New OIG report details military interrogations abroad; Russian, Chinese leaders denounce US military defense plans; Israel's peace talks with Syria depart from Bush policies; Iraq police chief says US killed seven civilians, despite official military statement; US refuses to cooperate with international community on banning cluster bombs; and more ... Browse our continually updating front page at http://www.truthout.org

t r u t h o u t | 05.23

Christopher Kuttruff | Despite FBI Dissent, Torture Continued
http://www.truthout.org/article/despite-fbi-dissent-torture-continued
Truthout's Christopher Kuttruff reports: "In a report released this month by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Office of Inspector General (OIG) outlined concerns within the FBI regarding interrogation techniques used by the military in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba."

Russian, Chinese Leaders Denounce US Missile Defense Plans
http://www.truthout.org/article/russian-chinese-leaders-denounce-us-missile-defense-plans
Agence France-Presse writes: "Russia and China on Friday denounced US plans for a global missile defence shield and signed a billion-dollar nuclear contract as Russia's new President Dmitry Medvedev made his diplomatic debut."

Advice Given, but Not Always Followed, by White House
http://www.truthout.org/article/advice-given-not-always-followed-white-house
Helene Cooper, of The New York Times, writes: "Israel, America's staunchest ally in the Middle East, just became the latest example of a country that has decided it is better to deal with its foes than to ignore them. The announcement that Israel has entered into comprehensive peace talks with Syria is at odds with the course counseled by the Bush administration, which initially opposed such talks in private conversations with Israelis, according to Israeli and American officials." 

Iraq Police Chief Says US Killed Seven Civilians
http://www.truthout.org/article/iraq-police-chief-says-us-killed-seven-civilians
Alexandra Zavis and Saif Rasheed report for The Los Angeles Times: "A local Iraqi police chief today accused the U.S. military of killing seven Iraqi civilians, including at least one child, in a helicopter strike in northern Iraq. The military said the adults were members of a bombing network, but it added that two children were killed in the clash."

Lora Lumpe | America AWOL on Cluster Bombs
http://www.truthout.org/article/america-awol-cluster-bombs
Lora Lumpe, of Foreign Policy In Focus, writes: "More than 100 governments, including all major NATO allies, met on May 19 to begin two weeks of negotiations in Dublin, Ireland to finalize a global treaty banning cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians. The U.S. government will not be there, and is exerting pressure on allies to weaken the treaty. Washington claims that future joint military operations will be undermined if allied governments prohibit the use of these weapons."


_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/