Soldiers and Families, Fort Carson

November 30 2009

U.S. Soldiers, Families Brace for More Deployments

In Colorado, Tom Bearden visited Fort Carson Army base to speak with troops ahead of President Obama's unveiling of his new Afghanistan plan....Transcript and audio video links here

Afghanistan Crossroads

The dust track-turned-highway from Kabul to Torkham, on the Afghan-Pakistan border, is a journey of pleasure and peril. CNN's Jonathan Wald captures the trek on this featured post in CNN's new blog, Afghanistan Crossroads.



Special Comment: Afghanistan

Labor's 'Bulldog' Trumka

Last night on the PBS News Hour they had a discussion with the new AFL-CIO leader Richard Trumka

On a separate page from the transcript and video/audio links of the discussion they have a short video of a round-table meeting of the lobbyist of the AFL-CIO with Trumka talkin 'bluedogs' and 'public option'.

Inside the AFL-CIO's Health Care Lobbying Efforts



The discussion, about ten and a half minutes long, can be found here Labor's 'Bulldog' Trumka Challenged by Dwindling Ranks, Public Perception

As AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka works to protect organized labor from the excesses of big business, he faces dwindling ranks, splits among union groups, and diminished public support. Paul Solman reports.

Where you can read the transcript, .listen to an audio feed or watch on a video feed, the video I'm placing below.

RICHARD TRUMKA, president, AFL-CIO: The American labor movement is right here with you today. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with you for as long as it takes and with whatever it takes.

PAUL SOLMAN: New AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka at a recent protest of teacher layoffs in Washington, D.C.

RICHARD TRUMKA: And it is time that we win together!

PAUL SOLMAN: As the new head of the labor movement, Trumka needs to move workers old and new, and reverse a decades-long thinning of the ranks. Compounding the problem, divisions within the movement itself.

Service Employees International Union head Andy Stern, seen here in his trademark purple shirt, formed a rival federation just four years ago. In the late '60s, age 19, Trumka followed his father, who died of black lung disease, and grandfather down into the coal mines of Pennsylvania.

But college and law degrees took him to the United Mine Workers. In 1982, he became its aggressive president...>>>Rest Found Here

With what was forecast by many occurring, the collapse of the economics we've allowed ourselves to be pushed into and follow these last couple of decades, it's past time that workers, who actually do the work and keep the economy running, once again build the organizations needed to keep fighting those who place their own personal wealth and power over country and our required economy of growth and job creation, real capitalism.

The best, and what brought worker advancement in middle class wages, benefits, safety, workplace respect, quality products, growth in industries, and much more are by organizing in workers unions. We've already lost much of what was fought for by our Gran Parents and Parents, we've allowed ourselves to be controlled by the corporations and those that get into bed with them, our politicians.

Instead of advancing a workers needs, they spend their wages for their comfort and better life, those who control have continually added corporate perks to their executives portfolio, written off in corporate tax fillings, are reaping huge amounts of compensation they neither earn nor have a need for and benefits of kings, everything is taken care of for them, they care more for investors, who do nothing within the company or corporation, then they do for those who actually do the work needed.

One group I would like to see lead in this organizing, as they to search for jobs scarce for everyone now, are the returning soldiers of our failed policies of occupying others. They have what can't be taught in our higher education industry, they know how important it is to work together in units, in organization with each other to not only try and accomplish huge tasks but save each others lives. They understand a chain of command mentality, instilled to help keep everyone in that working together mode taking care of problems that might occur and getting the same information at the same time to accomplish the goals set forth.

This country and it's economy needs the level playing field of those who perform the work and those who just oversea the organization within a company or a corporation, each sharing in the prosperity they create together.

Obama Afghanistan Operation

New Strategy Is Tested

As U.S. Troops Mount Offensive in Afghanistan

U.S. Marines marked the start of a new offensive in Afghanistan Thursday, as part of the Obama administration's efforts to stabilize the Afghan-Pakistan border region. A Washington Post reporter embedded in the Helmand province provides an update

This is the Embedded Video report

Analysis from the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer: As U.S. Troops Mount Offensive in Afghanistan, New Strategy Is Tested: U.S. Marines marked the start of a new offensive in Afghanistan Thursday, as part of the Obama administration's efforts to stabilize the Afghan-Pakistan border region. ............>>>>>Transcript, audio feed and streaming video here

To late for this type of Counterinsurgency, actually it is when the bombs start dropping and troops start invading, DeJa-Vu 'Nam, for winning Hearts and Minds, to many innocents killed to much destruction of their homeland! But as those that cheered on, and continue to do so but won't serve, this is what those that do are doing while you Ignore!

Another Embedded report of the operation, in the 110 degree heat of Afghanistan now.

US Marines Push Deeper Into Southern Afghan Towns
US Marines meet little resistance as they push into south Afghanistan, try to win over locals......Rest Here

Pres. Obama Outlines Goals for Afghanistan, Iraq

It's so good to finally be able to listen to policy being discussed that can be understood, put to words and thoughts that don't make a mockery of the Presidential Office and Country!



Friday, February 27, 2009

PBS NewsHour: TRANSCRIPT of Interview with Jim Lehrer

After a major policy announcement that the U.S. combat mission in Iraq will end next year, President Obama spoke with Jim Lehrer about Iraq, Afghanistan and the challenges of his new office.

The PBS Video Feed

President Obama: The First 100 Days

PBS NewsHour Interview with President Obama

Obama Assesses Iraq Strategy, Challenges of New Presidency, this brings up the video's.

After a major policy announcement that the U.S. combat mission in Iraq will end next year, President Obama spoke with Jim Lehrer about Iraq, Afghanistan and the challenges of his new presidency. Watch the full interview on Friday's NewsHour.

Newsmaker: Obama Outlines Goals for Afghanistan, Iraq

In a speech Friday at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, President Barack Obama set a timetable for U.S. combat troop withdrawal in Iraq by 2010. The president discusses his military strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan with Jim Lehrer.

Full Transcript

Almost completely forgot about this, they're airing some of it now!

The Aftermath for Gaza, Jan. '09 Destruction Of!!

Gaza rebuild 'to cost billions'

BBC: Paul Wood sees the damage and possible evidence of white phosphorus use

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been left homeless and 400,000 people still have no running water, it says.

A Few Gaza Facts

Gaza: It is about 41 kilometers (25 mi) long, 6 and 12 kilometers (4–7.5 mi) wide, total area of 360 square kilometers (139 sq mi).

Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Population: 1,500,202 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 44.7% (male 343,988/female 325,856)
15-64 years: 52.7% (male 403,855/female 386,681)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 16,196/female 23,626) (2008 est.)

Median age: 17.2 years male: 17 years female: 17.4 years total (2008 est.)

PBS News Hour: Gaza Cease-fire Emerged Amid Mix of Political, Internal Pressures

Transcript at PBS Link: Israeli officials said their military has been ordered to pull out of the Gaza Strip by Tuesday, but only if Hamas militants keep their end of this weekend's cease-fire agreements. Analysts examine where both sides stand after three weeks of fighting.

"Winter Soldier" Goes 'PrimeTime'

The PBS News Hour carried a report on the IVAW 'Winter Soldier' testimony in Congress tonight, 5-21-08

Witnesses to War Speak Out on Rules of Engagement

Reports of innocent civilian deaths in Iraq have been numerous, but barring a few instances caught on tape, they have yet to be recognized by the soldiers themselves. Some soldiers have begun to speak out, about the actions they have taken and the things they have seen.

You can Listen with this Link

KWAME HOLMAN: As the House debate continued last week over funding the Iraq war, leading anti-war Democrats convened nearby to hear from a group of veterans who say they witnessed and participated in widespread misconduct during their time in Iraq.
The stories came from a dozen or so former Marines and soldiers who left Iraq at least two years ago. They include accounts of unwarranted killings of Iraqi civilians and mistreatment of detainees that were met with indifference or encouragement by commanding officers.
Two of the men said the weight of such experiences led them to suicide attempts.
They have dubbed themselves "Winter Soldiers," the same name used by Vietnam veterans who reported similar alleged abuses during that war.
They were welcomed by California's Lynn Woolsey.

Or you can Visit this News Hour link to listen and read the rest of the transcript of the report.

The Streaming Video Link, this will bring up the PBS NewsHour Player.