Friday, January 27, 2006

Frist wants to force a vote on Alito this Monday, Bully Boy says "We don't need no stinkin' laws"

Good evening. It's the weekend and I hope you're ready for it. There's stuff to get ready for so rest but keep your thinking cap on. Let's note Democracy Now!



Sens. Kerry, Kennedy To Lead Filibuster Against Alito
On Capital Hill, Democratic Senators John Kerry and Edward Kennedy have announced they’ll attempt a filibuster to block the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito. In response, Republicans said they will force a vote early next week. Kerry said: "Its our right and our responsibility to oppose [Alito] vigorously and to fight against this radical upending of the Supreme Court."


"Its our right and our responsibility to oppose [Alito] vigorously and to fight against the radical upending of the Supreme Court." Now if you were a reporter and someone said that, wouldn't you want to explore that statement? Go to Alito's record? Well not if you are a reporter for the New York Times. As C.I. noted in "Other Items" this morning, David D. Kirkpatrick decided he was a bookie and not a reporter. So he handicapped the odds. Now the Times whined in an editorial about how Alito was dangerous to the Court but the reporters for the paper aren't interested in covering that.


Here's two activism things. First, from the Feminist Wire, "Group of Senate Democrats Launch Filibuster on Alito:"


A group of Democratic Senators, led by Massachusetts Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry, has launched a filibuster to block the confirmation of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has called for a cloture vote on Monday at 4:30 p.m. to end debate and move to a vote on Alito. To win a cloture vote, Frist has to muster 60 votes in favor of ending debate.
"Millions of people have called and emailed their Senators, urging them to save the Supreme Court for women's rights, civil rights, environment protections, civil liberties, separation of church and state, disability rights, and to stop a Bush power grab. The Democrats have heard this message loud and clear," said Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority. "This filibuster is historically important because it is sending a message to the President -- people will not tolerate his packing of the Supreme Court."
TAKE ACTION Urge your Democratic Senators to filibuster Alito!
GET THE INSIDE SCOOP with The Smeal Report and the New Leif blogs at MsMagazine.com
DONATE Make an emergency contribution to the Feminist Majority's Save Roe Campaign. We must be a strong voice in this crucial fight to save Roe and the Supreme Court for women's rights.



Second, like C.I. noted last night:


Kerry is filibustering Alito! Call Senators Immediately! Call the Senators listed below, as well as your own, and tell them:
* a "No" vote is meaningless without a filibuster
* it is cowardly to only fight a fight when assured victory
* the American people need to see the Senate standing up for separation of powers and against the "Unitary Executive"
Use these toll free numbers to call the Capitol: 888-355-3588 or 888-818-6641. If you can't get through, look up the Senator's District Office number in your phone book or here: http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/dbq/officials/?lvl=C
First: Call the three Democrats (Mary Landrieu, Ken Salazar, and Dianne Feinstein) who oppose Alito but also said they oppose a filibuster.
We must persuade them that a vote against Alito is meaningless if they don't support a filibuster.
Senator Salazar (D-CO) 202-224-5852
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) 202-224-5824
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) 202-224-3841 Second:
Call your own Democratic Senator: 888-355-3588 or 888-818-6641.
* If you can't get through, look up the Senator's District Office number in your phone book or here: http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/dbq/officials/?lvl=C
Third:
Unbelievably, three Democrats (Ben Nelson, Tim Johnson and Robert Byrd) support Alito!
Tell them to either support filibuster or at least "don't get in the way."
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) 202-224-6551
Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) 202-224-3954
Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) 202-224-5842
888-355-3588 or 888-818-6641.
If you can't get through, look up the Senator's District Office number in your phone book or here: http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/dbq/officials/?lvl=C
Fourth:
Call the "Red State" Democrats: (Message same as above -- "No" is meaningless)
Tom Carper (DE)
Kent Conrad (ND)
Byron Dorgan (ND)
Blanche Lincoln (AR)
Mark Pryor (AR)
Fifth:
Call these "Blue State" and pro-choice Republicans: (Message: A "Unitary Executive" is dangerous to balance of powers--please do not get in the way of a filibuster.)
Lincoln Chafee (RI)
Susan Collins (ME)
Lisa Murkowsky (AK)
Bob Smith (OR)
Olympia Snowe (ME)
Ted Stevens (AK)
For extra credit, call all of the 2008 Presidential candidates who are sitting Senators--Evan Bayh, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Russ Feingold, and John Kerry--and tell them to either LEAD THE FILIBUSTER or KISS YOUR SUPPORT GOODBYE.
888-355-3588 or 888-818-6641.
If you can't get through, look up the Senator's District Office number in your phone book or here: http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/dbq/officials/?lvl=CYou can also send that message to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (202-224-2447) and the Democratic National Committee (202-863-8000).



Justice Dept. Argued Against By-Passing FISA in 2002
In other news, uncovered statements made by the Justice Department appear to contradict several of the Bush administration’s key arguments in defense of its eavesdropping on US citizens without court warrants. In July 2002, the Justice Department told a Senate Committee the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act -- FISA -- was working well. It said efforts to circumvent FISA would need "serious review." The Justice Department made the statement in an argument against a proposal that would have made it easier to obtain the warrants – something the Bush administration now claims is needed today. The apparent contradiction was first pointed out by Internet blogger Glenn Greenwald, on his weblog Unclaimed Territory.


Here's what I say, you got a senator who was supporting renewing the Patriot Act, you contact them and tell them Bully Boy doesn't need it. Tell them he doesn't want it. Tell them, "You're either with the White House or you're against it."

Bully Boy gets a little more disgusting every day and that's pretty amazing considering he's in his sixth year of occupation. In January of 2001, he invaded the White House. When will the occupation end? Only Congress can end it.


Be sure to check out Like Maria Said Paz for Elaine's take. She has great advice in addition to running a great site and I hope all my readers got their rest, which was her idea, and that we're ready to fight again. Pace yourself, this is a marathon not the 440.
And be sure to check out Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude because Betty's filling in for Rebecca tonight.



















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Thursday, January 26, 2006

Patriot Act Swindle, Terrorist in the United States, BuzzFlash calls out Dems who won't take a stand

Good evening. Starting a little late because I was going to grab something to highlight from The Common Ills and couldn't get anything but an error message. I was on the phone with Elaine and I asked her if it was just me but she couldn't pull up The Common Ills either. Since Ava gave me the password last week to republish so an entry didn't disappear and since it hadn't changed (I checked first), I called C.I. to ask if I could republish the site because if it gets really heavy hits it disappears sometimes until it's republished again. So with permission, I did that. Elaine kept asking "Is it still publishing?" Yes, it was. That thing takes longer to publish than anything I know. My site publishes in less than five minutes. It took over twenty minutes to publish it. Elaine said, "Fix the typos in the first entry while you're in there" so I did that too and that added 20 more minutes. While I'm talking about the community, let me pass on that Rebecca will be on a mini-vacation this weekend starting Friday. But there will be a Friday evening post at her site Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude. Betty's going to fill in for her. Betty blogs at Thomas Friedman Is a Great Man and we know she's funny with her online novel there. Betty's not going to try to crack you up but she's going to talk about some stuff. "I don't know what!" she told me but I know it will be worth reading so make a point to check out Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude Friday night the way you usually would because Rebecca's chosen a great replacement and Betty'll do a great job. Now let's get to Democracy Now!



Report: Gonzales Says Bush Doesn't Need Patriot Act
The Boston Globe is reporting that Bush administration has apparently argued it is free to continue with the broad investigative powers granted by the USA Patriot Act -- even if Congress does not extend the act. The Globe says the argument comes in a footnote in Attorney Alberto Gonzales' 42-page legal memo defending the NSA spy program. According to the Globe, Gonzales wrote Congress already gave President Bush the broad investigative authority when it authorized him to use force against Al Qaeda after the 9/11 attacks. Despite its apparent position, the White House has lobbied intensively for Congress to re-authorize the Patriot Act.



That was in Wednesday's Boston Globe and the article's called "AG'S MEMO RAISES QUESTIONS ON PATRIOT ACT." Charlie Savage is the author. Here's a part of it:


"Under the position they are staking out in the footnote and throughout the memo, the debate over the Patriot Act is superfluous," Fein said. "The president is flailing Congress for refusing to act on a matter that he says is irrelevant to the war anyway, because he can do all of these things under the authorization to use military force."
The Patriot Act has been the subject of intense debate in Congress. It is set to expire Feb. 3 under a new deadline set last month after Congress deadlocked over whether some of its provisions violate civil liberties. Bush has demanded that Congress extend the act, warning that allowing the powers to expire could cost American lives.


Now that's bad enough but get a load of this:


Instead, the memo said, the Patriot Act simply gave the government new investigative powers to use against non-Al Qaeda terrorists and "in contexts unrelated to terrorism."


Did you read that? "In contexts unrelated to terrorism." But that law was supposed to be just to deal with terrorism. This is a power grab and it's saying that even though Americans are fighting to stop these unlawful powers, Bully Boy has them and can use them on anything he wants. "Unreleated to terrorism."


Chew on that.



US Delays Decision on Luis Posada Carriles
This news on the case of detained Cuban exile Luis Posada Carriles -- the US government has announced it will delay a decision on his extradition until April. In September, a U.S. immigration judge ruled Carriles won't be deported to Cuba or Venezuela, where he is wanted for his role in blowing up a Cuban jetliner in 1976 killing 73 people. A US immigration spokesperson said the government has not ruled out deporting Carriles to a third country. Meanwhile, in Cuba Tuesday, hundreds of thousands of Cubans held a rally outside the US interests section in Havana to protest Carriles’ possible release. Venezuela is threatening to cut ties with the United States over its refusal to hand over Carriles.


Now just last week little Scotty McClellan was saying that the United States didn't bargain with terrorists but I guess we harbor them, huh. The man helped blow up a jet and 73 people died. His ass needs to be tossed out of the country. How come that hasn't happened? Who was in the CIA? No, not Bully Boy. If he'd been in the CIA he would have gone AWOL from that too. But Poppy Bush was. They're covering their own crimes.


Be sure to check Like Maria Said Paz to get Elaine's take on events.


Now Rebecca beat us all with noting this from the Feminist Wire "PA: Anti-Choice Democratic Senate Candidate Casey Supports Alito:"

Robert Casey, an anti-choice Democrat who is challenging Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) in November, has outraged women's rights supporters by announcing his support for confirming Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.
"It's very disturbing and should worry, I think, Pennsylvania women and civil rights advocates and people concerned about unchecked executive power to wiretap and eavesdrop on Americans," Kate Michelman, former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, told the Patriot News.
Casey's decision to support Alito shows that women "cannot count on a Senator Casey to protect our liberties," Michelman continued.
On the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, Alito was the lone judge who voted to uphold a spousal notification requirement in Pennsylvania's Abortion Control Act, a bill that Casey's father, then-Governor Robert P. Casey, Sr., had signed into law. The case, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, was decided by the Supreme Court in 1992, which overturned Pennsylvania's harsh restrictions on abortion.
GET THE INSIDE SCOOP with The Smeal Report and the New Leif blogs at MsMagazine.com
TAKE ACTION Call your Senators and urge them to oppose Alito
DONATE Make an emergency contribution to the Feminist Majority's Save Roe Campaign. We must be a strong voice in this crucial fight to save Roe and the Supreme Court for women's rights.
Media Resources: Patriot News 1/25/06; Philadelphia Inquirer 1/25/06



And speaking of Rebecca, she has a great thing to read called "the struggle continues" and Wally, you bastard, you beat me to noting it! :D Scooped by The Daily Jot! I need to stay on my toes! :D


Last night, Rebecca, Fly Boy, T and Lois, and Nina and me went out and just chilled. It was pretty cool. I didn't blog yesterday and that was because, like C.I. pointed out with what I felt was laugher!, Blogger would be down at my usual blogging time. Tony saw that and goes, "Dude, you ain't blogging. C.I. called it." And I wasn't because we had plans for the evening and it was a long evening. I had to get up this morning and go to work and then school. Hope no one was too bummed. Leigh Ann and Cody wrote nice e-mails about it saying they hoped I was getting some rest. But if anyone was wondering, I planned to blog before we started our evening.


Like Wally, I think you should read C.I.'s "NYT Loses Will to Cover the NSA story" this morning and I also think you need to read Cedric and Betty's joint entry which you can read at both their sites, either go to "Alito and Inclusion" or "Found in the paper."

Last thing, and I'm rushing cause I know some might think, "Two nights! Two nights without blogging! That lazy bastard!" But you need to check out the BuzzFlash editorial "This Isn't A "Vote Of Conscience" Concerning A Filibuster; It's A Vote To Save Democracy. And If Reid Can't Cajole And Bluster 41 Democrats Into Saving Democracy, He Should Resign His Position:"


As one of our readers wrote to the BuzzFlash Mailbag, reflecting the current mood of the Democrats who vote (not the ones who are Senate careerists): "I'm getting beyond my 5 year 'blame Bush' mentality, as Bush is doing just what Bush/Cheney wants, and doing it damn well and virtually unopposed. So I blame the enablers; those with the (D) behind their names on the Senate roll. They've gone beyond disappointing their supporters. They are about to bring disgrace onto this country, and they want us all to cheer the 'No' vote they use to camouflage their cowardice."
BuzzFlash has interviewed Harry Reid and found him candid and highly critical of Bush. But talk is cheap. What the Democrats need is a passion to save democracy and the leadership to get their stragglers in line.
As we noted, in 2003, John Kerry, who would like to be president, promised to lead a filibuster on a nominee that fits Sam Alito to a "T." Then, lead, John Kerry, lead, or be a hypocrite and get trounced in the Iowa primaries. If you don't have the 41 votes, get them. If you want to be president, you better be able to secure the backing of your party caucus, because if you can't lead the Democrats, you can't lead the nation.
We haven't heard you publicly call for a filibuster or heard you announce that you'll lead one, but that's what you promised in 2003. Just read your words here, in an article entitled "Kerry says he'll filibuster Supreme Court nominees who do not support abortion rights"
And Hillary Clinton just decided this week that she opposed Alito. What's that about? She should have been leading a national campaign against him the morning after Bush nominated him following the now-forgotten Harriet Miers fiasco. Do you think that they support an imperial presidency and the dismantling of the Constitution in Omaha, Hillary?
















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Tuesday, January 24, 2006

BuzzFlash on "The mugging of democracy"

Those who would shrug off an Alito confirmation with a "No" vote -- without a filibuster -- are giving into the mugging of democracy.
This will not stand.
We will remember those 44 Democrats who would not fight for everything our soldiers throughout our nation's history have died for: our liberty, our freedoms, and our right to an elective government and the rule of law.
We will remember, by the power of one grown into a teeming sea of anger.
Because we cherish this country, and we will not be reduced to a choice of tyrants and enablers.
We will remember.

Good evening. The above is from BuzzFlash's "The Power of One" and if I'm starting with a quote, you know I think it's important. Eight Democrats realized it was safe to vote no on Alito today. We're still a long way from a filibuster but way to go to the people of this country for lighting a fire under the eight Democratic asses and that means if they're your senators or if you had other senators. Your work in the last week showed the cowards that you wouldn't stand for anymore nonsense. C.I. printed an e-mail John Kerry sent out and I agree with C.I. What's the point of sending that out if you don't even mention filibuster? They're still not fighting and it's getting disgusting.


Bush Vows Anti-Choice Movement "Will Prevail"
Back here in the United States, the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote today on whether to recommend the confirmation of Samuel Alito as a Supreme Court justice. The vote is expected to be split largely along party lines. Meanwhile on Monday, President Bush told activists who are tying to make abortions illegal that they are pursuing a "a noble cause." To mark the 33th anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling Roe v. Wade, Bush said "This is a cause that appeals to the conscience of our citizens and is rooted in America's deepest principle. And history tells us that with such a cause we will prevail." Several groups include the National Organization of Women have urged Democratic Senators to filibuster Samuel Alito's confirmation because they fear he will overturn Roe v. Wade. In 1985 Alito wrote that the Constitution does not protect the right to an abortion.

Bully Boy thinks he "will prevail?" Well the Dems certainly seem willing to toss in the towel. But the people aren't going to. We forced eight Dems to stand as one today, we can force them to stand as one on the Senate floor when the full vote takes place.

Military Jury: No Jail Time For Interrogator Who Killed Iraqi
In other Iraq news -- a military jury in Colorado ruled last night an Army interrogator who killed an Iraqi general would not have to serve any time in jail. The interrogator -- Chief Warrant Officer Lewis Welshofer Jr. - killed the Iraqi man after putting a sleeping bag over his head, wrapping him in electrical cord, sitting on his chest and covering his mouth. Over the weekend the military jury convicted Welshofer of negligent homicide which carries a maximum prison term of three years. But the jury chose instead to fine him $6,000 and ordered him to spend the next 60 days restricted to his home, office and church. The Los Angeles Times reports soldiers and officers inside the courtroom broke out in applause after the jury announced Welshofer would not be jailed for the killing.


That's interesting because someone died and there's no jail time. No one died and there is jail time for a peace activist.

Peace Activist Gets 6 Months in Jail For Recruiting Station Protest
In upstate New York, a peace activist has been sentenced to six months in jail for pouring blood inside a military recruiting station in March 2003 in order to protest the invasion of Iraq. The man, Daniel Burns, 45, was one of a group now known as the St. Patrick's Four. The other three members will also be sentenced this week.

Want to explain how that works? One person stood up for peace, one person is responsible for the death of another human being. One walks, one goes to jail. A Bully Boy America.

That's pretty much all I've got to say this evening. I'm betting everyone else is pretty tired too.
We let all the senators, Republicans and Democrats, know, for a full week, that Alito wasn't a done deal. We fought long and we fought hard. And we forced eight Democrats to stand as one. Now we need to get some rest before the next ongoing battle.

Be sure to go to Like Maria Said Paz and check out Elaine's thoughts.






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Monday, January 23, 2006

Filibuster!

Good evening. Before we get started with Democracy Now! we'll note this from the Feminist Wire:

Judiciary Committee Votes Tomorrow on Alito; Filibuster Possible, Says Durbin
Tomorrow, two days after the 33rd anniversary of Roe v Wade, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on Samuel Alito, a Supreme Court nominee who in 1985 wrote that the Constitution does not protect a woman's right to an abortion. Women's rights leaders and activists rallied last night at the Supreme Court in support of the landmark Supreme Court ruling.
"Since we last gathered to commemorate Roe v. Wade, two seats have opened up on the Supreme Court, and George W. Bush has used both opportunities to nominate judges whose records show a disdain for privacy rights and individual liberties," said Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women. "The Senate is poised to vote on confirming Samuel Alito, who would replace Sandra Day O'Connor, a justice whose vote has upheld women's rights for nearly 25 years. How quickly the fate of women's reproductive rights could turn in this nation."
Already, at least nine Senators have come out publicly and strongly against Alito’s confirmation, including four who voted in favor of confirming John Roberts as chief justice. In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), the Democratic Whip, said that a filibuster was possible.
"A week ago, I would have told you it's not likely to happen," Durbin said. "As of [Wednesday], I just can't rule it out. I was surprised by the intensity of feeling of some of my colleagues. It's a matter of counting. We have 45 Democrats, counting [Vermont independent] Jim Jeffords, on our side. We could sustain a filibuster if 41 Senators ... are willing to stand and fight."
GET THE INSIDE SCOOP with The Smeal Report and the New Leif blogs at MsMagazine.com
TAKE ACTION Call your Senators and urge them to oppose Alito
DONATE Make an emergency contribution to the Feminist Majority's Save Roe Campaign. We must be a strong voice in this crucial fight to save Roe and the Supreme Court for women’s rights.
Media Resources: Feminist Majority; NOW statement 1/22/06; Chicago Sun-Times 1/20/06

So that's not good news, that's great news. Last Monday, what were the chances? Didn't look good. Didn't look like we'd have very many "no" votes. Bill Nelson disgraced himself but he wasn't the only one. Democrats didn't want to stand up and fight. They may not want to now. But people made them do it. We put pressure on them and they realized they better find some kind of spine. Tomorrow's the vote. Keep the pressure on. Be on the phone, be at their offices, let 'em know you want to see some fighting spirit. If you say only one word, make it "Filibuster!"

Now to more news.

U.S. Criticized For Downplaying Threat Of Radical Right
Last year federal investigators told a Senate committee that environmental and animal groups like ELF and ALF represented the nation's leading domestic terror threat. The Southern Poverty Law Center however recently criticized the federal government for underestimating the threat posed by violent right-wing organizations. According to the Center, the radical right has plotted to carry out at least 60 terrorist plots inside the United States since the Oklahoma City Bombing. This includes plans to bomb or burn government buildings, mosques, synagogues and abortion clinics, plans to assassinate government officials and civil rights leaders and efforts to amass chemical and biological weapons arsenals.

Jose Padilla the Bully Boy locks up for years. Muslims get profiled. But the right wingers? Free pass. These are the terrorists that have been in this country. We don't need to go looking far and wide for them. But just like Fox "News" wanted to be sure not to offend their right wing viewers by talking about the criminal Eric Ruldoph, found in the woods, and who might have helped him, Bully Boy gives the real criminals a pass too.

(Note of thanks to C.I. I couldn't remember the criminal's name. C.I. told me it was Eric Ruldoph and that I'm thinking of the June 2, 2003 memo Fox's John Moody sent out and that "I believe" it's discussed in the film Outfoxed.)

New York Times Warns Against Alito's 'Radical' Views
The editorial page of the New York Times came out today in opposition to Samuel Alito's confirmation to the Supreme Court. The paper's editors warns "He has a radically broad view of the president's power, and a radically narrow view of Congress's power. He has long argued that the Constitution does not protect abortion rights. He wants to reduce the rights and liberties of ordinary Americans, and has a history of tilting the scales of justice against the little guy."

The little guy? That paper wants to talk about the little guy? Are we supposed to forget their slams at the transist workers? Oh that New York Times is funny! It should put out a comedy album! Grab up some of that Adam Sandler money.

Want to read a real editorial? One with guts? Check out "Editorial: Senate Dems, if you're done enjoying that golden shower . . ."Now be sure to check out Elaine's take on the headlines at her site Like Maria Said Paz. And check out the bottom of C.I.'s entry here for more on the topic of the New York Times. And are you checking out Ma's site? Trina's Kitchen. I need to plug that more a) because it's a great site and b) because she's my mother. So go check out Trina's Kitchen, she posted Saturday with a recipe for creamy fudge and she's talking about Alito and other stuff.

Now here's a taste of Dave Zirin's "The Slave Side of Sunday:"

For most sports fans, heaven would be to play in the National Football League. We see money, fame and no expectations of social responsibility beyond showing up on Sunday ready to play. In the mind of the fantasy sports fan, it means a big house, a garage full of cars and the promise of sexual gratification. The last thing any fan would believe--or want to believe--is that racism is endemic to the culture of the NFL.
That's the contention of NFL veteran Anthony Prior, whose new book, The Slave Side of Sunday, invokes an explosive metaphor to describe life in the NFL. Prior played six NFL seasons with the New York Jets, the Oakland Raiders and the Minnesota Vikings, and developed a reputation as a cornerback with blinding speed, if not blinding stats.
Prior contends that the NFL is rife with a racism that is both deeply institutionalized and largely unchallenged. "I was frustrated by not seeing the truth in print," Prior told me in a recent interview. "And I believe that if you want to see it, you should write it."


Roundtable tonight for tomorrow's gina & krista round-robin and I've got stuff to do before so let me stop here and add in the thing Maria did for The Common Ills running down the headlines from last week. See how many you knew about and it's in Spanish first, then English.













Hoy se inicia la Segunda Comisión Investigadora de Crímenes Contra la Humanidad cometidos por el gobierno de Bush

Maria: Hola. De parte de "Democracy Now!" nueve cosas que vale hacer notar este fin de semana. Paz.

Hoy se inicia la Segunda Comisión Investigadora de Crímenes Contra la Humanidad cometidos por el gobierno de Bush
La segunda reunión de la Comisión Internacional de Investigación de Crímenes Contra la Humanidad Cometidos por el Gobierno de Bush comenzará hoy en Nueva York. La comisión investigará una serie de acusaciones de que el gobierno de Bush cometió crímenes de guerra y crímenes contra la humanidad. Se redactó un borrador de las acusaciones en la primera comisión realizada en octubre. Entre quienes deben declarar ante la comisión se encuentran el ex director de Abu Ghraib, Brigadier General Janis Karpinski; el ex embajador británico en Uzbekistán Craig Murray; el conductor y activista Harry Belafonte, y el ex inspector de armas de la ONU Scott Ritter.

Lideres iraquíes y musulmanes estadounidenses piden la liberación de Carroll
Líderes musulmanes iraquíes y estadounidenses adhirieron a los llamados de familiares y colegas de la periodista estadounidense secuestrada Jill Carroll para pedir que sea liberada sana y salva. Carroll, una periodista de 28 años de edad que trabajaba de forma independiente para el periódico "Christian Science Monitor" en Irak, fue secuestrada en Bagdad a principios de este mes. Integrantes del grupo de apoyo musulmán estadounidense Consejo de Relaciones Estadounidenses-Islámicas (CAIR, por sus siglas en inglés), están viajando a Irak para intentar obtener la liberación de Carroll. Mientras tanto, Muthanna Harith al-Dhari, una destacada figura del grupo sunita iraquí Asociación de Eruditos Musulmanes (MSA, por sus siglas en inglés), dijo: "Todos los secuestros y asesinatos son totalmente rechazados... especialmente cuando se trata del secuestro de un periodista. Los periodistas están aquí para informar al mundo sobre la ocupación, por lo tanto, secuestrar a un periodista es esconder la verdad". Al-Dhari agregó: "La periodista, Jill Carroll... es una de las grandes periodistas que están en contra de la ocupación. Es considerada una de las mejores periodistas que se opuso a la ocupación estadounidense de Irak y centró sus artículos en ... contarle al mundo sobre el sufrimiento de los iraquíes".

Periodistas iraquíes liberados describen calvario bajo custodia de Estados Unidos
En otra noticia sobre Irak, los dos periodistas iraquíes que fueron liberados esta semana, luego de estar detenidos sin ser acusados durante más de cuatro meses por las Fuerzas Armadas estadounidenses, describieron su calvario. El periodista de "Reuters" Majed Hameed dijo: "Las fuerzas estadounidenses llevaron a cabo una redada en casa, mi casa, el 8 de agosto (de 2005) y encontraron una cámara con la que yo había filmado enfrentamientos en Ramadi que ocurrieron en la ciudad desde el mediodía hasta la tarde. (Filmé) con mi cámara tomas muy sencillas de las fuerzas estadounidenses atacando la mezquita de Haj Maqbulaa, y una de las casas, con vidrios rotos desparramados por el piso. Realizaron una redada en mi casa y vieron estas cosas, yo respondí que sólo eran enfrentamientos y luego de eso inmediatamente tomaron mis cámaras, los dispositivos de comunicación, la computadora y luego me arrestaron". Hamedd fue liberado esta semana luego de estar bajo custodia de Estados Unidos, junto con el camarógrafo de "Reuters" Ali al-Mashhadani, quien fue arrestado en agosto. Ambos estaban detenidos en las prisiones dirigidas por Estados Unidos en la cárcel de Abu Ghraib y Camp Bucca. Al menos otros tres periodistas iraquíes que trabajan para los medios de comunicación internacionales permanecen bajo custodia de Estados Unidos.

HRW dice que la política exterior de Bush socava derechos humanos
En Estados Unidos, "Human Rights Watch" dio a conocer su informe anual el miércoles. El informe incluye una dura critica contra el gobierno de Bush, al que acusa de socavar el respeto por los derechos humanos en el mundo debido al modo en que está dirigiendo la llamada guerra contra el terrorismo. Este grupo también pidió al Congreso que establezca un panel independiente para investigar las violaciones de los derechos humanos llevadas a cabo por Estados Unidos. El director ejecutivo de "Human Rights Watch", Kenneth Roth, dijo: "Lamento informar que la defensa mundial de los derechos humanos se ha visto seriamente comprometida por la decisión política del gobierno de Bush de violar algunas de las normas básicas de los derechos humanos, por creer erróneamente que es la mejor manera de luchar contra el terrorismo. Se sabe desde hace tiempo que no se puede culpar a algunos soldados rasos del turno de la noche por la tortura y los tratos inhumanos aplicados por el gobierno de Bush. Por lo menos, y según lo que sabemos hasta ahora, las decisiones políticas tomadas por los de más alto rango crearon una atmósfera de tolerancia hacia las violaciones. Y entre esas decisiones políticas se puede citar, por ejemplo, la violación de la Convención de Ginebra en Guantánamo, su extraordinariamente limitada definición de tortura, al punto de que la mayoría de los abusos no son considerados tortura".

Estados Unidos se niega a disculparse por bombardeo de la CIA en Pakistán
En otras noticias, el gobierno estadounidense se negó a expresar arrepentimiento por el bombardeo de la CIA de la semana pasada en Pakistán. Según trascendió, el ataque mató a 17 personas, entre las que encontraban mujeres y niños. Estados Unidos no dijo mucho sobre el bombardeo, pero se cree que fue llevado a cabo por un avión Predator a control remoto de la CIA. El martes, el portavoz del Departamento de Estado, Sean McCormack, dijo a periodistas: "Estados Unidos claramente valora las vidas inocentes. Y es por eso que estamos llevando a cabo la guerra contra el terrorismo". Mientras tanto, funcionarios pakistaníes dijeron el martes que el ataque mató a cinco personas sospechosas de ser militantes.

Senador suizo dice que evidencia confirma traslados de la CIA en Europa
En Europa, un Senador suizo dijo que ya no cabe duda de que la CIA llevó a cabo actividades ilegales en Europa, al trasladar y encarcelar secretamente a sospechosos de terrorismo. El funcionario, Dick Marty, está dirigiendo una investigación europea sobre acusaciones de que la CIA manejaba prisiones secretas en Polonia y Rumania. Marty también dijo que la culpa era de todas las naciones europeas que ayudaron a Estados Unidos a llevar a cabo sus operaciones secretas. El Senador Suizo Dick Marty dijo: "Me gustaría que quedara claro que el problema no es sólo de Rumania y Polonia. Sería demasiado fácil criminalizar a estos dos países. Creo que la responsabilidad es de toda Europa, que aceptó permanecer en silencio, porque si es cierto que algo pasó en Rumania y Polonia, también paso algo en muchos otros países, y muchos de ellos ciertamente sabían lo que estaba sucediendo. Y para mi, en una situación así, saber y quedarse callado es tan malo como tolerar que este tipo de actividades sean llevadas a cabo en su territorio". La semana pasada, un periódico suizo publicó el contenido de un memorando egipcio interceptado sobre los centros de interrogatorio de Estados Unidos en Europa del Este y los Balcanes. El memorando había sido enviado por fax desde el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Egipto a la embajada egipcia en Londres. Pero había sido interceptado por el servicio secreto suizo y luego entregado a la prensa.

Gobierno de Bush demandado por espionaje telefónico de la NSA
En Estados Unidos, el Centro para los Derechos Constitucionales y la Unión Estadounidense por las Libertades Civiles (ACLU, por sus siglas en inglés) están presentando hoy demandas por separado para impugnar la orden del Presidente Bush de que la Agencia de Seguridad Nacional (NSA, por sus siglas en inglés) lleve a cabo operaciones de espionaje a nivel nacional sin las ordenes judiciales que exige la ley.

Al Gore: Bush violó la ley "de forma reiterada y persistente"
El lunes, el ex Vicepresidente Al Gore pronunció un importante discurso en Washington en el que acusó a Bush de violar la ley "de forma reiterada y persistente" al autorizar las intervenciones telefónicas de la NSA. Gore pidió al Fiscal General Alberto Gonzales que designe un fiscal especial para investigar estas violaciones. Gore dijo que el programa ilegal de espionaje de Bush puso en peligró "la propia estructura de nuestro gobierno".

Comisión del gobierno finaliza investigación sobre asesinato de Menezes
En Gran Bretaña, una comisión del gobierno finalizó la investigación sobre el asesinato por parte de la policía de Jean Charles De Menezes. La policía británica mató a balazos a Menezes, de nacionalidad brasileña, en una estación de trenes subterráneos de Londres, un día después de un atentado fallido con bombas en el sistema de trenes subterráneos británico en julio. En un principio la policía dijo que creía que Menezes era un bombardero suicida. La policía afirmó que Menezes intentó escaparse y que tenía puesta una campera abultada. Pero desde entonces, se reveló que Menezes era inocente y que la policía mintió sobre las circunstancias de su muerte. El jueves, la familia de Menezes pidió justicia.Alex Pereira, primo de Jean Charles De Menezes, dijo: "Es muy simple, si haces algo bueno no tienes que mentir u ocultar nada; ellos mintieron y ocultaron cosas, y la explicación es que fue un asesinato, ellos (de Menezes) fueron asesinados. ¿Por qué tengo que mentir si hice bien mi trabajo? Creo que es así de simple".

Maria: From Democracy Now!, here are nine headlines. Democracy Now! provides daily headlines in English and in Spanish, text and audio. Peace.

Second Commission of Inquiry On Crimes Against Humanity Committed by the Bush Administration Opens Today
The second gathering of the International Commission of Inquiry On Crimes Against Humanity Committed by the Bush Administration will begin today in New York. The commission will look into a series of charges the Bush administration has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. The indictments were drafted at the first commission held in October. Those scheduled to testify before the commission include the former head of Abu Ghraib, Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski; former British ambassador to Uzbekistan Craig Murray; the entertainer and activist Harry Belafonte, and former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter.

Leading Iraqi, US Muslims Call For Jill Carroll's Release
Leading Iraqi and American Muslims have echoed the calls of family members and colleagues of kidnapped American journalist Jill Carroll to plead for her safe release. Carroll, a 28-year old freelance reporter working for the Christian Science Monitor in Iraq, was kidnapped in Baghdad earlier this month. Members of the Muslim-American advocacy group Council on American-Islamic Relations are traveling to Iraq to attempt to win Carroll’s release. Meanwhile, Muthanna Harith al-Dhari, a prominent figure in the leading Iraqi Sunni group the Muslim Scholars Association, said: "All kidnappings and assassinations are completely rejected... especially when kidnapping a journalist. Journalists are here to tell the world about the occupation so kidnapping a journalist is going to hide the truth." Al-Dhari continued: "This journalist, Jill Carroll... is one of the great journalists who are against the occupation. She is considered one of the best journalists who stood against the American occupation of Iraq and she focused in her articles on... telling the world about the Iraqi people’s suffering."

Freed Iraqi Journalists Describe Ordeal US Custody
In other Iraq news, the two Iraqi journalists who were freed this week after being held by the US military without charge for over four months have come forward to describe their ordeal.Reuters journalist Majed Hameed : "The US forces raided the house, my house on August 8 (2005) and found a camera with which I filmed clashes in Ramadi that erupted in the city from noon until evening. [I filmed] with my camera very simple shots of the US forces attacking Haj Maqbulaa mosque, and one of the houses, with broken glass scattered on the floor. They raided my house and saw these things, I replied it is only clashes and after that they immediately collected my cameras, communication devices, computer and then they arrested me." Hameed was freed this week from US custody along with Reuters camera operator Ali al-Mashhadani, who was arrested in August. The two were held at the US-run prisons at Abu Ghraib prison and Camp Bucca. At least three other Iraqi journalists working for the international media remain in US custody.

HRW Says Bush Foreign Policy Undermining Human Rights
Here in the United States, Human Rights Watch released its annual report Wednesday. The report includes a scathing critique of the Bush administration, accusing it of undermining human rights around the world by the way its waging the so-called war on terror. The group also called on Congress to set up an independent panel to investigate U.S. human rights abuses.Human Rights Watch Executive Director Kenneth Roth : "I'm sorry to report that the global defense of human rights has been profoundly compromised by the Bush administration's policy level decisions to flout some of the most basic human rights norms out of a misguided sense that is the best way to fight against terrorism. It's long been understood that the Bush administration's torture and inhumane treatment could not be blamed on a handful of low level soldiers on the night shift. At minimum, we understand until now, that policy decisions taken at the top had created an atmosphere of tolerance for abuse. And among those policy decisions that one could cite would be, for example, is the Bush Administration's ripping of the Geneva Convention with respect to Guantanamo, its extraordinarily narrow definition of torture to the point that most forms of abuse are not considered torture."

US Refuses to Apologize For CIA Bombing in Pakistan
In other news, the US government has refused to express regret over last week’s CIA bombing in Pakistan. The attack killed a reported 17 people, including women and children. The U.S. has said little about the bombing but it is believed to have been carried out by a CIA Predator drone. On Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack told reporters only: "The United States clearly values innocent human life. And that is why we're fighting the war on terror." Meanwhile, Pakistani officials said Tuesday the strike had killed up to 5 suspected militants.

Swiss Senator Says Evidence Confirms CIA Renditions in Europe
In Europe, a Swiss Senator has said there is no longer any question that the CIA undertook in illegal activities in Europe by secretly transporting and jailing suspected terrorists. The official -- Dick Marty -- is heading up a European investigation into allegations that the CIA operated secret prisons in Poland and Romania. He also said blame has to be placed on all European nations who have helped the U.S. carry out its covert operations.
Swiss Senator Dick Marty : "I'd like it to be clear that the problem does not only concern Rumania and Poland. It would be too simple to criminalize these two countries. I think it's to whole of Europe that accepted to keep quiet, because if it's true that something happened in Rumania and Poland, something also happened in many other countries, and many of them were certainly aware of what was going on. And to me, in such a situation, knowing and keeping quiet is as bad as tolerating that such activities be led on its territory." Last week a Swiss newspaper published the text of an intercepted Egyptian memo about U.S. interrogation centers in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. The memo had been faxed from the Egyptian foreign ministry to the Egyptian embassy in London. But it had been intercepted by the Swiss secret service and then leaked to the press.

Bush Administration Sued Over NSA Wiretaps
Here in this country, the Center for Constitutional Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union are filing separate lawsuits today challenging President Bush's order for the National Security Agency to conduct domestic spy operations without legally required court warrants.

Al Gore: Bush "Repeatedly and Persistently" Broke Law
On Monday, former Vice President Al Gore gave a major speech in Washington accusing Bush of "repeatedly and persistently" breaking the law by authorizing the NSA wiretaps. Gore called for Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the abuses. Gore said Bush's illegal spying program threatened "the very structure of our government."

Gov. Commission Completes Inquiry Into Menezes Shooting
In Britain, a government commission has completed its inquiry into the police shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes. Menezes, a native of Brazil, was shot dead by British police in a London subway station one day after an attempted bomb attack on the British subway system in July. At first, British police said they believed Menezes was a suicide bomber. They claimed he had run from police and was wearing a bulky jacket. But since then it has been revealed that he was innocent and that police lied about the circumstances of his death. On Thursday, Menezes’ family appealed for justice.Alex Pereira, the cousin of Jean Charles De Menezes : "It is very simple, if you do something good you don't need to lie or hide; they lie they hide, and the explanation is that it was an assassination, they (de Menezes) were murdered. Why do I have to lie if I have done a good job? I think it's that simple."











Good evening. Before we get started with Democracy Now! we'll note this from the Feminist Wire:

Judiciary Committee Votes Tomorrow on Alito; Filibuster Possible, Says Durbin
Tomorrow, two days after the 33rd anniversary of Roe v Wade, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on Samuel Alito, a Supreme Court nominee who in 1985 wrote that the Constitution does not protect a woman's right to an abortion. Women’s rights leaders and activists rallied last night at the Supreme Court in support of the landmark Supreme Court ruling.“Since we last gathered to commemorate Roe v. Wade, two seats have opened up on the Supreme Court, and George W. Bush has used both opportunities to nominate judges whose records show a disdain for privacy rights and individual liberties,” said Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women. “The Senate is poised to vote on confirming Samuel Alito, who would replace Sandra Day O'Connor, a justice whose vote has upheld women's rights for nearly 25 years. How quickly the fate of women's reproductive rights could turn in this nation.”Already, at least nine Senators have come out publicly and strongly against Alito’s confirmation, including four who voted in favor of confirming John Roberts as chief justice. In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), the Democratic Whip, said that a filibuster was possible. "A week ago, I would have told you it's not likely to happen," Durbin said. "As of [Wednesday], I just can't rule it out. I was surprised by the intensity of feeling of some of my colleagues. It's a matter of counting. We have 45 Democrats, counting [Vermont independent] Jim Jeffords, on our side. We could sustain a filibuster if 41 Senators ... are willing to stand and fight.”GET THE INSIDE SCOOP with The Smeal Report and the New Leif blogs at MsMagazine.comTAKE ACTION Call your Senators and urge them to oppose AlitoDONATE Make an emergency contribution to the Feminist Majority’s Save Roe Campaign. We must be a strong voice in this crucial fight to save Roe and the Supreme Court for women’s rights.
Media Resources: Feminist Majority; NOW statement 1/22/06; Chicago Sun-Times 1/20/06


U.S. Criticized For Downplaying Threat Of Radical RightLast year federal investigators told a Senate committee that environmental and animal groups like ELF and ALF represented the nation's leading domestic terror threat. The Southern Poverty Law Center however recently criticized the federal government for underestimating the threat posed by violent right-wing organizations. According to the Center, the radical right has plotted to carry out at least 60 terrorist plots inside the United States since the Oklahoma City Bombing. This includes plans to bomb or burn government buildings, mosques, synagogues and abortion clinics, plans to assassinate government officials and civil rights leaders and efforts to amass chemical and biological weapons arsenals.


Jose Padilla the Bully Boy locks up for years. Muslims get profiled. But the right wingers? Free pass. These are the terrorists that have been in this country. We don't need to go looking far and wide for them. But just like Fox "News" wanted to be sure not to offend their right wing viewers by talking about the criminal found in the woods, Bully Boy gives the real criminals a pass too.


New York Times Warns Against Alito's 'Radical' ViewsThe editorial page of the New York Times came out today in opposition to Samuel Alito's confirmation to the Supreme Court. The paper's editors warns "He has a radically broad view of the president's power, and a radically narrow view of Congress's power. He has long argued that the Constitution does not protect abortion rights. He wants to reduce the rights and liberties of ordinary Americans, and has a history of tilting the scales of justice against the little guy."


The little guy? That paper wants to talk about the little guy? Are we supposed to forget their slams at the transist workers? Oh that New York Times is funny! It should put out a comedy album!


Want to read a real editorial? One with guts? Check out "Editorial: Senate Dems, if you're done enjoying that golden shower . . ."

Now be sure to check out Elaine's take on the headlines at her site Like Maria Said Paz. And check out the bottom of C.I.'s entry here for more on the topic of the New York Times.


Now here's a taste of Dave Zirin's "The Slave Side of Sunday:"


For most sports fans, heaven would be to play in the National Football League. We see money, fame and no expectations of social responsibility beyond showing up on Sunday ready to play. In the mind of the fantasy sports fan, it means a big house, a garage full of cars and the promise of sexual gratification. The last thing any fan would believe--or want to believe--is that racism is endemic to the culture of the NFL.
That's the contention of NFL veteran Anthony Prior, whose new book, The Slave Side of Sunday, invokes an explosive metaphor to describe life in the NFL. Prior played six NFL seasons with the New York Jets, the Oakland Raiders and the Minnesota Vikings, and developed a reputation as a cornerback with blinding speed, if not blinding stats.
Prior contends that the NFL is rife with a racism that is both deeply institutionalized and largely unchallenged. "I was frustrated by not seeing the truth in print," Prior told me in a recent interview. "And I believe that if you want to see it, you should write it."









Hoy se inicia la Segunda Comisión Investigadora de Crímenes Contra la Humanidad cometidos por el gobierno de Bush

Maria: Hola. De parte de "Democracy Now!" nueve cosas que vale hacer notar este fin de semana. Paz.



Hoy se inicia la Segunda Comisión Investigadora de Crímenes Contra la Humanidad cometidos por el gobierno de Bush
La segunda reunión de la Comisión Internacional de Investigación de Crímenes Contra la Humanidad Cometidos por el Gobierno de Bush comenzará hoy en Nueva York. La comisión investigará una serie de acusaciones de que el gobierno de Bush cometió crímenes de guerra y crímenes contra la humanidad. Se redactó un borrador de las acusaciones en la primera comisión realizada en octubre. Entre quienes deben declarar ante la comisión se encuentran el ex director de Abu Ghraib, Brigadier General Janis Karpinski; el ex embajador británico en Uzbekistán Craig Murray; el conductor y activista Harry Belafonte, y el ex inspector de armas de la ONU Scott Ritter.



Lideres iraquíes y musulmanes estadounidenses piden la liberación de Carroll
Líderes musulmanes iraquíes y estadounidenses adhirieron a los llamados de familiares y colegas de la periodista estadounidense secuestrada Jill Carroll para pedir que sea liberada sana y salva. Carroll, una periodista de 28 años de edad que trabajaba de forma independiente para el periódico "Christian Science Monitor" en Irak, fue secuestrada en Bagdad a principios de este mes. Integrantes del grupo de apoyo musulmán estadounidense Consejo de Relaciones Estadounidenses-Islámicas (CAIR, por sus siglas en inglés), están viajando a Irak para intentar obtener la liberación de Carroll. Mientras tanto, Muthanna Harith al-Dhari, una destacada figura del grupo sunita iraquí Asociación de Eruditos Musulmanes (MSA, por sus siglas en inglés), dijo: "Todos los secuestros y asesinatos son totalmente rechazados... especialmente cuando se trata del secuestro de un periodista. Los periodistas están aquí para informar al mundo sobre la ocupación, por lo tanto, secuestrar a un periodista es esconder la verdad". Al-Dhari agregó: "La periodista, Jill Carroll... es una de las grandes periodistas que están en contra de la ocupación. Es considerada una de las mejores periodistas que se opuso a la ocupación estadounidense de Irak y centró sus artículos en ... contarle al mundo sobre el sufrimiento de los iraquíes".


Periodistas iraquíes liberados describen calvario bajo custodia de Estados Unidos
En otra noticia sobre Irak, los dos periodistas iraquíes que fueron liberados esta semana, luego de estar detenidos sin ser acusados durante más de cuatro meses por las Fuerzas Armadas estadounidenses, describieron su calvario. El periodista de "Reuters" Majed Hameed dijo: "Las fuerzas estadounidenses llevaron a cabo una redada en casa, mi casa, el 8 de agosto (de 2005) y encontraron una cámara con la que yo había filmado enfrentamientos en Ramadi que ocurrieron en la ciudad desde el mediodía hasta la tarde. (Filmé) con mi cámara tomas muy sencillas de las fuerzas estadounidenses atacando la mezquita de Haj Maqbulaa, y una de las casas, con vidrios rotos desparramados por el piso. Realizaron una redada en mi casa y vieron estas cosas, yo respondí que sólo eran enfrentamientos y luego de eso inmediatamente tomaron mis cámaras, los dispositivos de comunicación, la computadora y luego me arrestaron". Hamedd fue liberado esta semana luego de estar bajo custodia de Estados Unidos, junto con el camarógrafo de "Reuters" Ali al-Mashhadani, quien fue arrestado en agosto. Ambos estaban detenidos en las prisiones dirigidas por Estados Unidos en la cárcel de Abu Ghraib y Camp Bucca. Al menos otros tres periodistas iraquíes que trabajan para los medios de comunicación internacionales permanecen bajo custodia de Estados Unidos.



HRW dice que la política exterior de Bush socava derechos humanos
En Estados Unidos, "Human Rights Watch" dio a conocer su informe anual el miércoles. El informe incluye una dura critica contra el gobierno de Bush, al que acusa de socavar el respeto por los derechos humanos en el mundo debido al modo en que está dirigiendo la llamada guerra contra el terrorismo. Este grupo también pidió al Congreso que establezca un panel independiente para investigar las violaciones de los derechos humanos llevadas a cabo por Estados Unidos. El director ejecutivo de "Human Rights Watch", Kenneth Roth, dijo: "Lamento informar que la defensa mundial de los derechos humanos se ha visto seriamente comprometida por la decisión política del gobierno de Bush de violar algunas de las normas básicas de los derechos humanos, por creer erróneamente que es la mejor manera de luchar contra el terrorismo. Se sabe desde hace tiempo que no se puede culpar a algunos soldados rasos del turno de la noche por la tortura y los tratos inhumanos aplicados por el gobierno de Bush. Por lo menos, y según lo que sabemos hasta ahora, las decisiones políticas tomadas por los de más alto rango crearon una atmósfera de tolerancia hacia las violaciones. Y entre esas decisiones políticas se puede citar, por ejemplo, la violación de la Convención de Ginebra en Guantánamo, su extraordinariamente limitada definición de tortura, al punto de que la mayoría de los abusos no son considerados tortura".




Estados Unidos se niega a disculparse por bombardeo de la CIA en Pakistán
En otras noticias, el gobierno estadounidense se negó a expresar arrepentimiento por el bombardeo de la CIA de la semana pasada en Pakistán. Según trascendió, el ataque mató a 17 personas, entre las que encontraban mujeres y niños. Estados Unidos no dijo mucho sobre el bombardeo, pero se cree que fue llevado a cabo por un avión Predator a control remoto de la CIA. El martes, el portavoz del Departamento de Estado, Sean McCormack, dijo a periodistas: "Estados Unidos claramente valora las vidas inocentes. Y es por eso que estamos llevando a cabo la guerra contra el terrorismo". Mientras tanto, funcionarios pakistaníes dijeron el martes que el ataque mató a cinco personas sospechosas de ser militantes.


Senador suizo dice que evidencia confirma traslados de la CIA en Europa
En Europa, un Senador suizo dijo que ya no cabe duda de que la CIA llevó a cabo actividades ilegales en Europa, al trasladar y encarcelar secretamente a sospechosos de terrorismo. El funcionario, Dick Marty, está dirigiendo una investigación europea sobre acusaciones de que la CIA manejaba prisiones secretas en Polonia y Rumania. Marty también dijo que la culpa era de todas las naciones europeas que ayudaron a Estados Unidos a llevar a cabo sus operaciones secretas. El Senador Suizo Dick Marty dijo: "Me gustaría que quedara claro que el problema no es sólo de Rumania y Polonia. Sería demasiado fácil criminalizar a estos dos países. Creo que la responsabilidad es de toda Europa, que aceptó permanecer en silencio, porque si es cierto que algo pasó en Rumania y Polonia, también paso algo en muchos otros países, y muchos de ellos ciertamente sabían lo que estaba sucediendo. Y para mi, en una situación así, saber y quedarse callado es tan malo como tolerar que este tipo de actividades sean llevadas a cabo en su territorio". La semana pasada, un periódico suizo publicó el contenido de un memorando egipcio interceptado sobre los centros de interrogatorio de Estados Unidos en Europa del Este y los Balcanes. El memorando había sido enviado por fax desde el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Egipto a la embajada egipcia en Londres. Pero había sido interceptado por el servicio secreto suizo y luego entregado a la prensa.



Gobierno de Bush demandado por espionaje telefónico de la NSA
En Estados Unidos, el Centro para los Derechos Constitucionales y la Unión Estadounidense por las Libertades Civiles (ACLU, por sus siglas en inglés) están presentando hoy demandas por separado para impugnar la orden del Presidente Bush de que la Agencia de Seguridad Nacional (NSA, por sus siglas en inglés) lleve a cabo operaciones de espionaje a nivel nacional sin las ordenes judiciales que exige la ley.


Al Gore: Bush violó la ley "de forma reiterada y persistente"
El lunes, el ex Vicepresidente Al Gore pronunció un importante discurso en Washington en el que acusó a Bush de violar la ley "de forma reiterada y persistente" al autorizar las intervenciones telefónicas de la NSA. Gore pidió al Fiscal General Alberto Gonzales que designe un fiscal especial para investigar estas violaciones. Gore dijo que el programa ilegal de espionaje de Bush puso en peligró "la propia estructura de nuestro gobierno".


Comisión del gobierno finaliza investigación sobre asesinato de Menezes
En Gran Bretaña, una comisión del gobierno finalizó la investigación sobre el asesinato por parte de la policía de Jean Charles De Menezes. La policía británica mató a balazos a Menezes, de nacionalidad brasileña, en una estación de trenes subterráneos de Londres, un día después de un atentado fallido con bombas en el sistema de trenes subterráneos británico en julio. En un principio la policía dijo que creía que Menezes era un bombardero suicida. La policía afirmó que Menezes intentó escaparse y que tenía puesta una campera abultada. Pero desde entonces, se reveló que Menezes era inocente y que la policía mintió sobre las circunstancias de su muerte. El jueves, la familia de Menezes pidió justicia.Alex Pereira, primo de Jean Charles De Menezes, dijo: "Es muy simple, si haces algo bueno no tienes que mentir u ocultar nada; ellos mintieron y ocultaron cosas, y la explicación es que fue un asesinato, ellos (de Menezes) fueron asesinados. ¿Por qué tengo que mentir si hice bien mi trabajo? Creo que es así de simple".


Maria: From Democracy Now!, here are nine headlines. Democracy Now! provides daily headlines in English and in Spanish, text and audio. Peace.


Second Commission of Inquiry On Crimes Against Humanity Committed by the Bush Administration Opens Today
The second gathering of the International Commission of Inquiry On Crimes Against Humanity Committed by the Bush Administration will begin today in New York. The commission will look into a series of charges the Bush administration has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. The indictments were drafted at the first commission held in October. Those scheduled to testify before the commission include the former head of Abu Ghraib, Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski; former British ambassador to Uzbekistan Craig Murray; the entertainer and activist Harry Belafonte, and former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter.


Leading Iraqi, US Muslims Call For Jill Carroll's Release
Leading Iraqi and American Muslims have echoed the calls of family members and colleagues of kidnapped American journalist Jill Carroll to plead for her safe release. Carroll, a 28-year old freelance reporter working for the Christian Science Monitor in Iraq, was kidnapped in Baghdad earlier this month. Members of the Muslim-American advocacy group Council on American-Islamic Relations are traveling to Iraq to attempt to win Carroll’s release. Meanwhile, Muthanna Harith al-Dhari, a prominent figure in the leading Iraqi Sunni group the Muslim Scholars Association, said: "All kidnappings and assassinations are completely rejected... especially when kidnapping a journalist. Journalists are here to tell the world about the occupation so kidnapping a journalist is going to hide the truth.” Al-Dhari continued: "This journalist, Jill Carroll... is one of the great journalists who are against the occupation. She is considered one of the best journalists who stood against the American occupation of Iraq and she focused in her articles on... telling the world about the Iraqi people’s suffering."

Freed Iraqi Journalists Describe Ordeal US Custody
In other Iraq news, the two Iraqi journalists who were freed this week after being held by the US military without charge for over four months have come forward to describe their ordeal.Reuters journalist Majed Hameed : "The US forces raided the house, my house on August 8 (2005) and found a camera with which I filmed clashes in Ramadi that erupted in the city from noon until evening. [I filmed] with my camera very simple shots of the US forces attacking Haj Maqbulaa mosque, and one of the houses, with broken glass scattered on the floor. They raided my house and saw these things, I replied it is only clashes and after that they immediately collected my cameras, communication devices, computer and then they arrested me." Hameed was freed this week from US custody along with Reuters camera operator Ali al-Mashhadani, who was arrested in August. The two were held at the US-run prisons at Abu Ghraib prison and Camp Bucca. At least three other Iraqi journalists working for the international media remain in US custody.

HRW Says Bush Foreign Policy Undermining Human Rights
Here in the United States, Human Rights Watch released its annual report Wednesday. The report includes a scathing critique of the Bush administration, accusing it of undermining human rights around the world by the way its waging the so-called war on terror. The group also called on Congress to set up an independent panel to investigate U.S. human rights abuses.Human Rights Watch Executive Director Kenneth Roth : "I'm sorry to report that the global defense of human rights has been profoundly compromised by the Bush administration's policy level decisions to flout some of the most basic human rights norms out of a misguided sense that is the best way to fight against terrorism. It's long been understood that the Bush administration's torture and inhumane treatment could not be blamed on a handful of low level soldiers on the night shift. At minimum, we understand until now, that policy decisions taken at the top had created an atmosphere of tolerance for abuse. And among those policy decisions that one could cite would be, for example, is the Bush Administration's ripping of the Geneva Convention with respect to Guantanamo, its extraordinarily narrow definition of torture to the point that most forms of abuse are not considered torture."


US Refuses to Apologize For CIA Bombing in Pakistan

In other news, the US government has refused to express regret over last week’s CIA bombing in Pakistan. The attack killed a reported 17 people, including women and children. The U.S. has said little about the bombing but it is believed to have been carried out by a CIA Predator drone. On Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack told reporters only: "The United States clearly values innocent human life. And that is why we're fighting the war on terror." Meanwhile, Pakistani officials said Tuesday the strike had killed up to 5 suspected militants.


Swiss Senator Says Evidence Confirms CIA Renditions in Europe
In Europe, a Swiss Senator has said there is no longer any question that the CIA undertook in illegal activities in Europe by secretly transporting and jailing suspected terrorists. The official -- Dick Marty -- is heading up a European investigation into allegations that the CIA operated secret prisons in Poland and Romania. He also said blame has to be placed on all European nations who have helped the U.S. carry out its covert operations.Swiss Senator Dick Marty : "I'd like it to be clear that the problem does not only concern Rumania and Poland. It would be too simple to criminalize these two countries. I think it's to whole of Europe that accepted to keep quiet, because if it's true that something happened in Rumania and Poland, something also happened in many other countries, and many of them were certainly aware of what was going on. And to me, in such a situation, knowing and keeping quiet is as bad as tolerating that such activities be led on its territory." Last week a Swiss newspaper published the text of an intercepted Egyptian memo about U.S. interrogation centers in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. The memo had been faxed from the Egyptian foreign ministry to the Egyptian embassy in London. But it had been intercepted by the Swiss secret service and then leaked to the press.

Bush Administration Sued Over NSA Wiretaps
Here in this country, the Center for Constitutional Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union are filing separate lawsuits today challenging President Bush's order for the National Security Agency to conduct domestic spy operations without legally required court warrants.


Al Gore: Bush "Repeatedly and Persistently" Broke Law
On Monday, former Vice President Al Gore gave a major speech in Washington accusing Bush of "repeatedly and persistently" breaking the law by authorizing the NSA wiretaps. Gore called for Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the abuses. Gore said Bush's illegal spying program threatened "the very structure of our government."

Gov. Commission Completes Inquiry Into Menezes Shooting
In Britain, a government commission has completed its inquiry into the police shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes. Menezes, a native of Brazil, was shot dead by British police in a London subway station one day after an attempted bomb attack on the British subway system in July. At first, British police said they believed Menezes was a suicide bomber. They claimed he had run from police and was wearing a bulky jacket. But since then it has been revealed that he was innocent and that police lied about the circumstances of his death. On Thursday, Menezes’ family appealed for justice.Alex Pereira, the cousin of Jean Charles De Menezes : "It is very simple, if you do something good you don't need to lie or hide; they lie they hide, and the explanation is that it was an assassination, they (de Menezes) were murdered. Why do I have to lie if I have done a good job? I think it's that simple."



















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