Obama Admin “Cherry-Picked” Intel on Syria Chemical Strike
A new report says the Obama administration may have misled the public on the chemical attack in Ghouta, Syria, earlier this year. Writing in the London Review of Books, investigative reporter Seymour Hersh says the Obama administration “cherry-picked intelligence” to justify its threatened attack on the Assad regime, which it ultimately never carried out. Hersh says the administration failed to disclose it knew Syrian rebels in the al-Nusra Front had the ability to produce chemical weapons. Evidence obtained in the days after the attack was also allegedly distorted to make it appear it was gathered in real time.
Charges Dropped for Black Teens Arrested While Waiting for School Bus
Prosecutors in upstate New York have dropped charges against three black teenagers who were arrested for waiting for their school bus. The three were standing on a sidewalk where they were to be picked up and taken to their team’s basketball game. When they refused a police order to disperse, they were arrested for disorderly conduct. One of the students and their coach spoke out last week. After reviewing the case, the Monroe County district attorney said she is dropping the charges. The Rochester Police Department has refused to apologize for the teens’ arrest, saying it was justified.
[What a free country!]
Chevron Halts Gas Drilling in Romanian Village Following Protests
The oil giant Chevron has suspended gas drilling in a Romanian village following protests by local residents. Hundreds of people have been staging anti-fracking rallies near the Romanian town of Pungesti for several months, and clashes erupted with riot police last week.