U.S. victims of attacks in Israel sue Swiss bank

Reuters:

American victims of bombings and rocket attacks in Israel have sued Swiss bank UBS AG for more than $500 million, accusing the bank of helping fund the militants behind the attacks through dealings with Iran.

The lawsuit seeks damages from Switzerland's largest bank for more than 50 U.S. citizens hurt or relatives of those killed in bombings in Israel between 1997 and 2006 that it said were carried out by militant groups Hezbollah, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

UBS AG broke several 1996 U.S. laws that prohibit persons and companies from engaging with state sponsors of terrorism and were designed to impede Iran's access to foreign capital, the suit said.

The lawsuit, filed on Friday in federal court in New York, cited U.S. government reports that conclude Iran has been the main sponsor of Hezbollah and Hamas since 1996, including providing tens of millions of cash annually. The U.S. government considers Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist organizations. (continue reading)

Unrest continues in Israel, Gaza, Tibet, China, Burma, Pakistan, North Korea, Kenya, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, ...

US President George W Bush said in an interview with the BBC that the US is prepared to help strengthen Lebanon's army so it can disarm Hezbollah. He said the Shia Muslim Hezbollah movement had acted against its own people and was destabilizing Lebanon. (BBC)

Some are wondering if it's time to change our policies in Pakistan: Last week, Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte called on Pakistan to drive extremism from its tribal areas, saying "we will not be satisfied" until all militant activity is under control. (CSM) I'm wondering what real options we have.

We can't trust a word North Korea says, so we are now stuck with 'mining' their documents. "A US diplomat returns to Washington Monday with 18,000 pages of information supplied by North Korea after talks in Pyongyang meant to end the impasse on getting the North to give up its nuclear program." (CSM)

Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in Iraq, has signed on to another 'cease fire deal'.

... al-Obaidi's political talks with al-Maliki have produced the anticipated peace deal: JAM will withdraw from the streets, but not disband, keep our weapons, while permitting the arrest of wanted fugitives. With the noted exception that the arrest warrant for al-Sadr will be vacated, permanently.

During the battles in Basra and in Sadr City, the Americans accused “special groups,” cells that they believe are trained, supplied and directed by Iran, of assaults on both Iraqi and American security forces. The Iraqi government refers to those fighting it simply as “criminals.” (ali al-muthaba)

Natural disasters continue, "nearly 10,000 people were killed by the earthquake that hammered southwest China," and we are still trying to get relief into Burma.

One question? What country is at the front of the line trying to help ALL of the above? That's right, the United States of America:

...the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., by suicidal religious fanatics who again proved, if more proof were needed, the vulnerability of the civilization and economy that feeds, clothes, and houses the six billion people marooned on this small planet. --from Liberty, by Stephen Coonts