Thursday, December 15, 2011

12/15/11

* The Protester Once upon a time, when major news events were chronicled strictly by professionals and printed on paper or transmitted through the air by the few for the masses, protesters were prime makers of history.

* Hamas leader: We'll lead intifada after intifada Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday called for the formation of an Arab army "to liberate Jerusalem and the Aksa Mosque very soon."

* US flag ceremony ends Iraq operation The flag of American forces in Iraq has been lowered in Baghdad, bringing nearly nine years of US military operations in Iraq to a formal end.

* Russia election: Putin accepts 'lawful' protests Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has rejected calls to re-run disputed parliamentary elections but said he accepted "lawful" protests.

* Syria 'authorised forces to shoot to kill' in crackdown Syrian soldiers said their commanders told them to stop anti-government protests "by all means necessary".

* Hizbullah names CIA agents, details meetings in Beirut Starbucks, Pizza Huts The Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah has disclosed details of CIA officers stationed in Lebanon, including their names and their recruitment and operational methods.

* Israeli officials say Syria's Bashar al-Assad is doomed In a shift, Israeli officials are welcoming the prospect that Syria's embattled president, Bashar al-Assad, will be overthrown.

* Apple Opening Israel Dev Center, First Outside US For the second day in a row, Apple is making hi-tech headlines in Israel.

* Egypt votes in 2nd round, Islamist win forecasted Egyptians voting on Thursday said they felt empowered by the first free election after Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule.

* Doubts, fears nag Iraqis as US pulls out Zahora Jasim lost two brothers to bombs and gunmen in the years of turmoil and violence that followed the US invasion of Iraq.