Link: http://www.infowars.com/google-bans-dvd-critical-of-obama-administration/

Google has sensationally banned all sales through its shopping merchant of a DVD critical of the Obama administration under the terms of its program policy which bars any material deemed to be “advocating against a protected group”. Apparently, Google considers the government to be a “protected group,” and immune from criticism. Radio talk show host Alex Jones’ Google merchant account has been completely disabled after the search engine giant sent an email claiming the products listed promoted violence, and refused to link to them on the Infowars Yahoo shopping cart.

Link: http://www.economyincrisis.org/content/stimulus-one-year

In the face of withering Republican attacks, a skeptical American public increasingly fatigued with government spending and a poor marketing campaign by the White House, the Obama administration is finding it difficult to sell the stimulus package as effective in preventing an economic freefall.

Link: http://wsws.org/articles/2010/feb2010/pers-f17.shtml

The offensive begun February 13 against the town of Marjah is the first major effort undertaken by the US military in Afghanistan since President Barack Obama ordered the intensification of the US war effort and the dispatch of 30,000 additional American troops. The attack on Marjah is the largest US military operation in the war since the initial 2001 invasion ordered by George W. Bush.

Link: http://wsws.org/articles/2010/feb2010/iran-f17.shtml

As part of its drive for punitive new sanctions over Iran’s nuclear programs, the Obama administration launched a major diplomatic offensive in the Middle East this week to enlist the support of its allies in the region. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Admiral Mike Mullen, Central Command head General David Petraeus and top State Department officials are taking part in the operation.

Link: http://www.democracynow.org/2010/2/17/group_nato_forces_blocking_wounded_afghan

The US is coming under increasing criticism over the rise in civilian casualties during the assault on the Afghan city of Marjah, one of the largest military offensives of the eight-year war. At least nineteen civilians have been killed so far, including six children who died when a missile struck their house on the outskirts of the city. We speak with Matteo dell’Aira, medical coordinator of the Emergency Lashkar Gah hospital.

Link: http://www.uruknet.info/index.php?p=m63367&hd=&size=1&l=e

“It Will Take Weeks To Clear Marja, To Really Go House-To-House, Road-To-Road” “When It Is Daytime, There Is Nonstop Contact Until The Sun Goes Down ... Every Day” “The Skill Displayed By Taleban Insurgents Showed High Levels Of Tactical Awareness And Training — Including ‘Walking’ Mortar Fire On To The Marines And Persistent And Accurate Sniper Fire”

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/16/barack-obama-nuclear-reactors

US president announces $8.3bn in loan guarantees for construction of first nuclear reactors in almost 30 years. Barack Obama: 'We’ll need to increase our supply of nuclear power. It’s that simple.' Link to this video Barack Obama pressed the start button on the first new construction of nuclear reactors in a generation today, announcing $8.3bn in loan guarantees for the company building two.

Link: http://rawstory.com/2010/02/upcoming-kennedy-biopic-links-jfks-sex-life-migraines/

An upcoming biopic on former president John F. Kennedy has liberal historians fuming mad. Like the 2003 biopic, The Reagans, most of the outrage comes from the former president's opposing party. But the miniseries biography -- commissioned by The History Channel and produced by Joel Surnow, an outspoken conservative who created the hit Fox show "24" -- is more than a little loose with the facts.

Link: http://www.alternet.org/economy/145705/the_richest_1%25_have_captured_america%27s_wealth_--_what%27s_it_going_to_take_to_get_it_back

The United States already had the highest inequality of wealth in the industrialized world prior to the financial crisis -- and it's gotten even worse since. "The war against working people should be understood to be a real war.... Specifically in the U.S., which happens to have a highly class-conscious business class.... And they have long seen themselves as fighting a bitter class war, except they don't want anybody else to know about it." -- Noam Chomsky

Link: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/991948.html

Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi said on Wednesday that U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's expressed support for Israel stems from his fear that the Mossad would assassinate him, just as it did President John F. Kennedy. "We suspect he may fear being killed by Israeli agents and meet the same fate as Kennedy when he promised to look into Israel's nuclear program," Gadhafi said.

The NYPD stopped and interrogated at least 505,000 completely innocent New Yorkers in 2009, the most ever since the Department began collecting data on its troubling stop-and-frisk program. The new figures, released by the NYPD this week, represent a nearly 9 percent increase over 2008, when police officers stopped 465,413 innocent people.

Link: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/02/20102174756956799.html

US military officials have said they are now in control of crucial areas in Marjah in Helmand province as a major offensive in Afghanistan against the Taliban enters its fifth day. But Afghan intelligence sources, speaking to Al Jazeera on Wednesday, cast doubt on the claim.