U.S. Leak on Israeli Attack Weakened a Warning to Netanyahu Analysis by Gareth Porter* WASHINGTON, 4 Feb (IPS) - When Defence Secretary Leon Panetta told Washington Post columnist David Ignatius this week that he believes Israel was likely to attack Iran between April and June, it was ostensibly yet another expression of alarm at the Israeli government's threats of military action. more...   Lawmakers, "Experts" Spin Tales of Iranian Terror in Latin America Analysis by Charles Davis WASHINGTON, 3 Feb (IPS) - Through its ties with Venezuela and other nations in Latin America, Iran is building an anti-U.S. alliance in the Western Hemisphere that poses a direct, imminent threat to the United States, an influential U.S. lawmaker said Thursday. more...   Early End to U.S. Combat Role in Afghanistan Draws Cheers, Jeers, Confusion Jim Lobe* WASHINGTON, 2 Feb (IPS) - U.S. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta's surprise announcement Wednesday that U.S. troops will phase out their combat role in Afghanistan by mid-2013 is drawing mixed reactions, as well as a fair bit of confusion, from both critics and supporters of the 11-year-old war here. more...   Dempsey Told Israelis U.S. Won't Join Their War on Iran Gareth Porter* WASHINGTON, 1 Feb (IPS) - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey told Israeli leaders Jan. 20 that the United States would not participate in a war against Iran begun by Israel without prior agreement from Washington, according to accounts from well-placed senior military officers. more...   U.S. Group Urges "More Credible" Military Threat Against Iran Jim Lobe* WASHINGTON, 1 Feb (IPS) - The administration of President Barack Obama should take steps to make threats of a possible U.S. or Israeli attack against Iran more credible, according to the fourth in a series of studies released here Wednesday by a 13-man "bipartisan" task force dominated by Iran hawks. more...   Rights Groups Denounce Duvalier Ruling, U.S. Urges Appeal Jim Lobe* WASHINGTON, 31 Jan (IPS) - International and local human rights groups Tuesday strongly denounced the ruling by an investigating judge in Haiti that former dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier should not face charges for massive human rights abuses committed during his 15-year reign, from 1971 to 1986. more...   Indian Retailers on Edge as 800-Pound Gorillas Come Knocking Kanya D'Almeida WASHINGTON, 31 Jan (IPS) - Home to over 44 million small retailers, many of them family- owned, neighbourhood stores no bigger than 200 square feet, India is a land renowned for its various "wallas" – small traders who produce, hawk, repair or deliver just about anything you could want at any hour of the day or night. more...   US-BAHRAIN Rights Groups Oppose Smaller Arms Transfer Jim Lobe* WASHINGTON, 30 Jan (IPS) - The decision by the administration of President Barack Obama to approve limited transfers of military equipment to Bahrain is coming under renewed fire by human rights and pro-democracy groups here. more...   U.S. Growing Elite Opposition to Military Option Against Iran Jim Lobe* WASHINGTON, 26 Jan (IPS) - Like the imminent prospect of one's hanging, to paraphrase the 18th century British essayist Dr. (Samuel) Johnson, the suddenly looming possibility of war can concentrate the mind wonderfully. more...   U.S. Plan for Popular Presidential Vote Quietly Advances Matthew Cardinale ATLANTA, Georgia, 26 Jan (IPS) - Unlike many of the younger democracies around the world, the United States still does not elect its president by popular vote. Indeed, a majority of U.S. citizens elected Al Gore to be President in 2000, but because the U.S. elects its presidents by way of a convoluted system called the electoral college, George W. Bush was declared the winner that year instead. more...