Author: Publisher

{Human rights lawyers have outlined allegations by hundreds of Iraqis that they were mistreated by British forces.}

More than 400 claims by Iraqis are now being presented in a dossier to the International Criminal Court.

Alleged abuses include sleep and food deprivation, physical assault, electrocution, mock executions and threats of rape.

Britain’s Ministry of Defence has issued a statement saying the matters are under thorough investigation. It also rejected claims that the UK’s armed forces systematically tortured detainees.

Al Jazeera

{The National Security Agency has implanted software in nearly 100,000 computers around the world — but not in the United States — that allows the U.S. to conduct surveillance on those machines, The New York Times reported Tuesday.}

The Times cited NSA documents, computer experts and U.S. officials in its report about the use of secret technology using radio waves to gain access to computers that other countries have tried to protect from spying or cyberattacks. The software network could also create a digital highway for launching cyberattacks, the Times reported.

The Times reported that the technology, used by the agency for several years, relies on radio waves that can be transmitted from tiny circuit boards and USB cards inserted covertly into the computers. The NSA calls the effort an “active defense” and has used the technology to monitor units of China’s army, the Russian military, drug cartels, trade institutions inside the European Union, and sometime U.S. partners against terrorism like Saudi Arabia, India and Pakistan, the Times reported.

Among the most frequent targets of the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command, the Times reported, has been China’s army. The United States has accused China’s army of launching regular attacks on American industrial and military targets, often to steal secrets or intellectual property. When Chinese attackers have placed similar software on computer systems of American companies or government agencies, American officials have protested, the newspaper reported.

The NSA says the technology has not been used in computers in the U.S.

“NSA’s activities are focused and specifically deployed against — and only against — valid foreign intelligence targets in response to intelligence requirements,” Vanee Vines, an agency spokeswoman, said in a statement to the Times. “We do not use foreign intelligence capabilities to steal the trade secrets of foreign companies on behalf of — or give intelligence we collect to — U.S. companies to enhance their international competitiveness or increase their bottom line.”

Parts of the program have been disclosed in documents leaked by Edward Snowden, the former NSA systems analyst, the Times reported. A Dutch newspaper published the map showing where the United States has inserted spy software, sometimes with the help of local authorities. Der Spiegel, a German newsmagazine, published information about the NSA’s hardware products that can secretly transmit and receive signals from computers, according to the Times.

The Times said that it withheld some of those details, at the request of U.S. intelligence officials, when it reported in summer 2012 on American cyberattacks on Iran.

China’s ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to faxed queries from The Associated Press seeking comment on the article. Chinese officials in the past have stressed that China is a victim of international cyber-espionage and have pushed for international coordination on controlling such espionage.

Zhu Feng, an international security expert at Peking University, said: “Those spying activities show that the U.S. says one thing while doing another thing, and the spying activities are being conducted in an irregular way without rules. Other countries may follow suit, leading to a fierce arms race on the Internet. So, it is time to set up rules and regulations in cyberspace with coordination from the international community.”

{BRITAIN has granted asylum to an atheist from Afghanistan due to fears he would be prosecuted back home, in what is believed to be the first case of its kind. }

The unnamed man was brought up a Muslim but after arriving in Britain in 2007 at the age of 16 gradually lost his faith, according to the university whose law school helped his case.

His leave to remain was due to expire in 2013 but he feared being sent back to Afghanistan, where he risked being prosecuted for abandoning his faith.

The man’s case was taken up by Kent Law Clinic, a free service provided by students from the University of Kent in southeast England and supervised by qualified lawyers.

Claire Splawn, the undergraduate law student who prepared his case, said they argued that an atheist should be entitled to protection “in the same way as a religious person is protected.”

Her supervisor, Sheona York, added that they were “absolutely delighted for our client”, who had originally come to Britain after a conflict with his family.

“We believe that this is the first time that a person has been granted asylum in this country on the basis of their atheism,” she said.

“The decision represents an important recognition that a lack of religious belief is in itself a thoughtful and seriously-held philosophical position.”

In a submission to the Home Office, the lawyers included detailed evidence that the man’s return to Afghanistan could result in a death sentence for being an apostate unless he remained discreet about his atheist beliefs.

They argued that remaining discreet would be virtually impossible, however, because every aspect of daily life and culture in Afghanistan is permeated by Islam.

A Home Office spokeswoman refused to comment on an individual case, but said Britain had a “proud history” of granting asylum to those who needed it.

Andrew Copson, chief executive of the British Humanist Association, welcomed the government’s action.

“Freedom of belief for humanists, atheists and other non-religious people is as important as freedom of belief for the religious, but it is too often neglected by Western governments who focus too narrowly on the rights of Christians abroad, as we have seen recently,” he said.

“It is great to see Britain showing a lead in defending the human rights of the non-religious in the same way.”

news.com.au

{ Israel’s defense minister was quoted Tuesday as deriding U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s Mideast peace efforts as naive and foolhardy, triggering an angry response from Washington and rekindling simmering tensions with Israel’s closest and most important ally.}

The quotes appeared ahead of another visit by Kerry, who is expected in the region in the coming weeks to deliver his ideas on a framework for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Kerry has already submitted to Israel a series of proposals for ensuring Israel’s security as part of a future peace deal.

In the comments published by the Yediot Ahronot daily, Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon called Kerry “obsessive” and “messianic” and dismissed Kerry’s security plan as worthless.

“The only thing that might save us is if John Kerry wins the Nobel Prize and leaves us be,” Yaalon was quoted as saying.

Yaalon is a former military chief of staff and close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Since becoming defense minister last year, a position of great influence in Israel, he has been a vocal skeptic of Kerry’s peace efforts. In his public statements, he has said Israel has “no partner” for peace and questioned the Palestinian commitment to resolving years of conflict.

Asked about the report, Yaalon issued a statement saying that relations with the U.S. are “intimate and meaningful” for Israel.

“The United States is our greatest friend and our strongest ally and when there are differences they are resolved behind closed doors, including with Secretary Kerry with whom I have many conversations about the future of Israel. I will continue to determinedly, responsibly and thoughtfully protect the security of the people of Israel,” Yaalon said. His office would neither confirm nor deny the comments in Yediot, and repeated requests for additional comment were not answered.

Late Tuesday, Yaalon’s office issued a second statement in which the defense minister expressed appreciation for Kerry’ peace efforts.

“The defense minister had no intention to cause any offense to the secretary, and he apologizes if the secretary was offended by words attributed to the minister,” the statement read.

Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders scrambled to distance themselves from Yaalon, while the U.S. condemned the reported comments as “offensive and inappropriate.”

The U.S. Embassy in Israel has complained about the reported comments to the Israeli government, said a senior State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to discuss the matter on the record.

Under heavy American pressure, Israel and the Palestinians resumed substantive peace talks last July for the first time in nearly five years. So far, there have been no signs of progress, and the talks have been marred by finger pointing by both sides.

With an April target date for an agreement approaching, Kerry has said he will soon return with bridging proposals for a framework deal. In recent weeks, both sides appear to have hardened their positions. During a visit to Israel this week, Vice President Joe Biden said both sides have “difficult decisions” to make.

The Palestinians seek the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, territories captured by Israel in 1967, for an independent state. Netanyahu wants to keep parts of the West Bank and says he will not share control of east Jerusalem, home to sensitive Muslim, Jewish and Christian religious sites. He has also insisted that the Palestinians recognize Israel as the Jewish homeland, a condition they say would undermine the rights of Palestinian refugees and Israel’s own Arab minority.

In Tuesday’s report, Yaalon said there have not been any direct talks with the Palestinians in months, and that the only communications have been through American mediators. He also expressed deep skepticism about Palestinian intentions, saying peace could only be reached if the Palestinians accept Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people.

But his harshest comments were on Kerry’s security proposals for the West Bank, which were drawn up by his security adviser, former Gen. John Allen, and dozens of other experts.

“The American plan for security arrangements that was shown to us isn’t worth the paper it was written on,” Yaalon is quoted as saying. “Secretary of State John Kerry — who arrived here determined, and who operates from an incomprehensible obsession and a sense of messianism — can’t teach me anything about the conflict with the Palestinians.”

The U.S. plan includes a limited Israeli presence in the West Bank, but relies heavily on sensors, satellites and drones, according to Palestinian officials. Israel has demanded it be allowed to retain an on-the-ground presence along the eastern border with Jordan to prevent weapons smuggling or potential invasion by Arab armies.

The report quoted Yaalon as telling Kerry that technology was no substitute for ground troops when confronting militants.

“What are you talking about?” the defense minister was quoted as saying. “You presented us with a plan that is based on sophisticated technology, on satellites, sensors, war rooms with television screens —without a presence of our troops on the ground. And I ask you_how will technology respond when a Salafist or Islamic Jihad cell tries to commit a terror attack against Israeli targets? … Which satellites will handle the rocket industry developing today … that will be fired at Tel Aviv and central Israel?”

“Relations between the United State and Israel are intimate and important to us. The United States is our greatest friend and most important ally, and when there are disagreements we air them inside the (discussion) room, including with Secretary of State Kerry, with whom I have held many discussions about the future of Israel,” Yaalon said in a statement to the media.

In Washington, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Yaalon’s comments, if accurate, were “offensive and inappropriate,” given everything the U.S. is doing to support Mideast peace efforts. He said Kerry and his team have been working nonstop because the U.S. is deeply concerned about and committed to Israel’s future.

“To question Secretary Kerry’s motives and distort his proposals is not something we would expect from the defense minister of a close ally,” Carney said.

It was the latest twist in what has frequently been a strained relationship between Netanyahu and the Obama White House. The two leaders have appeared uncomfortable together and often disagreed over issues like Israeli settlement construction on lands claimed by the Palestinians and American positions on the peace talks with the Palestinians. During one recent visit, Kerry said settlement construction raises questions about Israel’s commitment to peace in comments broadcast on national TV.

Netanyahu has also been an outspoken critic of the U.S.-led efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear program, saying they don’t go far enough.

In a speech at parliament marking the body’s 65th anniversary Monday, Netanyahu appeared to distance himself from his defense minister. “The United States is our great ally,” he said. “Even when we have disagreements there are always related to an issue, not a person.”

President Shimon Peres also devoted his comments at the ceremony to the strong bond with the U.S. “The unusual determination of Secretary of State Kerry to reach peace reflects and serves Israel’s deep desire for peace and a chance to mutual understanding,” he said.

But dovish leaders took harsh aim at Yaalon, saying he had caused damage to the country’s most important relationship. Isaac Herzog invoked the name of Yitzhak Rabin, the former prime minister who was assassinated in 1995 by an ultranationalist Jew opposed to his peace efforts with the Palestinians.

“We will always remember the strong bond with the United States that Yitzhak Rabin believed in. He knew to give respect to our friends and supporters overseas and never call them messianic, strange and obsessive or any other offensive names,” he said.

AP