This Weekend - 5th Anniversary

* Bleeding Afghanistan: Washington, Warlords and the Propaganda of Silence *

This weekend marks the fifth anniversary of the US invasion of Afghanistan.
In recent months the Taliban has seized control of entire regions of the
country. The security situation has worsened as suicide bombings are up 600
percent this year. Opium and poppy cultivation are at record highs. NATO
forces are suffering their highest casualty rate in five years. We speak
with Sonali Kolhatkar and James Ingalls, authors of the new book, ³Bleeding
Afghanistan: Washington, Warlords and the Propaganda of Silence.²

Listen/Watch/Read

Contractors in Afghanistan are making big money for bad work
By: CorpWatch
Published: Oct 7, 2006

Click here to download the complete report.

I've Had Enough - IMPEACH

I've Had Enough


These are photo's taken at the Charlotte NC 'Impeachment Rally' held on Sept 30th 2006 at Freedom Park. I've put some together as a Music Video. As the Title and the Song states "I've Had Enough", not only with this Criminal Administration but this Do Nothing Rubber Stamp CONgress Also!!!
Peace Ribbon Project

Remote Control

Remote Control
Sandy was humping in his brown and tan camouflaged fatigues
with an 80 + pound rucksack, his 16, ammo, helmet, heat, sweat
and a television set on his shoulders where his head would be.
His whole company had television heads,
but sometimes the news would say, all's quiet on the western front
"Stay the course" and they knew that was a lie.
Touchtone an IED killing and killing and killing ad infinitum.
TV heads had an incredible 140,000 plus channels
with satellites beaming that "The war is lost"
instead of from the fear ridden embedded news
that would only say "We are winning slowly"
instead of telling the people the truth.
Another TV head was in high definition
but soon red blood that looked real, "was real"
started dripping down the screen on the new blue carpet,
his wife began to scream at her husband
"To change the channel."
The Armchair General grabbed the remote and "changed the channel"
only to find another TV head in Germany
and a picture of his white amputated legs.
His wife was still cleaning up the blood
when oozing blood from the mangled legs
dripped two big drops of "thick dark news" on the back of her head.
Before she noticed, her Armchair General
grabbed the remote and "changed channels."
A picture on the TV head showed a soldier
showing pictures of his wife and kids back home.
His wife let out a scream
as two military men were knocking on the door.
Marie opened it and cried,
"It's Sandy, isn't it? Is he still alive?"
Her two children stood behind her
waiting for the answer.

GI SPECIAL 4J6: 'Remote Control'.pdf

LOOKING FOR 1000 GRANDMOTHERS TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS

1000 Grandmothers

November 17-19, 2006

Greetings Grandmothers and Grandmother-Supporters!

The campaign to get 1,000 grandmothers to the gates of the “School of the Assassins” is building momentum! The image of sweet little old ladies taking a stand against the training of Latin American combat soldiers resonates with people. We have even gotten an email from a grandmother as far away as Pakistan sending her support for this action!

As the time until the mobilization grows short, we need for this action to quickly become a widespread grassroots effort (as opposed to an action organized by three women in northern California). We need your help in spreading the word to get more people involved in this work. Please consider forwarding this email to your friends and allies, and on any organizational listserve or in newsletters.

Our Strategy

Our strategy for closing the School of the Americas can be briefly described as follows:

The image of 1,000 grandmothers at the gates of the SOA is NEWSWORTHY. With media attention and a clear message (Grandma Says “Close the School of the Americas”), we can educate people around the country about what is happening inside the walls of the SOA.
As the average American becomes more educated, they can be mobilized to pressure their Congressional representatives to support bills, such as HR 1217, that will permanently close the SOA.

The success of this action depends on two components – (1) Being newsworthy, and (2) Contacting the Media.

Being Newsworthy – As we plan this action, photo-ops have been considered all along the way. And, we continue to think creatively about possible media opportunities (and we welcome all ideas). Some media-friendly activities being planned include wearing white kerchiefs on our heads in solidarity with Madras de Plaza de Mayo in Argentina, an “Afternoon Tea Party”, a.k.a. strategizing meeting in Fort Benning, and gathering and sending Booties for Peace to all members of Congress in the spirit of "Surplus Food for China" Campaign in the 1950s.

Another component of being newsworthy is if we have nationwide vigils of grandmothers and non-grandmothers to stand in solidarity with the grannies in Fort Benning, GA. If you are willing to organize and publicize a local vigil for November 19th, please send an email to Sue at 1000 Grandmothers and it will be posted on the website.

Media Work – If a tree falls in the forest… If 1,000 grandmothers gather at the gates of the SOA and there is no media, does it really make any difference? We must ALL work to contact the media in our local communities in order to make them aware of our gathering. We hope to have a media toolkit on the website VERY soon! Please consider contacting the media before you come to GA or while planning your local solidarity vigil.

Local Contacts Needed – Contact people for local affinity groups are needed for most states and major cities, as well as contacts for people willing to organize local vigils. The rationale for having local contacts is so that interested/curious grandmothers and non-grandmothers can plug in locally.

Supporters/ Endorsements
If your organization would like to be listed as a supporter of this work, send an email to Cathy at A Thousand Grandmothers. A link to our website from your organization’s website is also an easy way to spread the word.


Please note that we are not encouraging anyone to risk arrest. We do, however, recognize that personal choice and conviction may lead some grandmothers to “cross the line”. Please be aware that if you are arrested, the chance of imprisonment is likely and we will post legal information on our website soon. Regardless of your expression of disgust with the SOA, your soulforce and presence is still critically needed. We hope you will consider joining us this November in Fort Benning, GA or in solidarity in your own community!

Paz,

The 1,000 Grandmothers Team

Chico, CA

1000 Grand Mothers

Sixteen Candles for Soldiers

Many teenagers turning 16 years old throw big "Sweet 16" parties. MTV has even created a TV program about the phenomenon of lavish parties. I want my 16th birthday to be different and make a difference rather than being just another "Sweet 16" party. That's why I'm throwing "Sixteen Candles for Soldiers." It's an event that is meant to honor and respect our troops by showing our support for them. We plan to demand they get the benefits they deserve and that they be brought home from this war we were lead into by liars. Every day brave Americans are dying as a result of this Administration's actions. It's up to us to demand the truth and accountability. Join me on October 21, 2006 at the State Capitol Steps in Montgomery, Alabama, and we'll show the Bush Administration what real support for our troops looks like.

We will protest and have a candle light vigil in honor of the fallen. There will be live music and speakers at "Sixteen Candles for Soldiers," so bring a friend or a whole crowd. If you are a musician or speaker who is interested in being part of Sixteen Candles for Solders please contact us. For more details on the event click here

Charlotte, N.C., Rally for Impeachment, Sept 30th '06 - Video's

Nadia McCaffery 1


Nadia McCaffery 2


Summer Lipford 1


Summer Lipford 2


Kevin Edwards sings "Living with War" - More


You can find a few more that David Swanson has links to HERE

Charlotte, N.C., Rally for Impeachment, Sept 30th '06 - Video's

David Swanson 1-AfterDowningStreet


David Swanson 2


Tim Pluta-Veterans For Peace Chapter 99 Ashville NC


Ann Wright 1


Ann Wright 2


You can find a few more that David Swanson has links to HERE

Lincoln Weeps

Lincoln Weeps
Bill Moyers
October 03, 2006


Bill Moyers is a veteran television journalist for PBS and the president of the Schumann Center for Media and Democracy. "Capitol Crimes," the first episode of Bill Moyers' latest series of documentary specials , airs Wednesday on PBS. (Check local listings.) Click Here to listen to an audio version of this commentary.

Back in 1954, when I was a summer employee on Capitol Hill, I made my first visit to the Lincoln Memorial. I have returned many times since, most recently while I was in Washington filming for a documentary about how Tom DeLay, Jack Abramoff, Ralph Reed and Grover Norquist, among others, turned the conservative revolution into a racket—the biggest political scandal since Watergate.

If democracy can be said to have temples, the Lincoln Memorial is our most sacred. You stand there silently contemplating the words that gave voice to Lincoln's fierce determination to save the union—his resolve that "government of, by, and for the people shall not perish from the earth." On this latest visit, I was overcome by a sense of melancholy. Lincoln looks out now on a city where those words are daily mocked. This is no longer his city. And those people from all walks of life making their way up the steps to pay their respect to the martyred president—it's not their city, either. Or their government. This is an occupied city, a company town, and government is a subservient subsidiary of richly endowed patrons.

Once upon a time the House of Representatives was known as "the people's house." No more. It belongs to K Street now. That's the address of the lobbyists who swarm all over Capitol Hill. There are 65 lobbyists for every member of Congress. They spend $200 million per month wining, dining and seducing federal officials. Per month!

Of course they're just doing their job. It's impossible to commit bribery, legal or otherwise, unless someone's on the take, and with campaign costs soaring, our politicians always have their hands out. One representative confessed that members of Congress are the only people in the world expected to take large amounts of money from strangers and then act as if it has no effect on their behavior. This explains why Democrats are having a hard time exploiting the culture of corruption embodied in the scandalous behavior of DeLay and Abramoff. Democrats are themselves up to their necks in the sludge. Just the other day one of the most powerful Democrats in the House bragged to reporters about tapping "uncharted donor fields in the financial industry"—reminding them, not so subtlely, of the possibility that after November the majority leader just might be a Democrat.

When it comes to selling influence, both parties have defined deviancy up, and Tony Soprano himself couldn't get away with some of the things that pass for business as usual in Washington. We have now learned that Jack Abramoff had almost 500 contacts with the Bush White House over the three years before his fall, and that Karl Rove and other presidential staff were treated to his favors and often intervened on his behalf. So brazen a pirate would have been forced to walk the plank long ago if Washington had not thrown its moral compass overboard.

Alas, despite all these disclosures, nothing is happening to clean up the place. Just as the Republicans in charge of the House kept secret those dirty emails sent to young pages by Rep. Mark Foley—a cover-up aimed at getting them past the election and holding his seat for the party—they are now trying to sweep the DeLay-Abramoff-Reed-and-Norquist scandals under the rug until after Nov. 7, hoping the public at large doesn't notice that the House is being run by Tom DeLay's team, minus DeLay. All the talk about reform is placebo.

The only way to counter the power of organized money is with organized and outraged people. Believe me, what members of Congress fear most is a grassroots movement that demands clean elections and an end to the buying and selling of influence—or else! If we leave it to the powers that be to clean up the mess that greed and chicanery have given us, we will wake up one day with a real Frankenstein of a system—a monster worse than the one created by Abramoff, DeLay and their cronies. By then it will be too late to save Lincoln's hope for "government of, by, and for the people."

The Schumann Center for Media and Democracy gives financial support to TomPaine.com.

****

Marc Ash Interviews Bill Moyers - Part 1

Recently I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Bill Moyers about his surprising October documentaries, the state of American journalism, and what we can all do to make a difference. Interesting stuff. "Capitol Crimes," part one of the series "Moyers on America," follows the Abramoff money trail. If you want to know how Abramoff did it, what part DeLay played, who's getting hurt and who profited - make sure you're sitting down, and watch "Capitol Crimes," airing October 4th on PBS. This documentary is sobering. Parts two and three of my interview will examine the second and third broadcasts in the series, "Is God Green?" airing October 11th, and "The Net at Risk," airing October 18th. Stay tuned. - Marc Ash

Another 16yr old and GWB

The Unending Torture of Omar Khadr

He was a child of jihad, a teenage soldier in bin Laden's army. Captured on the battlefield when he was only fifteen, he has been held at Guantanamo Bay for the past four years -- subjected to unspeakable abuse sanctioned by the president himself
Jeff Tietz

Camp Democracy by Debbie Clark

Terrific Video created by Debbie Clark of the Atlanta VFP from a compendium of photos and video clips shot by her (except those taken of her) during her visit to Washington DC for participation in Camp Democracy and visiting with friends between Sep. 4-10, 2006.



Please note that the intent is not to convey any political message but that to end the illegal war/occupation. of Iraq and support and uphold liberties guaranteed to us by the US Constitution.


Debbie Clark - Greater Atlanta VFP Chapter 125

Atlanta VFP Chapter 125

Atlanta IVAW - Iraq Veterans Against The War

Peace Ribbon Project @ Charlotte NC 'Impeachment Rally'

The Peace Ribbon is a traveling exhibit, conceived by Jacque Betz, CODEPINK Florida. It now includes 122 panels, each 2 feet X 3 feet, which are created by people to honor and remember civilians and soldiers who have died in the war and occupation of Iraq. See the CODEPINK website for details. Click on "Campaigns" on the left side bar on the home page, then select: Peace Ribbon
Thanks to Carol Marley for these wonderful images of the Peace Ribbon display in Freedom Park on September 30, 2006.
I have created an album of Carol's photo's. You can find it here: Peace Ribbon Project

















CODEPINK members and their supporters did a magnificent job with our first major outdoor event on Saturday, September 30, 2006.
CODEPINKers set up, staffed and cleaned up after our event, leaving the space in pristine condition. Someone even brought a rake!
Work started at 9AM and continued throughout the day with everything finally loaded back into cars and trucks after the sun set.

The Peace Celebration area, behind the band shell at Freedom Park, was a beautiful and peaceful space, with the 122 panels of the *Peace Ribbon* displayed, attached to a pink clothes line strung between 6 trees on the island.

Here is another link to a few more photo's of the Impeachment Rally that was given to me in the comment section, you can view them HERE

I have another album set up with a few more photo's of the *Peace Ribbon* along with a number of photo's of the 'Impeachment Rally', the area in Freedom Park it took place, and during the Rally. You can view those photo's HERE

I also have a writeup, with a few pics, about the Rally just down from this posting, or you can read it HERE

There was also a young lady going through the crowd handing out little toy soldiers with their groups Website URL attached. You may enjoy visiting and see what they are doing together for *Peace* and more!

'State Of Denial', Bob Woodward

Rabbit Redux - He's Baaaaack!!

On The Media

Rabbit Redux

In 1971, a young air force sergeant in Saigon broadcast a pirate radio show from a secret room in a brothel and regaled his comrades with off-color musings on sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll. After a mere 21 days on the air 35 years ago, Dave Rabbit remains a bit of a cult figure. So he’s decided to resurrect his old persona from Iraq. Rabbit spoke with Brooke on Tuesday before shipping out.
Listen with this link
Pre-Transcript

The report below followed the Rabbit story and was pretty interesting, RIP Iva, aka: thought of as 'Tokyo Rose'!!

A Rose Is Not a Rose

Iva Toguri died this week, though you probably don’t recognize the name. She was commonly, and erroneously, known as Tokyo Rose, a propagandist broadcasting against the Allied side during WWII. An article in 1976 by then Tokyo Bureau chief Ron Yates of the Chicago Tribune uncovered the story of how the FBI framed her for treason. Yates recalls her saga with Bob.
Listen with this link
Pre-Transcript

Charlotte Impeachment Rally Sept 30th 06

Yesterday, Sept 30th 2006, a Rally was held in 'Freedom Park' Charlotte NC. It was a rally for the 'Impeachment' of not only the present pResident, of the United States but also the Vice pResident, and holding All, in this present Administration, accountable for the Crimes Committed, by them, as the continuing proof of same keeps coming to light, with I'm sure more will be found if Congress ever decides to do one of their main purposes and that is Investigate!

There were some 3-400 people in attendance, rough count of my own, as many people were there almost all day, many people using the park stopped and listened to speakers for awhile, some folks came down from a wedding reception taking place behind us in one of the buildings for a short while, and some were coming and going all day from a craft fair , taking place on the other side of the hill from us and the wedding reception. For the Charlotte 'Red' area this was a well attended Rally, There were also some groups going through the city doing door to door Voter Registration, at the same time, who couldn't attend the all day Rally.

The only complaint I would have about this Rally was the fact that they placed a few of the Keynote Speakers nearer the end, late in the day, such as 'Ann Wright' and 'Nadia McCaffery'. That's not to take away from the many speakers they did have on, they were all great, especially the Nationally know folks like Dave Swanson, AfterDowningStreet and the other sites he's a part of. The day was filled with Truth to The Evidence of the Countries Need to 'Impeach'!!

Below you will find a few of the photo's I took of the Area it was held at and the Rally.

Bandshell & Speakers Platform


These next few photo's show the 'Remember: Peace Ribbon' that was on display. It carries the names of 'The Fallen' and doesn't completely cover all of our Fallen, yet, as it's a work 'Sadly' still in progress being put together by the local 'Code Pink' organization.
Remember: Peace Ribbon


Peace Ribbon


Peace Ribbon


Peace Ribbon


This next photo, as labeled, is ePluribus Media, Daily KOS, and probably a number of others important sites, Very Own 'DEFuning' who I'm sure will be posting one hell of a better Diary then this one as she was not only taking other photo's she was also very busy doing, and taping, interviews. Add to that she was one of the main organizers of this action, the bunting you see in the pics belongs to her, as to setting up the Rally and taking it down at end, with a whole bunch more in between. And she's a writer, which I'm not;-}.
ePluribus Media Very Own 'DEFuning'


This banner is brand new and comes from the North Carolina Veterans For Peace Chapter 99, Asheville NC, and brought out for it's first showing at this Rally. Chapter 99 covers all Veterans and Associates of Veterans For Peace living in NC. Sam Foster, a member of Veterans For Peace, had a table set up, that stayed pretty busy all day, taking names etc. of Veterans, and others, interested in setting up a second VFP Chapter out of Charlotte and the surrounding area to give a second North Carolina Chapter to the VFP Growing Organization.
New VFP Chapter99 Banner


Now we 'Really' know about coulter ;c}
rush Admits It Banner


Iraq Truth Banner


As 'We' have joined Those that 'We' once condemned, with the 'Congressional Torture Bill', this pic spoke Truth to the New Reality!
New Amerika After Sept 28th 06


There was a very large presence of Youngsters at the Rally. Most were what many in their own generation and especially in the older generations would consider outcasts, or misfits, as most there, a couple of bands and their many friends, are called 'Punkers' and dress as. Gee what does that previous description bring to mind to many, lets see, how about 'Hippies'!!
As I go to more and more of these Actions, right from the beginning of the Tragic Events that started taking place after 9/11, and meet and talk to these kids, I find they most certainly 'Outcasts' or 'Misfits' of this society. These kids are extremely energetic, extremely pissed off about the direction of this country and extremely involved! Their music speaks volumes about their feelings, their organizational qualities are second to none, and the idea's for Peace thy bring to the table are well thought out and intelligent actions, and Boy Do They Care, not only about each other but of the Country they are being left with by us so called intelligent adults!!
If you haven't, when you meet them, engage them in conversation, you'll see what I mean.
Very Energentic Involved Youngsters of Today


Ann Wright & David Swanson


Summer's son died in Iraq, not in Combat or on Patrol, but under Very Mysterous Circumstance's, in his bed. The Military, while at first were telling her it was a Drug Overdose, with her fighting to put truth to her sons death has Now Been Informed, after months of fighting, that No Drugs Were Found in the Autopsy given her son, apparently Another bush/rummy Lie, and No Cause Still Has Been Given To His Passing!!
Summer Lipford



You can view the above, better, and more of the photo's at the link just below:
FULL ALBUM


Last week Charlotte held another Rally, in the evening, with permit till midnight, for 'Human Rights'. This Rally, after an attempt by an off duty Charlotte Police Officer to shut it down , around 11PM, was them busted up by a Contingent of called in Police Officers with Violence, by them, putting one kid in the hospital and others being taised, and the arrest of five of the Rally participants.
You can read a Charlotte Observer report of this Anti-war protest breaks the peace at this link.
Or you can read the other view in this writeup Cops brutally attack Human Rights Fest in uptown Charlotte at the local Action Center For Justice blogspot.
I wasn't in attendance at this 'Human Rights Fest', but from the way it's been reported, notice the Title of the Observer article, and every report I've seen or heard from the local MSM had it tagged as an 'Anti-War' Rally with no mention of 'Human Rights'. As well as a local TV News stations interview with a police spokesperson who was having trouble putting a description to What Exactly Happened, 'm inclined to go along with what I've found out from those who were in attendance and got attacked. Unless they All somehow got together and were able to get everyone to tell the exact same thing, their descriptions Do Not Follow what the local MSM or Police are trying to paint this as!!
Now below you will find a report I heard, this morning, on one of the local News Channel I had on, as to yesterdays 'Impeachment Rally. Notice again the 'Title', and they were tying into the incident of last week using similar wording in the live onair report. The report linked was on top of their site when I visited
No problems reported at war protest in Charlotte
I quickly went to their station site and sent the, quickly while being Pissed, message below to them through their online Contact Information. This isn't the first time I've done this especially as to local news reports and especially as to purposely miss labeling the story lines and the stories. I've already stopped watching the other two local channel news shows because of exactly the way they report, not only concerning the Pro-Peace actions, about ready to drop this one as well.

WCNC Charlotte

As a Long Time Viewer of your Daily and Evening News I'm asking that when Reporting on, Especially, Local News Stories that these Reports be Truthful.
Your reporting of what the downtown rally, last week, I wasn't there, that ended in injuries and arrests is Labeled Wrong! It was a 'Human Rights Fest' in Support of World Human Rights, not a Peace Rally!!
Than this morning, 10-1-06, you're reporting on that as a connection to yesterdays rally, in Freedom Park, I was there. That Rally was Not a Peace Rally but an 'Impeachment Rally' and Call for 'Impeachment' of this present Administration and Holding Those Accountable for the Wrong, and Dangerous, Direction they have taken this Country, leaving our National Security in More Danger than ever before!!
Please Report These Events Correctly, wether you or the oners Agree or Not!!
You're not the only local News Outlet doing this, and False, or Misleading, News Reports should not be Tolerated, Excepted, by professionals as yourselves!