BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- DC.
THE STRAIN IS SHOWING ON OL' DIRTY BASTARD HIMSELF, DICK CHENEY.
VICE OF AMERICA WILL HAVE TO TESTIFY IN HIS BUDDY SCOOTER LIBBY'S TRIAL ON THE OUTING OF CIA AGENT VALERIE PLAME.
VICE CHENEY HAS TAKEN TO SLAMMING WAR CRITICS AS "DEAD WRONG" LEADING SOME WAGS TO WONDER IF HE THINKS THEY PLANNED THE ILLEGAL WAR AND NOT CHENEY HIMSELF?
DICK DURBIN HAS CALLED HIM "DELUSIONAL."
AND HE NEARLY LOST IT WHEN WOLF BLITZER ASKED HIM ABOUT HIS DAUGHTER MARY CHENEY'S PREGNANCY. HAVING CAMPAIGNED REPEATEDLY AGAINST GAY RIGHTS AS PART OF THE BULLY BOY - CHENEY TICKET, HAVING HELPED MAKE 2004 ABOUT ATTEMPTS TO OUTLAW SAME-SEX MARRIAGES, THE FACT THAT DICK CHENEY'S DAUGHTER AND HER SAME-SEX PARTNER HEATHER POE ARE ABOUT TO HAVE A BABY CHENEY-POE AND AREN'T BEING QUIET ABOUT IT IS NEWS. BOTH WOMEN ARE ADULTS AND WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR FLACKS ISSUING PUBLICITY STATEMENTS, REPORTERS HAVE A RIGHT TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
HOWEVER WOLF BLITZER TOLD THESE REPORTERS THAT VICE DICK SNAPPED AT HIM YESTERDAY ON CNN, STATING, "I THINK, FRANKLY, YOU'RE OUT OF LINE WITH THAT QUESTION."
LATER, TONY SNOWJOB WOULD DECLARE THAT IT IS A PRIVATE MATTER AS THOUGH BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS AREN'T PRINTED IN EVERY PAPER AND AS IF MARY CHENEY DIDN'T JUST PUBLISH A BOOK OF SILLY SCRIBBLES IN AN ATTEMPT TO CASH IN ON HER OWN LAST NAME. MANY ARE WONDERING IF VICE DICK IS ASHASMED OF HIS DAUGHTER MARY?
IN LIGHT OF ALL THE ABOVE BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX
ARE ISSUING A PUBLIC SAFETY ALERT. IF YOU SEE DICK CHENEY DRUNK AND HOLDING A RIFLE, NO MATTER HOW HE SMILES OR SNEERS, STEP AWAY QUICKLY. AVOID MAKING EYE CONTACT. IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAPPENED TO POOR
HARRY WHITTINGTON, THE PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONS.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Starting with news of war resistance. Bobbie Morgan (Bainbridge Buzz) observes, "Sometimes it takes a travesty to create a hearo. We have a hero close by, awaiting a court martial for refusing to participate in the Iraq war because he feels it was never a lawful war."
Morgan is writing of Ehren Watada, the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse to deploy to the Iraq war. Next month, February 5th, Watada faces a court-martial.
Speaking recently with Ken Mochizuki (International Examiner), Watada stated: "I've said publicly that I'm willing to face the consequences for my action. But, I would ask that I be given a fair trial. So, there's no desertion there. And, when it comes to dissension, I have dissented, obviously, against the orders I've been given. Watada's referring to the ruling by 'Judge' Head which strips him of the ability to mount a defense or even offer his reasons for refusing to deploy. Stanley Campbell (Rock River Times) notes Watada's reasons that Watada will not be allowed to uttered in court: "It's my conclusion as an officer of the armed forces that the Iraq war is not only morally wrong but a horrible breach of American law. Although I have tried to resign out of protest, I am forced to participate in a war that is manifestly illegal. As the order to take part in an illegal act is ultimately unlawful as well, I must, as an officer of honor and integrity, refuse that order." Again, the court-martial is scheduled for February 5th, Fort Lewis, Washington.
Meanwhile, in Germany, a court-martial date has been set for US war resister Agustin Aguayo. Kevin Dougherty (Stars & Stripes) reports that at today's arrinment hearing, the judge decided ("barring any delays") that the court-martial will start on March 6th. Aguayo
served in Iraq and, based on what he witnessed, decided serving in Iraq was against his religious beliefs. He then applied for conscientious objector status but was denied that status and expected to deploy to Iraq for a second tour. From September 2nd through September 26th of last year, Aguayo was absent from the military. He turned himself on the 26th. He has appealed his denial of C.O. status and, although the US Court of Appeals heard arguments on November 21, 2006, they have yet to issue a ruling.
Agustin Aguayo, Ehren Watada are part of a movement of resistance within the military that also includes Kyle Snyder, Darrell Anderson, Ivan Brobeck, Ricky Clousing, Aidan Delgado, Mark Wilkerson, Joshua Key, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Patrick Hart, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, Chris Teske and Kevin Benderman. In total, thirty-eight US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.
Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters.
In the United States, many demonstrations will be held on Saturday including a rally and march in DC. For information on that, you can check out CODEPINK's Bring the Peace Mandate to D.C. on J27! KPFA will be broadcasting live from the DC demonstrations from 10:00 am to noon PST. (At which point it will begin covering demonstrations in the Bay Area.) Saturday night (7:00 to 10:00 pm EST), Laura Flanders will cover the days demonstrations and more on RadioNation with Laura Flanders.
CODEPINK, United for Peace & Justice and many other groups are taking part in Saturday's DC demonstration and march and in activites around the United States (at least fifty cities in the US have activities scheduled -- fifty in addition to DC -- at this time and more are expected to be added to the lists).
As the mobilizations gear up, shades of Tricky Dick, Bully Boy is spying on peace groups. Aaron Glantz (OneWorld) reports on US Defense Department documents obtained by the ACLU which reveal that 186 demonstrations have been spied on and recorded by the Defense Department: "The internal Defense Department documents show it is monitoring the activities of a wide swath of peace groups, including Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, Code Pink, the American Friends Service Committee, the War Resisters League, and the umbrella group United for Peace and Justice, which is spearheading what organizers hope will be a massive march on Washington this Saturday."
[. . .]
Those in DC Saturday should check out Anthony Arnove, author most recently of IRAQ: The Logic of Withdrawal, who will be speaking at Busboys and Poets at 5:00 pm and those in the NYC area on Sunday should check out Joan Mellen speech at 7:30 p.m. at the 92nd Street Y (92nd Street and Lesington Avenue). Mellan, a professor at Temple University and the author of seventeen books, will be presenting a lecture on the JFK assasination . . . and beyond. Tickets are $25. Mellen's latest book is A Farewell to Justice which probes the assasination of JFK. She was a guest on Law and Disorder November 7, 2005. And the March 15, 2006 broadcast of KPFA's Guns and Butter featured her speech "How the Failure to Identify, Prosecute and Convict President Kennedy's Assassins Has Led to Today's Crisis of Democracy." You can also read a transcript of that speech here.
RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"The Times disgrace themselves -- New York and LA"
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"pregnancy, elizabeth de la vega, dennis kucinich"
"Guns and Butter (Bonnie interviewed Todd Fisher)"
"When it rains it pours"
"Senate does a dance and wants applause (and $ bills?)"
"Dick Cheney does the hard press (humor)"
"THIS JUST IN! DICK CHENEY GOES A'WASHING!"
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Dick Cheney does the hard press (humor)
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- DC.
AFTER BOMBING ON LIVE TV LAST NIGHT, BULLY BOY HAS GONE INTO HIDING AND IS SAID TO BE BLAMING ALL HIS SPEECH WRITERS FOR INSISTING HE NOT DELIVER A JOKE HE AND DAUGHTER JENNA WORKED OUT TOGETHER: "WHAT'S BLACK, BLUE, RED AND ALL OVER? YOU AFTER I SEND YOUR BUTTS TO IRAQ!"
BULLY BOY IS CONVINCED THE 'JOKE' COULD HAVE EASED A TENSE SITUATION BY ACTING AS AN ICE BREAKER.
WHILE BULLY BOY LOCKED HIMSELF AWAY, REPORTEDLY WITH A BOTTLE OF J&B, ORIGINAL GANGSTA' AND OL' DIRTY BASTARD HIMSELF DICK CHENEY STRONG ARMED THE PRESS.
CORNERING THESE REPORTERS, AMERICA'S VICE INSISTED THAT TALK OF THE WAR BEING ILLEGAL, UNNECESSARY AND DAMAGING TO AMERICA WAS QUOTE: "HOGWASH!"
EXPLAINED OL' DIRTY DICK, "I KNOW ABOUT WASHING HOGS. YOU EVER LOOK AT MY WIFE!"
WHEN THESE REPORTERS INQUIRED IF "HOG" COULDN'T ALSO APPLY TO HIMSELF, DICK CHENEY TURNED AGREEABLE AND REPLIED, "YES, IT COULD! AND I'VE BATHED MYSELF SINCE I HIT 43. I TAKE AT LEAST ONE BATH EVERY 2 WEEKS. SO, LIKE I SAID, I KNOW ALL ABOUT WASHING HOGS."
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
In the US, Ehren Watada is the first officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq and faces a court-martial on February 5th at Fort Lewis. Last week, the 'judge' (John Head) ruled on the parameters of the case. As Matt Hutaff (The Simon) reports the ruling amounts to "stripping the defendant of his constitutional rights. When Watada faces prosecution on February 5, he will be unable to assert free speech in questioning the legality of the war and is forbidden from using Nurember laws as defense. Watada's entire argument rests on the fact that troops are bound to serve honorably and follow lawful orders, and that the Iraq war is a hodepodge of neither." Paul Rockwell (San Francisco Bay Guardian) observes, "It is a sad day in American jurisprudence when a soldier of conscience is court-martialed -- not for lying, but for telling the truth; not for breaking a covenant with the military, but for upholding the rule of law in wartime." Eric Ruder (Socialist Worker) notes, "Activists in the Northwest and around the country are planning a February 5 day of action to show support for Watada, timed to coincide with the beginning of the Army's court-martial against him. Defending war resisters is a critical part of ending the war, because it gives confidence to other soldiers considering their options as Bush plans a 'surge' of 21,500 more troops to Iraq." Jim Warren (Lexington Herald-Leader) notes that among those people showing support for Watada on February 5th at Fort Lewis will be war resister Darrell Anderson who "set off on a cross-country bus tour with the Iraq Veterans Against the War organization, making stops in several cities to support war resisters."
Meanwhile, war resister Agustin Aguayo was due to be arraigned on Monday but Stars & Stripes reports that the arraingment has now been postponed until Thursday. Aguayo served in Iraq and applied for Conscientious Objector status afterwards. The military denied that and Aguayo has been appealing that. On November 21, 2006, the US Court of Appeals in Washington, DC heard Aguayo's appeal. They have not yet ruled on it. As Aaron Glantz reported on the November 20, 2006 broadcast of The KPFA Evening News, Aguayo's case was the first of it's kind hear in "a federal court since 1971". Despite the fact that the case was on appeal, the military had told Aguayo he had to redeploy to Iraq. In September, Aguayo self-checked out and turned himself in the same month. He was gone less than 30 days (September 2nd through September 26th.). However, last week, the military announced that they would be charging him with desertion. As Kevin Dougherty (Stars & Stripes) noted in November, 30 days, though not a rule, is "the standard benchmark." That charge and missing movement could, if convicted on both counts, result in Aguayo serving seven years in prison.
Interviewed by Alan Maass (Socialist Worker), Dahr Jamail noted the importance of war resisters and observed: "There are between 8,000 and 10,000 people AWOL from the military, and I imagine that number has increased dramatically over just the last week. I know it was starting to increase dramatically even before Bush made his speech. More people than ever are heading off to Canada or going underground, so that they don't have to go to Iraq and be targets. If anyone is seriously interested in ending this occupation and wants to do something to make it happen, people should follow the instruction of Lt. Ehren Watada. In his speech at the Veterans for Peace national convention in August of last year, he said that the best thing people could do is adopt the family of someone who wants to become a resister, and do what they need to do to support those families, economically and morally, so that their people don't have to go to Iraq."
Agustin Aguayo, Ehren Watada and Darrell Anderson are part of a movement of resistance within the military that also includes Kyle Snyder, Ivan Brobeck, Ricky Clousing, Aidan Delgado, Mark Wilkerson, Joshua Key, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Patrick Hart, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, Chris Teske and Kevin Benderman. In total, thirty-eight US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.
Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters.
[. . .]
Which is a good time to offer the contrast: US Representative Maxine Waters. Appearing on Democracy Now! today, Waters discussed the proposal she and US Reps. Barbara Lee and Lynn Woolsey have on the table: "No more troops going to Iraq. Number two, to start to wind out of Iraq. Make sure that you work with the Iraqis for a security plan that they come up with that would include the international community and those in the region and no American soldiers in that kind of security plan. We also talk about reconstruction. We have bombed Baghdad and other parts of Iraq to smithereens. We owe it to them to be involved in a reconstruction plan that's real. Thirdly, we would leave some troops over the horizon in neighboring communities, in the event the coalition forces that are put together by the Iraqis would ask for a bit of assistance at any given time." Waters and Goodman also discussed the Saturday protest in DC and that the representative has "sent a letter to all members of Congress" encouraging them to also take part.
Information on the demonstrations can be found at CODEPINK's Bring the Peace Mandate to D.C. on J27! activities will also be taking place in communities around the country. Saturday, Laura Flanders will be broadcasting live from DC to cover the demonstrations on RadioNation with Laura Flanders. Aaron Glantz (IPS) reports on the upcoming demonstrations and notes United for Peace & Justice's Leslie Cagan stating, "The voters of this country figured out that they could use the November elections as a vehicle to voice their opposition to the war. What happened there was that the voters gave Congress a mandate to end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home." Glanz notes that in addition to events in DC, there are "large mobilisations planned for Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco. In addition smaller actions are planned for more than 50 cities." In DC, Saturday the rally will be held at the National Mall from eleven in the morning to one p.m. at which point a march will begin. Larry Margasak (AP) notes of the DC rally and march: "Scheduled speakers include members of Congress sponsoring anti-war measures; civili rights activist Jesse Jackson; veterans against the war; actors such as Danny Glover, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon; and a voice from the . . . [pro-peace] past, Jane Fonda."
Those in DC Saturday may want to check out Anthony Arnove, author most recently of IRAQ: The Logic of Withdrawal, who will be speaking at Busboys and Poets at 5:00 pm while those in the NYC area on Sunday should check out Joan Mellen speech at 7:30 p.m. at the 92nd Street Y (92nd Street and Lesington Avenue). Mellan, a professor at Temple University and the author of seventeen books, will be presenting a lecture on the JFK assasination . . . and beyond. Tickets are $25. Mellen's latest book is A Farewell to Justice which probes the assasination of JFK. She was a guest on Law and Disorder November 7, 2005. And the March 15, 2006 broadcast of KPFA's Guns and Butter featured her speech "How the Failure to Identify, Prosecute and Convict President Kennedy's Assassins Has Led to Today's Crisis of Democracy." You can also read a transcript of that speech here.Again, that's Sunday, January 28th, 7:30 p.m. the 92nd Street Y in NYC.
RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
'"Ehren Watada Is a Patriot" (Matt Hutaff, The Simon)'
"Other Items"
"what will become of sarah olson!!!!!!!!!"
"Bully Boy Butt Wipe"
"Joan Mellen lecture on JFK assasination this Sunday"
"Blogger/Blogspot problems"
"THIS JUST IN! THE HARD SELL GOES LIMP!"
"The administration limps along (humor)"
AFTER BOMBING ON LIVE TV LAST NIGHT, BULLY BOY HAS GONE INTO HIDING AND IS SAID TO BE BLAMING ALL HIS SPEECH WRITERS FOR INSISTING HE NOT DELIVER A JOKE HE AND DAUGHTER JENNA WORKED OUT TOGETHER: "WHAT'S BLACK, BLUE, RED AND ALL OVER? YOU AFTER I SEND YOUR BUTTS TO IRAQ!"
BULLY BOY IS CONVINCED THE 'JOKE' COULD HAVE EASED A TENSE SITUATION BY ACTING AS AN ICE BREAKER.
WHILE BULLY BOY LOCKED HIMSELF AWAY, REPORTEDLY WITH A BOTTLE OF J&B, ORIGINAL GANGSTA' AND OL' DIRTY BASTARD HIMSELF DICK CHENEY STRONG ARMED THE PRESS.
CORNERING THESE REPORTERS, AMERICA'S VICE INSISTED THAT TALK OF THE WAR BEING ILLEGAL, UNNECESSARY AND DAMAGING TO AMERICA WAS QUOTE: "HOGWASH!"
EXPLAINED OL' DIRTY DICK, "I KNOW ABOUT WASHING HOGS. YOU EVER LOOK AT MY WIFE!"
WHEN THESE REPORTERS INQUIRED IF "HOG" COULDN'T ALSO APPLY TO HIMSELF, DICK CHENEY TURNED AGREEABLE AND REPLIED, "YES, IT COULD! AND I'VE BATHED MYSELF SINCE I HIT 43. I TAKE AT LEAST ONE BATH EVERY 2 WEEKS. SO, LIKE I SAID, I KNOW ALL ABOUT WASHING HOGS."
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
In the US, Ehren Watada is the first officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq and faces a court-martial on February 5th at Fort Lewis. Last week, the 'judge' (John Head) ruled on the parameters of the case. As Matt Hutaff (The Simon) reports the ruling amounts to "stripping the defendant of his constitutional rights. When Watada faces prosecution on February 5, he will be unable to assert free speech in questioning the legality of the war and is forbidden from using Nurember laws as defense. Watada's entire argument rests on the fact that troops are bound to serve honorably and follow lawful orders, and that the Iraq war is a hodepodge of neither." Paul Rockwell (San Francisco Bay Guardian) observes, "It is a sad day in American jurisprudence when a soldier of conscience is court-martialed -- not for lying, but for telling the truth; not for breaking a covenant with the military, but for upholding the rule of law in wartime." Eric Ruder (Socialist Worker) notes, "Activists in the Northwest and around the country are planning a February 5 day of action to show support for Watada, timed to coincide with the beginning of the Army's court-martial against him. Defending war resisters is a critical part of ending the war, because it gives confidence to other soldiers considering their options as Bush plans a 'surge' of 21,500 more troops to Iraq." Jim Warren (Lexington Herald-Leader) notes that among those people showing support for Watada on February 5th at Fort Lewis will be war resister Darrell Anderson who "set off on a cross-country bus tour with the Iraq Veterans Against the War organization, making stops in several cities to support war resisters."
Meanwhile, war resister Agustin Aguayo was due to be arraigned on Monday but Stars & Stripes reports that the arraingment has now been postponed until Thursday. Aguayo served in Iraq and applied for Conscientious Objector status afterwards. The military denied that and Aguayo has been appealing that. On November 21, 2006, the US Court of Appeals in Washington, DC heard Aguayo's appeal. They have not yet ruled on it. As Aaron Glantz reported on the November 20, 2006 broadcast of The KPFA Evening News, Aguayo's case was the first of it's kind hear in "a federal court since 1971". Despite the fact that the case was on appeal, the military had told Aguayo he had to redeploy to Iraq. In September, Aguayo self-checked out and turned himself in the same month. He was gone less than 30 days (September 2nd through September 26th.). However, last week, the military announced that they would be charging him with desertion. As Kevin Dougherty (Stars & Stripes) noted in November, 30 days, though not a rule, is "the standard benchmark." That charge and missing movement could, if convicted on both counts, result in Aguayo serving seven years in prison.
Interviewed by Alan Maass (Socialist Worker), Dahr Jamail noted the importance of war resisters and observed: "There are between 8,000 and 10,000 people AWOL from the military, and I imagine that number has increased dramatically over just the last week. I know it was starting to increase dramatically even before Bush made his speech. More people than ever are heading off to Canada or going underground, so that they don't have to go to Iraq and be targets. If anyone is seriously interested in ending this occupation and wants to do something to make it happen, people should follow the instruction of Lt. Ehren Watada. In his speech at the Veterans for Peace national convention in August of last year, he said that the best thing people could do is adopt the family of someone who wants to become a resister, and do what they need to do to support those families, economically and morally, so that their people don't have to go to Iraq."
Agustin Aguayo, Ehren Watada and Darrell Anderson are part of a movement of resistance within the military that also includes Kyle Snyder, Ivan Brobeck, Ricky Clousing, Aidan Delgado, Mark Wilkerson, Joshua Key, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Patrick Hart, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, Chris Teske and Kevin Benderman. In total, thirty-eight US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.
Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters.
[. . .]
Which is a good time to offer the contrast: US Representative Maxine Waters. Appearing on Democracy Now! today, Waters discussed the proposal she and US Reps. Barbara Lee and Lynn Woolsey have on the table: "No more troops going to Iraq. Number two, to start to wind out of Iraq. Make sure that you work with the Iraqis for a security plan that they come up with that would include the international community and those in the region and no American soldiers in that kind of security plan. We also talk about reconstruction. We have bombed Baghdad and other parts of Iraq to smithereens. We owe it to them to be involved in a reconstruction plan that's real. Thirdly, we would leave some troops over the horizon in neighboring communities, in the event the coalition forces that are put together by the Iraqis would ask for a bit of assistance at any given time." Waters and Goodman also discussed the Saturday protest in DC and that the representative has "sent a letter to all members of Congress" encouraging them to also take part.
Information on the demonstrations can be found at CODEPINK's Bring the Peace Mandate to D.C. on J27! activities will also be taking place in communities around the country. Saturday, Laura Flanders will be broadcasting live from DC to cover the demonstrations on RadioNation with Laura Flanders. Aaron Glantz (IPS) reports on the upcoming demonstrations and notes United for Peace & Justice's Leslie Cagan stating, "The voters of this country figured out that they could use the November elections as a vehicle to voice their opposition to the war. What happened there was that the voters gave Congress a mandate to end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home." Glanz notes that in addition to events in DC, there are "large mobilisations planned for Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco. In addition smaller actions are planned for more than 50 cities." In DC, Saturday the rally will be held at the National Mall from eleven in the morning to one p.m. at which point a march will begin. Larry Margasak (AP) notes of the DC rally and march: "Scheduled speakers include members of Congress sponsoring anti-war measures; civili rights activist Jesse Jackson; veterans against the war; actors such as Danny Glover, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon; and a voice from the . . . [pro-peace] past, Jane Fonda."
Those in DC Saturday may want to check out Anthony Arnove, author most recently of IRAQ: The Logic of Withdrawal, who will be speaking at Busboys and Poets at 5:00 pm while those in the NYC area on Sunday should check out Joan Mellen speech at 7:30 p.m. at the 92nd Street Y (92nd Street and Lesington Avenue). Mellan, a professor at Temple University and the author of seventeen books, will be presenting a lecture on the JFK assasination . . . and beyond. Tickets are $25. Mellen's latest book is A Farewell to Justice which probes the assasination of JFK. She was a guest on Law and Disorder November 7, 2005. And the March 15, 2006 broadcast of KPFA's Guns and Butter featured her speech "How the Failure to Identify, Prosecute and Convict President Kennedy's Assassins Has Led to Today's Crisis of Democracy." You can also read a transcript of that speech here.Again, that's Sunday, January 28th, 7:30 p.m. the 92nd Street Y in NYC.
RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
'"Ehren Watada Is a Patriot" (Matt Hutaff, The Simon)'
"Other Items"
"what will become of sarah olson!!!!!!!!!"
"Bully Boy Butt Wipe"
"Joan Mellen lecture on JFK assasination this Sunday"
"Blogger/Blogspot problems"
"THIS JUST IN! THE HARD SELL GOES LIMP!"
"The administration limps along (humor)"
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
The administration limps along (humor)
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- DC.
LOOKING SLIGHTLY MORE DRUNK THAN DEAN MARTIN AT A ROAST AND OFFERING FAR LESS CHARM, BULLY BOY OFFERED A LAUGH GETTER TO THE COUNTRY TONIGHT IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS.
BULLY BOY: "AMERICA MUST NOT FAIL IN IRAQ."
HAVING STARTED AN ILLEGAL AND UNNECESSARY WAR ALL ON HIS OWN, BULLY BOY NOW WANTS TO DRAG THE ENTIRE COUNTRY DOWN WITH HIM.
THAT STATEMENT AND ALL STATEMENTS CAME OFF AS PLEADING AND WHINING FROM THE IMPOTENT BULLY BOY WHO APPEARED TO BE BOTH DRUNK AND DRUGGED.
IN NEWS OF IMPOTENCE, ARMY LT. GENERAL DAVID H. PETRAEUS, IN THE MIDST OF ATTEMPTING TO WIN SENATE CONFIRMATION TO BECOME THE NEW COMMANDER OF IRAQ, STOPPED THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS TODAY TO TAPE AN ENDORSEMENT FOR VIAGRA.
LOOKING INTO THE CAMERA, PETRAEUS INTONED, "HARD IS NOT HOPELESS."
REPORTEDLY, PETRAEUS NEXT INTEND TO PLUG ANAL PROBES.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
In June Ehren Watada became the first officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq. Today, he spoke to Amy Goodman on Democracy Now! about what he's facing ins February 5th court-martial at Fort Lewis. Watada explained the process by which he came to his decision: assigned to Iraq, he began doing the research required of him. (Yesterday on WBAI's Law and Disorder, Carolyn Ho walked people through her son's awakening. In addition to archived broadcasts at either link, Rebecca's written of the speech at her site.) His research provided him with information and, from that infomation, he was left the reality that the war was illegal and immoral. At which point he had to decide what to do and he tried to handle the matter privately but the military repeatedly refused to do so. Only after months of that did Watada go public. In his August Article 32 hearing (similar to a grand jury), his attornies (a military attorney and a civilian attorney) were allowed to present a defense. 'Judge' Head has disallowed that for the court-martial scheduled to be held at Fort Lewis on February 5th.
Amy Goodman asked, in light of that ruling, "what is heard in the court, that you just refused to show up?" Watada answered, "Correct. It will simply be. It will be a non-trial. It will not be a fair trial or a show of justice, in any sense. I think that they will simply say, 'Was he ordered to go? Yes. Did he go? No. Well, he’s guilty.' And that also goes for the conduct unbecoming charges: 'Did he make those statements? Can we verify that? Yes? Okay, he’s guilty.' And then it will be pretty much a disciplinary hearing -- in terms of how much punishment should we give this lieutenant." There will be strong defense offered despite the fact that Watada faces up to six years in prison if convicted of all charges. Now the military has a roll of who made the deployment and who didn't and they have transcripts and audio and video of Watada's statment. If he's not allowed to explain his reasons, it's a matter of "yes" and "no." That's really not a defense and "Judge" Head really isn't a judge. (That's me, not Watada for any 'researches' for the prosecution.)
Watada declared that "there's tremendous support out there. I think it's unfortunate that we haven't been able to get into the national media as much as we wanted to. And therefore, the more east you go, the less people know about the case. And I think, just looking at how much support I've received in Washington state and back home in my home state, in Hawaii, there are a lot of people who are coming out. And not just people on one spectrum of the political ideology, but people from the mainstream. They are all coming out -- the unions, the interfaith groups, the students, universities. They are all coming out to support. And I think that's just a testament to how people feel about the war and the policies of this administration."
There is a lot of support. There is, however, very little coverage in media big or small. There are exceptions and it's usually the same group we've learned to look for coverage of what matters. Yesterday on Free Speech Radio News and The KPFA Evening News, Martha Baskin reported on the Citizens' Hearing on the Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq held in Tacoma, Washington last Satruday and Sunday noting that while a 'judge' had "ruled that" Watada "could not raise the legality of the war in his defense" the hearing did just that attracting experts from legal and military fields, "military families and veterans". Richard Falk was heard, in the report, testifying that, "It is our role as citizens to protect those who are brave enough . . . who refuse to participate in an illegal war."
Another issue in the court-martial of Ehren Watada is whether or not journalists should participate in the proceedings as witnesses for the prosecution. Emily Howard spoke with journalists Sarah Olson and Norman Solomon yesterday on KPFA's Flashpoints. Olson will not discuss her "legal strategy." She has stated, on air, to Laura Flanders she wouldn't testify and she has played mum on that with others. However, as noted on Sunday, she has not stated that she supported Watada 100%, she has just stated that as a journalist it is her job to cover the news and her sources are sources and neither an endorsement or a rebuke.
Speaking with Howard yesterday, Olson made her strongest case yet.
She did that by first starting with Ehren Watada who is facing the court-martial and whose stand is what the military is interested in and wants to punish. ("The crux of this trial," as Howard pointed out.) Having established Watada's stand, Olson then connected it to other war resisters who had come forward by name (and noted that Flashpoints interviewed Ivan Brobeck -- they were the only outlet to do so when he returned to the US from Canada to turn himself on election day in November with an open letter to the Bully Boy). Why does whether she testifies or not in the court-martial matter?
As Olson and Solomon outlined it (very clearly) who are war resisters going to talk to? If they're under the impression that any reporter they tell their stories to will then be called before a court to testify against them, that will produce a chilling effect on free speech and prevent a free press from the ability to keep citizens informed. That is the purpose of the free press, as veteran DC journalist Helen Thomas noted on yesterday's Democracy Now!, not providing with you commercials of products that will 'enhance' your life, informing citizens so that they can make their decisions and contribute within a democracy.
Norman Solomon noted that the Pentagon is "worried about people not only thinking for themselves but speaking up" so it is "trying to intimidate" people into silence and that this is "a contradicition between the myth of the military defending our 'freedoms'" and trying to supress freedoms.
Olson, who faces six month in jail and/or a fine if she refuses to testify, declared, "When you look at the number of people who are taking steps to actively express their opposition to this war I think that is has become it has grown to a point it's not something that can be ignored or . . . can or should be ignored. And I think it's very important as journalists . . . that we are able to cover this perspective and this growing number of active dutry Iraq war vetrns and soldiers who are in opposition to this war. It's becoming more and more relevant as the days go by."
Olson is correct -- Watada is part of a movement of resistance within the military that also includes Kyle Snyder, Agustin Aguayo, Ivan Brobeck, Darrell Anderson, Ricky Clousing, Aidan Delgado, Mark Wilkerson, Joshua Key, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Patrick Hart, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, Robin Long, Ryan Johnson, Chris Teske, Tim Richard and Kevin Benderman. In total, thirty-eight US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.
Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters.
RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"Watada, Olson, press"
"NYT: Who died? Santora's not interested"
"law and disorder, ehren watada, ray mcgovern"
"Jeff Cohen, Mike Whitney"
"Law & Disorder, Anthony Arnove, Michael Schwartz"
"Elizabeth DiNovella on Mexico and NAFTA"
"White House confessions (humor)"
"THIS JUST IN! NEW POLLS WORRY THE WHITE HOUSE!"
LOOKING SLIGHTLY MORE DRUNK THAN DEAN MARTIN AT A ROAST AND OFFERING FAR LESS CHARM, BULLY BOY OFFERED A LAUGH GETTER TO THE COUNTRY TONIGHT IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS.
BULLY BOY: "AMERICA MUST NOT FAIL IN IRAQ."
HAVING STARTED AN ILLEGAL AND UNNECESSARY WAR ALL ON HIS OWN, BULLY BOY NOW WANTS TO DRAG THE ENTIRE COUNTRY DOWN WITH HIM.
THAT STATEMENT AND ALL STATEMENTS CAME OFF AS PLEADING AND WHINING FROM THE IMPOTENT BULLY BOY WHO APPEARED TO BE BOTH DRUNK AND DRUGGED.
IN NEWS OF IMPOTENCE, ARMY LT. GENERAL DAVID H. PETRAEUS, IN THE MIDST OF ATTEMPTING TO WIN SENATE CONFIRMATION TO BECOME THE NEW COMMANDER OF IRAQ, STOPPED THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS TODAY TO TAPE AN ENDORSEMENT FOR VIAGRA.
LOOKING INTO THE CAMERA, PETRAEUS INTONED, "HARD IS NOT HOPELESS."
REPORTEDLY, PETRAEUS NEXT INTEND TO PLUG ANAL PROBES.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
In June Ehren Watada became the first officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq. Today, he spoke to Amy Goodman on Democracy Now! about what he's facing ins February 5th court-martial at Fort Lewis. Watada explained the process by which he came to his decision: assigned to Iraq, he began doing the research required of him. (Yesterday on WBAI's Law and Disorder, Carolyn Ho walked people through her son's awakening. In addition to archived broadcasts at either link, Rebecca's written of the speech at her site.) His research provided him with information and, from that infomation, he was left the reality that the war was illegal and immoral. At which point he had to decide what to do and he tried to handle the matter privately but the military repeatedly refused to do so. Only after months of that did Watada go public. In his August Article 32 hearing (similar to a grand jury), his attornies (a military attorney and a civilian attorney) were allowed to present a defense. 'Judge' Head has disallowed that for the court-martial scheduled to be held at Fort Lewis on February 5th.
Amy Goodman asked, in light of that ruling, "what is heard in the court, that you just refused to show up?" Watada answered, "Correct. It will simply be. It will be a non-trial. It will not be a fair trial or a show of justice, in any sense. I think that they will simply say, 'Was he ordered to go? Yes. Did he go? No. Well, he’s guilty.' And that also goes for the conduct unbecoming charges: 'Did he make those statements? Can we verify that? Yes? Okay, he’s guilty.' And then it will be pretty much a disciplinary hearing -- in terms of how much punishment should we give this lieutenant." There will be strong defense offered despite the fact that Watada faces up to six years in prison if convicted of all charges. Now the military has a roll of who made the deployment and who didn't and they have transcripts and audio and video of Watada's statment. If he's not allowed to explain his reasons, it's a matter of "yes" and "no." That's really not a defense and "Judge" Head really isn't a judge. (That's me, not Watada for any 'researches' for the prosecution.)
Watada declared that "there's tremendous support out there. I think it's unfortunate that we haven't been able to get into the national media as much as we wanted to. And therefore, the more east you go, the less people know about the case. And I think, just looking at how much support I've received in Washington state and back home in my home state, in Hawaii, there are a lot of people who are coming out. And not just people on one spectrum of the political ideology, but people from the mainstream. They are all coming out -- the unions, the interfaith groups, the students, universities. They are all coming out to support. And I think that's just a testament to how people feel about the war and the policies of this administration."
There is a lot of support. There is, however, very little coverage in media big or small. There are exceptions and it's usually the same group we've learned to look for coverage of what matters. Yesterday on Free Speech Radio News and The KPFA Evening News, Martha Baskin reported on the Citizens' Hearing on the Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq held in Tacoma, Washington last Satruday and Sunday noting that while a 'judge' had "ruled that" Watada "could not raise the legality of the war in his defense" the hearing did just that attracting experts from legal and military fields, "military families and veterans". Richard Falk was heard, in the report, testifying that, "It is our role as citizens to protect those who are brave enough . . . who refuse to participate in an illegal war."
Another issue in the court-martial of Ehren Watada is whether or not journalists should participate in the proceedings as witnesses for the prosecution. Emily Howard spoke with journalists Sarah Olson and Norman Solomon yesterday on KPFA's Flashpoints. Olson will not discuss her "legal strategy." She has stated, on air, to Laura Flanders she wouldn't testify and she has played mum on that with others. However, as noted on Sunday, she has not stated that she supported Watada 100%, she has just stated that as a journalist it is her job to cover the news and her sources are sources and neither an endorsement or a rebuke.
Speaking with Howard yesterday, Olson made her strongest case yet.
She did that by first starting with Ehren Watada who is facing the court-martial and whose stand is what the military is interested in and wants to punish. ("The crux of this trial," as Howard pointed out.) Having established Watada's stand, Olson then connected it to other war resisters who had come forward by name (and noted that Flashpoints interviewed Ivan Brobeck -- they were the only outlet to do so when he returned to the US from Canada to turn himself on election day in November with an open letter to the Bully Boy). Why does whether she testifies or not in the court-martial matter?
As Olson and Solomon outlined it (very clearly) who are war resisters going to talk to? If they're under the impression that any reporter they tell their stories to will then be called before a court to testify against them, that will produce a chilling effect on free speech and prevent a free press from the ability to keep citizens informed. That is the purpose of the free press, as veteran DC journalist Helen Thomas noted on yesterday's Democracy Now!, not providing with you commercials of products that will 'enhance' your life, informing citizens so that they can make their decisions and contribute within a democracy.
Norman Solomon noted that the Pentagon is "worried about people not only thinking for themselves but speaking up" so it is "trying to intimidate" people into silence and that this is "a contradicition between the myth of the military defending our 'freedoms'" and trying to supress freedoms.
Olson, who faces six month in jail and/or a fine if she refuses to testify, declared, "When you look at the number of people who are taking steps to actively express their opposition to this war I think that is has become it has grown to a point it's not something that can be ignored or . . . can or should be ignored. And I think it's very important as journalists . . . that we are able to cover this perspective and this growing number of active dutry Iraq war vetrns and soldiers who are in opposition to this war. It's becoming more and more relevant as the days go by."
Olson is correct -- Watada is part of a movement of resistance within the military that also includes Kyle Snyder, Agustin Aguayo, Ivan Brobeck, Darrell Anderson, Ricky Clousing, Aidan Delgado, Mark Wilkerson, Joshua Key, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Patrick Hart, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, Robin Long, Ryan Johnson, Chris Teske, Tim Richard and Kevin Benderman. In total, thirty-eight US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.
Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters.
RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"Watada, Olson, press"
"NYT: Who died? Santora's not interested"
"law and disorder, ehren watada, ray mcgovern"
"Jeff Cohen, Mike Whitney"
"Law & Disorder, Anthony Arnove, Michael Schwartz"
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"White House confessions (humor)"
"THIS JUST IN! NEW POLLS WORRY THE WHITE HOUSE!"
Monday, January 22, 2007
White House confessions (humor)
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- DC.
AS BULLY BOY PREPARES TO ADDRESS THE NATION TOMORROW IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, THE POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE IS NO MORE.
EVEN 1 WHITE HOUSE INSIDER CONFESSED TO BEING NERVOUS. HE ASKED THESE REPORTERS NOT TO USE HIS REAL NAME SO WE'LL CALL HIM "ANTHONY WINTER FLAKES."
ANTHONY WINTER FLAKES TOLD THESE REPORTERS, "THE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE IS GONE AND I'M LEFT WITH A POMPOUS A**HOLE. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO SELL THAT? DID YOU SEE THE WASHINGTON POST? 60% OF AMERICANS HAVE MORE FAITH IN THE DEMOCRATS ABILITY TO DEAL WITH THE ILLEGAL WAR AND ONLY 33% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE STILL HAVE FAITH IN BULLY BOY. I FIGURE IT HAS TO BE THE ONES WHO SIGNED UP FOR THE NEW MEDICARE PLAN, GOT CAUGHT IN THE 'DOUGHNUT,' AND ARE NOW OFF THEIR MEDS. GOD BLESS THEM! I CAN'T BELIEVE I LEFT MY CUSHY CABLE POST FOR THIS HELL HOLE."
AT THIS POINT, ANTHONY WINTER FLAKES HAD TO RUSH OFF BECAUSE THE BULLY BOY WAS BELLOWING, "WHERE ARE MY PIGS IN THE BLANKET! I'S HUNGRY! MY TUM-TUM'S GROWLING."
ROLLING HIS EYES, ANTHONY WINTER FLAKES HURRIED OFF TO ASSIST THE BULLY BOY WITH HIS AFTERNOON SNACK.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Starting with US war resister Ehren Watada, On February 5th, Watada faces a court-martial. "Judge" Head has 'ruled' that Ehren Watada cannot explain the reasons he reached his decision to deploy to Iraq, he cannot explain which orders he honored in his refusal to fight in an illegal war and he cannot really present his case. Saturday and Sunday, Citizens' Hearing on the Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq was held in Tacoma, Washington and there, in a hearing by, for and of the people, the arguments could be made and were.
Among those testifying were Ann Wright (retired from the State Department, retired US army colonel) who was asked about the duty of Ehren Watada
Ann Wright: Now that's kind of the heart of it all, isn't it? The conduct becoming an officer? The ability to think. The ability to take care of your troops, to keep them out of harm's way, to explore with your chain of command what's going on, why are you having to do certain things? Trusting in your chain of command that you're asking questions that your seniors are asking, are asking, are asking . . .
And I think what we we see in the case of Lt. Watada is that the entire chain of command has failed starting with the four-star generals that were the advisors to the Secretary of Defense and the president, with General Myers, the chief of staff, [. . .] who was such a weak chairman of the Joint Chiefs that he did not question it, he was a toady of the Bush administration.
We did have one four-star general who spoke out -- General Shinseki, chief of staff of the army -- who questioned. He actually didn't question the war, he questioned the number of troops -- how the war was going to be prosecuted. Our generals in the chain of command have not acted as they should have and it's just kind of gone all the way down. The questioning that really goes up and down in the military because there is a dynamic part of the military it's just not one monolythic group there's a lot of debate going on in the scenes and behind the scenes. [. . .]
For the Lt. to be the one that is carrying the load on questioning the war is a little unfair. There should have been people much higher up that were questioning, as they are now, the retired generals are questioning, but that's a little late. [. . .]
It's hard to question sometimes even though you know it's your responsibility and your obligation to do it. But we see here that we've got very few people in the military who are openly questioning but then you look at the polls in newspapers that are being taken of the service members in Iraq and, what is it, 75% of them say we shouldn't be there. So there is an underground movement of the military itself. They're not the ones that can stop wars from beginning but they're the ones that ultimately are the ground fodder for it and what they start saying, "It's not worth my life anymore" that's when these things will start slowing down. And then it's up to us as civilians be going to our Congress to demand that the Congress stop funding the war. If you want to support the troops bring them home, stop the funding of the war.
Amy Rolph (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) reports that David Krieger ("chairman of the tribunal") opened Saturday's proceedings by noting, "We believe that Lt. Watada's contentions about the illegality of the war deserve a full and fair hearing." The Associated Press reported over 400 people were present on Saturday alone. Also appearing was Ehren Watada. Hal Bernton (Seattle Times) reports that Watada declared "Judge" Head's decision to disallow a defense in the court-martial to be "a travesty of justice. That it is a violation of our most sacred due process, and indeed it is un-American." Rolph notes that US war resister Darrell Anderson was also among those offering testimony about what he witnessed in Iraq and the "training that dehumanizes Iraqis". Though arguments can't be made in the court-martial, they were made in in Tacoma. John Nichols (The Nation) blogs at The Notion that: "It appears that the prosecutors do not want to provide Watada with an open and fair forum in which to explain his arguments against the war." Of course, what the prosecution wants or doesn't only matters if the "Judge" rules and he did so when he released his decision on Tuesday of last week.
In a speech given at the Church Center for the UN on December 8th by Watada's mother, Carolyn Ho, (broadcast on WBAI's Law and Disorder today) she explained how her son began researching Iraq in June of 2005 (one year prior to his going public), the basic research to get to know the country he was going to be deployed to, and, as he studied and studied, he came across the shaping of intelligence, the Downing Street Memos exposing that intel was being fixed, the phoney WMDs claims . . . In January of 2006, she received a call from her son who explained that he had decided he wouldn't deploy to Iraq when the time came. On June 7, 2006, Carolyn Ho recounted, "the day before his 28th birthday, he went public and announced his decision not to deploy when the unit went to Iraq." Key point: "I don't believe that my son has committed any crime and that he should be serving any time,"
Also on Saturday, Ehren Watada spoke at the Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Bremerton. David Vognar (Kitsap Sun) reports that over 70 people turned out to hear Watada explain how. in June, he came to be the first US officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq -- Watada threw the responsibility back to the people noting, "It is the American people who have the power to end this war, but only if they have the will to do so."
Watada is part of a movement of resistance within the military that also includes Kyle Snyder, Agustin Aguayo, Ivan Brobeck, Darrell Anderson, Ricky Clousing, Aidan Delgado, Mark Wilkerson, Joshua Key, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Patrick Hart, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, Robin Long, Ryan Johnson, Chris Teske, Tim Richard and Kevin Benderman. In total, thirty-eight US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.
Saturday, Patricia Sullivan (Washington Post) reported on the January 15th death of Oliver V. Hirsh:
In 1968, Mr. Hirsch was a 22-year-old enlistee from Bethesda, stationed at Almaden Air Force Station in California, where he was a radar instructor and held the rank of sergeant. He joined eight other military men, representing the four branches of the services, who publicly refused to go to Vietnam and chained themselves to ministers at a chuch in Northern California. Their arrests for desertion were a media spectacle, with polic cutting their chains and removing them from a Communion service. The incident also served as one of the early indications that opposition to the war came not just from campuses but also from soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen who were serving in the ranks.
Hirsh was among the war resisters sharing their experiences in David Zeiger's Sir! No Sir! which is now available with bonus footage including Camilio Mejia, Cindy Sheehan and Jane Fonda discussing "the movement then and now." (Also note the DVD of the film is available free of charge to active duty and deployed soldiers.)
Yesterday was also a signifcant day for war resisters. Patrick Maloney (Canada's London Free Press) noted that Sunday was the thirty year anniversary of Jimmy Carter's pardoning of draft dodgers: "An estimated 50,000 came to Canada, of whom about half remain. Now, in a quiet echo of an earlier generation's anti-war sentiment, the War Resisters Support Campaign is noticing growing interest in Canada as a haven for U.S. soldiers destined for Iraq."
Today, Dan Balz and Jon Cohen (Washington Post) report on the latest Washington Post poll (Washington Post-ABC News) which finds "48 percent of Americans calling the war the single most important issue they want Bush and the Congress to deal with this year. No other issue rises out of the single digits. The poll also found that the public trust congressional Democrats over Bush to deal with the conflict by a margin of 60 percent to 33 percent." And symbolic measures won't build that trust for the Democratic Party, nor will doing nothing. Someone might also want to share those results with independent media -- it will no doubt be a surprise for a great many who ignored Iraq throughout 2006 -- as well as those who tried to sneak it into some fawning coverage of some politician.
RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
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"THIS JUST IN! BRAIN DEAD AND FOX 'NEWS'ERS WANTED!"
AS BULLY BOY PREPARES TO ADDRESS THE NATION TOMORROW IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, THE POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE IS NO MORE.
EVEN 1 WHITE HOUSE INSIDER CONFESSED TO BEING NERVOUS. HE ASKED THESE REPORTERS NOT TO USE HIS REAL NAME SO WE'LL CALL HIM "ANTHONY WINTER FLAKES."
ANTHONY WINTER FLAKES TOLD THESE REPORTERS, "THE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE IS GONE AND I'M LEFT WITH A POMPOUS A**HOLE. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO SELL THAT? DID YOU SEE THE WASHINGTON POST? 60% OF AMERICANS HAVE MORE FAITH IN THE DEMOCRATS ABILITY TO DEAL WITH THE ILLEGAL WAR AND ONLY 33% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE STILL HAVE FAITH IN BULLY BOY. I FIGURE IT HAS TO BE THE ONES WHO SIGNED UP FOR THE NEW MEDICARE PLAN, GOT CAUGHT IN THE 'DOUGHNUT,' AND ARE NOW OFF THEIR MEDS. GOD BLESS THEM! I CAN'T BELIEVE I LEFT MY CUSHY CABLE POST FOR THIS HELL HOLE."
AT THIS POINT, ANTHONY WINTER FLAKES HAD TO RUSH OFF BECAUSE THE BULLY BOY WAS BELLOWING, "WHERE ARE MY PIGS IN THE BLANKET! I'S HUNGRY! MY TUM-TUM'S GROWLING."
ROLLING HIS EYES, ANTHONY WINTER FLAKES HURRIED OFF TO ASSIST THE BULLY BOY WITH HIS AFTERNOON SNACK.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Starting with US war resister Ehren Watada, On February 5th, Watada faces a court-martial. "Judge" Head has 'ruled' that Ehren Watada cannot explain the reasons he reached his decision to deploy to Iraq, he cannot explain which orders he honored in his refusal to fight in an illegal war and he cannot really present his case. Saturday and Sunday, Citizens' Hearing on the Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq was held in Tacoma, Washington and there, in a hearing by, for and of the people, the arguments could be made and were.
Among those testifying were Ann Wright (retired from the State Department, retired US army colonel) who was asked about the duty of Ehren Watada
Ann Wright: Now that's kind of the heart of it all, isn't it? The conduct becoming an officer? The ability to think. The ability to take care of your troops, to keep them out of harm's way, to explore with your chain of command what's going on, why are you having to do certain things? Trusting in your chain of command that you're asking questions that your seniors are asking, are asking, are asking . . .
And I think what we we see in the case of Lt. Watada is that the entire chain of command has failed starting with the four-star generals that were the advisors to the Secretary of Defense and the president, with General Myers, the chief of staff, [. . .] who was such a weak chairman of the Joint Chiefs that he did not question it, he was a toady of the Bush administration.
We did have one four-star general who spoke out -- General Shinseki, chief of staff of the army -- who questioned. He actually didn't question the war, he questioned the number of troops -- how the war was going to be prosecuted. Our generals in the chain of command have not acted as they should have and it's just kind of gone all the way down. The questioning that really goes up and down in the military because there is a dynamic part of the military it's just not one monolythic group there's a lot of debate going on in the scenes and behind the scenes. [. . .]
For the Lt. to be the one that is carrying the load on questioning the war is a little unfair. There should have been people much higher up that were questioning, as they are now, the retired generals are questioning, but that's a little late. [. . .]
It's hard to question sometimes even though you know it's your responsibility and your obligation to do it. But we see here that we've got very few people in the military who are openly questioning but then you look at the polls in newspapers that are being taken of the service members in Iraq and, what is it, 75% of them say we shouldn't be there. So there is an underground movement of the military itself. They're not the ones that can stop wars from beginning but they're the ones that ultimately are the ground fodder for it and what they start saying, "It's not worth my life anymore" that's when these things will start slowing down. And then it's up to us as civilians be going to our Congress to demand that the Congress stop funding the war. If you want to support the troops bring them home, stop the funding of the war.
Amy Rolph (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) reports that David Krieger ("chairman of the tribunal") opened Saturday's proceedings by noting, "We believe that Lt. Watada's contentions about the illegality of the war deserve a full and fair hearing." The Associated Press reported over 400 people were present on Saturday alone. Also appearing was Ehren Watada. Hal Bernton (Seattle Times) reports that Watada declared "Judge" Head's decision to disallow a defense in the court-martial to be "a travesty of justice. That it is a violation of our most sacred due process, and indeed it is un-American." Rolph notes that US war resister Darrell Anderson was also among those offering testimony about what he witnessed in Iraq and the "training that dehumanizes Iraqis". Though arguments can't be made in the court-martial, they were made in in Tacoma. John Nichols (The Nation) blogs at The Notion that: "It appears that the prosecutors do not want to provide Watada with an open and fair forum in which to explain his arguments against the war." Of course, what the prosecution wants or doesn't only matters if the "Judge" rules and he did so when he released his decision on Tuesday of last week.
In a speech given at the Church Center for the UN on December 8th by Watada's mother, Carolyn Ho, (broadcast on WBAI's Law and Disorder today) she explained how her son began researching Iraq in June of 2005 (one year prior to his going public), the basic research to get to know the country he was going to be deployed to, and, as he studied and studied, he came across the shaping of intelligence, the Downing Street Memos exposing that intel was being fixed, the phoney WMDs claims . . . In January of 2006, she received a call from her son who explained that he had decided he wouldn't deploy to Iraq when the time came. On June 7, 2006, Carolyn Ho recounted, "the day before his 28th birthday, he went public and announced his decision not to deploy when the unit went to Iraq." Key point: "I don't believe that my son has committed any crime and that he should be serving any time,"
Also on Saturday, Ehren Watada spoke at the Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Bremerton. David Vognar (Kitsap Sun) reports that over 70 people turned out to hear Watada explain how. in June, he came to be the first US officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq -- Watada threw the responsibility back to the people noting, "It is the American people who have the power to end this war, but only if they have the will to do so."
Watada is part of a movement of resistance within the military that also includes Kyle Snyder, Agustin Aguayo, Ivan Brobeck, Darrell Anderson, Ricky Clousing, Aidan Delgado, Mark Wilkerson, Joshua Key, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Patrick Hart, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, Robin Long, Ryan Johnson, Chris Teske, Tim Richard and Kevin Benderman. In total, thirty-eight US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.
Saturday, Patricia Sullivan (Washington Post) reported on the January 15th death of Oliver V. Hirsh:
In 1968, Mr. Hirsch was a 22-year-old enlistee from Bethesda, stationed at Almaden Air Force Station in California, where he was a radar instructor and held the rank of sergeant. He joined eight other military men, representing the four branches of the services, who publicly refused to go to Vietnam and chained themselves to ministers at a chuch in Northern California. Their arrests for desertion were a media spectacle, with polic cutting their chains and removing them from a Communion service. The incident also served as one of the early indications that opposition to the war came not just from campuses but also from soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen who were serving in the ranks.
Hirsh was among the war resisters sharing their experiences in David Zeiger's Sir! No Sir! which is now available with bonus footage including Camilio Mejia, Cindy Sheehan and Jane Fonda discussing "the movement then and now." (Also note the DVD of the film is available free of charge to active duty and deployed soldiers.)
Yesterday was also a signifcant day for war resisters. Patrick Maloney (Canada's London Free Press) noted that Sunday was the thirty year anniversary of Jimmy Carter's pardoning of draft dodgers: "An estimated 50,000 came to Canada, of whom about half remain. Now, in a quiet echo of an earlier generation's anti-war sentiment, the War Resisters Support Campaign is noticing growing interest in Canada as a haven for U.S. soldiers destined for Iraq."
Today, Dan Balz and Jon Cohen (Washington Post) report on the latest Washington Post poll (Washington Post-ABC News) which finds "48 percent of Americans calling the war the single most important issue they want Bush and the Congress to deal with this year. No other issue rises out of the single digits. The poll also found that the public trust congressional Democrats over Bush to deal with the conflict by a margin of 60 percent to 33 percent." And symbolic measures won't build that trust for the Democratic Party, nor will doing nothing. Someone might also want to share those results with independent media -- it will no doubt be a surprise for a great many who ignored Iraq throughout 2006 -- as well as those who tried to sneak it into some fawning coverage of some politician.
RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"And the war drags on . . ."
'NYT: "U.S. Toll in Iraq Is 27 for Deadly Weekend" (Damien Cave)'
"Other Items"
'Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Bully Boy's Baby War Steps"'
"Ruth's Report"
"Cajun Chicken Wings"
"Thomas Friedman plays at being Chauncey Gardiner"'
"U.S. helicopter crash near Baghdad kills 13" (Borzou Daragahi, LA Times)'
'NYT: "Army Says Improper Orders By Colonel Led to Deaths" (Paul Von Zielbauer)'
"Watada and Anderson"
"Community note"
"Editorial: On the useless who know better"
"TV: The new Steve McQueen?"
"Roundtable"
"Phoning It In, Sailing Along"
"Mailbag"
"Another confession to the rape and murder of 14-ye..."
"The Nation Stats"
"Highlights"
"An uninformed jury pool"
"THIS JUST IN! BRAIN DEAD AND FOX 'NEWS'ERS WANTED!"
Saturday, January 20, 2007
An uninformed jury pool
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- DC.
SCOOTER LIBBY IS ON TRIAL FOR LYING ABOUT HIS PART IN THE OUTING OF C.I.A. AGENT VALERIE PLAME.
OR WILL BE IF THE TRIAL EVER STARTS.
THE PROBLEM?
FINDING IDIOTS.
A JURY OF ONE'S PEERS TRANSLATES IN THE SCOOTER CASE AS A JURY OF IDIOTS.
POTENTIAL JURORS KEEP GETTING DISMISSED ON THE BASIS THAT THEY HAVE STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT BULLY BOY OR HIS ILLEGAL WAR.
THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE BULK OF THE PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES. A RECENT LOS ANGELES TIMES & BLOOMBERG NEWS POLL FOUND THAT HALF OF THE PEOPLE POLLED "SAID THEY BELIEVED" THE BULLY BOY HAD "DELIBERATELY MISLED THE U.S. IN MAKING HIS CASE FOR INVADING IRAQ."
THAT HALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WOULD BE DISQUALIFIED FROM SERVING BECAUSE . . . THEY'VE STAYED INFORMED. FOR SCOOTER'S TRIAL, PROSPECTIVE JURORS NEED TO BE BRAIN DEAD OR VIEWERS OF FOX 'NEWS' WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME THING.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Starting with news of US war resister Ehren Watada who, in June 2006, became the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq. Watada faces a court-martial February 5th and the 'judge' has stripped him of the right to present a strong defense. Arguments that can't be made in a kangroo court can be made by in the real world at Citizens' Hearing on the Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq which starts tomorrow and concludes Sunday at the Evergreen State College Tacoma Campus (10:00 am to 4:00 pm each day). As Michael Gilbert (The News Tribune) reports "a lineup of speakers will make the case that the war and the ongoing occupation are illegal under international and U.S. law, and that an officer such as Watada has a duty to disobey orders to take part in it." Zoltan Grossman tells Gilbert that "the event will take the shape of a congressional hearing" and notes that those participating include the following: Denis Halliday, Ann Wright, Francis Boyle, Daniel Ellsberg, Darrell Anderson, Harvey Tharp and Nadia McCaffrey.
While some stay silent (The Nation) Peter Michaelson (BuzzFlash) steps up, "The world is upside down, and one brave first lieutenant tries to set it right. The U.S. war in Iraq is illegal and immoral, says 1st Lt. Ehren Watada. In thus choosing reality over fallacy, and refusing to deploy to Iraq with his Stryker brigade, the 28-year-old Honolulu native faces six years in the brig when his court-martial begins next month at Ft. Lewis near Seattle." Peter Michaelson and BuzzFlash stood up. FYI, BuzzFlash is offering Peace buttons and Howard Zinn's A Power Governments Cannot Suppress.
Also standing up, of course, in support of Watada is Iraq Veterans Against the War have set up Camp Resistance and Portland IMC has audio of Dennis Kyne and Darrell Anderson speaking about Camp Resistance. Anderson spoke of how they were camping outside Fort Lewis, "That bus is parked right there and it's not leaving until the trial is over, not till February." Anderson noted the positive reaction from soldiers at Fort Lewis, "They see the bus, they know who we area. After six days, we had soldiers honking, soldiers rolling by in their civilian clothes and screaming out the window. And I remember like, wow, I was just coming up here for Watada and Suzanne Swift and I didn't think the soldiers were going to . . . I never heard of soldiers power fisting anti-war guys. And that's when it hit me, that they're done. They're not going back for a third time. 'Cause that's where I'd be if I didn't go AWOL, I'd be at my third tour right now. Three years in Iraq, three years. Could you imagine Vietnam vets, could you imagine going back to Vietnam three times? Three years and you don't come back from that. You go to Iraq, but you don't come back."
As Ehren Watada's February 5th court-martial approaches, this week the US military announced their decision to charge Agustin Aguayo with desertion and missing movement which carry a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. Watada, Aguayo, and Anderson are part of a movement of resistance within the military that also includes Kyle Snyder, Agustin Aguayo, Ivan Brobeck, Darrell Anderson, Ricky Clousing, Aidan Delgado, Mark Wilkerson, Joshua Key, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Patrick Hart, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, Chris Teske and Kevin Benderman. In total, thirty-eight US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters.
From CODEPINK:
Bring the Peace Mandate to D.C. on J27! On Election Day voters delivered an unmistakable mandate for peace. Now it's time for action. Join CODEPINK in a national march to D.C. on January 27-29, to send a strong, clear message to Congress and the Bush Administration: The people of this country want the war and occupation in Iraq to end and we want the troops home now! See our latest actions, and click here for details.
RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"And the war drags on"
"NYT: If myths were true, Gordo would be blind by now or it would have fallen off"
"Other Items"
"NYT: Selling the war like it was their own mother"
"robert parry, sarah olson, etc"
"alberto's big day, etc."
"Alexander Cockburn"
"Help Wanted: The Nation's in need of direction"
"Stimson, Guantanamo"
"Diana's Dud"
"Blame Blogger/Blogspot"
"The literary set?"
"THIS JUST IN! THE PUZZLES OF S.M.U. AND ALBERTO"
SCOOTER LIBBY IS ON TRIAL FOR LYING ABOUT HIS PART IN THE OUTING OF C.I.A. AGENT VALERIE PLAME.
OR WILL BE IF THE TRIAL EVER STARTS.
THE PROBLEM?
FINDING IDIOTS.
A JURY OF ONE'S PEERS TRANSLATES IN THE SCOOTER CASE AS A JURY OF IDIOTS.
POTENTIAL JURORS KEEP GETTING DISMISSED ON THE BASIS THAT THEY HAVE STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT BULLY BOY OR HIS ILLEGAL WAR.
THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE BULK OF THE PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES. A RECENT LOS ANGELES TIMES & BLOOMBERG NEWS POLL FOUND THAT HALF OF THE PEOPLE POLLED "SAID THEY BELIEVED" THE BULLY BOY HAD "DELIBERATELY MISLED THE U.S. IN MAKING HIS CASE FOR INVADING IRAQ."
THAT HALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WOULD BE DISQUALIFIED FROM SERVING BECAUSE . . . THEY'VE STAYED INFORMED. FOR SCOOTER'S TRIAL, PROSPECTIVE JURORS NEED TO BE BRAIN DEAD OR VIEWERS OF FOX 'NEWS' WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME THING.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Starting with news of US war resister Ehren Watada who, in June 2006, became the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq. Watada faces a court-martial February 5th and the 'judge' has stripped him of the right to present a strong defense. Arguments that can't be made in a kangroo court can be made by in the real world at Citizens' Hearing on the Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq which starts tomorrow and concludes Sunday at the Evergreen State College Tacoma Campus (10:00 am to 4:00 pm each day). As Michael Gilbert (The News Tribune) reports "a lineup of speakers will make the case that the war and the ongoing occupation are illegal under international and U.S. law, and that an officer such as Watada has a duty to disobey orders to take part in it." Zoltan Grossman tells Gilbert that "the event will take the shape of a congressional hearing" and notes that those participating include the following: Denis Halliday, Ann Wright, Francis Boyle, Daniel Ellsberg, Darrell Anderson, Harvey Tharp and Nadia McCaffrey.
While some stay silent (The Nation) Peter Michaelson (BuzzFlash) steps up, "The world is upside down, and one brave first lieutenant tries to set it right. The U.S. war in Iraq is illegal and immoral, says 1st Lt. Ehren Watada. In thus choosing reality over fallacy, and refusing to deploy to Iraq with his Stryker brigade, the 28-year-old Honolulu native faces six years in the brig when his court-martial begins next month at Ft. Lewis near Seattle." Peter Michaelson and BuzzFlash stood up. FYI, BuzzFlash is offering Peace buttons and Howard Zinn's A Power Governments Cannot Suppress.
Also standing up, of course, in support of Watada is Iraq Veterans Against the War have set up Camp Resistance and Portland IMC has audio of Dennis Kyne and Darrell Anderson speaking about Camp Resistance. Anderson spoke of how they were camping outside Fort Lewis, "That bus is parked right there and it's not leaving until the trial is over, not till February." Anderson noted the positive reaction from soldiers at Fort Lewis, "They see the bus, they know who we area. After six days, we had soldiers honking, soldiers rolling by in their civilian clothes and screaming out the window. And I remember like, wow, I was just coming up here for Watada and Suzanne Swift and I didn't think the soldiers were going to . . . I never heard of soldiers power fisting anti-war guys. And that's when it hit me, that they're done. They're not going back for a third time. 'Cause that's where I'd be if I didn't go AWOL, I'd be at my third tour right now. Three years in Iraq, three years. Could you imagine Vietnam vets, could you imagine going back to Vietnam three times? Three years and you don't come back from that. You go to Iraq, but you don't come back."
As Ehren Watada's February 5th court-martial approaches, this week the US military announced their decision to charge Agustin Aguayo with desertion and missing movement which carry a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. Watada, Aguayo, and Anderson are part of a movement of resistance within the military that also includes Kyle Snyder, Agustin Aguayo, Ivan Brobeck, Darrell Anderson, Ricky Clousing, Aidan Delgado, Mark Wilkerson, Joshua Key, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Patrick Hart, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, Chris Teske and Kevin Benderman. In total, thirty-eight US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters.
From CODEPINK:
Bring the Peace Mandate to D.C. on J27! On Election Day voters delivered an unmistakable mandate for peace. Now it's time for action. Join CODEPINK in a national march to D.C. on January 27-29, to send a strong, clear message to Congress and the Bush Administration: The people of this country want the war and occupation in Iraq to end and we want the troops home now! See our latest actions, and click here for details.
RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"And the war drags on"
"NYT: If myths were true, Gordo would be blind by now or it would have fallen off"
"Other Items"
"NYT: Selling the war like it was their own mother"
"robert parry, sarah olson, etc"
"alberto's big day, etc."
"Alexander Cockburn"
"Help Wanted: The Nation's in need of direction"
"Stimson, Guantanamo"
"Diana's Dud"
"Blame Blogger/Blogspot"
"The literary set?"
"THIS JUST IN! THE PUZZLES OF S.M.U. AND ALBERTO"
Thursday, January 18, 2007
The literary set?
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- DC.
R. GERALD TURNER, PRESIDENT OF S.M.U., SAYS THAT WINNING THE BIDDING RIGHTS TO THE BULLY BOY'S "LIBRARY" (REPORTEDLY 2 CHILDRENS BOOKS, A TORN COPY OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED AND A CRUMPLED AND INCOMPLETE 'WHERE'S WALDO?' PUZZLE) "WILL INCREASE THE SCHOOL'S VISIBILITY NATIONWIDE."
WHETHER BECOMING THE MOCKERY OF THE UNITED STATES WILL TRANSLATE INTO AN INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT, HOWEVER, IS DEBATABLE.
REACHED MOMENTS BEFORE TESTIFYING TO THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND INTERNATIONAL BILLIE JEAN KING LOOKALIKE ALBERTO GONZALES STATED, "HE'S GIVING S.M.U. THE WALDO PUZZLE? MAN, HE PROMISED THAT TO ME!"
THE NEWS OBVIOUSLY HIT A.G. GONZALES HARD WHICH EXPLAINS WHY HE WAS SO PETULANT WHEN TESTIFYING BEFORE THE SENATORS. ALTHOUGH IN FAIRNESS TO GONZALES, WE SHOULD NOTE HE ALWAYS HAS THAT HIGH WHINE VOCAL AS THOUGH HE'S PLAYING THE BEST FRIEND OF THE TEENAGE BOY IN A FAMILY SITCOM.
SOUNDING LIKE FAMILY TIES' SKIPPY, THE SIMPSONS' MILHOUSE, AND GROWING PAINS' BONER COMBINED, ALBERTO WHINED TO THE SENATORS, "WE ALL CONCLUDED, THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN DO WHAT WE BELIEVE WE HAVE TO DO TO PROTECT THE COUNTRY UNDER THE STRICT READING OF FISA."
AS HE LEFT THE HEARING, HE APPROACHED US AND DECLARED, "I USED 'US' AND 'WE' A LOT. WHEN THE SENATE CATCHES ON HOW ILLEGAL THIS PROGRAM WAS, I AIN'T THE ONLY ONE GOING DOWN!"
TO CHEER HIM UP, THESE REPORTERS GAVE HIM A COPY OF CRICKETS.
"KE-E-E-E-WL!" GONZALES EXCLAIMED. "I LOVE THEIR PUZZLES!"
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Starting with war resister Ehren Watada who, in June of last year, became the first US officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq. As noted in yesterday's snapshot, the 'judge' of the pre-trial has issued a ruling on what is and isn't acceptable in the February 5th court-martial. As Courage to Resist notes "ALL POLITICAL SPEECH CHARGES GO TO TRIAL."
Teresa Watanabe (LA Times) reports that Watada has called for everyon to "stop the war so the death and sacrifices of American soldiers will not be in vain" and "I firmly stand by my belief that this war is illegal and immoral."
"Judge" Head issued his rulings on Tuesday and since Watada will not be allowed to present a defense, why even waste time and money on a court-martial? "Judge" Head has refused Watada's right to present a defense and, in his ruling, "Judge" Head is quite clear about "a preponderance of evidence" and is disallowing any evidence that could counter it so the kangaroo court-martial will go foward but the ruling is already pre-determined and contained in "Judge" Head's ruling. That's the only 'value' in the ruling (well, that and the revelation that, by his signature, John Head apparently thinks he's a young starlet).
The AP reports that "Army officials said in a statement that they had full confidence in the military justice system". Of course they're gloating -- JUDGE TOOL handed them a win before the first argument is made in the court-martial. Now if they had any self-respect, they'd realize that this isn't justice and that obviously there's no faith in their abilities to fairly prosecute Watada.
Earlier this month, Watada spoke with Lance Holter and Ave Diaz (Haleakala Times) and shared his expectations of the trial: "I certainly expect the army to make an example out of my stand and what I'm speaking against." He was correct. Holter and Diaz also note US war resister Pablo Parades who was allowed, in his court-martial, to argue his case. From Parades' statement at his court-martial (via Democracy Now!): "I am convinced that the current war in Iraq is illegal. I am also convinced that the true causality for it lacked any high ground in the topography of morality. I believe as a member of the Armed Forces, beyond having duty to my Chain of Command and my President, I have a higher duty to my conscience and to the surpreme law of the land. Both of these higher duties dictate that I must not participate in any way, hands-on or indirect, in the current aggression that has been unleased on Iraq. In the past few months I have been continually asked if I regret my decision to refuse to board my ship and to do so publicly. I have spent hour upon hour reflecting on my decision, and I can tell you with every fiber of certitude that I possess that I feel in my heart I did the right thing."
Ehren Watada will not be allowed to present a similar defense. What is the military afraid and what sort of 'judge' acts in such a cowardly craven manner?
Mike Barber (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) reports that what Watada will not be able to present in 'court' of 'judge' Head, he will be able to present "this weekend, a 'Citizens' Hearing on the Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq' will convene in Tacoma to address that issue in support of Watada." The hearing will take place at the Evergreen State College Tacoma Campus on January 20th and 21st from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm each day. Among the participants will be Antonia Juhasz, Ann Wright, Daniel Ellsberg, Enis Halliday (who was on yesterday's Flashpoints speaking with Dennis Bernstein about the deaths caused by sanctions against Iraq), Bejmain G. Davis, Richard Falk, Francis Boyle, Dennis Kyne, and US war resister Darrell Anderson. In addition, Karen Hucks (The News Tribune) reports that Daniel Ellsberg ("who started a national uproar in 1971 when he released the Penatagon Papers") will speak in Tacoma Friday "from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Washington State History Museeum, 1911 Pacific Ave. The University of Washington Tacoma is sponsoring the free event." In addition
Iraq Veterans Against the War have set up Camp Resistance on the edge of Fort Lewis to show their support for Watada.
Ehren Watada spoke in Seattle on Monday (MLK day) and Kay Suzat (PSL) reports: "A tremendous standing ovation greeted Watada and concluded his remarks. The crowd demonstrated its solidarity and support for his refusal to deploy to Iraq and be part of the imperilist occupation."
Watada is part of a movement of resistance within the military that also includes Kyle Snyder, Agustin Aguayo, Ivan Brobeck, Darrell Anderson, Ricky Clousing, Aidan Delgado, Mark Wilkerson, Joshua Key, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Patrick Hart, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, Chris Teske and Kevin Benderman. In total, thirty-eight US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.
Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters.
And, good news!, you can find information about a war resister at The Nation . . . provided he's a resister of the Vietnam war, a professional athlete and a household name. Dave Zirin
covers sports and he's always managed to cover the war (unlike The Nation). To read his column "Muhammad Ali: The Brand and the Man" use the link freely, it takes you to Yahoo and not to The Nation which still can't manage to show interest in war resisters.
Turning to the topic of 14-year-old Abeer Qasim Hamza who was gang raped and murdered on March 12, 2006 by what was spun as 'insurgents.' The reality is that it was by American soldiers who also murdered her five-year-old sisters and both of her parents. The soldiers watched the 14-year-old, making her uncomfortable with their inappropriate attention to the point that she complained to her parents who immediately began making arrangements to get their daughter the hell away from perverts supposedly stationed in their area to protect the Iraq people. Abeer was due to move but, before she could, Paul Cortez, James P. Barker, Jesse Spielman, Bryan Howard and Steven D. Green wanted to have a little 'fun' and, boozed up to the gills in a war zone, they decided the most 'fun' they could have would be in murdering a family after gang raping the 14-year-old daughter. So they changed into civies, approached the home via a hole in a fence they'd already created, and the 'fun' began -- adult males holding down a 14-year-old girl to take turns gang raping her while her parents and sister were shot dead and then, after the gang rape, murdering Abeer.
At the Article 32 hearing in August, Captain Alex Pickands declared: "They gathered over cards and booze to come up with a plan to rape and murder that little girl. She was young and attractive. They knew where she was because they had seen her on a previous patrol. She was close. She was vulnerable."
In November, James P. Barker confessed to his role in the planning of the war crimes and to his raping Abeer. He also named Steven D. Green as the one who shot and killed Abeer, her parents and her sister. He identified Green as taking part in the gang rape and also identified Paul Cortez as taking part in the gang rape. Green has denied any involvement and will be tried in a civilian court because the US military had discharged him before the crimes were uncovered. Last week, Ryan Lenz (AP) reported that Green had been diagnosed by the Army Combat Stress Team with "homicidal ideations" on December 21, 2005, three months prior to the rape and murders. Today, Ryan Lenz reports that William Cassara, attorney for Paul Cortez, has stated, "Sgt. Cortez is going to go in and accept the responsibilities for his part in what occurred" which would be WAR CRIMES and that "Our version of events is that he knew what was going to take place and participated as an observer." According to Barker's confession, Paul Cortez took part in the gang rape -- that's a bit more than 'observing.'
AFP is now reporting that Cortez "has pleaded guilty in the rape and murder" of Abeer
RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"Other Items"
"Watada"
"winter blahs"
"Joshua Frank, Medea Benjmain"
"Fire Charles Stimson"
"Diana Ross"
"Serving symbolism and trying to pass it off as the real thing"
"THIS JUST IN! IT'S A SYMBOLIC WORLD AFTER ALL!"
R. GERALD TURNER, PRESIDENT OF S.M.U., SAYS THAT WINNING THE BIDDING RIGHTS TO THE BULLY BOY'S "LIBRARY" (REPORTEDLY 2 CHILDRENS BOOKS, A TORN COPY OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED AND A CRUMPLED AND INCOMPLETE 'WHERE'S WALDO?' PUZZLE) "WILL INCREASE THE SCHOOL'S VISIBILITY NATIONWIDE."
WHETHER BECOMING THE MOCKERY OF THE UNITED STATES WILL TRANSLATE INTO AN INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT, HOWEVER, IS DEBATABLE.
REACHED MOMENTS BEFORE TESTIFYING TO THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND INTERNATIONAL BILLIE JEAN KING LOOKALIKE ALBERTO GONZALES STATED, "HE'S GIVING S.M.U. THE WALDO PUZZLE? MAN, HE PROMISED THAT TO ME!"
THE NEWS OBVIOUSLY HIT A.G. GONZALES HARD WHICH EXPLAINS WHY HE WAS SO PETULANT WHEN TESTIFYING BEFORE THE SENATORS. ALTHOUGH IN FAIRNESS TO GONZALES, WE SHOULD NOTE HE ALWAYS HAS THAT HIGH WHINE VOCAL AS THOUGH HE'S PLAYING THE BEST FRIEND OF THE TEENAGE BOY IN A FAMILY SITCOM.
SOUNDING LIKE FAMILY TIES' SKIPPY, THE SIMPSONS' MILHOUSE, AND GROWING PAINS' BONER COMBINED, ALBERTO WHINED TO THE SENATORS, "WE ALL CONCLUDED, THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN DO WHAT WE BELIEVE WE HAVE TO DO TO PROTECT THE COUNTRY UNDER THE STRICT READING OF FISA."
AS HE LEFT THE HEARING, HE APPROACHED US AND DECLARED, "I USED 'US' AND 'WE' A LOT. WHEN THE SENATE CATCHES ON HOW ILLEGAL THIS PROGRAM WAS, I AIN'T THE ONLY ONE GOING DOWN!"
TO CHEER HIM UP, THESE REPORTERS GAVE HIM A COPY OF CRICKETS.
"KE-E-E-E-WL!" GONZALES EXCLAIMED. "I LOVE THEIR PUZZLES!"
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Starting with war resister Ehren Watada who, in June of last year, became the first US officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq. As noted in yesterday's snapshot, the 'judge' of the pre-trial has issued a ruling on what is and isn't acceptable in the February 5th court-martial. As Courage to Resist notes "ALL POLITICAL SPEECH CHARGES GO TO TRIAL."
Teresa Watanabe (LA Times) reports that Watada has called for everyon to "stop the war so the death and sacrifices of American soldiers will not be in vain" and "I firmly stand by my belief that this war is illegal and immoral."
"Judge" Head issued his rulings on Tuesday and since Watada will not be allowed to present a defense, why even waste time and money on a court-martial? "Judge" Head has refused Watada's right to present a defense and, in his ruling, "Judge" Head is quite clear about "a preponderance of evidence" and is disallowing any evidence that could counter it so the kangaroo court-martial will go foward but the ruling is already pre-determined and contained in "Judge" Head's ruling. That's the only 'value' in the ruling (well, that and the revelation that, by his signature, John Head apparently thinks he's a young starlet).
The AP reports that "Army officials said in a statement that they had full confidence in the military justice system". Of course they're gloating -- JUDGE TOOL handed them a win before the first argument is made in the court-martial. Now if they had any self-respect, they'd realize that this isn't justice and that obviously there's no faith in their abilities to fairly prosecute Watada.
Earlier this month, Watada spoke with Lance Holter and Ave Diaz (Haleakala Times) and shared his expectations of the trial: "I certainly expect the army to make an example out of my stand and what I'm speaking against." He was correct. Holter and Diaz also note US war resister Pablo Parades who was allowed, in his court-martial, to argue his case. From Parades' statement at his court-martial (via Democracy Now!): "I am convinced that the current war in Iraq is illegal. I am also convinced that the true causality for it lacked any high ground in the topography of morality. I believe as a member of the Armed Forces, beyond having duty to my Chain of Command and my President, I have a higher duty to my conscience and to the surpreme law of the land. Both of these higher duties dictate that I must not participate in any way, hands-on or indirect, in the current aggression that has been unleased on Iraq. In the past few months I have been continually asked if I regret my decision to refuse to board my ship and to do so publicly. I have spent hour upon hour reflecting on my decision, and I can tell you with every fiber of certitude that I possess that I feel in my heart I did the right thing."
Ehren Watada will not be allowed to present a similar defense. What is the military afraid and what sort of 'judge' acts in such a cowardly craven manner?
Mike Barber (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) reports that what Watada will not be able to present in 'court' of 'judge' Head, he will be able to present "this weekend, a 'Citizens' Hearing on the Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq' will convene in Tacoma to address that issue in support of Watada." The hearing will take place at the Evergreen State College Tacoma Campus on January 20th and 21st from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm each day. Among the participants will be Antonia Juhasz, Ann Wright, Daniel Ellsberg, Enis Halliday (who was on yesterday's Flashpoints speaking with Dennis Bernstein about the deaths caused by sanctions against Iraq), Bejmain G. Davis, Richard Falk, Francis Boyle, Dennis Kyne, and US war resister Darrell Anderson. In addition, Karen Hucks (The News Tribune) reports that Daniel Ellsberg ("who started a national uproar in 1971 when he released the Penatagon Papers") will speak in Tacoma Friday "from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Washington State History Museeum, 1911 Pacific Ave. The University of Washington Tacoma is sponsoring the free event." In addition
Iraq Veterans Against the War have set up Camp Resistance on the edge of Fort Lewis to show their support for Watada.
Ehren Watada spoke in Seattle on Monday (MLK day) and Kay Suzat (PSL) reports: "A tremendous standing ovation greeted Watada and concluded his remarks. The crowd demonstrated its solidarity and support for his refusal to deploy to Iraq and be part of the imperilist occupation."
Watada is part of a movement of resistance within the military that also includes Kyle Snyder, Agustin Aguayo, Ivan Brobeck, Darrell Anderson, Ricky Clousing, Aidan Delgado, Mark Wilkerson, Joshua Key, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Patrick Hart, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, Chris Teske and Kevin Benderman. In total, thirty-eight US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.
Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters.
And, good news!, you can find information about a war resister at The Nation . . . provided he's a resister of the Vietnam war, a professional athlete and a household name. Dave Zirin
covers sports and he's always managed to cover the war (unlike The Nation). To read his column "Muhammad Ali: The Brand and the Man" use the link freely, it takes you to Yahoo and not to The Nation which still can't manage to show interest in war resisters.
Turning to the topic of 14-year-old Abeer Qasim Hamza who was gang raped and murdered on March 12, 2006 by what was spun as 'insurgents.' The reality is that it was by American soldiers who also murdered her five-year-old sisters and both of her parents. The soldiers watched the 14-year-old, making her uncomfortable with their inappropriate attention to the point that she complained to her parents who immediately began making arrangements to get their daughter the hell away from perverts supposedly stationed in their area to protect the Iraq people. Abeer was due to move but, before she could, Paul Cortez, James P. Barker, Jesse Spielman, Bryan Howard and Steven D. Green wanted to have a little 'fun' and, boozed up to the gills in a war zone, they decided the most 'fun' they could have would be in murdering a family after gang raping the 14-year-old daughter. So they changed into civies, approached the home via a hole in a fence they'd already created, and the 'fun' began -- adult males holding down a 14-year-old girl to take turns gang raping her while her parents and sister were shot dead and then, after the gang rape, murdering Abeer.
At the Article 32 hearing in August, Captain Alex Pickands declared: "They gathered over cards and booze to come up with a plan to rape and murder that little girl. She was young and attractive. They knew where she was because they had seen her on a previous patrol. She was close. She was vulnerable."
In November, James P. Barker confessed to his role in the planning of the war crimes and to his raping Abeer. He also named Steven D. Green as the one who shot and killed Abeer, her parents and her sister. He identified Green as taking part in the gang rape and also identified Paul Cortez as taking part in the gang rape. Green has denied any involvement and will be tried in a civilian court because the US military had discharged him before the crimes were uncovered. Last week, Ryan Lenz (AP) reported that Green had been diagnosed by the Army Combat Stress Team with "homicidal ideations" on December 21, 2005, three months prior to the rape and murders. Today, Ryan Lenz reports that William Cassara, attorney for Paul Cortez, has stated, "Sgt. Cortez is going to go in and accept the responsibilities for his part in what occurred" which would be WAR CRIMES and that "Our version of events is that he knew what was going to take place and participated as an observer." According to Barker's confession, Paul Cortez took part in the gang rape -- that's a bit more than 'observing.'
AFP is now reporting that Cortez "has pleaded guilty in the rape and murder" of Abeer
RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"Other Items"
"Watada"
"winter blahs"
"Joshua Frank, Medea Benjmain"
"Fire Charles Stimson"
"Diana Ross"
"Serving symbolism and trying to pass it off as the real thing"
"THIS JUST IN! IT'S A SYMBOLIC WORLD AFTER ALL!"
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Serving symbolism and trying to pass it off as the real thing
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- DC.
SYMBOLISM, COME AND GET YOUR SYMBOLISM!
YOU CAN SHOW SUPPORT FOR WAR RESISTERS IF YOU'VE GOT A SPINE OR YOU CAN GUSH AND GIGGLE, COO AND SIGH OVER 1,000 SERVICE MEMBERS WHO THINK THE ILLEGAL WAR IS SO WRONG BY GUM AND GOLLY, THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING! THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THEIR NAMES (PRIVATELY) TO A SYMBOLIC PETITION THAT CARRIES NO WEIGHT. THAT'LL STOP THE WAR! EHREN WATADA IS STANDING UP. NOTHING TO BE INFERRED THERE, HE'S STANDING, BRAVE AND TALL.
MAYBE YOU PREFER YOUR SYMBOLISM SERVED UP HISTORICALLY? BARACK OBAMA HAS NO PLATFORM TO RUN ON AND SINCE HE BRAGS THAT HE'S THE MOST SURPRISED OF ALL BY HIS DECISION TO RUN FOR U.S. PRESIDENT, HE'S OBVIOUSLY NOT BEEN GIVING IT MUCH THOUGHT. BUT HE'LL BE PUBLICLY ANNOUNCING ON FEBRUARY 10TH IN . . . SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS! WHO CARES WHAT HE SAYS, OLD ABE LINCOLN IS FROM THERE! SYMBOLISM -- IN PLACE OF PLANS, PASSION AND DRIVE!
AND IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE, DEMOCRATS AND SOME REPUBLICANS CAN'T STOP STROKING THEMSELVES OVER THE RESOLUTION THEY'RE HOPING TO SEE PASSED -- A RESOLUTION OPPOSING BULLY BOY'S ESCALATION (ADDING 21,500 TROOPS IN IRAQ) -- A NON-BINDING RESOLUTION! IF YOU LIKE YOUR POLITICS TOOTHLESS AND SYMBOLIC, JO-JO BIDEN'S SERVING IT UP BY THE HANDFULS!
NO WONDER THE UNITED STATES CURRENTLY HAS MORE OF A SYMBOLIC DEMOCRACY THAN AN ACTUAL ONE. CALL THAT "A SYMBOLIC VICTORY," JUST DON'T CONFUSE IT WITH REALITY.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Starting with the latest news of Ehren Watada who, in June of last year, became the first officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq. A strong stand that took tremendous courage (even his parents, Bob Watada and Carolyn Ho, have spoken of how they attempted to talk him out of it because of the scorn, silence and hostility he'd be greeted with). He faces a court-martial on February 5th and Lt. Col. John Head -- the so-called judge -- has issued a decision based on arguments presented in the pre-trial hearing earlier this month. As Amy Goodman (Democracy Now!) summarized it today: "The judge in the case has ruled Watada's defense won't be able to present evidence challenging the legality of the war nor explain Watada's motive to resist deploying to Iraq." Hal Bernton (Seattle Times) notes it is "a major blow to the court-martial defense," which is putting it mildly, and quotes Watada's attorney Eric Seitz who declares, "We have been stripped of every defense. This is a disciplinary system, not a justice system. Otherwise, we would have been entitled to defend ourselves."
Which they are not. Ehren Watada was just stripped of any defense. As noted on January 4th when the prosecution presented their pre-trial arguments: "What the military would like to do in today's pre-trial hearing is reduce everything to whether or not Watada deployed with his unit? The answer, of course, is that he did not. The military does not want the issue of the legality of the war addressed. By closing off this discussion, they not only would destroy Watada's right to defend himself, they would be able, as the Bully Boy long has been able to, set the terms of the discussion and control what is and is not discussed."
Political Affairs offers a survey of the travesty and notes that Head's ruling reads: "The defense motion for a hearin gon the 'Nuremberg defense' is DENIED. The government motion to prevent the defense from presenting evidence on the legality of the war is GRANTED." Of the political prosecution (let's be honest, Watada's being politically prosecuted), Political Affairs notes that, in the pre-trial hearing, "Kueker replied that there are two separate prosecutions going on. The first is for Lt. Watada missing movement to Iraq -- a prosecution where his MOTIVE is so irrelevant that it needs to be barred from the military jury. The second prosecution will be for Lt. Watada publicly explaining his MOTIVE! Apparently this Orwellian formulation passes for military justice."
Apparently and sadly it does. It's complete nonsense. It's doesn't remotely resemble justice. It's a political prosecution of Ehren Watada where he is silenced to the point of being gagged. (Shades of the Chicago Eight.) He can be charged with crimes that, if convicted, carry six years of prison time, the prosecution can do whatever they want in the court-martial, but Ehren Watada cannot make the best defense he is entitled to. Not only can his attorney not put forth the best defense, the reasons for the actions he is now being persecuted for, those reasons cannot be discussed by the defense.
The prosectution can discuss it. They'll be discussing what Ehren Watada said here or there and why it is supposedly so objectionable but Ehren Watada will not be allowed to explain why he acted as he did, why he said what he did.
That's not justice. It's railroading him. It's denying him the right to offer any response to a government case against him. But the Coward's Silence will continue to cause many in independent media to ignore Ehren Watada. Follow that closley and note who stays silent. Those that stay silent are useless. They'd stay silent if you needed them as well.
Ehren Watada has been prevented from arguing any kind of defense. His court-martial now consists of nothing more than "yes" and "no" answers from him. That's not a defense. He took a stand. He's shown bravery. There is no hemming or hawwing, there is only standing up on his part. And for doing that, for saying no to an illegal war, he faces six years in prison -- all the more likely when he's not allowed to make his case.
To repeat, during the Article 32 hearing, Watada's defense called three witnesses, Francis A. Boyle of the University of Illinois' College of Law, Champagne; Denis Halliday, the former Assistant Secretary General of the UN; and retired Colonel Ann Wright. These three witnesses addressed the issue of the war, it's legality, and the responsibilities of a service member to disobey any order that they believed was unlawful. The testimony was necessary because Watada's refusing to participate in the illegal war due to the fact that he feels it is (a) illegal and (b) immoral. That will not happen now, 'judge' Head has denied that, has denied Watada the right to argue any sort of defense.
While the military attempts to throw the book at him (and asks that he stand still and repeat, "Thank you, sir. May I have another?") and independent media plays dumb (with few exceptions) the people react differently. On Saturday, Ehren Watada spoke at the Coupeville Recreation Center in Washington. Paul Boring (Whidbey News-Times) reports that over a 100 people showed up to hear him and burst into applause at various intervals. Watada asked: "Do we wanta a military that without hesistation, will turn on people simply because they ordered to do so? . . . What I have embarked upon and what I sacrifice today is for those who have lost their lives and for those still struggling to stay alive. . . . I do have the power to make you aware of why soldiers are dying and why this war is unjust. I do have the power to compel you to care. It is the American people who have the power to end this war. . . . They can try me, convict me or acquit me. My life does not matter. The lives of thousands of soldiers do . . . it is one thing to end a war. It is another to ensure it never happens again. We have the power to change history."
We do have that power. But only if we use it. Mark Taylor-Canfield reported for Free Speech Radio News and The KPFA Evening News yesterday on a speech Ehren Watada
gave as part of Seattle's MLK celebration where, no surprise, he received a standing ovation. The people are hearing him (which no doubts scares the military to death). Taylor-Canfield also noted Camp Resistance had set up "just outside the gates of Fort Lewis where Watada's hearing is being held." So that's two independent media outlets that have noted Camp Resistance -- will anyone be next? In a show of support for Ehren Watada, Iraq Veterans Against the War started Camp Resistance and intend to maintain it through the court-martial. They need money, volunteers and press attention.
Yesterday, we noted that Agustin Aguayo has received not the expected charge of being AWOL but the charge of "desertion." With Aguayo the US military is attempting to send a message both due to Aguayo's standing up and saying "no" and due to the fact that (as Mike pointed out last night) Aguayo didn't just sue the US military, he's made it up all the way up to the DC Court of Appeals. With Ehren Watada the US military is also attempting to send a message, to initmidate and frighten others from following in Watada or Aguayo's footsteps. Guess what? It's too late. It's already happening. (About the only one scared at this point is a healthy chunk of independent media.) Watada and Aguayo are part of a movement of resistance within the military that also includes Kyle Snyder, Ivan Brobeck, Darrell Anderson, Ricky Clousing, Aidan Delgado, Mark Wilkerson, Joshua Key, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Patrick Hart, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, Chris Teske and Kevin Benderman. In total, thirty-eight US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.
Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters.
Today on KPFA's The Morning Show, US Congress member Barbara Lee discussed the Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act. Which is? Legislation proposed by Lee and fellow Congress members Lynn Woolsey and Maxine Waters calling for the start of troop withdrawal and the start of "work with the regional countries in the Middle East to come up with a multilateral solution," Lee explained. Repeatedly, Representative Barbara Lee noted that the presence of US troops was fueling the violence. In addition, she noted that the violence "is only going to escalate as long as US troops are there," that "there is no 'win'" and that Bully Boy mentions mistakes but "whether than talk about to rectify it, he's talking about escalating the war." Andrea Lewis asked what everyone could do to support Lee, Waters and Woolsey's proposal and Lee responded that "the bill needs co-sponsors, the more co-sponsors you build, the more chance the bill will get a fair hearing" so start contacting your Congressional reps (especially the House because this is a House proposal) -- get on the phone, on the fax, on your feet, into your e-mail account . . . and tell them you want to see some support for Waters, Woolsey and Lee's bill -- Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act.
Also appearing on The Morning Show was Matthew Rothschild (The Progressive) stated, "I hope she gets a whole lot more signers on that" and that "This is what we need. This is what we must from our leadership, we must have courageous leadership." He then discussed how when the talk of escalation was first being floated, US Senator Harry Reid (Majority Leader) was all ready to go along publicly but public outrage changed that. "The Democratic Leadership, if left to their own devices will go along with Bush on that". Rothschild stated he is for all avenues ("Bascially, I'm for everything") including phone calls and e-mails (which he believes are counted -- they are, a tally is kept by your rep) but it's time to get "past the passive protests." He shared how he was speaking with an activist about the events to note the 3,000 mark for number of US troops killed in Bully Boy's illegal war. The activist stated, "We got to do more than candle light vigils 'cause they're fine with candle light vigils" and that until the actions turn to massive civil disobedience ("until we start interrupting Wall St.," his friend told him) "this war's going to go on" -- instead "the volume needs to go up, needs to increase and just passive resistance to this war" will not change anything.
Recommended: "Iraq snapshot"
"Judge rules Ehren Watada cannot present a defense in court-martial"
"Other Items"
"gore vidal, robert parry"
"Agustin Aguayo, Ehren Watada, real heroes"
"Comics -- Celibacy in the City"
"Oil, colds, etc"
"Kicks and tricks should be gotten off camera (humor)"
"THIS JUST IN! WHEN THE WHIP COMES DOWN!"
"Bring Back Black Radio News -- The People's Network"
SYMBOLISM, COME AND GET YOUR SYMBOLISM!
YOU CAN SHOW SUPPORT FOR WAR RESISTERS IF YOU'VE GOT A SPINE OR YOU CAN GUSH AND GIGGLE, COO AND SIGH OVER 1,000 SERVICE MEMBERS WHO THINK THE ILLEGAL WAR IS SO WRONG BY GUM AND GOLLY, THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING! THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THEIR NAMES (PRIVATELY) TO A SYMBOLIC PETITION THAT CARRIES NO WEIGHT. THAT'LL STOP THE WAR! EHREN WATADA IS STANDING UP. NOTHING TO BE INFERRED THERE, HE'S STANDING, BRAVE AND TALL.
MAYBE YOU PREFER YOUR SYMBOLISM SERVED UP HISTORICALLY? BARACK OBAMA HAS NO PLATFORM TO RUN ON AND SINCE HE BRAGS THAT HE'S THE MOST SURPRISED OF ALL BY HIS DECISION TO RUN FOR U.S. PRESIDENT, HE'S OBVIOUSLY NOT BEEN GIVING IT MUCH THOUGHT. BUT HE'LL BE PUBLICLY ANNOUNCING ON FEBRUARY 10TH IN . . . SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS! WHO CARES WHAT HE SAYS, OLD ABE LINCOLN IS FROM THERE! SYMBOLISM -- IN PLACE OF PLANS, PASSION AND DRIVE!
AND IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE, DEMOCRATS AND SOME REPUBLICANS CAN'T STOP STROKING THEMSELVES OVER THE RESOLUTION THEY'RE HOPING TO SEE PASSED -- A RESOLUTION OPPOSING BULLY BOY'S ESCALATION (ADDING 21,500 TROOPS IN IRAQ) -- A NON-BINDING RESOLUTION! IF YOU LIKE YOUR POLITICS TOOTHLESS AND SYMBOLIC, JO-JO BIDEN'S SERVING IT UP BY THE HANDFULS!
NO WONDER THE UNITED STATES CURRENTLY HAS MORE OF A SYMBOLIC DEMOCRACY THAN AN ACTUAL ONE. CALL THAT "A SYMBOLIC VICTORY," JUST DON'T CONFUSE IT WITH REALITY.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Starting with the latest news of Ehren Watada who, in June of last year, became the first officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq. A strong stand that took tremendous courage (even his parents, Bob Watada and Carolyn Ho, have spoken of how they attempted to talk him out of it because of the scorn, silence and hostility he'd be greeted with). He faces a court-martial on February 5th and Lt. Col. John Head -- the so-called judge -- has issued a decision based on arguments presented in the pre-trial hearing earlier this month. As Amy Goodman (Democracy Now!) summarized it today: "The judge in the case has ruled Watada's defense won't be able to present evidence challenging the legality of the war nor explain Watada's motive to resist deploying to Iraq." Hal Bernton (Seattle Times) notes it is "a major blow to the court-martial defense," which is putting it mildly, and quotes Watada's attorney Eric Seitz who declares, "We have been stripped of every defense. This is a disciplinary system, not a justice system. Otherwise, we would have been entitled to defend ourselves."
Which they are not. Ehren Watada was just stripped of any defense. As noted on January 4th when the prosecution presented their pre-trial arguments: "What the military would like to do in today's pre-trial hearing is reduce everything to whether or not Watada deployed with his unit? The answer, of course, is that he did not. The military does not want the issue of the legality of the war addressed. By closing off this discussion, they not only would destroy Watada's right to defend himself, they would be able, as the Bully Boy long has been able to, set the terms of the discussion and control what is and is not discussed."
Political Affairs offers a survey of the travesty and notes that Head's ruling reads: "The defense motion for a hearin gon the 'Nuremberg defense' is DENIED. The government motion to prevent the defense from presenting evidence on the legality of the war is GRANTED." Of the political prosecution (let's be honest, Watada's being politically prosecuted), Political Affairs notes that, in the pre-trial hearing, "Kueker replied that there are two separate prosecutions going on. The first is for Lt. Watada missing movement to Iraq -- a prosecution where his MOTIVE is so irrelevant that it needs to be barred from the military jury. The second prosecution will be for Lt. Watada publicly explaining his MOTIVE! Apparently this Orwellian formulation passes for military justice."
Apparently and sadly it does. It's complete nonsense. It's doesn't remotely resemble justice. It's a political prosecution of Ehren Watada where he is silenced to the point of being gagged. (Shades of the Chicago Eight.) He can be charged with crimes that, if convicted, carry six years of prison time, the prosecution can do whatever they want in the court-martial, but Ehren Watada cannot make the best defense he is entitled to. Not only can his attorney not put forth the best defense, the reasons for the actions he is now being persecuted for, those reasons cannot be discussed by the defense.
The prosectution can discuss it. They'll be discussing what Ehren Watada said here or there and why it is supposedly so objectionable but Ehren Watada will not be allowed to explain why he acted as he did, why he said what he did.
That's not justice. It's railroading him. It's denying him the right to offer any response to a government case against him. But the Coward's Silence will continue to cause many in independent media to ignore Ehren Watada. Follow that closley and note who stays silent. Those that stay silent are useless. They'd stay silent if you needed them as well.
Ehren Watada has been prevented from arguing any kind of defense. His court-martial now consists of nothing more than "yes" and "no" answers from him. That's not a defense. He took a stand. He's shown bravery. There is no hemming or hawwing, there is only standing up on his part. And for doing that, for saying no to an illegal war, he faces six years in prison -- all the more likely when he's not allowed to make his case.
To repeat, during the Article 32 hearing, Watada's defense called three witnesses, Francis A. Boyle of the University of Illinois' College of Law, Champagne; Denis Halliday, the former Assistant Secretary General of the UN; and retired Colonel Ann Wright. These three witnesses addressed the issue of the war, it's legality, and the responsibilities of a service member to disobey any order that they believed was unlawful. The testimony was necessary because Watada's refusing to participate in the illegal war due to the fact that he feels it is (a) illegal and (b) immoral. That will not happen now, 'judge' Head has denied that, has denied Watada the right to argue any sort of defense.
While the military attempts to throw the book at him (and asks that he stand still and repeat, "Thank you, sir. May I have another?") and independent media plays dumb (with few exceptions) the people react differently. On Saturday, Ehren Watada spoke at the Coupeville Recreation Center in Washington. Paul Boring (Whidbey News-Times) reports that over a 100 people showed up to hear him and burst into applause at various intervals. Watada asked: "Do we wanta a military that without hesistation, will turn on people simply because they ordered to do so? . . . What I have embarked upon and what I sacrifice today is for those who have lost their lives and for those still struggling to stay alive. . . . I do have the power to make you aware of why soldiers are dying and why this war is unjust. I do have the power to compel you to care. It is the American people who have the power to end this war. . . . They can try me, convict me or acquit me. My life does not matter. The lives of thousands of soldiers do . . . it is one thing to end a war. It is another to ensure it never happens again. We have the power to change history."
We do have that power. But only if we use it. Mark Taylor-Canfield reported for Free Speech Radio News and The KPFA Evening News yesterday on a speech Ehren Watada
gave as part of Seattle's MLK celebration where, no surprise, he received a standing ovation. The people are hearing him (which no doubts scares the military to death). Taylor-Canfield also noted Camp Resistance had set up "just outside the gates of Fort Lewis where Watada's hearing is being held." So that's two independent media outlets that have noted Camp Resistance -- will anyone be next? In a show of support for Ehren Watada, Iraq Veterans Against the War started Camp Resistance and intend to maintain it through the court-martial. They need money, volunteers and press attention.
Yesterday, we noted that Agustin Aguayo has received not the expected charge of being AWOL but the charge of "desertion." With Aguayo the US military is attempting to send a message both due to Aguayo's standing up and saying "no" and due to the fact that (as Mike pointed out last night) Aguayo didn't just sue the US military, he's made it up all the way up to the DC Court of Appeals. With Ehren Watada the US military is also attempting to send a message, to initmidate and frighten others from following in Watada or Aguayo's footsteps. Guess what? It's too late. It's already happening. (About the only one scared at this point is a healthy chunk of independent media.) Watada and Aguayo are part of a movement of resistance within the military that also includes Kyle Snyder, Ivan Brobeck, Darrell Anderson, Ricky Clousing, Aidan Delgado, Mark Wilkerson, Joshua Key, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Patrick Hart, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, Chris Teske and Kevin Benderman. In total, thirty-eight US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.
Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters.
Today on KPFA's The Morning Show, US Congress member Barbara Lee discussed the Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act. Which is? Legislation proposed by Lee and fellow Congress members Lynn Woolsey and Maxine Waters calling for the start of troop withdrawal and the start of "work with the regional countries in the Middle East to come up with a multilateral solution," Lee explained. Repeatedly, Representative Barbara Lee noted that the presence of US troops was fueling the violence. In addition, she noted that the violence "is only going to escalate as long as US troops are there," that "there is no 'win'" and that Bully Boy mentions mistakes but "whether than talk about to rectify it, he's talking about escalating the war." Andrea Lewis asked what everyone could do to support Lee, Waters and Woolsey's proposal and Lee responded that "the bill needs co-sponsors, the more co-sponsors you build, the more chance the bill will get a fair hearing" so start contacting your Congressional reps (especially the House because this is a House proposal) -- get on the phone, on the fax, on your feet, into your e-mail account . . . and tell them you want to see some support for Waters, Woolsey and Lee's bill -- Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act.
Also appearing on The Morning Show was Matthew Rothschild (The Progressive) stated, "I hope she gets a whole lot more signers on that" and that "This is what we need. This is what we must from our leadership, we must have courageous leadership." He then discussed how when the talk of escalation was first being floated, US Senator Harry Reid (Majority Leader) was all ready to go along publicly but public outrage changed that. "The Democratic Leadership, if left to their own devices will go along with Bush on that". Rothschild stated he is for all avenues ("Bascially, I'm for everything") including phone calls and e-mails (which he believes are counted -- they are, a tally is kept by your rep) but it's time to get "past the passive protests." He shared how he was speaking with an activist about the events to note the 3,000 mark for number of US troops killed in Bully Boy's illegal war. The activist stated, "We got to do more than candle light vigils 'cause they're fine with candle light vigils" and that until the actions turn to massive civil disobedience ("until we start interrupting Wall St.," his friend told him) "this war's going to go on" -- instead "the volume needs to go up, needs to increase and just passive resistance to this war" will not change anything.
Recommended: "Iraq snapshot"
"Judge rules Ehren Watada cannot present a defense in court-martial"
"Other Items"
"gore vidal, robert parry"
"Agustin Aguayo, Ehren Watada, real heroes"
"Comics -- Celibacy in the City"
"Oil, colds, etc"
"Kicks and tricks should be gotten off camera (humor)"
"THIS JUST IN! WHEN THE WHIP COMES DOWN!"
"Bring Back Black Radio News -- The People's Network"
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Kicks and tricks should be gotten off camera (humor)
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- DC.
ON CBS' 60 MINUTES SUNDAY NIGHT, AN EXCHANGE WAS AIRED BETWEEN 'REPORTER' SCOTT PELLEY AND THE BULLY BOY OF THE UNITED STATES THAT WAS JAW DROPPINGLY BAD.
DECLARED THE BULLY BOY AT ONE POINT, "LET ME CORRECT SOMETHING ON THIS CONNECTION BETWEEN SADDAM HUSSEIN AND 9-11. THAT WAS NEVER THE CASE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION. YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS SAID WE NEVER HAD EVIDENCE THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN ORDERED THE ATTACKS ON 9/11. AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHO CONTINUES TO SAY THAT."
PELLEY OFFERED INITIALLY THE RESPONSE THAT DICK CHENEY HAD "SUGGESTED THERE WAS A CONNECTION" BETWEEN SADDAM HUSSEIN AND 9-11 -- A VERY WEAK RESPONSE BUT SOON BULLY BOY IS ALLOWED TO DIRECT THE INTERVIEW AND PELLEY IS REDUCED TO RESPONDING, "YES, SIR."
ON 60 MINUTES, LESLEY STAHL INTERVIEWED RICHARD CLARKE IN MARCH OF 2004 AND HE TOLD HER THAT WHEN BULLY BOY FINALLY MADE IT TO D.C. ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, THE ADMINISTRATION WAS TRYING TO CONNECT IRAQ AND 9-11 AND THAT THIS CONTINUED EVEN AFTER THE C.I.A. AND F.B.I. REPEATEDLY TOLD THE BULLY BOY THERE WAS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO.
WHERE WAS THE CONNECTION? IN THE ADMINISTRATION'S TALKING POINTS.
AS LINDA FELDMAN OBSERVED IN MARCH 2003, "IN HIS PRIME-TIME PRESS CONFERNCE LAST WEEK, WHICH FOCUSED SOLELY ON IRAQ, PRESIDENT BUSH MENTIONED SEPT. 11 EIGHT TIMES. HE REFERRED TO SADDAM HUSSEIN MANY MORE TIMES THAN THAT, OFTEN IN THE SAME BREATH WITH SEPT. 11. BUSH NEVER PINNED THE BLAME FOR THE ATTACKS DIRECTLY ON THE IRAQI PRESIDENT. STILL, THE OVER ALL EFFECT WAS TO REINFORCE AND IMPRESSION THAT PERSISTS AMONG MUCH OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC: THAT THE IRAQI DICTATOR DID PLAY A DIRECT ROLE IN THE ATTACKS."
ATTEMPTS BY THESE REPORTERS TO REACH SCOTT PELLEY ABOUT HIS TUCKING HIS TAIL BETWEEN HIS LEGS WITH A MEEK "YES, SIR" WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE HEAD OF CBS NEWS EXPLAINED TO US THAT, ON TUESDAYS, "PELLEY LIKES TO WORK A 1/2 DAY AND THEN BLOW OFF SOME STEAM BY HEADING OVER TO MISTRESS MARSHA'S HOUSE OF PUNISHMENT."
'>FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Starting with war resistance within the military, US war resister Agustin Aguayo, a medic with the US army, gave his reasons for refusing to redeploy to Iraq for a second tour in a statement to the US Court of Appeals in DC which was preparing to hear his appeal to be designated a conscientious objector:
With or without non-combatant status I will not deploy to Iraq. I have been to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom II, and I know what to expect. I know what will be expected of me. And because of this first-hand knowledge, I simply cannot take part in this deployment. Some people might think that a fear of death is the reason for refusing to deploy. But that is incorrect. I have to be true to myself and do what is right. Even though I deployed as a non-combatant in 2004-05 I still carry guilt from my participation. While there as a non-combatant, I was still required to do guard-duty, although I chose to carry only an unloaded gun. While there as a non-combatant, I was still required to patch-up, treat, and help countless soldiers for "sick-call" in order to facilitate their prompt return to combatant duties. While there as a non-combatant, I was asked to drive soldiers around on patrols, patrols which could have been deadly to Americans and Iraqis alike. I regret involvement in those activities, because ultimately I was contributing to the war mission and enabling others to do what I oppose. By doing guard duty, appearing to be armed, even without bullets, I gave the false impression that I would kill if need be. I am not willing to live a lie to satisfy any deployment operation. By helping countless soldiers for "sick-call" as well as driving soldiers around on patrols I helped them get physically better and be able to go out and do the very thing I am against -- kill. This is something my conscience will not allow me to do. Although I myself did not pull the trigger, I now realize that what I did as a non-combatant nonetheless supported and enabled these missions. I cannot carry that burden on my conscience. When you know better you do better.
Aguayo self-checked out of the US military on September 2nd and turned himself at Fort Irwin on September 26. Aguayo has argued that his Last Friday, Kevin Dougherty (Stars & Stripes) reported that the US military has charged Aguayo with desertion and missing movement and that conviction on both charges "could receive a maximum prison term of seven years". The charge of desertion is interesting in that (a) Aguayo turned himself in, (b) he was gone less than 30 days, and (c) the US Court of Appeals was set to hear his case. Also of interest is that, though no date's been set for the trial/court-martial, the military's decided to announce charges when his claim for c.o. status still awaits a ruling from the US Court of Appeals.
Turning to other war resistance news, Iraq Veterans Against the War started Camp Resistance to show their support for Ehren Watada who faces a court-martial February 5, 2007. damon reports that they intend to stay "outside the gates of Fort Lewis and on the streets across the nation" in order "to make an impression large enough to influence the outcome of the trial". What do they need? They need:
financial support for getting IVAW members here at Fort Lewis, particularly on the day of the trial. Also, we envision Camp Resistance FOBs (Forward Operating Base) starting all over the country; in front of recruiter's offices, military bases, etcetera. When we got kicked out of our campsite, we came to the realization that Camp Resistance is not a physical place, but a place within our hearts and minds. If your heart is filled with resistance to this illegal war and Love for LT, you can start a daily vigil in your local area or join us here at Fort Lewis.
They also need attention -- make sure your friends know and start demanding that media, big and small (also known as Useless & Useless) cover Camp Resistance.
Agustin Aguayo and Ehren Watada are part of a movement of resistance within the military that also includes Kyle Snyder, Ivan Brobeck, Darrell Anderson, Ricky Clousing, Aidan Delgado, Mark Wilkerson, Joshua Key, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Patrick Hart, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, Chris Teske and Kevin Benderman. In total, thirty-eight US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.
Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters.
RECOMMENDED: "'>Iraq snapshot"
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"Violence in Iraq doesn't stop just because NYT fails to report it"
"Media Reform"
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"NYT: Baghdad Bureau gets benched"
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ON CBS' 60 MINUTES SUNDAY NIGHT, AN EXCHANGE WAS AIRED BETWEEN 'REPORTER' SCOTT PELLEY AND THE BULLY BOY OF THE UNITED STATES THAT WAS JAW DROPPINGLY BAD.
DECLARED THE BULLY BOY AT ONE POINT, "LET ME CORRECT SOMETHING ON THIS CONNECTION BETWEEN SADDAM HUSSEIN AND 9-11. THAT WAS NEVER THE CASE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION. YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS SAID WE NEVER HAD EVIDENCE THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN ORDERED THE ATTACKS ON 9/11. AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHO CONTINUES TO SAY THAT."
PELLEY OFFERED INITIALLY THE RESPONSE THAT DICK CHENEY HAD "SUGGESTED THERE WAS A CONNECTION" BETWEEN SADDAM HUSSEIN AND 9-11 -- A VERY WEAK RESPONSE BUT SOON BULLY BOY IS ALLOWED TO DIRECT THE INTERVIEW AND PELLEY IS REDUCED TO RESPONDING, "YES, SIR."
ON 60 MINUTES, LESLEY STAHL INTERVIEWED RICHARD CLARKE IN MARCH OF 2004 AND HE TOLD HER THAT WHEN BULLY BOY FINALLY MADE IT TO D.C. ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, THE ADMINISTRATION WAS TRYING TO CONNECT IRAQ AND 9-11 AND THAT THIS CONTINUED EVEN AFTER THE C.I.A. AND F.B.I. REPEATEDLY TOLD THE BULLY BOY THERE WAS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO.
WHERE WAS THE CONNECTION? IN THE ADMINISTRATION'S TALKING POINTS.
AS LINDA FELDMAN OBSERVED IN MARCH 2003, "IN HIS PRIME-TIME PRESS CONFERNCE LAST WEEK, WHICH FOCUSED SOLELY ON IRAQ, PRESIDENT BUSH MENTIONED SEPT. 11 EIGHT TIMES. HE REFERRED TO SADDAM HUSSEIN MANY MORE TIMES THAN THAT, OFTEN IN THE SAME BREATH WITH SEPT. 11. BUSH NEVER PINNED THE BLAME FOR THE ATTACKS DIRECTLY ON THE IRAQI PRESIDENT. STILL, THE OVER ALL EFFECT WAS TO REINFORCE AND IMPRESSION THAT PERSISTS AMONG MUCH OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC: THAT THE IRAQI DICTATOR DID PLAY A DIRECT ROLE IN THE ATTACKS."
ATTEMPTS BY THESE REPORTERS TO REACH SCOTT PELLEY ABOUT HIS TUCKING HIS TAIL BETWEEN HIS LEGS WITH A MEEK "YES, SIR" WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE HEAD OF CBS NEWS EXPLAINED TO US THAT, ON TUESDAYS, "PELLEY LIKES TO WORK A 1/2 DAY AND THEN BLOW OFF SOME STEAM BY HEADING OVER TO MISTRESS MARSHA'S HOUSE OF PUNISHMENT."
'>FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Starting with war resistance within the military, US war resister Agustin Aguayo, a medic with the US army, gave his reasons for refusing to redeploy to Iraq for a second tour in a statement to the US Court of Appeals in DC which was preparing to hear his appeal to be designated a conscientious objector:
With or without non-combatant status I will not deploy to Iraq. I have been to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom II, and I know what to expect. I know what will be expected of me. And because of this first-hand knowledge, I simply cannot take part in this deployment. Some people might think that a fear of death is the reason for refusing to deploy. But that is incorrect. I have to be true to myself and do what is right. Even though I deployed as a non-combatant in 2004-05 I still carry guilt from my participation. While there as a non-combatant, I was still required to do guard-duty, although I chose to carry only an unloaded gun. While there as a non-combatant, I was still required to patch-up, treat, and help countless soldiers for "sick-call" in order to facilitate their prompt return to combatant duties. While there as a non-combatant, I was asked to drive soldiers around on patrols, patrols which could have been deadly to Americans and Iraqis alike. I regret involvement in those activities, because ultimately I was contributing to the war mission and enabling others to do what I oppose. By doing guard duty, appearing to be armed, even without bullets, I gave the false impression that I would kill if need be. I am not willing to live a lie to satisfy any deployment operation. By helping countless soldiers for "sick-call" as well as driving soldiers around on patrols I helped them get physically better and be able to go out and do the very thing I am against -- kill. This is something my conscience will not allow me to do. Although I myself did not pull the trigger, I now realize that what I did as a non-combatant nonetheless supported and enabled these missions. I cannot carry that burden on my conscience. When you know better you do better.
Aguayo self-checked out of the US military on September 2nd and turned himself at Fort Irwin on September 26. Aguayo has argued that his Last Friday, Kevin Dougherty (Stars & Stripes) reported that the US military has charged Aguayo with desertion and missing movement and that conviction on both charges "could receive a maximum prison term of seven years". The charge of desertion is interesting in that (a) Aguayo turned himself in, (b) he was gone less than 30 days, and (c) the US Court of Appeals was set to hear his case. Also of interest is that, though no date's been set for the trial/court-martial, the military's decided to announce charges when his claim for c.o. status still awaits a ruling from the US Court of Appeals.
Turning to other war resistance news, Iraq Veterans Against the War started Camp Resistance to show their support for Ehren Watada who faces a court-martial February 5, 2007. damon reports that they intend to stay "outside the gates of Fort Lewis and on the streets across the nation" in order "to make an impression large enough to influence the outcome of the trial". What do they need? They need:
financial support for getting IVAW members here at Fort Lewis, particularly on the day of the trial. Also, we envision Camp Resistance FOBs (Forward Operating Base) starting all over the country; in front of recruiter's offices, military bases, etcetera. When we got kicked out of our campsite, we came to the realization that Camp Resistance is not a physical place, but a place within our hearts and minds. If your heart is filled with resistance to this illegal war and Love for LT, you can start a daily vigil in your local area or join us here at Fort Lewis.
They also need attention -- make sure your friends know and start demanding that media, big and small (also known as Useless & Useless) cover Camp Resistance.
Agustin Aguayo and Ehren Watada are part of a movement of resistance within the military that also includes Kyle Snyder, Ivan Brobeck, Darrell Anderson, Ricky Clousing, Aidan Delgado, Mark Wilkerson, Joshua Key, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Patrick Hart, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, Chris Teske and Kevin Benderman. In total, thirty-eight US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.
Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters.
RECOMMENDED: "'>Iraq snapshot"
"Other Items"
"Violence in Iraq doesn't stop just because NYT fails to report it"
"Media Reform"
"Other Items"
"NYT: "U.S. And Iraqis Are Wrangling Over War Plans" (John F. Burns)"
"And the war drags on . . ."
"Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Celibacy in the City (Series Finale)""
"Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Celibacy in the City""
"NYT: Baghdad Bureau gets benched"
""Public Inaction dismays Watada" (Paul Nyhan)"
"Lemon & Rice Soup in the Kitchen"
"The Force Majora Friedman"
"media reform?"
"the friday chatty post"
"Media Reform?"
"Reforming the media"
"E-mails, peace, moments, Iraq"
"Reform the media? What media?"
"Declaration of Peace, Danny Schechter"
"Saturday"
"Media reform"
"A Note to Our Readers"
"Editorial: The unmentionable"
"TV: Ugly Betty, Beautiful TV"
"Escalation: The non-plan"
"Abeer and Ehren"
"The Little Boy Who Cried WMD"
'File it under "Thank God she was born in 1925!"'
"Bacon"
"MyTV's Fascist House"
"Highlights"
"Note"
"Media"
"Examing Bully Boy's base"
"Media Reform"
"THIS JUST IN! HE'LL ALWAYS HAVE THE CRAZIES!"
"2006: The Year of Living Dumbly (Year in Review)"
"Fonda Wraps up Media Conference: Advocate for women in newsrooms says journalism forgets divide not just right and left"
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