FBI Accused of Concealing Link to Mercenary Jailer in Afghanistan

FBI Accused of Concealing Link to Mercenary Jailer in Afghanistan: "FBI Accused of Concealing Link to Mercenary Jailer in Afghanistan by Declan Walsh and Kitty Logan in Kabul An American mercenary accused of kidnapping and torturing terror suspects in Afghanistan told a court in Kabul yesterday that the FBI was withholding hundreds of papers, photographs and videotapes showing that he was employed by the agency, as well as by the CIA and the US military. The American government denies all links with the former special forces soldier, Jonathan 'Jack' Idema, a convicted fraudster, but has agreed to return the controversial documents, the court hearing was told. The case against Mr Idema was adjourned for a week to allow him to examine the documents and prove his alleged links with the US government. Mr Idema, a 48-year-old former green beret, and his fellow Americans, Edward Caraballo and Brett Bennett, were arrested last month after police found a makeshift jail inside their Kabul house. Detainees claimed they had been held for days, doused in scalding water or hung from the ceiling by their feet. The three men were charged with hostage-taking, torturing eight people and entering Afghanistan illegally."

Bush Supporters Attack Hometown Newspapers Staff

Crawford Paper Threatened The Crawford (TX) paper that opined against President Bush recently has been subjected to threats -- of commercial harm and physical violence. Iconoclast publisher explains: "We have been told by several avid Bush supporters that the days when newspapers publish editorials without personal repercussions are over... When Bush was endorsed four years ago, the Gore supporters did not respond with threats, nor did Democrats when we endorsed Reagan twice. Republicans did not threaten us personally or our business when we endorsed Carter and Clinton for their first terms... The new mode of operation, I am told, is that when a newspaper prints an editorial of which some sectors might disagree, the focus is now upon how to run the newspaper out of business