tagged w/ American Politics
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White House takes swipe at British press over Daily Telegraph report
http://www.countercurrents.org/eley290509.htm
One can only react with horror. Contained in the stories and images of the torture of defenseless prisoners, some of them boys and women, is the true face of US imperialism, which finds no crime beneath its dignity in its effort to subjugate Iraq and Afghanistan.
White House takes swipe at British press over Daily Telegraph report
White House takes swipe at British press over Daily Telegraph report
Daniel Nasaw in Washington
guardian.co.uk,
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Gibbs twice more criticised the British press. "I think if you do an even moderate Google search, you're not going to find many of these newspapers and truth within, say, 25 words of each other," he said, adding, "I hate to lend any more credibility to nonfactual reports."
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The White House has taken a swipe at the British press in an effort to fend off questions about photographs that reportedly show US soldiers in Iraq raping and sexually abusing prisoners.
At the daily White House press briefing, spokesman Robert Gibbs was asked to comment on a report in yesterday's Telegraph that quoted a retired American general describing shocking details of photographs from US detention facilities in Iraq, which President Barack Obama has declined to release to the public.
"If I wanted to read a write-up today of how Manchester United fared last night in the Champions League cup, I might open up a British newspaper," Gibbs said. "If I was looking for something that bordered on truthful news, I'm not sure it would be the first stack of clips I picked up."
The Telegraph quoted retired Major General Antonio Taguba, who investigated abuses at Abu Ghraib prison, as saying that the unreleased photos "show torture, abuse, rape and every indecency" committed on prisoners in US custody.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the Telegraph "completely mischaracterised the images", and said "none of the photos in question depict the images that are described in that article".
Gibbs twice more criticised the British press. "I think if you do an even moderate Google search, you're not going to find many of these newspapers and truth within, say, 25 words of each other," he said, adding, "I hate to lend any more credibility to nonfactual reports."White House takes swipe at British press over Daily Telegraph report... more
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Jayne Lyn Stahl will be interviewed by Curtis Sliwa, on the radio, tonight at 9:20 p.m. (PST). This is a ten minute segment.
The Curtis Sliwa Show is nationally syndicated talk radio, so pls. check local listings for radio station, and time, in your area..
You may also listen live at: wabcradio.com or ubatv.com. In Fresno live on 105.5 FM; tape delay in L.A. on KABC-LA.
The topic for discussion is a proposal for federally funded low income housing for homeless veterans which appears in Stahl's piece, "An Insult to Service," featured on The Huffington Post today.
Please tune in, and tell your friends.Jayne Lyn Stahl will be interviewed by Curtis Sliwa, on the radio, tonight at 9:20... more
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VA tries to put obstacles in the path of those veterans who are diagnosed with PTSD.
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There are 145,000 veterans who live on our nation's streets, 97% of whom are male, 56% of whom are men of color. A vet. who applies for disability waits, on average, 5 years before he receives a determination. In the first half of 2008, more than 1100 died before receiving a determination from the VA.
This is unacceptable for a country that spends $10 billion a month to wage war in Iraq, and a president who just got a $97 billion war supplemental bill passed through Congress.
(see article above for rest of story)There are 145,000 veterans who live on our nation's streets, 97% of whom are... more
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If we really want to honor our veterans, we need to address the problem of homelessness, and instead of spending $80 million on a new supermax prison to house former Gitmo detainees, we should consider building low income, federally subsidized housing for those who return from war without means, and without shelter.
(see above link for article)If we really want to honor our veterans, we need to address the problem of... more
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Mr Netanyahu said Israel was ready to live "side by side" with Palestinians as long as they were ready for regular scraps, the odd slaughter and at least two full scale wars a year. Any agreement also depended on Palestinian acceptance of Israel's right to "kick the shit out of their houses daily", he added.
http://thestupidtimes.blogspot.com/2009/05/netanyahu-agrees-two-war-solution.htmlMr Netanyahu said Israel was ready to live "side by side" with Palestinians... more
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erotic fantasy -- poem -- written to commemorate Walt Whitman's birthday on May 31
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Article by Jayne Lyn Stahl
The president has to take off his commander-in-chief hat, and put on his president hat. He needs to put the truth over everything.Article by Jayne Lyn Stahl
The president has to take off his commander-in-chief... more
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It is unclear if the shooter was among the wounded, despite earlier reports that he killed himself, an official said.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Attack is the deadliest on soldiers by a fellow soldier during Operation Iraqi Freedom
Shooter is in custody, senior defense officials say
Five killed and three others wounded in incident
Shootings took place at Camp Liberty in Baghdad
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U.S. soldier in Baghdad kills four fellow troops before killing himself, senior defense official tells CNN.
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It is unclear if the shooter was among the wounded, despite earlier reports that he killed himself, an official said..................................As the story has unfolded we have now learnt that there were FIVE SOLDIERS KILLED but not the one who killed them.
Monday's attack marks the fifth incident in which a service member was killed by a fellow service member during Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to the U.S. military.
• In March 2003, Capt. Christopher Seifert and Maj. Gregory Stone were killed at Camp Pennsylvania, Kuwait, in a grenade attack by another soldier.
• Sgt. Joseph Tackett was fatally shot in June 2005 by a fellow soldier in Baghdad.
• Seaman Anamarie Camacho and Seaman Genesia Gresham were killed in a non-combat incident in Bahrain in October 2007.
• A 39-year-old soldier was charged with killing Staff Sgt. Darris Dawson and Sgt. Wesley Durbin in Tunnis, Iraq, in September.
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Britain ends combat operations in Iraq:
The British military formally ended combat operations in Iraq on Thursday after six years of conflict by handing over control of its main base in Basra to an American brigade.
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/04/30/britain-iraq.htmlIt is unclear if the shooter was among the wounded, despite earlier reports that he... more
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"So we're sitting there talking prevention measures," he said, nursing the 3rd of many Buds consumed that afternoon, "and Sebelius (the new HHS secretary) asks me if we have enough facemasks in the White House for everyone. I'm like OMG, those f*cking things don't work anyway, let's get back to the real issue. But then everyone starts begging for masks for them and their families, so I listen to the noise for a while and then I snap. Table goes over, paper and pens everywhere. I'm outta there."
http://thestupidtimes.blogspot.com/2009/04/obama-celebrates-100-days-by-resigning.html"So we're sitting there talking prevention measures," he said, nursing... more
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I'ma Boss TV& Kemetlightmedia support education
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Starting off in the mail room, within days the New York whizz kid’s mastery of the stimulus package impressed officials and he was increasing sought after for advice. But as the young economics major was given more responsibility, he began to upset the old hands in President Obama’s finance team, especially National Economic Council Director, Larry Summers.
http://thestupidtimes.blogspot.com/2009/04/geithners-internship-draws-to-close.htmlStarting off in the mail room, within days the New York whizz kid’s mastery of... more
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By Elias Nawas, Southern Methodist University Graduate Student, Dallas TX – Sat Apr 18, 9:28am CT
With all modesty, whilst still engrafting a delicate tone of humor, President Barack Obama reached out to the various United States' diversified neighbors, and to particularly one nation's president — who also happens to be an abrasive US critic — offering the fiery leftist Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, a once 'Cold War' opponent, with a speedy grasp and grin the hope of a "fresh beginning".
President Obama, during his 'Summit of the Americas' in the island capital of Trinidad — Port of Spain, also conveyed his readiness to engage in talks with Cuban President Raul Castro on matters that were completely off table for the Havana state — especially that including the communist governments' political prisoners' upholding.
This goodwill and friendly attitude was reciprocated with a gesture from President Chavez when he presented President Obama a book, "Open Veins of Latin America — Las Venas Abiertas de America Latina, written by Eduardo Galeano, a Uruguayan journalist in 1971.
To not only mention the positive feedback, but one also has to note that not all Latin American leaders have been impressed by the US President. Namely, Ecuadorian President 'Rafael Correa' as well as Bolivian President Evo Morales still remained skeptical (both about President Obama and US's foreign policy towards the Latin Neighbors).
My particular ideology relating to what I have previously delineated and outlined resides in what I am going to portray hereafter;
Although the Fifth Summit of the Americas during April can be regarded mostly as a failure, not only because Nicaragua, Bolivia, Dominica, and Honduras boycotted in protest of Cuba’s absence, but also because the participating Summit members “failed” to adopt an official declaration; the leaders of the participating 34 countries agreed to boost and encourage joint solutions to face the most pressing challenges and troubles facing the region, while promoting environmental sustainability, human prosperity etc...
Even though President Ortega, president of Nicaragua, delivered an acerbic and scalding fifty-minute speech denouncing US imperialism and capitalism as the root of much regional mischievousness, President Obama responded with "I'm grateful that President Ortega did not blame me for things that happened when I was three months old" to an applause and laughter from the other Summit-attending leaders, while stating that the journey “must be traveled” to make headway and overcome decades of mistrust – also, President Obama hoped to connect with Colombia, Chile, Canada, Haiti and Peru seeking individual sessions with their leaders.
Furthermore, President Obama added that he was disinterested in talking just for the sake of talking, but believed that the U.S.–Cuban relations can and ought to be moved in a new direction. Later, President Obama acted upon his words ordering ease-of-travel restrictions for Americans with relatives in Cuba, which President Castro, in return to such a step, offered his willingness to discuss ‘everything’ that divides the two countries.
To conclude, I believe that our time period right here and right now will be legendary.I base my say on this, solely on my conviction that diplomacy and open communication are good strategies for allies and enemies alike, but yet should be coupled with something deeper than casual diplomacy which primarily is, but not confined to, sincerity in these relations and talks.
To reinforce a positive mindset-approach towards foreign policy amongst all nations, I will finally quote President Obama by saying “I did not come here to debate the past, but I came here to deal with the future; we must learn from history but we can not and should not be trapped by it”.
— Elias NawasBy Elias Nawas, Southern Methodist University Graduate Student, Dallas TX – Sat... more
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Viper7
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Source: http://linkbee.com/Obama5StepEcoFix
President Barack Obama said the key to a bright, sustainable future for the U.S. economy requires a "foundation built upon five pillars," each of which represents a policy shift that is sure to set off a major political battle.
They are: 1- (Story continues here: http://linkbee.com/Obama5StepEcoFix)Source: http://linkbee.com/Obama5StepEcoFix
President Barack Obama said the key to... more
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Viper7
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added this
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FORWARD OPERATING BASE BERNSTEIN, TUZ, Iraq – The Banyas School in Zaggurbanya Village has no running water, zero playground equipment and a serious lack of chalk.
But that’s all about to change.
Both Armies are working together...FORWARD OPERATING BASE BERNSTEIN, TUZ, Iraq – The Banyas School in Zaggurbanya... more
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It doesn't exactly come as breaking news that there are innocent men currently detained at Gitmo, but the disclosure by former chief of staff to Colin Powell that Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld knew they were innocent when holding, and "interrogating," is a stunning defection from a prominent member of the Republican cabal.It doesn't exactly come as breaking news that there are innocent men currently... more
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Friday's decision by the Justice Department that the Obama administration has the right to detain enemies during wartime, and without charging them, comes as a disappointment to those who expect carte blanche change, and especially to those who have yet learned how to read the fine print.
For the first time in more than a decade, the fine print actually works in favor of those who want an executive branch that appreciates the fundamental value of separation of powers.
Importantly, apart from doing away with the label "enemy combatant" which, as you recall, was coined not by the executive branch, but by a former defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, Justice now says that the power to hold detainees must come from Congress and international law, not from the exercise of wartime power under the presidency.
Implicitly, then, the infrastructure for inflated power of the executive branch, the so-called "unitary presidency," used by Bush and Cheney to justify deconstructing the Constitution, is being slowly laid to rest.
While, in their court filing, government lawyers asserted the president's right to detain suspects at Guantanamo Bay without charges which isn't, on face value, radically different from the position taken by Mr. Obama's predecessor, it must be noted that the new administration's emphasis on international law, and a greater role for Congress, is a dramatic departure.
More importantly, there will no longer be a blanket policy toward detainees, but as government lawyers acknowledge the "particular facts and circumstances justifying detention will vary from case to case," so we're moving out of the realm of absolutes like "axis of evil," and "terror," and back to a place where individual cases will determine course of action.
We can't afford to forget, as journalist Seymour Hersh recently asserted, an assassination squad reported directly to Dick Cheney. An article in last week's New York Times acknowledges the existence of Joint Special Operations Command which is an independent wing of a special operations unit, according to Hersh, one that doesn't "report to anybody, except in the Bush-Cheney days, they reported directly to the Cheney office," and which is not subject to congressional oversight.
And, to add insult to injury, Cheney told appeared on CNN Sunday morning to call his administration's use of "enhanced alternative" interrogation techniques "absolutely essential" to stopping future 9/11s. Too bad he wasn't asked if he didn't think clandestine assassination squads even more effective?
Moreover, under Bush-Cheney, checks and balances referred more to personal banking methods than governance. Under Obama, we may expect, once again, to see separation of powers. Isn't it reassuring to think we're witnessing a return to the rule of law, and away from executive lawlessness, even if it isn't happening fast enough for some of us.
While avoiding terms like "war on terror," and "enemy combatant," may not appear to be a sweeping changes, that our new president is now pressing for more congressional involvement, as well as adherence to international law, is positively revolutionary in light of what preceded him.
If it's fast food we want, we should go to MacDonald's and not the polls!
jayne lyn stahlFriday's decision by the Justice Department that the Obama administration has the... more
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In response to yesterday's horrific shootings in four separate parts of Alabama, which claimed the lives of 10 including the assassin, the U.S. Army put troops on the streets in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act prohibiting the federal uniformed services from exercising state and local law enforcement powers.
No one in the mainstream media covered the Army's presence except for Reuters, and the London Telegraph.....In response to yesterday's horrific shootings in four separate parts of Alabama,... more
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Here's a partial list of banks, from Reuters, who benefited from more than $173 billion paid out by you and me to rescue AIG:
Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Deutsche Bank AG, Merrill Lynch, Societe Generale, Calyon, Barclays Plc, Rabobank, Danske, HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Banco Santander, Morgan Stanley, Wachovia, Bank of America, and Lloyds Banking Group.
Donald Kohn, current vice chair of the Federal Reserve, testified that to name names would risk "jeopardizing AIG's continuing business," and that he is not trying to "protect AIG or its (numerous) counterparties, but to prevent the spread of AIG's infection."
What would the cause of AIG's infection be? Corporate greed at taxpayer's expense.
2010 is right around the corner. I'm sure our elected representatives, Democrats and Republicans, would like to hear what we think about this nauseating news which was conveniently released on a Friday.Here's a partial list of banks, from Reuters, who benefited from more than $173... more
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Weaponry used in Gaza war very effective says amputees doctor
Albuquerque Express
Friday 6th March, 2009
(Bilal Badwan - Gulf News)
The number and severity of injuries as a result of the Gaza War were unprecedented and unfamiliar to Gaza's doctors because of the dangerous weapons used.
Chief of Intensive Care at Gaza's Al Shifa hospital, Dr Fawzi Al Nabulsiya, said: "Many of these cases we haven't observed before. The weaponry used is very effective, leading to amputation of limbs, especially the lower ones, (damage to the) spinal cord and cases of deep coma. The ICU here received 283 cases, equalling the total of cases we often receive in a period of six or seven months."
Suheir Zemo, a 47-year-old mother of seven, lost her right leg after an Israeli missile crashed into her home in the Tal Al Hawa neighbourhood of Gaza City in mid-January, at the height of the attacks.
"I was in my bedroom when a rocket landed in the room. Suddenly my leg started bleeding severely. Then my husband risked his life and took me to hospital as ambulances were not allowed into the area," said Maher, as she sat in a wheelchair at the Al Wafa Rehabilitation Centre in Gaza.Weaponry used in Gaza war very effective says amputees doctor
Albuquerque Express... more
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