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London Update
Hello All,
We just got back from the performance and talk-back for FEAR UP, and there is some good information to share. The piece went well, and we are so grateful to the wonderful actors who told the stories with such honesty.
First of all, everyone is talking about the film Road to Guantanamo, which is the story of the Tipton Three. You can get it via Amazon (and other sources, no doubt) here . A good portion of our retelling of stories from Baghdad and Guantanamo is their story, and it is an important story for us to know about.
Secondly, we learned a great deal from the panelists for the talk-back. Houzan Mahmoud of the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq spoke of the brutality of both the invaders and the insurgents against women and children, especially. She is also part of a new (as of March 2005) opposition group in Iraq, the Iraq Freedom Congress. A coalition of progressive grassroots labor, women's and other groups, the Congress acts as an independent, democratic, non-religious and non-ethnic counterbalance to the US-influenced government. She made the point strongly that a fundamentalist Islamic agenda will not fly in Iraq any more than the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein did. In fact, she said, women fared better under Hussein than they are faring now.
Houzan also said the Congress is getting good support from grassroots labor and peace groups in the US, which was good to hear.
Jim Brann from the Stop War Coalition pointed out that one tactic the Bush Administration has used is to deny history. He referenced Nicaragua and the Reagan administration's attempts to influence that country's balance of powers. He pointed out that "bombing is the U.S.'s way of teaching itself geography." He also mentioned that the Bush Adminsitration is now giving out medals for the war; the citations on them, according to Brann, describe the medals as awarded for "The Central Command Area after September 11, 2001". In other words, war without end.
Kartik Raj, who works with Amnesty International, provided his persepctive on the entire range of torture, from the overtly horrific to the "lighter" approaches, such as incessant music, or sleep deprivation. Many of these are referenced in FEAR UP and are also in the Road to Guantanamo film as well. Raj mentioned that AI has taken testimony from many of the Guanatanamo prisoners who have been released, family members of some of those still held, and those renditioned to countries such as Syria, where they are being tortured as well. He mentioned particularly the case of Jumah al-Dossari, a Guantanamo detainee who has attempted suicide several times. Kartik requests that we take action HERE.
What remains clear to me from this evening is the need for continual communication and willingness to learn. Stories are told *by heart* and it is with heart and fierce concern that we must hear them, and act, together and across boundaries.
Karen,
Glad to hear the play was well received there. Also glad to hear the other news.
It's a shame that we seem to learn Geography by who we bomb when.
What does anyone there think about the NYT's article that claims Bush is a messianic who doesn't care if he causes the rapture?
A Quick Obit: William Sloane Coffin has died.
William Sloane Coffin 1933-2006
The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love.
William Sloane Coffin
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_Obit_Coffin.html
My husband is reminiscing about Yale Summer High School, a program for underachievers that he attended. He did volunteer work, helped make sure WSC got his forwarded mail in prison.
He says Coffin was a military & CIA vet so knew the inner workings of the system. He was a tremendous peace activist & so next time someone starts in about Skull & Bones conspiracies, tell them that.
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Sloane_Coffin
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week752/profile.html
NOW with Bill Moyers. Society & Community. William Sloane Coffin ...William Sloane Coffin preaching on peace in the 1960s
http://www.pbs.org/now/society/eulogy.html
William Sloan Coffin - Not to Bring Peace, But a Sword
William Sloane Coffin served as Chaplain of Yale University during the VietNam
http://www.30goodminutes.org/csec/sermon/coffin_3519.htm
A collection of William Sloan Coffin famous quotes.
http://www.thinkexist.com/english/Author/x/Author_4387_1.htm
Also, June Pointer of the Pointer Sisters has died of cancer - about my age.
I'm so excited and I just can't hide it
I'm about to lose control and I think I like it
Sparrow
Sy Hersch was on Terry Gross "Fresh Air" on NPR tonight.
I think the Iranians are exaggerating their nuclear progress for shock value & that the Pentagon has a contingency plan to attack Iran but that is also for shock value, at this point.
However, having a Messianic-leaning Commander in Chief with unprecedented powers of the Executive Branch makes it very uncomfortable. Plus couldn't he say that diplomatic efforts & sanctions have failed, as he did with Iraq, and then go in?
Isfahan, which probably would get bombed, is a historic & beautiful city I always dreamed of going to, as we were once invited. We were told that on warm evenings we would sleep on the roof under the stars. I thought of it when we were on the roof of our hotel in Istanbul, with a moon overhead & a mosque in each direction, with evening prayers & birds flying against the orangish lighting around the tops of the mosques, surreal & unforgettable. We bought pistachios. The first pistachio I ever had was given to me by my dad. At that time, they were not dyed & they only came into this country from Iran. It used to be that backpackers could go into Afganistan. They could literally hike through Europe to India, if they had the stamina. I always wanted to do it & now probably never will..
Dianne,
The guy thinks he's going to heaven!
Personlly, If he goes there, I hope I don't!
Mexico owned the western half of the United States at one time....but manifest destiny provided the Rationale to take it.
Hawaii is the same....nobody voted for statehood, the royal family was overthrown and the Island Chain was simply appropriated.
Many things are the way they are because of what happened 50, or 100 years ago. It takes time for social effects to work their way through.
What we did in Iraq will take 2-3 generations to fully manifest itself.
Immigration issues spring from various causes, not the least of which is the foreign policy disasters this country seems to keep creating.
Sparrow
If he's going there, I don't want to either! Can you imagine?!
I heard him on NPR broadcast this morning - he was trying to convince older people once again to sign up for Medicare drug benefit. He had one of his hand-picked victims on stage and he kept interrupting her!
Toolmaker
There is a new book out, called something like America's Century of Regime Change: from Hawaii to Iraq.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ tg/detail/-/0805078614?v=glance
Also:
Regime Change is Old Story: Iraq Latest Example of U.S. Aggression Around the World
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/04/09/RVGNSGUDRI1.DTL&type=books
John Kerry, on William Sloan Coffin:
"He had courage under fire," Yale alumnus and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry said in an e-mail to Reuters. "His conviction and character saved lives during the difficult years of Vietnam."
DiAnne,
Wish I could catch Sy Hersch, I love to listen to him.
Karen,
Reading your article tonight made me think of the prisoners who were on hunger strikes a couple of months back. I wonder what ever happened to them. Last I heard they were tube feeding them.
Dwahzon,
Thanks for posting the map showing the percentages each state has had of incoming immigrants. By that map, one would think things weren't all that bad in Reno - numbers are high, but much higher in the border states and along the west coast. It caused many citizens to leave California and come to Nevada, though, and coupled with the immigration numbers, that has made it an employers market in business, and contributed to prices on everything from land and rent to various consumer goods skyrocketing.
DiAnne,
Seems like just yesterday I saw the Pointer Sisters perform in Lake Tahoe, and we were all so young........
Riding in your car, turned on the radio. You said come a little closer, I said no.
(But when we kissed....ooo, ooo, FIRE!)
Looks like the detainees at Guantanamo Bay were "encouraged" to end their hunger strikes according to this Feb. 06 article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/09/politics/09gitmo.html?
Posted by: DiAnne at April 12, 2006 10:12 PM
Thank you for posting of the passing of William Sloan Coffin. had it not been for Doonesbury he might have simply been forgotten, but his was one of the most rational of voices.
requiescat in pace
My personal remembrance of William Sloan Coffin is also posted at
http:/silencedmajority.blogs.com/silenced_majority_portal/
The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love.
William Sloane Coffin
I'll always be grateful to Reverend Coffin for being a seminal influence on my anti-war sensibilities.
I first met him in the summer of 1967, when I was a sixteen-year-old enrolled in Yale Summer High School. The program operated at the campus of the Yale Divinity School, Reverend Coffin's Alma Mater.
At the time, he was Yale University Chaplain, and generating controversy with his opposition to the Vietnam war. He spoke to a group of us in the Student Commons room, amazing us with the depth and breath of his knowledge, but especially with his authoritative, stentorian voice. (He was, after all, a preacher. A friend of his, a Profressor from the University of New Hampshire, deemed him "The best white preacher in America".)
Doing volunteer work - mostly mail handling - with New Haven's anti-war group,"Omega," I remember a good half of the letters I handled being routed to or from Reverend Coffin or Mrs. Coffin. During this same year, Reverend Coffin and Dr. Benjamin Spock collected more than a thousand draft cards from young men at rallies in the area and presented them to Dept. of Justice officials, in Washington. Coffin, Spock and three others were convicted for aiding men to avoid the draft. His conviction was appealed and overturned in 1970.
Coffin continued his activism, fighting against poverty, social injustice, homelessness and for other progressive issues. He even travelled to Iran during the hostage crisis.
This blueblood, Yankee, son of privilege was an inspiration to so many of us. Of course, many questioned his patriotism, to which he'd reply that a true patriot is one who maintains "a lower's quarrel" with his country. Well put, Reverend Bill.
I posted this in the immigration blog, but I'll post it here again.
I know there was someone praising Cynthia Tucker for her opinions, but I am really sorry to say this, but Ms. Tucker doesn't sound like she is on our side. She eptiomizes everything that is wrong with media journalism today.
A few weeks ago, she put out an opinion about Bush and the war and singled out one Democrat that has helped veterans and millitary familes and has exposed more government corruption than any lawmaker the last 35 years and one trying to END the war.
No, she didn't name Lieberman or any of the far more hawkish dems or the ones that have been silent, but she didn't mind slamming one that is on our side as to say this entire sham of a war is his fault instead of the criminal buffoon who caused all this death and destruction.
I think Ms. Tucker was a Dean or Hillary supporter cause her true colors showed in this article or maybe she didn't want to appear as if she was unfair and unbalanced. Her agenda/motive is clearly obvious.
Forgot to include the link. See for yourself.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucas/20060325/cm_ucas/warhawksshowcallousdisregardforworkingclasstroops
Truth Shall Prevail
You might be able to hear the Sy Hersh broadcast archived at this link:
http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=13
Here is the story of Bush's speechwriter, sent by French political science students studying in Canada. It's hilarious but too close to truth.
http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/bushvideos/v/bushspeechalist.htm
Posted by: Indie Liberal at April 13, 2006 01:11 AM
With regard to the specific article you cited, I think Tucker's motivation is pretty clear. She clearly doesn't like the idea that while the wealthy often choose to take the nation to war, it is the poor and lower middle class who fight our wars. It is an observation that is quite common in the African-American community, and it is a decidedly "liberal" position. I can't know why she singled out Kerry among Democrats (since I can't be inside her mind), but perhaps she did it because he is wealthy, voted for the IWR, and was the party's last presidential candidate. I'd hope that our side is not in danger of becoming like the wingnuts, who attempt to destroy or discredit anyone who doesn't precisely toe the party line.
On the hunger strikers at GITMO: one of the new sections of the play addresses this with a speech by a lawyer about what s/he saw--feeding tubes and force feedings. PLEASE help to address the treatment these prisoners still face. In speaking with Kartik, who heard the testimony of 15 released detainees and 15 family members of current detainees, and several released rendition victims, it is clear we will not be forgiven for GITMO for generations--nor should we be.
Please go to the story above and help address the case of Jumah al-Dossari, a Guantanamo detainee who has attempted suicide several times. Click on the LINK and write letters. Thank you.
I just added the al-Dossari case to the Five Minutes A Day section of the front page. Please help get the word out, and let's see if we can get some attention to this issue. Thank you all.
Interesting discussion on Military.com
Note: Many 4GW experts (such as Lind) think Harry Summers is clueless describing military strategy...
I've thought for over 30 years that Robert McNamara was the worst SecDef in the history of the US. At least McNamara mismanaged and lost a war that was not in an area of vital national interest. Donald Rumsfeld may go down in history as mismanaging and losing a war in an area of vital national interest. Can it be a coincidence that both McNamara and Rumsfeld made their reputation in private induatry where the bottom line is measured in dollars and cents and not in blood?
I suggest that people read Harry Summers book On Strategy: The Vietnam War in Context. The parallels between Iraq and Viet Nam in the way the civilian leadership of the Defense Department fought the war scare a person.
Gulf War I was fought under the Powell Doctrine: Use more than enough force to win. Gulf War II was fought under the Rumsfeld Doctrine. Use just enough force to lose.
where the bottom line is measured in dollars and cents ...
Posted by: battlebob at April 13, 2006 07:58 AM
That phrase sums up what is wrong with America... everything is bottom line driven, and I'm fairly sick of it.
Bottoms Up.
“Our answer to those who are angry about Iran achieving the full nuclear fuel cycle is just one phrase. We say: Be angry at us and die of this anger,” the official Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.
“We won’t hold talks with anyone about the right of the Iranian nation (to enrich uranium).”
Ahmadinejad declared on Tuesday that Iran had successfully produced enriched uranium for the first time, a key process in what Iran maintains is a peaceful energy program.
“Today, our situation has changed completely. We are a nuclear country and speak to others from the position of a nuclear country,” IRNA quoted the president as saying Thursday.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12297285/
http://www.savebigeasy.org
Trailers are in.
My uncle sent me a story about how developers are buying up trailer courts for condos, displacing people without means.
Then my server has a top story about trailer problems r/t the Katrina evacuees.
Next, I read a story about Bush & his "bad intelligence" and once again, about trailers which were not evidence of WMD.
W is a trailer
18 Wheeler Dealer (6 on each side)
Bizarre story du jour... and ripe for a punchline.
PAWTUCKET, R.I. - U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy was hit in the face with a hammer when an entrepreneur, demonstrating shock absorption, accidentally sent the hammer's head flying at Kennedy's mouth.
Kennedy received six stitches in his bottom lip after the incident Wednesday during an economic development meeting, his spokeswoman Robin Costello said.
The entrepreneur, Matt Kriesel of Wisconsin, produces a shock-absorbing gel used sports-shoe inserts, tennis rackets and horse saddles. He was hitting some gel with a hammer to demonstrate how it reduces vibration when the hammer's head flew off.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060413/ap_on_go_co/brf_kennedy_stitches
One last quote from Rev. Sloan. taken from a sermon
In the fall of 2003, he preached at Riverside Church again, on World Communion Sunday, after being introduced by Kofi Annan, the secretary general of the United Nations. His voice resonant, even though his speech was slow and somewhat slurred, Dr. Coffin told the congregants that there was "a huge difference between patriotism and nationalism."
"Patriotism at the expense of another nation is as wicked as racism at the expense of another race," he declared, adding: "Let us resolve to be patriots always, nationalists never. Let us love our country, but pledge allegiance to the earth and to the flora and fauna and human life that it supports — one planet indivisible, with clean air, soil and water; with liberty, justice and peace for all."
Taken from the obit on the New York Times
http://tinyurl.com/f49am
Posted by: Cyrano at April 13, 2006 05:05 AM
Cyrano,
I disagree. I have heard stories of Kerry helping veterans and millatary families, and standing up for "the little people." Ms. Tucker needs to do her research. It's clear her motive was to smear Kerry and make him look disconnected in the AA community, and promote Hillary, or whoever.
She still ignores the fact that he is one of those "warmongering" dems wanting to get out of there, nevertheless, one that has thrown more crumbs than most of our elected representatives.
Kerry & Cantwell took alot of 1:1 questions from family members of those in Iraq & Afghanistan the other day - I was waiting around & was impressed by what I heard.
People need more to keep open minds.
I just read a story about a British MD in the Air Force who is refusing a 3rd deployment in Iraq & is being jailed. He refused to participate in actions he compared with Nazi Germany. (on Comcast main page but I have to run just now)
Arizona dives into the looney bin again...
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0413trespassing-crime0413.html
Senate OKs arrests of immigrant trespassers
Bill sent to governor
Casey Newton
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 13, 2006 12:00 AM
State lawmakers voted Wednesday to allow the arrest and prosecution of undocumented immigrants under Arizona's trespassing law, saying the move would deter immigrants from entering the country illegally.
The ying and the yang of it...
Health care for all Arizonians...
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0413weisbuch,jonath.html
And in Arizona, state Rep. Phil Lopes' legislation, the Arizona State Health Plan (ArizonaCare), House Bill 2752, deserves consideration and passage. It will provide universal health access to all Arizonans. It will benefit patients, doctors, hospitals and taxpayers. It will increase corporate profits and enhance economic growth.
DiAnne,
I am glad they did so, but my problem is with the so-called left media trying to distort everything (including the IWR) to make those who voted for it look bad and say they they don't care about the troops that come home from Iraq or just poor people in general. It's people like that that are bitter over 2004 or the the fact that their preferred candidate didn't win.
Posted by: Indie Liberal at April 13, 2006 02:29 PM
Your assumption is that she has an agenda to promote Hillary. It's just possible that she's still ticked off about the Iraq War. There's a lot of that going around - perhaps you've noticed. And, by the way, the column you linked was written BEFORE Kerry called for a withdrawal.
If she defends Hillary in a future column, who as far as I'm concerned has no leg to stand on with regard to Iraq, then I'll agree that you were correct. But over the many years that I've read or heard Tucker (on the Newshour), she's always struck me as being solidly on the left.
Cyrano,
I am ticked off over this war as much as she and you guys are. All I am saying is that she is wrong to single out ONE democrat that was never for the war (even though I wish all of the voted against), the problem is that she is letting Bush getaway with his lies instead of educating the public on what the IWR is/was.
The job of the left-leaning media/pundit is to hold Bush accountable, not let him off the hook.
You're right, I will see what she has in store before making future judgements, but she still owes the last nominee an apology for distorting his speeches and the facts.
If you really want to get angry, read Oliver North's article about Kerry withdrawing from Iraq on military.com.
Pretty disgusting stuff.
More and more of this kind of garbage will appear the closer we get to an election.
"If that last point is true, then the President should be awfully glad that Election Day was not conducted last Saturday through Tuesday, which are the precise dates of the new Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times poll, which shows that if the election were held those days, things might not have turned out so well for Mr. Bush.
According to the poll, Massachusetts Senator John Forbes Kerry (distinguished war hero, former prosecutor, loving husband and father, owner of homes in many nice places, the man who caught Noriega with his bare hands and on his own passed several vital fishery and hatchery laws — that John F. Kerry) would beat George Walker Bush in a rematch by ten points."
buyers remorse has finally set in.
You're lucky you didn't hear Stephanie Miller at Take Back America last year - where she insisted that if Dean had been the nominee, he would have won. If only he could won more than one primary...
I think Miller is extremely hot, but I couldn't sit through her show without losing my dinner...
Posted by: Ira at April 13, 2006 04:47 PM
"buyers remorse has finally set in."
Two years too late. (frown).
Cyrano,
I am glad I didn't know about the blogsphere during the primaries. That must have been nasty.
Posted by: Indie Liberal at April 13, 2006 04:53 PM
You can say that again. And the minons of Chairman How were, by far, the worst...
Indie Liberal- I responded on the previous thread as well- I do think that Cynthia Tucker has earned her liberal credentials many times over. Except for the comment she made about John Kerry, there is nothing in that particular column that makes me think she is not a liberal either. I think there is a lot of over-sensitivity on the Kerry issue on this particular website, and I understand it completely. After all, most of us on here used to post on the original Kerry blog. However, taking one dig at John Kerry does not make a person one of those "too horrible to mention" moderates- which is what I am. She is referring, I am almost sure of it, to the IWR resolution vote. Sen. Kerry, along with every other Democrat and every Republican who voted in favor ot the IWR will have to face the consequences of that vote for the rest of their careers. They will spend hours trying to explain what they really meant when they voted the way, and splitting hairs about the vote. And they will have lots of support in their explanations- everyone on this website can explain in detail exactly what John Kerry MEANT when he voted that way, but, like I said on the other thread, Americans aren't capable of understanding . The only argument about semantics that the average American can understand is that "IS" really does mean "is." And Bill Clinton went through hell because, unfortunately for him, Americans weren't quite dumb enough not to know that. But they won't ever understand the IWR vote, and now most Americans don't support the war, thank goodness. I suggested buying steel toed shoes for all our posters (all those who will follow my post with a re-explanation of Kerry's motives), but I probably don't have enough money for that. But we really can't keep being so sensitive about our toes being stepped on about the Kerry issue. Just because someone wishes Kerry wasn't the nominee in '04, does not making them a Hillary loving moderate. And Cynthia Tucker has probably never been accused of being a moderate in her life until today.
BTW- I don't want to go to heaven if George W or anyone else like him is there either. I'd be expelled from the place after awhile, because I definitely could not make it through eternity without causing a ruckus over his presence there. My patience with him didn't last until his inauguration day- I know I couldn't make it through forever.
Lou Dobbs daily poll today asks "Is it your will to give illegal aliens amnesty."
It's currently at 93% NO, 7 % yes.
I know the poll is pretty heavy weighed towards Americans who are watching CNN at this time of day- and it's unscientific. But I just thought I'd mention it, since I voted No in it too.
Dobbs also has a website that is taking employment applications from Americans who want to take John McCain up on his challenge to pay $50 an hour to any American who will pick lettuce in the Southwest this summer. If McCain is really a straight talker, he'll be bankrupt within the week.
Don't know if anyone has heard, but Conyer's is being smeared. I'd like to know more of the truth--is it smearing or is there basis. I'm worried about this because we actually met him and I've met him a number of times, but I'm afraid they're trying to take away his credibility.
Sheehan Returns to Protest Near Bush Ranch
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/041306Z.shtml
Gold Star mom Cindy Sheehan and hundreds of others have returned to Crawford, Texas, to protest the war in Iraq. The 5 days of vigils and rallies will be highlighted by a sunrise Easter service performed by the Reverend Joseph Lowery. Lowery cofounded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. TruthOut Managing Editor Scott Galindez will be reporting from Crawford.
Excerpt (more on link):
But the White House said Bush's plans had nothing to do with the protesters and that he often spends holidays at Camp David with his family.
"The president looks forward to returning to Crawford whenever possible," said a White House spokesman, Blair Jones. "It's the right of the American people to peacefully express their views. The president welcomes the opinions of all Americans."
{{{That last sentence had me laughing so hard I almost literally fell off my chair!!!}}}
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-disks13apr13,0,1166178.story
Data Leaks Persist From Afghan Base
A computer drive sold at a bazaar for $40 may hold the names of spies for the United States who inform on the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
BAGRAM, Afghanistan ‹ A computer drive sold openly Wednesday at a bazaar outside the U.S. air base here holds what appears to be a trove of potentially sensitive American intelligence data, including the names, photographs and telephone numbers of Afghan spies informing on the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
The flash memory drive, which a teenager sold for $40, holds scores of military documents marked "secret," describing intelligence-gathering methods and information ‹ including escape routes into Pakistan and the location of a suspected safe house there, and the payment of $50 bounties for each Taliban or Al Qaeda fighter apprehended based on the source's intelligence.
{{{More on link.}}}
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060413/ap_on_el_ge/voter_unrest
Voter Distress Could Alter Upcoming Races
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/12/AR2006041201114.html
Rumsfeld Rebuked By Retired Generals
Ex-Iraq Commander Calls for Resignation
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/12/AR2006041201905.html
Scalia Defends Involvement in Cheney Case
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060413/ap_on_go_ot/us_iran_43
Officials: Iran Nuclear Bomb Is Years Away
WASHINGTON - Iran remains years away from obtaining the materials and technology necessary for a nuclear weapon despite its announcement this week that it has begun enriching uranium, several top U.S. intelligence officials said Thursday. Kenneth Brill, the head of the newly created National Counterproliferation Center, said the U.S. assessment on the timeframe of Iran's weapons development was sufficiently broad that it does not need to be modified.
{{{More on link. I bet this won't be touted on Lamestream Media....}}}
http://news.yahoo.com/fc/us/immigration
Some Immigration Marchers Pay High Price
Nonny O,
I heard about the people getting fired this morning. Thank God for air america! We have to keep them strong.
Ok this is a two for one'r. Nolie talks about organizing the youth and there's a special photo there too. Please check out her blog.
http://www.progressiveu.org/200043-the-youth-demographic-aware-of-their-situation
This may be the most moving article I ever read...
‘Our childhood is killed in Iraq. It is killed’
By Joan Chittister, OSB
http://nationalcatholicreporter.org/fwis/fw041006.htm
Now for the lighter side...
Any idea how much the war is costing Grand Rapids?
http://www.mediamouse.org/features/
The Grand Rapids campaign used numbers from the National Priorities Project to show how much the war has cost the city of Grand Rapids, with estimates by the NPP showing that the war cost the city $150 million since March of 2003. For a City Commission as budget conscious as the GR commission, advocates argued that ending the war would be a way to restore services, pay off the city’s debt, and found the renewable energy projects sought by Mayor Heartwell.
Did anyone catch Charlie Cook on Hardball tonight?
He was asked what he views the public's perception of Bush is right now.
His response: when the public hear's Bush on tv they reach for the Mute Button and they shake their heads in disbelief to whatever he says. That just about summarizes it. Cook is well regaded and not seen as just another political hack.
Posted by: Ira at April 13, 2006 10:05 PM
I didn't see the show, Ira, but that reaction sums up what the people around here think of Bush. I saw that very scenario with the mute button and shaking of the head at my neighbor's last week.
And, Ira, I might add that I am so thankful that not all the people are fooled any more, that some are waking up. Yes, it is buyer's remorse two years late, but even a year ago I didn't think they would EVER see until they lost all their rights and were living in poverty in large numbers.
The change started right after Katrina. Instead of a punishment the way some preachers called it, I think Katrina was a blessing of sorts, tragic as it was. It opened eyes.
Linda:
On defending Kerry and IWR votes (this is the hair splitter here), I beg to differ. We let that message go through, e.g., "oh, they're all the same," and we LOSE. There was and is and will be a difference. It's a matter of principles. Step on my toes all you want. That's not the point. Disrespect for a guy that has fought many a hard fight -- that's what I don't want to tolerate. If we show no loyalty to our own, marginally interested people will conclude, logically, that "where there is smoke there is fire." That, to my mind, is not helpful (as the Rumsfeld would say).
I understand John Kerry's positions. I contributed to his campaign and I supported and support him -- as a presidential candidate, as a senator, as a private citizen, whatever. I could care less whether he runs for office again. That is his business. Having said that, out of respect for the man, I do not care to let aspersions against him go unchallenged.
We stand by our own or we don't. The larger public will judge us by that.
Chuck in Houston
Couldn't let this one go:
"He also mentioned that the Bush Adminsitration is now giving out medals for the war; the citations on them, according to Brann, describe the medals as awarded for "The Central Command Area after September 11, 2001". In other words, war without end."
Actually, CENTCOM (Central Command) refers to a specific portion of the world. (Like NORTHCOM, SOUTHCOM, EUCOM, etc.) Its AOR (area of responsibility) is Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Uzbekistan, and Yemen. International waters included are the Red Sea, Persian or Arabian Gulf, and western portions of the Indian Ocean.
So, it makes perfect sense that post-9/11 awards would have citations that include reference to CENTCOM.
Not quite sure how this gets extrapolated to "war without end".
Italy Will Withdraw Its Troops From Iraq
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/041306B.shtml
"We consider that the intervention in Iraq was wrong and unjustifiable: no weapons of mass destruction have ever been found; multilateral legitimacy has never been solicited; and, finally, far from countering terrorism, the war has only contributed to exacerbating it," writes the Italian Prime Minister-elect.
Fred Kaplan | The Revolt Against Rumsfeld
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/041306C.shtml
A military coup in this country right now would probably have a moderating influence. We are witnessing the rumblings of an officers' revolt, and things could get ugly if it were to take hold and roar. The revolt is a reluctant one, aimed specifically at the personage of Donald Rumsfeld and the way he is conducting the war in Iraq.
America's Secret Police?
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/041306H.shtml
Intelligence experts warn that a proposal to merge two Pentagon intelligence units could create an ominous new agency. A threatened turf grab by a controversial Pentagon intelligence unit is causing concern among both privacy experts and some of the Defense Department's own personnel.
The New York Times | A Cozy Arrangement
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/041306F.shtml
The average top executive at a big company earned 170 times the average worker's pay. These executives receive a dizzying combination of salaries, bonuses and stock grants. And their perks can go far beyond the use of a company car to even include infusions of cash to offset the taxes everyone else is expected to pay.
Posted by: Veritas at April 14, 2006 07:25 AM
Thanks for the clarification on just what CentCom means. It does have a little bit different sound to it once you realize that it refers to a very specific area.
Even when we use the same words, we aren't necessarily communicating the same meanings.
Chuck- and you know I like ya- but "we stand by our own or we don't" doesn't work when in the same sentence that we defend John Kerry we slam Hillary Clinton and Howard Dean. And that goes on a lot on this blog. No one seems to care on here why Hillary Clinton voted for the IWR- no one seems to want to defend her in any way for any of her actions. But let a columnist in Atlanta say something negative about Kerry and the whole website erupts against her. To try and deprive Cynthia Tucker of any respect because she apparently had someone other than John Kerry in mind for the White HOuse in '04 is what galls me. Hey- maybe she IS "standing by her own." If this is still the Kerry for President blog, then your phrase makes sense. If it's here to promote his presidency in '08 at the expense of all other democrate, then your phrase makes sense. Otherwise, it doesn't. And if that is the purpose of this website, and that's not the stated purpose, by the way, I really need to know. Because when the primaries come around in '08, I don't have a clue who I'll be supporting. I supported Clark the last time around, but I'm not so sure I will this time, simply because I'm not sure a military person is what we need anymore to overcome the perception that we're patriotic. But I might support him, just because of his other views about things. I certainly believe that he and John Kerry had the most courage and character of all the candidates in '04. But the people on here need to stop slamming other Democrats in some effort to assure Kerry's nomination again in '08, because that's not "standing by your own." That's an effort to turn people against other democrats. Like Cynthia Tucker. Who is a liberal, and just happens to have other opinions about John Kerry and immigration than some who post regularly on here do.