The US has tried for many years to gain political influence in Ukraine.

Oil surely enters into the issue, but I don't think it is the main motive for US initiatives there. For transporting Caspian oil to Europe, Ukraine is not essential: a pipeline from the Black Sea could run through Romania. The hard part would be getting that oil from the Caspian region to the Black Sea, and Ukraine has nothing to do with that.

Thug departments buy cell phone spy tools and sign contracts of secrecy.

Charges against Barrett Brown based on his activity as a journalist have been dropped.

He still faces three other charges and could be imprisoned for 70 years.

Italy has ordered ISPs to block access to 46 domains accused of facilitating sharing of files.

Don't Listen to Obama's Ukraine Critics: He's Not 'Losing' — And It's Not His Fight.