Friday, June 23, 2006

Is Bully Boy watching me shower?

Good evening, it's FRIDAY!!!!!! :D Let's kick things off with Democracy Now!

Senate Rejects Iraq Withdrawal
Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, the Senate rejected two separate measures calling for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist: "None of us know for sure exactly how the democratic reform in Iraq will turn out as we stay committed. But, we do know it will fail if it is abandoned prematurely by the United States. Withdrawal is not an option. Surrender is not a solution."Both measures were proposed by Democrats. A proposal calling for a withdrawal without a firm deadline was defeated 60 to 39. Another measure calling for a troop withdrawal by July of next year was defeated by an even wider margin -- 89 to 13. The measure was introduced by Massachusets Senator John Kerry. Speaking on the Senate floor, Kerry argued that a firm timetable is necessary.
Senator John Kerry: "Why on earth would senators come to the floor and argue 'Let's just stay the course and do the same old thing' when our own generals have told us the same old thing is part of the part of the problem? The same old thing is attracting terrorists. The same old thing is losing us allies. The same old thing is costing us unbelievable sums of money and lives unnecessarily."

John Kerry stood strong. So did Russ Feingold. C.I. used a highlight I sent in for "And the war drags on . . ." last night and it was an e-mail from John Kerry noting who voted for the Kerry-Feingold proposal that called for the troops to be home by July 2007:

Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), co-sponsor
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Sen. James Jeffords (I-VT)
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), co-sponsor
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

That's it (plus Feingold and Kerry for thirteen total). That's shameful. C.I. noted that the American troops fatality count yesterday was 2512. If the illegal war is still going in July of 2007 (I bet it will be), we need to look at the count then and look back at the 2512. That's the number of lives those voting against the measure are willing to sacrifice for an illegal war. In fact, we should actually keep countin until the end of the war. Then go, "Hey, Lieberman, hey, Clinton, hey Harry Reid, are you proud today?"



Secret Bush Admin Program Monitors International Bank Records
The Bush administration has been secretly monitoring thousands of international bank transactions without court-approval. The secret program was enacted shortly after the 9/11 attacks in what government officials say is a crucial weapon in tracking the financing of terrorist activity. The information has been obtained from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, or SWIFT. The organization helps direct trillions of dollars in daily international bank transfers. Officials told the Los Angeles Times the program has been "marginally successful" in tracking the financial activity of al Qaeda. SWIFT executives apparently tried to withdraw from the program after becoming concerned over its legality. The executives were persuaded to continue their cooperation only after the intervention of top government officials, including former Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan.

Okay, I gotta tell you, I'm now afraid to change my boxers. With all the other spying the Bully Boy's doing, I'm afraid he's also set up web cams in all our homes to make a little porn money on the side. Like half-way around the world, some woman (or some man) is going to be saying, "Oh, si! Su penga is muy grande!" I hear that so much, in so many languages . . . :D

Seriously, is there anything he's not spying on? I lost my lab notes Tuesday -- if I write up a FOIA request, can the FBI tell me where they are? I mean, come on, is Bully Boy watching me shower? Is there anything he doesn't spy on? He's like a psycho Santa Clause.

Tony passed on John Nichols' "Lieberman Stays the Course With Bush:"

Senator Joe Lieberman has maintained his status as the Bush administration's favorite Democrat.
Lieberman did not merely vote against the proposal by Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold and Massachusetts Democrat John Kerry to get U.S. troops out of Iraq by next year, the Connecticut Democrat also voted against a vaguely-worded proposal by Rhode Island Democrat Jack Reed and Michigan Democrat Carl Levin that urged the Bush administration to start thinking about an exit strategy.
Lieberman was one of just six Democrats who backed the administration's position on both measures. The others were Minnesota's Mark Dayton, who is not seeking reelection this year, and four Democrats who represent Republican-leaning southern and western states: Louisiana's Mary Landrieu, Arkansas's Mark Pryor, Florida's Bill Nelson and Nebraska's Ben Nelson.
Even Republican Lincoln Chafee, who faces an aggressive challenge from a conservative is his party's primary this summer, voted for the Levin-Reed proposal, which called on the president to begin a phased redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq and to submit a long-term exit strategy to Congress.

They're for war and I remember one of the evacuees talking on Democracy Now! about how Peyton and Eli were there for the evacuees, walking around, talking to them, signing autographs,
trying to make people who lost everything feel better. But the evacuee talked about how Mary Landrieu came in at night, while they were trying to sleep, didn't speak to anyone, didn't try to, just shot some footage that will probably be used in a re-election commercial. She's pretty disgusting. Peyton and Eli Manning, in case you don't follow sports.

They're all Liebermans, the Nelsons, Landrieu, and Pryor. When they grow up, they'll be Zell Millers.

C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"

Chaos and violence continue.
The ten day old "crackdown" in Baghdad, which has had little measurable impact on stopping violence, sprouted a new development today: "State of emergency." As Amy Goodman (Democracy Now!) noted this morning, "Earlier today, insurgents set up roadblocks and opened fire on U.S. and Iraqi troops close to the US-run Green Zone." The Associated Press reports this was done as fighting forces seemed intent on breaching "the heavily fortified Green Zone." As Sandra Lupien noted on KPFA's The Morning Show, amidst the violence, US troops "rushed to the area." Current prime minister Nouri al-Maliki has "ordered everyone off the streets" of Baghdad, provided "broader arrest powers" and placed "a ban on carrying weapons."
Iraq last declared a state of emergency (or martial law) in November of 2004 for the entire country (exempting only Kurdish areas in the north).
Then prime minister Iyad Allawi declared it when violence broke out through much of the country as US forces geared up for their attack on/slaughter of Falluja. Current prime minister al-Maliki has declared a state of emergency for Baghdad only. A state of emergency was declared for the city of Basra in May of this year. Euronews notes that the Basra state of emergency "has not deterred militants." Omar al-Ibadi and Haider Salahaddin (Reuters) report that today in Basra a car bomb went off (police say ten killed, hospital says five).
Sam Knight (Times of London) reports that "the 5 million inhabitants of the Iraqi capital [were] given just two hours notice of a curfew" (started at 2:00 pm in Baghdad, as Knight notes, but it was set to end at 5:00 pm and not, as Knight reports, on Saturday -- since Knight filed, al-Maliki shortened the curfew). Knight notes the paper's Baghdad correspondent Ned Parker terming the "extended gun battle . . . just north of the fortified Green Zone" a "free-for-all." Along with gunfire and mortars, Reuters reports that two US troops died today "when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb southeast of Baghdad."
In Hibhib, the Associated Press notes the bombing of a Sunni mosque resulted in at least ten dead and fifteen wounded. Reuters notes two police officers shot to death in Hilla. The AFP reports that five corpses were found in Mishada.
In peace news, Will Hoover (The Honolulu Advertiser) reports on Ehren Watada's refusal to ship to Iraq when his unit left Fort Lewis, Washington yesterday (6:45 am), he refused to board. Ehren's father Bob Watada tells Hoover of the three officers that spent hours on Wednesday trying to convince Ehren to change his mind: "They put the full-court press on him. They were telling him, 'You know, you're facing 10 to 15 years in jail, and do you want to do all of that?'" The Army issued a statement saying that charges wouldn't be filed "until the commander has had a chance to review all of the facts of the case and consult with the Staff Judge Advocate." Gregg K. Kakesako (Honolulu Star-Bulletin) reports that the gag order placed on Watada has been "rescinded . . . allowing Watada to talk to anyone." As Alex Fryer (Seattle Times) notes, "Peace groups around the nation plan a day of protests and vigils in support of Watada on Tuesday." For more information, click here.
Elsewhere, Australia's ABC reports that the Australian government "is playing down reports" of a threat to future trade arrangments with Iraq as a result of Australian troops shooting bodyguards of Abdel Falah al-Sudany (Iraqi Trade Minister) -- one died "at least three others [were] injured." Despite John Howard (prime minister of Australia) continuing to downplay the issue (he won't apologize at present), ABC notes "reports [that] the Iraqi Trade Minister is threatening to ditch all trade deals".
The AFP reports that the United States Senate "unanimously approved a $707 billion defence bill for the next financial year that includes almost $70 billion in funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."
In news of future wars, Col. Dan Smith reports, for CounterPunch, on a little known development from June 20, 2006. As the 2007 Defense Department Appropriations bill was being addressed, Representative Maurice Hinchey attempted to attach the following amendment: "None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to initiate military operations against Iran except in accordance with Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States." Though the amendment was only underscoring the true powers of the U.S. Congress, it failed on a 215/47 vote. Unlike Michael R. Gordon, war pornographer and his "Iran Aiding Shiite Attacks Inside Iraq, General Says" (New York Times), the AFP notes of George W. Casey's allegations against Iran: "The White House and Pentagon have repeatedly accused elements in Tehran of arming Iraqi insurgent groups. But they concede they have no clear proof that the Iranian government is sponsoring the activities."

Be sure to check out Like Maria Said Paz for Elaine's thoughts. (She's over tonight, Ma invited her to dinner.) (With her "fellow" :D) Also check out Wally's "THIS JUST IN! THE WHITE HOUSE THUMBS ITS NOSE AT THE SUPREME COURT!" and Cedric's "White House thumbs its nose at the Supreme Court (Bully Boy Press & Cedric's Big Mix)" -- joint post! joint post! :D
And check out C.I.'s "NYT: Striving for tabloid (again)", "And the war drags on . . . (Indymedia Roundup)", "NYT: Michael Gordon cups war pornography, Zernike plays dumb (it is playing, right?)"; Rebecca's "mccain the pain", Kat's"Bonnie interviewed Sanders Hicks Wednesday" and Cedric's "WBAI's Law and Disorder covered Mumia Abu-Jamal and David Gilbert."

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Now we get to have Spanish and English headlines from Democracy Now! Why? Miguel (who gave me the phrase I used above in Spanish when we were on the phone -- the phrase is about my big cock! :D I asked him to give me something I could turn into a good dick joke) had finished his picks for headlines of the week and they're up at The Common Ills. Maria is taking off the summer off, if anyone's wondering. She's usually grabs it week after week and her classes get into it, arguing over what should be included and what shouldn't. Francisco and Miguel grab weeks here and there but since it's fallen on Maria so much during the school year, they both told her to take some time off this summer and that they'd do the run downs of important headlines.


Irak declara estado de emergencia; mueren más de dos docenas de personas
Miguel: Magia Raúl González y Fernando Torres! Viva de la Copa Mundial! :D Benos noches. Aqui estan diez noticias de "Democracy Now!". Buen fin de semana. Paz.

Irak declara estado de emergencia; mueren más de dos docenas de personas
En Irak, el gobierno declaró un estado de emergencia tras una serie de ataques en Bagdad. Hoy temprano, insurgentes bloquearon las calles y abrieron fuego contra soldados estadounidenses e iraquíes cerca de la Zona Verde controlada por Estados Unidos. En otra parte de la capital iraquí, diez personas murieron y otras quince resultaron heridas en un bombardeo contra una mezquita sunita. Se informaron otras diecinueve muertes en Bagdad. Mientras tanto en Basora, al menos cinco personas murieron y otras quince resultaron heridas, cuando un coche bomba atacó un mercado y una estación de servicio cercana.

Siete infantes de marina y un cabo naval son acusados de asesinar a civil iraquí
Las Fuerzas Armadas estadounidenses acusaron a ocho militares del asesinato y secuestro de un hombre iraquí desarmado. Hashim Ibrahim Awad fue detenido en su casa en abril, en la localidad de Hamdania. Los investigadores militares creen que los infantes de marina le dispararon y luego colocaron una pala y un rifle AK-47 en la escena del crimen, para dar la impresión de que se trataba de un insurgente. Hashim Awad tenía alrededor de 50 años, era cojo y tenía problemas de visión. Su familia dijo que un grupo pequeño de militares estadounidenses les ofreció dinero a cambio de que apoyaran la versión de los infantes de marina sobre el asesinato. Los cargos fueron anunciados el miércoles en el Campo Pendleton de California, donde los soldados están detenidos. Si son condenados, los sospechosos podrían ser sentenciados a la pena de muerte.
El portavoz del Cuerpo de Infantes de Marina, el coronel Stewart Navarre, dijo: "Es importante destacar que los cargos son acusaciones contra el individuo, y el acusado es considerado inocente. Todos los infantes de marina están formados en la ley del conflicto armado, y se espera que cumplan rigurosamente con ella. El Cuerpo de Infantes de Marina toma las acusaciones de delitos contra sus miembros muy en serio, y se compromete a investigar a fondo este tipo de acusaciones".

Estados Unidos acusado de matar a civiles iraquíes en Baquba
Las Fuerzas Armadas estadounidenses están siendo acusadas de cometer una nueva masacre de civiles iraquíes. El martes, testigos, familiares y un parlamentario sunita dijeron que soldados estadounidenses mataron a un grupo de civiles cerca de la localidad de Baquba. Un trabajador por los derechos humanos iraquí dijo que dos de las personas que murieron eran niños de 10 y 12 años de edad. En una declaración, las Fuerzas Armadas estadounidenses afirmaron que habían matado a quince "terroristas", y habían incautado sus armas. Sin embargo, un oficial de la policía iraquí le dijo al "Washington Post" que no se encontraron armas en el lugar donde se produjo el ataque.

Se acusa a soldados estadounidenses de asesinar a detenidos iraquíes
Tres soldados estadounidenses fueron acusados con relación al asesinato de tres detenidos iraquíes que tuvo lugar el mes pasado en la localidad del Canal de Thar Thar. Los soldados, todos miembros de la 101º División Aérea, presuntamente detuvieron a los tres iraquíes durante una redada a una antigua fábrica química. Luego, los soldados le permitieron a los iraquíes que huyeran, para así tener una excusa para dispararles. Estos hombres también están acusados de amenazar con matar a otro soldado si cooperaba con los investigadores.

El Senado rechaza propuestas de retirada de Irak
Mientras tanto en Capitol Hill, el Senado rechazó dos medidas distintas que solicitaban la retirada de los soldados estadounidenses de Irak.
El líder de la mayoría del Senado, Bill Frist, dijo: "Ninguno de nosotros sabe con certeza que pasará exactamente con la reforma democrática en Irak mientras estamos comprometidos con ella. Pero sí sabemos que fracasará si Estados Unidos la abandonada prematuramente. La retirada no es una opción. Rendirse no es la solución".
Las dos medidas fueron propuestas por demócratas. Una propuesta que pedía la retirada -pero no establecía una fecha exacta- fue rechazada por 60 votos en contra y 39 a favor. Otra medida que establecía que los soldados debían retirarse antes de julio del año que viene fue rechazada por un margen aún más amplio: 89 votos en contra y trece a favor. Esta medida fue presentada por el senador de Massachussets John Kerry. Kerry habló en el Senado, y dijo que es necesario establecer una fecha exacta para la retirada.
El senador Kerry dijo: "¿Por qué razón los senadores vendrían al Senado y argumentarían "sigamos como hasta ahora y hagamos lo mismo de siempre", cuando nuestros propios generales nos han dicho que seguir haciendo lo mismo de siempre es parte del problema? Hacer lo mismo de siempre atrae a los terroristas. Lo mismo de siempre está haciendo que perdamos aliados. Lo mismo de siempre nos está costando innecesariamente grandes sumas de dinero y vidas".

Japón retirará sus soldados de Irak
La llamada "coalición de la buena voluntad" en Irak continúa reduciéndose. El Primer Ministro japonés anunció planes de retirar a sus 600 soldados de Irak en las próximas semanas. A su vez, Italia dijo que retirará a sus soldados antes de fin de año. España, los Países Bajos, Ucrania, Nicaragua, Filipinas y Honduras ya se retiraron. Una vez que los soldados italianos se hayan ido, Gran Bretaña y Corea del Sur serán los únicos países, además de Estados Unidos, en tener más de mil soldados en Irak.

Programa secreto del gobierno de Bush vigila registros bancarios internacionales
El gobierno de Bush ha estado vigilando secretamente miles de transacciones bancarias internacionales sin órdenes judiciales. El programa secreto fue implementado poco después de los atentados del 11 de septiembre, y los funcionarios del gobierno dicen que es un arma crucial para rastrear la financiación de la actividad terrorista. La información fue obtenida de la Sociedad Internacional para las Telecomunicaciones Financieras Interbancarias (SWIFT, por sus siglas en inglés). La organización ayuda a dirigir billones de dólares diariamente en transferencias bancarias internacionales. Funcionarios le dijeron a "Los Angeles Times" que el programa ha tenido "poco éxito" en rastrear la actividad financiera de Al Qaeda. Los ejecutivos de SWIFT aparentemente intentaron retirarse del programa cuando comenzaron a preocuparse por la legitimidad del mismo. Sin embargo, los ejecutivos fueron persuadidos para que continuaran cooperando, pero sólo tras la intervención de altos funcionarios del gobierno (entre los que se encontraba el ex presidente de la Reserva Federal, Alan Greenspan).

Nueva política sobre privacidad de AT&T afirma que la empresa es poseedora de la información sobre sus clientes
En otras noticias, AT&T introdujo una nueva política que afirma que la empresa es poseedora de la información de cuenta de los clientes, y puede compartirla con agencias del gobierno. De acuerdo a esta nueva política, AT&T recogerá los nombres de usuario de los clientes, contraseñas, gastos, pagos, y compras en línea. Asimismo, rastreará la actividad de los clientes mientras se encuentren en sitios de Internet en los que AT&T posee una sociedad con Yahoo. Los cambios surgen mientras AT&T se encuentra en medio de una demanda llevada a cabo por la Electronic Frontier Foundation (Fundación de la Frontera Electrónica) sobre la participación de la empresa en el programa de espionaje de la Agencia de Seguridad Nacional (NSA, por sus siglas en inglés).

Miles de personas protestan visita de Bush en Austria
En Austria, al menos 15.000 personas se congregaron el miércoles en Viena para protestar contra la visita del Presidente Bush. El Presidente viajó a Austria para llevar a cabo negociaciones con líderes de la Unión Europea. Un grupo de manifestantes vistió trajes de salto naranjas similares a los que usan los detenidos en la prisión estadounidense de la Bahía de Guantánamo. Los líderes europeos aprovecharon la reunión para pedir el cierre de la prisión.
Un manifestante no identificado dijo: "No nos agrada Bush. No aceptamos a Bush, Bush sólo es un asesino, un homicida, no tiene una política, simplemente mata a personas por sus intereses, por intereses económicos, principalmente por petróleo, todos saben eso".

El Senado rechaza aumento de salario mínimo
Esta noticia es de Estados Unidos. El Senado rechazó el miércoles una medida que habría aumentado el salario mínimo por primera vez en casi una década. La propuesta establecía un aumento del 40% del salario actual de 5 dólares y 15 centavos la hora. Un estudio dado a conocer esta semana por el Instituto de Política Económica y el Centro sobre Presupuesto y Prioridades Políticas (CBPP, por sus siglas en inglés) dice que el valor real del dólar del salario mínimo está ahora en su nivel más bajo en más de quince años. Pero el Congreso no rechazó todos los aumentos de remuneraciones federales: la semana pasada, los legisladores de la Cámara de Representantes decidieron mediante una votación aumentar sus salarios a más de 3.000 dólares. Este fue el séptimo aumento consecutivo de sus salarios.

Miguel: Are you following the World Cup? Good evening. Here are ten news headlines from this week's Democracy Now! Peace.

Iraq Declares State of Emergency; More Than 2 Dozen Killed
In Iraq, the government has declared a state of state of emergency following a series of attacks in Baghdad. Earlier today, insurgents set up roadblocks and opened fire on U.S. and Iraqi troops close to the US-run Green Zone. Elsewhere in the Iraqi capital, 10 people were killed and 15 wounded in a bombing of a Sunni mosque. Another 19 deaths were reported around Baghdad. Meanwhile in Basra, at least five people were killed and fifteen wounded when a car bombing struck a market and a nearby gas station.

7 Marines, Naval Corporal Charged With Murdering Iraqi Civilian
The US military has charged eight service members with the murder and kidnapping of an unarmed Iraqi. Hashim Ibrahim Awad was pulled from his home last April in the town of Hamdania. Military investigators believe the Marines shot him and then planted a shovel and an AK-47 rifle at the scene to make it appear he was an insurgent. Awad was in his 50's with a lame leg and bad eyesight. His family has alleged a small group of U.S. servicemembers offered them money in exchange for supporting the Marines' version of the killing. The charges were announced Wednesday at California's Camp Pendleton, where the servicemembers are being held. If convicted, the suspects could face the death penalty.
Marine spokesperson Colonel Stewart Navarre: "It is important to note that the charges are accusations, against the individual, and the accused is presumed innocent. All marines are trained in the law of armed conflict, and are expected to fully comply with it. The marine corps takes allegations of wrongdoings by its members very seriously, and is committed to thoroughly investigating such allegations."

US Accused of Killing Iraqi Civilians in Baquba
The US military is being accused of committing a new massacre of Iraqi civilians. On Tuesday, witnesses, family members and a Sunni parliamentarian said US troops killed a group of civilians near the town of Baquba. An Iraqi human rights worker said two of the dead were young boys aged ten and twelve. In a statement, the US military claimed it killed 15 "terrorists" and had captured their weapons. But an Iraqi police officer told the Washington Post no weapons were found at the scene of the attack.

U.S. Soldiers Charged With Murdering Iraqi Detainees
Three U.S. soldiers have been charged in connection with the killing of three Iraqi detainees last month in the town of Thar Thar Canal. The soldiers -- all members of the 101st Airborne Division -- reportedly detained the Iraqis during a raid on a former chemical factory. Then the soldiers allowed the Iraqis to flee the scene so they would have an excuse to shoot them. The men are also accused of threatening to kill another soldier if he assisted investigators.

Senate Rejects Iraq Withdrawal
Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, the Senate rejected two separate measures calling for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist: "None of us know for sure exactly how the democratic reform in Iraq will turn out as we stay committed. But, we do know it will fail if it is abandoned prematurely by the United States. Withdrawal is not an option. Surrender is not a solution."
Both measures were proposed by Democrats. A proposal calling for a withdrawal without a firm deadline was defeated 60 to 39. Another measure calling for a troop withdrawal by July of next year was defeated by an even wider margin -- 89 to 13. The measure was introduced by Massachusets Senator John Kerry. Speaking on the Senate floor, Kerry argued that a firm timetable is necessary.
Senator John Kerry: "Why on earth would senators come to the floor and argue 'Let's just stay the course and do the same old thing' when our own generals have told us the same old thing is part of the part of the problem? The same old thing is attracting terrorists. The same old thing is losing us allies. The same old thing is costing us unbelievable sums of money and lives unnecessarily."

Japan To Withdraw Troops From Iraq
The so-called coalition of the willing in Iraq is continuing to shrink. The Japanese prime minister has announced plans to pull its six hundred troops out of Iraq within weeks. Italy has already said it will remove its troops by year’s end. Spain, The Netherlands, Ukraine, Nicaragua, the Philippines and Honduras have already pulled out. Once the Italian troops leave, Britain and South Korea will be the only nations besides the United States to have more than one thousand troops in Iraq.

Secret Bush Admin Program Monitors International Bank Records
The Bush administration has been secretly monitoring thousands of international bank transactions without court-approval. The secret program was enacted shortly after the 9/11 attacks in what government officials say is a crucial weapon in tracking the financing of terrorist activity. The information has been obtained from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, or SWIFT. The organization helps direct trillions of dollars in daily international bank transfers. Officials told the Los Angeles Times the program has been “marginally successful” in tracking the financial activity of al Qaeda. SWIFT executives apparently tried to withdraw from the program after becoming concerned over its legality. The executives were persuaded to continue their cooperation only after the intervention of top government officials, including former Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan.

AT&T's New Privacy Policy Says It Owns Costumers' Info
In privacy news, AT&T has introduced a new policy that says the company owns customers' account information and can share it with government agencies. Under the new policy, AT&T will collect customers' user names, passwords, charges, payments, and online purchases. It will also track their activity while on sites that AT&T operates in a partnership with Yahoo. The changes come as AT&T is embroiled in a lawsuit brought by the Electronic Frontier Foundation over the company’s involvement in the NSA spy program.

Thousands Protest Bush in Austria
In Austria, at least 15,000 people gathered in Vienna Wednesday to protest the visit of President Bush. The President is in Austria for talks with European Union leaders. A group of protesters wore orange jump suits similar to those worn by detainees at the US prison at Guantanamo Bay. European leaders have used the meeting to call for Guantanamo's closure.Unidentified protester: "We don't like Bush. We don't accept Bush, Bush is just a killer, a murdere, he doesn't make policy, he is just killing people for his interests, for economic interests, it's mainly for oil, everybody knows it."

Senate Rejects Minimum Wage Increase
Back in the United States, the Senate rejected a measure Wednesday that would have raised the minimum wage for the first time in nearly a decade. The proposal called for a 40 percent increase from the current wage of Five Dollars and Fifteen cents an hour. A study released this week by the Economic Policy Institute and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says the real-dollar value of the minimum wage is now at its lowest level in more than fifty years. But Congress has not rejected all federal pay hikes: last week, House lawmakers voted to increase their salaries by more than Three Thousand Dollars. It was their seventh straight pay raise.
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