Anti-terror sting snags Chicago-area teen

CHICAGO (AP) ? It had the trappings of an actual extremist website: Photos of gun-toting fighters and a flowery exhortation to, "Come and join your lion brothers ... fighting under the true banner of Islam."

Except, it wasn't what it seemed.

It was a sham site constructed and controlled by the FBI with the aim of snaring terrorist wannabes in the virtual world before they could carry out real-world harm.

Abdella Ahmad Tounisi, 18, was arrested last week on a terrorism charge stemming from the sting operation. He made a brief court appearance Tuesday in federal court in Chicago.

The American-born man from Aurora is accused of seeking to join al-Qaida-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusrah, which is fighting the Syrian Bashar Assad regime in a bloody civil war.

Critics say the use of such sites raises questions about whether authorities are overreaching, wooing impressionable youth to contemplate crimes that otherwise wouldn't cross their minds.

"These sites can end up creating crimes," said Phil Turner, a former federal prosecutor-turned-defense attorney in Chicago. "Real terrorists don't need to go to a website for contacts. They have real contacts."

Federal investigators, he added, sometimes favor Internet stings because they are less costly and labor intensive than traditional stakeouts.

"From your office computer, you can get millions of cases like this ? sucking people in," he said. "But it diverts are attention from the real terrorists."

Others disagree.

Mike Fagel, a Chicago-based security consultant, asks who, if given the chance, wouldn't have wanted to catch the Boston Marathon bombing suspects plotting online before they successfully carried out an attack.

"These are valid tools," Fagel said. "As an emergency planner guy, if I can prevent something from happening, I don't have to worry about response and recover."

And given how the terrorism is evolving, the Internet is a logical place to hunt for potential attackers, he added.

"We are seeing younger and younger assailants," he said. "And they operate on the Internet."

Authorities have also noted that it's not visiting such sites or fantasizing about acts of terrorism that's the crime. The crime is acting on those fantasies and taking specific steps make it happen.

Tounisi's steps, authorities say, included trying to board a plane in Chicago.

He was arrested at O'Hare International Airport Friday as he prepared to start the first leg of a trip that authorities allege he hoped would hook him up with an al-Qaida-affiliated group in Syria.

Tounisi is charged with one count of attempting to provide material support to foreign terrorists. If convicted, he faces a maximum 15-year prison term. His attorney, Molly Armour, declined comment on Tuesday.

Despite his orange jail garb and shackled ankles, Tounisi looked younger than his 18 years at his court appearance, during which a judge delayed a decision on bond. Later, he cast a worried look at his parents sitting nearby on a spectators' bench.

It was only months ago that he is accused of coming across the website.

What he saw written across the home page, allegedly signaled to Tounisi that he had found what he'd been looking for. "A Call for Jihad in Syria," it said in both English and Arabic.

The site not only offered to hook up would-be fighters with terrorists, it even offered advice on how users could cover their Internet tracks from law enforcement, according to a detailed federal complaint.

"We are aware of (non-Muslims') tricks and the behavior of their unjust governments," the site says.

As some point, Tounisi allegedly took the bait.

In an April 1, 2013, email to an FBI agent posing as a terrorist recruiter, Tounisi comes across as earnest and frank, including about how some might see his youth and 5-foot-6 stature as an impediment.

"Concerning my fighting skills, to be honest, I do not have any," he allegedly wrote. "I'm very small ... physically but I pray to Allah that he makes me successful."

Not to worry, the FBI responds encouragingly in an email back to Tounisi.

"We have trust in Allah that you will fight and do your Jihad as a true (believer)," it says.

While he is accused of taking steps to further his desire to fight in Syria, his online searches also seem to convey some concern about legal implications. According to the complaint, for instance, he searched the phrases "providing material support what does it mean" and "Terrorism Act 2000."

Joan Hyde, a spokesman for the FBI in Chicago, declined any comment Tuesday, saying the agency doesn't comment on ongoing cases.

The federal complaint suggests, however, that federal authorities don't want to hang their whole case on allegations Tounisi acted on what he read on the site.

It also alleges he was a close friend of Adel Daoud, a Chicago-area teen arrested last year on charges he tried to detonate a device he thought was a bomb outside a downtown bar. The complaint contends the two friends even discussed potential targets Daoud could hit.

Federal authorities don't accuse Tounisi of participating in the alleged attack planned by Daoud. But broaching his relationship in such detail may help prosecutors counter any future claim Tounisi stumbled onto the site and into the alleged crime by sheer naivet?.

Ironically, Tounisi allegedly opted out of Daoud's plot because he sensed ? in that instance, one year before his own arrest ? that something didn't feel right: He had concluded, according to the complaint, that Daoud's key contact may have been working for law enforcement.

In filings after Daoud's arrest, prosecutors acknowledged that the contact was, in fact, an FBI informant.

___

Follow Michael Tarm at www.twitter.com/mtarm

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chicago-area-teen-latest-snared-website-traps-195908623.html

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Suspect in Canada terror plot rambles in cout appearance

TORONTO (AP) ? A man accused of plotting with al-Qaida members in Iran to derail a train in Canada gave a rambling statement in a Toronto court Wednesday and appeared to be saying he does not recognize its jurisdiction.

Law enforcement officials in the U.S. said the target was a train that runs between New York City and Canada. Canadian investigators say Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, and Raed Jaser, 35, received guidance from members of al-Qaida in Iran. Iranian government officials have said the government had nothing to do with the plot.

"My comment is the following because all of those conclusions were taken out based on criminal code and all of us know that this criminal code is not a holy book," Esseghaier said at the hearing Wednesday. "We cannot rely on the conclusions taken out from these judgments."

The judge told him to "save that for another court," and take the advice of his lawyers. He was given a May 23 court date.

Charges against the two men in Canada include conspiring to carry out an attack and murder people in association with a terrorist group. Police ? tipped off by an imam worried by the behavior of one of the suspects ? said it was the first known attack planned by al-Qaida in Canada. The two could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted.

In a brief court appearance in Montreal on Tuesday, Esseghaier declined to be represented by a court-appointed lawyer. He made a brief statement in French in which he rejected the allegations against him.

Esseghaier, who was arrested Monday afternoon at a McDonald's restaurant in the train station, was later flown to Toronto for Wednesday's appearance in the city where his trial will take place.

Jaser also appeared in court Tuesday in Toronto and also did not enter a plea. He was given a new court date of May 23. The court granted a request by his lawyer, John Norris, for a publication ban on future evidence and testimony.

The case has raised questions about the extent of Shiite-led Iran's relationship with al-Qaida, a predominantly Sunni Arab terrorist network. It also renewed attention on Iran's complicated history with the terror group, which ranges from outright hostility to alliances of convenience and even overtures by Tehran to assist Washington after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

Law officials in New York with knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press the attack was to take place on the Canadian side of the border. They are not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke only on condition of anonymity.

Jaser's lawyer said on Tuesday that his client questioned the timing of the arrests, pointing to ongoing debates in the Canadian Parliament over a new anti-terrorism law that would expand the powers of police and intelligence agencies.

Norris speaking outside the court said his client is "in a state of shock and disbelief."

He said his client would "defend himself vigorously" against the accusations, and noted Jaser was a permanent resident of Canada who has lived there for 20 years. Norris refused to say where Jaser was from, saying that revealing his nationality in the current climate amounted to demonizing him.

Canadian police have declined to release the men's nationalities, saying only they had been in Canada a "significant amount of time." But a London-based newspaper Al Arab reported Wednesday, citing unnamed sources in the Gulf, that Jaser is a Jordanian passport holder with full name Raed Jaser Ibrahim Amouri, who had visited the UAE several times and most recently in September 2011. The newspaper reported that the suspect also visited other Gulf countries including Qatar and Saudi Arabia. It was not possible to independently confirm the report.

Esseghaier's, in a profile on a university department website ? which has since been removed ? says he was born in Tunis, Tunisia.

Muhammad Robert Heft, president of the P4E Support Group Inc., a non-profit organization that provides support to Muslims in Canada, said Jaser's father Mohammad Jaser came to him several times citing concerns about the radicalization of his son. The discussions took place between 2010 and 2011, while the father was living in a basement apartment in Heft's home in Markham, Ontario. The pair took up accommodation there while awaiting surgery for Jaser's younger brother, who had been in a serious car accident, because the apartment didn't have stairs.

"He came to me about his son saying he how concerned he was getting about the rigidness of his son and his interpretation of Islam. He was becoming self-righteous, becoming pushy, pushing his views on how much they (his family) should be practicing as a Muslim," said Heft.

"His son was becoming overzealous and intolerant in his understanding of the religion," he said. "Those are the telltale signs that can lead into the radicalization process."

The investigation surrounding the planned attack was part of a cross-border operation involving Canadian law enforcement agencies, the FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Canadian police said the men never got close to carrying out the attack.

The warning first came from an imam in Toronto, who in turn was tipped off by suspicious behavior on the part of one of the suspect.

___

Associated Press writers Benjamin Shingler in Montreal, Tom Hays and Jennifer Peltz in New York, Kimberly Dozier in Washington and Brian Murphy in the United Arab Emirates contributed to this story.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/suspect-canada-terror-plot-denies-charges-220238197.html

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Yum profit beats even as bird flu batters China sales

(Reuters) - KFC parent Yum Brands Inc on Tuesday reported that quarterly profit fell less than Wall Street expected, despite a sharp drop in sales in its top market of China, and the company's shares jumped 6.5 percent.

Sales at established restaurants in China fell 20 percent during the first quarter and Yum warned that fears surrounding a bird flu outbreak there were continuing to depress sales already struggling to recover from a previous food safety scare.

The fast-food operator reaps more than half of its overall sales in China, where most of its nearly 5,300 restaurants are KFCs.

The drop in sales was a major contributor to the first quarter's profit decline.

Net income fell to $337 million, or 72 cents per share, from $458 million, or 96 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding items, first-quarter earnings were 70 cents per share, 10 cents better than the average of analysts estimates compiled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Yum shares were up $4.18 at $68.33 in extended trading.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles. Editing by Andre Grenon)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/yum-profit-beats-even-bird-flu-batters-china-215004553--finance.html

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Epigenetic changes shed light on biological mechanism of autism

Apr. 23, 2013 ? Scientists from King's College London have identified patterns of epigenetic changes involved in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by studying genetically identical twins who differ in autism traits.

The study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, is the largest of its kind and may shed light on the biological mechanism by which environmental influences regulate the activity of certain genes and in turn contribute to the development of ASD and related behaviour traits.

ASD affects approximately 1 in 100 people in the UK and involves a spectrum of disorders which manifest themselves differently in different people. People with ASD have varying levels of impairment across three common areas: deficits in social interactions and understanding, repetitive behaviour and interests, and impairments in language and communication development.

Evidence from twin studies shows there is a strong genetic component to ASD and previous studies suggest that genes that direct brain development may be involved in the disorder. In approximately 70% of cases, when one identical twin has ASD, so does the other. However, in 30% of cases, identical twins differ for ASD. Because identical twins share the same genetic code, this suggests non-genetic, or epigenetic, factors may be involved.

Epigenetic changes affect the expression or activity of genes without changing the underlying DNA sequence -- they are believed to be one mechanism by which the environment can interact with the genome. Importantly, epigenetic changes are potentially reversible and may therefore provide targets for the development of new therapies.

The researchers studied an epigenetic mechanism called DNA methylation. DNA methylation acts to block the genetic sequences that drive gene expression, silencing gene activity. They examined DNA methylation at over 27,000 sites across the genome using samples taken from 50 identical twin pairs (100 individuals) from the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) funded Twins Early Development Study (TEDS): 34 pairs who differed for ASD or autism related behaviour traits, 5 pairs where both twins have ASD, and 11 healthy twin pairs.

Dr Chloe Wong, first author of the study from King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry, says: "We've identified distinctive patterns of DNA methylation associated with both autism diagnosis and related behaviour traits, and increasing severity of symptoms. Our findings give us an insight into the biological mechanism mediating the interaction between gene and environment in autism spectrum disorder."

DNA methylation at some genetic sites was consistently altered for all individuals with ASD, and differences at other sites were specific to certain symptom groups. The number of DNA methylation sites across the genome was also linked to the severity of autism symptoms suggesting a quantitative relationship between the two. Additionally, some of the differences in DNA methylation markers were located in genetic regions that previous research has associated with early brain development and ASD.

Professor Jonathan Mill, lead author of the paper from King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry and the University of Exeter, says: "Research into the intersection between genetic and environmental influences is crucial because risky environmental conditions can sometimes be avoided or changed. Epigenetic changes are potentially reversible, so our next step is to embark on larger studies to see whether we can identify key epigenetic changes common to the majority of people with autism to help us develop possible therapeutic interventions."

Dr Alycia Halladay, Senior Director of Environmental and Clinical Sciences from Autism Speaks who funded the research, says: "This is the first large-scale study to take a whole genome approach to studying epigenetic influences in twins who are genetically identical but have different symptoms. These findings open the door to future discoveries in the role of epigenetics -- in addition to genetics -- in the development of autism symptoms."

The study was funded by Autism Speaks, Medical Research Council UK (MRC) and the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (NARSAD). The twins were selected from the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) which is funded by the MRC with additional support from the US National Institutes of Health.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by King's College London.

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Journal Reference:

1. C C Y Wong, E L Meaburn, A Ronald, T S Price, A R Jeffries, L C Schalkwyk, R Plomin, J Mill. Methylomic analysis of monozygotic twins discordant for autism spectrum disorder and related behavioural traits. Molecular Psychiatry, 2013; DOI: 10.1038/mp.2013.41

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/5SSPuYtQGZA/130423091113.htm

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This Week in Small Business: Apple, Gold and Cupcakes - NYTimes ...

Dashboard

A weekly roundup of small-business developments.

What?s affecting me, my clients and other small-business owners this week.

Must Reads

The argument for austerity takes a big hit, and the two economists at the center of the debate respond. Muhammad Yunus, the founder of the Grameen Bank and a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his ?efforts to combat global poverty,? discusses lending without collateral and how business ideas are generated.

Boston: Reddit on the Case

Michael Sivy explains what the Boston bombing means for the economy and the stock market. There are many stories of businesses stepping up to help. The calamity reveals the value of social media, and an entrepreneur beats the conspiracy-theory ?kooks? at their own game. Reddit readers did not solve the bombing, but entrepreneurs did introduce EvidenceUpload.org to aid the investigation. Boston restaurants rallied to the cause.

The Economy: Apple, Gold and Cupcakes

Apple?s stock price falls. The price of gold crashes. And so does the market for expensive cupcakes. Rising costs put the squeeze on builder confidence in April. A Kauffman Foundation report finds that entrepreneurial activity declined in 2012 and that millennials are the least entrepreneurial generation. Port traffic in the Los Angeles area decreased. But conditions in the New York metropolitan (pdf) region improved, and housing starts and industrial production moved up. Crucial measures showed low inflation in March and the Federal Reserve reported moderate growth across the country. Paul Ryan says the G.O.P. has no plans to create a budget-deal panel with Senate Democrats. Twelve million Americans say they believe lizard people run the country.

Start-Up: The Strangest Start-Up

CorruptTour may be the strangest start-up in travel. Steve Blank says the lean start-up ?changes everything? and teams up with Google to create a five-week course for entrepreneurs. A tiny news start-up wins a Pulitzer. John Stanfield says every start-up should be familiar with this tax term: 83b election. A teenager auctions off 10 percent of her future earnings to start a Web site. A peer-to-peer airport car rental start-up raises $5.5 million.

Ideas: Let It Rot

A gas station in Germany offers haircuts while filling the tank. Peter Thiel?s latest investments include better search and cellular nanotechnology. Here are 10 ideas in retailing from the last 12 months. Investments in clean energy hit a four-year low. Google?s first BufferBox appears in San Francisco. Will Knight says autonomous vehicles will remain a fantasy for years, and Icelanders make poisonous shark meat edible by letting it rot for six months.

Management: Looking Sharp

These YouTube videos will teach you how to look sharp. Les McKeown says there are three things all great leaders know about themselves. If you want to know how to rocket to the top of an industry, you may want to consider the ?Macklemore Effect.? A new research report reveals the latest trends in corporate social responsibility. Cameron Herold shares the key to leading highly productive meetings, and Karol K. discusses the art of complaining about your business. Andrea Johnson explains how reversing the funnel increased sales by 14 percent for a sales-incentive company, and Alina Dizik says you should ask 10 questions before determining your target market.

People: Rude and Unprofessional

Erika Andersen explains how some companies lose their best employees at ?hello.? McDonald?s tries to change its image of ?rude, unprofessional employees.? A retail chain of arts-and-crafts stores in Oklahoma raises its full-time employees? minimum wage to $14 per hour. The chairman of US Airways sends a message to employees to explain why he earned $5.5 million in 2012. Here are 20 ways to manage a dysfunctional team. Allison Rice wonders if telecommuting will become a ?flash in the pan,? and Samuel Bacharach offers four reasons employees resist change. Here?s what to do about the bully in your workplace.

Around the Country: Colorado?s Entrepreneurs

Coming to New York: TechCrunch?s popular Disrupt conference and a $125,000 Business Innovation challenge. You can be one of three women to win a $3,000 grant for your work. A business-to-business networking expo is scheduled for Tucson this week, and the Downtown Sacramento Partnership is running a contest that will give the winner free rent for a year. Even though Philadelphia area economic activity is steady, the city?s mayor discusses selling assets to stave off bankruptcy. Philadelphia holds its annual Tech Week. Sales of small businesses are up in Tulsa, Okla., and a business tax cut is proposed in Texas. A campaign in Colorado spotlights entrepreneurs powering the state?s economy. These are the wealthiest subway stops in New York City.

Around the World: Disappointing Growth

Ford expects 40 percent of its sales will occur in China by the end of the decade. Ansuya Harjani says China?s disappointing economic growth (7.7 percent in the first quarter!) is ?leading to a loss of confidence.? Meanwhile, it is revealed that almost 2 percent of world trade comes from counterfeit Chinese goods. Elliott Auckland says storm clouds are gathering in Moscow. This is the global gross domestic product outlook in one huge map. S?o Paulo is named the most attractive Latin American city for investment. Britain?s jobless rate rises.

Red Tape: A Huge Train Wreck

Mark J. Kohler explains how incorporation in Delaware or Nevada can hurt you. This is what the ?Gang of Eight? immigration proposal would mean for entrepreneurs. A Louisiana senator wins an award for her dedication to small businesses. Senator Max Baucus says he fears President Obama?s health care overhaul is headed for a ?huge train wreck? ? but Ezra Klein isn?t buying it.

Taxes: More Audits

The Internal Revenue Service plans more audits of small-business owners, and secret data shows clusters of likely tax cheats in California, Texas, Georgia and Maryland. The government imposes an annual reporting cost of more than $180 billion on the American people, but these five charts will make you feel better about paying your taxes. Some business groups are backpedaling on tax reform, and these are the best and worst state tax systems for entrepreneurship and small businesses.

Cash Flow: Shipping Costs

Juergen Kneifel suggests terms business owners should know. Here are five ways to reduce shipping costs. Maryalene LaPonsie says there are three steps for small-business forecasting, and here is how to become a QuickBooks power user. Bradley Derringer believes accounting software improves your carbon footprint.

Finance: Cocaine and the Crisis

Citigroup?s profit rises 30 percent and Goldman Sachs earns $2.2 billion in the first quarter, but Bank of America?s revenue drops. Britain?s former drug czar says cocaine use by bankers caused the world financial crisis. The American Bankers Association offers tips to help small-business owners enhance their current banking relationships. A new survey shows bank risk managers are optimistic about small-business lending. Ashton Kutcher makes another investment.

Online: Design of the Year

A webinar on Tuesday will cover?best practices for landing pages. Chuck Hemann suggests five steps to build a digital analytics function. Eric Schmidt thinks the Facebook Home Android modification is ?fantastic.? Becky McCray names an almost-useful QR code. A simple government Web site earns the title of best design of the year.

Social Media: What?s a Facebook Fan Worth?

A study concludes that Facebook fans are worth $174.17 apiece. Jeff Bullas says social media is better ?than your granny.? One study shows small businesses are finding return on investment in social media (but struggling with Facebook), while another study concludes that social media is a bust for small businesses. Here are a few ways to measure social media marketing, and if you have just four minutes you can learn how to extend the reach of your e-mail. Twitter allows advertisers to target specific words used in tweets, and Paula Eder says retweeting adds traffic and saves time. Lucy Thornton suggests 41 marketing ideas for your Twitter account, including ?post a photo of the view out of your window right now.? Elaine Lindsay explains how to use Google Plus Hangouts to generate content.

Technology: Is Your Cash Register Obsolete?

Microsoft is reportedly developing a smartwatch, is ready to compete head-on with Amazon?s Web Services and makes more money off mobile handset sales than Google. But American teenagers still want an iPhone for their next smartphone. Gina Chon says to blame your mobile-phone company and the government for dropped calls. A report from Symantec finds small businesses are being battered by cybercrime. Chris Murphy says an app is not a mobile strategy. Google?s applications suffer a partial failure, a technical problem in Pennsylvania gives taxpayers a day?s reprieve and over 700 American Airlines flights are canceled after a computer system fails. Brian Patrick Eha wonders if Nebula One is reinventing cloud computing for businesses. Carla Turchetti asks whether your cash register is obsolete.

Tweet of the Week

@tompapa ? This is a good week to stay under the covers.

The Week?s Bests

Joe Weisenthal says everyone should be thrilled by the gold crash: ?The huge corpus of economic research, which has informed the U.S.?s efforts to stimulate the economy, is not a pile of garbage. You can do a lot without blowing things up, as the gold bugs claimed would happen. And more broadly, this represents a breaking of the fever, and perhaps a return to thinking that humans aren?t such a horrible disappointment.?

Leslie Young explains what a good boss should be doing: ?A good boss will not be smug and complacent with their performance. There is always room to grow and even bosses have something they can always do better. Being a leader entails a lot of responsibility and a good boss knows that they are accountable to the customers and the employees should something go wrong. Bad bosses are overconfident and think that they know everything there is to know. Good bosses think otherwise.?

This Week?s Question: Do you consider yourself a good boss?

Gene Marks owns the Marks Group, a Bala Cynwyd, Pa., consulting firm that helps clients with customer relationship management. You can follow him on Twitter.

Source: http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/22/this-week-in-small-business-apple-gold-and-cupcakes/

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Defense seeks new expert in Afghan killings case

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AP) ? Attorneys for the U.S. soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan civilians during a 2012 rampage have asked that a new psychiatric expert be appointed in the case.

Emma Scanlan, an attorney for Robert Bales, made the request during a hearing Tuesday at Joint Base Lewis-McChord south of Seattle.

Citing attorney-client privilege, Scanlan did not say why the request was made. The defense team provided its reasons to the judge ? but not prosecutors ? in a confidential court filing.

Prosecutors objected to the motion, saying it smacked of witness shopping.

Outside experts believe a key issue going forward will be to determine if Bales suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. Bales served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A ruling on the defense team's request will be made later.

At Tuesday's hearing, attorneys also discussed which witnesses might be allowed to testify on Bales' behalf, should the case reach a sentencing phase.

"A lot of our witnesses that we want to testify in a potential penalty phase will be here, including Sgt. Bales' mother," Scanlan said. "She's a very important witness to who he was as a child and who he is a man."

Defense attorneys also asked for a consultant to be appointed to help them pick jurors. The judge said he would rule on that later.

The defense also requested the handwritten notes of the first Afghan government officials who viewed the crime scene.

The defense team has received an official report about those findings, but lawyers said the notes could yield information left out of the report. Prosecutors said they so far have been unable to obtain the notes from the Afghans. At the judge's request, they agreed to make another attempt through official channels.

"They took a lot of notes, and that's what we want to see," Major Greg Malson, one of Bales' attorney, said after the hearing.

Bales is to be court-martialed on premeditated murder and other charges in the attack on two villages in southern Afghanistan.

The Ohio native and father of two is accused of slaying mostly women and children during pre-dawn raids on March 11, 2012.

Bales, 39, has not entered a plea. The Army is seeking the death penalty. The U.S. military has not executed anyone since 1961.

The slayings last year drew such angry protests that the U.S. temporarily halted combat operations in Afghanistan, and it was three weeks before American investigators could reach the crime scenes.

Bales' defense team has said the government's case is incomplete.

During a previous preliminary hearing, prosecutors built a strong eyewitness case against the veteran soldier, with troops recounting how they saw Bales return to the base alone, covered in blood. One soldier testified that Bales woke him up in the middle of the night, saying he had just shot people at one village and that he was heading out again to attack another. The soldier said he didn't believe Bales and went back to sleep.

Afghan witnesses questioned via a video link from a forward operating base near Kandahar City described the horror of that night. A teenage boy recalled how the gunman kept firing as youths scrambled, yelling: "We are children! We are children!"

An Army criminal investigations command special agent testified earlier that Bales tested positive for steroids three days after the killings, and other soldiers testified that Bales had been drinking the evening of the massacre.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/defense-seeks-expert-afghan-killings-case-181146832.html

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TechCrunch Giveaway: Last Two Free Tickets To Disrupt NY

TechCrunch Disrupt NY is right around the corner. Everything kicks off this weekend in New York with the Hackathon starting on Saturday and going through the night until Sunday afternoon. The main event kicks off next Monday, where expert speakers and guests will come together to talk with us about the latest in technology. The full agenda is here. Every week we have been giving away a chance to win a free ticket to Disrupt NY. We only have two free tickets left. These tickets will get the two winners into the conference, plus all of the after parties that follow including the screening of Shawn Fanning’s documentary on Napster, DOWNLOADED. To win a ticket all you have to do is follow the steps below. The giveaway will start now and end tomorrow at 12pm PT. Yes, that’s only one day, so be sure to act fast. 1) Become a fan of our TechCrunch Facebook Page: 2) Then do one of the following: - Retweet this post (making sure to include the #TCDisrupt hashtag) - Or leave us a comment below telling us why you want to come Please only tweet the message once or you will be disqualified. We will make sure you follow the steps above and choose our winners tomorrow. Anyone in the world is eligible. Please note each ticket is for one person only and does not include airfare or hotel. Our sponsors help make Disrupt happen. If you are interested in learning more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact our sponsorship team here?sponsors@techcrunch.com. We’ll see you soon, New York!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/-ythgXbd888/

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