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April 15, 2010
Federal Judge Allows Suit to Proceed Against Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld

In a historic case, a judge for the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Judge Wayne R. Andersen, allowed a suit to proceed against former Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld –who is being charged with authorizing torture in the case of two American detainees.

In a historic case, a judge for the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Judge Wayne R. Andersen, allowed a suit to proceed against former Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld –who is being charged with authorizing torture in the case of two American detainees.

The plaintiffs, Donald Vance and Nathan Ertel, former employees of Shield Group Security (SGS), have accused US forces in Iraq of imprisoning them without charges in 2006, and hence, have launched a suit against the commander of US armed forces at the time, Mr Rumsfeld.

March 19, 2010
Shifting the Balance of Power Back to the Consumer

Effective last month, the Credit Card Bill Reform which President Obama signed last year went into effect. To mark the occasion, a live chat was held through CreditCards.com with Austan Goolsbee of the Council of Economic Advisers.

Effective last month, the Credit Card Bill Reform which President Obama signed last year went into effect. To mark the occasion, a live chat was held through CreditCards.com with Austan Goolsbee of the Council of Economic Advisers. The law that President Obama signed last May shields card users from sudden interest rate hikes, excessive fees and other gimmicks that card companies have used to drive up profits. According to the Pew Charitable Trust, a company that tracks credit card issues, consumers will save at least $10 billion a year from curbs on interest rate increases alone.

February 21, 2010
Administration Signals It Will Not Push Legal Limits of Terrorism Detention

The five-page letter that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder issued in February defending the decision to treat the Christmas Day bomber suspect as a criminal suspect, rather than as a wartime captive, offered new insight into the Obama Administration’s view of the limits of preventive detention. The letter suggests that the administration sees virtually no legal foundation for holding terrorism suspects arrested on U.S. soil in preventive detention and has very little interest in trying to create any.

The five-page letter that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder issued in February defending the decision to treat the Christmas Day bomber suspect as a criminal suspect, rather than as a wartime captive, offered new insight into the Obama Administration’s view of the limits of preventive detention. The letter suggests that the administration sees virtually no legal foundation for holding terrorism suspects arrested on U.S. soil in preventive detention and has very little interest in trying to create any.

February 21, 2010
International Qur’anic Open University Vice Chancellor Sends Appeal to the President of the United States to Halt Afghan War on Humanitarian Grounds

To the President of the United States, Syed Barack Hussein Obama: I, El Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani, El Hashmi El Hassani wal Hussaini and my Qadri followers hereby come forward to proffer our assistance  to act as much needed intermediaries  to play an integral role in sorting out and bridging the gaps amongst warring parties in the massive conflict in Afghanistan.

To the President of the United States, Syed Barack Hussein Obama: I, El Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani, El Hashmi El Hassani wal Hussaini and my Qadri followers hereby come forward to proffer our assistance  to act as much needed intermediaries  to play an integral role in sorting out and bridging the gaps amongst warring parties in the massive conflict in Afghanistan. We can, and must, collectively bring an end to the senseless loss of human lives and the growing number of victims.

February 21, 2010
New Envoy Named to the Organization of the Islamic Conference

On February 13 during a video conference with the 7th US Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar, US President Obama annouced his choice for Deputy Associate Council.

On February 13 during a video conference with the 7th US Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar, US President Obama annouced his choice for Deputy Associate Council.

February 21, 2010
New Envoy Named to the Organization of the Islamic Conference

On February 13 during a video conference with the 7th US Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar, US President Obama annouced his choice for Deputy Associate Council. President Obama said, “I’m proud to announce today that I am appointing my Special Envoy to the OIC—Rashad Hussain.

On February 13 during a video conference with the 7th US Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar, US President Obama annouced his choice for Deputy Associate Council. President Obama said, “I’m proud to announce today that I am appointing my Special Envoy to the OIC—Rashad Hussain. As an accomplished lawyer and a close and trusted member of my White House staff, Rashad has played a key role in developing the partnerships I called for in Cairo.

February 12, 2010
President Obama Makes History as First President to Field Questions from Opposing Party Directly

What was novel and historic about this session was the president's fielding of questions from lawmakers across the political aisle, on their own turf - a Republican political meeting - in an effective and disarming manner. These are GOP politicians who would not ordinarily find themselves in a one-on-one venue with the Democratic president.

The nation and the world observed an amazing event in President Barak Obama's question and answer session at the GOP House Issues Conference, held in Baltimore, Maryland.

February 11, 2010
Citizens Address Open Letter to Congress Regarding Use of Blackwater and other Defense Contractors

Dan Kenney, Raymond Lutz and Christian Stalberg, coordinators for the United States non-governmental organizations (NGOs) No Private Armies, Citizens’ Oversight Projects Committee and Blackwater/Xe Watch, respectively, have joined US Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (Democrat-Illinois), of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, to voice the opinion of Americans who are against the illegal activities of private security contractors.

Dan Kenney, Raymond Lutz and Christian Stalberg, coordinators for the United States non-governmental organizations (NGOs) No Private Armies, Citizens’ Oversight Projects Committee and Blackwater/Xe Watch, respectively, have joined US Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (Democrat-Illinois), of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, to voice the opinion of Americans who are against the illegal activities of private security contractors.

January 10, 2010
The 2010 Political Timebomb Is Unemployment

Since the fall of last year, the official jobless rate has been over ten percent, while the unofficial rate (taking in the severely underemployed and those who have given up looking) has been over 17 percent.

American employers eliminated 4.2 million jobs in 2009 and sent unemployment soaring into double digits for the first time in more than a quarter century.

Since the fall of last year, the official jobless rate has been over ten percent, while the unofficial rate (taking in the severely underemployed and those who have given up looking) has been over 17 percent.

December 1, 2009
Leading by Example: Professional Women Create Partnerships with Students

First Lady Michelle Obama launched a mentoring program in early November, intended to inspire 10th- and 11th-grade girls from public and private schools in the Washington, Maryland, and Virginia area by giving them access and exposure to accomplished women of varying careers- including ladies on the White House staff. The participating students were chosen by their school principals as those who could most benefit from the program, according to the White House.

First Lady Michelle Obama launched a mentoring program in early November, intended to inspire 10th- and 11th-grade girls from public and private schools in the Washington, Maryland, and Virginia area by giving them access and exposure to accomplished women of varying careers- including ladies on the White House staff. The participating students were chosen by their school principals as those who could most benefit from the program, according to the White House.