The terrorism threat to the United States over the next five years will be driven by instability in the Middle East and Africa, persistent challenges to border security, and increasing Internet savvy — with chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear [CBRN] attacks considered the most dangerous threats — according to a Homeland Security Threat Assessment for the years 2008-2013.

  ::  Read Comments (0)

Pope Benedict XVI 2008 Christmas message … “Urbi et Orbi” … “To the City and to the World” … Immelman family 2008 Christmas greeting.

  ::  Read Comments (0)

Iraq’s fractious parliament squeezed its abrasive speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani out of a job and authorized non-U.S. foreign troops to stay in the country for another half-year, a pair of high-stakes moves in its final session of 2008.

  ::  Read Comments (0)

Minnesota Senate Recount Live streaming video of the Coleman-Franken recount has been moved to the Dec. 30 blog. … Link here  Related link: Coleman vs. Franken: ËœFlip a Coin 

  ::  Read Comments (0)

Summary: The Army began an investigation after being prodded by Amanda Henderson, wife of Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Henderson, an Iraq combat veteran who spent the final months of his life as an Army recruiter before hanging himself with a dog chain in his backyard shed. In all, 15 of the Army’s 8,400 recruiters have committed suicide since 2003, with more than 540 of the Army’s half-million active-duty soldiers killing themselves.

  ::  Read Comments (0)

Summary: The brother of Muntadhar al-Zeidi, the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President George W. Bush, says his apology letter was written against his will after he was tortured in detention. The shoe-throwing incident received worldwide media coverage and al-Zeidi has become a potent symbol for opponents of the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq.

  ::  Read Comments (0)

Summary: In its annual list of “top 10” humanitarian crises, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) said many of the countries on this year’s list — including Somalia, Pakistan, Sudan, and Iraq — illustrated the growing difficulties aid groups faced. The 2008 list included Somalia, Myanmar (Burma), eastern Congo, Zimbabwe, global malnutrition, Ethiopia’s Somali region, Pakistan’s northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan, Sudan (including Darfur), Iraq, and HIV/TB co-infection.

  ::  Read Comments (0)

Summary: Iraq’s parliament has voted to reject a draft law that allows troops from Britain, Australia, and several other countries to remain in Iraq beyond the end of 2008.

  ::  Read Comments (0)

Summary: Zimbabwe has collapsed, and the world must act now to keep it from deteriorating into Somalia-scale chaos, according to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer. … Personality profile of Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe by Aubrey Immelman and Adam Beatty, Unit for the Study of Personality in Politics. … For the sixth consecutive year, Iraq was the deadliest place for journalists in 2008, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

  ::  Read Comments (0)

Summary: At least 25 Iraqi interior ministry officials have been arrested, including several accused of planning a coup, according to newspaper reports. … The Iraqi government has accused U.S. forces of killing at least three Trade Ministry employees in a pre-dawn raid on ministry property in Baghdad. … Iraqi police say attackers have shot and beheaded Nahla Hussein al-Shaly, 37, leader of the women’s league of the Kurdish Communist Party, reportedly because she promoted women’s rights in Iraq.

  ::  Read Comments (0)