9/11 Comm. says CIA tape destruction impeded probe; US army unit refused combat orders fearing their anger could lead to massacre...

22 December :: The two chairmen of the investigatory commission for the 9/11 attacks, Lee Hamilton and Thomas Kean, have said their review of classified evidence suggests the CIA made a concerted effort to "impede" the inquiry by hiding evidence of abusive interrogation techniques; according to Reuters, "Among statements that the memo suggested were misleading was a June 2004 assertion by John McLaughlin, deputy director of central intelligence, that the CIA had "taken and completed all reasonable steps necessary to find the documents in its possession, custody or control" in response to the panel's requests and "has produced or made available for review" all such documents"... Democracy Now reports "After an IED attack killed five more members of Charlie 1-26, members of 2nd Platoon gathered for a meeting and determined they could no longer function professionally. Several platoon members were afraid their anger could set loose a massacre"; the action is described as "mutiny", but framed as a responsible attempt to ensure that the revenge instinct not be permitted to filter into their battlefield performance, report based on a 4-part Army Times series, aimed at showing the war from the soldiers' perspective... "Secretive" Russian oil firm Gunvor denies Pres. Putin has any stake in its ownership, saying he is "not a beneficiary", that "None of the shares of this organisation are held by President Putin or anyone allied by him", though media reports suggest he may be hiding a $40 billion fortune; reports based on research by a Russian political analyst have suggested that a "non-transparent scheme of successive ownership of offshore companies and funds", leading to accounts in Switzerland and Lichtenstein, gives 75% ownership to Putin... Havana-based blogger sneaks critical articles onto restricted web through luxury hotel internet cafes, putting herself at risk of persecution, having to spend nearly a week's wages for the 30 minutes of access to post her stories... Guardian reporting that UK "Ministers have been instructed to factor into their calculations a notional 'carbon price' when making all policy and investment decisions covering transport, construction, housing, planning and energy"; move means global warming risk will be considered in long-term economic measures for UK gov't projects, for first time...

Putin may have amassed secret $40 billion fortune while 'fighting corruption'; new ANC leader Zuma may face corruption charges...

21 December :: Guardian reports Russian pres. Vladimir Putin may be hiding secret $40 billion fortune in accounts in Switzerland, Lichtenstein, that struggle for control of state-run assets brewing amid rival Kremlin factions; Putin fortune would be major news, as he has long claimed his attacks on political rivals were part of anti-corruption crusade against billionaire 'oligarchs'; according to the UK-based paper, "Citing sources inside the president's administration, [Russian political expert Stanislav]Belkovsky claims that after eight years in power Putin has secretly accumulated more than $40bn (£20bn). The sum would make him Russia's - and Europe's - richest man"; much of the wealth is related to his stake in state-owned businesses, a serious ethical and international relations concern, considering strong-arm tactics used by Russian energy exporters against EU market in recent years... After struggle in South Africa's ruling African National Congress party, new leader Jacob Zuma has been informed he may face criminal charges for corruption alleged during his tenure as deputy to Pres. Thabo Mbeki... Documents reveal fmr UK PM Tony Blair put intense pressure on his top prosecutor to halt an investigation into alleged bribes paid by arms firm BAE to Saudi princes; reports suggest the Saudi regime threatened to suspend diplomatic relations with Britain if the investigation was not ended, that Blair continued to press Lord Goldsmith even after the attorney general refused to suspend the search for evidence... US Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) has withdrawn from the race for his party's nomination to run for president, and endorsed fmr. Mass. gov. Mitt Romney...

Bhutto home surrounded by Pakistan security forces; CA sues EPA for emissions inaction; Mukasey approved by Senate as next AG...

9 November :: Musharraf's forces in riot gear have surrounded home of Bhutto's home, alleging suicide bombers are waiting to strike, no one being allowed in or out; move is aimed at preventing her holding massive rally in Rawalpindi; after she attempted to leave, she was prevented by gov't forces, she has been placed under house arrest by 30-day detention order... California leads lawsuit by 15 states against EPA, alleging negligence in responsibility to act to diminish risk of global climate change; CA gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said if the EPA does not move to permit the state's new emissions regulations, "We sue again, and sue again and sue again until we get it"... US Senate has voted 53-40 to approve Judge Mukasey as next attorney general; vote came even as leaders like judiciary committee chair Leahy stiffly opposed the nomination, declaring "I do not vote to allow torture"... Senate votes 79-14 to override Bush water bill veto, confirming first override of Bush presidency; CNN reports "Supporters said the projects authorized under the Water Resources Development Act are necessary to rebuild the Gulf Coast after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, restore the Everglades and Great Lakes fisheries and build flood-control projects nationwide", while Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), a major backer of the measure told president "You should respect the Senate, the House, the Congress and American people because we are elected, too"... Georgian pres. Mikheil Saakashvili, facing demands for his resignation and having declared martial law alleging media conspiracy to overthrow him, has set date for early elections, saying he seeks to demonstrate his democratic mandate, also alleging "cunning plots" by hostile foreign powers to steal Georgian land; security forces had targeted press, arresting reporters, opposition politicians, confiscating cellular phones in alleged effort to prevent reporters' informing outside world or asking for US diplomatic pressure... Brazil announces major oil discovery, which could turn it into a major oil exporter; new find estimated to equaal 40% of all petroleum ever found in Brazilian territory... Fmr NY police commissioner, Giuliani ally Bernard Kerik to be indicted for corruption; while Kerik and Guiliani were business partners, the presidential candidate has not been implicated in the investigation, to date... US military in Iraq has released 9 Iranians it had held for up to 3 years, saying they are neither threat nor of intelligence value...

Jindal, son of Indian immigrants, wins Louisiana governorship; fraud alleged in Kyrgyz constitutional referendum; Obama camp closes money gap...

22 October :: 36-year-old Republican Bobby Jindal wins Louisiana governorship, becomes first Indian-American governor in US history, youngest currently serving; observers say Jindal, a "staunch conservative" who converted to Catholicism as a teenager, is a rising star in the party, to watch on the national stage; TIME reports "An Ivy League-educated Rhodes Scholar, he was appointed head of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, the state's largest agency, at the tender age of 24. At 28, he was tapped to head one of Louisiana's university systems"... Kyrgyzstan has voted in a constitutional referendum designed to strengthen Pres. Bakiyev's hold on power; observers say the officially reported 80% turnout is inflated and cite numerous reports of ballot-stuffing... Barack Obama's campaign for president tapped its grass-roots network last week and raised the $2.1 million needed to catch Hillary Clinton, just 5 days after her campaign pulled ahead in money raised for the first time; the drive will not alter 3rd quarter fundraising figures, but shows the race is far from over; the appeal to Obama supporters warned "Washington lobbyists have chosen their candidate" and urged giving money to help beat the Clinton "machine"... Benazir Bhutto has vowed to purge Pakistan's intelligence services of 'rogue agents' who allegedly support terrorist elements, if she is elected prime minister; Bhutto has said she blames rogue agents for assassination attempt, has long viewed crackdown on extremist groups as key to long-term stability... Observers worry bomb attack on Bhutto convoy in Karachi to be used as excuse to postpone upcoming elections; SMH reports "The Karachi bombing will also have the indirect result of preventing right-wing politicians from deserting the PML and joining her party, as some had planned to do"...

Atlanta's main source of drinking water may be dry within 4 months; UK housing market may be heading for crash...

17 October :: Lake Lanier, Atlanta's main water source, might be dry within four months, according to one worst-case projection; drought across the US southeast has reached the most severe warning level... Guardian reports "Britain risks the prospect of a US-style crash in its house prices as the credit crunch in the financial markets takes its toll of a heavily over-valued property market, the International Monetary Fund warned today"; the IMF report warned the UK's housing market is severely overpriced, more even than the US market inflated by unsustainable 'sub-prime' mortgage loans... Turkey's Parliament grants Erdogan authority to launch military raids into Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq; the PM said no actions is pending, but observers say with no US or Iraqi action against Kurdish rebels, raids will occur... Hamas confounds US, Israeli plans to gain momentum for peace push with Fatah, by expressing support for peace talks with Israel; both Israel, US, view Hamas as terrorist group, moderating statements may pave way to long-term process, but Hamas inclusion may make starting talks next month less attractive to many in Israel... Clinton campaign returns $1.3 million in donations, out of "abundance of caution", including over $800,000 with potential ties to disgraced political fundraiser Norman Hsu, who allegedly coerced investors into making political donations; there is no known connection between Mr. Hsu and the Clinton campaign, but an FEC spokesman said one reason for returning donations would be that the money received is found to be "illegal"...