Link: http://www.democracynow.org/2012/3/9/us_faces_challenge_to_drug_war

As Vice President Joe Biden wraps up a trip to Central America insisting the drug war must continue, a growing number of Latin American leaders are calling for the decriminalization or legalization of drugs. "This debate now is no longer going to be suppressed," says Ethan Nadelmann, founder and executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance. "Once U.S. officials are obliged to participate in the discussion and to do it in a real way, the smartest among them know there’s no way to defend the current U.S. strategy." [includes rush transcript]

Link: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/03/09-0

The NAACP is sending representatives next week to a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland to argue that minority community members are facing clear voter suppression efforts in the United States, NAACP President Ben Jealous said during a press call on Thursday.

Link: http://inthesetimes.com/ittlist/entry/12874/obama_signs_the_anti-occupy_law/

In certain corners of the Internet, concern has been gathering about another so-called “Anti-Occupy” bill. Last week, H.R. 347, otherwise known as the Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act, passed the House 399-3, and on Thursday it was signed into law by President Obama. In response, bloggers from the libertarian Daily Paul to the leftist Daily Kos accused the federal government of gutting the First Amendment.

Link: http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Sen-CarlLevinNavalBlockadeofIranShouldbeConsidered/2012/03/09/id/432075

An international naval blockade of Iranian oil exports should be considered before any resort to air strikes against the country's disputed nuclear program, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee said on Friday.