Global Security

This first link is to the report, a 20 page PDF, from the Oxford Research Group.

Global Security After the War on Terror

Paul Rogers assesses the impact of the "war on terror" on international peace
and stability, and argues for a fundamental re-thinking of those current
approaches to security that focus prmarily on military instruments. Instead,
the major global trends of a wider socio-economic divide, mass
marginalisation and environmental constraints all require an approach rooted
in what is now being termed sustainable security.

Casualty recorders issue joint communique

Saturday, 28 November 2009

The Recording Casualties of Armed Conflict International Practitioner's Network is pleased to announce the release of its first joint communique on 25th November 2009. Twenty organisations so far, from around the world, declare: "We will collaborate to raise our capacity, visibility and collective strength, thereby enhancing casualty recording activities worldwide." The full communique and a list of signatories is available here.

Dignified transfer for the Fallen

The bodies of U.S. soldiers killed while serving in Afghanistan arrive at Dover Air Force Base July 8, 2009.



The service members are: Army Capt. Mark A. Garner of State Road, N.C.; Army Pfc. Nicolas H.J. Gideon of Murrieta, Calif.; Army Spc. Isaac L. Johnson of Columbus, Ga.; Army Sgt. Brock H. Chavers of Bulloch, Ga.; Navy Petty Officer Second Class Tony Michael Randolph of Henryetta, Okla.; Army Spc. Chester W. Hosford of Hastings, Minn.; and Army 2nd Lt. Derwin I. Williams of Glenwood, Ill.

Bagram Detainnee Abuse

Ex-detainees allege Bagram abuse

Wednesday, 24 June 2009 Allegations of abuse and neglect at a US detention facility in Afghanistan have been uncovered by the BBC.

Former detainees have alleged they were beaten, deprived of sleep and threatened with dogs at the Bagram military base.

The BBC interviewed 27 former inmates of Bagram around the country over a period of two months.

The Pentagon has denied the charges and insisted that all inmates in the facility are treated humanely.

All the men were asked the same questions and they were all interviewed in isolation.......

Amnesty 'shocked' by Bagram claims

Wednesday, 24 June 2009 A BBC investigation has uncovered allegations that prisoners were abused and humiliated at the US-run Bagram military base in Afghanistan.......

"RESOLUTION: The Torture Song" By David Ippolito



The rally in Washington, D.C., on Torture Accountability Action Day, Thursday, June 25, 11 a.m., John Marshall Park.

More here: That Guitarman from Central Park

Hell No, I Won't Go

"Two Wars"

Decorated Iraq/Afghanistan war hero Nate Self talks about his new book, "Two Wars: One Hero's Fight on Two Fronts--Abroad and Within", detailing the now historic rescue on Roberts Ridge and his struggle with PTSD. Learn more at Two Wars.

"Two Wars" by Army Ranger Nate Self - book trailer


Watch Nate's Interview from KWTX-TV

Gitmo: Ex-Detainee and Guard Answer Questions About

BBC: Wednesday, 21 January 2009

Chris Arendt, a former guard at the prison camp and Moazzam Begg an ex-detainee spoke to the BBC.



Three of the main points were:

1. It will be seen by many as "too little too late".

2. (Question: Do you think Guantanamo has radicalized them?) These people are just tired, they want to go home to their families and to children who they have in some cases never seen...

3. They had to pay the ultimate price because of a war that appears to have no aims or objectives.

Chris Arendt, Former guard on Guantanamo 'torture' Jan 9th '09

Guantánamo Reports: Research Of

Those spreading or falling for the cheney/bush administration spin on the Released Guantanamo Prisoners going directly back into the Guerilla/Insurgent conflict and or Criminal Terrorism might want to educate themselves on the studies exposing that the government numbers just don't Tell The Truth, not surprising!!

On the Rachel Maddow show last night, 1-16-09. she had a discussion with Professor Mark P. Denbeaux, Director of Seton Hall Law Center for Policy and Research, who supervises a group of talented Seton Hall students in preparing a series of Reports concerning the United States Navy Station at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

Latest Press Release January 15, 2009
Seton Hall Law: Department of Defense Wrong Again on GTMO “Recidivism”

The Seton Hall Center for Policy and Research has issued a report which rebuts and debunks the most recent claim by the Department of Defense (DOD) that “61, in all, former Guantánamo detainees are confirmed or suspected of returning to the fight.”

Professor Denbeaux of the Center for Policy & Research has said that the Center has determined that “DOD has issued 'recidivism' numbers 43 times, and each time they have been wrong—this last time the most egregiously so.”

Denbeaux stated: “Once again, they’ve failed to identify names, numbers, dates, times, places, or acts upon which their report relies. Every time they have been required to identify the parties, the DOD has been forced to retract their false IDs and their numbers. They have included people who have never even set foot in Guantánamo—much less were they released from there. They have counted people as 'returning to the fight' for their having written an Op-ed piece in the New York Times and for their having appeared in a documentary exhibited at the Cannes Film Festival. The DOD has revised and retracted their internally conflicting definitions, criteria, and their numbers so often that they have ceased to have any meaning—except as an effort to sway public opinion by painting a false portrait of the supposed dangers of these men.

"Forty-three times they have given numbers—which conflict with each other—all of which are seriously undercut by the DOD statement that 'they do not track' former detainees. Rather than making up numbers “willy-nilly” about post release conduct, America might be better served if our government actually kept track of them.”

The MSNBC Rachel Maddow Video on Torture and than the discussion with Professor Denbeaux:



Following is a part of the 19 page PDF report from their studies of the administrations up and down confusing figures, with nothing to back them up, that was just released. I find it Very Interesting that the administration's DoD has issued 'recidivism' reports 43 times, sounds much like rovian 'revisionist history' keeping that 43 number in their herded bases tiny minds, very poor propaganda tactic, very poor.

Latest Report (01/15/09)
RELEASED GUANTÁNAMO DETAINEES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE:
Propaganda by the Numbers?


PROPAGANDA AS TERRORISM: RECIDIVISM BY THE NUMBERS
Time and time again, the Department of Defense, the Executive Branch, and other
government officials have claimed publicly that Guantánamo Bay detainees who have been
released have “returned to the battlefield” where they have then been re-captured or killed. On
January 13, 2009, during a press conference the Department of Defense provided its 43rd attempt
to report on the number of detainees released from Guantanamo who returned to the battlefield.
This latest report alleges that 61 detainees have returned to the battlefield. This report seeks to
examine the last numbers.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1. The 43rd attempt to enumerate the number of detainees who have returned to the
battlefield is false by the Department of Defense’s own data and prior reports.
2. In each of its forty-three attempts to provide the numbers of the recidivist detainees,
the Department of Defense has given different sets of numbers that are contradictory
and internally inconsistent with the Department’s own data.
3. The Department of Defense does not keep track of released detainees nor does it
follow their post release conduct.
4. The Department of Defense’s previous statements about the post release conduct of
former Guantanamo detainees were produced in writing in July 2007 and May 2008.
5. The January 13, 2009 press statement identifies no names, dates, places nor any
conduct by released detainees. The raw numbers that are cited are unsupported,
inconsistent with all other statements and appear to be presented to support the
internal Department of Defense purposes.

POINT I: The Department of Defense’s First 42 Reports of Released Guantanamo
Detainees: Recidivism

1. Among the previous numbers of recidivist detainees, the Department of Defense has
alleged variously: one, several, some, a couple, a few, 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 12-24, 25, 29,
and 30. (See Appendix 1).

2. Eighty-two percent (82%) of the publicly made claims catalogued in Appendix 1 of
this report contain qualifying language, including terms such as: “at least”;1
“somewhere on the order of”;2 “approximately”;3 “around”;4 “just short of”;5 “we
believe”;6 “estimated”;7 “roughly”;8 “more than”;9 “a couple”;10 “a few”;11 “some”;12
“several”;13 and “about.”14

3. One would suppose that the number of “recidivists” would increase over time.
However, while the timeline does reveal a trend in a general upward direction over
time, there are notable deviations. For instance, in the months leading up to the midterm
election—from May 2006 until September 2006—the numbers proffered range
from “a couple”15 to “twenty-five (25)”16 During this same period, however, the
Department of Defense number remains constant at twelve (12). (See Appendix 1).

As is the case there are other links to previous reports and statements at the site. These are but a few:

# Profile of Released Guantánamo Detaines: The Government's Story Then and Now

Cover Statement by Professor Mark Denbeaux (08/04/08)

# Justice Scalia, the Department of Defense, and The Perpetuation of an Urban Legend: The Truth about Recidivism of Released Guantánamo Detainees (06/16/08)

# Captured on Tape: Interrogation and Videotaping of Detainees in Guantánamo (02/07/08)

# The Meaning of "Battlefield": An Analysis of the Government’s Representations of ‘Battlefield Capture’ and ‘Recidivism’ of the Guantánamo Detainees (12/10/07)

Professor Denbeaux's Testimony before the Judiciary Committee on C-SPAN

# The Empty Battlefield and the Thirteenth Criterion (11/08/07)

# The 14 Myths of Guantánamo: Senate Armed Services Committee Statement of Mark P. Denbeaux.
Professor Mark P. Denbeaux testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on 4/26/07

More can be found at the Center for Policy & Research - Guantánamo Reports at Seton Hall University School of Law

As to those held captive in Guantanamo, and any other country under the cheney/bush administrations request and demands, I certainly wouldn't blame them if they reverted to a combative retaliatory existence.

After being scooped up, taken to different countries or gitmo, held and tortured for now years, unable to contact family thousands of miles away, given no trials or even the government evidence of why they are being held or the charges, than after years released. I know what I would do, especially if I wasn't a Guerilla Fighter to begin with, I'd Instantly Become One, my first reaction.

But hopefully I'd contain my Rage and Channel it into letting the World Know how I was Treated and help any others still held, as well as helping the innocent survivors of the occupied countries!!

Memorials

Today, as many know or should know, is Veterans Day, or actually many who observe call it what it was intended to be called, Armistice Day.


On this day in a U.S. occupation of anothers country, that seems so long ago but isn't, and which I served '70-'71, the following happened:


November 11, 1972

The U.S. Army turned over its massive military base at Long Binh to the South Vietnamese army, symbolizing the end of direct U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War. The last American forces, however, did not leave until 1975.

**********

April 29 - Corporal Charles McMahon, Jr., and Lance Corporal Darwin Judge, USMC, are the last US military personnel killed in Vietnam. They are struck during a rocket attack at the US Embassy in Saigon, during the final North Vietnamese attack on the government.

April 30 - At 7:53 a.m., 11 US Marines (the last of 865 Marines assigned to guard the US Embassy) carrying the American flag, are airlifted from the US Embassy rooftop helipad. Three hours later the Vietnam war finally ends when North Vietnamese tanks break into the Presidential Palace.

There will be much written and said about Armistice Day, than again there will probably be even more not said nor written by many who really don't observe, even as to their family members long gone, wether killed in conflicts or served in but passed away years later.


The purpose of this is to point to another observance, actually two, one a dedication 15 year anniversary of one memorial, The Vietnam Women’s Memorial. Another a dedication anniversary two days later some 27 years past of 'The Wall', the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, both in Washington DC, this countries capital.


On November 13, 1982 The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C. Carved into black granite are the 58,260 names of those Americans who died in Vietnam. The designer, Maya Ying Lin of Athens, Ohio, a 21-year-old architecture student at Yale University, was the winner of the competition that drew 1,421 design entries: ". . . this memorial is for those who have died, and for us to remember them." Eventually, the Memorial included three elements, the Wall of names, the Three Servicemen Statue and Flagpole, and the Vietnam Women's Memorial.{ From: This Week In Peace History as will be some of the following links. }


Read more about the memorial:

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, USA, "The Wall" now has carved into it the names of the 58,260 American military personnel (eight were women) who were direct casualties of the war, including about 1300 who are still considered Missing In Action (MIA).

When The Wall was built, there were 57,159 names. A few names have been added each year: those where lost records of wartime death were found later or those names of men who died after the war from physical injuries as a result of the war. Each of the branches of the Department of Defense made and continues to make the determinations of eligibility.

The Women’s Memorial

Each Memorial Day and Veterans Day, the stories of the women cast in bronze come to life as veterans and other American patriots share their experiences “in their own voices.”

Through verse, prose and music, a tapestry of stories is woven by women who served in support of the Armed Forces: nurses, administrators, air traffic controllers, journalists, women who entertained troops as members of the USO and Red Cross, women who served in a variety of occupations around the world. Men who knew their sisters in war and have partnered with them to ensure healing and peace also share their stories in a compelling and educational way.

15th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Memorial, Veterans Day Nov 8-11, 2008, Various locations, Washington DC VWMF

Stunning photo gallery of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial including interactive panoramic images


And the young architect Maya Lin, who won the call for the design that is one of the most moving, emotionally, memorials ever constructed.


Charlie Rose interview with Maya Lin and filmmaker Freida Lee Mock, who made the Academy-Award-winning documentary, "Maya Lin - A Strong Clear Vision"


Charlie Rose 12/26/1995: Maya Lin & Freida Lee Mock



And what War and Occupation can do to many who survive:


MoJo: The Pentagon's PTSD Denial


How killing scars soldiers—and their loved ones.

In the spring of 2002, an Army major named Peter Kilner submitted an unusual essay to Military Review, a journal published by the Combined Arms Center in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Kilner argued that combat leaders have an obligation to justify the killing their soldiers do. "Soldiers who kill reflexively in combat will likely one day reconsider their actions reflectively," he wrote. "If they are unable to justify to themselves that they killed another human being, they will likely, and understandably, suffer enormous guilt" that could balloon into post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd). Top brass who ignored the issue, he concluded, were "treating their soldiers as commodities, not as persons."

After Two Iraq War Deployments


Army Major General Steps Forward, Breaks Culture of Silence on Mental Health

Blackledge got psychiatric counseling to deal with wartime trauma, and now he is defying the military's culture of silence on the subject of mental health problems and treatment.

"It's part of our profession ... nobody wants to admit that they've got a weakness in this area," Blackledge said of mental health problems among troops returning from America's two wars.

Facing The Wall: A Mission

Witness This Engaging Account About One Woman's Struggling in Taking Care of Her Vietnam War Veteran Husband Suffering From Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

FACING THE WALL: A MISSION symbolizes the everlasting pains of war as well as our search for peace. It pays special attention to PTSD and its effects on the whole family.

Growing Problem For Veterans: Domestic Violence

"The increasing number of veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) raises the risk of domestic violence and its consequences on families and children in communities across the United States," says Monica Matthieu, Ph.D., an expert on veteran mental health and an assistant professor of social work at Washington University in St. Louis.

David Connolly in "Voices in Wartime"

Boston poet and Vietnam veteran, David Connolly, reads his poetry and talks about the death of friends, combat trauma, nightmares and memories, and how the experience of war changes people forever.

Military, VA Confront Rising Suicide Rates Among Troops

November 10, 2008
MP3: The Army says that suicides among active duty personnel have doubled in recent years, and multiple deployments might contribute to that increase. NewsHour correspondent Betty Ann Bowser explores how the Army and Department of Veterans Affairs are responding to the rising suicide rate.

You Can Listen To Report in mp3 with the link.

Extended Interviews {Video} : Army psychiatrist Col. Elspeth Ritchie, veterans advocate Paul Sullivan and VA Secretary James Peake. {after each interview hit the 'next' arrow to continue to next interview}{The discussion with Paul Sullivan is a Must Watch as he lays out the Legacy that will Be Remembered as to the Administration and the Appointee's of}

Forum: Ask questions of Ritchie, Sullivan and VA representatives. {Check back on Friday, Nov. 14 for answers to your questions.}

The Army says that suicides among its active duty personnel have doubled in recent years, and multiple deployments may be contributing to the increase. A veterans' advocate, an Army psychiatrist and representatives of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs take your questions.

And from 'Nam brother BOHICA's Dialy KOS Post last year this snippet:

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, it became "All quiet on the western front." An armistice signed at six o’clock that morning took effect and brought a cease-fire to the "War to end all wars." Since that fateful hour, most nations, which fought in that conflict, observe Armistice Day. The United States in 1938 made it official with a proclamation that states in part: "...it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and...inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples."

And what the day really is:

Armistice Day:

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:
...Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations...

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday - - a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day."

'World Peace', wonderful concept that has been totally destroyed as the Hatreds Level have been greatly increased these last 8yrs. with the destruction and occupations under a banner of 'Terrorism' as we waged it against those we condemned for doing same!


What will the Memorial for the 'War on Terrorism', conflicts and occupations being fought under that misnomer in Afghanistan and Iraq, look like and give back to those who fought in these theaters, and their families, and their memories, memories of multiple tours in one or both.


To the rest it will be just another memorial.

War on Terror? Criminal Terrorism!! The Rand Report

On the 29th of July an extremely important think tank report, paid for by the government, came forth from the Rand Corporation, a favorite of the Pentagon on National Security matters.

I heard the report early that morning on a news blip on NPR and went over to the Rand Site and found the report. I than posted about it on a number of sites as well as sent it out, all with back links.
There was also a link for a Congressional Briefing to be held on that day on the report.

At first I was shocked that very few picked up on the importance of this report, that day and the next, as well as the hearing. Than thinking about it later maybe I shouldn't have been surprised that few political boards saw the need to report and most certainly fewer MSM outlets as well. There's an Awful Lot of sheepish guilty consciouses that supported this criminal administration, and criminal it is, in the direction it started selling this 'War on Terrorism', and the MSM, purely for commercial profit, would love to see what their advertisers were paying for ads than, happily went along, War Sells Big Time! Hell these political people, the boards, the MSM, the majority of the voters even fear bringing charges and accountability, fear of what that may mean on the political front, to hell with the Constitution the Politics are more important!

There were a few people who like me tried to rattle the cages of these boards to pay attention, sadly they to were ignored. This morning truong son traveler had another great report posted on a couple of boards, after the MSM finally started to Get It, such as Keith Olbermann, after two days:

{ had to edit the end, didn't need the two reports prior and uploading, even with those cut off his last words, so I edited and put them in as closing text plus }

War on Terror? Criminal Terrorism!! The Rand Report

Other News outlets have also started grasping the importance of the Conservative Rand Corporations report and it's real meaning and have written it up, like these:

U.S. News and World Report

Since 2001, al Qaeda has conducted a greater number of attacks across a larger geographic area than at any time in its history. "We find it hard to agree that al Qaeda has been significantly weakened since Sept. 11, 2001," says Seth Jones, coauthor with Martin Libicki of the report titled "How Terrorist Groups End: Lessons for Countering al Qaeda."

The authors evaluate al Qaeda since 2001 as being both "strong" and "competent."

What's needed, the report suggests, is a "fundamental rethinking of U.S. strategy" to focus on minimizing overt military action and increasing intelligence collection and partnerships with law enforcement agencies around the world.

The report couldn't have been clearer in its refutation of one of the central tenants of the Bush administration's strategy against al Qaeda: the characterization of the conflict as a "global war." The administration has frequently attacked critics—especially Democrats—who say that counterterrorism should be built around law enforcement strategies.

As well as this:

Countering al Qaeda, a must-read for Pakistan from Reuters.

It’s probably unusual to link to a report by the RAND Corporation and an op-ed on Foxnews.com in the same blog, but since both address the same subject – tackling al Qaeda in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region – here goes.

The first is a detailed report by RAND called “How Terrorist Groups End”.

Its analysis of 648 groups that existed between 1968 and 2006 concludes that ”military force has rarely been the primary reason for the end of terrorist groups, and few groups within this time frame have achieved victory.” Calling for a rethink of U.S. strategy, it argues that policing and intelligence, rather than military force, should form the backbone of U.S. efforts against al Qaeda.”

And this:

Kerry Was Right from the Atlantic

As you may recall, back during the 2004 campaign John Kerry said something about counterterrorism being primarily a question to be dealt with through law enforcement and intelligence rather than something that should be understood as primarily a kind of war. George W. Bush was eager to pounce:

Some are skeptical that the war on terror is really a war at all. My opponent said, and I quote, "The war on terror is less of a military operation, and far more of an intelligence-gathering law enforcement operation." I disagree—strongly disagree.

After 9/11 many were saying exactly what this Rand Report is now saying, seven years into this so called 'War on Terror', as well as our allies and even countries considered our foes or rather not friendly towards us, in going after al Qaeda and international criminal terrorism. We, the United States, had universal support from all corners of this planet after the devastating attacks on our country, that support would have brought the intelligence, the law enforcement agencies, and the militaries, if needed, to our aid in tracking down these criminal terrorists. This administration saw it differently and much more dangerously, wage a War on unknown factions, label them all terrorists, kill and destroy, thus creating the hatreds needed to enhance the threat leading to a replacement for the phony 'Cold War' by a 'War on Terrorism' for the wealth and power of the few and a long lasting destructive endeavor for the World to handle, and soon they will walk away with their profits and we as a Nation will hold no one Accountable!

Let me tell a little story here. After we invaded Afghanistan and ousted the Taliban, still not catching the leaders of al Qaeda, Veterans started planning an action of a Teach In to take place in Washington and called Operation Dire Distress, we saw the writing on the wall, what we 'Nam Vets especially had promised we would never allow to happen again was about to do just that. The talk changed from Afghanistan to Iraq and invading that country and toppling that leader, though the Iraqi people had nothing to do with 9/11. As the drums of war with Iraq were beating louder the planning went on. The Teach In took place, at American University in DC, on Saturday March 22nd 2003, some two days after 'Shock and Awe' started destroying the country of Iraq and it's people, there were some 300 to 400 Veterans, from World War II to the 1st Gulf War, as well as family and friends of some, from around the country.

This link is a PDF of the VFP Newsletter from that time, after that weekend Veterans For Peace Newsletter

THE TEACH-IN - Saturday, March 22
The Kay Chapel at the American University, Washington, D.C.,
teach-in was packed all afternoon as speaker after speaker, with
solid knowledge and passionate eloquence, expertly laid out the fallacies
and falsehoods driving the war in Iraq, the ways it could have
been averted, with honor, and the need to end it quickly.
I was impressed by the sanity with which people who have
earned the right to speak as soldiers and citizens and patriots of the
highest order confronted the insanity of the actions of the Bush
administration. It was a long and illustrious list of combat nurses,
intelligence experts, academics, clerics, citizens of all stripes - people
like Bobby Muller, Daniel Ellsberg, Ray McGivern, Charles
Sheehan-Miles, Jamie Vasquez, Jonathan Schell, Charley
Richardson and Nancy Lessing of Military Families Speak Out, our
president, David Cline. C-Span saw fit to broadcast it for four solid
hours.

A number of the speakers listed above, and there were more, were saying almost the exact same thing this Rand Report is now saying and much more, and we along with a growing voice of millions, in this country and around the world, have said since!

The next day a wreath laying was planned for all the monuments to those lost in our previous conflicts in Honor to their Service as our Brothers and Sisters in uniform, at the time the World War II monument had just started to be constructed

Two things happened that next day that I'll never forget, one really moved me and others, the other showed us 'Nam Vets how far this country hadn't come and hos sheepish it's citizens truly are, first a cut from the newsletter:

THE PROCESSION - Sunday,
March 23
The day of the march was brisk and
sunny. Veterans and Military Families
from all over the country collected on a
knoll near the Vietnam Memorial. We listened
to a few, short speeches. Most of us
had our messages firmly placed in our
hearts and minds. In solemn procession
we made our way from one war memorial
to another.
At each, a small delegation of veterans
walked in and placed a wreath in
memory of those we knew and didn’t
know that were lost to their families.
Peter Shaw played his bagpipes on
each occasion but one; when he joined the
delegation to the Korean War memorial.
There we laid our arms on each others’ shoulders and kept a short
silence.
We visited the Office of Veterans Affairs. The Gulf War I vets,
of a war not yet memorialized, laid their wreath at the doorstep. In a
short speech, Erik Gustafson of EPIC and a member of VFP, noted
how the Congress voted out a resolution supporting the troops, yet,
at three the next morning, voted to cut billions from the budget of
the Office of Veterans Affairs over the next ten years.
The final official delegation delivered the VAIW statement of
purpose, signed by over 3000 veterans, ranking from Admirals and
Generals to PFCs, Airmen and Seamen, to the Whitehouse.
The President’s people refused to accept it.

The first, never to be lost memory, the one that moved me.

I had gotten to the Mall early in order to take some pictures of the War Memorials before the crowds started and the rest of the Veterans and friends showed up. There was a stage setup at the Lincoln Memorial didn't go over there and didn't know what it was for but was soon to find out. While there taking a few shots and waiting for the Vets I noticed people started showing up and heading down towards the stage area, none would look at me or if they did and I caught their eyes they would quickly look away. I asked a DC cop that was near by what the stage was for, it was a planned Clear Channel 'support The Troops' rally, now I understood why the no looks, I had my Veterans For Peace T-Shirt and Ballcap on, I'll explain in a moment.

The vets started coming to the mall, as we were talking DC park personal started showing up with crowd control tube barriers, they look like bicycle racks without the center bars, They set them up in a line along the hill between us and the Vietnam Memorial, i.e. the Lincoln Memorial. While this was taking place we were joined by some other Vets, from around the area, that hadn't been at the Teach In the day before. While talking I noticed one guy running towards us from the corner of the Mall. When he got up to us, out of breath, he asked who he should talk to to join VFP. Come to find out he had watched the Saturday Teach In on C-Span, jumped on a Red Eye out of Chicago and flew down to join us for Sunday's Wreath laying, he was a 'Nam Vet who hadn't been active prior to the debacle that had started a few days before.

Now to the second occurrence, the state of this Nations Citizens, and the Treatment of Veterans, though us 'Nam Vets had already lived with it for years.

See the picture above, see the horses, well about 8to10 of DC's finest showed up riding them and took a line along the barriers. They were extremely nice to us but told us we couldn't pass over, especially in masse to lay one of the Wreath's at the Vietnam Memorial as we planned, only a small group of 3 to 4 would be allowed to do that Honor. Now as there were Veterans from WWII, through Korea, to 'Nam and up to Gulf War I the majority were Korea to 'Nam and we weren't allowed to honor our Fallen Brothers of 'Nam because the police thought there might be trouble if we Veterans got to close to the Rally 'Supporting The Troops', it was at the rally organizers request to keep us Veterans Away! No one was approached by any attending this rally, some 200 or so, so not one Vet was asked if they wanted to attend a rally in Support Of Our New Generation Of Coming Conflict Veterans! They were waving American Flags, playing Patriotic Music, singing along with the Patriotic songs and making speeches of 'Supporting The Troops' while Spitting Once Again On The Veterans Who Had Served Them In Protection Of Their Freedom, supposedly, and Democracy, supposedly!

A problem arose, if we couldn't walk near this Patriotic Rally for our Service Members how does one get from the Vietnam Memorial and the others on that side of the reflecting pool to the Korean Memorial on the otherside, there was a fence up at the opposite end from the Lincoln Memorial for the WWII Construction, why one allows the DC Police to lead, enmasse, a walk through the reflecting pool which just happened to be empty for a well needed cleaning, like a miracle only the water didn't need to part!!

Think about the above and if you've ever been to DC you can get a picture of how we were treated and the Honor Wreath laying, about 400 Veterans Shunned by the Patriotic Americans they served and our brothers and sisters died for!!

You know, those Clear Channel Rallies were never attended by huge crowds nor did they last long, they sort of went quietly away as the cheap magnetic ribbons took over, they too have pretty much disappeared.

We were saying, and have since, Exactly what this Rand Corporation report is saying now, and Think how many have died, been maimed physically and mentally, not just soldiers but civilians of another small country and how much damage has been done and the hatreds now that have been created!!


you can get the press release here, you can get the full document here or a summary of the research brief here.

"How Terrorist Groups End"

The title above comes from a new Rand Corporation Report

After 7 years of conflict and occupations, with 893 coalition deaths -- 556 Americans, in Afghanistan and increasing, and 4,438 coalition deaths -- 4,124 Americans in Iraq and increasing, with tens of thousands of injured and maimed, physically and mentally, and millions of innocents in both countries killed, maimed, living as refugee's, fighting each other in sectarian civil wars, living in ethnically cleansed neighborhoods and area's in Iraq behind huge concrete blast walls, this "Think Tank?" comes out and says:

U.S. Should Rethink "War On Terrorism" Strategy to Deal with Resurgent Al Qaida

Current U.S. strategy against terrorist organization al Qaida has not been successful at limiting the group's capabilities. Since Sept. 11, 2001, al Qaida has been involved in more terrorist attacks than ever before and over an increasingly broader range of targets.

No F'in Shit!!!!!

Millions of us, here and around the world, before the invasions and occupations, were saying exactly the same and more, and we weren't called a "Think Tank" we were labeled as "Focus Groups" not to be listened to, those here were labeled as "Unpatriotic", "Traitors", "Enemy Sympathizers", you name it "We Were In The Wrong" and the lying bastards of power Were Right, over seventy percent of this countries people Said So, and now hide from that support and tune out what the reality is!

And what does this "Think Tank" think we should do, not only this country but the world, well according to their press release:

Current U.S. strategy against the terrorist group al Qaida has not been successful in significantly undermining the group's capabilities, according to a new RAND Corporation study issued today.

Oh if you click the link directly above they'll sell you the study in paperback. But you can download the Full Document (File size 3.1 MB, 13 minutes modem, 2 minutes broadband) in PDF or download the Summary Only (File size 0.1 MB, 1 minute modem, 1 minute broadband) also in PDF.

From the site page linked above, a short description:

All terrorist groups eventually end. But how do they end? The evidence since 1968 indicates that most groups have ended because (1) they joined the political process (43 percent) or (2) local police and intelligence agencies arrested or killed key members (40 percent). Military force has rarely been the primary reason for the end of terrorist groups, and few groups within this time frame have achieved victory. This has significant implications for dealing with al Qa'ida and suggests fundamentally rethinking post-9/11 U.S. counterterrorism strategy: Policymakers need to understand where to prioritize their efforts with limited resources and attention. The authors report that religious terrorist groups take longer to eliminate than other groups and rarely achieve their objectives. The largest groups achieve their goals more often and last longer than the smallest ones do. Finally, groups from upper-income countries are more likely to be left-wing or nationalist and less likely to have religion as their motivation. The authors conclude that policing and intelligence, rather than military force, should form the backbone of U.S. efforts against al Qa'ida. And U.S. policymakers should end the use of the phrase “war on terrorism” since there is no battlefield solution to defeating al Qa'ida.

If you noticed in the above the terms "leftwing" and "nationalists" are used. While both so called ideologies, across many spectrum's not only political have their extremists I would argue that we recently became witness to a terrorists attack, on innocents, in a church, that from the reporting of it coming out hardly shows this terrorists was of a "leftwing" ideology, a "nationalists" maybe, but I doubt he even knows what that is.

And those we presently label as "Terrorist", any we wish as those naming wage terror, are hardly "leftwing", more of the extreme "rightside" of political, religious, and corporate entities.

If you also noticed, near the end of the above, it says, "U.S. policymakers should end the use of the phrase "war on terrorism" since there is no battlefield solution to defeating al Qa'ida."!

Now where have I heard that before, oh ya, from the Millions of us in the "Focus Groups" for over seven years! And what do they suggest we call it exactly, why "CounterTerrorism" instead, and why, because Terror is a Criminal Act and can only be gone after as a Crime finding and arresting, and if a fight ensues possibly killing, those carrying out these crimes, breaking up the organizations big and small, and I'll add change the policies the powerful practice to suppress any need for the disenfranchised to rebel against that power and those failed policies!

From the Press Release:

Among the other findings, the study notes:

* Religious terrorist groups take longer to eliminate than other groups. Since 1968, approximately 62 percent of all terrorist groups have ended, while only 32 percent of religious terrorist groups have done so.

* No religious terrorist group has achieved victory since 1968.

* Size is an important predictor of a groups' fate. Large groups of more than 10,000 members have been victorious more than 25 percent of the time, while victory is rare when groups are smaller than 1,000 members.

* There is no statistical correlation between the duration of a terrorist group and ideological motivation, economic conditions, regime type or the breadth of terrorist goals.

* Terrorist groups that become involved in an insurgency do not end easily. Nearly 50 percent of the time they end with a negotiated settlement with the government, 25 percent of the time they achieved victory and 19 percent of the time, military groups defeated them.

* Terrorist groups from upper-income countries are much more likely to be left-wing or nationalistic, and much less likely to be motivated by religion.

"The United States has the necessary instruments to defeat al Qaida, it just needs to shift its strategy and keep in mind that terrorist groups are not eradicated overnight," Jones said.

It took over seven years for this thinktank to come up with the obvious.

We waged War, mostly on Innocent Human Beings, using such catch phrases as "They hate our Freedom and Democracy", "They want to convert all to Islam", the so called leader? of the pack even used a term describing it was another "Religious War" and called himself a "War President" and "The Decider".

What we have done is create not only new generations of Hatred, we have made New Enemies of us and the World, tens of thousands if not millions, by the Failed Policies, the Death and Destruction, the Want To Control Them. And the generations behind us will be left dealing with the New World We Have Given Them!!

Once again, you can get the press release here, you can get the full document here or a summary of the research brief here. There is also a link for a Congressional Briefing to be held today:

Speakers: Seth Jones Date: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Location: 210 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C.

If televised I'm wondering if I should watch it, I'm afraid I might either start pulling out my hair or throw something into the tv screen, as I think of All that has been Done these past seven years and none can be taken back!!!!!!!

"True Crimes: The Untold Story Behind the Devastation of Iraq."

Join many others online, or if in New York city at the event, tomorrow evening:

On Tuesday, June 3, join the Center for Constitutional Rights for an exciting live webcast of the event "True Crimes: The Untold Story Behind the Devastation of Iraq."

The event, which will take place at New York City's Town Hall, features bestselling author JEREMY SCAHILL, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer CHRIS HEDGES, journalist LAILA AL-ARIAN, and The New Yorker's SEYMOUR HERSH, as they go behind the headlines to tell the untold story of the occupation of Iraq, the daily plight of Iraqi civilians, and the ongoing role of private mercenaries in America's so-called "war on terror."

The webcast will stream live on CCR's website on Tuesday, June 3, 7 p.m. EST. Go here for more details.

This event also marks the book launches of Collateral Damage: America's War Against Iraqi Civilians by Chris Hedges and Laila al-Arian and the updated paperback edition of Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army by Jeremy Scahill.

CCR has worked with all of these authors in our pursuit of justice for the victims of the war and occupation of Iraq. Recently, we filed new cases against Blackwater for its killing of Iraqi civilians as well as a new case against CACI and Titan, military contractors in Iraq who were responsible for interrogation and translation at Abu Ghraib.

The event is co-sponsored by CCR, The Nation, Public Concern Foundation, Democracy Now!, The Indypendent, CERSC, Democrats. com, Veterans for Common Sense, Peace Action New York, Alternet and Tricycle.

For those in or near New York City:

Tickets are available for the event at the Town Hall Box Office, 123 W. 43rd St., New York City ( 212-997-6661) or at Ticketmaster (212-307-4100/ )

And from 'Democracy Now!' today an interview with Jeremy Scahill:

* Blackwater: From the Nisour Square Massacre to the Future of the Mercenary
Industry *

The private military firm Blackwater has gone from being a relatively
unknown contractor working in Iraq to a household name and the subject of
multiple investigations, lawsuits and congressional inquiries. In the
meantime, the company continues to reap millions of dollars in profits and
was recently awarded a new contract from the State Department. Last year,
Democracy Now! correspondent and Nation Fellow, Jeremy Scahill, published
his book Blackwater: The Rise of the Worldｹs Most Powerful Mercenary Army.
The book quickly landed on the New York Times bestseller list and helped
frame the debate that was to come. With the book's paperback release in a
thoroughly revised and updated edition, Jeremy Scahill joins us for the
hour.

Listen/Watch/Read

The Above Interview Is GOOD!!!

Let me say, Anything and Everything 'Blackwater Does' can Will Create 'Blowback' on the Military Personal, this Countries Citizens and the Nations National Security, Anything!!!!!

"We Are Your New Winter Soldiers" - IVAW Winter Soldiers 2008

Back on March 19th I placed a post, on my site, as well as a few others. I also sent that out to a small e-list I maintain to a few site boards, mostly Veteran, and individuals. I will give you the link and part of that post shortly, but first I would like you to view these closing remarks, from the Winter Soldiers 2008 Testimonies, by Camilo Mejia of Iraq Veterans Against The War.

From The Real News Network

Camilo Mejia, chair of Iraq Vets Against War on GI resistance, the Real News Network Video report.

At these Winter Soldier II Testimonies there were a small group of counterprotestors, once calling themselves 'gathering of eagles' now this group, some 30 in number, went under a new banner 'eagles up'.

Us 'Nam Vets, since 'Winter Soldier '71, {I was in my last few months of my tour and four year Navy hitch when it took place} especially members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War and a Spokesperson from VVAW, now Senator John Kerry, two tour 'Nam Vet, 2nd tour Commanding a Swiftboat Crew, have been putting up with these small groups of disgruntled 'Nam Veterans, Veterans, but Mostly Non-Veterans, since Vietnam. They've put together faulty reports and made up stories, with nothing to back up their slanderous accusations, and have been using same for the years since, a few actually making livings off of all of this.

With all the Investigations, Surveilance, Paid Informants in the Anti-War Movement, SDS, and some Veterans Groups, and much more, under the Nixon Administrations Control, nothing was ever found to substantiate the slanderous charges by the afore mentioned groups and others, from those times to the present, reason they cannot produce any New so called Proof.

Everyone should remember 'the swftboat veterans for truth' who came out against the Presidential run of Senator John Kerry, they too have changed their name, now called 'swift vets and pows for truth', something about these small groups, they can't hold onto a name and stick with it. Well does anyone remember what Actual Proof they brought forth to substantiate the charges they were making against Kerry? Hell even the Vietnamesse who were there, and still are, called their blowhard bluff.

You can get some of the Backtract on the swifties charges here at Fact Check, there's much more for any individual to find who might be interested, unlike those who make the slanderous charges, they don't Want the Truth!

And what did one Senator John McCain have to say about the 'swifties' back than:

McCain : I think the ad is dishonest and dishonorable. As it is none of these individuals served on the boat (Kerry) commanded. Many of his crewmates have testified to his courage under fire. I think John Kerry served honorably in Vietnam.

Well these same charges are being regurgitated by the small group mentioned above, most aren't veterans, a few are recent veterans of OIF and or OEF, none served with Kerry, none served with those giving the First Winter Soldier Testimonies, and the charges are being made against the Present Veterans of OIF and OEF, giving Testimony at 'Winter Soldier '08' and again none of the 'eagles up' served with any of these soldiers. But let a couple of IVAW Veterans explain:

Vietnam Veterans Against the War respond to protests and accusations from Eagles Up

Vets defend Winter Soldier conferences, the Real News Network Video report.

And to better understand what they were talking about let a couple of these 'eagles up' explain:

Eagles Up protest Winter Soldier

Vets in support of current war policy protest against Winter Soldier testimonies

Eagles Up protest Winter Soldier, the Real News Network Video report.

Sooner, rather than later, the small numbers of Current Veterans, that are joining these groups, are going to get the Real Picture, especially as to the rethoric but most importantly the lack of want to help them fight for the benefits etc. they were promised by the Military and this Country.

Now to what I posted on the 19th and abit of that post:

I have a request that I would ask any and all reading this to please do.

This past weekend an Important Historical Event took place, War Comes Home - Winter Soldier II

Listen to a A Montage That Cuts to the Heart of the War and Winter Soldier {mp3}

You can listen to the testimonies Here with photo's and much more. You can view a number of Video's, of the testimonies, at The Real News Network along with other outstanding News updates from Iraq. You can also find the testimony Video's at the site of the Iraq/Afgan Veterans who organized the Truth of Occupation -IVAW as well as much more, along with the ability To Support and Help As They Grow

They have given their Testimonies, those Testimonies, though not carried nor reported as they should have been by the mainstream media, are now in the record as Audio, Video, and Transcripts.

All that is needed now is to get them into the Congressional Record as were the Winter Soldier Investigations of 1971

Immediately following the WSI, Senator George McGovern and Representative John Conyers announced that they were calling for congressional investigations based on the testimony. This announcement was received with skepticism by the veterans, but VVAW representatives agreed to meet with McGovern and Conyers.

The Iraq/Afgan Soldiers who testified requested that a Congressional Investigation be held, most, if not all, who testified this past weekend, also the 40th Anniversary of the My Lai Massacre, which in part sparked the first 'Winter Soldier Investigations', are more than willing to bring their testimonies in front of The Peoples Congress to be Sworn in, Under Oath, as the first 'Winter Soldier' to bring better understanding to those who don't serve, have never served, nor lived in theaters of conflict occupations, the Realities of War, Especially Wars of Choice, Not Need!

These testimonies, like the first 'Winter Soldier', cover a wide veriaty of issues as to the military, spoken or understood policies of a combat theater of operation, treatment of returning veterans, treatment of female veterans, hazing within the ranks, treatment of civilian populations, possible atrocities, possible war crimes, what War Is!

Many of us have written our congressional representatives requesting a Congeressional Investigation and Hearing on the testimonies given and any more that will come forward from these failed foreign policies of civilian and military leadership.

I ask that those reading take a few minutes and Also Write, or Call your own Congressional Representatives and request same, to get the sworn testimonies into the public record, The Congressional Record of Fact!

Added abit of highlight to the end for better understanding.

I than continued with the above request and also want:

I'm not quite done yet, with my request to you, though:

Once again small groups have come forth, even before the testimonies started, they were calling these Brave Soldiers, of whom these groups say they 'Support', Fakes and Liers, Verbally Spitting on the troops, as happened after Vietnam! Two of these groups, a tiny contingement, 30 to 40 people, of 'eagles up', i.e. 'gathering of eagles', or whatever next weeks name might be, and 'move america forward' were there, outside of DC this past weekend, speaking the same talking points to the few who would listen, there's a few interview video's at The Real News Network that will give you the inside to their ideology.

Most of those that start these groups have been doing so for alot of years, mostly since 'Nam, they claim proof of their rethoric yet when confronted for some reason that 'proof' can't be produced, words of anger and hate are the only thing used.

I would further my request, as many of us all ready have done, that you include these groups, any others you might know of, and those using todays technology passing the same rethoric of false claims and slander to be included in the Congressional Investigation and Hearings!

If they have any first hand proof, of their slanderous charges, than it should be Finally Placed into the Public Record for All To See, to vent, and to dispel!

Let us close the door on this form of Verbal Spitting, especially on the Military Troops they claim to Support, as these troop return home, repeating what was done to us 'Nam Vets, speaking and living the experiances of War that these groups haven't.

Have them testify along side those who have served and are more than willing to archive their testimonies into the public record!

Again abit of highlighting to make point.

Please contact your representatives today, and over the next couple of days, and request that congress open investigations and hearings ASAP!!

And for those living in or near New York City:

The Military Project Respectfully Requests: Don’t Leave Him Hanging

Dear Friend of Peace and Justice

Let's start with a basic statement.

The Troops Have the Power to Stop the War. We must work with them to accomplish this goal.

If you want to end the war and believe that the link between civilian and service member organizers is the key to putting a monkey wrench in the war machine — and vital to bringing the troops home — please join us and other members of the Military Project Organizing Committee at our first conference: Bridging the Gap: Making It Happen on Saturday, April 5th in New York City at Middle Collegiate Church (50 E. 7th St.).

This is an organizers' conference for people who wish to act together to bridge the gap between civilians and members of the Armed Forces through direct outreach.
The Military Project Organizing Committee acted decisively to initiate the conference (with the assistance of Traveling Soldier and GI Special in light of developments in the anti-war movement.

Troops and veterans are speaking out against the war— and refusing missions — more than ever before.

To take advantage of this momentum we must STRIKE NOW and bring the forces together to reach as many service members as possible.

Conference speakers include:

• Clarence Thomas, Local 10, The International Longshore and Warehouse Union, San Francisco on how Iraq Veterans, active duty troops and union members can join together to do what the politicians refuse to do: bring all the troops home now;

• Richard Boyle, Vietnam War Reporter, and author of "Flower of the Dragon," which recounts the resistance during the war and the breakdown of the U.S. Army in Vietnam will discuss his eyewitness accounts detailing the cause and effect of uprisings throughout the ranks; and

• Daniel Joseph Black, IVAW, on what it means to defend the Constitution and our population from "domestic enemies." Black states that "If defending requires our disobedience of an autocratic war criminal, then we are so bound by our oath."

The conference will also feature the moving poetry of Vietnam Veteran Dennis Serdel and the arresting photography of Vietnam Veteran Mike Hastie.

We hope that after reading this letter you will be as generous as your means allow in helping us to cover the many expenses incurred by this historic conference.

As veterans and members of Iraq Veterans Against the War, we cannot stress enough how important it is to show our troops support in their resistance against the war.

Our first priority should be to end this war immediately. Outreach of the sort conducted by the Military Project is vital to bringing this war to an end NOW.

This is the focus of the conference.

And it is an urgent task.

Please send checks or money orders, made payable to the Military Project to:
BOX 126, 2576 BROADWAY
NEW YORK, N.Y.
10025-5657 USA

Thank you for your support—and please contact us if you would like to join us in this work.

Sincerely,
Jeff Englehart, Former Spc., U.S. Army
Member, Military Project Organizing Committee
Member, Iraq Veterans Against the War

Lt. Fabian Bouthillette, USNR
Member, Military Project Organizing Committee
Member, Iraq Veterans Against the War

April 5, 2008: 10 AM
Middle Collegiate Church
50 East 7th St., New York, New York
[Just east of 2nd Avenue]

U.S. on Canadian Torture Watch List

Guards sit in a tower overlooking Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base, Cuba. This image has been reviewed and approved by U.S. Department of Defense.

Canada puts U.S. on torture watch list: CTV

Omar Khadr's lawyers say they can't understand why Canada is not doing more to help their client in light of new evidence that Ottawa has put the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on a watch list for torture.

Khadr -- a Canadian citizen who was just 15-years-old when he was captured in Afghanistan more than five years ago and taken to Guantanamo -- has claimed that he has been tortured at the prison.

We have joined the likes of Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, China, and Israel on their list.

Video report

The article states that Surprisingly Getmo and Israel are on the list. Why should that be a Surprise. I wonder how many other 'Torture Lists' and 'Human Rights Violations lists' we, and they, are now listed on, as we've joined those we condemn ourselves for their records on Human Rights!

And it seems they wanted to keep this list out of site to public and world view!

But it appears that Ottawa may have had second thoughts about being so explicit. After the documents were released as evidence in a court case relating to Afghan detainees, the government tried to get them back. Sources say that Ottawa apparently wanted to black out sensitive parts that may anger allies.

"Anger Allies?", as Bush walks around talking Democracy and Freedom at the end of Invasions, Death, Destruction, and Occupations, Enhancing the Hatreds towards the U.S. as he threatens! Condemning others as we do what we accuse them of doing!

Updated: Spinning Torture - CTV Video {link brings up WMPlayer}

And All this has been done In Our Names, as we are Unwilling to Hold Anyone Accountible!!

Wexler: Cheney impeachment 'far stronger than Watergate.'

Still working on that 'Successful Surge'!

We all know the Why for the 'Surge', we all know the spin of the Success stories of that 'Surge', which seem to always overlook the 'Why'.

Well here's another example of why the 'Why' still hasn't been achieved, even with the many Walls built around Ethnically Cleansed Neighborhoods

A suicide bomber has killed eight Iraqis, including soldiers, in an attack on Army Day celebrations.

Army Day - a public holiday in Iraq - marks the anniversary of the founding of the Iraqi Army in 1921 with its first battalion, the Musa Al-Kadhem and involves high-ranking officers and government officials as well as Iraqi soldiers.

You can watch the BBC Video of the celebrations and bombing in another one of those 'Safe Neighborhoods' of Baghdad.

When will we start being Honest with Ourselves, as the World already knows, about What We Have Done?

When will those seeking the job of President not only be Honest to the American People, who hopefully will be doing the hiring, and not the Supremes, about the Depths of Hatreds created and Destruction of our Morality as a Nation, but also be Honest with themselves about what this Nation Now Faces?

When will We, as a Nation, start holding those Responsible, Accountable??

The Key....

involves high-ranking officers and government officials as well as Iraqi soldiers.

Yep the 'Surge' is doin wonders giving the 'Government of Iraq' the Space Needed to Govern and Protect!!

War Made Easy

This past week the Backbone Campaign Recognized Two Progressive Heroes.

The two were Mayor "Rocky" Anderson {Spine Award} and Rep. Barbara Lee {Backbone Award}, they were presented with the Awards for naturally having the sense to stand up, right fom the beginning, and really try to lead where all others failed to do so.


Tim Carpenter and Karen Bradley Present Spine Award to Mayor Rocky Anderson

"No more pre-emptive, illegal war, based on false information. No more God-is-on-our-side religious nonsense to justify this immoral, illegal war."
~ Mayor Rocky Anderson, Salt Lake City Aug. 30, 2006

The Spine Award recognizes Mayor Anderson for his outstanding progressive leadership. It was presented by PDA Executive Director and Backbone Campaign DC activist and blogger Karen Bradley. The inscription reads:
"To the Honorable Ross C. "Rocky" Anderson, In Gratitude for Surprising the Nation with Your Bold, Pioneering, Progressive Leadership for Peace, Accountability, Equality, and Ecological Stewardship from an Unexpected Corner of the Country."

Rep. Barbara Lee

"However difficult this vote may be, some of us must urge the use of restraint. Our country is in a state of mourning. Let us think through the implications of our actions today so that this does not spiral out of control... 'As we act, let us not become the evil that we deplore.'"
~ Rep. Barbara Lee, Congress, Sept. 14, 2001

She gained national attention for her vote in 2001 as the only member of Congress to vote "no" on the Authorization for the Use of Military Force. Like Anderson, most of the response she received from her constituents was positive, but individuals from outside that area made death threats to her and her family resulting in Capitol Hill Police providing round the clock bodyguards. Backbone Awards are given to federal elected officials who take a strong progressive stand at "politically lonely moments." What could be more brave than her sole vote that September day six years ago?

The inscription on her Backbone Award reads:

To the Honorable and Courageous Rep. Barbara Lee,
In Gratitude for Her Prophetic and Often Lonely
Leadership for Humanity, Justice & Peace.
"Let us not become the evil that we deplore."

Rep. Lee has continues to be a leader for peace, justice and humanity as Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Lee is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Lets watch once again Rep. Lee, on the floor of the House, put Truth to Words, and frankly now we know fore seeing what the near future, and for long after in others thoughts, would hold of what we've become "Let us not become the evil that we deplore.":

Barbara Lee


From the documentary:

War Made Easy - TRAILER


You can check out the great photos, extended article, & video at Their Website, and much more.


"Let us not become the evil that we deplore."

We have not only become that evil, we deplored and condemned and still do, in others. We as the supposedly most powerful nation on this planet have now placed ourselves at the Top of Any List that is compiled, in just a few short years, yet others have known this for a long time through the failed policies, kept hidden from us, that we've forced on others around this planet!

We sanction and cheer on Pre-Emptive Conflicts, than we Condemn others for doing, or threatening, the same!

We now Lead, as we've all found out, in grabbing others, no matter where they are, with no little or no substantial proof and whisk them away to secret, and not so secret, prisons Around The World, to be held with little or no Rights of Defense and above all either Torturing them ourselves or allowing others to do these Inhumane Acts which bring little or no substantial information and are Crimes against Human Rights and our own Laws as well as Established International Laws!


We have destroyed the tables of International Diplomatic Treaties and Talks on a whole host of Dangers to this Planet and the People that inhabit it!

We've picked up our marbles and just walked away from talks on the Enviroment and most importantly on the most dangerous of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Nuclear!

We condemn others, on a whole host of issues, than threaten to blow their peoples, and countries, to smithereens because they are trying to do exactly that which we are already doing. Building these Nuclear Weapons of Mass Destruction! as we use, in our War Theaters of Choice, Nuclear Laced Ordinance and Research New Uses of the Power of Nuclear in Destructive New Ordinance, stockpiling our already overwelming inventory of same!

We not only "Let us not become the evil that we deplore.", we are now the greatest examples of that Evil, and we're so Arrogant we call others Evil, all in, as 'Mayor Rocky' says, "No more pre-emptive, illegal war, based on false information. No more God-is-on-our-side religious nonsense to justify this immoral, illegal war."

And we not only condone what has been done, In Our Names, we show the rest of this planet of peoples and nations that We Refuse To Hold Accoutable Those Who Have Led This Charge Towards Self Destruction Of This Nation and Society!

~~~~~
If they were sent to fight, they are too few. If they were sent to die, they are too many!

Is 'Funding' Really For Troops?

What Happened To Funding and Oversite For Military/Veteran Care In Previous Congresses?

Wanna Good Read....

Start here, Report says war on terror is fuelling al Qaeda, if you hadn't already, or if nobody else has latched on to this story to grab the attention of.

Now this sounds very familiar, oh ya, tens of thousands of us, in this country, and millions more around the world were saying Very Similar as the War Drums started beating more rapidly, by the MSM and the administration, about Iraq, and frankly many thought that Afganistan would be heading in the same direction after it was invaded.

You see we have a history of Rhetoric that we don't follow through on, especially in Afganistan, anyone remember what happened after the Soviets were forced out.

Those of us who have the experiance of Invasions of little countries, whose people did nothing to deserve the death and destruction, understand what the invaded will do, and in Iraq it was written well before 'The Shock and Awe', and in Afganistan, if we followed our past policies, it was sure to develope!

Now in the short Reuters report above we find this:

A report by the Oxford Research Group (ORG) said a "fundamental re-think is required" if the global terrorist network is to be rendered ineffective.

What is the Oxford Research Group, ORG for short:

Oxford Research Group (ORG) works to promote a more sustainable approach to security for the UK and the world. We combine detailed knowledge of root causes of conflict with an understanding of political decision-making, and we build trust through facilitating constructive dialogue between policy-makers, academics, the military and civil society.

The report is written by Professor Paul Rogers and released this month. They have monthly reports that you can receive in your in-box if you sign up.

Who is Professor Paul Rogers,

Global Security Consultant to Oxford Research Group and Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford, takes a step back from the heat of the moment to provide a concise monthly overview of the international security situation, focussing on the 'war on terror', the related conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the implications of US and UK foreign policy for the majority world.

These briefings are now published in English and Spanish, and you can subscribe below to receive these briefings by email as they are published each month.

The reports are called Towards Sustainable Security: Oxford Research Group International Security Report 2007

You can purchase the most recent report at their online store, or read about what others will sure to be reporting, but probably not the Media here in the States.

There's a link, in the above, for a report in August that you can download in PDF form or just read it here Iraq After the Surge August 2007 - Paul Rogers

The Professor starts this report out with this,

In late 2006 the Baker-Hamilton Report recommended a change of policy for the Bush Administration over Iraq. The two main proposals were that the United States should work towards a large-scale military withdrawal from the country and that it should do so in parallel with an engagement with regional powers to ensure that a post-withdrawal Iraq would not degenerate into wholesale violence and civil war. Such a diplomatic engagement would necessarily include countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Now once again something sounds very familiar,

The two main proposals were that the United States should work towards a large-scale military withdrawal from the country and that it should do so in parallel with an engagement with regional powers to ensure that a post-withdrawal Iraq would not degenerate into wholesale violence and civil war.

Yep, the same tens of thousands here, and millions around the world, Focus Groups All, started saying similar, once again, after the big bad 'Shock and Awe' started destroying the Iraqi's Country as well as the Iraqi People!

Even before the Inevitable coming Guerilla/Insurgent War!!!

Many were saying it than, if you like the bush weren't listening! Many have been saying it since than, all these years now of Death and Destruction! And Sadly my thoughts are that we have passed the point of any reasonable outcome, with minimal BlowBack!

To many have been Killed and Maimed! To much has been Destroyed, especially the lives of the Iraqi's and their Children, the ones who will survive! To much Hatred has been added to that which already existed from our long time failed policies and backing of tyrants!

The hatreds will fuel the BlowBack now for decades, and it only takes a few to wage the coming destructive havic, and there's certainly much more than a few!