Hillary won tonight's debate. Bambi's already released a wah-wah press release. You get the feeling he's been so pampered he doesn't know how to fight. He needs his cult because he can't stand up for himself. Have the Democrats ever had a weaker candidate in a primary than Bambi?
He is just pathetic. He is a bad speaker and a liar. He was really praying he could get away with saying "I disowned" Jeremiah Wright and when George Stephanopolis called him on that he quickly had to back up and say he disowned Wright's words. But he is so prone to lying he was hoping to get that out there.
His attack on Small Town Americans was brought up and he still couldn't apologize. "I can see how people were offended" blah, blah, blah. They were offended because your remarks were offensive. You called the gun nuts, who hated non-Whites and hid behind religion. That's offensive.
And yet he claimed that he wanted to unite. He's all about the insults. He is just so haughty. You keep expecting him to holler "SNAP!"
We need a candidate with experience and maturity and Bambi has neither.
Steve Duin, you are pathetic.
So is Marc Cooper aka The Pooper. It's cute the way he's all offended at The Huffington Post (no link to trash and that's all that site and Airann Huffington are). Little Poopy is offended by Hillary because he has a long history of hating women. He hates women because he is, was and always will be pathetic. Don't forget his attack on Jane Fonda when she was planning to speak out against the Iraq War on a bus tour. Marc Cooper's nothing but an idiot. His ass got kicked out of KPFK because of exactly what he tries to do to Hillary in his nonsense column.
I won't say "I'm not going to smear but . . ." Babmi's friends with Bill Ayers. That's reality. They're a lot closer than the media's reported and that's reality as well. He needs to get honest about it.
Some people won't care, some will. That's reality. Bill Ayers was part of an armed revolution attempting to overthrow the United States. That's reality as well. I'm sorry that this makes Pooper uncomfortable but you can't hide reality.
Poopsie tries to minimize it.
It can't be minimized because Ayers and Bambi are much closer than the media has reported. It would be a real shame if Bambi kept lying and photos of the two at Ayers' house with other people that scare off Middle America were present.
It would be a real shame if people asked, "What's going on in those pictures?"
Those pictures exist and I know it and you better believe the GOP does.
Bambi needs to get honest about how close he and Ayers are. If he doesn't and the Dems are stupid enough to give him the nomination you need to remember that LIARS like Poopsie made worked overtime to cover it up. This will not stay under wraps during a general election.
Get over yourself, Poopise. No one's ever given a damn what you think. No one ever will. You had a slot on KPFK for years. Not because you had listeners but because The Nation paid for the program. Those days are over and you're just another fat ass who needs to find a job. A real job. How depressing it must be to be the Pooper. He's got to be at least 60 now and he has nothing to show for his life. He's an elderly man whose made his profession begging. A panhandler. A loser.
Hillary won the debate and poor little boys (and old ones like Poopsie) who hate women saw their chance to slam women vanishing so they're taking one more go round tossing out any crap they can and hoping it sticks.
Those photos will stick and they will be on the front page of every paper.
The Democrats don't need to listen to the likes of The Pooper. He's never been in touch with America and never will be. He's a vile, disgusting man and that's why he hates women.
Here's Howard Wolfson's "HUBdate: Debate in Philadelphia:"
Previewing Today: Tonight, Hillary participates in ABC's Philadelphia Democratic Primary Debate. Earlier today, she delivers remarks to the Building Trades National Legislative Conference.In Case You Missed It: The front page USA Today article is headlined: "Obama tied to lobbyists, but boasts of not taking money." Read more.
First Hundred Days: Yesterday, Hillary told the Newspaper Association of America: "Starting from Day One, the Bush-Cheney era will be over in name and in practice" and outlined her plan for the first 100 days of the presidency. Read more and more.
Pennsylvania Mayors for Hillary: Over 100 Pennsylvania mayors endorsed Hillary yesterday, citing her "Pennsylvania roots and commitment to Pennsylvania values." Read more and more.
Speaking Out: In a letter yesterday, mayors across Indiana wrote to Sen. Obama and said his comments "demeaned the values of small Midwestern towns." The mayor of Oak Hill, WV said: " think that [Sen. Obama's comment] characterizes the fact he is out of touch with West Virginia, and many other states -- the Heartland of America." The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says Sen. Obama's "'bitter' pill is going to be tough to swallow...What Obama dished out was a cold, stinging slap, and not just to Pennsylvanians but to Americans across the country." Read more, more and more.
Tar Heels for Hillary: The campaign announced 1,500 North Carolina women for Hillary yesterday. Gladys Graves, former president of the North Carolina Association of Editors and Hillary supporter, said, "[Hillary] is an intelligent and caring woman and we need someone like that in the White House." Read more.
Stronger Against McCain: A new Rasmussen survey of likely Florida voters shows Hillary leading the state against Senator McCain...The same poll shows Senator McCain would beat Senator Obama in that state by 15 points (53-38). Read more.
FL Voices Count: In an interview with the St. Petersburg Times, Hillary said voters in FL are "tired of being disenfranchised. They saw a Democrat deprived of a congressional seat in 2006 because mysteriously thousands of votes weren't counted. They saw problems in the '04 election. And everybody remembers 2000...We're Democrats. I thought we believed in counting votes." Read more.
Tax Day Test: "For all of Sen. Obama's rhetoric about the need for tax return transparency, you'd think he'd have released all of his tax records. Guess again… Sen. Obama has refused to release his tax returns for 1997, 1998 and 1999, even though he was in public life as a state senator during those years. During this period of time, Sen. Obama was accepting contributions from special interest lobbyists, PACs and even directly from corporations." Read more.
Stretch on Ethics Reform: Politifact reports on a new ad airing in PA that "Obama claims he was the driving force in the Senate on ethics reform. We find he was a player but not the quarterback...This new ad both exaggerates the role Obama played in the debate, and fails to put the new ethics law in any sort of context." Read more.
Okay, that's it for me tonight. Closing with C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"
Wednesday, April 16, 2008. Chaos and violence continue, Pulizter Prize winning photographer Bilal Hussein is finally released by the US military in Iraq, a Senate committee makes noises about war funding, the US military announces more deaths, and more.
Starting with war resistance. Courage to Resist has compiled a page providing names of war resisters and we'll note Jose Vasquez's sketch: "Staff. Sgt. Jose Vasquez served fourteen years in the Army and Army Reserve. In January 2005, he applied for conscientious objector status requesting immediate discharge from the military which was approved. He was honorably discharged in May 2007. Jose is an active member of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) serving as Co-chiar of the Borad and President of the New York City chapter. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from the City University of New York." Vasquez helped verify all witnesses testifying at Winter Soldier Investigation last month and also chaired the March 14th's first panel. Vasquez also organized the successful Operation First Casualty II last May (Memorial Day) in NYC.
That's the US. In Canada, US war resisters are waiting to find out whether they will be granted safe harbor. The Canadian Parliament will debate a measure this month on that issue. You can make your voice heard. Three e-mails addresses to focus on are: Prime Minister Stephen Harper (http://us.f366.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=pm@pm.gc.ca -- that's pm at gc.ca) who is with the Conservative party and these two Liberals, Stephane Dion (http://us.f366.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=Dion.S@parl.gc.ca -- that's Dion.S at parl.gc.ca) who is the leader of the Liberal Party and Maurizio Bevilacqua (http://us.f366.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=Bevilacqua.M@parl.gc.ca -- that's Bevilacqua.M at parl.gc.ca) who is the Liberal Party's Critic for Citizenship and Immigration. A few more can be found here at War Resisters Support Campaign. For those in the US, Courage to Resist has an online form that's very easy to use.
There is a growing movement of resistance within the US military which includes Matt Mishler, Josh Randall, Robby Keller, Justiniano Rodrigues, Chuck Wiley, James Stepp, Rodney Watson, Michael Espinal, Matthew Lowell, Derek Hess, Diedra Cobb, Brad McCall, Justin Cliburn, Timothy Richard, Robert Weiss, Phil McDowell, Steve Yoczik, Ross Spears, Peter Brown, Bethany "Skylar" James, Zamesha Dominique, Chrisopther Scott Magaoay, Jared Hood, James Burmeister, Jose Vasquez, Eli Israel, Joshua Key, Ehren Watada, Terri Johnson, Clara Gomez, Luke Kamunen, Leif Kamunen, Leo Kamunen, Camilo Mejia, Kimberly Rivera, Dean Walcott, Linjamin Mull, Agustin Aguayo, Justin Colby, Marc Train, Abdullah Webster, Robert Zabala, Darrell Anderson, Kyle Snyder, Corey Glass, Jeremy Hinzman, Kevin Lee, Mark Wilkerson, Patrick Hart, Ricky Clousing, Ivan Brobeck, Aidan Delgado, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, Blake LeMoine, Clifton Hicks, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Logan Laituri, Jason Marek, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Joshua Casteel, Katherine Jashinski, Dale Bartell, Chris Teske, Matt Lowell, Jimmy Massey, Chris Capps, Tim Richard, Hart Viges, Michael Blake, Christopher Mogwai, Christian Kjar, Kyle Huwer, Wilfredo Torres, Michael Sudbury, Ghanim Khalil, Vincent La Volpa, DeShawn Reed and Kevin Benderman. In total, at least fifty US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.
Information on war resistance within the military can be found at The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline [(877) 447-4487], Iraq Veterans Against the War and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters. Tom Joad maintains a list of known war resisters. In addition, VETWOW is an organization that assists those suffering from MST (Military Sexual Trauma).
Last month Iraq Veterans Against the War's Winter Soldier took place and KPFA has a live program coming up April 22nd: Live On Air and Online at kpfa.org!
April 22 from 10am-1pm Join us on April 22nd for this very important follow up to Pacifica's groundbreaking Winter Soldier live coverage. We will be following the San Francisco trial involving wounded vets and the Department of Veterans Affairs. In this first class action lawsuit U.S. Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder sue the VA, alleging a system wide breakdown in the way the Government treats those soldiers.During this special broadcast we will be bringing our listeners live updates from the San Francisco federal courthouse, we'll speak with wounded Veterans attorney Gordon Erspamer, (taking this case pro bono because his father was permanently disabled in World War II and never received proper health care) and speak with Veterans advocates including Veterans for Common Sense, and Vets for America.Read more about the broadcast here.
That announcement will appear in the snapshots until the broadcast. If you missed Winter Soldier you can stream online at Iraq Veterans Against the War, at War Comes Home, at KPFK, at the Pacifica Radio homepage and at KPFA, here for Friday, here for Saturday, here for Sunday. Aimee Allison (co-host of the station's The Morning Show and co-author with David Solnit of Army Of None) and Aaron Glantz were the anchors for Pacifica's live coverage.
Bilal is free. The Committee to Protect Journalists notes, "Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein was freed today from U.S custody in Iraq, ending a two-year ordeal in which he fended off unsubstantiated accusations from the U.S. military that he collaborated with Iraq insurgents." Tina Susman (Los Angeles Times) reminds, "The military never made public its evidence against Hussein" and that they announced their decision on Monday when they "released a statement with a slightly gruding tone". "Two years and four days" of imprisonment, Daryl Lang (Photo District News) calculates, also noting the "five-month judicial process" that ended last week. Robert H. Reid (AP) explains, "Hussein, 36, was freed at a checkpoint in Baghdad, where he was taken by the military aboard a prisoner bus. He left U.S. custody wearing a traditional Iraqi robe and appeared in good health." Dean Yates (Reuters) quotes Bilal stating, "I want to thank all the people working in AP . . . I have spent two years in prison even though I was innocent. I thank everybody." Editorial Photographers United Kingdom & Ireland describes the scene, "The photographer was embraced by sobbing family members, including his brother and mother, and spoke to other well-wishers on a mobile phone as he was showered with flowers and sweets. He later was honored with a traditional feast." They also quote professor Yassir Hussein (Bilal's brother) explaining, "I cannot describe my happiness at seeing him again. The family has been going through a hard time over the past two years, but now we thank God that we will have some rest." AFP notes Bilal's Pulitzer Prize win and that he was released at "an entry checkpoint near Camp Victory near the Baghdad airport" according to US Maj Matt Morgan. Paul Colford, Associated Press' Director of Media Relations, announced Monday, "After two years in detention, Bilal Hussein needs time to spend with his family, to rest and to catch up with the rest of the world."
"We need to trust" declared Jim Nussle at the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing today on tossing away more American dollars on funding the illegal war. Nussle is the budget director for the White House so his credentials on "trust" remain murky. US Senator Robert Byrd is the chair (despite attempts by US Senator Patrick Leahy to oust him) and, appearing robust, he opened the haring by noting first US Senator Arlen Specter's "health has hit a small bump in the road. While many of us know what it's like to face a health challenge, I know this man. His strong fighting spirit will quickly lead him on the path to recovery." Byrd then moved the topic of the hearing:
Eleven months ago, Congress sent the president a war funding supplemental that included clear direction to bring our troops home by December of 2007. The president chose to veto that bill. If he had signed that bill, most of our troops would already be home. But instead of bring our troops home, the president decided to increase our commitment of US troops and treasure to a war that has now entered its sixth year. Over 4,000 US service members have died. Over 30,000 US service members have been wounded. By the end of 2008, the war in Iraq will have cost a whopping $600 billion. In the next few weeks, the Appropriations Committee will consider the president's request for Congress to approve another $108 billion of emergency funding, most for this endless war in Iraq. We will be considering the president's request at a time when the US ecnomy is, by most accounts, in serious trouble. Under the president's fiscal leadership, the US government will have piled up the five largest deficits in the history of our Republic. It took 212 years and 42 US presidents to accumulate one-trillion-dollars of foreign-held debt. But in only seven years, President George W. Bush has more than doubled the debt our country owes to China, Japan, and other foreign entities.
As he concluded his opening remarks, Byrd also noted, "This year, we will once again take good care of our troops. But we must also invest in our own economy and take care of our people here at home. To fail to do so will only further dampen our economy, work a hardship on our our citizens, and deplete our ability to pay these endless, every-climbing requests for more money to fund this war in Iraq. The well is running dry, and it is time to prime the pump." The senators worthy of note include Patty Murray who pointed out that the White House repeatedly underfunds in the US (infastructure, etc) and that when Congress attempts to address the underfunding, the White House threatens a veto. She stated that Congress was attempting to fund the needed programs "in a responsible way" but there's no effort on the part of the White House to reach out to the Congress and that can stop. "If that means," Murray declared, "we're going to to have to wait until we get" the next president, "then that's what we're going to do." Senator Byron Dorgan echoed Murray's point and noted that "the game is over." He referenced the New York Times story (C.J. Chivers' "Washington Blocks Exports of Munitions Firm Suspected of Fraud") on the 'businessmen' providing ammo to Afghanistan (emphasing "massage therapist" repeatedly) as well as the fact that Halliburton gets US tax payer funds and then "runs the payroll through the Cayman Islands" in order to avoid paying the US payroll taxes. He stated that everyone -- Congress, the administration -- bears responsibility for the lack of oversight but that "there comes a time when you have to say enough." Senator Ben Nelson noted the "blank check policy" the administration has attempted to utilize repeatedly.
The big surprise may have been Senator Dianne Feinstein who may have done her best job in a Senate hearing period. She was to the point, she knew what you wanted to say. She noted the frustrations everyone on the committee felt and maybe that's what it took but Feinstein, repeatedly holding her forehead as she held the administration accountable, Feinstein was professional and focused. "Never before in history has a war been funded on the debt," Feinstein pointed out. "I think it's a . . . problem for the survival of the nation." She was referring to the climbing debt and the White House's request for yet another 'emergency' funding bill. Feinstein noted what wasn't getting funded, she noted the failing infrastructure across America, and the lack of funding to prevent wildfires or the leveys in Califonria that need to be fixed. "My problem is," she explained, "I've got a part of a state that might well burn over the summer again and we can't provide" the needed funding. She noted the tax cuts for the wealthy throughout the years of the illegal war and the domestic programs cut and re-cut during this emphasizing, "It's rather cyncial what happens: You fund the war off budget, on the debt, and you press for further tax reduction." Regarding the latest 'emergency' request, Feinstein declared, "I think maybe the time has come when we do have to put our foot down" to make clear that "we're not going to do" this "and I'm going to have a very hard time for $108 billion knowing what's happening in the United States, . . knowing we need to do some things just to protect our own people. . . . It's not right and it's not why we" came to Congress.
"The legacy that this president will leave," Senator Mary Landrieu pointed out, "is that he drove the country into a war and for the next six years . . . refused to submit a plan to pay for it. There's nothing, Director, clean about this bill -- it's either a cover-up . . . or a sloppy sales job."
At the conclusion of the hearing, the chair, Robert Byrd, spoke noting in "the next few weeks the committee will mark up a supplemental that meets the needs" of the military and the civilians. A lively hearing and a CODEPINK activist chanted "Fund them home! Fund the home!" repeatedly at the end; however, it needs to be noted that some of the life in the hearing may have had less to do with the illegal war (and the drain its placed on the US economy -- present and future) and more to do with the White House's threat to veto what Congress sends up if they add any additional spending to it (which is their right, they control the purse and the White House does not have line-item veto). Senator Ben Nelson hit especially hard on the issue of the money going to the Iraq War and reminded that he and Senator Evan Bayh had, early on, requested that the monies for reconstruction, et al in Iraq be given in the form of a loan. Nussle apparently missed last week's hearings because this was a new concept to him. He spoke of taking the idea back to the White House and begged off additional questions noting he was not the Secretary of State. In terms of the waste Dorgan emphasized, he also acted as if this was news to him. He suggested Congress explore that. That's what they were attempting . . . while he played dumb.
Dumb travels. "We are today more confident than any time before," CBS and AP quote Nouri al-Maliki, puppet of the occupation, declaring, "that we are close to the point where we can declare victory against al Qaeda . . . and its allies." String it along, al-Maliki, string it along. He needed some good (false) news to promote because other news wasn't reflecting on the US established government in Iraq. Tina Susman (Los Angeles Times) reports, "The Iraqi army and police commanders in the southern city of Basra were reassigned today in what the government described as routine staff movements but which came amid controversy over troops' preformance during a recent offensive." It's the puppet government so no sooner was the announcement made to the press then an alternative was released. Reuters notes, "The top Iraqi military commander in the southern city of Basra has not been replaced, the Defence Ministry said" and then quotes Maj Gen Mohammed al-Askari stating, "He is still in his job.". Or maybe he defected or deserted? (Or maybe his scheduled retirement next week is how the 'firing' is being fudged.) Nancy Moran (Bloomberg News) reports, "About 50 Iraqi troops fled a joint fight with American soldiers in Baghdad's Sadr City last night, setting back U.S. efforts to get Iraqis to take the lead in gaining control".
Bombings?
Hussein Kadhim (McClatchy Newspapers) reports 3 Baghdad mortar attacks which claimed 1 life and left thirteen wounded, a Mosul car bombing that claimed 1 life, and a Kirkuk roadside bombing that wounded two people. Tina Susman (Los Angeles Times) notes a Basra US attack with "an unmanned US Predator aircraft" which killed 4 people with missiles.
Shootings?
Hussein Kadhim (McClatchy Newspapers) reports that, last night, an assassination attempt "on one of Al-Sistani representatives in Kut" which left the man wounded and which followed an attack Laith Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reported yesterday on al Sistania's representative Ali Al Fadhil. CBS and AP note an attack outside Muqdadiyah oon a vehicle that left 2 women dead and three males wounded. UPI, citing a US military announcement, notes that the US military killed 1 person they suspected of being a 'terrorist' and another who was "a bystander" (in Mosul).
Corpses?
Hussein Kadhim (McClatchy Newspapers) reports 4 corpses discovered in Baghdad
Meanwhile the US military announces: "Two Multi-National Force – West Marines were killed in action April 14 when their vehicle was attacked by an enemy force with an improvised explosive device in al Anbar Province." This brings the death toll of US service members in Iraq to 4037 since the start of the illegal war.
"We have so many candidates that say that they're against the war. Well if we had these candidates that say that they're against the war actually vote against the war then we wouldn't be talking about the war anymore," declared former US Congress woman Cynthia McKinney, who is running for the Green Party's presidential nomination over the weekend in a LA speech (link has video only). "Some of us took those hard votes early on and voted to stop funding the war but then, of course, something happened along the way -- it always does -- and that is that the War Party which has a Democratic wing and a Republican wing got together and counted their votes. They understood that they had 218 votes they needed, 218 votes in order to keep us in the war. They knew from their experience in 2002 which, I hope all of you have seen American Blackout, that they had a sure-fire way to get one of those votes out of the Congress, one of those no votes. And so they did it. That very first vote to fund the war after the Democratic majority took place passed exactly by 218 votes. If I had been there, we wouldn't be talking about ending the funding for the war. We'd be talking about how we're going to build a single-payer healtchcare system in this country. We'd be talking about why it is that students have to be a hundred thousand dollars in debt just to get an education. We could be talking about how we're going to green our economy, how we're going to provide jobs for the environement people and, at the same time, refuse to accept that the so-called 'American way of life' is something worth killing for. We would have a whole different conversation about what true American values really are. But instead, because the corporate media allows those who actually fund the war to claim that they are against the war, then we have to continue to have the same conversation. And that's that same conversation that I've rejected."
Staying with US presidential politics, Susan UnPC (No Quarter) wonders if ABC's Charlie Gibson intends to ask Senator Barack Obama about Nahdmi Auchi whom Obama claims he doesn't remember but Michael Sneed (Chicago Sun-Times) thinks Bambi might be showing "a Pinocchio problem". When would Gibson ask that? In tonight's ABC News debate between Barack and Senator Hillary Clinton where Barack will attempt to put Bitter-gate behind him -- or persuade the press that it is. Or maybe put behind his really bad ad regarding oil. Ken Dilanian (USA Today) notes, "It's accurate that Obama doesn't take money from oil companies; neither do his opponents, because corporate contributions are illegal. But Obama, like Clinton and John McCain, has accepted donations from oil and gas company employees -- $222,309 in Obama's case from donors from Exxon, Shell, Chevron and others, according to campaign-finance data. Two oil company CEOs have pledged to raise at least $50,000 each as part of Obama's fundraising team." In a busy day for Bambi, he also found time to slam former US president Jimmy Carter. In other news, the US Congress' newest member, Rep Jackie Speier endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Party presidential nomination yesterday:
"Nothing makes me more proud than to announce my endorsement of Hillary Clinton for President," said Speier. "As a woman, a lawmaker and a mother, I understand what electing Hillary will mean for this country. She will not only bring an extraordinary grasp of the issues to the White House, but also a uniquely feminine skill set - consensus building, negotiation, and patience - that will serve our nation well. As President, Hillary will set an example for how to run a country with diplomacy and restraint."
"I am thrilled to have the support of the newest Member of Congress, Jackie Speier," said Clinton. "Jackie has been a force to be reckoned with in California politics for more than two decades, standing up for children, families, and consumers across the state. Congress is fortunate to have someone with her fortitude and vision, and I look forward to working with her as we bring real change to Washington."
And Gettysburg College's Cory Waldron writes about Chelsea Clinton's campaigning for her mother:
To see a passionate audience captivated and enjoying political conversation outside on a college campus is especially fun to be a part of as a student. The sharing of ideas and the collective energy at Wilson College embodies the experiences and stories I've attained from my multi-state campaign adventure. The resiliency and hope of Pennsylvanians was displayed and I can't wait to see more of it as the election draws closer. It was simply a gorgeous day filled with energy and eloquence -- and it was a particularly proud occasion for myself as a student, volunteer, and as an American.
This is why I support Senator Clinton: because she gets how our nation works -- all the way from the halls of Congress to the family dinner table, and she deserves the opportunity to show our nation her very best from the Oval Office. I have worked as an intern in Laconia, New Hampshire, traveled on my own dime to South Carolina, and I am proud to be a grassroots organizer in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (and yes mom, I still go to my classes daily at Gettysburg). I am rewarded knowing that I'm helping to create a better country because Hillary will implement sound policies. Despite the problems Americans face, our mutual devotion to our families, friends, and communities will enable us to heal this nation. Hillary Clinton has the policies to aid everyday Americans, to turn our nation around, and allow us as citizens to be treated fairly and justly after languishing under the pains caused by the Bush Administration.
iraq
kpfa
iraq veterans against the war
aimeee allisondavid solnit
aaron glantz
bloomberg news
mcclatchy newspapers
bilal hussein
c.j. chiversthe new york times
tina susmanthe los angeles times
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Refugees International, John B. Judis
"Uprooted and Unstable: Meeting Urgent Humanitarian Needs in Iraq" is the title of Refugees International's new report. It's PDF format and linked to in the snapshot, so I'll just move on to my excerpt from it:
In Februrary 2008, Refugees International observed close cooperation between the Mahdi Army and the Iraqi Plice, Iraqi National Police and the Facility Protection Services that often protect ministries and are notorious for their lawlessness. Visiting Iraqi ministries and government offices in January and February of 2008, during the Shiite holy month of Muharam, there were overt symobls of Shiite tradition, such as flags and banners, hanging on buildings and walls, as well as television and radio stations playing Shiite religious prayers and songs. This lack of separation between the state and the Shiite denomination intimidates Sunnis and creates the impression of Shiite ownership of government institutions.
Imagine you're a Sunni, how does the above make you feel? Do you have any 'ownership' in that government? Do you feel included?
The US should have never started the illegal war. But that wasn't the last of mistakes and, along with continuing to occupy Iraq, one of the biggies was getting into bed with one side. The White House picked the Shi'ites. They banished the Sunnis and, in doing so, encouraged the oppression. When you grasp how long the US has been in Iraq now, over five years, and realize how nothing has been accomplished, grasp that the divisions were really created and hardened under the illegal occupation.
Another thing to grasp is Larry Johnson (No Quarter) with this post. I asked C.I., "You think he's getting it?" C.I. pointed out that Johnson's former CIA and so it's very likely. So I think this is a teaser to a coming story from Johnson. Watch for it. (Former CIA was not intended as an insult to Johnson, C.I. was just pointing out that Johnson knows how to gather intelligence.)
This is from John Judis' "San Francisco Speech Might Haunt Obama:"
Some liberal commentators have downplayed the effect of Barack Obama's fundraising speech at a San Francisco fundraiser last week. But that's wishful thinking. Along with the revelations about Obama's pastor Jeremiah Wright, his remarks in San Francisco will haunt him not only in the upcoming primaries in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia, but also in the general election against John McCain, assuming he gets the Democratic nomination.
To win in November, a Democratic presidential candidate has to carry most of the industrial heartland states that stretch from Pennsylvania to Missouri. That becomes even more imperative if a Democrat can't carry Florida - and because of his relative weakness in South Florida, Obama is unlikely to do so against McCain.
Ruy Teixeira and I have calculated that in the heartland states, a Democratic presidential candidate has to win from 45 to 48 percent of the white working class vote. In some states, like West Virginia and Kentucky, the percentage is well over a majority. Some Democrats insist that Obama need not worry about these states because he will be able to make up for a defeat in Ohio or even Pennsylvania with a victory in Virginia or Colorado. But in Virginia, McCain will be able to draw upon coastal suburbanites closely tied to the military. These voters backed Democrats like Chuck Robb and Jim Webb, who are both veterans, but they may not go for Obama. And in the Southwest, McCain will be able to challenge Obama among Hispanics.
So to win in November, Obama will have to win almost all of these heartland states. Which is a problem, because even before he uttered his infamous words about these voters "clinging" to guns, religion, abortion, and fears about free trade, Obama looked vulnerable in the region. A look at the white working class's relationship with earlier Democratic candidates underscores the various reasons why.
I'd love to think that would reach Panhandle Media but they don't seem reachable. They don't even grasp that disenfranchising Florida and Michigan is a "bad" thing and not only because it's wrong to disenfranchise but also because it pisses the residents in those states off.
The only hope is Hillary getting the nomination. You may wonder how much the groupies can hate the Democratic Party that they're willing to destroy it but, if you're wondering that, you still haven't caught on to the fact that Bambi's name supporters aren't Democrats.
What's up with Hillary's campaign. Here's Howard Wolfson's "HUBdate: Opportunity for All Americans" (HillaryClinton.com):
Opportunity for All Americans: Today, Hillary discusses her own approach to the presidency that will expand opportunity for all Americans at the Newspaper Association of America's Annual Conference in Washington, DC.New Ad in the Keystone State: Hillary supporters speak out against Sen. Obama's small town America comments in a new TV ad that will air in Pennsylvania...From supporters: "I'm not clinging to my faith out of frustration and bitterness...I find that my faith is very uplifting...The good people of Pennsylvania deserve a lot better than what Barack Obama said...Hillary does understand the citizens of Pennsylvania better." Watch Here."A Can't-Miss Event for Clinton Supporters" in Bristol, PA: Yesterday in Bristol, PA "[t]he gymnasium was filled with red, white and blue signs that read 'Hillary Rocks,' 'Letter Carriers for Hillary' and 'Hillary for President.'...'The economy is the worse I’ve ever seen it,’ the Bristol resident said. 'Oil prices are bad. She's the one who can do something about that. I've always been a Clinton supporter. They haven't let me down.'" Read more.
PA Endorsement Watch: Hillary received the endorsement of Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, earning her the endorsement of mayors from Pennsylvania's "three largest cities": "I support her candidacy and ask Democratic voters in Allentown to do the same." Read More.
MT Endorsement Watch: "Yellowstone County Commissioner Bill Kennedy says he is endorsing Hillary Rodham Clinton...[Kennedy said:] 'In Montana, going to church or going hunting is part of our heritage, not something we 'cling to' out of bitterness or frustration...Sen. Obama showed a real disconnect with rural Montana. It might work to look down on us from San Francisco, but it won’t sell when he comes back to Montana.'" Read more.
Save The Date: Hillary will appear on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" on Thursday. The program will be broadcasted from Philadelphia and will air at 11:30pm ET. Read More.
In Case You Missed It: West Virginians aren't happy with Sen. Obama's characterizations about the people who live in America's small towns. Read More.
Closing with C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"
Tuesday, April 15, 2008. Chaos and violence continue, the House Veterans Affairs Committee discusses legislation, Refugee International releases a study on Iraq, and more.
Starting with war resistance. Richard Marcus (BlogCritics) reviews the new DVD Deserter which offers a a 30 minute look at "a deserting soldier and his young wife as they flee across the country to seek refugee status over the Canadian border. As they move from safe house to safe house, we get to know Ryan and Jen -- two shy, small-town kids from the Central Valley who joined the military because there were no jobs, and find they must make a heroic stand in order to escape an illegal and immoral war. 'Deserter' is a political movie with one of the few happy endings that this war has given us." Ryan and Jen are Ryan and Jen Johnson and they entered Canada in June 2005. Marcus writes, "All the way across America there operates a new Underground Railway, but now instead of helping runaway slaves they are helping young Americans escape from having to serve in what they consider an unjust war. Ryan and Jen are passed from having to serve in what they consider an unjust war. Ryan and Jen are passed from safe house to safe house until just before the border they phone the contact they have for Toronto. They've already been coached on how to get through the border corssing, but that doesn't stop them from being nervous; there is the risk that they could check Ryan for outstanding warrants and find out that he is a deserter."
Meanwhile war resisters in Canada wait to find out whether they will be granted safe harbor. The Canadian Parliament will debate a measure this month on that issue. You can make your voice heard. Three e-mails addresses to focus on are: Prime Minister Stephen Harper (pm@pm.gc.ca -- that's pm at gc.ca) who is with the Conservative party and these two Liberals, Stephane Dion (Dion.S@parl.gc.ca -- that's Dion.S at parl.gc.ca) who is the leader of the Liberal Party and Maurizio Bevilacqua (Bevilacqua.M@parl.gc.ca -- that's Bevilacqua.M at parl.gc.ca) who is the Liberal Party's Critic for Citizenship and Immigration. A few more can be found here at War Resisters Support Campaign. For those in the US, Courage to Resist has an online form that's very easy to use.
There is a growing movement of resistance within the US military which includes Matt Mishler, Josh Randall, Robby Keller, Justiniano Rodrigues, Chuck Wiley, James Stepp, Rodney Watson, Michael Espinal, Matthew Lowell, Derek Hess, Diedra Cobb, Brad McCall, Justin Cliburn, Timothy Richard, Robert Weiss, Phil McDowell, Steve Yoczik, Ross Spears, Peter Brown, Bethany "Skylar" James, Zamesha Dominique, Chrisopther Scott Magaoay, Jared Hood, James Burmeister, Eli Israel, Joshua Key, Ehren Watada, Terri Johnson, Clara Gomez, Luke Kamunen, Leif Kamunen, Leo Kamunen, Camilo Mejia, Kimberly Rivera, Dean Walcott, Linjamin Mull, Agustin Aguayo, Justin Colby, Marc Train, Abdullah Webster, Robert Zabala, Darrell Anderson, Kyle Snyder, Corey Glass, Jeremy Hinzman, Kevin Lee, Mark Wilkerson, Patrick Hart, Ricky Clousing, Ivan Brobeck, Aidan Delgado, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, Blake LeMoine, Clifton Hicks, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Logan Laituri, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Joshua Casteel, Katherine Jashinski, Dale Bartell, Chris Teske, Matt Lowell, Jimmy Massey, Chris Capps, Tim Richard, Hart Viges, Michael Blake, Christopher Mogwai, Christian Kjar, Kyle Huwer, Wilfredo Torres, Michael Sudbury, Ghanim Khalil, Vincent La Volpa, DeShawn Reed and Kevin Benderman. In total, at least fifty US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum. Information on war resistance within the military can be found at The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline [(877) 447-4487], Iraq Veterans Against the War and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters. Tom Joad maintains a list of known war resisters. In addition, VETWOW is an organization that assists those suffering from MST (Military Sexual Trauma).
Last month Iraq Veterans Against the War's Winter Soldier took place and KPFA has a live program coming up April 22nd:Live On Air and Online at kpfa.org!
April 22 from 10am-1pm Join us on April 22nd for this very important follow up to Pacifica's groundbreaking Winter Soldier live coverage. We will be following the San Francisco trial involving wounded vets and the Department of Veterans Affairs. In this first class action lawsuit U.S. Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder sue the VA, alleging a system wide breakdown in the way the Government treats those soldiers.During this special broadcast we will be bringing our listeners live updates from the San Francisco federal courthouse, we'll speak with wounded Veterans attorney Gordon Erspamer, (taking this case pro bono because his father was permanently disabled in World War II and never received proper health care) and speak with Veterans advocates including Veterans for Common Sense, and Vets for America.Read more about the broadcast here.
That announcement will appear in the snapshots until the broadcast. If you missed Winter Soldier you can stream online at Iraq Veterans Against the War, at War Comes Home, at KPFK, at the Pacifica Radio homepage and at KPFA, here for Friday, here for Saturday, here for Sunday. Aimee Allison (co-host of the station's The Morning Show and co-author with David Solnit of Army Of None) and Aaron Glantz were the anchors for Pacifica's live coverage.
Moving to the US Congress. Today the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held hearings on proposed legislation. Committee chair Michael Michaud noted, "The six bills before us cover a wide range of topics that are germane to veterans' healthcare. Issues addressed in today's bills include Spina Bifida, epilepsy research centers, substance use disorder treament and prevention, expansion of dental care, timely access to care, and a bill of rights."
The first panel offered testimony from members of Congress. Committee chair Michaud offered testmony on substance use noting, "Our legislation will require the VA to provide the full continuum of care for substance use disorder, and it will require this full spectrum of care to be available at every VA medical center. Our legislation will also direct the VA to conduct a pilot program for internet-based substance use disorder treatment for veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. This will enable our newest generation of veterans to overcome the stigma associated with seeking treatment and receive the necessary care in a comfortable and secure setting." US House Rep Christopher Carney focused on the issue of the dental care and, in his opening statement, provided reasons why this area should not be dismissed including: "The cost of this bill is a cost of war; it is an investment in our way of life and our future. As every member of this subcommittee knows, to ensure a ready fighting force tomorrow we need to take care of our veterans today. I would also like to point out that conditions such as missing teeth and cavities can be barriers in seeking employment and I believe every effort must be made to ensure that there is a smooth transition for our military members who are entering the civilian work force. We must also ensure that disabled veterans from wars past are also given every tool to keep a meaningful job and this includes dental care." US House Rep Ginny Brown-Waite was concerned with the issue of wait time and noted "if a veteran can't see a physician in 30 days she or he should be allowed to see a private doctor." She later pointed that "healthcare delayed is healthcare denied." Rep Phil Hare noted that it's not a "how can we afford" issue with veterans healthcare, "If we make a promise to our veterans . . . we have to keep that promise or we have no business making it." US House Rep Shelley Berkley agreed with that, explaining "For me the cost of the war" includes the "cost of taking care of our veterans" and if that's considered incorrect "then you ought not send them over" to begin with.
Berkley also noted the issue of costs in terms of funding, "If we're going to continue to pile more responsibilities on the VA . . . we better provide the VA with the necessary amount of money that they're going to need to carry out our will and so far I haven't seen that happen. . . . We're playing catch up now. . . . Unless we have a national recognition" of this priority "then we better just forget the whole thing. And thank you for listening to my soapbox." Berkley also noted that the US spends $3,919 a second in Iraq "and if we're going to spend that kind of money" there, Congress ought to be able to fund veterans healthcare. She noted doctors in Nevada who contracted to perform veterans healthcare and "they have not been paid in over a year." If this continues, she noted, "You're not going to get any doctors" who'll be willing to go through this process and take on patients. On the issue of substance abuse, she thought (most will agree) that the idea of treating it via the internet was a bit off the mark and was informed that the internet aspect is just a pilot program. Considering the rural areas that will not benefit why the pilot program is even being started might need to be questioned. (That's me, not Berkley). She noted the son of two of her constituents who served in Iraq. After returning home, he developed a sustance abuse program and was addicted to "five medications". Going for treatment at the VA resulted in him being put on a sixth medication "and he o.d.ed in the facility and he died in the VA." She cautioned, "We better make sure the VA has the tools" and that when someone "checks into a VA, there should be an expectation there" that they those conducting the treatment know what they are doing.
US House Rep Bob Filner focused on the need for an Epilepsy Center for Excellence. US House Rep Ed Perlmutter noted that he has a daughter with epilepsy and the need for the VA "to provide the military veterans coming back that will develop seizures and that develop epilepsy . . . with the best service possible." He reminded the committee of the large number of head injuries in combat and that "some of them are goign to have seizures." (Also offering testimony were US House Reps Brad Ellsworth and Ed Perlmutter.) The second panel offered five witnesses. Disabled American Veterans' Joy J. Illem spoke on the Epilepsy Centers of Excellence (HR 2818) and noted, "The bill would establish a peer review panel, consisting of experts on epilepsy and complex multi-trauma associated with combat injuries, including post-traumatic epilepsy, to assess the scientific and clinical merit of proposals submitted by VA facilities for consideration to be designated as Epilepsy Centers of Excellence under this bill. The peer review panel would be required to report its assessment of such proposals to the Under Secretary for Health, presumably to strengthen the Secretary's decision to designate Centers on the basis of merit -- but the bill does not specify this peer review as a precursor to the Secretary's designations. The Subcommittee may wish to make that minor modification to the bill to ensure the best proposals are considered by the Secretary as determined by the peer review panel. " Ilem felt it should be paired with a TBI center. Veterans of Foreign Wars' Christopher Needham stated "we need an emphasis on this." Chair Michaud asked the five witnesses at the second panel to name the two things the legislature should focus on fixing currently. Ilem stated substance abuse was the issue. Needham stated the same and added "hand in hand is funding issues." American Legion's Joseph L. Wilson stated TBI and blind eye issues. While Vietnam Veterans of America's Bernie Edelman noted "a lot of these health issues are interwoven" and also spoke of the "stigma associated with seeking help". Vietnam Veterans of America's Richard F. Weidman spoke of the diseases today (throughout the second panel) and the impacts on the future. He noted the issue of children of veterans developing diseases and the concerns many veterans had over this issue. Agent Orange was a frequent topic (brought up by many) and an important issue to keep in mind is that Agent Orange (it's effects on future generations) could have been dealt with during Vietnam (it never should have been used to begin with). It wasn't. Veterans of Vietnam have had to fight and fight and fight some more year after year. In terms of the current illegal war, funding, research, etc. needs to take place now. After the Iraq War ends it will be very, very difficult to get the interest of the bulk of Congress or the bulk of the American people on this issue. Vietnam veterans can talk at length about their struggles for basic healthcare and how they're still fighting.
Last week, in the midst of The Petraeus and Crocker Variety Hour, the House Veterans Armed Service committee held a hearing on April 9th and Trina wrote about it. Read her post, she did an excellent job covering it. Pressed for time, but veteran Michelle Saunders needs to be noted because she advocated very well in that hearing. She knew her facts, she was confident and presented very well. Boiling her points down to the briefiest, veterans can help veterans. She's pursuing that now and attempting an organization that will provide the training/preparation needed for post-military life. She noted that you get weeks of boot camp when you enlist, but when you discharge, it's bye. From her opening statement:
When I left the conference, I was so eager to get in the trenches and start figuring the best strategic approach on how to stop the bleeding, but little did I know it was like trying to put a band-aid on a sucking chest wound. I soon started to see the blackness of bureaucracy from the inside as opposed to being the victim on the outside. I started to see how a "success" was measured by a number, how a problem would disappear when it was time to report to the higher chain of command, how the "collaborating" agencies would point fingers at each other of all the pitfalls and the hic-ups, but would leverage each other for the "successes". After reading that, one may ask or presume I am bitter. The answer is, I am not bitter, I am disappointed and I am embarrassed. I am disappointed because I stand next to people every day who are in the positions to make effective change, who make six plus figure salaries a year and are able to go home at night and provide for their families just to start over the next day. I am embarrassed because I can't financially afford to bite the hand that feeds me. For me, it's a little different, I go home at night and I am in pain because I know that my brothers and sisters who once stood by my side at arms and always covered me, are gasping for air because they're worried about where the next pocket of money is coming from, their VA appeal claims, their lack of credentials, because of what their families may think of their, once proud American soldier. These are the parts of the transition that holds the needed healing of the broken soul, how do you heal when you can't stop firing squad?We are still repeating history in a sense that during the 1970's and 1980s, our streets were crawling with Vietnam War veterans with the same issues. The only difference today is our veterans are not being ignored by society and the government is being held accountable. For the first time Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are being recognized as issues and they are abnormal conditions caused by combat trauma and combat stress. We live in a society that does not accept murder as something "normal". We live in a society that is spiritual and compassionate by nature regardless of religious beliefs. When these horrific acts are witnessed or are performed by an American soldier in a time of war, it breaks the spirit in a way that can't be defined. However, we are expected to act "normal" when we arrive back to our home soil. In addition our peers are forced to look at us different and weak because of the mentality of our senior military leadership, we are "STRONG" warriors that aren't supposed to feel, yet we must follow the rules of the Geneva Convention because our morals and beliefs as a nation dictate. Yes there are services in place for those who "need it" but there is a silent voice that is extremely loud that puts those who "need it" in a corner. Fortunately, the American population as a whole is finally pushing back because they understand what our eyes see across the water is not "normal" however; there is still an uncomfortable stigma that is associated with this. Society as a whole wants to help, but that help must happen away from their children and their neighborhoods. We are making a difference however, the flood gates have been opened and an enormous amount of water has fractured the backbone of our infrastructure. It is up to those who can speak for the ones who can not. WE MUST INFORM, EDUCATE AND PROMOTE AWARENESS. The blind eye approach is NOT working; it is MUCH bigger than us, so we must take a different approach.
Turning to Iraq. Refugee International released a study, authored by Kristele Younes and Nir Rosen, entitled "Uprooted and Unstable: Meeting Urgent Humanitarian Needs in Iraq" [PDF format warning, click here]. In the opening, the report notes, "Five years after the US-led invasion, Iraq remains a deeply violent and divided society. Faced with one of the largest displacement and humanitarian crises in the world, Iraqi civilians are in urgent need of assistance. Particularly vulnerable are the 2.7 million internally displaced Iraqis who have fled their homes for safe locations inside Iraq. Unable to access their food rations and often unemployed, they live in squalid conditions, have run out of resources and find it extremely difficult to access essential services."
On the issue of returning the report notes the fact that abandoned homes have been taken over and that when there has been a conflict with a family returning, the local militias have sometimes been the ones 'hearing' the dispute. Those who are 're-settled' face the realities of the rations program which does not serve many of the internal refugees (often due to paperwork or lack of it, often due to the the fact that the internal refugees are not in their original home neighborhoods). The report clearly warns: "All relevant actors should discourage returns until the violence subsides and people can receive adequate assistance and protection." That warning echoes the United Nations and Red Crescent's warnings.
On the issue of the militias, the report notes how they are actually weakening the govenrment and how this is with US cooperation (whether US agents/actors are aware of it or not). Control of electric plants is one way in which the militias can determine who gets power and who does not. Control of aid also strengthens the militias while weakening the central government. The report notes Refugees International workers seeing the Baghdad based offices of the Sadr Movement dispensing "clothing, milk, oil, rice, sugar, clothes and fuel for heating and cooking when supplies are available." The NGOs would be one means to counter the weakening of the government but the US and Iraqi governments are little concerned with and little aware of these organizations. A visit by Refugees International to Baghdad's region where Palestinians currently reside led to the discovery that "the community" of 15,000 residents "has not had an international visitor since 2005." The Haifa Club provides assistance to that area. Ethar Associates provides assistance to 5,000 families in Amriya (a section of Baghdad where internally displaced Sunnis have moved) as well as to 4,000 families in Taji and 1,500 in Rashdiye. "When Refugees International mentioned the groups to UN agencies and international NGOS," the study notes, "it became clear that nobody knew of them, despite the important role they play."
In terms of the 'central-government,' Refugees International "observed close cooperation between the Mahdi Army and the Iraqi Police, Iraqi National Police and the Facility Protection Services that often protect ministries and are notorious for their lawlessness. Visiting Iraqi ministries and government offices in January and February of 2008, during the Shiite holy month of Muharam, there were overt symbols of Shiite tradition, such as flags and banners, hanging on buildings and walls, as well as television and radio stations playing Shiite religious prayers and songs. The lack of separation between the state and the Shiite denomination intimidates Sunnis and creates the impression of Shiite ownership of government institutions."
On the subject of militias, the report notes that the "Awakening" Council is abosrbing males who have relocated from other areas of Iraq. Leaving the report, Nouri al-Maliki (puppet of the occupation) has questioned the loyalty of the "Awakening" Councils (Sunni militias). US Senator Barbara Boxer raised that issue last week during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing when she pointed out that the US is paying the "Awakenings" $182 million a year, $18 million month, and that now the White House, via US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, "are asking us for millions more to pay off the militias and, by the way, I have an article here that says Maliki recently told a London paper that he was concerned about half of them". So the questions about their loyalties/ties to the central government in Baghdad is in question. But Refugees International's study raises another issue. Due to the fact that these are displaced Sunni males from other areas, their loyalties/ties are also not to the local government. The organization spoke with members in mutliple areas and "found that displaced men have joined armed groups. In some cases locals complain that the displaced are more aggressive and radical than local men who have joined the same groups." In Dora, they're informed by two members of "Awakening" Councils that they came on board for two reasons "money and the desire to take action against Shiites." So (leaving the report) the US government is arming and training these militias and not only are they not loyal to the central government in Baghdad (few Iraqis see al-Maliki as a legitimate leader) they aren't even loyal to their regions and one of the selling points from the Bully Boy and the US military brass is that these militias are "local" forms, "local" bonds. That argument tries to state that the "Awakening" Council is a strengthening force for the Iraqi government and that, being local, it strengthens the local government and that travels upward. But that's not at all what Refugees International found. The "local" militias aren't exclusively "local" and there are little tes to the local government or to the neighborhood. The report notes: "Like the Mahdi army, these Sunni militias also have political goals and are attempting to unite to become a larger movement that will be able to regain Sunni terriotry and effectively fight the Shiite militias and the Shiite dominated government, which they call and 'Iranian Occupation.' In some ways their attitude is, 'The Americans did not buy us, we bought them'." The central government in Baghdad is an installed government. As US Senator Joe Biden noted last Thursday in the Senate Foreign Relations Comittee hearing, the White House wants to negotiate a treaty (Status of Forces Agreement) with the central government but "there is no Iraqi government that we know of that will be place a year from now -- half the government has walked out." Refugees International's study notes that the Shi'ite versus Shi'ite struggles currently going on take place as Sunnis who feel disenfranchised plan what to do when the US does pull out.
In the meantime, the Iraqi refugees are being denied entry. That may make you think of the US government's refusal to accept Iraqis or of the borders being closed in countries bordering Iraq. However, Refugees International explains that of Iraq's eighteen provinces, eleven have shut their borders to Iraqi refugees from other provinces. As the report notes "eleven Governoates inside Iraq, as well as neighboring countries Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt no longer admit displaced Iraqis. In the event of an increase in violence, vulnerable Iraqi civilians will have nowhere left to go. One imperative for the international community is to consider such a scenario, and start planning for it."
The report demolishes the Myth of the Great Return. Throughout November the lie was repeated in media outlet after outlet (credit to Damien Cave and Cara Buckley of the New York Times who were among the first American reporters to report the reality -- among the first and among the only). "Iraq is safer!" went the lie. "Iraqis are returning by the busloads!" The figures didn't grow naturally. You had CBS News repeat a figure on the weekend that, by Monday afternoon, had more zeroes added to it. It was a publicity campaign by the puppet government and the White House. It was wrong and it was deadly. Before we get to the report on that, we need to all grasp how wrong that myth was. Iraqis seeking shelter outside of Iraq were being lied to, told it was safer and that they should come back. The Iraqi refugee crisis is already a crisis of global proportion but lying to refugees outside the country to trick them into coming back to Iraq is inhumane and criminal. That point needs to be stressed because Refugees International's study includes this: "According to a UN official, the Bush administration is also putting enormous pressure on the UNHCR to conduct a viability survey and declare Iraq safe for returns." Point, The Myth of the Great Return could strike again. Panhandle Media sat it out in November (and December and January). Real media didn't include many stepping up to the plate (even after Buckley and Cave had reported realities). The report notes that "the Ministry of Migration's return strategy document from late 2007 clearly states that returns, should they occur, would demonstrate the success of the current US-Government of Iraq overall security strategy in Iraq. The return strategy also underlines the necessity for the Government of Iraq to engage in an active media campaign to counter warnings that the potential for returns will adversely impact a security situation already extremely fragile." The Myth of the Great Return existed solely as a p.r. move. After Syria was asked to close their border to Iraqi refugees, a few returned, those whose funds had run out. The report documents this.
Violence never left Iraq; however, today was an especially violent day. Deborah Haynes (Times of London) notes "a car bomb exploded outside a courthouse and the offices of the provincial government in Baquba, the capital of Diyala province, north of Baghdad, leaving at least 40 dead and another 80 wounded" and labels it "one of the deadlist moments in months". CBS and AP quote Abu Sarmad who was in the area to have lunch: "I heard a big explosion and hot wind threw me from my chair outside the restaurant." Alissa J. Rubin (New York Times) quotes a Baquba morgue doctor who explains, "Some of the bodies that came to the hospital were, let's say, not bodies, but only a hand or a torso." Kim Gamel (AP) observes, "AP Television News footage showed many of the bodies covered in crisp white sheets and black plastic bags in the main hospital's courtyard while the emergency room inside was overwhelmed with the wounded." Robin Stringer and Camilla Hall (Bloomberg News) note, "The blast destroyed three buses and damaged shops nearby in the attack today, the U.S. military said by e-mail. Iraqi state television reported the explosion without providing futher details." Dean Yates (Reuters) estimates that, throughout Iraq today, over 75 lost the lives and notes, "A second car bomb, believed to be driven by a suicide attacker, exploded outside a popular restaurant in Ramadi, capital of Anbar province west of Baghdad, killing 13 people and wounding 14 others, a hospital source and police said." CNN estimates over 100 were injured in Iraq today. Kim Gamel (AP) quotes eye witness Ahmed al-Dulaimi who was having lunch at the time: "Suddenly a motorcyle parked near the restaurant and a man came running and then a huge explosion took place. Pieces of flesh flew into the air and the roof fell over us."
In other reported violence . . .
Bombings?
Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Baghdad bombing that claimed 2 lives with two more injured, a Baghdad mortar attack that wounded two, a mortar attack on the Green Zone, a Baghdad car bombing that claimed 1 life and left eight wounded, a Nineveh roadside bombing that wounded four police officers.
Shootings?
Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Nineveh home invasion that claimed the lives of 3 women and 1 man, an attorney "and her sister" shot dead in Mosul, an assassination attempt on Ali al Fadhli ("representative of the Shiite Cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani") that claimed the life of 1 bodyguard and left another and al-Fadhli wounded, 1 "female student" shot dead in Mosul and an attack in Karbala in which 5 people were shot dead and six were kidnapped.
Corpses?
Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports 3 corpses discovered in Baghdad.
Turning to US presidential politics. Ralph Nader is running for president as an independent candidate, Matt Gonzales is his running mater. With little national media attention, the Nader-Gonzalez ticket has been polling at approximately 6% in national polling. Team Nader reports that they're up to 10% in Michigan and notes, "For Clinton, Obama and McCain, ten percent might seem like peanuts. But for Nader/Gonzalez, it shows we're on our way up. It has been our contention all along that the corrupt two-party system cannot stand. Perhaps we are now seeing the first cracks in the facade of the duopoly. We have joined with you in a rebuilding project. Rebuilding a people-powered democracy." Jim Fitzpatrick (WJBC) reports that Nader "delivered the keynote address for Illinois State University's Civic Engagement Celebration" on Monday. The link contains an audio snippet of Nader where he declares, "It's as if these candidates are running for Saturday Night Live instead of the office of the presidency of the United States of American. They can only be rescued by the people, they can only be rescued by themselves."
Meanwhile, Cynthia McKinney is running for the Green Party presidential nomination and currently in the lead. The Green Party reports the delegate count is currently 52 for McKinney, 8 for Kent Mesplay, 8 for Howie Hawkins, 2 for Jesse Johsnon and, with 1 each, Kat Swift and Ralph Nader. Howie Hawkins 8 may or may not go towards Nader -- Hawkins was a stand-in/place-holder for Nader. Nader has since stated he is not pursuing the national Green Party's nomination. The party's most recent primary was March 28th and McKinney won 79% of the vote. Rhode Island, which we'll term a caucus here, went for McKinney as well at the start of this month. Among those who have endorsed McKinney is Mumia Abu Jamal who says she provides "not just the illusion, but the reality of 'change'."
Too many K, so we're boiling down the Democratic side. Senator Barack Obama today offered more excuses and no apology for his insult to Small Town Americans. Along with denying that he has to apologize, his campaign continues to insist he's not an elitist out of touch with the American people. Delilah Boyd (A Scrivner's Lament) reminds all of the 'common touch' of Barack Obama who declared to Iowa voters -- in a 'reach out' -- "Anybody gones into Whole Foods lately and see what they charge for argulag? I mean, they're charging a lot of money for this stuff." Arugula. Iowa has no Whole Foods. Meanwhile Fernando Suarez (CBS News) notes that Senator Hillary Clinton joked that her speech today was "off the record" -- the remarks that got Barack into trouble were given at an event in the Bay Area which the press wasn't invited to. Meanwhile Senator Hillary Clinton found more supporters:
Showing strength and momentum in the Keystone State, the Clinton campaign today announced 100 mayors who are endorsing Hillary Clinton for president. Following Senator Obama's remarks dismissing small town America, mayors joined supporters today in Harrisburg to declare their support for Hillary because of her readiness to lead on day one, her plans to jumpstart the economy, and her Pennsylvania roots and commitment to Pennsylvania values.
"I am proud to have such strong support from 100 of Pennsylvania's finest mayors," Senator Clinton said. "From small towns to big cities, these mayors work hard every day to improve the lives of the people they serve and they know they need a strong partner in Washington to help them bring affordable health care and revitalize their local economies."
The 100 mayors endorsing Hillary today will work in the final week of the campaign to get out Hillary's message of change for Pennsylvania and the country. Hillary understands the economic pressures of families who have lost jobs, face foreclosures, and can't afford health insurance or college tuition. She understands what it's like to roll up your sleeve and work hard. As president, Hillary will fight for the issues that matter to all Americans starting on day one in the White House.
Mayor John Antoline, Monaca, Beaver County
Mayor Michele Avvisato, Old Forge, Lackawanna County
Mayor Norman Ball, Tunkhannock, Wyoming County
Mayor Anthony Battalini, Aliquippa, Beaver County
Mayor Sam Benyi ,Clarksville, Greene County
Mayor Ronald Besong, Bell Acres, Allegheny County
Mayor Louis Biacchi, Berwick, Columbia County
Mayor James V. Bitonti, Belle Vernon, Fayette County
Mayor Richard Bowen, Taylor, Lackawanna County
Mayor Thomas Brown, Bentleyville, Washington County
Mayor John B.Callahan, Bethlehem, Northampton County
Mayor Willard Canfield, Hallsted, Susquehana County
Mayor Gennaro Cantalupo, Northern Cambria, Cambria County
Mayor Robert P. Carpenter, Laporte, Sullivan County
Mayor Peter M.Casini, South Connellsville, Fayette County
Mayor Joseph J.Cisco, Ellport, Lawrence County
Mayor Anthony Colaizzo, Canonsburg, Washington County
Mayor Esther Cotner, Washingtonville, Montour County
Mayor Carl Cott, Forksville, Sullivan County
Mayor Joan B. Derco, Youngwood, Westmoreland County
Mayor Christopher Doherty, Scranton, Lackawanna County
Mayor Bernard Dubaskas, Edwardsville, Luzerne County
Mayor Gary L. Durkin, Flemington, Clinton County
Mayor Greg Erosenko, Monroeville , Allegheny County
Mayor Emerson M. Fazekas, Versailles, Allegheny County
Mayor Philip Ferrizzi, Bally, Berks County
Mayor Ned C. Fink, Fountain Hill, Lehigh County
Mayor Richard T. Fluck, Hellertown, Northampton County
Mayor Jim France, East Lansdowne, Delaware County
Mayor Ralph Garzia, Brookhaven, Delaware County
Mayor Richard Gassman, Matamoras, Pike County
Mayor Gerald W. Gross, West Easton, Northampton County
Mayor Connie M. Guy, Mountville, Lancaster County
Mayor John Haberland, Coraopolis, Allegheny County
Mayor Loyce L. Harpster, Burnham, Mifflin County
Mayor David Haslett, Avalon, Allegheny County
Mayor Joseph Herbert, West Wyoming, Luzerne County
Mayor William Jenkins, Larksville, Luzerne County
Mayor Joseph Kazan, New Stanton, Westmoreland County
Mayor Joseph Keating, Pittston, Luzerne County
Mayor James F. Kinder, Mount Wolf Boro, York County
Mayor Donald L. Kinosz, Lower Burrell, Westmoreland County
Mayor Philip Krivacek, Duquesne, Allegheny County
Mayor Joseph Daniel Kudlac, Ellsworth, Washington County
Mayor Maxine J. Kuntz, East Prospect, York County
Mayor Michael M. Kutsek, Finleyville, Washington County
Mayor Leonard J. Larkin, Falls Creek, Jefferson County
Mayor Tom Leighton, Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County
Mayor Patrick Loughney, Dunmore, Lackawanna County
Mayor Thomas E. Loukota, Masontown, Fayette County
Mayor Robert J. Lucas, Sharon, Mercer County
Mayor Bernard M. Luketich, Cokeburg, Washington County
Mayor Edward Lyons, North Belle Vernon, Westmoreland County
Mayor Timothy Martin, Freeland, Luzerne County
Mayor Armand Martinelli, East Stroundsburg, Monroe County
Mayor George McCloskey, Norwood, Delaware County
Mayor Raymond McDonough, North Braddock, Allegheny County
Mayor Beverly Merkel, Jessup, Lackawanna County
Mayor John Milander, Jr., Coplay, Lehigh County
Mayor Christian P. Morrison, Tamaqua, Schuylkill County
Mayor Michael Nutter, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
Mayor Susan O'Connell, Crafton, Allegheny County
Mayor Raymond J. Osmolinski, Sr, Gallitzin, Cambria County
Mayor Salvatore J. Panto, Jr., Easton, Northampton County
Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Allentown, Lehigh County
Mayor Louis Payne, East Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
Mayor Joyce Peccon, Carmichaels, Greene County
Mayor Connie Peck, Trappe, Montgomery County
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Mayor Dennis Pietrandrea, Koppel, Beaver County
Mayor Albert Pipik, Allenport, Washington County
Mayor Dominick Pomposelli, Wilmerding, Allegheny County
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
Mayor Judy Reed, Connellsville, Fayette County
Mayor Stephen R. Reed, Harrisburg, Dauphin County
Mayor John D. W. Reiley, Pottsville, Schuylkill County
Mayor Herb Riede, McSherrystown, Adams County
Mayor Joseph Saxton, Bristol, Bucks County
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Mayor Matt Sinberg, Yardley, Bucks County
Mayor Joseph E. Sinnott, Erie, Erie County
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Mayor Margaret Stock, Butler, Butler County
Mayor F. John Szatkiewicz, Ohioville, Beaver County
Mayor Nicki Todaro, Newell, Fayette County
Mayor Tom Trigona, Johnstown, Cambria County
Mayor TonyWalck, Nesquehoning, Carbon County
Mayor William L. Welch, State College, Centre County
Mayor Leslie Whitehill, Salladasburg, Lycoming County
Mayor Barbara Wilhelm, Dawson, Fayette County
Mayor James E. Wolfe, Tarentum, Allegheny County
Mayor John Yacura, Elizabeth, Allegheny County
Mayor Dorothy Yazurlo, Laflin, Luzerne County
Mayor Jayne Young, Lansdowne, Delaware County
Mayor Stanley Zamerowski, Pringle, Luzerne County
iraq
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In Februrary 2008, Refugees International observed close cooperation between the Mahdi Army and the Iraqi Plice, Iraqi National Police and the Facility Protection Services that often protect ministries and are notorious for their lawlessness. Visiting Iraqi ministries and government offices in January and February of 2008, during the Shiite holy month of Muharam, there were overt symobls of Shiite tradition, such as flags and banners, hanging on buildings and walls, as well as television and radio stations playing Shiite religious prayers and songs. This lack of separation between the state and the Shiite denomination intimidates Sunnis and creates the impression of Shiite ownership of government institutions.
Imagine you're a Sunni, how does the above make you feel? Do you have any 'ownership' in that government? Do you feel included?
The US should have never started the illegal war. But that wasn't the last of mistakes and, along with continuing to occupy Iraq, one of the biggies was getting into bed with one side. The White House picked the Shi'ites. They banished the Sunnis and, in doing so, encouraged the oppression. When you grasp how long the US has been in Iraq now, over five years, and realize how nothing has been accomplished, grasp that the divisions were really created and hardened under the illegal occupation.
Another thing to grasp is Larry Johnson (No Quarter) with this post. I asked C.I., "You think he's getting it?" C.I. pointed out that Johnson's former CIA and so it's very likely. So I think this is a teaser to a coming story from Johnson. Watch for it. (Former CIA was not intended as an insult to Johnson, C.I. was just pointing out that Johnson knows how to gather intelligence.)
This is from John Judis' "San Francisco Speech Might Haunt Obama:"
Some liberal commentators have downplayed the effect of Barack Obama's fundraising speech at a San Francisco fundraiser last week. But that's wishful thinking. Along with the revelations about Obama's pastor Jeremiah Wright, his remarks in San Francisco will haunt him not only in the upcoming primaries in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia, but also in the general election against John McCain, assuming he gets the Democratic nomination.
To win in November, a Democratic presidential candidate has to carry most of the industrial heartland states that stretch from Pennsylvania to Missouri. That becomes even more imperative if a Democrat can't carry Florida - and because of his relative weakness in South Florida, Obama is unlikely to do so against McCain.
Ruy Teixeira and I have calculated that in the heartland states, a Democratic presidential candidate has to win from 45 to 48 percent of the white working class vote. In some states, like West Virginia and Kentucky, the percentage is well over a majority. Some Democrats insist that Obama need not worry about these states because he will be able to make up for a defeat in Ohio or even Pennsylvania with a victory in Virginia or Colorado. But in Virginia, McCain will be able to draw upon coastal suburbanites closely tied to the military. These voters backed Democrats like Chuck Robb and Jim Webb, who are both veterans, but they may not go for Obama. And in the Southwest, McCain will be able to challenge Obama among Hispanics.
So to win in November, Obama will have to win almost all of these heartland states. Which is a problem, because even before he uttered his infamous words about these voters "clinging" to guns, religion, abortion, and fears about free trade, Obama looked vulnerable in the region. A look at the white working class's relationship with earlier Democratic candidates underscores the various reasons why.
I'd love to think that would reach Panhandle Media but they don't seem reachable. They don't even grasp that disenfranchising Florida and Michigan is a "bad" thing and not only because it's wrong to disenfranchise but also because it pisses the residents in those states off.
The only hope is Hillary getting the nomination. You may wonder how much the groupies can hate the Democratic Party that they're willing to destroy it but, if you're wondering that, you still haven't caught on to the fact that Bambi's name supporters aren't Democrats.
What's up with Hillary's campaign. Here's Howard Wolfson's "HUBdate: Opportunity for All Americans" (HillaryClinton.com):
Opportunity for All Americans: Today, Hillary discusses her own approach to the presidency that will expand opportunity for all Americans at the Newspaper Association of America's Annual Conference in Washington, DC.New Ad in the Keystone State: Hillary supporters speak out against Sen. Obama's small town America comments in a new TV ad that will air in Pennsylvania...From supporters: "I'm not clinging to my faith out of frustration and bitterness...I find that my faith is very uplifting...The good people of Pennsylvania deserve a lot better than what Barack Obama said...Hillary does understand the citizens of Pennsylvania better." Watch Here."A Can't-Miss Event for Clinton Supporters" in Bristol, PA: Yesterday in Bristol, PA "[t]he gymnasium was filled with red, white and blue signs that read 'Hillary Rocks,' 'Letter Carriers for Hillary' and 'Hillary for President.'...'The economy is the worse I’ve ever seen it,’ the Bristol resident said. 'Oil prices are bad. She's the one who can do something about that. I've always been a Clinton supporter. They haven't let me down.'" Read more.
PA Endorsement Watch: Hillary received the endorsement of Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, earning her the endorsement of mayors from Pennsylvania's "three largest cities": "I support her candidacy and ask Democratic voters in Allentown to do the same." Read More.
MT Endorsement Watch: "Yellowstone County Commissioner Bill Kennedy says he is endorsing Hillary Rodham Clinton...[Kennedy said:] 'In Montana, going to church or going hunting is part of our heritage, not something we 'cling to' out of bitterness or frustration...Sen. Obama showed a real disconnect with rural Montana. It might work to look down on us from San Francisco, but it won’t sell when he comes back to Montana.'" Read more.
Save The Date: Hillary will appear on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" on Thursday. The program will be broadcasted from Philadelphia and will air at 11:30pm ET. Read More.
In Case You Missed It: West Virginians aren't happy with Sen. Obama's characterizations about the people who live in America's small towns. Read More.
Closing with C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"
Tuesday, April 15, 2008. Chaos and violence continue, the House Veterans Affairs Committee discusses legislation, Refugee International releases a study on Iraq, and more.
Starting with war resistance. Richard Marcus (BlogCritics) reviews the new DVD Deserter which offers a a 30 minute look at "a deserting soldier and his young wife as they flee across the country to seek refugee status over the Canadian border. As they move from safe house to safe house, we get to know Ryan and Jen -- two shy, small-town kids from the Central Valley who joined the military because there were no jobs, and find they must make a heroic stand in order to escape an illegal and immoral war. 'Deserter' is a political movie with one of the few happy endings that this war has given us." Ryan and Jen are Ryan and Jen Johnson and they entered Canada in June 2005. Marcus writes, "All the way across America there operates a new Underground Railway, but now instead of helping runaway slaves they are helping young Americans escape from having to serve in what they consider an unjust war. Ryan and Jen are passed from having to serve in what they consider an unjust war. Ryan and Jen are passed from safe house to safe house until just before the border they phone the contact they have for Toronto. They've already been coached on how to get through the border corssing, but that doesn't stop them from being nervous; there is the risk that they could check Ryan for outstanding warrants and find out that he is a deserter."
Meanwhile war resisters in Canada wait to find out whether they will be granted safe harbor. The Canadian Parliament will debate a measure this month on that issue. You can make your voice heard. Three e-mails addresses to focus on are: Prime Minister Stephen Harper (pm@pm.gc.ca -- that's pm at gc.ca) who is with the Conservative party and these two Liberals, Stephane Dion (Dion.S@parl.gc.ca -- that's Dion.S at parl.gc.ca) who is the leader of the Liberal Party and Maurizio Bevilacqua (Bevilacqua.M@parl.gc.ca -- that's Bevilacqua.M at parl.gc.ca) who is the Liberal Party's Critic for Citizenship and Immigration. A few more can be found here at War Resisters Support Campaign. For those in the US, Courage to Resist has an online form that's very easy to use.
There is a growing movement of resistance within the US military which includes Matt Mishler, Josh Randall, Robby Keller, Justiniano Rodrigues, Chuck Wiley, James Stepp, Rodney Watson, Michael Espinal, Matthew Lowell, Derek Hess, Diedra Cobb, Brad McCall, Justin Cliburn, Timothy Richard, Robert Weiss, Phil McDowell, Steve Yoczik, Ross Spears, Peter Brown, Bethany "Skylar" James, Zamesha Dominique, Chrisopther Scott Magaoay, Jared Hood, James Burmeister, Eli Israel, Joshua Key, Ehren Watada, Terri Johnson, Clara Gomez, Luke Kamunen, Leif Kamunen, Leo Kamunen, Camilo Mejia, Kimberly Rivera, Dean Walcott, Linjamin Mull, Agustin Aguayo, Justin Colby, Marc Train, Abdullah Webster, Robert Zabala, Darrell Anderson, Kyle Snyder, Corey Glass, Jeremy Hinzman, Kevin Lee, Mark Wilkerson, Patrick Hart, Ricky Clousing, Ivan Brobeck, Aidan Delgado, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, Blake LeMoine, Clifton Hicks, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Logan Laituri, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Joshua Casteel, Katherine Jashinski, Dale Bartell, Chris Teske, Matt Lowell, Jimmy Massey, Chris Capps, Tim Richard, Hart Viges, Michael Blake, Christopher Mogwai, Christian Kjar, Kyle Huwer, Wilfredo Torres, Michael Sudbury, Ghanim Khalil, Vincent La Volpa, DeShawn Reed and Kevin Benderman. In total, at least fifty US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum. Information on war resistance within the military can be found at The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline [(877) 447-4487], Iraq Veterans Against the War and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters. Tom Joad maintains a list of known war resisters. In addition, VETWOW is an organization that assists those suffering from MST (Military Sexual Trauma).
Last month Iraq Veterans Against the War's Winter Soldier took place and KPFA has a live program coming up April 22nd:Live On Air and Online at kpfa.org!
April 22 from 10am-1pm Join us on April 22nd for this very important follow up to Pacifica's groundbreaking Winter Soldier live coverage. We will be following the San Francisco trial involving wounded vets and the Department of Veterans Affairs. In this first class action lawsuit U.S. Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder sue the VA, alleging a system wide breakdown in the way the Government treats those soldiers.During this special broadcast we will be bringing our listeners live updates from the San Francisco federal courthouse, we'll speak with wounded Veterans attorney Gordon Erspamer, (taking this case pro bono because his father was permanently disabled in World War II and never received proper health care) and speak with Veterans advocates including Veterans for Common Sense, and Vets for America.Read more about the broadcast here.
That announcement will appear in the snapshots until the broadcast. If you missed Winter Soldier you can stream online at Iraq Veterans Against the War, at War Comes Home, at KPFK, at the Pacifica Radio homepage and at KPFA, here for Friday, here for Saturday, here for Sunday. Aimee Allison (co-host of the station's The Morning Show and co-author with David Solnit of Army Of None) and Aaron Glantz were the anchors for Pacifica's live coverage.
Moving to the US Congress. Today the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held hearings on proposed legislation. Committee chair Michael Michaud noted, "The six bills before us cover a wide range of topics that are germane to veterans' healthcare. Issues addressed in today's bills include Spina Bifida, epilepsy research centers, substance use disorder treament and prevention, expansion of dental care, timely access to care, and a bill of rights."
The first panel offered testimony from members of Congress. Committee chair Michaud offered testmony on substance use noting, "Our legislation will require the VA to provide the full continuum of care for substance use disorder, and it will require this full spectrum of care to be available at every VA medical center. Our legislation will also direct the VA to conduct a pilot program for internet-based substance use disorder treatment for veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. This will enable our newest generation of veterans to overcome the stigma associated with seeking treatment and receive the necessary care in a comfortable and secure setting." US House Rep Christopher Carney focused on the issue of the dental care and, in his opening statement, provided reasons why this area should not be dismissed including: "The cost of this bill is a cost of war; it is an investment in our way of life and our future. As every member of this subcommittee knows, to ensure a ready fighting force tomorrow we need to take care of our veterans today. I would also like to point out that conditions such as missing teeth and cavities can be barriers in seeking employment and I believe every effort must be made to ensure that there is a smooth transition for our military members who are entering the civilian work force. We must also ensure that disabled veterans from wars past are also given every tool to keep a meaningful job and this includes dental care." US House Rep Ginny Brown-Waite was concerned with the issue of wait time and noted "if a veteran can't see a physician in 30 days she or he should be allowed to see a private doctor." She later pointed that "healthcare delayed is healthcare denied." Rep Phil Hare noted that it's not a "how can we afford" issue with veterans healthcare, "If we make a promise to our veterans . . . we have to keep that promise or we have no business making it." US House Rep Shelley Berkley agreed with that, explaining "For me the cost of the war" includes the "cost of taking care of our veterans" and if that's considered incorrect "then you ought not send them over" to begin with.
Berkley also noted the issue of costs in terms of funding, "If we're going to continue to pile more responsibilities on the VA . . . we better provide the VA with the necessary amount of money that they're going to need to carry out our will and so far I haven't seen that happen. . . . We're playing catch up now. . . . Unless we have a national recognition" of this priority "then we better just forget the whole thing. And thank you for listening to my soapbox." Berkley also noted that the US spends $3,919 a second in Iraq "and if we're going to spend that kind of money" there, Congress ought to be able to fund veterans healthcare. She noted doctors in Nevada who contracted to perform veterans healthcare and "they have not been paid in over a year." If this continues, she noted, "You're not going to get any doctors" who'll be willing to go through this process and take on patients. On the issue of substance abuse, she thought (most will agree) that the idea of treating it via the internet was a bit off the mark and was informed that the internet aspect is just a pilot program. Considering the rural areas that will not benefit why the pilot program is even being started might need to be questioned. (That's me, not Berkley). She noted the son of two of her constituents who served in Iraq. After returning home, he developed a sustance abuse program and was addicted to "five medications". Going for treatment at the VA resulted in him being put on a sixth medication "and he o.d.ed in the facility and he died in the VA." She cautioned, "We better make sure the VA has the tools" and that when someone "checks into a VA, there should be an expectation there" that they those conducting the treatment know what they are doing.
US House Rep Bob Filner focused on the need for an Epilepsy Center for Excellence. US House Rep Ed Perlmutter noted that he has a daughter with epilepsy and the need for the VA "to provide the military veterans coming back that will develop seizures and that develop epilepsy . . . with the best service possible." He reminded the committee of the large number of head injuries in combat and that "some of them are goign to have seizures." (Also offering testimony were US House Reps Brad Ellsworth and Ed Perlmutter.) The second panel offered five witnesses. Disabled American Veterans' Joy J. Illem spoke on the Epilepsy Centers of Excellence (HR 2818) and noted, "The bill would establish a peer review panel, consisting of experts on epilepsy and complex multi-trauma associated with combat injuries, including post-traumatic epilepsy, to assess the scientific and clinical merit of proposals submitted by VA facilities for consideration to be designated as Epilepsy Centers of Excellence under this bill. The peer review panel would be required to report its assessment of such proposals to the Under Secretary for Health, presumably to strengthen the Secretary's decision to designate Centers on the basis of merit -- but the bill does not specify this peer review as a precursor to the Secretary's designations. The Subcommittee may wish to make that minor modification to the bill to ensure the best proposals are considered by the Secretary as determined by the peer review panel. " Ilem felt it should be paired with a TBI center. Veterans of Foreign Wars' Christopher Needham stated "we need an emphasis on this." Chair Michaud asked the five witnesses at the second panel to name the two things the legislature should focus on fixing currently. Ilem stated substance abuse was the issue. Needham stated the same and added "hand in hand is funding issues." American Legion's Joseph L. Wilson stated TBI and blind eye issues. While Vietnam Veterans of America's Bernie Edelman noted "a lot of these health issues are interwoven" and also spoke of the "stigma associated with seeking help". Vietnam Veterans of America's Richard F. Weidman spoke of the diseases today (throughout the second panel) and the impacts on the future. He noted the issue of children of veterans developing diseases and the concerns many veterans had over this issue. Agent Orange was a frequent topic (brought up by many) and an important issue to keep in mind is that Agent Orange (it's effects on future generations) could have been dealt with during Vietnam (it never should have been used to begin with). It wasn't. Veterans of Vietnam have had to fight and fight and fight some more year after year. In terms of the current illegal war, funding, research, etc. needs to take place now. After the Iraq War ends it will be very, very difficult to get the interest of the bulk of Congress or the bulk of the American people on this issue. Vietnam veterans can talk at length about their struggles for basic healthcare and how they're still fighting.
Last week, in the midst of The Petraeus and Crocker Variety Hour, the House Veterans Armed Service committee held a hearing on April 9th and Trina wrote about it. Read her post, she did an excellent job covering it. Pressed for time, but veteran Michelle Saunders needs to be noted because she advocated very well in that hearing. She knew her facts, she was confident and presented very well. Boiling her points down to the briefiest, veterans can help veterans. She's pursuing that now and attempting an organization that will provide the training/preparation needed for post-military life. She noted that you get weeks of boot camp when you enlist, but when you discharge, it's bye. From her opening statement:
When I left the conference, I was so eager to get in the trenches and start figuring the best strategic approach on how to stop the bleeding, but little did I know it was like trying to put a band-aid on a sucking chest wound. I soon started to see the blackness of bureaucracy from the inside as opposed to being the victim on the outside. I started to see how a "success" was measured by a number, how a problem would disappear when it was time to report to the higher chain of command, how the "collaborating" agencies would point fingers at each other of all the pitfalls and the hic-ups, but would leverage each other for the "successes". After reading that, one may ask or presume I am bitter. The answer is, I am not bitter, I am disappointed and I am embarrassed. I am disappointed because I stand next to people every day who are in the positions to make effective change, who make six plus figure salaries a year and are able to go home at night and provide for their families just to start over the next day. I am embarrassed because I can't financially afford to bite the hand that feeds me. For me, it's a little different, I go home at night and I am in pain because I know that my brothers and sisters who once stood by my side at arms and always covered me, are gasping for air because they're worried about where the next pocket of money is coming from, their VA appeal claims, their lack of credentials, because of what their families may think of their, once proud American soldier. These are the parts of the transition that holds the needed healing of the broken soul, how do you heal when you can't stop firing squad?We are still repeating history in a sense that during the 1970's and 1980s, our streets were crawling with Vietnam War veterans with the same issues. The only difference today is our veterans are not being ignored by society and the government is being held accountable. For the first time Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are being recognized as issues and they are abnormal conditions caused by combat trauma and combat stress. We live in a society that does not accept murder as something "normal". We live in a society that is spiritual and compassionate by nature regardless of religious beliefs. When these horrific acts are witnessed or are performed by an American soldier in a time of war, it breaks the spirit in a way that can't be defined. However, we are expected to act "normal" when we arrive back to our home soil. In addition our peers are forced to look at us different and weak because of the mentality of our senior military leadership, we are "STRONG" warriors that aren't supposed to feel, yet we must follow the rules of the Geneva Convention because our morals and beliefs as a nation dictate. Yes there are services in place for those who "need it" but there is a silent voice that is extremely loud that puts those who "need it" in a corner. Fortunately, the American population as a whole is finally pushing back because they understand what our eyes see across the water is not "normal" however; there is still an uncomfortable stigma that is associated with this. Society as a whole wants to help, but that help must happen away from their children and their neighborhoods. We are making a difference however, the flood gates have been opened and an enormous amount of water has fractured the backbone of our infrastructure. It is up to those who can speak for the ones who can not. WE MUST INFORM, EDUCATE AND PROMOTE AWARENESS. The blind eye approach is NOT working; it is MUCH bigger than us, so we must take a different approach.
Turning to Iraq. Refugee International released a study, authored by Kristele Younes and Nir Rosen, entitled "Uprooted and Unstable: Meeting Urgent Humanitarian Needs in Iraq" [PDF format warning, click here]. In the opening, the report notes, "Five years after the US-led invasion, Iraq remains a deeply violent and divided society. Faced with one of the largest displacement and humanitarian crises in the world, Iraqi civilians are in urgent need of assistance. Particularly vulnerable are the 2.7 million internally displaced Iraqis who have fled their homes for safe locations inside Iraq. Unable to access their food rations and often unemployed, they live in squalid conditions, have run out of resources and find it extremely difficult to access essential services."
On the issue of returning the report notes the fact that abandoned homes have been taken over and that when there has been a conflict with a family returning, the local militias have sometimes been the ones 'hearing' the dispute. Those who are 're-settled' face the realities of the rations program which does not serve many of the internal refugees (often due to paperwork or lack of it, often due to the the fact that the internal refugees are not in their original home neighborhoods). The report clearly warns: "All relevant actors should discourage returns until the violence subsides and people can receive adequate assistance and protection." That warning echoes the United Nations and Red Crescent's warnings.
On the issue of the militias, the report notes how they are actually weakening the govenrment and how this is with US cooperation (whether US agents/actors are aware of it or not). Control of electric plants is one way in which the militias can determine who gets power and who does not. Control of aid also strengthens the militias while weakening the central government. The report notes Refugees International workers seeing the Baghdad based offices of the Sadr Movement dispensing "clothing, milk, oil, rice, sugar, clothes and fuel for heating and cooking when supplies are available." The NGOs would be one means to counter the weakening of the government but the US and Iraqi governments are little concerned with and little aware of these organizations. A visit by Refugees International to Baghdad's region where Palestinians currently reside led to the discovery that "the community" of 15,000 residents "has not had an international visitor since 2005." The Haifa Club provides assistance to that area. Ethar Associates provides assistance to 5,000 families in Amriya (a section of Baghdad where internally displaced Sunnis have moved) as well as to 4,000 families in Taji and 1,500 in Rashdiye. "When Refugees International mentioned the groups to UN agencies and international NGOS," the study notes, "it became clear that nobody knew of them, despite the important role they play."
In terms of the 'central-government,' Refugees International "observed close cooperation between the Mahdi Army and the Iraqi Police, Iraqi National Police and the Facility Protection Services that often protect ministries and are notorious for their lawlessness. Visiting Iraqi ministries and government offices in January and February of 2008, during the Shiite holy month of Muharam, there were overt symbols of Shiite tradition, such as flags and banners, hanging on buildings and walls, as well as television and radio stations playing Shiite religious prayers and songs. The lack of separation between the state and the Shiite denomination intimidates Sunnis and creates the impression of Shiite ownership of government institutions."
On the subject of militias, the report notes that the "Awakening" Council is abosrbing males who have relocated from other areas of Iraq. Leaving the report, Nouri al-Maliki (puppet of the occupation) has questioned the loyalty of the "Awakening" Councils (Sunni militias). US Senator Barbara Boxer raised that issue last week during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing when she pointed out that the US is paying the "Awakenings" $182 million a year, $18 million month, and that now the White House, via US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, "are asking us for millions more to pay off the militias and, by the way, I have an article here that says Maliki recently told a London paper that he was concerned about half of them". So the questions about their loyalties/ties to the central government in Baghdad is in question. But Refugees International's study raises another issue. Due to the fact that these are displaced Sunni males from other areas, their loyalties/ties are also not to the local government. The organization spoke with members in mutliple areas and "found that displaced men have joined armed groups. In some cases locals complain that the displaced are more aggressive and radical than local men who have joined the same groups." In Dora, they're informed by two members of "Awakening" Councils that they came on board for two reasons "money and the desire to take action against Shiites." So (leaving the report) the US government is arming and training these militias and not only are they not loyal to the central government in Baghdad (few Iraqis see al-Maliki as a legitimate leader) they aren't even loyal to their regions and one of the selling points from the Bully Boy and the US military brass is that these militias are "local" forms, "local" bonds. That argument tries to state that the "Awakening" Council is a strengthening force for the Iraqi government and that, being local, it strengthens the local government and that travels upward. But that's not at all what Refugees International found. The "local" militias aren't exclusively "local" and there are little tes to the local government or to the neighborhood. The report notes: "Like the Mahdi army, these Sunni militias also have political goals and are attempting to unite to become a larger movement that will be able to regain Sunni terriotry and effectively fight the Shiite militias and the Shiite dominated government, which they call and 'Iranian Occupation.' In some ways their attitude is, 'The Americans did not buy us, we bought them'." The central government in Baghdad is an installed government. As US Senator Joe Biden noted last Thursday in the Senate Foreign Relations Comittee hearing, the White House wants to negotiate a treaty (Status of Forces Agreement) with the central government but "there is no Iraqi government that we know of that will be place a year from now -- half the government has walked out." Refugees International's study notes that the Shi'ite versus Shi'ite struggles currently going on take place as Sunnis who feel disenfranchised plan what to do when the US does pull out.
In the meantime, the Iraqi refugees are being denied entry. That may make you think of the US government's refusal to accept Iraqis or of the borders being closed in countries bordering Iraq. However, Refugees International explains that of Iraq's eighteen provinces, eleven have shut their borders to Iraqi refugees from other provinces. As the report notes "eleven Governoates inside Iraq, as well as neighboring countries Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt no longer admit displaced Iraqis. In the event of an increase in violence, vulnerable Iraqi civilians will have nowhere left to go. One imperative for the international community is to consider such a scenario, and start planning for it."
The report demolishes the Myth of the Great Return. Throughout November the lie was repeated in media outlet after outlet (credit to Damien Cave and Cara Buckley of the New York Times who were among the first American reporters to report the reality -- among the first and among the only). "Iraq is safer!" went the lie. "Iraqis are returning by the busloads!" The figures didn't grow naturally. You had CBS News repeat a figure on the weekend that, by Monday afternoon, had more zeroes added to it. It was a publicity campaign by the puppet government and the White House. It was wrong and it was deadly. Before we get to the report on that, we need to all grasp how wrong that myth was. Iraqis seeking shelter outside of Iraq were being lied to, told it was safer and that they should come back. The Iraqi refugee crisis is already a crisis of global proportion but lying to refugees outside the country to trick them into coming back to Iraq is inhumane and criminal. That point needs to be stressed because Refugees International's study includes this: "According to a UN official, the Bush administration is also putting enormous pressure on the UNHCR to conduct a viability survey and declare Iraq safe for returns." Point, The Myth of the Great Return could strike again. Panhandle Media sat it out in November (and December and January). Real media didn't include many stepping up to the plate (even after Buckley and Cave had reported realities). The report notes that "the Ministry of Migration's return strategy document from late 2007 clearly states that returns, should they occur, would demonstrate the success of the current US-Government of Iraq overall security strategy in Iraq. The return strategy also underlines the necessity for the Government of Iraq to engage in an active media campaign to counter warnings that the potential for returns will adversely impact a security situation already extremely fragile." The Myth of the Great Return existed solely as a p.r. move. After Syria was asked to close their border to Iraqi refugees, a few returned, those whose funds had run out. The report documents this.
Violence never left Iraq; however, today was an especially violent day. Deborah Haynes (Times of London) notes "a car bomb exploded outside a courthouse and the offices of the provincial government in Baquba, the capital of Diyala province, north of Baghdad, leaving at least 40 dead and another 80 wounded" and labels it "one of the deadlist moments in months". CBS and AP quote Abu Sarmad who was in the area to have lunch: "I heard a big explosion and hot wind threw me from my chair outside the restaurant." Alissa J. Rubin (New York Times) quotes a Baquba morgue doctor who explains, "Some of the bodies that came to the hospital were, let's say, not bodies, but only a hand or a torso." Kim Gamel (AP) observes, "AP Television News footage showed many of the bodies covered in crisp white sheets and black plastic bags in the main hospital's courtyard while the emergency room inside was overwhelmed with the wounded." Robin Stringer and Camilla Hall (Bloomberg News) note, "The blast destroyed three buses and damaged shops nearby in the attack today, the U.S. military said by e-mail. Iraqi state television reported the explosion without providing futher details." Dean Yates (Reuters) estimates that, throughout Iraq today, over 75 lost the lives and notes, "A second car bomb, believed to be driven by a suicide attacker, exploded outside a popular restaurant in Ramadi, capital of Anbar province west of Baghdad, killing 13 people and wounding 14 others, a hospital source and police said." CNN estimates over 100 were injured in Iraq today. Kim Gamel (AP) quotes eye witness Ahmed al-Dulaimi who was having lunch at the time: "Suddenly a motorcyle parked near the restaurant and a man came running and then a huge explosion took place. Pieces of flesh flew into the air and the roof fell over us."
In other reported violence . . .
Bombings?
Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Baghdad bombing that claimed 2 lives with two more injured, a Baghdad mortar attack that wounded two, a mortar attack on the Green Zone, a Baghdad car bombing that claimed 1 life and left eight wounded, a Nineveh roadside bombing that wounded four police officers.
Shootings?
Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Nineveh home invasion that claimed the lives of 3 women and 1 man, an attorney "and her sister" shot dead in Mosul, an assassination attempt on Ali al Fadhli ("representative of the Shiite Cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani") that claimed the life of 1 bodyguard and left another and al-Fadhli wounded, 1 "female student" shot dead in Mosul and an attack in Karbala in which 5 people were shot dead and six were kidnapped.
Corpses?
Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports 3 corpses discovered in Baghdad.
Turning to US presidential politics. Ralph Nader is running for president as an independent candidate, Matt Gonzales is his running mater. With little national media attention, the Nader-Gonzalez ticket has been polling at approximately 6% in national polling. Team Nader reports that they're up to 10% in Michigan and notes, "For Clinton, Obama and McCain, ten percent might seem like peanuts. But for Nader/Gonzalez, it shows we're on our way up. It has been our contention all along that the corrupt two-party system cannot stand. Perhaps we are now seeing the first cracks in the facade of the duopoly. We have joined with you in a rebuilding project. Rebuilding a people-powered democracy." Jim Fitzpatrick (WJBC) reports that Nader "delivered the keynote address for Illinois State University's Civic Engagement Celebration" on Monday. The link contains an audio snippet of Nader where he declares, "It's as if these candidates are running for Saturday Night Live instead of the office of the presidency of the United States of American. They can only be rescued by the people, they can only be rescued by themselves."
Meanwhile, Cynthia McKinney is running for the Green Party presidential nomination and currently in the lead. The Green Party reports the delegate count is currently 52 for McKinney, 8 for Kent Mesplay, 8 for Howie Hawkins, 2 for Jesse Johsnon and, with 1 each, Kat Swift and Ralph Nader. Howie Hawkins 8 may or may not go towards Nader -- Hawkins was a stand-in/place-holder for Nader. Nader has since stated he is not pursuing the national Green Party's nomination. The party's most recent primary was March 28th and McKinney won 79% of the vote. Rhode Island, which we'll term a caucus here, went for McKinney as well at the start of this month. Among those who have endorsed McKinney is Mumia Abu Jamal who says she provides "not just the illusion, but the reality of 'change'."
Too many K, so we're boiling down the Democratic side. Senator Barack Obama today offered more excuses and no apology for his insult to Small Town Americans. Along with denying that he has to apologize, his campaign continues to insist he's not an elitist out of touch with the American people. Delilah Boyd (A Scrivner's Lament) reminds all of the 'common touch' of Barack Obama who declared to Iowa voters -- in a 'reach out' -- "Anybody gones into Whole Foods lately and see what they charge for argulag? I mean, they're charging a lot of money for this stuff." Arugula. Iowa has no Whole Foods. Meanwhile Fernando Suarez (CBS News) notes that Senator Hillary Clinton joked that her speech today was "off the record" -- the remarks that got Barack into trouble were given at an event in the Bay Area which the press wasn't invited to. Meanwhile Senator Hillary Clinton found more supporters:
Showing strength and momentum in the Keystone State, the Clinton campaign today announced 100 mayors who are endorsing Hillary Clinton for president. Following Senator Obama's remarks dismissing small town America, mayors joined supporters today in Harrisburg to declare their support for Hillary because of her readiness to lead on day one, her plans to jumpstart the economy, and her Pennsylvania roots and commitment to Pennsylvania values.
"I am proud to have such strong support from 100 of Pennsylvania's finest mayors," Senator Clinton said. "From small towns to big cities, these mayors work hard every day to improve the lives of the people they serve and they know they need a strong partner in Washington to help them bring affordable health care and revitalize their local economies."
The 100 mayors endorsing Hillary today will work in the final week of the campaign to get out Hillary's message of change for Pennsylvania and the country. Hillary understands the economic pressures of families who have lost jobs, face foreclosures, and can't afford health insurance or college tuition. She understands what it's like to roll up your sleeve and work hard. As president, Hillary will fight for the issues that matter to all Americans starting on day one in the White House.
Mayor John Antoline, Monaca, Beaver County
Mayor Michele Avvisato, Old Forge, Lackawanna County
Mayor Norman Ball, Tunkhannock, Wyoming County
Mayor Anthony Battalini, Aliquippa, Beaver County
Mayor Sam Benyi ,Clarksville, Greene County
Mayor Ronald Besong, Bell Acres, Allegheny County
Mayor Louis Biacchi, Berwick, Columbia County
Mayor James V. Bitonti, Belle Vernon, Fayette County
Mayor Richard Bowen, Taylor, Lackawanna County
Mayor Thomas Brown, Bentleyville, Washington County
Mayor John B.Callahan, Bethlehem, Northampton County
Mayor Willard Canfield, Hallsted, Susquehana County
Mayor Gennaro Cantalupo, Northern Cambria, Cambria County
Mayor Robert P. Carpenter, Laporte, Sullivan County
Mayor Peter M.Casini, South Connellsville, Fayette County
Mayor Joseph J.Cisco, Ellport, Lawrence County
Mayor Anthony Colaizzo, Canonsburg, Washington County
Mayor Esther Cotner, Washingtonville, Montour County
Mayor Carl Cott, Forksville, Sullivan County
Mayor Joan B. Derco, Youngwood, Westmoreland County
Mayor Christopher Doherty, Scranton, Lackawanna County
Mayor Bernard Dubaskas, Edwardsville, Luzerne County
Mayor Gary L. Durkin, Flemington, Clinton County
Mayor Greg Erosenko, Monroeville , Allegheny County
Mayor Emerson M. Fazekas, Versailles, Allegheny County
Mayor Philip Ferrizzi, Bally, Berks County
Mayor Ned C. Fink, Fountain Hill, Lehigh County
Mayor Richard T. Fluck, Hellertown, Northampton County
Mayor Jim France, East Lansdowne, Delaware County
Mayor Ralph Garzia, Brookhaven, Delaware County
Mayor Richard Gassman, Matamoras, Pike County
Mayor Gerald W. Gross, West Easton, Northampton County
Mayor Connie M. Guy, Mountville, Lancaster County
Mayor John Haberland, Coraopolis, Allegheny County
Mayor Loyce L. Harpster, Burnham, Mifflin County
Mayor David Haslett, Avalon, Allegheny County
Mayor Joseph Herbert, West Wyoming, Luzerne County
Mayor William Jenkins, Larksville, Luzerne County
Mayor Joseph Kazan, New Stanton, Westmoreland County
Mayor Joseph Keating, Pittston, Luzerne County
Mayor James F. Kinder, Mount Wolf Boro, York County
Mayor Donald L. Kinosz, Lower Burrell, Westmoreland County
Mayor Philip Krivacek, Duquesne, Allegheny County
Mayor Joseph Daniel Kudlac, Ellsworth, Washington County
Mayor Maxine J. Kuntz, East Prospect, York County
Mayor Michael M. Kutsek, Finleyville, Washington County
Mayor Leonard J. Larkin, Falls Creek, Jefferson County
Mayor Tom Leighton, Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County
Mayor Patrick Loughney, Dunmore, Lackawanna County
Mayor Thomas E. Loukota, Masontown, Fayette County
Mayor Robert J. Lucas, Sharon, Mercer County
Mayor Bernard M. Luketich, Cokeburg, Washington County
Mayor Edward Lyons, North Belle Vernon, Westmoreland County
Mayor Timothy Martin, Freeland, Luzerne County
Mayor Armand Martinelli, East Stroundsburg, Monroe County
Mayor George McCloskey, Norwood, Delaware County
Mayor Raymond McDonough, North Braddock, Allegheny County
Mayor Beverly Merkel, Jessup, Lackawanna County
Mayor John Milander, Jr., Coplay, Lehigh County
Mayor Christian P. Morrison, Tamaqua, Schuylkill County
Mayor Michael Nutter, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
Mayor Susan O'Connell, Crafton, Allegheny County
Mayor Raymond J. Osmolinski, Sr, Gallitzin, Cambria County
Mayor Salvatore J. Panto, Jr., Easton, Northampton County
Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Allentown, Lehigh County
Mayor Louis Payne, East Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
Mayor Joyce Peccon, Carmichaels, Greene County
Mayor Connie Peck, Trappe, Montgomery County
Mayor David Perusso, Wilson, Northampton County
Mayor Delmar Phillips, Frackville, Schuylkill County
Mayor Dennis Pietrandrea, Koppel, Beaver County
Mayor Albert Pipik, Allenport, Washington County
Mayor Dominick Pomposelli, Wilmerding, Allegheny County
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
Mayor Judy Reed, Connellsville, Fayette County
Mayor Stephen R. Reed, Harrisburg, Dauphin County
Mayor John D. W. Reiley, Pottsville, Schuylkill County
Mayor Herb Riede, McSherrystown, Adams County
Mayor Joseph Saxton, Bristol, Bucks County
Mayor John Segilia, Moosic, Lackawanna County
Mayor Timothy Shoemaker, Everson, Fayette County
Mayor Matt Sinberg, Yardley, Bucks County
Mayor Joseph E. Sinnott, Erie, Erie County
Mayor Thomas Smith, Blawnox, Allegheny County
Mayor Rick Smith, New Brighton, Beaver County
Mayor Larry Sprowls, Calysville, Washington County
Mayor Jeff Steffler, Wampum, Lawrence County
Mayor Margaret Stock, Butler, Butler County
Mayor F. John Szatkiewicz, Ohioville, Beaver County
Mayor Nicki Todaro, Newell, Fayette County
Mayor Tom Trigona, Johnstown, Cambria County
Mayor TonyWalck, Nesquehoning, Carbon County
Mayor William L. Welch, State College, Centre County
Mayor Leslie Whitehill, Salladasburg, Lycoming County
Mayor Barbara Wilhelm, Dawson, Fayette County
Mayor James E. Wolfe, Tarentum, Allegheny County
Mayor John Yacura, Elizabeth, Allegheny County
Mayor Dorothy Yazurlo, Laflin, Luzerne County
Mayor Jayne Young, Lansdowne, Delaware County
Mayor Stanley Zamerowski, Pringle, Luzerne County
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Monday, April 14, 2008
Bambi the Loser
“There aren’t many figures in American politics who could sustain 11 straight losses and raise $35 million,” he said, referring to the hefty amount of campaign contributions she raked in during February, despite suffering a string of losses to Obama.
That's the Ultimate Liar Barack. Hillary lost 11 states in a row? No. He's referring to Feb. following Super Duper Tuesday when he won such 'states' as DC "Americans Abroad" and other b.s. nonsense. Hillary should reply that, "There aren't many figures in American politics who could run for president and lose ALL BIG STATES except his home state and not care about destroying the Democratic Party by staying in the race."
But, hey, if he dropped out now, imagine how many people he might not be able to insult.
Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "The Unity Campaign"
Union workers picketed outside Democratic National Committee headquarters on Monday to pressure party leaders to seat delegates from Michigan and Florida at the party's summer convention.
About 40 members of the Michigan and Florida Building and Construction Trade Councils and other unions wore signs and handed out leaflets, creating the odd spectacle of union members, a core constituent of Democrats, demonstrating outside party headquarters.
The gathering was peaceful and the union activists, who were attending a Washington convention, did not prevent anyone from entering the party's offices. One union member wore a sign that read, "Guam delegates. Yes ... Florida. No?"
"To ignore just about 1 million votes I don't believe is something in our best interest," said Patrick "Shorty" Gleason, president of the Michigan construction union.
I'll assume the 'about a million' is for Michigan alone. Florida had over a million people turn out. But that doesn't matter. Including them would prevent Bambi's coronation. So they're shoved aside, disenfranchised, ignored. This is disgusting. In 2000, the DNC argued count every vote. Now they want to pretend that never happened. By going back on that 2000 action, they are now saying Bully Boy won 2000 legitimately. They'll destroy themselves just to annoint Bambi.
Here's Howard Wolfson's "HUBdate: Stepped Up Enforcement of Trade Laws" (HillaryClinton.com):
Trade Laws: This morning, Hillary renews calls for stepped up enforcement of trade laws at the Alliance for American Manufacturing Forum in Pittsburgh, PA.
Compassion Forum: At last night’s Compassion Forum at Messiah College, Hillary said, “I don't think that I could have made my life’s journey without being anchored in God's grace and without having that…sense of forgiveness and unconditional love.” Read more and more.
Bringing People Together in Scranton, PA: “Hundreds of people” lined the street in Scranton yesterday to see Hillary. At a press availability, Hillary responded to questions about Sen. Obama’s recent comments about small town America: “Democrats have reached out to me to say that we can’t afford for people to believe that the Democratic Party is elitist and out of touch. Because honestly, how do we expect people to listen to us if we don't hear them and we don’t respect their values and their way of life?…We’re at a point in America where we need to be bringing people together to help solve our problems…People don’t need a president who looks down on them; they need a president who stands up for them.” Listen here. Read more.
Pennsylvanians for Hillary: Hillary went door-to-door in the Philadelphia suburb of Drexel Hill yesterday. Said one supporter: “I never thought this time would come. It was amazing.” Read more.
A Chat in Pittsburgh: Sitting down for a breakfast interview, Hillary told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “I work hard to be the kind of person that is a good friend, a good family member, a good public servant.” Read more.
Spots in the Tar Heel State: The campaign is releasing its second “NC Ask Me” ad…out of nearly 10,000 questions submitted, Tammie Bright of Cherryville submitted the first question selected: “What are your plans on reducing the rising cost of gas?” Watch Hillary’s answer here. Yesterday, “Jewel” was released in NC where 91-year-old Jewel Hodges says she supports Hillary because “she had to climb up the rough side of the mountain in life. I saw her take her faith, courage, dignity, and climb that mountain with determination.” Watch here.
Hoosiers Canvass in Terre Haute: Yesterday, just two days after the Terre Haute office was destroyed by a fire, volunteers met at the sight to canvass. State Director Robby Mook said, “Our volunteers are resilient in their support for Hillary,” calling their continued work “a testament to [their] dedication.”
Previewing Today: After the Alliance for American Manufacturing Forum, Hillary attends the Philadelphia County Democratic Dinner in Philadelphia, PA. followed by a “Solutions for the Pennsylvania Economy” rally in Bristol, PA.
In Case You Missed It: Politico explores how “Obama can reveal moments of aloofness or tone deaf reactions that belie his image as the epitome of polished.” Read more.
Closing with C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"
Monday, April 14, 2008. Chaos and violence continue, the US military announces they will
finally free Bilal Hussein, a kidnapped photojournalist is rescued, the US military announces more deaths, and more.
Starting with war resistance. Writing earlier this month about a protest for the 4,000 mark (US service members killed), the Catalyst Project's Clare Bayard (Indybay IMC) notes, "Every day, people act to resist the U.S. military, from around the world, from within its ranks. And how do we know how many of those names read out last night belong to resisters? How many were carrying an unloaded weapon, like Agustin Aguayo did for a year while the Army denied his conscientious objector status? How many were considering going AWOL? How many were pursuing, if they knew the option existed, a conscientious objector status? How many had done something recently to stand up to racism, misogyny, or some random violence within their unit? Mostly we'll never know because now their mouths are filled with dirt and their stories will be carried only by those suriving them." Last month, Joanne Tucker (Daily 49er) reported on a rally Aguayo attended noting he "spent almost seven months in jail after going absent without official leave (AWOL) before his second deployment to Iraq as an Army medic" and quotes Aguayo declaring to the crowd, "We came back and we feel lucky. I have my limbs. I have my family, but still, it's hard to function. I'm glad you're here and you do want change." Aguayo served in Iraq on one of tour of duty. When he arrived, he wasn't prepared for what he saw and he had a spiritual transformation/awakening. He grasped immediately that what was taking place was against his moral beliefs and took to not loading his weapon. He applied for CO status and the military rejected it. The thrust of their argument is offensive which is that you are who you are -- in terms of spirituality and religious belief -- when you sign up. They argued against what almost every religion practiced in the US maintains, that your spirituality in, your commitment to, the religion can deepen and increase. The reason they got away with that is that so few people know Aguayo's story. If most people knew the US military was rejecting a claim for CO status (or for anything) based on the argument that a religion has a fixed point, they would be offended and outraged. (Especially considering the basic issue of who is the US military to weigh in on religion?) Aguayo took the issue to the civilian courts which had agreed to hear it. That alone should have made the US military back off long enough to let the court system weigh in. They didn't back off, Aguayo got across how serious he was about not being able to ethically, religiously and morally deploy to Iraq. Though gone less than 30 days -- the usual yardstick for whether someone is prosecuted for being AWOL -- and though he had turned himself in, the US military decided to court-martial him for desertion. The court-martial took place March 6, 2007 at which he declared, "I respect everyone's views and your decision. I understand that people don't understand me. I tried my best, but I couldn't bear weapons and I could never point weapons at someone. . . . The words of Martin Luther come to mind, 'Here I stand, I can do no more'."
Two years prior (May 10, 2005), Pablo Paredes was court-martialed. Pablo Paredes was schedule dto deploy in 2004, but he refused to board the ship. Rick Rogers (San Diego Union-Tribune) reported on it in real time noting December 7, 2004, "Petty Officer 3rd Class Pablo Paredes followed through on his plan: He refused to board his Navy ship yesterday morning when it sailed for Iraq with thousands of Camp Penleton Marines. . . . Paredes might be the first local sailor to refuse deployment on the grounds of being philosophically opposed to the Iraq war, said Sam Samuelson, spokesman for the San Diego Naval Station." National Lawyers Guild president Marjorie Cohn testified at Paredes court-martial. As she observed in May of 2005:
In a stunning blow to the Bush administration, a Navy judge gave Petty Officer 3rd Class Pablo Paredes no jail time for refusing orders to board the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard before it left San Diego with 3,000 sailors and Marines bound for the Persian Gulf on December 6th. Lt. Cmdr. Robert Klant found Pablo guilty of missing his ship's movement by design, but dismissed the charge of unauthorized absence. Although Pablo faced one year in the brig, the judge sentenced him to two months' restriction and three months of hard labor, and reduced his rank to seaman recruit.
"This is a huge victory," said Jeremy Warren, Pablo's lawyer. "A sailor can show up on a Navy base, refuse in good conscience to board a ship bound for Iraq, and receive no time in jail. Warren added. Although Pablo is delighted he will not have to go to jail, he still regrets that he was convicted of a crime. He told the judge at sentencing: "I am guilty of believing this war is illegal. I am guilty of believing war in all forms is immoral and useless, and I am guilty of believing that as a service member I have a duty to refuse to participate in this War because it is illegal."
Scripps News noted Pablo Paredes at the end of last month when addressing Pew Hispanic Center's polling which found only 24% of Latinos were in favor of the the Iraq War and noting that Paredes "now works as a peace educator with the American Friends Service Committee." At the same time, Parades and Jess Quintero contributed a piece for Scripps Howard News Service with Quinteror providing reasons Latinos should enlist and with Parades offering reasons why Latinos should be opposed to US involvement in Iraq. Parades reasons are below:
1. Hispanics are overrepresented in the most dangerous roles of the military and sorely underrepresented in the officer ranks and elite jobs.
2. Recruitment programs that target Hispanics make false promises of education, a better economic status and citizenship.
3. Hispanics who have served honorably come home to face inequality and discrimination; they aren't provided access to adequate veterans' benefits.
4. Hispanics' historical ties to the U.S. military have been destructive to their ancestors. "Marines are taught to sing about the pillaging of the 'Halls of Montezuma.' "
5. The war has propelled the rise of vigilante groups such as the Minutemen who in their propaganda messages stereotype and scapegoat all Hispanics as national-security risks.
Meanwhile war resisters in Canada wait to find out whether they will be granted safe harbor. The Canadian Parliament will debate a measure this month on that issue. You can make your voice heard. Three e-mails addresses to focus on are: Prime Minister Stephen Harper (pm@pm.gc.ca -- that's pm at gc.ca) who is with the Conservative party and these two Liberals, Stephane Dion (Dion.S@parl.gc.ca -- that's Dion.S at parl.gc.ca) who is the leader of the Liberal Party and Maurizio Bevilacqua (Bevilacqua.M@parl.gc.ca -- that's Bevilacqua.M at parl.gc.ca) who is the Liberal Party's Critic for Citizenship and Immigration. A few more can be found here at War Resisters Support Campaign. For those in the US, Courage to Resist has an online form that's very easy to use.
There is a growing movement of resistance within the US military which includes Matt Mishler, Josh Randall, Robby Keller, Justiniano Rodrigues, Chuck Wiley, James Stepp, Rodney Watson, Michael Espinal, Matthew Lowell, Derek Hess, Diedra Cobb, Brad McCall, Justin Cliburn, Timothy Richard, Robert Weiss, Phil McDowell, Steve Yoczik, Ross Spears, Peter Brown, Bethany "Skylar" James, Zamesha Dominique, Chrisopther Scott Magaoay, Jared Hood, James Burmeister, Eli Israel, Joshua Key, Ehren Watada, Terri Johnson, Clara Gomez, Luke Kamunen, Leif Kamunen, Leo Kamunen, Camilo Mejia, Kimberly Rivera, Dean Walcott, Linjamin Mull, Agustin Aguayo, Justin Colby, Marc Train, Abdullah Webster, Robert Zabala, Darrell Anderson, Kyle Snyder, Corey Glass, Jeremy Hinzman, Kevin Lee, Mark Wilkerson, Patrick Hart, Ricky Clousing, Ivan Brobeck, Aidan Delgado, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, Blake LeMoine, Clifton Hicks, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Logan Laituri, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Joshua Casteel, Katherine Jashinski, Dale Bartell, Chris Teske, Matt Lowell, Jimmy Massey, Chris Capps, Tim Richard, Hart Viges, Michael Blake, Christopher Mogwai, Christian Kjar, Kyle Huwer, Wilfredo Torres, Michael Sudbury, Ghanim Khalil, Vincent La Volpa, DeShawn Reed and Kevin Benderman. In total, at least fifty US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum. Information on war resistance within the military can be found at The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline [(877) 447-4487], Iraq Veterans Against the War and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters. Tom Joad maintains a list of known war resisters. In addition, VETWOW is an organization that assists those suffering from MST (Military Sexual Trauma).
Last month Iraq Veterans Against the War's Winter Soldier took place and KPFA has a live program coming up April 22nd:Live On Air and Online at kpfa.org!
April 22 from 10am-1pm Join us on April 22nd for this very important follow up to Pacifica's groundbreaking Winter Soldier live coverage. We will be following the San Francisco trial involving wounded vets and the Department of Veterans Affairs. In this first class action lawsuit U.S. Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder sue the VA, alleging a system wide breakdown in the way the Government treats those soldiers.During this special broadcast we will be bringing our listeners live updates from the San Francisco federal courthouse, we'll speak with wounded Veterans attorney Gordon Erspamer, (taking this case pro bono because his father was permanently disabled in World War II and never received proper health care) and speak with Veterans advocates including Veterans for Common Sense, and Vets for America.Read more about the broadcast here.
That announcement will appear in the snapshots until the broadcast. If you missed Winter Soldier you can stream online at Iraq Veterans Against the War, at War Comes Home, at KPFK, at the Pacifica Radio homepage and at KPFA, here for Friday, here for Saturday, here for Sunday. Aimee Allison (co-host of the station's The Morning Show and co-author with David Solnit of Army Of None) and Aaron Glantz were the anchors for Pacifica's live coverage.
Turning to Iraq, Free Bilal. Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist Bilal Hussein. For the 'crime' of being a reporter, he has been imprisoned by the US military since April 12, 2006. As last year drew to a close the US military stated Bilal would be tried by the Iraqi legal system. Last week, Reporters Without Borders noted that the "Iraqi appeal court panel of judges to dismiss the charges brought by the US defence department". But the US military refused to release him. As the Seattle Post-Intelligencer editorialized last week: "To recap: U.S. forces detain a man for 20 months without any charges. They hamstring his lawyers by not allowing them proper access to the evidence against him. When he finally gets his day in court and is exonerated, the U.S. military can still refuse to free him. How's that for justice?" At AP's Bilal folder, Robert H. Reid (AP) reports, "The U.S. military said Monday it will release Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein, more than two years after he was detained by U.S. Marines on suspicions of links to insurgents. The military said it has determined Hussein is not a threat and plans to free him Wednesday." Tom Curley, the CEO and president of AP states, "In time, we will celebrate Bilal's release. For now, we want him safe and united with his family. While we may never see eye to eye with the U.S. military over this case, it is time for all of us to move on." Hopefully, the news of Bilal's release will get a great deal of coverage (although some will probably breathe easier when Wednesday arrives and he's actually released).
What is getting attention out of Iraq today is the freeing of photojournalist Richard Butler. Hannah Allam (McClatchy Newspapers) observes Bulter "appeared to be in good condition in Iraqi television footage that showed him smiling broadly as jubilant Iraqi officials embraced him and celebrated the rescue". Deborah Haynes (Times of London) provides backstory, "A British photojournalist kidnpped two months ago in Basra was set free today in a dramtic rescue by Iraqi soldiers who stormed a house where he was being held captive with a hood over his head." David Blair (Telegraph of London) explains that the Iraqi soldiers "did not know that Mr Butler was being held there." BBC (text and video) also notes that fact, "The Iraqi forces launched the raid following an intelligence tip-off that was not about Mr Butler, but about a weapons cache in Basra, our correspondent said." Tina Susman (Los Angeles Times) quotes Butler declaring, "The Iraqi Army stormed the house and overcame my guards. They burst through my door." Erica Goode and Graham Bowley (New York Times) provides details on Butler (kidnapped February 10th): "a freelance photographer, worked for World Picture Network, an agency, and reported from countries such as Liberia and Iraq, before leaving to work for CBS News. He and his wife and family, which includes at least one son, are based in Toulouse, France, according to people who have worked with him." CBS News explains (text and audio) he "was working as a producer for 60 Minutes when he was taken by gunmen, along with his Iraqi translator, from the Sultan Palace Hotel early on the morning of Feb. 10, 2008. The translator was released several weeks ago." Robin Stringer (Bloomberg News) reminds, "The interpreter was released days later in a deal struck by Basra followers of Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Last year, 25 journalists and media assistants were kidnapped in Iraq, the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders press freedom campaign group said. A total of 208 have been killed in connection with their work since the start of the U.S.-led invasion in 2003." Canada's CBC adds to that, "Forces loyal to the radical Shia cleric Moqtada Al Sadr were involved in negotiations to free the two, but fighting between Sadr's militia and Iraqi army forces that began in last March is thought to have delayed the British journalist's release." Iran's Press TV states that following the release of the interpreter "the group says it couldn't free Butler." The Committee to Protect Journalists released a statement noting Butler's rescue.
It's interesting what passes for news and what doesn't. Specialist Matthew T. Morris, Captain Ulises Burgos-Cruz, Major Stuart A. Wolfer, Colonel Stephen K. Scott, Private 1st Class Shane D. Penley, Staff Sergeant Emanuel Pickett, Staff Sergeant Jeremiah E. McNeal, Sergeant Richard A. Vaughn, Specialist Jason C. Kazarick, Sergeant Michael T. Lilly, Sergeant Timothy M. Smith, Major Mark E. Rosenberg, Staff Sergeant Jeffery L. Hartley, Specialist Jacob J. Fairbanks, Sergeant Shaun P. Tousha, Sergeant Jesse A. Ault, Specialist Jeremiah C. Hughes and Technical Sergeant Anthony L. Capra were not news. Who are they? They are 18 of the 20 US service members who died last week (as noted at Third Sunday) -- two names are still not released. 20 US service members in Iraq were declared dead and where the newspapers headlines? Apparently the death toll only qualifies as 'news' when it's low and the US military brass can spin "It's down! It's down!"
One exception to the silence was The CBS Evening News. Speaking to US Gen David Petreaus on Thursday, Katie Couric noted (text and video) 16 US service members killed in Iraq. That was the AP count at that time. The number was already up 18 by ICCC which updates their count more quickly since it goes by MNF when possible (DoD announces names; MNF is supposed to announce deaths that DoD later -- after families are contacted -- provides the names for). Pia Malbran (CBS News) reports today:
The Department of Defense has released its latest American military casualty numbers for those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the figures reveal non-fatal casualties that go well beyond the more than 4,000 U.S. troops who have died so far. As of April 5, a total of 36,082 members of the U.S. military have been wounded in action and killed in Iraq, since the beginning of the war in March 2003, and in Afghanistan, where the war there began in October 2001. The 36,082 number breaks down to 4,492 deaths and 31,590 wounded. According to the same DoD "casualty" counts, an additional 38,631 U.S. military personnel have also been removed from the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan for "non-hostile-related medical air transports." "That's a tremendous number," said Paul Sullivan, the executive director of the advocate group Veterans for Common Sense, who believes these latest figures paint a more realistic picture of the true cost of the Iraq and Afghan wars. He is concerned troop casualties, including those who have been wounded, killed and medically transported, is now nearing 75,000.
Today the US military announced: "A Coalition force soldier was killed in an improvised explosive device attack in the Salah ad Din Province April 14. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending next of kin notification and release by the Department of Defense." And they announced: "A Multi-National Division -- Baghdad Soldier was killed from wounds sustained when an improvised-explosive device struck the vehilce the Soldier was riding in while conducting a combat patrol in northeastern Baghdad at approximately 4:45 p.m. April 14. The soldier was quickly transported by air to the combat army support hospital where he later died of his wounds." 4035 is now the number of US service members announced killed in Iraq since the start of the illegal war.
Turning to other reported violence . . .
Bombings?
Hussein Kadhim (McClatchy Newspapers) reports Baghdad roadside bombing that claimed the lives of 5 police officers and wounded thirteen people (including two police officers), 7 Baghdad mortar attacks that claimed 3 lives left thirteen wounded, a Mosul truck bombing that also involved gunfire resulted in the deaths of 14 Iraqi soldiers and 15 people, 2 Mosul car bombings claimed 2 lives and left four people wounded and a Tal Afer bomber killed themselves in an attack on funeral that resulted in the deaths of 4 mourners and twenty two being wounded. Reuters notes a Baghdad bus bombing claimed 2 lives and left six people wounded, a roadside bombing outside Yusuifya that claimed the lives of 2 police officers and left a third injured, while a Falluja car bombing wounded six family members.
Shooting?
Hussein Kadhim (McClatchy Newspapers) reports Maj Rafia Mohammad ("Basra intelligence directorate") was assassinated in Basra, while 17 "Awakening" Council members in Salahuddin Province were wounded in attacks on their homes and 1 person ("head of the electoral station centers") was shot dead in Diyala Province.
Corpses?
Hussein Kadhim (McClatchy Newspapers) reports 5 corpses discovered in Baghdad, 30 corpses in Muqdadiyah and 1 in Dour. Reuters notes 2 corpses discovered in Mahaweel and 2 "northeast of Kirkuk".
Turning to the US presidential race. All the news is about Senator Barack Obama. Which might be a good thing for him . . . were it not for the news. As noted in Friday's snapshot, he declared, "You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. It's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." Instead of immediately apologizing, he tried to play it off (as his surrogates continue to). He was offensive. He can't garner votes and offend. Eloise Harper (ABC News) reports Hillary stated Barack should have been "owning up to his remarks" which he should have been. It's really basic. And it's not helpful to the Democratic Party. As Fernando Suarez (CBS News) notes, Hillary explained that Sunday, "The Democratic Party has been unfortunately viewed by many people over the last decades as being elitist and out of touch." And that killed the John Kerry momentum (which did briefly exist -- go back to the days of the young Edwards children, John and Elizabeth Edwards and John Kerry and Teresa Heinz-Kerry on the front page of the New York Times -- that period briefly existed). Melinda Henneberger (Slate) dubs it Bambi's "worst" mistake and notes, "Sure, many Americans in places like my hometown are angry and they do 'cling'' to guns and God, though not in that order. It's connecting the two that's belittling in the extreme to the 'typical white person'-- to cite a phrase I chose to overlook at the time. Now, if Obama is sticking by the essence of what he said out of stubbornness or arrogance, that's one kind of problem. But if he really doesn't see why this could be a game-changer, that's worse. And though I've been pretty unrelievedly positive about the guy, it's the first thing he's said that's made me question his ability to win." Jay Newton-Small (Time magazine) notes that both Senators Hillary Clinton and John McCain called out Barack's remarks and that his elitist remarks "dominated" "campaign news" over the weekend and quotes Duke University's poli sci professor Michael Munger explaining the problems when gaffes "play to an underlying stereotype," ". . . the Obama stereotype is a wealthy ivy-league elitist. He's a little too well-spoken; his suits are a little too expensive. From him, the comment comes off as condescending." Mike Dorning (Chicago Tribune) reports it dominated the Sunday chat & chews and quotes the GOP's Mary Matalin stating, "The damage here is that what he said accurately reflects the current Democratic Party" which isn't reality but is how the GOP would use it in a general election because, as Matlin notes, his comments are "a general election nightmare." US News & World Report explains that the weekend didn't vanish the controversy and headlines their round-up with "Obama's 'Bitter' Comment Halts His Momentum." Anante Higgins (CBS News) reports John McCain stated today, "I think those comments are elitist."
KDKA's Paul Martino got reactions from the Pittsburgh area:In local small towns like Oakdale, many people say they were just hearing about Obama's comments and the reaction was mixed."It's a right to own a gun. You have every right in the world to own a gun," said Oakdale resident Mike Smith. "He's got no right to take that away from anybody."Local teacher, Joe Welch, of South Fayette Township, says he is an undecided Democratic voter, but adds that Obama's remarks may sway him now to vote for Senator Hillary Clinton."I don't want to make an instant reaction here, but this is something I'll take into consideration," said Welch. "Religion and personal freedoms, that's something that should be taken into consideration."
Meanwhile Hillary Clinton declared today (video here):
I am well aware that at a fundraiser in San Francisco, he said some things that many people in Pennsylvania and beyond Pennsylvania have found offensive. He was explaining to a small group of his donors what people who live in small towns right here in Pennsylvania are like and why some of you aren't voting for him. But instead of looking at himself, he blamed them.
He said that they cling to religion and guns and dislike people who are different from them. Well, I don't believe that. I believe that people don't cling to religion, they value their faith. You don't cling to guns, you enjoy hunting or collecting or sport shooting.
I don't think he really gets it that people are looking for a president who stands up for you and not looks down on you.
After seven years of Americans feeling invisible to this president, President Bush, it's time that we level the playing field and begin acting like Americans again. And that means we roll up our sleeves and we get to work making our country what we know it can be.
And I think it's time we turned words into action. As a great Pennsylvanian once said, Ben Franklin, "well done is better than well said." And that's what you're doing here and that's what I want to do with you. We're going to get things done. We're going to take action. We're going to bring people together. And I want you to hold me accountable.
Instead of apologizing for his remarks he chose to attack Hillary. Now Barack Obama already seems to think he can win without the support of Florida and Michigan (he wants to disenfranchise both -- those who remember the 1964 DNC should be appalled) -- but exactly who does he expect to vote for him? Where is this supposed 'coalition' going to come from? Because he's alienating Americans left and right. As part of his attempt to blame Hillary for what he said (where's the maturity, Barack?), he began telling 'jokes' about Annie Oakley. Chastity (No Quarter) explains why that is offensive to her. And it is offensive and part of the long history of attacks he and his campaign have launched on women. Larry Johnson (No Quarter) explains why Barack shouldn't make gun 'jokes' when he doesn't know the basics. (This is worse than John Kerry's big 'kill' that the Washington Post and the New York Times had a field day with in 2004.)
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That's the Ultimate Liar Barack. Hillary lost 11 states in a row? No. He's referring to Feb. following Super Duper Tuesday when he won such 'states' as DC "Americans Abroad" and other b.s. nonsense. Hillary should reply that, "There aren't many figures in American politics who could run for president and lose ALL BIG STATES except his home state and not care about destroying the Democratic Party by staying in the race."
But, hey, if he dropped out now, imagine how many people he might not be able to insult.
Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "The Unity Campaign"
Union workers picketed outside Democratic National Committee headquarters on Monday to pressure party leaders to seat delegates from Michigan and Florida at the party's summer convention.
About 40 members of the Michigan and Florida Building and Construction Trade Councils and other unions wore signs and handed out leaflets, creating the odd spectacle of union members, a core constituent of Democrats, demonstrating outside party headquarters.
The gathering was peaceful and the union activists, who were attending a Washington convention, did not prevent anyone from entering the party's offices. One union member wore a sign that read, "Guam delegates. Yes ... Florida. No?"
"To ignore just about 1 million votes I don't believe is something in our best interest," said Patrick "Shorty" Gleason, president of the Michigan construction union.
I'll assume the 'about a million' is for Michigan alone. Florida had over a million people turn out. But that doesn't matter. Including them would prevent Bambi's coronation. So they're shoved aside, disenfranchised, ignored. This is disgusting. In 2000, the DNC argued count every vote. Now they want to pretend that never happened. By going back on that 2000 action, they are now saying Bully Boy won 2000 legitimately. They'll destroy themselves just to annoint Bambi.
Here's Howard Wolfson's "HUBdate: Stepped Up Enforcement of Trade Laws" (HillaryClinton.com):
Trade Laws: This morning, Hillary renews calls for stepped up enforcement of trade laws at the Alliance for American Manufacturing Forum in Pittsburgh, PA.
Compassion Forum: At last night’s Compassion Forum at Messiah College, Hillary said, “I don't think that I could have made my life’s journey without being anchored in God's grace and without having that…sense of forgiveness and unconditional love.” Read more and more.
Bringing People Together in Scranton, PA: “Hundreds of people” lined the street in Scranton yesterday to see Hillary. At a press availability, Hillary responded to questions about Sen. Obama’s recent comments about small town America: “Democrats have reached out to me to say that we can’t afford for people to believe that the Democratic Party is elitist and out of touch. Because honestly, how do we expect people to listen to us if we don't hear them and we don’t respect their values and their way of life?…We’re at a point in America where we need to be bringing people together to help solve our problems…People don’t need a president who looks down on them; they need a president who stands up for them.” Listen here. Read more.
Pennsylvanians for Hillary: Hillary went door-to-door in the Philadelphia suburb of Drexel Hill yesterday. Said one supporter: “I never thought this time would come. It was amazing.” Read more.
A Chat in Pittsburgh: Sitting down for a breakfast interview, Hillary told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “I work hard to be the kind of person that is a good friend, a good family member, a good public servant.” Read more.
Spots in the Tar Heel State: The campaign is releasing its second “NC Ask Me” ad…out of nearly 10,000 questions submitted, Tammie Bright of Cherryville submitted the first question selected: “What are your plans on reducing the rising cost of gas?” Watch Hillary’s answer here. Yesterday, “Jewel” was released in NC where 91-year-old Jewel Hodges says she supports Hillary because “she had to climb up the rough side of the mountain in life. I saw her take her faith, courage, dignity, and climb that mountain with determination.” Watch here.
Hoosiers Canvass in Terre Haute: Yesterday, just two days after the Terre Haute office was destroyed by a fire, volunteers met at the sight to canvass. State Director Robby Mook said, “Our volunteers are resilient in their support for Hillary,” calling their continued work “a testament to [their] dedication.”
Previewing Today: After the Alliance for American Manufacturing Forum, Hillary attends the Philadelphia County Democratic Dinner in Philadelphia, PA. followed by a “Solutions for the Pennsylvania Economy” rally in Bristol, PA.
In Case You Missed It: Politico explores how “Obama can reveal moments of aloofness or tone deaf reactions that belie his image as the epitome of polished.” Read more.
Closing with C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"
Monday, April 14, 2008. Chaos and violence continue, the US military announces they will
finally free Bilal Hussein, a kidnapped photojournalist is rescued, the US military announces more deaths, and more.
Starting with war resistance. Writing earlier this month about a protest for the 4,000 mark (US service members killed), the Catalyst Project's Clare Bayard (Indybay IMC) notes, "Every day, people act to resist the U.S. military, from around the world, from within its ranks. And how do we know how many of those names read out last night belong to resisters? How many were carrying an unloaded weapon, like Agustin Aguayo did for a year while the Army denied his conscientious objector status? How many were considering going AWOL? How many were pursuing, if they knew the option existed, a conscientious objector status? How many had done something recently to stand up to racism, misogyny, or some random violence within their unit? Mostly we'll never know because now their mouths are filled with dirt and their stories will be carried only by those suriving them." Last month, Joanne Tucker (Daily 49er) reported on a rally Aguayo attended noting he "spent almost seven months in jail after going absent without official leave (AWOL) before his second deployment to Iraq as an Army medic" and quotes Aguayo declaring to the crowd, "We came back and we feel lucky. I have my limbs. I have my family, but still, it's hard to function. I'm glad you're here and you do want change." Aguayo served in Iraq on one of tour of duty. When he arrived, he wasn't prepared for what he saw and he had a spiritual transformation/awakening. He grasped immediately that what was taking place was against his moral beliefs and took to not loading his weapon. He applied for CO status and the military rejected it. The thrust of their argument is offensive which is that you are who you are -- in terms of spirituality and religious belief -- when you sign up. They argued against what almost every religion practiced in the US maintains, that your spirituality in, your commitment to, the religion can deepen and increase. The reason they got away with that is that so few people know Aguayo's story. If most people knew the US military was rejecting a claim for CO status (or for anything) based on the argument that a religion has a fixed point, they would be offended and outraged. (Especially considering the basic issue of who is the US military to weigh in on religion?) Aguayo took the issue to the civilian courts which had agreed to hear it. That alone should have made the US military back off long enough to let the court system weigh in. They didn't back off, Aguayo got across how serious he was about not being able to ethically, religiously and morally deploy to Iraq. Though gone less than 30 days -- the usual yardstick for whether someone is prosecuted for being AWOL -- and though he had turned himself in, the US military decided to court-martial him for desertion. The court-martial took place March 6, 2007 at which he declared, "I respect everyone's views and your decision. I understand that people don't understand me. I tried my best, but I couldn't bear weapons and I could never point weapons at someone. . . . The words of Martin Luther come to mind, 'Here I stand, I can do no more'."
Two years prior (May 10, 2005), Pablo Paredes was court-martialed. Pablo Paredes was schedule dto deploy in 2004, but he refused to board the ship. Rick Rogers (San Diego Union-Tribune) reported on it in real time noting December 7, 2004, "Petty Officer 3rd Class Pablo Paredes followed through on his plan: He refused to board his Navy ship yesterday morning when it sailed for Iraq with thousands of Camp Penleton Marines. . . . Paredes might be the first local sailor to refuse deployment on the grounds of being philosophically opposed to the Iraq war, said Sam Samuelson, spokesman for the San Diego Naval Station." National Lawyers Guild president Marjorie Cohn testified at Paredes court-martial. As she observed in May of 2005:
In a stunning blow to the Bush administration, a Navy judge gave Petty Officer 3rd Class Pablo Paredes no jail time for refusing orders to board the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard before it left San Diego with 3,000 sailors and Marines bound for the Persian Gulf on December 6th. Lt. Cmdr. Robert Klant found Pablo guilty of missing his ship's movement by design, but dismissed the charge of unauthorized absence. Although Pablo faced one year in the brig, the judge sentenced him to two months' restriction and three months of hard labor, and reduced his rank to seaman recruit.
"This is a huge victory," said Jeremy Warren, Pablo's lawyer. "A sailor can show up on a Navy base, refuse in good conscience to board a ship bound for Iraq, and receive no time in jail. Warren added. Although Pablo is delighted he will not have to go to jail, he still regrets that he was convicted of a crime. He told the judge at sentencing: "I am guilty of believing this war is illegal. I am guilty of believing war in all forms is immoral and useless, and I am guilty of believing that as a service member I have a duty to refuse to participate in this War because it is illegal."
Scripps News noted Pablo Paredes at the end of last month when addressing Pew Hispanic Center's polling which found only 24% of Latinos were in favor of the the Iraq War and noting that Paredes "now works as a peace educator with the American Friends Service Committee." At the same time, Parades and Jess Quintero contributed a piece for Scripps Howard News Service with Quinteror providing reasons Latinos should enlist and with Parades offering reasons why Latinos should be opposed to US involvement in Iraq. Parades reasons are below:
1. Hispanics are overrepresented in the most dangerous roles of the military and sorely underrepresented in the officer ranks and elite jobs.
2. Recruitment programs that target Hispanics make false promises of education, a better economic status and citizenship.
3. Hispanics who have served honorably come home to face inequality and discrimination; they aren't provided access to adequate veterans' benefits.
4. Hispanics' historical ties to the U.S. military have been destructive to their ancestors. "Marines are taught to sing about the pillaging of the 'Halls of Montezuma.' "
5. The war has propelled the rise of vigilante groups such as the Minutemen who in their propaganda messages stereotype and scapegoat all Hispanics as national-security risks.
Meanwhile war resisters in Canada wait to find out whether they will be granted safe harbor. The Canadian Parliament will debate a measure this month on that issue. You can make your voice heard. Three e-mails addresses to focus on are: Prime Minister Stephen Harper (pm@pm.gc.ca -- that's pm at gc.ca) who is with the Conservative party and these two Liberals, Stephane Dion (Dion.S@parl.gc.ca -- that's Dion.S at parl.gc.ca) who is the leader of the Liberal Party and Maurizio Bevilacqua (Bevilacqua.M@parl.gc.ca -- that's Bevilacqua.M at parl.gc.ca) who is the Liberal Party's Critic for Citizenship and Immigration. A few more can be found here at War Resisters Support Campaign. For those in the US, Courage to Resist has an online form that's very easy to use.
There is a growing movement of resistance within the US military which includes Matt Mishler, Josh Randall, Robby Keller, Justiniano Rodrigues, Chuck Wiley, James Stepp, Rodney Watson, Michael Espinal, Matthew Lowell, Derek Hess, Diedra Cobb, Brad McCall, Justin Cliburn, Timothy Richard, Robert Weiss, Phil McDowell, Steve Yoczik, Ross Spears, Peter Brown, Bethany "Skylar" James, Zamesha Dominique, Chrisopther Scott Magaoay, Jared Hood, James Burmeister, Eli Israel, Joshua Key, Ehren Watada, Terri Johnson, Clara Gomez, Luke Kamunen, Leif Kamunen, Leo Kamunen, Camilo Mejia, Kimberly Rivera, Dean Walcott, Linjamin Mull, Agustin Aguayo, Justin Colby, Marc Train, Abdullah Webster, Robert Zabala, Darrell Anderson, Kyle Snyder, Corey Glass, Jeremy Hinzman, Kevin Lee, Mark Wilkerson, Patrick Hart, Ricky Clousing, Ivan Brobeck, Aidan Delgado, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, Blake LeMoine, Clifton Hicks, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Logan Laituri, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Joshua Casteel, Katherine Jashinski, Dale Bartell, Chris Teske, Matt Lowell, Jimmy Massey, Chris Capps, Tim Richard, Hart Viges, Michael Blake, Christopher Mogwai, Christian Kjar, Kyle Huwer, Wilfredo Torres, Michael Sudbury, Ghanim Khalil, Vincent La Volpa, DeShawn Reed and Kevin Benderman. In total, at least fifty US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum. Information on war resistance within the military can be found at The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline [(877) 447-4487], Iraq Veterans Against the War and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters. Tom Joad maintains a list of known war resisters. In addition, VETWOW is an organization that assists those suffering from MST (Military Sexual Trauma).
Last month Iraq Veterans Against the War's Winter Soldier took place and KPFA has a live program coming up April 22nd:Live On Air and Online at kpfa.org!
April 22 from 10am-1pm Join us on April 22nd for this very important follow up to Pacifica's groundbreaking Winter Soldier live coverage. We will be following the San Francisco trial involving wounded vets and the Department of Veterans Affairs. In this first class action lawsuit U.S. Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder sue the VA, alleging a system wide breakdown in the way the Government treats those soldiers.During this special broadcast we will be bringing our listeners live updates from the San Francisco federal courthouse, we'll speak with wounded Veterans attorney Gordon Erspamer, (taking this case pro bono because his father was permanently disabled in World War II and never received proper health care) and speak with Veterans advocates including Veterans for Common Sense, and Vets for America.Read more about the broadcast here.
That announcement will appear in the snapshots until the broadcast. If you missed Winter Soldier you can stream online at Iraq Veterans Against the War, at War Comes Home, at KPFK, at the Pacifica Radio homepage and at KPFA, here for Friday, here for Saturday, here for Sunday. Aimee Allison (co-host of the station's The Morning Show and co-author with David Solnit of Army Of None) and Aaron Glantz were the anchors for Pacifica's live coverage.
Turning to Iraq, Free Bilal. Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist Bilal Hussein. For the 'crime' of being a reporter, he has been imprisoned by the US military since April 12, 2006. As last year drew to a close the US military stated Bilal would be tried by the Iraqi legal system. Last week, Reporters Without Borders noted that the "Iraqi appeal court panel of judges to dismiss the charges brought by the US defence department". But the US military refused to release him. As the Seattle Post-Intelligencer editorialized last week: "To recap: U.S. forces detain a man for 20 months without any charges. They hamstring his lawyers by not allowing them proper access to the evidence against him. When he finally gets his day in court and is exonerated, the U.S. military can still refuse to free him. How's that for justice?" At AP's Bilal folder, Robert H. Reid (AP) reports, "The U.S. military said Monday it will release Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein, more than two years after he was detained by U.S. Marines on suspicions of links to insurgents. The military said it has determined Hussein is not a threat and plans to free him Wednesday." Tom Curley, the CEO and president of AP states, "In time, we will celebrate Bilal's release. For now, we want him safe and united with his family. While we may never see eye to eye with the U.S. military over this case, it is time for all of us to move on." Hopefully, the news of Bilal's release will get a great deal of coverage (although some will probably breathe easier when Wednesday arrives and he's actually released).
What is getting attention out of Iraq today is the freeing of photojournalist Richard Butler. Hannah Allam (McClatchy Newspapers) observes Bulter "appeared to be in good condition in Iraqi television footage that showed him smiling broadly as jubilant Iraqi officials embraced him and celebrated the rescue". Deborah Haynes (Times of London) provides backstory, "A British photojournalist kidnpped two months ago in Basra was set free today in a dramtic rescue by Iraqi soldiers who stormed a house where he was being held captive with a hood over his head." David Blair (Telegraph of London) explains that the Iraqi soldiers "did not know that Mr Butler was being held there." BBC (text and video) also notes that fact, "The Iraqi forces launched the raid following an intelligence tip-off that was not about Mr Butler, but about a weapons cache in Basra, our correspondent said." Tina Susman (Los Angeles Times) quotes Butler declaring, "The Iraqi Army stormed the house and overcame my guards. They burst through my door." Erica Goode and Graham Bowley (New York Times) provides details on Butler (kidnapped February 10th): "a freelance photographer, worked for World Picture Network, an agency, and reported from countries such as Liberia and Iraq, before leaving to work for CBS News. He and his wife and family, which includes at least one son, are based in Toulouse, France, according to people who have worked with him." CBS News explains (text and audio) he "was working as a producer for 60 Minutes when he was taken by gunmen, along with his Iraqi translator, from the Sultan Palace Hotel early on the morning of Feb. 10, 2008. The translator was released several weeks ago." Robin Stringer (Bloomberg News) reminds, "The interpreter was released days later in a deal struck by Basra followers of Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Last year, 25 journalists and media assistants were kidnapped in Iraq, the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders press freedom campaign group said. A total of 208 have been killed in connection with their work since the start of the U.S.-led invasion in 2003." Canada's CBC adds to that, "Forces loyal to the radical Shia cleric Moqtada Al Sadr were involved in negotiations to free the two, but fighting between Sadr's militia and Iraqi army forces that began in last March is thought to have delayed the British journalist's release." Iran's Press TV states that following the release of the interpreter "the group says it couldn't free Butler." The Committee to Protect Journalists released a statement noting Butler's rescue.
It's interesting what passes for news and what doesn't. Specialist Matthew T. Morris, Captain Ulises Burgos-Cruz, Major Stuart A. Wolfer, Colonel Stephen K. Scott, Private 1st Class Shane D. Penley, Staff Sergeant Emanuel Pickett, Staff Sergeant Jeremiah E. McNeal, Sergeant Richard A. Vaughn, Specialist Jason C. Kazarick, Sergeant Michael T. Lilly, Sergeant Timothy M. Smith, Major Mark E. Rosenberg, Staff Sergeant Jeffery L. Hartley, Specialist Jacob J. Fairbanks, Sergeant Shaun P. Tousha, Sergeant Jesse A. Ault, Specialist Jeremiah C. Hughes and Technical Sergeant Anthony L. Capra were not news. Who are they? They are 18 of the 20 US service members who died last week (as noted at Third Sunday) -- two names are still not released. 20 US service members in Iraq were declared dead and where the newspapers headlines? Apparently the death toll only qualifies as 'news' when it's low and the US military brass can spin "It's down! It's down!"
One exception to the silence was The CBS Evening News. Speaking to US Gen David Petreaus on Thursday, Katie Couric noted (text and video) 16 US service members killed in Iraq. That was the AP count at that time. The number was already up 18 by ICCC which updates their count more quickly since it goes by MNF when possible (DoD announces names; MNF is supposed to announce deaths that DoD later -- after families are contacted -- provides the names for). Pia Malbran (CBS News) reports today:
The Department of Defense has released its latest American military casualty numbers for those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the figures reveal non-fatal casualties that go well beyond the more than 4,000 U.S. troops who have died so far. As of April 5, a total of 36,082 members of the U.S. military have been wounded in action and killed in Iraq, since the beginning of the war in March 2003, and in Afghanistan, where the war there began in October 2001. The 36,082 number breaks down to 4,492 deaths and 31,590 wounded. According to the same DoD "casualty" counts, an additional 38,631 U.S. military personnel have also been removed from the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan for "non-hostile-related medical air transports." "That's a tremendous number," said Paul Sullivan, the executive director of the advocate group Veterans for Common Sense, who believes these latest figures paint a more realistic picture of the true cost of the Iraq and Afghan wars. He is concerned troop casualties, including those who have been wounded, killed and medically transported, is now nearing 75,000.
Today the US military announced: "A Coalition force soldier was killed in an improvised explosive device attack in the Salah ad Din Province April 14. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending next of kin notification and release by the Department of Defense." And they announced: "A Multi-National Division -- Baghdad Soldier was killed from wounds sustained when an improvised-explosive device struck the vehilce the Soldier was riding in while conducting a combat patrol in northeastern Baghdad at approximately 4:45 p.m. April 14. The soldier was quickly transported by air to the combat army support hospital where he later died of his wounds." 4035 is now the number of US service members announced killed in Iraq since the start of the illegal war.
Turning to other reported violence . . .
Bombings?
Hussein Kadhim (McClatchy Newspapers) reports Baghdad roadside bombing that claimed the lives of 5 police officers and wounded thirteen people (including two police officers), 7 Baghdad mortar attacks that claimed 3 lives left thirteen wounded, a Mosul truck bombing that also involved gunfire resulted in the deaths of 14 Iraqi soldiers and 15 people, 2 Mosul car bombings claimed 2 lives and left four people wounded and a Tal Afer bomber killed themselves in an attack on funeral that resulted in the deaths of 4 mourners and twenty two being wounded. Reuters notes a Baghdad bus bombing claimed 2 lives and left six people wounded, a roadside bombing outside Yusuifya that claimed the lives of 2 police officers and left a third injured, while a Falluja car bombing wounded six family members.
Shooting?
Hussein Kadhim (McClatchy Newspapers) reports Maj Rafia Mohammad ("Basra intelligence directorate") was assassinated in Basra, while 17 "Awakening" Council members in Salahuddin Province were wounded in attacks on their homes and 1 person ("head of the electoral station centers") was shot dead in Diyala Province.
Corpses?
Hussein Kadhim (McClatchy Newspapers) reports 5 corpses discovered in Baghdad, 30 corpses in Muqdadiyah and 1 in Dour. Reuters notes 2 corpses discovered in Mahaweel and 2 "northeast of Kirkuk".
Turning to the US presidential race. All the news is about Senator Barack Obama. Which might be a good thing for him . . . were it not for the news. As noted in Friday's snapshot, he declared, "You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. It's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." Instead of immediately apologizing, he tried to play it off (as his surrogates continue to). He was offensive. He can't garner votes and offend. Eloise Harper (ABC News) reports Hillary stated Barack should have been "owning up to his remarks" which he should have been. It's really basic. And it's not helpful to the Democratic Party. As Fernando Suarez (CBS News) notes, Hillary explained that Sunday, "The Democratic Party has been unfortunately viewed by many people over the last decades as being elitist and out of touch." And that killed the John Kerry momentum (which did briefly exist -- go back to the days of the young Edwards children, John and Elizabeth Edwards and John Kerry and Teresa Heinz-Kerry on the front page of the New York Times -- that period briefly existed). Melinda Henneberger (Slate) dubs it Bambi's "worst" mistake and notes, "Sure, many Americans in places like my hometown are angry and they do 'cling'' to guns and God, though not in that order. It's connecting the two that's belittling in the extreme to the 'typical white person'-- to cite a phrase I chose to overlook at the time. Now, if Obama is sticking by the essence of what he said out of stubbornness or arrogance, that's one kind of problem. But if he really doesn't see why this could be a game-changer, that's worse. And though I've been pretty unrelievedly positive about the guy, it's the first thing he's said that's made me question his ability to win." Jay Newton-Small (Time magazine) notes that both Senators Hillary Clinton and John McCain called out Barack's remarks and that his elitist remarks "dominated" "campaign news" over the weekend and quotes Duke University's poli sci professor Michael Munger explaining the problems when gaffes "play to an underlying stereotype," ". . . the Obama stereotype is a wealthy ivy-league elitist. He's a little too well-spoken; his suits are a little too expensive. From him, the comment comes off as condescending." Mike Dorning (Chicago Tribune) reports it dominated the Sunday chat & chews and quotes the GOP's Mary Matalin stating, "The damage here is that what he said accurately reflects the current Democratic Party" which isn't reality but is how the GOP would use it in a general election because, as Matlin notes, his comments are "a general election nightmare." US News & World Report explains that the weekend didn't vanish the controversy and headlines their round-up with "Obama's 'Bitter' Comment Halts His Momentum." Anante Higgins (CBS News) reports John McCain stated today, "I think those comments are elitist."
KDKA's Paul Martino got reactions from the Pittsburgh area:In local small towns like Oakdale, many people say they were just hearing about Obama's comments and the reaction was mixed."It's a right to own a gun. You have every right in the world to own a gun," said Oakdale resident Mike Smith. "He's got no right to take that away from anybody."Local teacher, Joe Welch, of South Fayette Township, says he is an undecided Democratic voter, but adds that Obama's remarks may sway him now to vote for Senator Hillary Clinton."I don't want to make an instant reaction here, but this is something I'll take into consideration," said Welch. "Religion and personal freedoms, that's something that should be taken into consideration."
Meanwhile Hillary Clinton declared today (video here):
I am well aware that at a fundraiser in San Francisco, he said some things that many people in Pennsylvania and beyond Pennsylvania have found offensive. He was explaining to a small group of his donors what people who live in small towns right here in Pennsylvania are like and why some of you aren't voting for him. But instead of looking at himself, he blamed them.
He said that they cling to religion and guns and dislike people who are different from them. Well, I don't believe that. I believe that people don't cling to religion, they value their faith. You don't cling to guns, you enjoy hunting or collecting or sport shooting.
I don't think he really gets it that people are looking for a president who stands up for you and not looks down on you.
After seven years of Americans feeling invisible to this president, President Bush, it's time that we level the playing field and begin acting like Americans again. And that means we roll up our sleeves and we get to work making our country what we know it can be.
And I think it's time we turned words into action. As a great Pennsylvanian once said, Ben Franklin, "well done is better than well said." And that's what you're doing here and that's what I want to do with you. We're going to get things done. We're going to take action. We're going to bring people together. And I want you to hold me accountable.
Instead of apologizing for his remarks he chose to attack Hillary. Now Barack Obama already seems to think he can win without the support of Florida and Michigan (he wants to disenfranchise both -- those who remember the 1964 DNC should be appalled) -- but exactly who does he expect to vote for him? Where is this supposed 'coalition' going to come from? Because he's alienating Americans left and right. As part of his attempt to blame Hillary for what he said (where's the maturity, Barack?), he began telling 'jokes' about Annie Oakley. Chastity (No Quarter) explains why that is offensive to her. And it is offensive and part of the long history of attacks he and his campaign have launched on women. Larry Johnson (No Quarter) explains why Barack shouldn't make gun 'jokes' when he doesn't know the basics. (This is worse than John Kerry's big 'kill' that the Washington Post and the New York Times had a field day with in 2004.)
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