US Begs More E.U. Aide for Pakistani Refugee Crisis

The US government is finally asking for help with refugees who have fled the latest offensive by the Pakistani army against the Taliban. Weeks after the New York Times reported that most of the aide was coming from 'non-profits' associated with the terror group behind attacks in India last year, the US seems to be recognizing there is more than a military void that needs to be filled. More stories about this, as well as the continuing refugee crisis in Iraq would be a good thing.

New York Times article by Stephen Castle
link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/world/europe/30union.html?ref=global-home

Western Press Grabbing Hold of Detainee Abuse Stories

Tehran's Evin prison is to be closed, and 140 protesters dragged from the streets just after the election are to be released. The Iranian government has started to take an embarassing amount of heat, even from its own parliment, over the conditions these prisoners live in. The Western press has done its best to put this story out there.

The New York Times article by Robert F. Worth
link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/world/middleeast/30iran.html?ref=global-home

The Guardian Unlimited article by Robert Tait
link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/28/iran-prisoners-release-evin-prison

The BBC's website has an update about the 20 protesters actually facing trial.
links: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8174507.stm

Primary source sites out of Iran:
http://www.roozonline.com/
http://www.gooya.com/

Mohammed Jawad's Day In Court

An article breaking down the charges, appeals, and treatment of a Guantanamo detainee from Afghanistan held since he was 12 or 13. Mr. Jawa attempted suicide in 2003 at Guantanamo Bay prison. Most of the evidence against him, consisting largly of forced confessions, is being thrown out after it was confirmed that he was tortured in both Afghanistan and at Guantanamo. Does the Obama justice department have any choice but to prosecute him? It seems like they are desperate to get these guys infront of a real court.
He appears this morning.
Front page of today's New York Times, written by William Glaberson.

links: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/us/29gitmo.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

First article posted is from Gabriel Winan at Salon magazine. This is a breakdown of the healthcare plans currently making their way through government. I don't know Gabriel Winan, but a quick Google search indicated a long history with Salon. 

Link:

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/07/13/healthcare_explainer/index.html