Now maybe it was because it was friday, the day after Thanksgiving, and better known as Black Friday, and folks were just tired from the all day holiday shopping, starting in the wee hours of that morning, the crush of packed stores and all those sucker deals can be overwelming.
I'm not posting this just to Rescue, what should have shown up in the Rescued Diary list today, though you should visit his Diary just to read the comments of those that Actually got the purpose of it.
I'm posting More for the site, that 'testvet' happened upon, and the Military Spouses who put their group together and are Military Spouses for Change (MSC)
Some numbers to think about active duty 1,380,082 number of living veterans 26,403,703 and the number drawing veterans benefits are 2,735,559 these are voting age people, that usually DO vote. Most are married and have children many of them have adult children, like myself I have 3 voting age children, and you all better believe I tell them my opinions. Does that mean they will vote that way, NO, but they will listen to me and I will have an influnce on their decisions, because what affects me affects them. That means there is a potential 100 million Americans directly affected by policies these candidates can possibly impact in their lives, veterans benefits, home loans, old age care, medical care, etc.
But it isn't just about those potential 100 Million Americans that testvet mentions, this is about Real Sacrifice this Country, when Civilian and Military leaders start the Drums or War beating, Who Will Actually Do The Sacrificing these Wars of Choice Bring!
After WWII this Country stopped Sacrificing, it's left to the Military Personal Serving and Their Families, while Country uses catch phrases, with No Real Meaning, to satisfy in their chosen lifestyles and political debates.
This is what I put in the Video description and what 'testvet' was calling for also with his last sentence, Please contact the campaigns of the people you support and ASK them to please commit to this group and see if we can enable a debate before Super Dooper Tuesday.:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead.
Military Spouses for Change are trying to lure Democratic and Republican candidates to address the largest military community in the country face-to-face.
"These candidates are asking to be the next commander in chief. I feel like our families and service members, if nothing else, deserve an audience," organizer Carissa Picard said.
Visit their Site,Sign Up and Join Them, Support their Everts, Demand the Candidates for the Presidency Answer their Call For An Honest Debate, Contact All the major News Outlets with their call for a Face to Face Debate, Contact All the Televised News Outlets to Carry the Debate, Live, so as many as possible can Listen to these Spouses and Family Members who, besides those Actually Serving, are the Only Ones Sacrificing!
'testvet' also put this up and I'll repeat their request from their site and news articles:
As much as individual presidential candidates talk about health care plans or personal values, the fact remains that we are electing a war president. We are electing a president who will probably spend the bulk of his or her first term managing military conflicts and performing extensive foreign policy damage control. In 2008, the next President will inherit at least two wars and the costs of those wars, internally as well as internationally, will continue to grow long after the last service member comes home.
Consequently, Military Spouses for Change[1] is inviting the presidential candidates from both parties to Fort Hood, Texas (Killeen), on February 1st, to talk about foreign policy, our military, our veterans, our wounded warriors, and our military families.
Fort Hood is the largest military installation in the United States. There are almost 46,000 soldiers assigned to Fort Hood and more than 24,000 spouses. On any given day, at least a third of these soldiers are deployed to Iraq and every week at least two soldiers from Fort Hood (on average) are killed in Iraq. (I am 34 and I know more widows than my mother knows.)
This kind of event has never been done before and it needs to be done now. Not only because Americans on both side of the aisle need to be reminded (before Super Tuesday) that we are electing the next Commander-in-Chief, but also because our service members and their families deserve to be addressed and heard by the people who wish to be elected in that position.
We also think this country’s large veteran community should know which candidates truly value the military and veteran vote (if not for moral reasons, then for practical reasons). There are approximately 1.4 million active duty service members in America and 1.2 million in the National Guard/Reserves. If you include the spouses, that comes to a total of 4.1 million votes.
Meanwhile, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 1 in 8 adults were veterans (26.4 million) in 2003. If we assume that at least half of those adults were married, then we have approximately 39 million vet couples giving us a total of almost 43 million American adults who are currently serving in the military, have served in the military, or are married to someone serving or who had served. That is not an insignificant number.
As an organization and as military spouses, clearly U.S. foreign policy is important to us. But the American public has an interest in this as well, not only for fiscal reasons (e.g., we have spent 447 billion dollars on the war in Iraq alone), but for national security reasons.
Furthermore, what about the depletion of our states' National Guard and reserve units? How are we going to replenish those units so that individual states can respond to a natural disaster or, heaven forbid, another 9/11?
So far 1.5 million service members have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. What are the candidates’ positions on the possibility of reinstating the draft if, for example, we become engaged with Iran before he or she enters office?
Since September 11, 2001, the Department of Defense has reported more than 64,000 wounded and 4,000 killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. The Department of Veterans Affairs, however, has reported treating 250,000 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, including 95,000 for mental health conditions.
Meanwhile, an estimated 700,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are expected to seek care from the VA within the next ten years, at a projected cost of 7 to 9 BILLION dollars. A recent DoD taskforce assessing the mental health capabilities of the military announced: "The system of care for psychological health that has evolved over recent decades is insufficient to meet the needs of today's forces and their beneficiaries, and will not be sufficient to meet their needs in the future." ( MHTF Report pdf )
What do the candidates propose to do for our returning wounded warriors and their families? How do we effectively identify their mental, physical, social, and financial needs and how do we effectively meet those needs?
The suicide rate is the highest in almost 30 years and the propensity to serve is at a 20 year low. Consequently, the Army and Marine Corps are relying on reenlistment and recruiting bonuses that will cost nearly 2.5 billion dollars next year.
Iraq is the defining electoral issue of 2008. Nothing can be done domestically until we have settled our foreign affairs in such a way that does not require a large military presence in hostile countries. Yet because Texas is not an early primary state, it does not warrant the attention of the Presidential candidates. Nonetheless, we cannot imagine an event more powerful than these candidates answering questions posed to them by the very people whose service and sacrifice allow forums such as these to exist.
Shouldn't we ascertain which candidates are the most qualified (from both parties) to lead our nation and our military prior to Super Tuesday? And shouldn't this be done in front of an audience of service members, veterans, wounded warriors, advocates, and their families?
If you have any questions or are interested in being involved, please contact:
If you do what I did, sent it out to my E-List of individuals, a few political boards, and Veterans Groups boards, as well as posted the diary on my own site, as I will do with this.
Should 'testvets' Diary have made it to a recommend list on a very popular Progressive Board, I leave that up to you.
But one thing is Certain, this call for a Presidential Debate by this Group Military Spouses for Change (MSC) should be Hitting Every Front Page on the Web, of All Political Groups! E-Mails should be filling up the News Media's In-Boxes! Telephones should be ringing off the hook at All the Media Outlets especially the Corporate TV News Channels, which should be signing up in Masse to air this Live across the airways at the same time!
This Country needs to get off it's Collective Apathedic Ass and Finally Understand the Realities that face the Few Who Actually Serve and are Sent into it's Wars, as Well as what Their Families Face and Both wanting Answers to the Questions that have Always Existed by Veterans, Families of, and the Active Military!
by testvet6778 Fri Nov 23, 2007 at 04:33:00 PM EST
I ran across this website today, Military Spouses for Change and I agree that a debate on these issues should be held. Both partiesshould agree since they are going to keep utilizing the five militaryforces of this nation occupied in Iraq or Afghanisatn or both and maybenew ones during the next term of office. Some numbers to think about active duty 1,380,082 number of living veterans 26,403,703 and the number drawing veterans benefits are 2,735,559 these are voting age people, that usually DO vote. Most are married andhave children many of them have adult children, like myself I have 3voting age children, and you all better believe I tell them myopinions. Does that mean they will vote that way, NO, but they willlisten to me and I will have an influnce on their decisions, becausewhat affects me affects them. That means there is a potential 100million Americans directly affected by policies these candidates canpossibly impact in their lives, veterans benefits, home loans, old agecare, medical care, etc.
This is their message about the desired debate and the purpose behind it,because it DOES affect them, personally and up close, they are the ones either going into harms way or waiting at home for their loved ones,the candidates should be able to face them, their questions and debate the future about the military, with them in the audience, and all of us as Americans might learn more about the people that was to be the'Commander in Chief' of the Armed Services in addition to their duties as President of the United States.
As much as individual presidential candidates talk about health care plans or personal values, the fact remains that we are electing a war president. We are electing a president who will probably spend the bulk of his or her first term managing military conflicts and performing extensive foreign policy damage control. In 2008, the next President will inherit at least two wars and the costs of those wars,internally as well as internationally, will continue to grow long after the last service member comes home. Consequently, Military Spouses for Change[1] is inviting the presidential candidates from both parties to Fort Hood, Texas(Killeen), on February 1st, to talk about foreign policy, our military,our veterans, our wounded warriors, and our military families. Fort Hood is the largest military installation in the United States.There are almost 46,000 soldiers assigned to Fort Hood and more than24,000 spouses. On any given day, at least a third of these soldiersare deployed to Iraq and every week at least two soldiers from FortHood (on average) are killed in Iraq. (I am 34 and I know more widowsthan my mother knows.) This kind of event has never been done before and it needs to be done now. Not only because Americans on both side of the aisle need to be reminded (before Super Tuesday) that we are electing the next Commander-in-Chief, but also because our service members and their families deserve to be addressed and heard by the people who wish to be elected in that position. We also think this country’s large veteran community should know which candidates truly value the military and veteran vote (if not for moral reasons, then for practical reasons). There are approximately1.4 million active duty service members in America and 1.2 million inthe National Guard/Reserves. If you include the spouses, that comes toa total of 4.1 million votes. Meanwhile, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 1 in 8 adults wereveterans (26.4 million) in 2003. If we assume that at least half ofthose adults were married, then we have approximately 39 million vetcouples giving us a total of almost 43 million American adults who arecurrently serving in the military, have served in the military, or aremarried to someone serving or who had served. That is not aninsignificant number. As an organization and as military spouses, clearly U.S. foreignpolicy is important to us. But the American public has an interest inthis as well, not only for fiscal reasons (e.g., we have spent 447billion dollars on the war in Iraq alone), but for national securityreasons. Furthermore, what about the depletion of our states' National Guardand reserve units? How are we going to replenish those units so thatindividual states can respond to a natural disaster or, heaven forbid,another 9/11? So far 1.5 million service members have been deployed to Iraq orAfghanistan. What are the candidates’ positions on the possibility ofreinstating the draft if, for example, we become engaged with Iranbefore he or she enters office? Since September 11, 2001, the Department of Defense has reportedmore than 64,000 wounded and 4,000 killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. TheDepartment of Veterans Affairs, however, has reported treating 250,000Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, including 95,000 for mental healthconditions. Meanwhile, an estimated 700,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans areexpected to seek care from the VA within the next ten years, at aprojected cost of 7 to 9 BILLION dollars. A recent DoD taskforceassessing the mental health capabilities of the military announced: 'The system of care for psychological health that has evolved overrecent decades is insufficient to meet the needs of today's forces andtheir beneficiaries, and will not be sufficient to meet their needs in the future.' ( MHTF Report Final in PDF ) What do the candidates propose to do for our returning wounded warriors and their families? How do we effectively identify their mental, physical, social, and financial needs and how do we effectively meet those needs? The suicide rate is the highest in almost 30 years and the propensity to serve is at a 20 year low. Consequently, the Army and Marine Corps are relying on reenlistment and recruiting bonuses that will cost nearly 2.5 billion dollars next year. Iraq is the defining electoral issue of 2008. Nothing can be done domestically until we have settled our foreign affairs in such a way that does not require a large military presence in hostile countries. Yet because Texas is not an early primary state, it does not warrant the attention of the Presidential candidates. Nonetheless, we cannot imagine an event more powerful than these candidates answering questions posed to them by the very people whose service and sacrifice allow forums such as these to exist. Shouldn't we as certain which candidates are the most qualified (from both parties) to lead our nation and our military prior to SuperTuesday? And shouldn't this be done in front of an audience of service members, veterans, wounded warriors, advocates, and their families? If you have any questions or are interested in being involved, please contact: Carissa S. Picard President Military Spouses for Change
Please contact the campaigns of the people you support and ASK themto please commit to this group and see if we can enable a debatebefore Super Dooper Tuesday.
It's long past time for Us Adults to Finally become the Responsible Beings we are supposed to be, for the Coming Generations on a whole host of issues!
We aren't here for Our Personal Benefit, Wealth, or Power, we're here to build better Futures for those who follow, that's our Main Responsibility and Always Has Been!
But I'll let Pete Seeger, and the children {always more adult than us} introduce us to one Extremely Important Issue and Coming Event!
Pete Seeger on December 8th
Legendary folk singer-songwriter Pete Seeger sings his song One Blue Sky and talks about the need to get involved in the International Day of Climate Action on December 8th, 2007.
And a Whole Host of other Important information and links, Visit the Site!
In the Seeger/Kids video another site link is givin 1 Sky.
Where you'll find this Powerful Video, with the Kids Leading The Way:
One Movement: StepItUp, PowerShift, 1Sky
And again a Whole Host of important information!
We Responsible Adults? don't Elect the Children to Lead, though most of the time I think we should, or at least Listen To Them!
We are suppose to 'Hire' other Responsible Adults? to lead the whole in the right directions, making the Policies that Effect our present but More Important The Future!
Those who wish to lead? are supposed to be giving us their public resumes leading up to our Votes, they are supposed to lay down their Honest Stands on a whole host of issues we face as human beings on this planet, for the Planet and for All that exists on it!
We aren't supposed to Hire on Spin and Talking Points of others who are labeled, and label themselves Experts, they are only so called Experts on the Manipulation of Words there to Deceive!
We must abolish so called Think Tanks and start reusing the gifts we've All been endowed with, though for many are getting more dormant, and Start Thinking for ourselves with Common Sense!
We have a Whole Host of Extreme Problems, especially now, after we and the world, have been sent on a spiraling direction that will only lead to the Extremes of Diasterous Incidents that the coming generations will be facing!
From Retaliations for the Deaths and Destructions we have wrought to the Speeding Up of a Planet's Climate Change that may just make the Human Animal Extinct, just as other living creatures are disappearing right now, to the monatary costs that these future generations will bear because of our selfish follies of the present!
Become what You are supposed to be, Responsible Adults!. Get off those butts and out from sitting in front of these technologies bitching and complaining And Actually Get Involved, there's Alot Of Important Work To Be Done and an Awful Lot Of Corrections to be made, And Fast!!!
*****
For Inspiration
I want to share an e-mail, many of us are receiving this Thanksgiving morning from one young lady who took One Extremely Important Issue on her shoulders and hasn't relented since.
Sending my thanks to you
Hi everyone,
Happy Thanksgiving.
Sending out my thanks for your personal and professional support and friendship over the past two years.
In big and small ways, each of you have mentored me, nurtured me, rooted for me, and worked with me as I moved two years ago into the issue of advocating for our returning veterans and military families. The need for your help was and is great, and remains greatly appreciated.
Even more so, especially to those who have been at this a lot longer than I have, I thank you for embracing me and sending me in the right directions when I simply asked for your assistance or advice. You helped to expand my networks exponentially, giving me the chance to learn more about the issue from the very best hearts and minds out there. Thank you so very much.
I know that all of these efforts were not specifically on my behalf personally. The need is so great and the difficulties so real for our military families coping with combat PTSD that anyone willing to come into the fold – be they even a novice such as myself – is welcomed with open arms and kindheartedness. Thank you for that and so much more.
Sending you and yours my personal wishes for a peaceful and warm Thanksgiving.
Cheers and thanks,
Ilona
Ilona Meager started out on a journey to Move A Nation To Care.... on one issue PTSD, which has expanded into Traumatic Brain Injuries as well. This isn't only for Combat Veterans but People in general, for many have the Traumatic Incidents that lead to change and troubled minds!
I'm still convinced that All the Media reports about PTSD started because of the Dedication to an issue, PTSD, by a few Extremely Concerned and Dedicated People writing about and posting up their writings on this new and growing technology about what they finding and concerned about!
It is Us who should be Thanking Them not Ilona Thanking Us!
And I, as well as many other Veterans Do Thank You on this Thanksgiving Day 2007!
Ilona adds a PS to the above:
P.S. Although it has not yet been officially made public, House Veterans Affairs Chairman Bob Filner has today invited me to testify before Congress on December 12 on the issue of veterans’ suicide. I’m humbled at the opportunity to bring the average citizen’s voice into the issue and wish to do a good job for everyone. Would appreciate any words of advice as I prepare myself for the hearing. I will send an update as my participation in the hearing is fully confirmed and my name is added to the day’s roster. Until then, please keep this news confidential. ty
Why none other than, Colonel David Hunt, U.S. Army (Ret.), a FOX News military analyst!
He also says this in the commentary:
"For my disconnected, disinterested
uncaring friends, it's not about the damn money, We have the
damn money, it's us, we suck, we do not care...We are all
collectively allowing out government to perpetuate this
crime, the crime of not taking care of soldiers."
I found this over at VA Watchdog and decided to make an extremely rare visit to the FOX News? site where it originated.
The Colonel starts out with this little gem:
We — that’s you and me — just had a Veterans Day. You might have missed it? Did you notice that we had fewer parades and TV and radio shows talked a little less about the holiday. Just last year, we were all over our men and women in uniform and retired — we all said no matter what we think of the war in Iraq or Afghanistan, we were going to honor thos who served … remember that?
And than continues with a scathing attack.
We find this ending one paragraph:
I can say with a sadness that cuts very deep that we are now seeing returning veterans from this current war living on the streets of Boston and L.A. That ought to be enough to unseat a government.
It's not a long read, so I suggest you visit either link above and read the whole thing yourself.
Than ask yourself, as I did, Where The Hell Were You Colonel as Veterans, like myself, from 'Nam, Korea, WWII, and everything in between all of those were telling everyone Exactly what was going to happen to the returning Military Personel and Veterans of these latest Debacles of Wars of Choice!!
The citizens of this Country, All Of Us, had really better wake up to the Total Incompetence we have as a Federal Government, All Branches and Almost All of the Agencies, But Most Of All the Department of Defense especially at a time of not one but two major Theaters of Combat Actions Raging!!
We've gone through this All before and this Country just Shrugs and Ho-Hums and moves along!
Below you'll find a Video I just put together of Two Reports out of KDKA TV in Pittsburgh
The first was reported yesterday the second part of the video is one they just reported tonight.
Military Wants 'Bonus' Monies Back - When Wounded!!
I found the first over at Think Progressive {you can leave comments at the site under their video}. There's had the volume real low so I visited the KDKA site and while watching their's I caught one, on same Vet, that was put up only minutes before. I downloaded both and combined them for One Disgusting Report about How This Administration, and I might add republican policy, are Further treating the Returning Maimed Veterans of Iraq and Afganistan while they rage their War of Choice!!
This is what 'Think Progressive' has up:
Military demanding bonus pay back from wounded vets. “The U.S. Military is demanding that thousands of wounded service personnel give back signing bonuses because they are unable to serve out their commitments.” Jordan Fox of Pittsburgh was injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq, cutting his service short by three months. “A few days ago, he received a letter from the military demanding nearly $3,000 of his signing bonus back.” Watch CBS affiliate KDKA’s report on Fox’s situation.
Last month, Rep. Jason Altmire (D-PA) proposed legislation that would guarantee that wounded vets receive their full signing bonuses. Steve Benen has more
This is what KDKA TV has up for their followup report:
Military Says Bonus Letter Was A 'Mistake'
Jordan Fox injured his back and lost all vision in his right eye while in Iraq. Source: KDKA
UpdatedA KDKA investigation is getting national attention and results for a wounded soldier from Mt. Lebanon and perhaps thousands of others. The Army ordered Jordan Fox to return thousands of dollars in bonus money because his injuries prevented him from completing his tour.
I,once again, want to hear anyone running for Federal Office what they are going to do to Finally Fix the VA and their care facilities, from President on down, with a D or an I or any other letter of the Alphabet, excluding R, for we know what they Haven't Been Doing right from the beginning of this total disaster they keep cheering on, for the Troops and their Families, especially when they held All The Power!!
This is really nothing new, but if this country is going to Support initial invasions of others countries then they Better Be Prepared To Pay The Price For Their Follies of Arrogance and Failed Policies!!
This is a followup to my post yesterday, on a few boards and my site. on the happenings at our Very Own Terrorist Training School, the once known as 'The School Of The America's'!
Yesterdays was an updated E - Newsletter from The SOA Watch on what took place on Saturday 11-17-07.
This one covers the happenings on Sunday 11-18-07.
25,000 Strong! Eleven Arrested for Nonviolent Civil Disobedience
Sunday, November 18
The 18th annual Vigil to Close the SOA was one of the largest and most vibrant yet. As early as 7 am, Veterans for Peace and supporters began marching along Victory Drive to the gates of Fort Benning where Gennaro Jacinto Calel from the International Mayan League offered a Mayan Blessing.
Some known names were in attendance.
U.S. presidential candidates Dennis Kucinich and Cynthia McKinney, Sister Mary Waskowiak and Rabbi Michael Lerner, addressed the crowd with messages of hope, and Adriana Portillo Bartow gave a tribute to Rufina Amaya, the sole survivor of the El Mozote massacre of over 900 men, women and children in El Salvador.
Simultaneous actions took place throughout the weekend in Santiago, Chile; Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Monterey, California; San Francisco, California; and Toronto, Canada. More than three hundred people rallied against torture outside the gates of Ft. Huachuca, Arizona, home of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center and school for interrogation. Three people were arrested during the rally as they tried to bring their witness against torture onto the base. Betsy Lamb, Mary Burton Riseley, and Franciscan Fr. Jerry Zawada were taken into custody and charged with criminal trespass on a military installation and failure to comply with a police officer.
This has been a very exciting and energizing weekend of celebration and we invite you to continue to check the SOA Watch website for updates regarding this year's vigil, We also ask that you make a contribution to SOA Watch so that we can continue the organizing work to close down the SOA/WHINSEC, to end the racist system of violence and domination that the school represents and to create a culture of justice and peace.
Tragedy inspires ex-soldier to fight for veterans rights Santa Fe New Mexican Sat, November 10, 2007 12:00:00 AM CST
"Gulf War veteran Daniel Craig enlisted in the Army when he was 17 years old. The recruiters told him it would ...Abrams tanks, which fire depleted-uranium munitions. In 1992, Craig's ...to his exposure to depleted uranium and other toxic substances. ...
A British study found traces of depleted uranium in urine 20 years ...new method to detect depleted uranium in individuals, using MC-ICP ...an individual’s exposure to depleted uranium up to 20 years ...to have had a depleted uranium aerosol inhalation exposure, and ...conflict veterans to assess depleted uranium exposure screening reliability ...
Americans working in Iraq for Halliburton spin-off KBR have been outraged by the massive fraud they saw there. Dozens are suing the giant military contractor, on the taxpayers' behalf. Whose side is the Justice Department on? by David Rose November 2007
I received the update on Saturdays action at Benning, in Georgia, yesterday afternoon. Sadly I couldn't make the event but wanted to share what they have going on with others who also couldn't or are not a subscriber to the School of the Americas Watch Newsletter.
18,000 human rights advocates from around the country and from all walks life have filled up Fort Benning Drive, the main access to Fort Benning's main gate. The presence began this morning with songs from the musicians collective and a welcome message from Fr. Roy Bourgeois and former prisoner of conscience Martina Le Force.
"We are gathered here today in the name of peace and to send a message of love and solidarity to our sisters and brothers of Latin America an all the countries of the world where people have been victimized by our government's foreign policy. We are here to express our outrage and call for the closing of this school, this combat training school for Latin American soldiers which has graduated so many human rights abusers year after year," said Fr. Roy.
Apparently the authorities at Fort Benning once again tried their damnest to disrupt the non-violent and peaceful gathering by setting off sirens and flying military helicopters above the stage.
As Martina Le Force said during her morning speech, "they fear us because we are branching out, we are a unified international movement and we have more friends than the Bush administration and it's silly wars will ever have".
The question of the SOA/WHINSEC, and what this country should do about it's very own terrorist training camp, though not all graduates turn out to be Despots, Murderers, or potential Dictators of the countries they come from, many seem to take their U.S. Military Training to advance their own Ideological wants, should be near the top of the lists of questions to all running for seats in Congress, especially those that would be new to those halls of representation of the people.
As it is apparently with Representative Jim McGovern.
who earlier this year introduced an amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill that would have cut funding for the SOA/WHINSEC, confirmed his commitment to continue working until the SOA is shut down for good. 203 members of Congress voted in favor of the McGovern/Lewis amendment which lost by a margin of only six votes. HR 1707, the bill that would suspend operations at WHINSEC is still alive and we encourage you to continue to pressure your members of Congress to become co-sponsors.
While they gathered on Saturday and Today, Sunday,
simultaneous events are taking place in Chile, Canada, Arizona, San Francisco and Monterey in California. We have also received solidarity statements from different countries in Latin America where human rights organizations are fighting to close the SOA and hold human rights violators accountable for their actions.
The evening closed with an amazing Puppet Peagant as a tribute to Rufina Amaya, the sole survivor of the El Mozote massacre in El Salvador, who passed earlier this year due to a heart condition.
Visit the SOA Watch website to find out much more about SOA if not familiar. Also, either here or at the site Click to subscribe to the News Letter. It's not intrusive but is very informative.
You can read more about the SOA Action, in the Ledger EnquirerHere {scroll down just a tad, it closes with this "Or you can just crack open a beer and complain about all the God bless’n hippies."}, or here: SOA protest is personal for Kucinich, or Here, and also Here. Some are earlier articles from the 17th, and one from today.
