TUCSON Az ( Former Customs Officer found guilty of Drug charges )

Former customs officer found guilty of importing marijuana

Posted: Feb 15, 2013 10:25 AM by Faye DeHoff

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TUCSON - A former Customs and Border Protection Officer has been found guilty of drug charges.33-year-old Luis Vasquez, formerly of Douglas, was found guilty on February 14 by a federal jury in Tucson. Evidence showed that Vasquez used his position as an inspector at the Douglas port of entry to allow over 1,200 pounds of marijuana into the United States from Mexico on at least two occasions without inspection.
He was found guilty on all counts, including conspiracy to import marijuana, unlawful importation of marijuana, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and possession with the intent to distribute marijuana.
The convictions carry a maximum penalty of 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine or both. Vasquez remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service while awaiting sentencing, which will be on April 29th.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the
Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and Office of the Inspector General and the Douglas Police Department.

Bahrain ( Protest anti government- 16 yr old killed and policeman )

MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) - Thousands of anti-government marchers jammed a major highway Friday as clashes broke out for a second day between security forces and protesters marking the anniversary of their uprising in the strategic Gulf nation.
The spike in violence is likely to put pressure on Shiite opposition groups as they engage in talks to ease the crisis with Bahrain's Sunni-led government, despite objections from hard-line factions who want to topple the Western-backed monarchy.

In another sign of escalating tensions, police said they found a bomb wearing 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) on the causeway connecting Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, which closely backs Bahrain's monarchy. Police said bomb disposal teams defused the device, which officials said contained "highly explosive material."
On Thursday, a 16-year-old male and a policeman were killed on the second anniversary of the Shiite-led uprising that seeks a greater political voice in the affairs of the kingdom, which is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

Bahrain's Shiites comprise about 70% of Bahrain's more than 550,000 native-born population, but claim they face widespread discrimination and are blocked from key political and military roles. Nearly 60 people have died in the unrest. Some activist groups place the toll higher.
The protesters joined a peaceful march along a main highway linking the capital, Manama, with Shiite areas to the west. Breakaway groups, meanwhile, clashed with riot police in nearby neighborhoods and fired tear gas and stun grenades.
Main Shiite political groups opened talks this month with government and Sunni envoys to try to ease the crisis. Washington and other Western allies of Bahrain's rulers have applauded the effort. But some Shiite factions oppose the dialogue, claiming it will not weaken the Sunni dynasty's power.
Officials said policeman Mohammed Asif was fatally wounded from a "projectile" after attacks from demonstrators. An earlier statement blamed Asif's death late Thursday on a "domestic terror act."
Meanwhile, a separate investigation is under way into the death of the teenager. Activists said he was killed on Thursday by police birdshot fire.

Syria ( Iranian General killed while traveling from Syria to Lebanon )

TEHRAN – An Iranian general has been killed by elements affiliated with the Zionist regime while traveling from Syria to Lebanon, the head of the public relations department of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps announced on Thursday.

“Brigadier General Hassan Shateri was martyred on his way from Damascus to Beirut by mercenaries and individuals backed by the Zionist regime,” Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif said.

According to him, Shateri was in charge of the Iranian committee for the reconstruction of Lebanon that was established after the war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.

“What is obvious is that these mercenaries will get nowhere with these nefarious and criminal actions,” Sharif said.

It was not immediately clear in which of the two countries Shateri was killed, but a Syrian rebel commander said an Iranian official was killed in an attack carried out by Syrian rebels in Zabadani in southwestern Syria, close to the Lebanese border, Guardian reported on Thursday.

A funeral service was held for Shateri in Tehran on Thursday. Senior Iranian commanders attended the funeral ceremony.

Shateri was laid to rest in the Iranian city of Semnan, the provincial capital, on Friday.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad offered condolences over the death of Shateri and blamed the incident on mercenaries backed by the Zionist regime.

In addition, Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour on Thursday condemned the assassination of the Iranian general

Iran News ( Nuclear issue can be resolved if West shows seriousness )

Iran nuclear issue can be resolved if West shows seriousness: ex-negotiator

Political Desk On Line: 15 February 2013 16:03 In Print: Saturday 16 February 2013

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TEHRAN – Iran’s former chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani has said that Tehran’s nuclear issue can be resolved if world powers enter negotiations seriously. Rohani, the current director of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Council, told reporters on Friday that the issues between Iran and the West, whether nuclear or otherwise, must be resolved through dialogue. “Iran has always said that it is ready to hold serious negotiations,” Rohani said. Commenting on unilateral sanctions against Iran, Rohani said, “When the West is increasing pressure and at the same time is talking about negotiations, then negotiations mean surrender.” “If negotiations are serious and based on mutual understanding, there is no need to such tough actions,” he added. Rohani emphasized that if the West is seeking to make the Iranian nation surrender, it will never achieve its goal. The only solution is that they seriously come up for negotiations, he added.

President Obama ( Straight talk - About the United States Drone program )

Obama: Americans need to know more about drone program

Obama participates in a Google chat (screenshot via YouTube)President Barack Obama defended his administration’s use of drones to target and assassinate Americans overseas believed to be working with terrorists, insisting the government is following the law on what it can and cannot do. But he admitted the public needs to know more about how the drone program works and what rules the administration is following.

“What I think is absolutely true is that it is not sufficient for citizens to just take my word for it that we are doing the right thing,” Obama said in an online chat sponsored by Google.
Asked if the United States could target a United States citizen on American soil, Obama said no.
“There has never been a drone used on an American citizen on American soil, and we respect and have a whole bunch of safeguards in terms of how we conduct counterterrorism in the United States,” Obama said.


But he said the rules outside the U.S.” are “different”—and said it was his responsibility as the president to work with Congress to implement a “mechanism” to be more forthcoming with the public so that people understand “what is going on, what the constraints are, (and) what the legal parameters are.”
“That is something I take very seriously,” Obama said. “I am not somebody who believes that the president has the authority to do whatever he wants or whatever she wants whenever they want under the guise of terrorism.”
During the hourlong chat, Obama also defended his handling of immigration reform, insisting his ability to change the system has been hampered by bickering in Congress.
“I am the president of the United States. I am not the emperor of the United States,” Obama said. “My job is to execute laws that are passed, and Congress right now has not changed what I consider to be a broken immigration system."
He said he was waiting to see the specifics of what Congress will come up with immigration reform, insisting he didn't want to jump into the middle of the debate and complicate already tense negotiations. But, he insisted, "The opportunity for immigration reform has never been higher."

Saudi Arabia ( Bans all red flower sales today- Valentine's Day ) Store owners could be shut dowm

Saudi Arabia bans ALL things red for Valentine’s Day.
Most middle eastern countries ban selling any red flowers or bears or I love you signs today.

Australian Open ( Kangaroo delay - Before golfer hits her shot ) see photo

There was a kangaroo delay at the Women’s Australian Open because of course there was

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Karrie Webb — Getty Images

The above picture, taken by Stefan Postles of Getty Images, could rank as one of my favorite golf shots of all of 2013 when it's all said and done. Apparently there was a kangaroo delay (yes, a kangaroo delay) at the Women's Australian Open on Thursday and that is Karrie Webb waiting for the hopping fellows to get off the grounds so she can hit a golf shot.
I know the USGA has rules against borrowing animals holes, reptiles, and ant hills but what do you think the call is on kangaroos?