jonathan Karl reports: The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit has just
been told their time in Afghanistan is to be extended by 30 days, according
to Marine spokesman Major Eric Dent.

The 2,200 Marines in the 24th MEU arrived in southern Afghanistan in March
and had been due home in October. This extension will keep them in the war
zone until mid-November.

This move comes after senior Pentagon officials -- including the Chairman of
the Joint Staffs and the Secretary of Defense -- had said repeatedly that
the Marines would not be extended.

When asked in early May whether he anticipated extending the Marines
deployment in Afghanistan, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said:

"Well, I always hate to make categorical statements, but I -- there is -- no
one has suggested even the possibility of extending that rotation. And -- be
loathe to do that."

The extension comes at the request of the NATO commander in Afghanistan,
General David McKiernan, and as violence has been rising dramatically there.

Very smart to say that and all attempts to start a war with Iran should be opposed.

Don't bomb Iran, Bush warns Israel

BY RICHARD SISK
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU

Wednesday, July 2nd 2008, 9:47 PM

WASHINGTON - President Bush and the top U.S. military commander warned Israel Wednesday against
bombing Iran, suggesting the U.S. doesn't want to get involved in a third war.

"This is a very unstable part of the world and I don't need it to be more unstable," Adm. Mike
Mullen, the Joint Chiefs chairman, said at a briefing.

Bush said, "I have made it clear to all parties [including Israel] that the first option is
diplomacy," in getting Iran to stop enriching uranium that could be used for a nuclear weapon.

The warnings came after the disclosure that Israel had conducted air operations over the
Mediterranean that could simulate a strike on Iran.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2008/07/02/2008-07-02_dont_bomb_iran_bush_warns_israel...

Pentagon opposes Iran attack
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/pentagon-opposes-iran-attack/2008/07/03/1214950950417...

The Most Expensive Hotel in The World
http://hotel-burj-al-arab.blogspot.com

10-year-old subjected to torture by Israeli soldiers
Defence for Children International

July 2, 2008

Name: Ezzat H
Age at incident: 10
Date of incident: 11 June 2008
Location: Sanniriya, Qalqiliya
Accusation: None

A 10-year-old boy was subjected to physical abuse amounting to torture for 2.5 hours by Israeli
soldiers who stormed his family’s shop on 11 June, seeking information on the location of a
handgun. The boy was repeatedly beaten, slapped and punched in the head and stomach, forced to
hold a stress position for half and hour, and threatened. He was deeply shocked and lost two
molar teeth as a result of the assault.

On Wednesday 11 June 2008, at around 10:30am, 10-year-old Ezzat, his brother Makkawi (7) and
sister Lara (8) were in their father’s shop selling animal feed and eggs in the village of
Sanniriya, near the West Bank city of Qalqiliya. The children were suddenly startled to see two
Israeli soldiers storm in to the shop.

Interrogation and abuse in the shop

US should correct its misconceptions
2008/07/03

Parliament Speaker said under current conditions America would face a dead
end in region, advising them to change their mentalities and correct their
misconceptions if they are after changing Middle East's status.

Ali Larijani made the comment at first anniversary of Press TV's
establishment, held at Foreign Ministry's Institute for International and
Political Studies (IPIS), further addressing the Americans, "You can change
the region's status, but of course not resorting to your past paradigm, but
through looking at the region within a new framework and by applying new
rules."

He reiterated, "The old fashioned carrot and stick policy no longer works
and you need a more realistic comprehension of the region."

The Parliament Speaker added, "We believe you can be successful if you would
adopt the negotiations policy, but such negotiations need to be real, and
not superficial and real negotiations have rules, including seeking
commonalities."

Larijani stressed, "Iran does not want the region to suffer pains and
losses, and of course, does not wish to be oppressed, either."

Lebanon 1st Arab state to close file of its prisoners
2008/07/03

Secretary General of the Lebanese Islamic Resistance Movement, Hezbollah
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Wednesday said a prisoner swap between the
movement and the Zionist regime would take place within two weeks.

"I officially announce that the accord has been accepted from our part and
the matter closed, and we will respect the steps which are to be taken, God
willing," he said at a news conference held by video link.

"I will not set an exact date. The sooner it takes place the better,"
Nasrallah said, adding that no more Lebanese prisoners would be left behind
bars in the occupied Palestine.

"I believe that in a week or two it will be implemented... July 15 is the
most probable, a bit before or a bit after," he said.

"If I set a date the Israelis will only change it."

On Sunday, the Zionist regime's cabinet approved a deal under which it would
release five Lebanese prisoners, the remains of Hezbollah members and an
undetermined number of Palestinians in exchange for the bodies of soldiers
Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.