Refugees, peace movement, etc.

Tuesday. And my mind's everywhere but here. That's how it goes sometimes, right?

Before I go further, "Kat's Korner: Ann Wilson sings and stands tall" -- you gotta read it. If you're thinking, "Who is going to stand up?" Or maybe, "Is anyone going to weigh in on the illegal war"? then you need to check out Ann Wilson's Hope & Glory which my Dad's been blasting since this weekend. :D It's a rocking CD, no question. But that review is the sort of hard hitting stuff you don't see in a world that wants to go goo-goo over Dylan's latest boxed set of old, previously released songs. And if you ever find yourself thinking, "The world would be a better place if everyone followed FAIR's stated mission . . ." Read "Ruth's Report" and wonder why FAIR doesn't follow FAIR's mission.

On a related topic, if you haven't read the snapshot yet today, be sure to read it at the bottom of my post. C.I. has a hilarious bit about Katrina vanden Heuvel.

There was one thing I wanted to quote from and then I started reading the comments. I changed my mind. There's this jerk ragging on the writer in the comments. I wouldn't give a damn about that most times, but it's the jerk who e-mails Elaine and me to complain about David Lindorff. I mean, this guy HATES Dave Lindorff. He's a real weirdo, if you ask me. He's all up in the Chipster and I really don't want to link to anything that guy's got comments (and links to himself) in. (This wasn't a blog, by the way, this was an online magazine. I really wish people would stop allowing comments on stuff.)

Here's something on the peace movement (C.I.'s got an amazing thing on the peace movement, by the way). This is from John V. Walsh's "Peace Movement Paralyzed:"

That means that the only route to end war and empire is through electoral activity outside the structure of the war parties. But there is as yet precious little activity in this direction, even though time is running out. Instead the antiwar movement seems to be wandering in a fog, incapable of taking this step.
It is time for this to end. And not in some abstract call for "independent" electoral action but in the real world. So what does the real world offer?
There are three alternatives on the horizon right now. First, the Green Party has the organization to put a genuine peace candidate on the ballot in a majority of states--and perhaps in all of them. (It is unfortunate that the Libertarian Party seems moribund at the moment, but it lost a lot of its following when most inside the Beltway libertarians betrayed their principles and opted for the war.) Second, Ralph Nader has the stature, integrity, following and electoral apparatus to get on the ballot in all 50 states and the D.C. --perhaps on his own, but definitely with the assistance of the Greens. (For this reason there is and will be a dirty tricks effort by the Dems to prevent Nader from getting Green Party support, a combination that has them very frightened. Todd Gitlin and his ilk are already very busy on this project.) Third, there is Ron Paul who also has the stature, integrity and following to mount a serious campaign outside the Republican Party whose nomination he is unlikely to win. (But should Paul win the Republican nomination, then an entirely new dynamic will emerge and the Republicans will be returned to their paleoconservative, libertarian roots, emerging as the antiwar party as they were before World War I. I assume here that Paul will not win the Republican nomination, but that will not be known with certainty until after the New Hampshire primary.) Third, there are other national leaders who can put together an electoral peace movement or be part of one. Cindy Sheehan and Cynthia McKinney come to mind. So there are some real world alternatives right now to the "duopoly," as many like to call the two war parties.
The most powerful antiwar and anti-empire movement would be an alliance of Greens and Libertarians under the leadership of Nader, Paul, Sheehan and McKinney and perhaps others. Barring that, we should make use of all the real world options available. I would hope that they would sit down for coffee sometime very soon. It is time to abandon the old ways of thinking, which are all embedded in the Cold War, and to form new, unexpected and surprising alliances adapted to the present time. Let us put an end to war and empire and then try to resolve other differences in the spirit of peace and liberty.

I like John Walsh and I'd be blown away by this but I've already heard some of an essay C.I. wrote that was supposed to go in today's Iraq snapshot but it was too long. I think Walsh makes some strong points and I'm not saying he's wrong (I won't vote for Ron Paul, just FYI, anyone who wants to should). But there's another level that's being missed. If I hadn't heard the section of C.I.'s essay, I'd probably be saying, "Yeah!" right now to Walsh. But he assumes that the peace movement has tried everything and it has failed and that's not the reality. The reality is that the peace movement needs to make some changes. And that has nothing to do with elections. In fact, I tend to disagree with this, "We must vote for ___!" attitude. Unless it's McKinney, Paul, Kucinich, Gravel or Richards as the nominee for their parties, we're not going to see an anti-war candidate on the ticket. (Nader would be a peace candidate but he hasn't declared yet.) And I really don't think we put the peace movement on hold.

When I read his title, I thought, "Oh, this is going to be the same as the points C.I. was making." It's not. But that's all I can say because I don't want to give it away. Right now there's a push to get C.I. (who doesn't have time) to finish it and post it at The Common Ills. I know C.I.'s schedule this week and there's not time so my hunch is it will wind up a piece that we finish up at The Third Estate Sunday Review. I was begging Elaine to read me more of the essay but she's worried I'll go into it with Jim (and that Third will snap it up without C.I. considering making time to finish it and post it at The Common Ills).

I want to be clear that I like Walsh's piece and recommend you read it. But I think there's another element that's out there, another option, and it should be tried. I doubt it will be tried. And I bet C.I. pisses off a lot of people with the essay. Good. My jaw was just hanging low, mouth wide open, when Elaine was reading it and I was like, "Did C.I. write ____?" I'm glad Walsh is thinking about the subject and, most important, writing about it. Most people don't. They play, "Let's all get along and blah blah blah." Things are not working. Walsh is right. And he's right about some of the stuff that's going on. He's really one of the strong writers out there.

Ring tone, I look at the i.d. and it's Jim. :D He just read Elaine's post (she must already have her post up) and he wants to know what the essay's about? :D I told him I swore to Elaine that I wouldn't talk about it with him. :D I also told him I only had like a paragraph or two read to me. He goes, "Give me something!" I go, "It's powerful." He asks, "Will it piss people off?" I said, "Oh yeah." :D

That's what I like about John Walsh to get back to him. He's not going, "Oh, I can't say that, it wouldn't be nice and let us all get along." He's trying to tell his truth and that's really important. We should all be doing that. Instead we all try to get along and that's not working.
Playing cheerleader's not working.

And cowardice isn't working either. I think it's disgusting. I'm about to say something before I highlight something and saying it means I won't get a link in the snapshot tomorrow. I'm serious. What I'm about to include would normally mean I'd get a link. But I'm about to compliment C.I. Do that and you don't usually get a link in the snapshot. If I trashed C.I., I'd get a link. (I wouldn't trash C.I. I'm just saying that's how it works. C.I. will say, "Oh, that's self-referential" or "I don't want to link to something that's" saying something nice.) But it's disgusting that C.I. had to yet again carry the weight while independent media played cowards and chickens. I'm talking about the myth of the 'great return.' C.I. was calling out that crap at the start of last month. C.I. was pretty much alone in that from the start. Now it turns out even the MSM has to admit, "It was a myth!" Where the hell was that brave independent media we keep hearing about? Independent media is not supposed to hide or play dumb. They're supposed to call out the lies of big media. But what happened was people got scared, "What if it's true!" It made no sense in the gut. C.I. called friends at the UN and elsewhere to ask what was going on and, yeah, got told, "We don't believe it, we're studying right now." But anyone in independent media should have been able to make some phone calls and do the same damn thing. Didn't happen. It was disgusting. And when the UN and the Red Crescent started saying, "That's not what we're seeing," independent media still played dumb and mum.

You know what it's like? It's like Barack Obama. He won't take a stand for fear that he'll be wrong and didn't he make his image off of being opposed to the Iraq War before it started? Can't risk losing the only card he has to play! Same token, independent media still wants to be thanked for calling out Judith Miller all that time ago and they get scared and nervous because what if they say the refugee return isn't as big as the Iraqi government is saying and it turns out that it is that big! Oh no! They let themselves be paralyzed and while they do that the myths take on this huge life.

Hamza Hendawi's "Come back, Iraqi TV urges exiles:"

The government says up to 40,000 refugees have returned from abroad and 10,000 internally displaced Iraqis have gone back to their homes.
The Iraqi Red Crescent says 25,000 to 28,000 have returned from Syria.
Not everyone is convinced. Ibrahim Karim, a 43-year-old civil servant, said: "Iraqi television paints a picture of a government that solved all the problems of Iraq because a small number of refugees returned."
The government, unruffled by the criticism, is offering returnees free transport from Syria, protection for bus convoys and £300 for each family to help with resettlement.
The focus on refugees returning has not been restricted to commercials, which end with the message: "How sweet it is to return to Iraq." Shows such as the daily Baghdad by Night air interviews with residents expressing gratitude for improved security and urging friends and relatives to return.
"Mohammed, I hope you come back," one boy said when asked whether he had a message for his best friend, living in Syria.
Other fixtures include interviews with relieved returnees just off the bus.
"We will never find a country like Iraq anywhere in the world," one woman said. "Being away from home is tough. Iraq needs us," another added.
The broadcaster repeatedly shows a recent beauty pageant, with contestants in modest clothes being asked leading questions on security.
But the government could risk uncomfortable comparisons by coming on too strong.
Iraqis remember when state television was the blunt propaganda tool of Saddam Hussein. They also have other viewing options now: pan-Arab news channels and private Iraqi stations.
The reach of all stations has become wider recently. Improvements in electricity supply let families watch television for longer than any time since the US-led invasion in 2003.
Iman al-Shweili, a teacher in the capital, said of Iraqiyah: "The station focuses on the handful of beautified and lit streets and ignores the destroyed homes and damaged streets. The government is more preoccupied with drowning out critics' voices than providing a better life."

This is what C.I.'s been talking about, the threats to the safety of Iraqi lulled back via false spin. And it did matter and it does. It's criminal that independent media elected to sit it out while the lies took hold.

Here's C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"

Tuesday, December 4, 2007. Chaos and violence continue, Katrina provides the jokes, the 'great return' never was, oil deals are encouraged and Iraqis are told there's no money in the budget for children's milk . . .

Starting with war resisters. On November 15th, Canada's Supreme Court refused to hear the appeals of US war resisters Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey. David Stein (Canadian National Newspaper) examines some of the issues involved in their case and notes the work of the War Resisters Support Campaign. Stein notes, "The Supreme Court decision appeared to disrespect Canadian constitutional precedence in relation to the safe haven that Canada provided . . . during the 1960's, and current law associated with refugees fleeing oppression and persecutory law." Along with those points there is also a court ruling that came down at the end of November. Hinzman and Hughey wanted to be recognized as a refugees. The verdict they received appeared based on (and certainly the US ambassador to Canada echoes this line) the fact that Canada and the United States are so 'tight.' Not all that tight. Nicholas Keung (Toronto Star) reported November 30th, "Canada will no longer have the right to turn back asylum seekers at the American border under a federal court ruling that deems the United States not a safe country for refugees -- opening the door for a potential flood of northbound claimants." What's going on? This has to do with refugees who land first in the United States and then continue onto Canada intending to apply for asylum there. These are not the same issues involved in Hughey and Hinzman's case, true, but one of the beliefs is that the US is peachy keen and no harm can come from expelling war resisters back to the United States. But, notice, with another class of refugees, a Canadian federal court says asylum seekers who land in the US and then continue onto Canada can not be refused entry and returned to the US. Keung notes the following as areas of concerns to Judge Michael Phelan: "the issues over the American authorities' use of expedited removals and use of detention, combined with concerns over the U.S.'s rigid application of the one-year bar to refugee claims, the provisions governing security issues and terrorism based on a lower standard, called into question whether the U.S. is safe for asylum seekers." Again, that case and the issues involved in the asylum claims by US war resisters are different, but one federal court is saying that one class of refugees cannot be refused entry into Canada and the Judge also specifically noted the United States' violation of the Convention Against Torture. The courts have failed war resisters and now the energy is focused on the Canadian Parliament which will hold hearings on the subject December 11th.

Cindy Sheehan (OpEdNews) urges people to utilize Courage to Resist's easy to mail or e-mail resources to allow the Canadian government to know you are watching and to support organizations supporting war resisters as well as supporting war resisters:


Support actual war resisters in Canada by sending them expense money. From my friend Ryan (I gave him and his wife money to get to Canada over two years ago):

In light of the recent Supreme Court denial in Canada, I (Ryan Johnson), My wife (Jen Johnson) and Brandon Hughey need help raising funds to travel to Ottawa to attend hearings before the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, where War Resisters will be giving Testimony to the committee. At these hearings the committee will be deciding on whether or not to make a provision to allow war resisters to stay in Canada. This is one of our last chances to be able to continue living in Canada. We will be leaving December 7th because the hearings are December 11th, 2007 so we need to act fast. They may try to send guys back soon and we need to have a strong War Resister Presence. We appreciate all of the support and Want to thank all of you who can help.

Checks/money orders can be sent for Ryan, Jen and Brandon to:312 Tower Rd Nelson, BC V1L3K6

Courage to Resist profiles war resister Kimberly Rivera explaining how she ended up checking out and moving with her husband and children to Canada: "Kimberly Rivera grew up in Mesquite, Texas, a suburb east of Dallas. She had never thought of becoming a soldier until she was seventeen and the Army recruiters visited her home to meet with Kimberly and her parents. The recruiters offered money for college that her family did not have. Her mother was supporting Kimberly, her father, and her two sisters after her father suffered a work related accident. She took an aptitute test for job placement out of 'curiosity', but later signed up to be a mechanic. She was given an elistment date following graduation for the Army Resevers." She was released from the military due to pregnancy at the end of 200. With the costs of raising two children, she decided to re-enlist and found herself stationed in Iraq. "I felt like I was losing my mind. I was so close to death so many times. It scares me now. My life as I knew it was falling apart and I was unable to pull it together. I was surrouned by males who were filled with filthy comments and talking about all kinds of sexual things. I was there for three months and was scared that some of the guys might try to get me to trust them just so later they could have their chance to abuse me." A not uncommon nor unrealistic fear based on reported cases of sexual assault in the military. "While in Iraq losing soldiers and civilians was part of daily life. I was a gate guard. This was looked down on by infantry soldiers who go out in the streets, but gate guards are the highest security of the Foward Operation Base. We searched vehicles, civilian personnel, and military convoys that left and came back every hour. I had a huge awakening seeing the war as it truly is: people losing their lives for greed of a nation and the effects on the soldiers who come back with new problems such as nightmares, anxieties, depression, anger alcohol abuse, missing limbs and scars from burns. Some don't come back at all. On December 21, 2006 I was going to my room and something in my heart told me to go call my husband. And when I did 24 rounds of mortars hit the FOB in a matter of minutes after I got on the phone . . . the mortars were 10-15 feet from where I was. I found a hole from the shrapnel in my room in the plywood window. That night I found the shrapnel on my bed in the same place where my head would have been if I hadn't changed my plans and gone to the phone." The death of an Iraqi civilian and a base visit by an Iraq father and his daughter took place before her leave. While in Texas on leave, she and her husband made the decision to go to Canada. In the Iraq War, there are many resisters who never go public. Of those who go public, Stephen Funk is the first to resist. Camilo Mejia is the first Iraq veteran to resist, Jeremy Hinzman is the first resister to go public in Canada, Ehren Watada is the first officer to resist, Eli Israel is the first to resist while stationed in Iraq and Kimberly Rivera is the first female resister to go public in Canada.

There is a growing movement of resistance within the US military which includes James Stepp, Rodney Watson, Michael Espinal, Matthew Lowell, Derek Hess, Diedra Cobb, Brad McCall, Justin Cliburn, Timothy Richard, Robert Weiss, Phil McDowell, Steve Yoczik, Ross Spears, Peter Brown, Bethany "Skylar" James, Zamesha Dominique, Chrisopther Scott Magaoay, Jared Hood, James Burmeister, Eli Israel, Joshua Key, Ehren Watada, Terri Johnson, Carla Gomez, Luke Kamunen, Leif Kamunen, Leo Kamunen, Camilo Mejia, Kimberly Rivera, Dean Walcott, Linjamin Mull, Agustin Aguayo, Justin Colby, Marc Train, Abdullah Webster, Robert Zabala, Darrell Anderson, Kyle Snyder, Corey Glass, Jeremy Hinzman, Kevin Lee, Mark Wilkerson, Patrick Hart, Ricky Clousing, Ivan Brobeck, Aidan Delgado, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, Blake LeMoine, Clifton Hicks, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Joshua Casteel, Katherine Jashinski, Dale Bartell, Chris Teske, Matt Lowell, Jimmy Massey, Chris Capps, Tim Richard, Hart Viges, Michael Blake, Christopher Mogwai, Christian Kjar, Kyle Huwer, Wilfredo Torres, Michael Sudbury, Ghanim Khalil, Vincent La Volpa, DeShawn Reed and Kevin Benderman. In total, at least fifty US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.Information on war resistance within the military can be found at The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline [(877) 447-4487], Iraq Veterans Against the War and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters. Tom Joad maintains a list of known war resisters. In addition, VETWOW is an organization that assists those suffering from MST (Military Sexual Trauma).


The voice of war resister Camilo Mejia is featured in Rebel Voices -- playing now through December 16th at Culture Project and based on Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove's best-selling book Voices of a People's History of the United States. It features dramatic readings of historical voices such as war resister Mejia, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Malcom X and others will be featured. Musician Allison Mooerer will head the permanent cast while those confirmed to be performing on selected nights are Ally Sheedy (actress and poet, best known for films such as High Art, The Breakfast Club, Maid to Order, the two Short Circuit films, St. Elmo's Fire, War Games, and, along with Nicky Katt, has good buzz on the forthcoming Harold), Eve Ensler who wrote the theater classic The Vagina Monologues (no, it's not too soon to call that a classic), actor David Strathaim (L.A. Confidential, The Firm, Bob Roberts, Dolores Claiborne and The Bourne Ultimatum), actor and playwright Wallace Shawn (The Princess Bride, Clueless -- film and TV series, Gregory and Chicken Little), actress Lili Taylor (Dogfight, Shortcuts, Say Anything, Household Saints, I Shot Andy Warhol, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, State of Mind) and actor, director and activist Danny Glover (The Color Purple, Beloved, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Rainmaker, Places In The Heart, Dreamgirls, Shooter and who recently appeared on Democracy Now! addressing the US militarization of Africa) The directors are Will Pomerantz and Rob Urbinati with Urbinati collaborating with Zinn and Arnove on the play. Tickets are $21 for previews and $41 for regular performances (beginning with the Nov. 18th opening night). The theater is located at 55 Mercer Street and tickets can be purchased there, over the phone (212-352-3101) or online here and here. More information can be found at Culture Project.

Meanwhile IVAW is organizing a March 2008 DC event:

In 1971, over one hundred members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War gathered in Detroit to share their stories with America. Atrocities like the My Lai massacre had ignited popular opposition to the war, but political and military leaders insisted that such crimes were isolated exceptions. The members of VVAW knew differently.
Over three days in January, these soldiers testified on the systematic brutality they had seen visited upon the people of Vietnam. They called it the Winter Soldier investigation, after Thomas Paine's famous admonishing of the "summer soldier" who shirks his duty during difficult times. In a time of war and lies, the veterans who gathered in Detroit knew it was their duty to tell the truth.
Over thirty years later, we find ourselves faced with a new war. But the lies are the same. Once again, American troops are sinking into increasingly bloody occupations. Once again, war crimes in places like Haditha, Fallujah, and Abu Ghraib have turned the public against the war. Once again, politicians and generals are blaming "a few bad apples" instead of examining the military policies that have destroyed Iraq and Afghanistan.
Once again, our country needs Winter Soldiers.
In March of 2008, Iraq Veterans Against the War will gather in our nation's capital to break the silence and hold our leaders accountable for these wars. We hope you'll join us, because yours is a story that every American needs to hear.
Click here to sign a statement of support for Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan

March 13th through 15th are the dates for the Winter Soldier Iraq & Afghanistan Investigation.

A lot to cover and we can probably use a joke before getting started. Fortunately editor & publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel (The Nation via Common Dreams) provides it, "But here's the real problem (because we all know horserace coverage is what we're going to get at this stage in this endless campaign). . . Even if the Post or the Times devoted a full story analyzing the leading candidates' healthcare proposals, how much attention would the two papers give to alternatives offered by someone like Congressman Dennis Kucinich -- the only candidate supporting a truly universal, Medicare for all, healthcare plan, that according to recent polls, has majority support? I suspect very little." Are you sides aching yet? The Nation has featured Dennis Kucinich on the cover once this year -- in a drawing of all the Democratic presidential candidates. Barack Obama was on that cover. He's also had two solo covers this year. On Iraq, Dennis Kucinich is the only candidate to publicly oppose the illegal war consistently. (In 2002, Obama was against it. By 2004, he was stating the US had to stay and telling the New York Times that if he had been in Congress in 2002, he didn't know how he would have voted. He gets into the Senate and votes to fund the illegal war over and over. Somehow The Nation repeatedly misses everything that followed his 2002 'anti-dumb war' speech.) So vanden Heuvel is truly the last to lecture daily papers about their coverage of the campaign. She can't even include Kucinich's name in her post title. And, it gets better, after getting her high horse about how little coverage the New York Times or the Washington Post would give to Kucinich's health care proposal . . . she goes on to review the plans of . . . John Edwards, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. 24 paragraphs of 'coverage' and 'analysis' and she can't even include Kucinich in the mix -- after getting castigating others who might do . . . what she just did. Smooth down your skirt, your hypocrisy's showing.

Now to serious issue, Ira Chernus (Common Dreams) warns readers that various mouthpieces are trying to declare Iraq is no longer an issue: "If Iraq is disappearing from the headlines, there is some other factor at work here. I suspect it's that editors and cable show hosts are watching what's going on, not only in Iraq, but in Washington and in elite policymaking circles (like the Council on Foreign Relations, where [Peter] Beinart is a senior fellow). They know that at the highest levels the debate about what to do in Iraq pretty much ended over this summer." What is about the Council on Foreign Relations and how they refuse to get serious about the illegal war. You get the feeling that if they ran an allegedly left magazine, they'd be ignoring the war, war resisters, et al and doing cover stories on rubber duckies and horseraces. Hey, that describes The Nation. Oh, yeah, KvH, Council on Foreign Relations.

In the real world, Cara Buckley (New York Times) notes that the Red Crescent says 25,000 Iraq refugees have returned to Iraq since mid-September -- 25,000, only 25,000. CBS and AP note: "Officials in Iraq and Syria have said more than 46,000 refugees returned in October and claimed the flow has continued unabated." Far from the inflated numbers the puppet government has repeatedly told the press. Meanwhile the United Nations High Commission for Refugees Steffan de Mistura held a news conference to emphasize that "this is not a massive return" and that Iraq couldn't hanlde a massive return. CBS and AP quote the Iraqi Red Crescent report on why some are returning: "The high cost of living and rented apartments and the limited employment opportunities contributed to lack of stability of Iraqi families and increased their passion to return to their country." And of course being bribed and bused in doesn't hurt either. Who is the central (puppet) government in Iraq preying on? Hannah Allam and Miret el Naggar (McClatchy Newspapers) examine at life in Syria:Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees in Syria face a bleak winter, with rising fuel costs that could leave many without enough money for food, the director of the World Food Program said Monday.About a third of Iraqi respondents in a recent United Nations study said they skipped one meal a day to feed their children. Nearly 60 percent said that they're buying cheaper, less nutritious food to cope with a dramatic increase in prices.With the weather turning colder and heating prices rising, humanitarian workers predict more Iraqis will go hungry in order to keep up with rent and utilities."We need more help here," WFP executive director Josette Sheeran said in an interview.The WFP, a U.N. agency that is the world's largest humanitarian organization, provides food to about 50,000 Iraqi families who've sought refuge in Syria. Sheeran said that her organization doesn't have the funds to maintain its $5.6 million operation and that she soon will call for more international assistance.There are the refugees being preyed upon, being told it is 'safe' in Iraq, being bribed to return. And let's talk about what happens when they return. The United Nations' IRIN reports that Abid Falah al-Soodani (Trade Minister) announced yesterday that, starting next month, "the quantity of national food rations delivered freely to all Iraqi families will be futher reduced -- from 10 to five items." Now let's be clear, this isn't just halfing the food supplies. He told the Iraqi Parliament that the five items provided will be provided in lower numbers. Here's what's getting cut out: tea, beans, children's milk, soap detergent and tomato paste. Here's what's getting reduced: rice, sugar, cooking oil, flour and milk for adults. What a way to say, "Welcome Home!" And to be clear, despite the lies, this has nothing to do with a government 'shortfall.' This is about ending the subsidies which Paul Bremer already tried once. The Iraqi government has more money than they spend at this point (though a great deal ends up in personal pockets) and this claim that they can't afford to supply children with milk is nothing but a lie. In other attacks on the Iraqi people, UPI reports that the Samuel Bodman (US Secretary of Energy) met with the "Kurdish region's oil minister" to push for the Iraqi theft-of-oil law proposal and, in contradiction to previous White House public positions, he's giving a green light to "international oil companies" to start signing Iraqi oil deals.


Meanwhile Reuters reports US forces shot 4 Iraqi civilians at a checkpoint in Tamiya on Monday and that one has died. In other reported violence today . . .

Bombings?

Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Baghdad bombing that wounded two people, a Dalli Abbas mortar attack that left eight people wounded and a Jalawla bombing that claimed the lives of 6 people with twenty-five more injured.

Shootings?

Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports the latest attacks on an official: today "gunmen opened fire attacking the house of the ministry of electricity Kareem Waheed in Zayuna neighborhood east Baghdad wounding three of his guards"; yesterday "Atallah Eskander, the member in the local council of Hawija town west of Kirkuk and his driver Hamad Ali Hussein" were shot dead; on Saturday Mun'im Hadi ("employee of Diwaniyah city intelligence directorate office") was shot dead in Najaf. Reuters notes 1 "security officer" was shot dead in Tuz Khurmato (his brother was injured).

Corpses?

Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports 6 corpses discovered in Baghdad and 2 outside Kirkuk. Reuters notes 3 corpses discovered in Mosul and 2 in Mahaweel.

Walter Cronkite and David Krieger (Common Dreams) explore the topic of the illegal war and what needs to be done:

The American people no longer support the war in Iraq. The war is being carried on by a stubborn president who, like Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon during the Vietnam War, does not want to lose. But from the beginning this has been an ill-considered and poorly prosecuted war that, like the Vietnam War, has diminished respect for America. We believe Mr. Bush would like to drag the war on long enough to hand it off to another president.
The war in Iraq reminds us of the tragedy of the Vietnam War. Both wars began with false assertions by the president to the American people and the Congress. Like Vietnam, the Iraq War has introduced a new vocabulary: "shock and awe," "mission accomplished," "the surge." Like Vietnam, we have destroyed cities in order to save them. It is not a strategy for success.
The Bush administration has attempted to forestall ending the war by putting in more troops, but more troops will not solve the problem. We have lost the hearts and minds of most of the Iraqi people, and victory no longer seems to be even a remote possibility. It is time to end our occupation of Iraq, and bring our troops home.

the common ills
like maria said paz
kats korner
mikey likes it
the third estate sunday review
iraq
david steinjeremy hinzmanbrandon hughey
cindy sheehan
anthony arnovehoward zinn
iraq veterans against the war
the new york timescara buckleyhannah allammiret el naggarmcclatchy newspapers

Chuck, Marjorie Cohn, Third

Monday. Monday. You know the drill. Sing along. :D Okay, first up, I need to put in something that I meant to note on Friday.

This is stuff at Courage to Resist:

It's pretty hard finding the perfect gift sometimes—maybe we can help. In return, your donation will help fund our work supporting the troops who refuse to fight. Listed donations include all shipping, handling, and taxes. All apparel is U.S. made, "sweatshop free" and union printed. We'll make sure to ship items within a couple of days so that you have your gifts in plenty of time for the holidays.

1. Courage to Resist Hoodie
Heavy weight and warm. Sizes small to XXL. (view) $50

2. "Peace-star" Cap
Not sure what size hoodie or shirt to get? These are adjustable, sueded, and cool. (view) $25

3. Courage to Resist Shirt
Available in basic and women's fitted styles, from extra small to 3XL. (view) $25

4. Army of None Book
Strategies to Counter Military Recruitment, End War, and Build a Better World by Courage to Resist organizer David Solnit and Gulf War objector Aimee Allison. $20

5. Sir! No Sir! DVD
New Special Director's Edition with over 100 min. of new bonus material! $30

6. Breaking Ranks DVD
New doc about four U.S. soldiers seeking sanctuary in Canada. If your thinking about using this for a house party, check out our "Dear Canada" organizer box. $30

7. The Sutras of Abu Ghraib Book
Notes from a conscientious objector in Iraq (hardcover) by Aidan Delgado. Democracy Now's Amy Goodman notes, "His description of how he was transformed by the horrors of Iraq is unforgettable." $25

8. Arlington West DVD
Documentary features 101 interviews, with soldiers and Marines en route to and returning from the war in Iraq, plus military families, and more. $20

9. Road from Ar Ramadi Book
The Private Rebellion of Staff Sergeant Mejía (hardcover). The NY Times' Bob Herbert notes, "The issues [Mejía] has raised deserve a close reading by the nation as a whole." $25

10. Make a Donation as a Gift
Not sure what to get? Consider giving a gift donation on behalf of a like-minded special someone. We'll be happy to send them a card letting them know of your generosity. Just include the gift recipient's name and address in the "Comments & Notes" field.

So if you celebrate a holiday this month and you need a gift or maybe you're going to a big holiday party, even New Year's Eve, you could order one of those and give it as a gift.

Thank you to C.I. for noting the above on Thursday night. I didn't see it until after I posted. Then I saw the e-mail (I signed up for alerts from Courage to Resist) and called C.I. so I wouldn't feel all night, "Get off your lazy butt and out of bed! You need to get back online and post that." So my plan was I'd note it on Friday but then forgot. But there it is.


This is from National Lawyers Guild's president Marjorie Cohn's "Operation Iraqi Freedom Exposed:"

The revelation that Bush will sign an agreement for a permanent U.S. military presence in Iraq before his term is up confirms the real reason he invaded Iraq and changed its regime.
It was never about weapons of mass destruction. It was never about ties between Saddam and al Qaeda. And it was never about bringing democracy to the Iraqi people. These claims were lies to cover up the real motive for Operation Iraqi Freedom: to create a permanent American presence in Iraq. With Bush's November 26, 2007 announcement that the United States and Iraq were negotiating a permanent "security relationship," his lies have been exposed.
Bush declared, Iraqi leaders "understand that their success will require U.S. political, economic, and security engagement that extends beyond my presidency." His outline for the permanent U.S.-Iraqi "Economic" relationship is "to encourage the flow of foreign investments to Iraq." Two senior Iraqi officials told the Associated Press that Bush is negotiating preferential treatment for U.S. investments.
This isn't the first time Bush has tried to turn Iraq into an investment haven for U.S. oil companies. He used to tout the "Iraqi oil law," which would transfer control of three-quarters of Iraq's oil to foreign companies, as the benchmark for Iraqi progress. But in the face of opposition by the Iraqi oil unions, the parliament has refused to pass that law.

But the US is still pushing for that law. It really is pathetic and it's really pathetic that some people are so dumb they still think this illegal war ever had any 'democratic' motives. They don't pay attention and they deny when reality bothers to intrude on their lives. The war is illegal and it needs to end now. Not six months from now. US troops need to be out right now.

Let's talk Third Estate Sunday Review:

"Truest statement of the week"-- We went with Naomi Wolf and the only real problem was deciding which statement to use from the interview.

"A Note to Our Readers" -- Jim breaks down the edition. This went up at like 10:30 at night there time. I didn't see it until today. They post the credits and come back and do the note after. But usually not that many hours. But it was a long, long edition.

"Editorial: Cover the December 11th War Resisters hearings" -- Elaine, C.I. and Jim were the leaders on this piece. We all participated but this was really a piece they led on for the bulk of it. Rebecca, Cedric and me were really out of it and then we got into it (got a second wind) and the ending paragraphs are us being the leaders.

"TV: Fumble Line" -- Ava and C.I. Wow. Yeah, they say, "We don't have anything." But I believed them when they were saying that before they wrote it. The reason was the writers are on strike and they're left with news programming so I know they're bummed. They really didn't think they had anything. They had a lot!!!! This is hard hitting. They're covering Frontline on PBS (Jim does the headlines and I think he did a great one here :D).

"Bilal" -- My big contribution here was saying we needed to open with Scott Horton and what section. :D Seriously that was my only real contribution here. I don't remember what happened right before but we were really defocused and Dona goes, "Hold it, hold it, pause." She says a little bit and then tosses to C.I. to cover the basics so we were all on the same page before we started working on this. I really think this is one of the best things we all worked on. (Even if my big contribution was just going, "Scott Horton!" :D) Bilal is a Pulitzer Prize winning photo journalist working for the AP who was taken into military custody on April 12th of 2006 and he has been a prisoner ever since. He is now supposed to be 'stand trial' in an Iraqi court. Since the Iraqi court system is a joke, since no Iraqi arrested him, and since he is NOT GUILTY of anything, the military needs to release him immediately. If that doesn't happen, you better be prepared for what follows because if one journalist goes through this you better believe others will to. This sort of crap is supposed to happen in other countries and the US is supposed to stand firmly against it. Instead the US is the one doing it and pulling the strings of the puppet.

"Mailbag" -- We did this first before any other feature. Betty had an amazing thing where she was talking about the victims of neocons and neolibs. I was just listening in awe. Then Kat goes to Betty, "You do realize you just gave away Betinna's story, right?" Kat and C.I. know the outline Betty's working from. Betty wasn't aware of that and waited until the transcript was typed up. She had to pull the whole thing. :(

"Holiday Shopping Suggestions" -- This is what I had the top of Courage to Resist's holiday gifts.

"Laura Flanders speaks with Dennis Kucinich" -- I worked on this but that was by choice. This was written late due to delays. I'd taken a nap, thought I was going to sleep for several hours. I didn't. So when I woke up, I ended up calling them and asking what they were working on? I got to help here. We're covering Flanders' interview with Kucinich on her program and a few other things. If you heard it, you know that Kucinich won the Nation poll but that didn't mean he got any more coverage did it? Katrina vanden Heuvel sucks.

"Peter Byrne on The Nation" -- This was supposed to be addressed in Mailbag but time ran out. It got addressed solo. This is getting a lot of attention in the e-mails Jim said and I'm not surprised. Like I said before, Katrina vanden Heuvel sucks.

"Kimberly Wilder urges you to vote for Donna Warren" If you can vote in the KPFK LSB elections, you have until Dec. 11th to get your ballot to them and Kimberly Wilder is recommending Donna Warren. You can read more about Warren in Kimberly Wilder's "Green heroine, Donna Warren runs for KPFK."

"Things to watch, things to listen to" -- Things to check out.

"Highlights" -- Kat, Betty, Rebecca, Elaine, Wally, Cedric and I wrote this.

So here is who participated on the writing plus Dallas:

The Third Estate Sunday Review's Dona, Jess, Ty, Ava and Jim,
Rebecca of Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude,
Betty of Thomas Friedman Is a Great Man,
C.I. of The Common Ills and The Third Estate Sunday Review,
Kat of Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills),
Cedric of Cedric's Big Mix,
Mike of Mikey Likes It!,
Elaine of Like Maria Said Paz,
and Wally of The Daily Jot

Now I'm going to talk NBC's Chuck real quick. I didn't realize this was the last new episode this year. Ava and C.I. were right when they said this was the best show of the year. It's got me hooked. I know the writers' strike doesn't effect their review. They'd already announced that they were waiting on that they could wait to review it until the summer. In "TV: Beware the Reaper," they compared it a little to CW's Reaper (what they were reviewing) and noted:

And that's why the NBC show succeeds where Reaper fails. Chuck works for a number of reasons but largely because there is heat between Zachary Levi (Chuck) and Yvonne Strahovski (Sarah) onscreen and an actual impediment to the two becoming a couple (as opposed to cowardice on the part of Chuck -- the kind of cowardice that is a hallmark of Sam Oliver). Like 30 Rock last year, there's enough support at the top of NBC that we can wait to review the show but we've got to mention that Strahovski did more with one word ("Ann") in a scene full of tension than most performers do with a lengthy monologue and we also have to note that Monday's broadcast is a must-see.

That's when I started watching because they said you had to see it. It is a great show. And, if you missed it, last week came the word that NBC announced it had a full season commitment.
Ava and C.I. told you that the first Sunday in November.

But Chuck is just incredible. It makes you laugh, gets you excited with the fight scenes and gets you hooked on what's going on with Sarah and Chuck. So here's where it stands now. She didn't go off with Bryce. She tried to put up a wall between herself and Chuck. There was a billionaire type who really printed up his own fake money and was working with some crooked types that he tried to kill. Meanwhile Morgan, Chuck's best friend, and Anna, Morgan's girlfriend, met Anna's parents (Anna knew them! :D, Morgan met them) and that was funny. But you may have been like me and thinking, "Sarah's being a real ass!" Then at the Christmas party at the end, she made up for it. So it's just a really good show that just grabs you and hooks you.

That's it for me tonight. Here's C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"

Monday, December 3, 2007. Chaos and violence continue, Bully Boy tries to Bully Congress, the BBC can't break their habit of lying about the Iraqi refugees, Cynthia McKinney launches her "Power to the People" tour and more.

Starting with war resistance. Dear Camilo (Querido Camilo) is a documentary about Iraq War resister Camilo Mejia who is also the chair of Iraq Veterans Against the War. On Sunday, Prensa Latina reported that in Guatemala, at the Tenth Icaro Central American Film and Video Festival, Querido Camilo "won the first prize" -- "The film tells the story of Camilo Mejia, who refused to serve in the US Army to attack the Iraqi people". The documentary is about Mejia. Camilo Mejia tells his own story in Road from Ar Ramadi: The Private Rebellion of Staff Sergeant Mejia (published last May by the New Press). Turning from Mejia to the issue of war resisters who went to Canada, last month Canada's Supreme Court refused to hear the appeals of US war resisters Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey. What now? "With their legal avenues pretty well exhausted, that's absolutely the right direction to take -- lobbying for change to the law to allow resisters to apply for landed-immigrant status." That's Vancouver East New Democratic Party MP Libby Davies speaking to Andy Ivens (Canda's The Province). US war resister Brad McCall tells Ivens what he'd say to the Canadian government: "Take us in. Do what Canada used to do in '70s. Be a haven from militarism." If that doesn't happen, 20-year-old McCall and others will be have to figure out another course of action.


Cindy Sheehan (OpEdNews) urges people to utilize Courage to Resist's easy to mail or e-mail resources to allow the Canadian government to know you are watching and to support organizations supporting war resisters as well as supporting war resisters:


Support actual war resisters in Canada by sending them expense money. From my friend Ryan (I gave him and his wife money to get to Canada over two years ago):

In light of the recent Supreme Court denial in Canada, I (Ryan Johnson), My wife (Jen Johnson) and Brandon Hughey need help raising funds to travel to Ottawa to attend hearings before the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, where War Resisters will be giving Testimony to the committee. At these hearings the committee will be deciding on whether or not to make a provision to allow war resisters to stay in Canada. This is one of our last chances to be able to continue living in Canada. We will be leaving December 7th because the hearings are December 11th, 2007 so we need to act fast. They may try to send guys back soon and we need to have a strong War Resister Presence. We appreciate all of the support and Want to thank all of you who can help.

Checks/money orders can be sent for Ryan, Jen and Brandon to:312 Tower Rd Nelson, BC V1L3K6


There is a growing movement of resistance within the US military which includes James Stepp, Rodney Watson, Michael Espinal, Matthew Lowell, Derek Hess, Diedra Cobb, Brad McCall, Justin Cliburn, Timothy Richard, Robert Weiss, Phil McDowell, Steve Yoczik, Ross Spears, Peter Brown, Bethany "Skylar" James, Zamesha Dominique, Chrisopther Scott Magaoay, Jared Hood, James Burmeister, Eli Israel, Joshua Key, Ehren Watada, Terri Johnson, Carla Gomez, Luke Kamunen, Leif Kamunen, Leo Kamunen, Camilo Mejia, Kimberly Rivera, Dean Walcott, Linjamin Mull, Agustin Aguayo, Justin Colby, Marc Train, Abdullah Webster, Robert Zabala, Darrell Anderson, Kyle Snyder, Corey Glass, Jeremy Hinzman, Kevin Lee, Mark Wilkerson, Patrick Hart, Ricky Clousing, Ivan Brobeck, Aidan Delgado, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, Blake LeMoine, Clifton Hicks, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Joshua Casteel, Katherine Jashinski, Dale Bartell, Chris Teske, Matt Lowell, Jimmy Massey, Chris Capps, Tim Richard, Hart Viges, Michael Blake, Christopher Mogwai, Christian Kjar, Kyle Huwer, Wilfredo Torres, Michael Sudbury, Ghanim Khalil, Vincent La Volpa, DeShawn Reed and Kevin Benderman. In total, at least fifty US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.Information on war resistance within the military can be found at The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline [(877) 447-4487], Iraq Veterans Against the War and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters. Tom Joad maintains a list of known war resisters. In addition, VETWOW is an organization that assists those suffering from MST (Military Sexual Trauma).


The voice of war resister Camilo Mejia is featured in Rebel Voices -- playing now through December 16th at Culture Project and based on Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove's best-selling book Voices of a People's History of the United States. It features dramatic readings of historical voices such as war resister Mejia, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Malcom X and others will be featured. Musician Allison Mooerer will head the permanent cast while those confirmed to be performing on selected nights are Ally Sheedy (actress and poet, best known for films such as High Art, The Breakfast Club, Maid to Order, the two Short Circuit films, St. Elmo's Fire, War Games, and, along with Nicky Katt, has good buzz on the forthcoming Harold), Eve Ensler who wrote the theater classic The Vagina Monologues (no, it's not too soon to call that a classic), actor David Strathaim (L.A. Confidential, The Firm, Bob Roberts, Dolores Claiborne and The Bourne Ultimatum), actor and playwright Wallace Shawn (The Princess Bride, Clueless -- film and TV series, Gregory and Chicken Little), actress Lili Taylor (Dogfight, Shortcuts, Say Anything, Household Saints, I Shot Andy Warhol, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, State of Mind) and actor, director and activist Danny Glover (The Color Purple, Beloved, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Rainmaker, Places In The Heart, Dreamgirls, Shooter and who recently appeared on Democracy Now! addressing the US militarization of Africa) The directors are Will Pomerantz and Rob Urbinati with Urbinati collaborating with Zinn and Arnove on the play. Tickets are $21 for previews and $41 for regular performances (beginning with the Nov. 18th opening night). The theater is located at 55 Mercer Street and tickets can be purchased there, over the phone (212-352-3101) or online here and here. More information can be found at Culture Project.

Meanwhile IVAW is organizing a March 2008 DC event:

In 1971, over one hundred members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War gathered in Detroit to share their stories with America. Atrocities like the My Lai massacre had ignited popular opposition to the war, but political and military leaders insisted that such crimes were isolated exceptions. The members of VVAW knew differently.
Over three days in January, these soldiers testified on the systematic brutality they had seen visited upon the people of Vietnam. They called it the Winter Soldier investigation, after Thomas Paine's famous admonishing of the "summer soldier" who shirks his duty during difficult times. In a time of war and lies, the veterans who gathered in Detroit knew it was their duty to tell the truth.
Over thirty years later, we find ourselves faced with a new war. But the lies are the same. Once again, American troops are sinking into increasingly bloody occupations. Once again, war crimes in places like Haditha, Fallujah, and Abu Ghraib have turned the public against the war. Once again, politicians and generals are blaming "a few bad apples" instead of examining the military policies that have destroyed Iraq and Afghanistan.
Once again, our country needs Winter Soldiers.
In March of 2008, Iraq Veterans Against the War will gather in our nation's capital to break the silence and hold our leaders accountable for these wars. We hope you'll join us, because yours is a story that every American needs to hear.
Click here to sign a statement of support for Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan

March 13th through 15th are the dates for the Winter Soldier Iraq & Afghanistan Investigation.


Turning to the myth of the Great Return. It wasn't enough for the BBC to FLAT OUT LIE in November about the myth so today they're back to lie some more: "The UN's refugee agency, the UNHCR, estimates that about 45,000 Iraqis returned from Syria in October -- the first month of the schol year." Really? Because I'm on the phone asking a friend at the United Nations about that claim and his reply is a little too 'strong' to make the snapshot. Is it too much for the BBC to check their damn facts or are they too interested in lying repeatedly on this topic? November 23rd (ten days ago), UNHCR spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis stated, "We cannot confirm reports that 46,000 Iraqis returned from Syria in October." That UNHCR release contains the same figures the BBC will use in the next paragraph but somehow they see "cannot confirm" and turn it into the UNHCR "estimates". They have made no such estimation and the BBC needs to stop LYING. The 45,000 figure is the number coming from the puppet government in Baghdad. Repeating, It is not from the United Nations. The UN does estimate that currently 1,500 Iraqis may be coming back from Syria each day but THEY ALSO estimate that 500 Iraqis are entering Syria each day. That would be 1,000 a day. The UNHCR has made no estimate for October. Before we go any futher, let's all remember what John Pilger (New Statesman) recently reminded us all of, "A European study found that, of the major western television networks, the BBC permitted less coverage of dissent than all of them. A second study found that the BBC consistently gave credence to government propaganda that weapons of mass destruction existed." At the New York Times, Damien Cave has covered the myth of the "Great Return" most in depth; however, Cara Buckley has also filed on the topic. Today, she reports on -- pay attention BBC -- actual figures: 25,000. That is the estimate of the Iraqi Red Crescent. 25,000 returned in October! No. 25,000 Iraqis have returned "from Syria since mid-September."
B-b-b-but, BBC is using the 45,000 figure and using it for just one month! Yes, they are. It's the Iraqi government's figure. We've been over and over this since CBS first reported the myth of the great return claiming that 15,000 had returned and then, mere days later, the puppet government began insisting (probably because so few called out the 15,000) that 45,000 had returned in one month alone! (The month of October.) Buckley notes three factors (according to the IRC): (1) reports of a 'widespread drop in violence'; (2) running out of funds and (3) "visa restrictions". As reports by Cave and Michael Gordon & Stephen Farrell have noted, Buckley notes the monies paid to the bused in refugees: US equivalent of $811 ("roughly enough for four months rent in a middle-class Baghdad neighborhood," Buckley explains). Did you catch that by the way? When noting those who've attempted to report the truth on this topic we even have to credit Michael Gordon. We don't have to credit independent media because indepdent media hasn't done ____. They've ignored it or repeated the false claims. Gordo we have called out here (and will do so again) but let's not kid that independent media can hop on a high horse when they've refused to call the nonsense of the 'Great Return' out. ("Independent media" = broadcast and print. I'm not referring to websites or organizations. I'm referring to our 'traditional' independent media which -- if you missed it -- can't make time for most Iraq related topics today.) As Ruth noted Saturday: "When you consider that the lies of the "Great Return" work both domestically (lulling U.S. news consumers into the belief that Iraq is now 'safe') and internationally (lulling refugees into believing they need to consider returning), it is appalling that independent media has refused to call the lies out." Indeed. We could and should also include Amit R. Paley (Washington Post) for noting last month that the claims by the Iraqi government of 46,030 returnees in October was "counter to the overall trend detailed in a recent report by the Iraqi Red Crsecent". If you're late to the party, see the November 3rd snapshot when the issue of the ever changing numbers is noted. Robert Parry (Consortium News) is someone I hate to think of as "independent media" because he's not found twiddling his thumbs. Label him how you want (bravery in exile?) but Parry did cover the topic last month.

On Sunday, Damien Cave (New York Times) reported on the increasing prices on Iraq's blackmarket and noted, "Corruption and theft are not new to Iraq, and government officials have promised to address the problem. But as Iraqis and American officials asses the effects of this year's American troop increase, there is a growing sense that, even as security has improved, Iraq has slipped to new depths of lawlessness." Apparently the puppet agrees. Cara Buckley (New York Times) reports puppet of the occupation Nouri al-Maliki issued a statement today that noted, "We inherited the corruption from previous regimes, and in this new era, the administrative and financial corruption is still going on." Buckley notes this appears to be a reference to Saddam Hussein; however, the term is "previous regimes" -- plural. That means he was most likely addressing those who held the office of prime minister right before him, Ibrahim al-Jaafari and Iyad Allawi (Allawi served two terms). Buckley tells you al-Maliki has said next year will be an attack on corruption and "a war on those ignorant and lazy people" -- presumably he has given himself an exception to avoid being placed in the latter category.

On Saturday Al Jazeera reported that the Turkish government announced their military had "entered northern Iraq and launched attacks on Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters". By Sunday, Sabrina Tavernise and Stephen Farrell (New York Times) would report the usual response from Iraq (no attacks took place) and, pay attention here, they'd quote Haval Zagros explaining that PKK bases in Iraq had not been struck by the Turkish military -- in fact, he'd word it as "none of our bases". Our? Haval Zagros is the PKK's designated spokesperson. Though the article is supposed to tell you that no attack may have happened, of far greater interest is the fact that the PKK, via their own spokesperson, announced that they have bases in Iraq -- something the northern Iraq region's government has denied.

Over the weekend, the Iraqi Parliament saw another walkout. To grasp the boycott . . .
On Thursday, car bombs were said to be discovered in the compound of a member of the Iraqi parliament. On Friday, the member was under house arrest and his protection forces and his son were carted away. A spokesperson for him denied Friday that the bomb or bombs were discovered inside the compound and stated Adnan al-Dulaimi was innocent. Sunday, Tavernise and Farrell report that the "the largest Sunni Arab bloc, the Iraqi Consensus Front, walked out of Parliament to protest what it described as a move by Iraqi security forces to place its leader, Adnan al-Dulaimi, under house arrest." The basic press narrative that emerged was "maybe Adnan al-Dulaimi was under house arrest and maybe he wasn't and the (puppet) government says . . ." Not interested in jotting down official statements, Ali al-Fadhily (IPS) sought out opinions on the house arrest. One of the man's sons explained to al-Fahily, "My father is detained in our house and my brother Makki is being tortured so that he gives any information that could lead to convicting my father." An Iraqi resistance fighter tells al-Fadhily, "The poor old guy sacrified his faith and reputation for a cheap chair in the parliament and now they are throwing him into the garbage can like used Kleenex tissue. We always advised him that the Islamic Party and the Shi'ite Coalition would definitely get rid of him as soon as he is no more needed, but he listened to his pocket more than listening to the voices of reason." Last Sunday, Reuters reported that Adnan al-Dulaimi is no longer confined to his home but has been taken (by the "National Security Adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie") to a hotel in the Green Zone and quoted al-Dulaimi announcing, "Since this house arrest has been lifted, the Accordance Front will return to sessions of parliament."

By late Sunday the weekend total of reported deaths had reached at least 78. This total included Sudarsan Raghavan (Washington Post) reporting "at least 20 people" were shot dead in the Diayla province on Saturday (and notes the recent attacks mass attacks in Diyal including a bombing that claimed the lives of 7 people, another that left five Iraqis and seven US service members wounded and a November 18th bombing that claimed the lives of 3 US service members) and Hussein Kadhim (McClatchy Newspapers) reporting: "Sunday afternoon, three princes of Al-Qaeda proposed to three women in Al-Bu Aziz village of Dali Abass (30 km north of Baquba) .The princes beheaded the three women after they refused the proposal."

Bombings?

Reuters notes a Kut mortar attack on a police station that left three police officers wounded today and also notes a Sunday Ramadi car bombing that claimed the lives of 3 police officers (one more wounded).

Shootings?

Mohammed Al Dulaimy (McClatchy Newspapers) reports another attack targeting officials: "a high ranking officer who works as an inspector in the Ministry of Interior" was shot dead and his driver wounded and 4 police officer were shot dead in Mosul (with two more wounded), 4 Iraqi soldiers were shot dead in Kirkuk, 2 Iraqi soldiers were shot dead in Tikrit while 3 people were shot dead by Iraqi soldiers and, in the continued attack on educators, p.e. teacher Hamdi Al Basri ("Ali Al Hadi middle shool") was shot dead "in front of his students as they left the school". Reuters identifies the Iraqi Ministry official shot dead as Maj. Gen. Fawzi Mohammed Hussein ("senior adviser to Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani") and five people were shot dead by Iraqi Soldiers in the Salahuddin province, while Sheikh Attallah Iskandar and his driver were shot dead in Hawija.

Corpses?

Mohammed Al Dulaimy (McClatchy Newspapers) reports 5 corpses discovered in Baghdad and 2 discovered in Mosul. Cara Buckley (New York Times) notes that five Iraqi soldiers were kidnapped en route to a wedding and 4 of their corpses have already turned up.

From today's violence to the eternal violence of this illegal war, National Lawyers Guild's president Marjorie Cohn (at CounterPunch) tackles the topic of Bully Boy's "agreement for a permanet U.S. military presence in Iraq" with Nouri al-Maliki, "It was never about weapons of mass destruction. It was never about ties between Saddam and al Qaeda. And it was never about bringing democrcy to the Iraqi people. These claims were lies to cover up the real motive for Operation Iraqi Freedom: to create a permanent American presence in Iraq. With Bush's November 26, 2007 announcement that the United States and Iraq were negotiating a permanent 'security relationship,' his lies have been exposed." Cohn goes on to note that the "embassy" in Baghdad's Green Zone ("self-contained city with no need for Iraqi, electricity, food or water") and Camp anaconda are examples of bases already constructed, that the American people do not support the permanent occupation nor do the Iraqis and that Al-Hayat has reported the Iraqi Parliament legally must approve any treaty. Not a surprise because Bully Boy can't do what he's doing without Congress approval -- we noted that repeatedly last week. Now whether or not Congress will stand up to him or even stand up for their Constitutional powers is open to debate.

Bully Boy seems to think they work for him. They don't. Congress and Bully Boy work for the people. After that, they and the judiciary are three equal arms of the federal government. But someone may need to break the news to Bully Boy. Debbi Wilgoren (Washington Post) reports Bully Boy has given Congress "a stern warning and a blunt to-do list." Bully Boy wants to loot the treasury by $50 billion more and allegedy wants it spent on his illegal war -- although no one's really followed the money to determine where it's all going. He's screaming that the Democrats are irresponsible. And they are irresponsible when they play into his nonsense that any of this money will go to service members stationed in Iraq. He just got "nearly $100 billion dollars in war spending" in May. Dems should be saying, "Hey, Sonny Boy, sorry you can't budget your money but you better to figure out what you need, what you're actually going to get and how to spend appropriately." On firmer ground, US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid did note today, "The surge hasn't accomplished its goals. We're involved, still, in an intractable civil war." Today Tina Susman (Los Angeles Times) reported that creepy, sneaky Lt. Gen. Raymond t. Odierno was apparently off his meds again, "Odierno also said the U.S. military had made headway Sunday on one major issue: persuading Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's government to move more quickly to bring volunteer security workers onto Iraqi government payrolls." That Odierno thinks the military "made headway" in "persuading" a ruler (even a puppet) of another government. Think on that.

In other political news, we last noted Cynthia McKinney at the start of last month. At that point she was still determing whether or not to run for the Green Party presidential nomination for 2008. Cynthia McKinney is running. The woman elected to the US House of Representatives six times goes to Carbondale, Illionois this weekend for a Saturday December 8th stop on her "Power to the People" tour. The state primary is February 5, 2008 and, in Illinois, other Green candidates will include Jared Ball (DC), Howie Hawkins (NY) and Kent Mesplay (CA). At Catfish dinner (ten dollars a plate) will take place at Howell Baptist Church in Carbondale beginning at 12:30 pm and, prior to that, McKinney will speak at the SIUC Student Center Auditorium at 11:00 am. (A local press conference will be held at 10:30 am). More information can be found here at the Illinois Green Party.

the national lawyers guild
the common ills
like maria said paz
kats korner
sex and politics and screeds and attitude
the daily jot
cedrics big mix
mikey likes it
thomas friedman is a great man
the third estate sunday review
iraq
camilo mejia
brad mccallandy ivens
cindy sheehan
anthony arnovehoward zinn
iraq veterans against the war
john pilger
ali al-fadhily
robert parry
marjorie cohn
the new york times
cara buckley
damien cave
michael gordonstephen farrell
sabrina tavernise
the washington post
amit r. paley
sudarsan raghavan
tina susmanthe los angeles times
ruths report

DN! on Venezuela, Nii OkaiJah, IVAW

The weekend at last! :D Okay, yesterday we were talking about Hugo Chavez so let's pick up on that right from the start. This is from Democracy Now!'s "Tens of Thousands Protest Chavez Proposals, Is CIA Fomenting Unrest to Challenge Referendum?:"

JUAN GONZALEZ: In Venezuela, tens of thousands of protesters marched through the capital city of Caracas Thursday to oppose a series of constitutional changes proposed by President Hugo Chavez.
The referendum is coming to a vote on Sunday. Chavez plans to lead rallies in favor of the reforms today. Venezuelans will vote on sixty-nine proposed changes to the nation's constitution that include eliminating presidential term limits, creating forms of communal property and cutting the workday from eight hours to six.
Thursday's demonstration was the biggest show of opposition to the constitutional overhauls so far. On Wednesday, hundreds of students clashed with police and the Venezuelan national guard. Most surveys say the outcome of the December 2nd vote is too close to call.
AMY GOODMAN: This week, President Chavez claimed the US government is fomenting unrest to challenge the referendum. His foreign minister went on television late Wednesday revealing what he said was a CIA plan to secure a "no" victory. The confidential memo was reportedly sent from the US embassy in Caracas and addressed to the director of Central Intelligence, Michael Hayden.
James Petras is a former professor of sociology and Latin American studies at Binghamton University. He is author of a number of books, including Social Movements and State Power. His exclusive article in "Counterpunch" is called "CIA Venezuela Destabilization Memo Surfaces." Professor Petras joins us now from Binghamton, New York.
Welcome, Professor Petras. Can you start off by talking about what exactly this memo is? Have you actually seen it? What is it reported to say?
JAMES PETRAS: Well, I picked it up off the Venezuelan government program. It describes in some detail what the strategy of the US embassy has been, and most likely the author, Michael Middleton Steere, who’s listed as US embassy, may be a CIA operative, because he sends the report to Michael Hayden, the director of the CIA.
Now, what the memo talks about essentially is, first of all, the effectiveness of their campaign against the constitutional amendments, and it concedes that the amendment will be approved, but it does mention the fact that they’ve reduced the margin of victory by six percentage points. The second part is more interesting. It actually mentions the fact that the US strategy is what they call a "pincer operation." That’s the name of the document itself. It's--"pincer" is "tenaza," and it's, first of all, to try to undermine the electoral process, the vote itself, and then secondly, once the vote goes through, if they are not able to stop the vote, is to engage in a massive campaign calling fraud and rejecting the outcome that comes from the election. So, on one hand, they're calling a no vote, and on the other hand, they’re denouncing the outcome if they lose.
Now, the other part that’s interesting about this document is what it outlines as the immediate tasks in the last phase. And that includes getting people out in the street, particularly the students. And interestingly enough, there is a mixture here of extreme rightists and some social democrats and even some ex-Maoists and Trotskyists. They mention the Red Flag, Bandera Roja, and praise them actually for their street-fighting ability and causing attacks on public institutions like the electoral tribunal.
But more interestingly is their efforts to intensify their contacts with military offices. And what they seem to have on their agenda is to try to seize either a territorial base or an institutional base around which to rally discontented citizens and call on the military--and it particularly mentions the National Guard--to rally in overthrowing the referendum outcome and the government. So this does include a section on a military uprising.
And it complains about the fact that the groups under its umbrella or its partners are not all unified on this strategy, and some have abandoned the umbrella operation and, secondly, that the government intelligence has discovered some of their storage warehouses of armaments and have even picked up some of their operatives. And they hope in this that this is not going to upset their plans.
JUAN GONZALEZ: Well, James Petras, this is obviously a very explosive memo, coming just a few days before the actual referendum. And while it certainly sounds like many of the types of tactics that the CIA has used in prior international adventures, has there been any confirmation whether this memo is--
JAMES PETRAS: Well, obviously, it's a memo that the US will denounce. They always have this clause in their operation that they should be able to have an out.
Secondly, the Venezuelans are very tolerant of their opposition. The Chavez government has not expelled the operative here, Michael Middleton Steere. There have been discussions, I’ve gotten from my sources in Venezuela, in the foreign office to expel this official, but they haven’t actually taken that step. And it goes along with this very libertarian outlook in Venezuelan government. You know, many of the people involved in the overthrow of the president, the military takeover for forty-eight hours in 2002, many of them never were put on trial and never were arrested, and they’re back in action in this referendum. So law enforcement regarding what would normally be called insurrectionary activity in the United States--many of these people would have been locked in Fort Leavenworth and the key thrown away--in Venezuela, the golpistas, the people involved in coup planning and operations, are having a second, third chance.

There was some stuff I wanted to talk about tonight and even mentioned it yesterday. But I saw Nii OkaiJah's "Is Africa the Next Cold War Theater?" and thought since this was a topic we've touched on a few times lately that this really needed to be highlighted:

When Ghana became the first Black country south of the Sahara to gain freedom from colonial rule on March 6, 1957, its founder, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, set Africa on a course toward continental liberation and unification. Assisted later by the defunct Organization of African Unity, all African countries attained political independence, but they were not completely united. Although the later formation of the African Union (AU) was seen as a step in that direction, the AU soon lost steam because of the failure of African leaders to come out courageously in establishing the United States of Africa at its summit in Accra, Ghana this year. This is perpetuating the weak political and economic conditions of more than 50 countries on the continent. Consequently, Africa continues to be placed in a weak position, at the mercy of foreign countries with economic and military strength. Such is the impact of the Chinese economic drive, and most recently the U.S. creation of the Africa Command (Africom).
According to U.S. officials, Africom is aimed at better coordinating and cohesive handling of the work of three different command centers, all of them based outside Africa. The new force, with an initial 300 employees, is temporarily based in Germany while the debate is waged whether it should be sited on the continent or not. So far, strife-torn Liberia is the only African country to have agreed to have the headquarters in that country.
Opposition is strong in Africa because much as Africans are economically poor, they cherish their political independence, and see any military program without their approval in the way of planning a conquest. A grim reminder of this was echoed in a recent article in the Chicago Defender, a leading African American newspaper. Writing under the headline, "Conquest and greed: That's what made America great," Harry Alford, president of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, stated, "The slavery, genocide and empire building got America off to a good start - free land and free labor. You can't lose with that... Free land and massive infusion of cheap labor later made it easy for the United States to be ready and take advantage of the Industrial Revolution." He continued, "We [Americans] were well prepared from it. It made us a military and industrial might during the 20th century," [and beyond].
Today, Americans' greatest need is energy to maintain their power and high lifestyles. With consumption of energy so high, dependence is on foreign sources. Until recently, the Middle East led the world in meeting this need by providing 20 percent of U.S. oil imports. However, according to recent reports from the U.S. Energy Administration, African countries now provide the U.S. with 24 percent of its oil needs. In addition, Africa provides the U.S. with substantial amounts of strategic minerals and raw materials for American industries.

The US is pulling up bases in Europe and hoping to plant a lot more in Africa. This isn't about 'helping' anymore than Our Modern Day Carrie Nations want to "Save Darfur." It's about occupying and controlling Africa. You have to wonder how this imperialistic phase in the United States has gone unchecked for so long? We replaced England with empire building (France dabbled it in as well) and you'd think the other countries would grasp that if it goes unchecked, sooner or later the US is going to put them on the list. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the US government made a move on Canada. (Although with Stephen Harper willing to hand over everything, why would Bully Boy need more from Canada?)

If you live in the US what should really scare you is that empire's fall. At some point, the US will fall. It will need help from others and who's going to be around to help? Be willing? More importantly, with the way we've invaded and destroyed, you have to wonder if a lot of grudges held might suddenly get paid off. Danny Schechter writes a lot about our economy, not just the housing crisis but the economy as well, and if you follow him, you realize we're just digging an ever deeper hole. Maybe it won't be in my lifetime, but at some point those bills are coming due and it's not going to be pretty when that happens.

In the meantime, think about all that we are denied as citizens (in war or 'peace') with the monies wasted on stirring on sh*t in the rest of the world whether by directly going to war, covertly going to war, staging coups, spying, etc.

Now Africa's rises on the list (it's been on it for some time, obviously, but now it's a place to really occupy). And we've got all these "OMG!" headlines about a teacher in Sudan. You know what, you go to teach somewhere, learn the culture. Boo-hoo. Of course, she may have known the culture and may just be attempting to build an international incident. I don't have sympathy for people who go into targeted areas and do their own screw ups that could change the status from "targeted" to "declared" war. You went there, you screwed up. They've got their own legal system. That's how it works in a foreign country. There are things you could do in this country as a vistor that would get you sentenced that might not in other countries. And since we continue to have the death penalty, we're not a lot different from some of the 'extreme' countries. And, face it, you don't even have to be guilty to end up on death row as one DNA test after another has been revealing.

Think how sick that is. And think about how sick it is that with people on death row, the government won't pony up the money for universal DNA testing. We have a prison-industrial society and I'm sure DNA testing could prove many people not on death row were innocent as well. I'm not claiming that wouldn't happen. But I'm saying that even in the most extreme cases, where you are willing to put someone to death, you're not willing to pay for a DNA test. The government should. Defense teams shouldn't have to get the money or beg a governor. That should be a basic as long as the death penalty is in effect. (I favor abolishing the death penalty.) I don't see how anyone who favors the death penalty can't also argue for universal DNA testing for death row prisoners. I really don't because this is life or death and you'd think people would want to be damn sure before they went further. How do you apologize after someone's been put to death. "Woops!"?

I'm not forgetting Iraq. This is from Aaron Glantz' "U.S. War Vets to Speak Publicly About War Crimes:"

U.S. war veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have announced they're planning to descend on Washington, DC this March to testify about war crimes they committed or personally witnessed in Iraq.
"The war in Iraq is not covered to its potential because of how dangerous it is for reporters to cover it," said Liam Madden, a former Marine and member of the group Iraq Veterans Against the War. "That's left a lot of misconceptions in the minds of the American public about what the true nature of military occupation looks like."
Iraq Veterans Against the War argues that well-publicized incidents of American brutality like the Abu Ghraib prison scandal and the massacre of an entire family of Iraqis in the town of Haditha are not the isolated incidents perpetrated by "a few bad apples," as many politicians and military leaders have claimed. They are part of a pattern, the group says, of "an increasingly bloody occupation."
"This is our generation getting to tell history," Madden told OneWorld, "to ensure that the actual history gets told -- that it's not a sugar-coated, diluted version of what actually happened."
Iraq Veterans Against the War is calling the gathering a "Winter Soldier," named after a similar event organized by Vietnam veterans in 1971.
In 1971, over 100 members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War gathered in Detroit to share their stories with America. Atrocities like the My Lai massacre had ignited popular opposition to the war, but political and military leaders insisted that such crimes were isolated exceptions.

IVAW's event is major. I hope you're telling everyone you know about it. If we all know it's coming, it's going to make it more difficult for the press to get away with ignoring it. This needs big coverage and we can all do our part by getting the word out.

That's it for me. It's late and I'm tired. Here's C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"

Friday, November 30, 2007. Chaos and violence continue, a mass kidnapping is reported, the peace movement is not election central (get the message out), and more.

Last Saturday, Lawrence Hill (Ottawa Citizen) reminded (1) "the Anglo-American attack on Iraq in 2003 was an offensive -- not a retaliatory -- strike. The war had no approval from the UN Security Council, and for this reason Canada's prime minister of the day, Jean Chretien, refused to support it. In 2004, then-UN secretary general Kofi Annan declared explicilty that the U.S.-led war on Iraq was illegal" and (2) "according to official UN policy, soldiers who are likely to be punished for having deserted military action 'condemned by the international legal community as contrary to rules of human conduct' should be eligible for refugee status." Hill is co-author with Joshua Key of the book The Deserter's Tale and the refusal of Canada's Supreme Court to hear the appeals of US war resisters Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey makes it necessary to review those basics. Nikolai Lanine (Rabble News) observes, "We did betray them, after all. As a veteran of an illegal war, I feared Canada would do this. But I'd hoped otherwise." Lanine goes on to note that it wasn't just US war resisters during Vietnam being granted asylum, "November 26, 1986, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario welcomed five Soviet war objectors from Afghanistan. The Assembly described them as 'heroic individuals' and 'conscientious objectors in refusing to be partners in crime.'"

Cindy Sheehan (OpEdNews) urges people to utilize Courage to Resist's easy to mail or e-mail resources to allow the Canadian government to know you are watching and to support organizations supporting war resisters as well as supporting war resisters:


Support actual war resisters in Canada by sending them expense money. From my friend Ryan (I gave him and his wife money to get to Canada over two years ago):

In light of the recent Supreme Court denial in Canada, I (Ryan Johnson), My wife (Jen Johnson) and Brandon Hughey need help raising funds to travel to Ottawa to attend hearings before the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, where War Resisters will be giving Testimony to the committee. At these hearings the committee will be deciding on whether or not to make a provision to allow war resisters to stay in Canada. This is one of our last chances to be able to continue living in Canada. We will be leaving December 7th because the hearings are December 11th, 2007 so we need to act fast. They may try to send guys back soon and we need to have a strong War Resister Presence. We appreciate all of the support and Want to thank all of you who can help.

Checks/money orders can be sent for Ryan, Jen and Brandon to:312 Tower Rd Nelson, BC V1L3K6

If you are in Canada, you can utilize the contact info at War Resisters Support Campaign to let members of the Canadian Parliament know you support legislation allowing war resisters to stay in Canada. If you are in the United States (or elsewhere), you can utilize the contact info and/or forum at Courage to Resist. Public outcry didn't stop the illegal war from starting and public opposition has yet to end it. War resisters in Canada who have gone public are putting a great deal on the line. Use the links to show your support for them.

There is a growing movement of resistance within the US military which includes James Stepp, Rodney Watson, Michael Espinal, Matthew Lowell, Derek Hess, Diedra Cobb, Brad McCall, Justin Cliburn, Timothy Richard, Robert Weiss, Phil McDowell, Steve Yoczik, Ross Spears, Peter Brown, Bethany "Skylar" James, Zamesha Dominique, Chrisopther Scott Magaoay, Jared Hood, James Burmeister, Eli Israel, Joshua Key, Ehren Watada, Terri Johnson, Carla Gomez, Luke Kamunen, Leif Kamunen, Leo Kamunen, Camilo Mejia, Kimberly Rivera, Dean Walcott, Linjamin Mull, Agustin Aguayo, Justin Colby, Marc Train, Abdullah Webster, Robert Zabala, Darrell Anderson, Kyle Snyder, Corey Glass, Jeremy Hinzman, Kevin Lee, Mark Wilkerson, Patrick Hart, Ricky Clousing, Ivan Brobeck, Aidan Delgado, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, Blake LeMoine, Clifton Hicks, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Joshua Casteel, Katherine Jashinski, Dale Bartell, Chris Teske, Matt Lowell, Jimmy Massey, Chris Capps, Tim Richard, Hart Viges, Michael Blake, Christopher Mogwai, Christian Kjar, Kyle Huwer, Wilfredo Torres, Michael Sudbury, Ghanim Khalil, Vincent La Volpa, DeShawn Reed and Kevin Benderman. In total, at least fifty US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.Information on war resistance within the military can be found at The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline [(877) 447-4487], Iraq Veterans Against the War and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters. Tom Joad maintains a list of known war resisters. In addition, VETWOW is an organization that assists those suffering from MST (Military Sexual Trauma).


The voice of war resister Camilo Mejia is featured in Rebel Voices -- playing now through December 16th at Culture Project and based on Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove's best-selling book Voices of a People's History of the United States. It features dramatic readings of historical voices such as war resister Mejia, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Malcom X and others will be featured. Musician Allison Mooerer will head the permanent cast while those confirmed to be performing on selected nights are Ally Sheedy (actress and poet, best known for films such as High Art, The Breakfast Club, Maid to Order, the two Short Circuit films, St. Elmo's Fire, War Games, and, along with Nicky Katt, has good buzz on the forthcoming Harold), Eve Ensler who wrote the theater classic The Vagina Monologues (no, it's not too soon to call that a classic), actor David Strathaim (L.A. Confidential, The Firm, Bob Roberts, Dolores Claiborne and The Bourne Ultimatum), actor and playwright Wallace Shawn (The Princess Bride, Clueless -- film and TV series, Gregory and Chicken Little), actress Lili Taylor (Dogfight, Shortcuts, Say Anything, Household Saints, I Shot Andy Warhol, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, State of Mind) and actor, director and activist Danny Glover (The Color Purple, Beloved, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Rainmaker, Places In The Heart, Dreamgirls, Shooter and who recently appeared on Democracy Now! addressing the US militarization of Africa) The directors are Will Pomerantz and Rob Urbinati with Urbinati collaborating with Zinn and Arnove on the play. Tickets are $21 for previews and $41 for regular performances (beginning with the Nov. 18th opening night). The theater is located at 55 Mercer Street and tickets can be purchased there, over the phone (212-352-3101) or online here and here. More information can be found at Culture Project.

Meanwhile IVAW is organizing a March 2008 DC event:

In 1971, over one hundred members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War gathered in Detroit to share their stories with America. Atrocities like the My Lai massacre had ignited popular opposition to the war, but political and military leaders insisted that such crimes were isolated exceptions. The members of VVAW knew differently.
Over three days in January, these soldiers testified on the systematic brutality they had seen visited upon the people of Vietnam. They called it the Winter Soldier investigation, after Thomas Paine's famous admonishing of the "summer soldier" who shirks his duty during difficult times. In a time of war and lies, the veterans who gathered in Detroit knew it was their duty to tell the truth.
Over thirty years later, we find ourselves faced with a new war. But the lies are the same. Once again, American troops are sinking into increasingly bloody occupations. Once again, war crimes in places like Haditha, Fallujah, and Abu Ghraib have turned the public against the war. Once again, politicians and generals are blaming "a few bad apples" instead of examining the military policies that have destroyed Iraq and Afghanistan.
Once again, our country needs Winter Soldiers.
In March of 2008, Iraq Veterans Against the War will gather in our nation's capital to break the silence and hold our leaders accountable for these wars. We hope you'll join us, because yours is a story that every American needs to hear.
Click here to sign a statement of support for Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan

March 13th through 15th are the dates for the Winter Soldier Iraq & Afghanistan Investigation.

"The war in Iraq is not covered to its potential because of how dangerous it is for reporters to cover it. That's left a lot of misconceptions in the minds of the American public about what the true nature of military occupation looks like," declares IVAW's Liam Madden to Aaron Glantz in Glantz' report on the upcoming Winter Soldiers Iraq & Afghanistan Investigation (OneWorld). Madden is correct and only more so this week as a result of Project for Excellence in Journalism's report (PDF format here, our summary Wendesday here). This survey of 111 US journalists (mainstream media) who have covered Iraq found that "they do not believe the coverage of Iraq over time has been too negative. If anything, many believe the sitatuion over the course of the war has been worse than the American public has perceived, according to a new survey of journalists covering the war from Iraq." The report also found that 63% of the respondents stated "that Iraqi staffers do all or most of the street reporting outside the Green Zone." Madden tells Glantz, "This is our generation getting to tell history to ensure that the actual history gets told -- that it's not a sugar-coated, diluted version of what actually happened."

Turning to Iraq. Yesterday's snapshot included this: "Reuters reports 2 car bombs were found ('and detonated') 'in the Baghdad office complex of the leader of the country's main Sunni Arab bloc' -- Adnan al-Dulaimi." Waleed Ibrahim and Alaa Shahine (Reuters) reported this morning on the arrests of "dozens of people, including the son of a leading Sunni Arab politicians" with 7 arrested at al-Dulaimi's office Thursday and 29 arrested at Dualaimi's home Friday morning (Mekki Adnan al-Dulaimi was arrested at his father's home with the twenty-eight others). Robert H. Reid (AP) reports that, in the house arrests, "Iraqi security forces surrounded the house, a move the U.S. said was for the elder al-Dulaimi's personal safety. Al-Dulaimi complained that he was under virtual house arrest" and quotes the Sunni politician declaring, "I will wait until Saturday morning and if the ban of my family continues, then I will consider the government's measure as a house arrest." BBC notes that Adnan al-Dulaimi states that car with the bomb "was not in the compound" and quotes Crispin Thorold who contributes that the incident will likely "increase tensions between the main Sunni Arab political bloc and supporters of the Shia Prime Minister, Nouri Maliki." Gee, you think? And al-Dulaimi is thought to have organized the minister walk out in August (walking out of al-Maliki's cabinet). Think that doesn't matter? Alissa J. Rubin (New York Times) reports today that there have been "17 ministries vacant for months." Rubin also notes the Thursday boycott in the Iraq Parliament over al-Maliki attempting to appoint ministers without input and to alter the Constitutional rules regarding the need for a quorum as well as the puzzler re: the arrests: "It is hard to understand why Mr. Dulaimi's guards might want to kill fellow Sunnis in the Awakening Council" and quotes an unnamed military official who declares "that it was impossible to rule out that an enemy of Mr. Dulaimi might have been trying to frame him." CNN reports "Slowing death rate in Iraq encourages Pentagon." Maybe that's why the Pentagon's been doing Multi-National Force's job. In the last few days, MNF has announced only one death. MNF's job is to announce the dead. The Defense Department puts names to them publicly after the families have been informed. Allen C. Roberts and John J. Tobiason deaths received no announcement from MNF.

Something that received lots of announcements was the mythic "Great Return." Michael Gordon and Stephen Farrell (New York Times) report: "As if to underscore Mr. Maliki's point, 375 Iraqi refugees arrived Thursday in a convoy of buses from Damascus, Syria, escorted by heavily armed policemen. After the lengthy journey, the tired Iraqis were ushered into the white marble affluence of the Mansour Melia Hotel in Baghdad to receive a promised government payout to people returning to the capital."

Turning to some of today's reported violence . . .

Bombings?


Mohammed Al Dulaimy (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Baghdad mortar attack left two people wounded and Hibhib mortar attack claimed 3 lives and left two people wounded while yesterday a car bombing in Al Shirqat claimed the lives of 4 police officer. Reuters notes a bomber in Dhuluwiya killed himself and 1 Iraqi police captin while wounded two more police officers and a mortar attack outside Kirkuk that left two children injured.

Shootings?
Mohammed Al Dulaimy (McClatchy Newspapers) reports 5 people dead in an Al Khalis attack on five vehicles containing "members of Iraqi military and police" with thirty then kidnapped. Reuters notes that "a restaurant owner" was shot dead in Kirkuk.

Corpses?

Mohammed Al Dulaimy (McClatchy Newspapers) reports 3 corpses discovered in Baghdad.


Okay, we're throwing in programming here. RadioNation with Laura Flanders is a new broadcast and features US House Rep and 2008 Democratic presidential contender Dennis Kucinch. Kucinich and not, as I wrongly stated earlier in the week, the legal panel. (Those wanting to hear the legal panel can go to the Flanders archives.) In addition, Australia's election will be covered (John Howard out, Kevin Rudd in), Sue Dinsdale and Ari Berman will talk about the Iowa primaries in terms of the illegal war, Parvez Sharma (director of the documentary film A Jihad for Love) and Rev. Billy of the Church of Stop Shopping explaining the "Christmas Shopocalypse." Laura Flanders' program airs Sundays from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm EST over the airwaves on Air America Radio, on XM satellite radio and streams online. That's radio on Sunday. Tonight (Friday), PBS' Bill Moyers Journal begins airing their latest installment which will explore the Middle East and featuring Ron Sider and M.J. Rosenberg as guests with a report about Christians United for Israel. Remember that the program's website includes a blog and you can leave comments and questions there. In most markets, Bill Moyers Journal will be airing tonight; however, some markets have started their pledge drive and the show may be interrupted or rescheduled. In addition to checking your local TV listings, you can remember that Bill Moyers Journal shares with Democracy Now! the fact that it is online and it is watch, listen or read. Welcoming to all. And with the number of wounded returning from Iraq, you'd think more programs would elect to go with that option. That has happened but the Journal and DN! are accessible to all. Lastly, David Bacon's "What a Vote for Free Trade Means" (San Francisco Chronicle) details the realities that it's not just Iraq on which the shift in power in Congress (from Republican to Democratic control) hasn't produced the needed results. Bacon's not just one of the last reporters in the country covering the labor beat, he also takes news photographs that are actually art and you can see some of his photos addressing immigration by clicking here.



Turning to US politics. Tom Hayden has an article [Warning] at The Nation. What's the point of it? 527s aren't independent and let's not lie and pretend they are. Although he's realized that Barack Obama's New York Times chat was more revealing in transcript than write up, he's still creating false lines between Hillary Clinton and Obama that portray Obama in a flattering light. (For reality in the comparison, see Paul Krugman in this morning's New York Times via Truthout.) He places a lot of faith in MoveOn. We usually call them "WalkOn" here but, to their credit, they didn't back down even when condemned by some in the Senate. Maybe MoveOn has a spine? It's more than possible and, if so, good for them. But MoveOn appears in this sentence explaining where the peace movement can focus in the fall of 2008: "House and Senate races. It is perhaps here that groups like MoveOn and Progressive Democrats of America can have the greatest effect, by bolstering the numbers of antiwar senators and representatives who favor terminating the war in 2009. Think: Senator Al Franken."

Now Greens will be offended by the article and many Dems and many others and if that needs to be addressed, I'll carry it over to a column in a community newsletter. Let's instead focus (and this will go to a larger point) on one aspect of that. "Senator Al Franken" who apparently favors "terminating the war in 2009." Franken was pro-illegal war before it started, pro-illegal war while hosting his hideous radio show on Air America Radio and only recently came out against the illegal war. In that kind-of manner he's famous for (give five minutes in a speech to sobs over veterans care and then, having hidden behind that, do a quick line about how you oppose the illegal war, then move quickly on). What the hell is Al Franken doing in that column?

Al Franken DOES NOT CALL for an end to the illegal war in 2009. That's from his campaign staff who steered me to this page at Al Franken's website. "Immediately beginning the process of bringing the troops home. Our withdrawal should not be precipitous . . ." Click on the link to read in full (that link provided only because I'm friends with the person who steered me to it.) So that's wrong. Al Franken's remarks are no different than Hillary Clinton's -- whom Tom Hayden calls out (while glossing over Obama's flaws). So that's wrong. How wrong is it for Tom Hayden to ignore an ongoing race? Al Franken is not the nominee for the US Senate by the Democratic Party. He is someone running for the nomination. Jack Nelson-Pallymeyer is whom students on campuses are excited about in that state -- students wanting to end the illegal war. Nelson-Pallmeyer is calling for an end to the illegal war. The sort of end that Hayden himself favors. So the question here is if we don't support the candidates who believe as we do, what kind of people are we? I'm not calling Tom a hypocrite. I am saying he doesn't know the Minnesota race and, as someone who struggled in his original races (both the losing one and the first victory), I am surprised that he's calling a "win" in a primary that won't be 'closed' (short of other candidates dropping out*) until "The Tuesday of Destiny" (February 5, 2008). That same sort of declaration/awarding can be found in: "Voting for Kucinich, Richardson or Gravel is a legitimate choice but not a nominee." Your choice is legitimate, Kucinich, Richardson or Gravel supporters; however, get with the program. I remember damn well the negative circulars put out by Tunney's campaign. I'm guessing someone has forgotten those days. But in 1976, Hayden's opponent didn't think Hayden made for "a nominee." So it's really surprising to see someone who's been through it himself attempt to call an ongoing race. *Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer is not the only other person running for the nomination. I'm mentioning him because Minneapolis students are passionate on the need to elect him. Repeated trips to that state have revealed an enthusiasm for him that is not in place for Franken. He may or may not win the race. But there's really no reason for The Nation to be promoting an open race as if there's only one candidate.

And that's the problem with the article. It's most obvious with regards to the Senate race. But it's there in terms of the presidency. Here's a thought for the peace movement (Hayden is a part of the peace movement), how about we stop wasting our time on elections? How about we start using that time to instead talk about ending the illegal war? (There's a second aspect to that but it's a piece this Sunday at The Third Estate Sunday Review.) Tom Hayden honestly wants to end the illegal war. That's not a pose with him, it's not a con, he truly wants to end the illegal war and wants that deeper in his soul than many other people. But here's why all this election talk is seen as nonsense by many students in today's peace movement: It starts with "Vote for whomever but we're only covering the front runners." Then it becomes "Use your voice however you want but that's not really a worthy nominee." And now it's to the point that a state race, not a national one, is being called when the state won't be holding its primary until February 5, 2008. At what point does it end? Will it filter down to municipal races? And if state candidates who support everything that is in Hayden's latest book (Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer does) aren't even noted while their opponent is not only noted but is misrepresented in the article (in a favorable light), what does that really say about the state of the peace movement?

I'm not endorsing Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer or anyone (other than Cindy Sheehan) but it is troublesome that the author of 2001's School of Assassins: Guns, Greed and Globalization can't get a 'shout out' or a 'hey-hey' from the very people who believe in the same global issues. And, here's the thing to pay attention to, young people in that state are working very hard on his campaign. The same way Hayden worked on the campaigns of others long before he ran for office. They believe in Nelson-Pallmeyer and I'd love to hear the explanation from Hayden to them on how their candidate -- who truly wants to end the illegal war -- isn't worth noting in a magazine article? If older members of the peace movement want to be helpful, there are ways to be helpful. Telling people how to vote or ignoring their candidates isn't a way to be helpful and Tom Hayden knows many 'olders' hit the dirt in his day over this very issue. Hayden's 1976 run did make a difference. The same way, regardless of outcomes, other runs today will. Students don't need or want "voters' guides." They did want leadership and it hasn't been provided repeatedly which is why they've become their own leaders. In terms of others running in races right now . . . Hayden was a wonderful state assembly person and would have been a wonderful US senator (would still be a wonderful one). As a former candidate, he should grasp how harmful it is when you are the candidate speaking to the issues and others are actively working to highlight another candidate who is not addressing the issues.

In Yes! magazine, Aimee Allison and David Solnit address the things needed to build a stronger movement and shoring up Barack Obama doesn't take place once nor do they feel the need to predict primary winners. In an amazing article, the authors conclude, "The courage of young people in the military, on campuses and in the streets is showing us how to assert our people power. It's clear that more and more folks in the United States and around the world have the courage to resist. Can we find what lies at the root of the word courage-le coeur, or heart-to assert our power as communities, as movements, and as people to reverse the policies of empire and build a better world?" That really gets to the heart of what's needed in the peace movement today -- what's already there but needs to be amplified. Allison and Solnit are the authors of Army Of None -- a practical and inspiring book that addresses what's being done, what can be done and where we can all dream a little further.

Finally, returning to the topic of Dia al-Kawwaz (noted yesterday). Mohammed al Dulaimy, Jenan Hussein and Leila Fadel (McClatchy Newspapers) report, "Kawazz charged Friday that he'd been misled by Sadiq -- who first debunked his story -- in order to discredit him as a journalist." Sadiq is his brother-in-law Haider Sadiq. Someone lied to him -- that's not sarcasm. The Association to Defend Iraqi Journalist's rights' Ibrahim Saraj stated "Relatives confirmed the incident to me; Dhia confirmed it to me." He is conducting an investigation.

the common ills
mikey likes it
iraq
nikolai lanine
jeremy hinzman
brandon hughey
lawrence hilljoshua key
cindy sheehan
laura flanders
radionation with laura flanders
gwynne dyerthe new york times
alissa j. rubinmichael gordonstephen farrell
aaron glantz
iraq veterans against the war
democracy nowamy goodman
anthony arnovehoward zinn
tom hayden
army of noneaimeee allisondavid solnit
bill moyersbill moyers journalpbs
mcclatchy newspapersleila fadel