04 February 2010

BUB: Mid-day Roundup

Here are a few stories to keep you busy thru the afternoon...

A Pakistani scientist has been convicted of terror crimes. Despite her status as being captured on a battlefield, and the terror charges against her, she was tried in a civilian court, and not at a military tribunal.
A Pakistani neuroscientist was convicted Wednesday of trying to kill U.S. military officers while she was in custody in Afghanistan, capping a trial that drew notice for its terrorist implications as well as its theatrics.

After three days of deliberations, a U.S. District Court jury in Manhattan found the scientist, Aafia Siddiqui, guilty of all seven counts against her, including attempted murder. She faces life in prison when sentenced in May.

The verdict puts a final mark on one of the more twisted yet fascinating trials of a terror suspect, whose back story has attracted attention from human rights groups as well as federal prosecutors.

In the course of the 14-day trial, Dr. Siddiqui was ejected numerous times for her outbursts, two jurors were removed from the case, and one courtroom observer was arrested. Testimony was heard from weeping soldiers, there were suggestions of "secret prisons," and machine guns were waved around as evidence.

After jurors delivered their verdict, Dr. Siddiqui was heard from again. As the jurors began leaving the courtroom, the defendant -- her face mostly covered in a cream-colored scarf -- turned in her chair to face them. Holding her right index finger in the air, she said: "This is a verdict coming from Israel, and not from America. That's where the anger belongs. I can testify to this, and I have proof."

Though the outburst prompted marshals to remove Dr. Siddiqui, 37, from the courtroom, she returned as Judge Richard M. Berman and lawyers for both sides discussed a sentencing date. She spoke again, though her comments were directed at the judge. "They're not my attorneys," she said before being led out.

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Despite the US saying otherwise, South Korea is claiming they're not part of the US missile defense ring encircling the globe.
The U.S. Defense Department claims South Korea is interested in participating in a U.S.-led ballistic missile defense system, but Seoul officials deny that any concrete commitment has been made. In a report released Monday, the department said Seoul "is also an important U.S. BMD partner" and "has indicated interest in acquiring a missile defense capability that includes land- and sea-based systems, early warning radars, and a command and control system."

"The United States and [South Korea] are working to define possible future BMD requirements," the report says. It expresses the hope that South Korea will actively participate, saying, "The United States looks forward to taking further steps to enhance operational coordination and build upon ongoing missile defense cooperation" between Seoul and Washington.

But South Korean military authorities on Wednesday dismissed the claims, saying the report does not represent an official expression of the U.S. government views. They say there has been no formal request through diplomatic channels, nor has Seoul expressed such an interest.

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Google and the NSA teaming up? Privacy advocates everywhere are running for the nearest courtroom.
The world's largest Internet search company and the world's most powerful electronic surveillance organization are teaming up in the name of cybersecurity.

Under an agreement that is still being finalized, the National Security Agency would help Google analyze a major corporate espionage attack that the firm said originated in China and targeted its computer networks, according to cybersecurity experts familiar with the matter. The objective is to better defend Google — and its users — from future attack.

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The Central Caucasus are the scene of some controversy over how to account for forces under the CFE treaty and whether or not breakaway regions are 'part' of the armed forces of which country.
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And India seems willing to have official talks with Pakistan on a variety of security topics.
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By: Brant

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