Truthout roundup 8/15

Truthout contributor Michael Winship writes on American imperialism, governmental solopsism and Andrew Bacevich's new book; a federal court grants Saudi Arabia immunity in lawsuit filed by 9/11 victims; Obama refutes "The Obama Nation"; Pakistani Prime Minister Musharraf will step down; new information against Sen. Ted Stevens comes to light; and more ... Browse our continually updating front page at http://www.truthout.org

t r u t h o u t 08.15

Michael Winship Andrew Bacevich, America and the World
http://www.truthout.org/article/andrew-bacevich-america-and-world
Michael Winship, Truthout: "In a letter written in 1648, Swedish statesman Axel Oxenstierna, chancellor to both King Gustavus Adolphus and Queen Christina, counseled, 'Know, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed.' The fighting between Russia and the former Soviet republic of Georgia is an unnerving reminder of that, and of how quickly the balance of global power can be tilted from unexpected directions with barely a warning."

Saudi Arabia Given Immunity in 9/11 Lawsuit
http://www.truthout.org/article/saudi-arabia-given-immunity-911-lawsuit
Reuters: "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, four princes and other Saudi entities are immune from a lawsuit filed by victims of the September 11 attacks and their families alleging they gave material support to al Qaeda, a federal appeals court ruled on Thursday. The ruling by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan upheld a 2006 ruling by U.S. District Judge Richard Casey dismissing a claim against Saudi Arabia, a Saudi charity, four princes and a Saudi banker of providing material support to al Qaeda before the September 11 attacks."

Obama Campaign Rebuts Corsi's "Obama Nation"
http://www.truthout.org/article/obama-campaign-rebuts-corsis-obama-nation
Nedra Pickler, The Associated Press: "Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama hit back Thursday with a 40-page rebuttal to the best-selling book 'The Obama Nation,' arguing the author is a fringe bigot peddling rehashed lies. Jerome Corsi's anti-Obama book, 'The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality,' claims the Illinois senator is a dangerous, radical candidate for president. The book is a compilation of all the innuendo and false rumors against Obama - that he was raised a Muslim, attended a radical, black church and secretly has a 'black rage' hidden beneath the surface."

Pakistan's Musharaff Expected to Resign
http://www.truthout.org/article/pakistans-musharaff-expected-resign
Candace Rondeaux and Karen DeYoung, The Washington Post: "Faced with mounting pressure from former political allies and dwindling support from his international backers, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, once a top U.S. ally, is expected to resign in the next few days, according to Pakistani officials."

Prosecutors Lay Out New Information Against GOP's Stevens
http://www.truthout.org/article/prosecutors-lay-out-new-information-against-gops-stevens
Erika Bolstad and Lisa Demer, The Anchorage Daily News: "New information filed late Thursday by federal prosecutors says Sen. Ted Stevens made more than $100,000 in profit off a Florida real estate deal after a friend secretly loaned him $31,000 interest-free to buy a condominium. The condo deal came to light in a motion describing what sort of evidence federal prosecutors plan to introduce in their case against him."