The Daily Jot: 2007-11-11

Saturday, November 17, 2007

THIS JUST IN! GET WHAT YOU SETTLE FOR!

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- DC.

FIRST LADY LAURA HAS BEEN HITTING THE LONE STAR HARDER THESE DAYS SAYS A WHITE HOUSE SOURCE.

THE REASON IS THOUGHT TO BE THE CONTINUED EMBARRASSMENT OVER HER HUSBAND THE BULLY BOY OF THE UNITED STATES.

AS A FORMER EDUCATOR AND LIBRARIAN, THE FIRST LADY IS SAID TO VISIBLE CRINGE FREQUENTLY WHEN BULLY BOY SPEAKS.

THESE REPORTERS SAW THAT TODAY WHEN BULLY BOY, ATTEMPTING TO SELL HIS ILLEGAL WAR AGAIN, DECLARED: "WE DO NOT NEED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TELLING OUR COMMANDERS WHAT TO DO."

BUT OF COURSE WE DO NEED THAT. IN FACT WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE CIVILIAN CONTROL OVER THE MILITARY IN A DEMOCRACY.

WHEN BULLY BOY MADE THAT STRANGE REMARK, THESE REPORTERS HEARD THE FIRST LADY MUTTER SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF "NO WONDER YOU COZY UP TO A THUG IN PAKISTAN" BEFORE SHE SLAMMED BACK ANOTHER LONE STAR.

SAID THE WHITE HOUSE INSIDER, "IT'S ALL VERY J.R. AND SUE ELLEN EWING."

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Starting with war resistance. Canada's War Resisters Support Campaign. staged rallies across Canada yesterday in support of Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey whose appeal the Supreme Court refused to hear. Tracy Huffman and Debra Black (Toronto Star) report that Hinzman was at a rally in Toronto but not making public statements, instead letting Jeffry House (Hinzman, Hughey and many other war resisters in Canada's attorney) speak, "He's disappointed. He's tired of talking." John Ward (Canadian Press via London Free Press) dexplains that the focus will now be on the country's federal government and quotes House stating "the focus now turns to a political solution" and Canadian Friends Service Committee's Jane Orion Smith stating the legislature can "create a provision for them to stay." Kari Huus (MSNBC) cites Lee Zaslofsky of the War Resisters Support Campaign explaining, "What we need is for the (Liberal) party as a whole to take a stance on this. Together (the three parties) have a majority, and if they act together they can put something through the House of Commons." The Liberal Party currently has 96 seats in the House of Commons, the New Democratic Party has 30 seats. Those two bring the total to 126 which is the number of seats the Conservative Party holds. Bloc Quebecois holds 49 seats and 3 seats are held by the Independents (four seats are vacant). CKNW (AM 980) quotes Vancouver organizer Bog Ages explaining that the Bloc Quebecois and New Democratic Party members are on board and "we have a number of Liberal MP's who said they would support us. So, all we have to do, we'd like the Liberal Party as a whole to take a stand. But even if they're split, enough of them, that combined with the other parties, they have a majority, potentially, in Parliament, to change the law." The New Democratic Party cites the poll where 64.4 percent of Ontarians believe the war resisters should be allowed to remain in Canada, notes that NDP Citizenship and Immigration Critic Olivia Chow is introducing a motion to call for hearings on the issue and quotes her declaring, "To deport courageous war resisters who oppose the illegal invasion of Iraq is saying Yes to George W. Bush's war and No to supporting and protecting people seeking peace."

In the US, Tom Hayden declared, "I hope that the Canadian people stop the Bush Administration from using the Harper government to hound a handful of war resisters and erase Canada's proud heritage as a haven for resisters and refugees." Rebecca (Sex and Politics and Attitude and Screed) also lamented the events in Canada (and compared Prime Minister Stephen Harper to adult acne): "if i was even slightly right about what canada once was, i know the people can still stand up and force their government to stand with them. but they better do so quick. if they want to see how it looks when they don't, just take a gander southward. we're becoming the text book example of a failed state."

In July of 2004, Democracy Now! spoke with Jeremy Hinzman:

AMY GOODMAN: It's good to have you with us. Can you talk about how you made your decision?

JEREMY HINZMAN: Pretty much what it came down to was-- I mean, I won't go into the false pretences and everything that we know about, but being in an illegal war, it would be being complicit and a criminal enterprise, and you may say that, oh, well, you're not a policymaker or a general or whatever, that the Nuremberg principles wouldn't apply to you. But in light of what's happened since Abu Ghraib, when they scapegoated like the lower enlisted soldiers for simply carrying out what the policy was from the upper echelons, I think it's pretty fair to say that we made the right decision. Because I was in the infantry and there is a good chance that I would have-- I would have been pretty active in a negative way. And so I'm-- that's why we came here pretty much is that I wasn't-- I don't want to shoot people. I would have been happy to go to Iraq as a port-a-potty janitor or operation human shield. I just don't want to shoot people.

Goodman spoke with Hinzman again on October 15, 2004 and also participating in the interview were Jeffry House and Brandon Hughey:

AMY GOODMAN: Brandon Hughey, why did you go into the military?

BRANDON HUGHEY: My story basically starts off almost the same way. I enlisted when I was 17 years old with basically the promise of a way to better my life financially. Again, it is a way to get a college education without amassing thousands of dollars of debt.

AMY GOODMAN: Where did you grow up?

BRANDON HUGHEY: I grew up in San Angelo, Texas. So, also when I signed the contract, I wasn't naive to the fact that I could be deployed to fight in a war, but I did have this image growing up that I would be sort of -- a good guy, if you will, and fighting for just causes and fighting to defend my country, and after I got out of basic training, and when I realized that basically the U.S. had attacked a country that was no threat to them, in an act of aggression, it shattered that myth, I guess you could say.

AMY GOODMAN: How old were you when you signed up?

BRANDON HUGHEY: I was 17.

At the rallies for Hinzman and Hughey, among those attending were war resisters from the Vietnam era and war resisters from today's illegal war. Huffman and Black note Kimberly Rivera -- Iraq veteran, mother of two -- spoke at one rally: "I strongly believe we are doing the wrong thing in Iraq." Rivera went on to explain that, while serving in Iraq, when she looked "at the shaken crying Iraqi children" she was reminded "of her own daughter in Texas.": John Ward notes war resister Tim Richard attending one rally and wondering, "Why is it legal for me (to stay), because my father was born in New Brunswick, and not legal for somebody else who did the exact same thing?"

Meanwhile war resister Rodney Watson has gone public. Suzanne Fournier (The Province) notes the 29-year-old, African-American, Iraq veteran self-checked out a year ago and now lives in Canada and quotes him stating, "I I realized the war had nothing to do with 9/11 or helping Iraqis or stopping terrorists. It's all about guarding oil for the U.S. , , , I'd rather do my time in jail than be a party to the racism I saw in Iraq. As an African-American, I grew up with racism. But in Iraq, I saw the same kind of abuse and mistreatment, only this was U.S. enlisted soldiers and American contractors, like security forces, abusing Iraqis."

Tom Regan (NPR News Blog) points out the difference between this week's court action (or inaction) and last week's. While Hugey and Hinzman were not allowed to seek out a legal remendy by the Canadian Supreme Court, last week US District Judge Benjmain Settle ruled in Ehren Watada's favor, "The judge says the military court is ignoring Watada's constitutional right not to face double jeopardy after his first court-martial ended in a mistrial.

The injunction means Watada has a better chance of winning his case, but it also means he might not get a chance to test his central argument -- that the Iraq war is illegal -- in court."

Noting the Watada ruling yesterday, NPR's Martin Kaste (All Things Considered) covered the story and Kenneth Kagan, Watada's civilian attorney along with James Lobsenz, explained the double-jeopardy issue (the February court-martial ended in a mistrial over defense objection) was something many courts grasp: "Civilians courts understand that, state courts understand that but for some reason military courts weren't acknowledging that reality."

Another reality that some (the press) has a hard time acknowledging is the number of service members electing to check out of the military on their own. AP reports that this year the desertion rate has jumped to "the highest rate since 1980, with the number of Army deserters this year showing an 80 percent increase" since the start of the illegal war. AP continues to deny reality by offering the claim that the US military does little to track down those who go AWOL or desert -- despite the mountain of public evidence to the contrary.

As to the figure cited, September 21st, Nick Watt (ABC's Nighline) examined war resisters and noted the number of people being processed for desertion at Fort Knox "jumped 60% last year" (to 1,414 for Fort Knox -- US military figures) while concluding his report with, "If the total for the first six months of 2007 doubles by year end, it will become the highest annual total in twenty-six years." At 80% the total has more than doubled and not only is there another full month left in the year, it's also true that you have to be gone at least 30 days to be declared a deserter (unless you're Agustin Aguayo and the military wants to screw you over) and, in addition, the military figures have been 'lower' than they should be before (NPR caught that earlier this year) and the rolls aren't up to date for AWOL let alone desertion.

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.

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

Starting next week, IVAW's announcement above will be summarized in each snapshot until the March testimony begins. Winter Soldier is the documentary that was made of the 1971 investigation and it is available via Vietnam Veterans Against the War for $28.95 (four dollars of that is for shipping). Staying with films for a minute more, Brian De Palma's Redacted opens today in select cities and, although fiction, is inspired by real life events -- specifically the gang-rape and murder of 14-year-old Abeer Qassim Hamza and the murder of her five-year-old sister and both parents.

Opening Today:

11/16/2007
Berkeley, CA: Shattuck Cinemas
Los Angeles, CA: The Landmark
Palo Alto, CA: Aquarius 2
Pasadena, CA: Laemmle's One Colorado Cinemas
San Francisco, CA: Embarcadero Center Cinema
Santa Ana, CA: South Coast Village 3
West Hollywood, CA: Sunset 5
Washington, DC: E Street Cinema
Chicago, IL: Landmark's Century Centre Cinema
Cambridge, MA: Kendall Square Cinema
New York, NY: Sunshine Cinema
New York, NY: Lincoln Plaza
Philadelphia, PA: Ritz at the Bourse

"Corruption"
"Invasion of the fools"
"Work"
"chatty"
"oh canada ..."
"Media consolidation"
"Pushing service members out the door"
"Played? By who?"
"Brief"
"Robert Parry, Margaret Kimberley "
"Redacted, Dave Lindorff"
"PBS' NOW and talking music & the war with Ruth"
"Bye-bye Denny"
"Bill attacks movie, movie cleans his clock"
"THIS JUST IN! THE BIG DENNY FAREWELL TOUR!"

"THIS JUST IN! BILL FIGHTS MOVIE, MOVIE WINS, BILL MOPES"

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Friday, November 16, 2007

THIS JUST IN! BILL FIGHTS MOVIE, MOVIE WINS, BILL MOPES

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- DC.

FOX 'NEWS' PERSONALITY AND SPOKESMODEL BILL O'LIELLY HAS DROPPED THE LOUFA AND FOUND HIMSELF A NEW TARGET: A FILM!

NEXT UP, BILL O'LIELLY IS EXPECTED TO DECLARE WAR ON TREES, AIR AND, RUMOR HAS IT, THE GHOST OF DENNIS MILLER.

WHEN THESE REPORTERS POINTED OUT THAT ALLEGED COMIC DENNIS MILLER WASN'T DEAD, O'LIELLY POPPED OFF, "DID YOU SEE THE RATINGS FOR HIS MSNBC SHOW?"

THAT'S YOUR GHOST OF CHRISTMAS FUTURE, BILL, GET USED TO IT.

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Brian De Palma's Redacted opens today in select cities.

The film is a work of fiction but it is inspired by real life events -- specifically the gang-rape and murder of 14-year-old Abeer Qassim Hamza and the murder of her five-year-old sister and both parents.

Opening

11/21/2007
San Diego, CA: Hillcrest Cinemas
Denver, CO: Mayan Theatre
Minneapolis, MN: Lagoon Cinema
Seattle, WA: Metro Cinemas

11/30/2007
Santa Rosa, CA: Rialto Cinemas Lakeside
Wilmington, DE: Theater N at Demours
Atlanta, GA: Midtown Art Cinemas 8
Durham, NC: Carolina Theatre - Durham
Raleigh, NC: Colony Twin
Montclair, NJ: Clairidge Cinemas
Red Bank, NJ: Red Bank Cinemas
Bronxville, NY: Bronxville Cinemas
Manhasset, NY: Manhasset Cinemas
White Plains, NY: Cinema 100 Twin
Cleveland Heights, OH: Cedar Lee Theatres
Dallas, TX: Magnolia Theatre - Dallas
Houston, TX: River Oaks Theatre

12/7/2007
Little Rock, AR: Market Street Cinema
Tucson, AZ: The Loft Cinema
Santa Fe, NM: The Screen
Salt Lake City, UT: Broadway Centre Cinemas

12/14/2007
Rochester, NY: Little Theatre

12/16/2007
Savannah, GA: Victory Square Cinema 9

12/18/2007
Norfolk, VA: Naro Expanded Cinema

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Thursday, November 15, 2007

THIS JUST IN! THE BIG DENNY FAREWELL TOUR!

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX & TCI WIRE--- DC.

BIG DENNY BEGAN HIS FAREWELL TOUR TODAY.

ADDRESSING THE HOUSE THAT HE ONCE RULED AS A SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, DENNY HASTERT DECLARED, "I CONTINUE TO WORRY ABOUT THE BREAKDOWN OF CIVILITY IN OUR POLITICAL DISCOURSE."

IT'S A SHAME HE DIDN'T WORRY SOONER.

SUCH AS WHEN HE DECLARED OF NEW ORLEANS IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE KATRINA, "IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF THAT PLACE COULD BE BULLDOZED."

OR WHEN HE CALLED GEORGE SOROS A DRUG CZAR ON FOX 'NEWS': "YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHERE GEORGE SOROS GETS HIS MONEY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE -- IF IT COMES OVERSEAS OR FROM DRUG GROUPS OR WHERE IT COMES FROM."

BIG DENNY'S DOING HIS FINAL FAILURE LAPS AND SOME SOURCES SAY THE TOUR MAY INCLUDE A LENGTHY ENGAGEMENT IN THE BIG HOUSE OVER HIS 'TIGHT' RELATIONSHIP WITH TURKEY.

BREAKING: ARI MELBER DOESN'T FLUSH THE TOILET.

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Starting with war resisters. CBC reports that the Supreme Court of Canada has refused to hear the appeals filed by war resisters Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey. The Canadian Press notes: "They fled to Canada and asked for refugee status, claiming they opposed the war in Iraq as illegal and immoral." Canada's National Post explains that without a Surpeme Court review, the Federal Court of Appeal having "rejected the claims by Mr. Hinzman and Mr. Hughey" now stands and, as the BBC points out, means that the Immigration and Refugee "Board" (one member hears and decides) decision in 2005 that neither were refugees. City News quotes Elizabeth May (Green Party leader) declaring that, "Canada is a peaceful country and we have a proud tradition of welcoming conscientious objectors, most notably American soldiers who fled to Canada while the United States waged war in Vietnam." L-Girl (We Move to Canada) notes, "This is very bad news. But it's not the end of the fight. This decision makes the political battle more crucial." Randall Palmer and Lynne Oliver (Reuters) cites the War Resisters Support Campaign's Lee Zaslofsky declaring, "They won't be deported tomorrow, there is a process" and notes that the two could "apply for permanent residence in Canada on humanitarian or compassionate grounds."

Canada's War Resisters Support Campaign has issued the following announcement:

In response to today's decision by the Supreme Court of Canada to not hear appeals from American Iraq-war resisters seeking refuge in Canada, the War Resisters Support Campaign will ramp up pressure for a political solution, calling for a provision from Parliament to allow resisters and their families to stay in Canada.
The War Resisters Support Campaign will hold a demonstration tonight at 5 p.m. at 330 University Avenue, Toronto to call on Parliament to do the right thing and allow resisters to stay in Canada.
Who: War Resisters Support Campaign and allies
What: Demonstration to ramp up pressure on Parliament
When: Thursday November 15 at 5 p.m.
Where: 330 University Avenue, Toronto (just north of Queen Street. W., on the west side)
"We call on Parliament to take a stand by enacting a provision that would allow US war resisters and their families to stay in Canada," said actor and activist Shirely Douglas. "The Supreme Court has handed the issue back to Parliament. It is urgent that Parliament demonstrate leadership and act in accordance with Canadian tradition. Do not let the principles that Canadians cherish slip away."
The Supreme Court decision by a panel of three judges prevents the full court from reviewing the decisions of the Immigration and Refugee Board regarding the refugee status of resisters Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey. The Immigration and Refugee Board had refused to grant them refugee status.
Resisters have already found widespread support among Canadians, including faith groups, unions, peace organizations and thousands of individuals and families who have extended a welcome. In a June 2007 poll by Strategic Communications, 64.6 per cent of respondents in Ontario think that resisters should be allowed to stay in Canada (margin of error +/- 4%, 19 times out of 20).
The War Resisters Support Campaign has been assisting US war resisters who come to Canada because of their opposition to the Iraq War since 2004.
For futher information: Lee Zaslofsky (416) 598-1222 and Michelle Robidoux (416) 856-5008

A listing of the rallies can be found here and they also note:

Contact your Member of Parliament (M.P.) and these key members of government and lobby them to let the war resisters stay in Canada:

The Hon. Stephane Dion, Leader of the Opposition (Liberal): Phone: (613) 996-5789;
E-mail: Dion.S@parl.gc.ca

Michael Ignatieff, Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Liberal): Phone: (613) 995-9364;
E-mail: Ignatieff.M@parl.gc.ca

The Hon. Maurizio Bevilacqua, Opposition Critic for Citizenship and Immigration (Liberal):
Phone: (613) 996-4971; E-mail: Bevilacqua.M@parl.gc.ca

The Right Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister: Phone: (613) 992-4211; Fax: (613) 941-6900; E-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca

The Hon. Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration: Phone: (613) 954-1064;
E-mail: Minister@cic.gc.ca

And contact your own Member of Parliament.
To find your local M.P., by your postal code or by name:
http://www.canada.gc.ca/directories/direct_e.html

For people outside Canada, Courage to Resist has a "Dear Canada" resource page that allows non-Canadians to weigh in with key officials.

Jeremy Hinzman, his wife Nga Nguyen and their son Liam went to Canada in January 2004. Brandon Hughey went to Canada in March 2004. They have established lives there, laid down roots. There are over 200 US war resisters that have gone to Canada.

There is a growing movement of resistance within the US military which includes James Stepp, 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.

Meanwhile IVAW is organizing a March 2008 DC event:

Once again, our country needs Winter Soldiers.

Click here to sign a statement of support for Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan

"THIS JUST IN! AN INSPECTOR WHO DOESN'T KNOW HIS BROTHER?"

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Wednesday, November 14, 2007

THIS JUST IN! AN INSPECTOR WHO DOESN'T KNOW HIS BROTHER?

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX & TCI WIRE--- DC.

HOWARD KRONGARD, THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT'S HEAD OF THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL ANNOUNCED TODAY HE WAS RECUSING HIMSELF FROM ALL ISSUES AND INVESTIGATIONS RELATED TO BLACKWATER.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AFTER RECESS INTO A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING. PRIOR TO THE RECESS HE INSISTED AN ISSUE WAS NOTHING BUT "UGLY RUMORS"!

THE ISSUE? THAT HOWARD KRONGARD HAD A BROTHER NAMED ALVIN D. KRONGARD WHO WAS ON THE BOARD OF THE MERCENARY COMPANY BLACKWATER.

RETURNING FROM RECESS, HOWARD KRONGARD WHO REPEATEDLY INTERFERED WITH INVESTIGATIONS INTO BLACKWATER, ANNOUNCED THE "UGLY RUMORS" WERE TRUE.

TURNS OUT ALVIN D. KRONGARD, FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE C.I.A. IS ON THE ADVISORY BOARD OF BLACKWATER AND IS, IN FACT, HOWARD KRONGARD'S BROTHER.

"I AM NOT MY BROTHER'S KEEPER!" INSISTED HOWARD KRONGARD TO CONGRESS.

LATER, HOWARD KRONGARD TOLD THESE REPORTERS THAT WHAT THREW HIM WAS "ALVIN D."

"ALVIN?" KRONGARD ASKED, "WE ALL CALLED HIM 'BUZZY.' NEXT THING YOU'RE GOING TO TELL ME IS THAT MY MOTHER'S FIRST NAME ISN'T REALLY 'MOMMY'!"

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Indybay Media has posted an (audio) interview with war resister Brad McCall conducted by Courage to Resist. Brad McCall is the war resister who self-checked out and attempted entry into Canada only to be arrested (September 19, 2007) crossing the border. McCall explains in the interview that he applied for CO status and waited ("and begged and begged and begged") before realizing it wasn't happening.

Brad McCall: I made, the final decision, I made it one night. I found out -- or one day. I talked to a friend of mine in Colorado Springs and he told me about these GIs that were running to Canada and I was like, 'Wow, this is cool.' . . . I went to another one of my friends' house and got on my laptop at her house and we both looked and saw that it's very possible. And we found Resisters.ca on the internet and that night I made the choice that a week later we would leave. She traveled with me as just a friend and that we'd leave in a week which, as a matter of face, was payday. So I knew I would need some cash to get on the road and get moving."

Courage to Resist: So you drove to British Columbia?

Brad McCall: Yes.

Courage to Resist: And did you connect immediately with other resisters up there?

Brad McCall: Well, initially the first thing that happened to me up there when I got to British Columbia was I was arrested at the border. For that week that I was still in Fort Carson, I had e-mail contact with Canada and with people that were willing to help me and I didn't realize that my parents actually had my e-mail password and they were watching all of this go down. And they were e-mailing all these e-mails to my commander and first sergeant so they knew I was going to Canada.

Courage to Resist: Well I guess I don't need to ask about support from your family for this decision?

Brad McCall: Oh, oh, God, no. I've been disowned. But that's why I love Canada. I have nothing to go back to in the United States so I'm very content with staying here for the rest of my life.

Courage to Resist: So you were arrested at the border?

Brad McCall: Yes, I was arrested at the border on the command of the US army by Canadian Border Services Agency -- not by US services, but Canadian services -- put into a Canadian jail for two days until my lawyer showed up and got me.

Courage to Resist: Now this was a Canadian lawyer, yes?

Brad McCall: Yes.

Courage to Resist: From a Canadian support committee for GI resisters?

Brad McCall: No, he's just a, uh, young lawyer. He supports the cause. He's an immigration lawyer. And he said -- the first thing he told me -- he said. "Me helping you guys out is a no-brainer." He said, "I'm not associated with the War Resisters Support Campaign or the War Resisters League or any anti-war group. I'm a lawyer by myself and I'm helping you guys out. And he's really an awesome guy.

Courage to Resist: An unsung hero.

Brad McCall: Yes, very much so.

Courage to Resist: So he got you out of the clink --

Brad McCall: Yes.

Courage to Resist: And then what did you do next?

Brad McCall: Well, um, while I was in jail, I filed refugee claim stating that I was requesting to be a refugee from the United States on ground that if I go back to the United States, I will be persecuted or legally prosecuted for my beliefs -- politically, morally and spiritually.

Courage to Resist: Right.

Brad McCall: And so that's what I've done. I've started my refugee claim, working on that --

Courage to Resist: And what's the status of that claim right now? Where are you in the process?

Brad McCall: Right now it's just a claim. It has to come under review by the Refugee Board of Canada and they will determine whether or not I am liable for refugee status. . So far there's only been two that have come up to the Refugee Board, only two claims by war resisters, and they have both been denied. They're in the appeals process right now.

Courage to Resist: This is Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey.

Brad McCall: Exactly.

Courage to Resist: Exactly. They're going to the Supreme Court I understand?

Brad McCall: Exactly. So me I'm not really expecting a victory in the way of getting refugee status. I'm not expecting that so I'm having to go ahead and prepare for other plans.

Hinzman and Hughey are waiting to hear whether or not Canada's Supreme Court will grant a hearing to their appeal over the Immigration and Refugee Board (really one person) denying them refugee status. Hinzman was the first resister during the Iraq War who went to Canada to go public with his resistance. He became the first to apply for refugee status (January 2004). He lives there with his wife Nga Nguyen and their son Liam. Prior to making the decision, Hinzman applied for CO status and was denied. Hughey went to Canada in March 2004. McCall's stories of conflicts with his family are echoed in the early reaction of Brandon Hughey's father. However, at the 2005 Veterans for Peace conference held in Texas, David Hughey delivered an amazing speech explaining the conflicts and how they had been resolved concluding with "I just thought I'd come up and introduce myself. I do support my son." The War Resisters Support Campaign announces:

Supreme Court decision on Hinzman & Hughey expected on THURSDAY NOV. 15th, 2007

The Supreme Court of Canada is expected to post its decision on whether or not it will hear the appeal by US war resisters Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey THIS THURSDAY at 9:45 am.

The decision will be posted at . . . [click here] (the case number for Jeremy Hinzman is 32113, and for Brandon Hughey it is 32111).

If the decision is negative, join protests in cities across the country. Check the take action page for listing of protests locations.

If the decision is positive, we will celebrate right across the country -- but there will still be much work to do to ensure that US soldiers who refuse to fight in Iraq have refuge in Canada. In TORNOTO, join us at 7 p.m. at Grossman's Tavern, 379 Spadina Avenue (at Cecil Street) for a 'Leave to Appeal' party.

That is tomorrow. On Iraq, McCall declared, "I want people to realize this is new era of war and Iraq is not going to -- if we don't stop Iraq, Iraq is not going to be the last step, not going to be the last frontier or whatever that the United States tries to take, it's just the beginning of a long series of wars that I can see in the future. It's not going to be pretty. And we've got to do something about it now. We have to do something about it now."

Meanwhile IVAW is organizing a March 2008 DC event:

Once again, our country needs Winter Soldiers.

Click here to sign a statement of support for Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan

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Tuesday, November 13, 2007

THIS JUST IN! THEY'RE AT IT AGAIN!

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX --- DC.

THE SAME MAINSTREAM PRESS THAT TOLD YOU SENATOR INSANE JOHN MCCAIN WAS A "STRAIGHT TALKER" CAN'T GET OVER THEIR HEAVY CRUSH ON BARACK OBAMA: SENATOR BAM-BAM WHO WANTS TO BE PRESIDENT REALLY, LIKE, REALLY BAD AND STUFF..

EXHIBITING A NASTY CASE OF LOVE-STARVED DEVOTION AND AS ITCHY AS ANYONE WAITING TO BE ASKED TO THE PROM, SCOTT HELLMAN (BOSTON GLOBE) SQUEALS WITH PASSION, "IS OBAMA MAKING HIS MOVE?"

CALM DOWN, SCOTTY, YOU'LL PROBABLY BE GOING STAG AGAIN.

PETER SLEVIN HISSES, "PAWS OFF, SCOTTY, I SAW HIM FIRST!" AND THEN BRAGS AS IF BUILDING UP THE DREAM DATE TO THE FOLKS, OBAMA'S DONE IT ALL AND "WITHOUT BEING BLOODIED -- INDEED, WITH HARDLY A SCRATCH, EVEN IN ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE CHICAGO". SAVE THE HEAVY PANTING FOR YOUR DIARY WITH THE HEARTS AND PUPPIES COVER, PETEY, AND KEEP BOTH HANDS ABOVE THE WAIST.

MICHELLE OBAMA, WIFE OF BAM-BAM, EXPLAINS THAT HER HUSBAND WAS TRAILING BEFORE, "THE SAME THING IN THE U.S. SENATE RACE. THE EXACT SAME SCENARIO."

OH REALLY, MICHELLE?

SO WE CAN EXPECT THAT "THE SAME THING" WILL BE DONE AGAIN?

BAM-BAM'S CAMPAIGN IN THAT DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ELIMINATED HIS OPPONENT WITH WHISPERS THAT THE MAN BEAT HIS WIFE. BAM-BAM'S CAMPAIGN ELIMINATED HIS OPPONENT IN THE GENERAL RACE BY PROVIDING THE PRESS WITH SEALED COURT DOCUMENTS ON HIS OPPONENT'S DIVORCE.

THE LOVE-BOYS OF THE PRESS NEVER NOTICE THAT. THEY'RE TOO BUSY PLANNING FOR THE DAY WHEN THEY CAN BECOME MRS. BARACK OBAMA.

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Starting with war resistance. Today on KPFK's Sojourner Truth, Margaret Prescod spoke with Kenneth Kagan about where things stood for Ehren Watada currently. Watada is the first officer to refuse to deploy to Iraq. Kagan, along with Jim Lobsenz, is Watada's civilian attorney and he explained Judge Benjamin Settle's ruling and what it means. Last Thursday, following the issuance of two stays in the US military's attempt to court-martial Watada a second time, Judge Settle ruled that no court-martial could take place until the double-jeopardy issue was resolved and that his opinion was Watada had strong standing on that issue and the courts would find in his favor. Kagan declared that it was highly unlikely that there would be futher court action this year. He also thinks it's doubtful the US military will be able to proceed with a court-martial period. (Following the rest of the year, Kagan ticked off 2008 and the next.) As Laura Flanders (Nation via Common Dreams) notes of Settle's ruling today, "In issuing a preliminary injunction, the Judge concluded that 'it is likely' that Watada will succeed in his claims that a second court-martial would violate constitutional protections against being tried twice for the same crimes. But army officials aren't giving up. In a statement, they said they will file briefs in U.S. District Court to try to prevent the injunction from becoming permanent. Now is the time for all moral men and women in uniform to stand up -- not just behind Lt. Watada, but at his side. So far, not one other officer has followed in the lieutenant's footstep." As Ruth noted, yesterday on Free Speech Radio News, Iraq Veterans Against the War's chair Camilo Mejia declared this was a victory, "Here we have the first commissioned officer who at great risks to a public, personal stance on the war calling it illegal and refusing to deploy."

Meanwhile IVAW is organizing a March 2008 DC event:

Once again, our country needs Winter Soldiers.

Click here to sign a statement of support for Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan

The Winter Soldier Investigation during Vietnam took place from January 31st to February 2nd (1971) and was held in Detroit. By holding theirs in DC, IVAW already has improved. That's not a slap at Detroit, that's noting the concentration of media.

RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"

Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Donald Kerr on the job"
"Other Items"
"NYT rewrites the 'crackdwon'"
"dennis kucinich"
"Lt. Ehren Watada"
"Ideal: Kucinich and Mitchell"
"Ali Al-Fadhily, Iraq, etc."
"Danny Schecter, NBC's Chuck and Third"
"The Dunces Three"
"THIS JUST IN! 3 G.O.P. DUNCES, 3 G.O.P. DUNCES!"

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Monday, November 12, 2007

THIS JUST IN! 3 G.O.P. DUNCES, 3 G.O.P. DUNCES!

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX --- DC.

IN AN UP-IS-DOWN WORLD THE MENTAL MIDGETS CAVORT IN PUBLIC PROUDLY.

FIRST UP DONALD KERR WHO PROVES YOU DON'T NEED A HIGH I.Q. TO BE THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE. KERR EARNED HIS DUNCE CAMP FOR SAYING "PRIVACY" REALLY JUST MEANS "GOVERNTMENT AND BUSINESSES PROPERLY SAFEGUARD PEOPLE'S PRIVATE COMMUNICATIONS AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION" WHILE TROLLING FOR INFORMATION. BY THAT "LOGIC," THE RIGHT OF AMERICANS TO BE SECURE IN THE PRIVACY OF THEIR HOMES REALLY MEANS THAT THE POLICE CAN ENTER AT A TIME BUT JUST CAN'T TELL YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR ABOUT THAT STUFF YOU'RE HIDING IN YOUR UNDIE'S DRAWER.

NEXT UP IS G.O.P. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND NATIONAL MENACE RUDY G WHO HAS A NEW CAMPAIGN STRATEGY: REDEFINING "WINNING" SO IT DOESN'T MEAN HE HAS TO WIN IN EITHER IOWA OR NEW HAMPSHIRE. THOSE LOOKING TO SEE WHY RADIOS DIDN'T WORK IN THE TOWERS ON 9-11 AND WHY SO MANY RESCUE WORKERS NOW SUFFER BREATHING PROBLEMS, LOOK NO FURTHER THAN DUNCE RUDY G.

FINALLY, ACTOR FRED THOMPSON HAS DECLARED THAT THE WAY TO OVERTURN ROE V. WADE IS TO DO IT SECRETLY -- BY APPOINTING CONSERVATIVE JUDGES. WHEN REMINDED BY THESE REPORTERS THAT REPUBLICANS ARE SUPPOSED TO KEEP THAT PLAN SECRET, THOMPSON GOT FLUSTERED INSISTING HE DIDN'T SEE A CAMERA AND "I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS IN THIS SCENE! WHAT IS THIS? LIVE TV!"

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Starting with war resisters. Amy Goodman (Democracy Now!) explained the latest about US Senator Dianne Feinstein ("Miss Dianne: Girl Senator -- the non-action figure"). Di-Fi's a war resister? No, she's a War Hawk with blood on her filthy hands. But as Goodman explained, Di-Fi is concerned that the illegal spying issue needs some "legal immunity for telecomunications companies . . . because the companies are unable to defend themselves in court since the governments insist their activities be kept secret." [Click here for Bob Egelko's San Francisco Chronicle report from Friday.] How very interesting. Ehren Watada, like Camilo Mejia before him, was subject to a military court-martial in which a military 'judge' refused to allow him to defend himself, ruled that his reasons for refusing to deploy were immaterial. Di-Fi didn't raise an objection. But then war resisters haven't been the big donors to Di-Fi; however, the telecommunications industry has deep pockets and certainly Pacific Telesis has reached deeper than most. The San Francisco located company (don't forget that the chief witness against AT&T is talking about a switching station located in San Francisco) was merged with/folded into SBC in 1997 and SBC folded in with AT&T Corporation to form AT&T Inc. in 2005. So Di-Fi has no interest in whether or not a defendant can present their best defense, she's only (yet again) protecting her big donors -- the hallmark of her shameful Senate career. The mergers and foldings meant all her big telecommunications donors were "bundled" allowing her to "reach out and touch someone" much easier while giving the public the finger.

Ehren Watada is the first officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq (June 2006). In February 2006, Judge Toilet (aka John Head) presided over a rigged court-martial -- that Di-Fi never raised an objection to -- and, when the prosecution was losing, Judge Toilet ruled a mistrial over defense objection. Despite the Constition's provision against double-jeopardy, the US military has repeatedly attempted to force another court-martial -- again, Di-Fi never raised an objection. US District Judge Benjamin Settle heard and appeal, issued two stays while weighing the briefs from both the prosecution and the defense and ruled last week that the US military could not proceed with any court-martial until Watada's double-jeopardy claim was addressed. He futher stated in his ruling that his judgement was the Constitutional provision against double-jeopardy would prevail. The Honolulu Advertiser reported Friday that Bob Watada, Ehren's father, explaining, "We talked for a few minutes and he said he's happy" and that Eric Seitz "believes the latest federal court decisions means the case against Watada essentially is dead." Seitz was Watada's civilian attorney prior to and throughout the February court-martial. Watada is currently represented (on the civilian side) by Kenneth Kagan and Jim Lobsenz. AP notes, "Watada contends the war is illegal and that he would be party to war crimes if he served in Iraq. The Army refused his request to be posted in Afghanistan or elsewhere." That's . . . some of the story. Watada researched the Iraq War when he got his orders -- researched as his superiors recommended -- not only did he feel he could be party to war crimes, as an officer he felt those serving under him could also be party to war crimes. In addition to offering to go to "Afghanistan or elsewhere," Watada offered other things including resigning his commission. The US military only offered him a desk job in Iraq where he would be 'safe' which was not what his objections to the illegal war were about. Jeff Paterson (at Indybay Media and Courage to Resist) explains, "No court martial can now take place unless Judge Settle reverses himself, or the military successfully appeals to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, or the U.S. Supreme Court -- all of which are unlikely."

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. Zinn will take part in the November 18th presentation (the official opening night -- but performances are already taking place) and 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 appeared on Democracy Now! Friday 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. Stacyann Chinn will take part this weekend, Anthony Arnove stated today on WBAI's Cat Radio Cafe where he discussed the project and how the rotating, non-permanent cast members allowed them to mix it up from performance to performance. With Janet Coleman (co-host with David Dozer), Arnove discussed how so much of the history -- the hidden history -- resonates today and specifically cited an editorial, from Frederick Douglass' newspaper the North Star, entitled "The War With Mexico" has a great deal to say today about the Iraq War. From the editorial, "No politician of any considerable distinction or eminence, seems willing to hazard his popularity with his party, or stem the fierce current of executive influence, by an open and unqualified disapprobation of the war. None seem willing to take their stand for peace at all risks; and all seem willing that the war should be carried on, in some form or other. . . . We have no preference for parties, regarding this slaveholding crusade. The one is as bad as the other. The friends of peace have nothing to hope from either." True then, true today.

Turning to Iraq, Jessica Pupovac (In These Times) highlights the Iraqi collaborators with the foreign military in the illegal occupation which the US military is calling "grassroots" and, like any grassroots group?, they "have signed contracts with the U.S. military" and "earn about $300 per month for their services -- more than three times Iraq's average monthly per capita income. They also receive $50 to $100 bonuses for 'actionable intelligence'." Pupovac informs that by October 20th, 67,000 Iraqis had 'enslisted' and that "[t]he vast majority of Concerned Citizens (79 percent) are Sunni, while 9 percent are Shiite and the remaining 12 percent are 'mixed'." Joshua Partlow and Ann Scott Tyson (Washington Post) report on this topic that the collaborators are known as "volunteers" and that "more than 80 percent of whom are Sunni" leading to a panic on the part "Of Iraqi's Shiite-dominated government" who worry they "could eventually mount an armed opposition".