Political and Economic News: Feb 29th,2012

Politics

Democratic lobbyists giving cold shoulder to Obama super-PAC

http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/212909-democratic-lobbyists-giving-cold-shoulder-to-obama-super-pac-

‘Not for Pub’: US drew up secret Assange charges – Stratfor leak

http://rt.com/news/us-assange-charges-indictment-stratfor-425/

Homeland Security Dept. Pays General Dynamics to Scour Internet for Criticism of its Policies

http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/Homeland_Security_Dept_Pays_General_Dynamics_to_Scour_Internet_for_Criticism_of_its_Policies_1202Economy

US ‘ties North Korea food aid to nuclear progress’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17201046
Obama using Espionage Act to ‘silence and prosecute federal workers’ – NYT
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/27/business/media/white-house-uses-espionage-act-to-pursue-leak-cases-media-equation.html?_r=1
US tax dollars at work: War games: Tel Aviv missile drill
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4195662,00.html

McCain Charges White House With Israel Leaks

Sen. John McCain charges that the Obama administration is intentionally undermining Israel in its standoff with Iran.

Economy

S&P Declares Greece in Default

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203833004577249831718108646.html

Venezuela to Keep Syria Fuel Exports, Deepen Ties With China

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-28/venezuela-to-keep-syria-fuel-exports-deepen-ties-with-china.html

Irish leaving in droves to work abroad:  More people will leave Ireland to find work abroad, than at any time since the 1980s

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/02/2012228103831963169.html

Durable goods orders drop by most in 3 years:  U.S. businesses slashed spending on machinery and equipment in January after a tax break expired, pushing orders for long-lasting manufacturing goods down by the largest amount in three years

http://news.yahoo.com/durable-goods-orders-drop-most-3-years-133644833.html

Democratic leaders intensify blame on Wall Street for rising oil prices

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/213013-dem-leaders-keep-pressure-on-wall-street-over-rising-oil-prices

20 Signs That Dust Bowl Conditions Will Soon Return To The Heartland Of America

http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/20-signs-that-dust-bowl-conditions-will-soon-return-to-the-heartland-of-america
Dow crosses 13,000, first time since crisis
http://www.usatoday.com/money/markets/story/2012-02-28/stocks-february-28/53283088/1

HSBC could face US criminal charges and ‘significant’ fines over ‘money-laundering’

HSBC has admitted for the first time it may face criminal charges that could see it hit with “significant” penalties stemming from a US investigation into alleged money-laundering by Britain’s biggest bank.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/9111850/HSBC-could-face-US-criminal-charges-and-significant-fines-over-money-laundering.html

America 1950 vs. America 2012

http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/america-1950-vs-america-2012

Iran’s crude oil price exceeds $124 in Asian markets

http://www.mehrnews.com/en/newsdetail.aspx?NewsID=1545637

Wars And Rumors Of Wars

Israel Won’t Warn U.S. Before Strike On Iran: AP Source

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/27/israel-wont-warn-us-befor_n_1305601.html?1330398253&ncid=webmail2

Britain leads dash to explore for oil in war-torn Somalia:  Government offers humanitarian aid and security assistance in the hope of a stake in country’s future energy industry http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/25/britain-oil-dash-somalia

NATO airstrike kills four Afghan civilians –The victims were reportedly bombed twice while herding sheep in the snow.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/228735.html

Misc

Anonymous hackers: Police arrest 25 in four countries
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17195893