Archives for February 2013

Who Won The Drug War? Drugs Did

On the books, marijuana is illegal in Cambodia. But on the streets — in particular, the capital’s main riverside promenade — travelers will find a poor man’s Amsterdam. Phnom Penh’s downtown dealers are unabashed. After nightfall, they line Sisowath Quay, about a dozen blocks of Cambodia’s finest riverfront real estate. Foreigners on an evening stroll […]

On the books, marijuana is illegal in Cambodia. But on the streets — in particular, the capital’s main riverside promenade — travelers will find a poor man’s Amsterdam. Phnom Penh’s downtown dealers are unabashed. After nightfall, they line Sisowath Quay, about a dozen blocks of Cambodia’s finest riverfront real estate. Foreigners on an evening

Hagel Sworn In, Now The Hard Part

Early Wednesday morning, Chuck Hagel was sworn in as defense secretary, in a small private ceremony at the Pentagon. It may be the last fun he has for quite a while. In short order he will be confronted with a host of intractable foreign policy challenges: orchestrating an honorable and dignified end to the war […]

Early Wednesday morning, Chuck Hagel was sworn in as defense secretary, in a small private ceremony at the Pentagon. It may be the last fun he has for quite a while. In short order he will be confronted with a host of intractable foreign policy challenges: orchestrating an honorable and dignified end to the war in Afghanistan; dealing with

ISPs New “Six-Strike” Program to Combat Online Piracy: Critics Worry About Internet Freedom, Privacy

(Mint Press) – The Copyright Alert System (CAS) reached a milestone in its “implementation phase” on Monday in its intent to curb online piracy. After months of delays, the largest Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in America rolled out their “six-strike” program for combating piracy of copyright-protected materials. This program, universally panned by Internet freedom activists, […]

(Mint Press) - The Copyright Alert System (CAS) reached a milestone in its “implementation phase” on Monday in its intent to curb online piracy. After months of delays, the largest Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in America rolled out their “six-strike” program for combating piracy of copyright-protected materials. This program, universally

Congress Set To OK Bill Renewing Anti-Violence Law

Calling a truce in the partisan battles, Congress appears ready to send to President Barack Obama a bill that renews and expands the nation’s primary law on protecting women from domestic violence. In a carefully scripted course, the Republican-led House on Thursday is expected to first reject its own, more limited attempt to renew the […]

Calling a truce in the partisan battles, Congress appears ready to send to President Barack Obama a bill that renews and expands the nation's primary law on protecting women from domestic violence. In a carefully scripted course, the Republican-led House on Thursday is expected to first reject its own, more limited attempt to renew the Violence

China Says US-Based Hackers Target Its Websites

China’s military said Thursday that overseas computer hackers targeted two of its websites an average of 144,000 times per month last year, with almost two-thirds of the attacks originating in the United States. The claim from Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng follows accusations last week by American cybersecurity company Mandiant that Chinese military-backed cyberspies infiltrated […]

China's military said Thursday that overseas computer hackers targeted two of its websites an average of 144,000 times per month last year, with almost two-thirds of the attacks originating in the United States. The claim from Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng follows accusations last week by American cybersecurity company Mandiant that

US: $60 Million In New Aid To Syria Opposition

The Obama administration said Thursday that it will provide the Syrian opposition with an additional $60 million in assistance and — in a significant policy shift — will for the first time provide nonlethal aid like food and medical supplies to rebels battling to oust President Bashar Assad. “We need to stand on the side […]

The Obama administration said Thursday that it will provide the Syrian opposition with an additional $60 million in assistance and — in a significant policy shift — will for the first time provide nonlethal aid like food and medical supplies to rebels battling to oust President Bashar Assad. "We need to stand on the side of those who want to see