The Irate Nation Est. 2001

A senior Obama administration official on Friday characterized the Fort Hood shooting as “an act of terrorism.”

clipped from www.foxnews.com

A senior Obama administration official, speaking on background Friday to a group of reporters, characterized the Fort Hood shooting as "an act of terrorism," the first time an administration official has used that term in describing the massacre.

"To me, what he did certainly was using terror at its worst," the official said, defining terrorism as the use of violence to promote political beliefs. The official spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity in order to provide insight into the administration's discussions. blog it

U.K. legal system “absurd situation”

clipped from www.haaretz.com

Britain's attorney general said Tuesday that she was aware of the urgent need to address the slew of arrest warrants being issued in her country against Israeli official over alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

Attorney General Baroness Patricia Janet Scotland made her remarks after a delegation of senior Israel Defense Forces officers canceled a planned visit to the U.K. for fear they would be arrested upon landing.

blog it

Bomb Blast Rocks Hezbollah Stronghold Near Beirut

clipped from www.foxnews.com

Three bombs planted under a car exploded south of Beirut on Saturday, wounding two people in an attack that apparently targeted an official from the Palestinian militant group Hamas, the state-run news agency said.

The official National News Agency said the explosion was caused by "three bombs tied to each other" that were placed under the car of an official believed to be from Hamas.

One senior police official said the blast occurred in a neighborhood that houses an office belonging to Hamas. blog it

Hamas abusing European law to demand arrest of Israeli leaders for war crimes

clipped from www.timesonline.co.uk

The Islamist group Hamas is masterminding efforts to have senior Israeli leaders arrested for alleged war crimes when they visit European countries including Britain, a top Hamas official involved in the effort has told The Times.

The claim comes amid continuing diplomatic fallout after a British arrest warrant was issued last week against Tzipi Livni, who served as Foreign Minister during Israel’s Gaza offensive last winter. The warrant was withdrawn when it became clear that Ms Livni, now leader of the opposition, was not in the country. Its existence apparently prompted her to cancel a trip to attend a meeting in London. blog it

6.4-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Taiwan

clipped from www.foxnews.com

A powerful earthquake off Taiwan injured 14 people and caused minor damage in the capital as well as near the epicenter, an official said Sunday.

All 14 victims sustained minor injuries in the eastern city of Hualien, 85 miles southeast of the capital, the official from Taiwan's National Fire Agency said.