THIS JUST IN! NO WAFFLES!

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE   BARACK OBAMA LANDED IN AFGHANISTAN TODAY.   UPON STEPPING OFF THE PLANE, SENATOR SWEETIE ASKED, "WHERE'S THE WAFFLE HUT?"   UPON LEARNING THERE WAS NO WAFFLE HUT IN AFGHANISTAN, BARACK GREW DESPONDENT AND WHINED, "I JUST WANT TO EAT MY WAFFLES."    FROM THE TCI WIRE:   Starting with war resistance -- because Amy Goodman never can -- this was a busy week.  Monday US war resister in Canada Robin Long was the subject of deportation of hearing.  Which he lost.  (Mainly because Judge Anne Mctavish doesn't know her job.)  He was deported Tuesday from Canada with the Canadian government keeping everything hush-hush to try to clamp down on public shows of support for Robin.  On Wednesday, US war resister James Burmeister faced a court-martial: "The court-martial of the kill-team whistle blower."  He was busted in rank, given six months of time and stripped of his rights and benefits.  The latter is especially shocking when you realize he has Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  The government gladly shipped him to a war zone where he was injured and then they spat him this week by refusing to pay for the injuries their illegal war caused James -- life-long injuries.  Amy Goodman (Democracy Sometimes!) continued the silence she's long maintained on James -- she never mentioned his name.  James is the one who blew the whistle on the kill teams -- groups of US soldiers assigned to leave US property (such as cameras) out in the open in Iraq while snipers then wait for an unsuspecting Iraqi to touch them at which point, living up to the team name, they kill the Iraqis. It was big news and and Mark Larabee (The Oregonian) broke the news domestically July 16, 2007.  That wasn't something to amplify.  Apparently no one in Panhandle Media had slept with James or wanted to.  If so, we could have seen the kind of embarrassing moment that had the 'left' recruiting talk show hosts not all that long ago.  Call it The Critic and the Young Chippie or -- as they prepared to play it -- The Greatest All Time Threat to Democracy.  Nothing gets a fire burning for our 'fearless' 'leaders' as much as the thought that one of their old 'lions' might finally get laid. So James, who was actual news, got ignored in 2007 and, if you missed it, got ignored Wednesday, Thursday and today.  Free Speech isn't worth a damn when it's also Meaningless Speech -- and didn't so many prove just how meaningless they could be.   AP (Real Media) filed a better version of their earlier story, one that noted, "He said he was disturbed by a military tactic of planting equipment to lure Iraqis that American snipers could then kill.  Burmeister said he complained to superior officers that the snipers couldn't know for sure whether the people they shot were actually insurgents, or presented any threat to U.S. forces."  The Oregonian did a brief that noted, "Burmeister said he complained to superior officers that the snipers couldn't know for sure whether the people they shot were actually insurgents or presented any threat to U.S. forces. Eventually, the soldier from Cheshire, near Eugene, was injured by a roadside bomb and sent to Germany to recuperate. While there, he left his unit and went to Canada, where he campaigned against the use of the small kill teams."  Kill teams.  War crimes.  But Panhandle Media had something else to cover.  While whining about the silence from Real Media on some stories, they censored themselves.  Call it Learned Pathetic.  The only maturity in the story came from James himself.  Ten months ago, Mina Al-Oraibi (Asharq Alawsat) quoted the then-in-Canada James Burmeister stating he did not regret self-checking out, "Because I feel it's the right thing to do -- even if I face prison or a dishonorable discharge from the army.  I can't go back to the killing."    On Robin Long, Stefanie Fisher (Party for Socialsim and Liberation) provides a run-through, "On July 15, Robin Long became the first Iraq war resister to be deported from Canada back to the United States.  In 2005, Long went to Canada because he would not fight in an 'illegal war of aggression.' Like thousands of young recruits, Long discovered that the Iraq war was based on lies only after he had joined the military.  The court denied Long sanctuary based on a so-called 'lack of evidence' that he would face harsh treatment if he were sent back to the United States. The court was fully aware that Long would be unjustly tried as a deserter, could face prison time and be deployed to Iraq against his will. As an example to others, on July 16, James Burmeister, a resister who turned himself over to the U.S. government was sentenced to 9 months in jail and dishonorably discharged.  Protests in the U.S. and Canada have demanded sanctuary for Iraq war resisters. Two-thirds of Canadians believe that war resisters should be allowed to stay in Canada."  Jeremy Deutsch (Kamloops This Week) reports on NDP's Michael Crawford's reaction to the deportation and quoted him stating, "We have a government in Canada hell-bent on pleasing the American administration. . . . If we believe it's an illegal war, why should we not give some form of sancturary to people who are refusing to fight that war?"  This follows NDP's Bill Siksay's earlier statements this week, prior to the deportation of Robin, "Stockwell Day, Diane Finley and Stephen Harper should respect the will of Parliament and the Canadian people and stop this deportation immediately.  The House of Commons has passed a motion supporting a special programme that would allow conscientious objectors who refuse to serve in the war in Iraq to remain in Canada.  The government must respect this action by the House and stop deportation action against Robin Long and other Iraq war resisters.  The Canadian government and the Canadian people do not support George Bush's illegal war in Iraq.  We must have the courage of those convictions and back them up by ensuring that Americans who take a stand against that war receive a welcome in Canada.  Robin Long must be allowed to stay."  Meanwhile Keith Jones (WSWS) examines the situation and concludes:   As for the Canadian government, in 2005 when the Liberals held office, it took the highly unusual step of intervening at [Jeremy] Hinzman's refugee hearing--the first for an Iraq war resister--to successfully urge the Immigration and Refugee Board to exclude any arguments concerning the legality of the US's invasion of Iraq. The pretext invoked by the government was that only the International Court of Justice at the Hague has the authority and jurisdiction to adjudicate on the legality of a war. (See "Canada denies asylum to US soldier who refused to serve in Iraq")   During the Vietnam War more than 50,000 US draft-dodgers and "deserters" found refuge in Canada. Today, however, the Canadian judiciary, immigration board, and government are determined to ensure that the country not become a safe haven for those in the US military who refuse to be party to the US's wars of aggression in Iraq and Afghanistan.         This is not just because Canada's elite does not want to rile the Bush administration and US military. The Canadian ruling class is determined to jettison the myth of Canada as a peace-keeping nation--a myth closely bound up with Pearson and Trudeau Liberal governments' attitude toward the Vietnam War and decision to allow Vietnam war resisters to apply for landed immigrant status in Canada--because they see it as cutting across their efforts to revive Canadian militarism and use the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) as a means to assert their predatory interests on the world stage.        Today, Canadian Christianity notes: "Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) Canada held a public prayer vigil July 10 on behalf of Robin Long, a US war resister who was scheduled to be deported from Canada July 15. Long joined the US military in 2003, but became disillusioned with the US war in Iraq, deserted and fled to Canada in 2005. He applied for refugee status in 2006, but his final court appeal was turned down July 14. There are about 200 US resisters of the Iraq War currently in Canada. The CPT Canada vigil, which took place in Winnipeg, drew participants from the 'People's Summit for Faithful Living,' a joint meeting of delegates from Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA."   There is a growing movement of resistance within the US military which includes Megan Bean, Chris Bean, Matthis Chiroux, Richard Droste, Michael Barnes, Matt Mishler, Josh Randall, Robby Keller, Justiniano Rodrigues, Chuck Wiley, 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, Jose Vasquez, Eli Israel, Joshua Key, Ehren Watada, Terri Johnson, Clara 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, Logan Laituri, Jason Marek, 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. In addition, VETWOW is an organization that assists those suffering from MST (Military Sexual Trauma).   IVAW's co-chair, Adam Kokesh, has been regularly targeted by the US government for speaking out.  Wednesday he wrote (Revolutionary Patriot) "The Cops Are Everywhere -- Especially Where I Am."  Thursday he posted a video of one encounter. Friday, his report also included a police report (pages of the police report are clickable to make them larger to read) which reveals that one of the people who have been hassling/harassing him is an FBI agent.  So what's going on?  I have no idea.  But Adam has been targeted before and there's no denying that an FBI agent is going out of his way to target Adam now.   Staying on IVAW, they've posted a copy members of Congress sent to the White House.  The letter is signed by House Reps Yvette D. Clarke, John Conyers, Lynn Woosley, Barbara Lee, Jan Schakowsky, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Dennis Kucinich, James McGovern, Pete Stark, Edolphus Towns, Tammy Baldwin, William Jefferson, and Eleanor Holmes Norton. The letter [PDF format warning] reads:   We, the below signed Members of Congress, voice our support for current, present, and future members of the United States Armed Forces who oppose the War in Iraq and who are working to bring it to a speedy and safe conclusion.  These brave men and women, who have served our nation so honorably, represent the best aspects of our democratic tradition.  While we cannot condone the actions of any service members who translates their personal opposition to the war into a deliberate decision to go Absent Without Leave (AWOL), we offer our most sincere support to every service member affected by the War in Iraq.  This war has placed many of armed service members, like Sergeant Matthis Chiroux, in an untenable dilemma.  Sgt. Chiroux has served as an active duty service member for the last 5 years -- serving tours of duty in Afghanistan and the Philippines.  In July of 2007, having served his country with distinction, the Sergeant was discharged to the Individiual Ready Reserves.  As the civil war raging inside Iraq intensified, Sgt. Chiroux was moving on with his life and leaving behind a war with which he disagreed.  Unfortunately for the Sergeant, the war's unpopularity has taken a heavy toll on the Army's recruitment efforts.  As such, in February of this year, he was recalled to active duty and received his deployment orders for Iraq.  We in the Congress oppose this type of forced redeployment, as well as the military's so-called 'stop-loss' policy.  As such, we in the Congress reaffirm our support for ending the War in Iraq by all means available to us.  We also reaffirm our support for all military members who speak out, advocate, and otherwise support efforts to bring the troops home.   If the letter seems a little weak, let's go to Howard Zinn who isn't campaigning for any office and, even if he was, could probably still tell the hard truths.  From his "Memo to Obama, McCain: No one wins in a war" (Boston Globe):     For someone like myself, who fought in World War II, and since then has protested against war, I must ask: Have our political leaders gone mad? Have they learned nothing from recent history? Have they not learned that no one "wins" in a war, but that hundreds of thousands of humans die, most of them civilians, many of them children?       Did we "win" by going to war in Korea? The result was a stalemate, leaving things as they were before with a dictatorship in South Korea and a dictatorship in North Korea. Still, more than 2 million people - mostly civilians -- died, the United States dropped napalm on children, and 50,000 American soldiers lost their lives. Did we "win" in Vietnam? We were forced to withdraw, but only after 2 million Vietnamese died, again mostly civilians, again leaving children burned or armless or legless, and 58,000 American soldiers dead.   [. . .]   "Decades ago it was full of victories in the sixties and seventies," said Ralph Nader when asked about the changes in consumer advocacy.  "Full of victories.  You know, regulated the lack of safety in motor vehicles, flamable fabrics, Product Safety Commission, all kinds of -- going after usary interest rates for the poor and many other pieces of legislation.  But now it's purely defensive.  It's trying to hold the gains of the sixties and seventies and that's become a losing fight because the Democrats are not going after the Republicans on this issue, even in this campaign.  The Republicans are terrible on consumer protection and the Democrats are not fighting back."  Hold the line?  You could apply the comments to reproductive rights (except Barack's now attacked them with his demeaning of Doe v. ).  Nader was speaking to John Bachir and about the 2004 campaign (video here).  But what about the consumer aspect?  Yesterday the US Food and Drug Administration issued an announcement noting: "FDA is updating its warning to consumers nationwide concerning the outbreak of Salmonella serotype Saintpaul. As of today, FDA officials believe that consumers may enjoy all types of fresh tomatoes available on the domestic market, without concern of becoming infected with Salmonella Saintpaul. The agency is removing the warning that has been in place since June 7, which states that consumers should avoid certain types of fresh tomatoes due to a potential connection to the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak. Consumers may resume enjoying any type of fresh tomato, including raw red plum, raw red Roma, and raw red round tomatoes. While we are changing our consumer guidance about tomatoes, we reiterate our guidance to consumers that those in vulnerable populations (infants, the elderly, and immune-compromised people) should avoid eating jalapeno and serrano peppers as the investigation continues."  In what world is that acceptable?  For those who remember the earlier e-coli outbreak in spinach, in March of this year Consumer Reports' blog noted "a report recently released by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform called 'FDA and Fresh Spinach Safety.' The findings paint a most unappetizing picture of food safety and once again underscore the need to give the Food and Drug Administration more resources to oversee the safety of the nation's food supply. The committee's investigation was prompted by the September 2006 outbreak of E. coli 0157:H7 that caused hundreds of reported injuries and several deaths—an outbreak that was ultimately traced to packaged fresh spinach.  So where is the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform?  June 7th was when the FDA issued their warning on tomatoes.  A working Congress, a working committee would have called for public hearings immediately.  But apparently the public safety takes backseat to showboating for elections so everyone has to wait until the end of July for any hearings. Jim Downing (McClatchy Newspapers) reports that "Americans have continued to get sick -- at a rate of about 20 people per day -- even after" the FDA issued their alert, even after they studied the spinach outbreak.  US House Rep Diana DeGette issued a statement yesterday: "It is absolutely outrageous that we are 90 days into the salmonella outbreak and the FDA and CDC still cannot determine the source of contamination.  Currently, over 1200 cases of salmonella have been reported, hundreds have been hospitalized, while the outbreak has affected 41 states, including Washington, DC and even Canada.  The salmonella outbreak continues to spread, with nearly 30 cases a day, because we do not have a national, comprehensive food traceability system that would quickly track our foods from the field to the fork. . . . Now the FDA is saying that tomatoes are safe, but only because they have a short shelf life.  We still don't know the source of the contamination and that is inexcusable." And it's inexcusable that Congress has done nothing but issue press statements while this has taken place.  Stephen J. Hedges (Chicago Tribune) quotes a letter Senator Tom Harkin sent to Michael Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, "It seems highly unlikely that tomatoes harvested in April would still be consumed fresh by consumers in late June."  And it seems highly unlikely that an effective Congress 'addresses' this issue by sending letters instead of immediately calling hearings.   On a possibly related note, Bill Moyers and Michael Winship (PBS' Bill Moyers Journal  ) point out:   But we also get into these terrible dilemmas -- where the big guys step all over everyone else and the victims are required to pay the hospital bills -- because we refuse to recognize the connection between money and politics. This is the great denial in democracy that may ultimately mean our ruin.  We just don't seem able to see or accept the fact that money drives policy.  It's no wonder that Congress and the White House have been looking the other way as the predators picked the pockets of unsuspecting debtors.  Mega banking and investment firms have been some of the biggest providers of the cash vital to keeping incumbents in office. There isn't much appetite for biting -- or regulating -- the manicured hand that feeds them.        Guess who gave the most money to candidates in this 2007-08 federal election cycle?  That's right, the financial services and real estate industries. They stuffed nearly $250 million dollars into the candidate coffers.  The about-to-be-bailed-out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac together are responsible for about half the country's $12 trillion mortgage debt. Lisa Lerer of Politico.com reports that over the past decade, the two financial giants with the down home names have spent nearly $200 million on campaign contributions and lobbying. According to Lerer, "They've stacked their payrolls with top Washington power brokers of all political stripes, including Republican John McCain's presidential campaign manager, Rick Davis; Democrat Barack Obama's original vice presidential vetter, Jim Johnson; and scores of others now working for the two rivals for the White House."       Last Sunday's New York Times put it as bluntly as anyone ever has: "In Washington, Fannie and Freddie's sprawling lobbying machine hired family and friends of politicians in their efforts to quickly sideline any regulations that might slow their growth or invite greater oversight of their business practices. Indeed, their rapid expansion was, at least in part, the result of such artful lobbying over the years."           What a beautiful term: "artful lobbying."  It means honest graft.         Meanwhile Team Nader notes:   Last week, we set a fundraising goal of $60,000 by Sunday July 20 midnight - to put Nader/Gonzalez on the ballot in a total of 15 states. In one week, we have raised $44,000. Now, we need your help to raise the remaining $16,000 over the next three days - by Sunday midnight. If only 8,000 of you, our loyal supporters, donate $2 now, we will meet this goal. Why is it important to have Ralph Nader on the ballot in November? Without him, the plight of the Palestinian people will not be an issue in this year's election. How do we know? Because Obama/McCain stand with the militaristic right wing AIPAC lobby in the United States. Nader/Gonzalez stand with the Israeli/Palestinian peace movements. You will be hearing a lot this weekend about Obama's upcoming trip to the Middle East. To keep Obama's trip in perspective, check out our new video - Nader on Obama/Israel - here. Pass it around to friends and family this weekend. It is also important to keep in mind that Obama is to the right of some Mossad Israeli hawks. (See recent Mother Jones article here.) Even these Mossad Israeli hawks - along with the majority of the Israeli people - would open talks with Hamas. Obama/McCain would not. Nader/Gonzalez would reverse U.S. policy in the Middle East. Obama/McCain would not. We stand with the courageous Israeli and Palestinian peace movements. We stand against the AIPAC militarists. So, if you care about peace in the Middle East. Please help us out today. To meet our goal by Sunday night. Together, we are making a difference. Onward       RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot" "Robin Long and James Burmeister" "Iraq news" "I Hate The War" "Katrina makes a visit" "Squash with Pasta in the Kitchen" "robin long, james burmeister, anjelica huston" "adolph reed jr. takes on katty-van-van" "Nader on the ballot in Nevada, Hillary standing up" "Soren Wuerth and Penn. Attn. Gen. on Nader" "World Can't Wait! calls for action" "Robin Long, James Burmeister, Carly Simon" "Socialist Worker, Ralph Nader" "Mama Mia, Ralph talks energy" "Patty Murray, Hillary Clinton, Ralph Nader " "Socialist Worker, Nader " "Grab bag" "Proud parents" "THIS JUST IN! BABY'S 1ST STEPS!"

THIS JUST IN! BABY'S 1ST STEPS!

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE   LITTLE BARACK OBAMA IS GOING TO BE WALKING ALMOST ON HIS OWN AND THE PROUD PARENTS ARE GEARING UP TO BE THERE FOR EVERY MOMENT.   THAT'S BECAUSE HE IS THE CHILD THEY CREATED -- WITH A LOT OF LIES AND VERY LITTLE TRUTH.   SAID BARACK, "I LIKE IT WHEN I GO BYE-BYE.  I A BIG BOY NOW.  BIG."   WORD HAS IT THAT THE PRESS INTENDS TO BRONZE THE LITTLE TYKE'S EGO.   FROM THE TCI WIRE:     Starting with war resisters.  US war resister James Burmeister was court-martialed yesterday.  AP ridiculously offers, "Burmeister said he was disturbed by a military tactic of planting equipment to lure Iraqis -- presumably insurgents -- who American snipers could then kill."  No, not insurgents.  They can't even do their own reporting and they can't even the damn facts right.  What took place at Fort Knox yesterday was "The court-martial of the kill-team whistle blower."  Here's how Mark Larabee (The Oregonian) reported it, "But once in Iraq, he was assigned to a 'small kill' team that set traps for insurgents.  They'd place a fake camera on a pole with a sign labeling it as US property, giving the team the right to shoot anyone who messed with it."    [The Oregonian link does not currently work and the story does not show up via a search.  The section quoted here was quoted here on July 16, 2007.  The story ran that day and was entitled "Soldiers still go over the hill even in an all-vounteer Army."] [Add this anywhere, on the paper's blog, they've just reposted Larabee's story.]  The CBC reported it June 29,2007 (link has text and also a listening option), "Instead he said he became part of a team that set up traps for Iraqis using an object such as a fake camera as a lure" and quotes James stating, "If the Iraqis would go and touch it they [the soldiers] could shoot 'em because if anyone messes with the U.S. government property, they're allowed to fire at 'em."  It could have been news then -- the "kill teams."  It should have been.  But instead Panhandle Media chose to ignore reality.  They're never very concerned with Iraq.  Real Media got on the story in September, via Josh White and Ann Scott Tyson (Washington Post) reporting on Jorge Sandoval "As he and two other snipers face charges of killing Iraqis, legal experts are debating how large a role a classified program of "baiting" their targets played in the cases. The soldiers in the unit had the spool of wire, defense attorneys said, only because the Army's secretive Asymmetric Warfare Group had given it to them -- along with other items, such as plastic explosives and AK-47 rounds -- so the snipers could boost the number of suspected insurgents they killed by shooting whoever picked up the materials. . .  Retired Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Romig, a former judge advocate general for the Army, said the group's baiting program, as described publicly, opens up the possibility for indiscriminate shootings -- based on little information -- that could lead to the death of scavengers or curious passersby. He said that when troops kill civilians by mistake, it can harm the war effort."  Kim Sengupta (Independent of London) summarized it, "US soldiers are luring Iraqis to their deaths by scattering military equipment on the ground as "bait", and then shooting those who pick them up, it has been alleged at a court martial."  Sengupta then quoted an unnamed "US military source" stating,  "The guys picking them up are sometimes bad guys. But how do you know each time?"  The difference should be very clear to the AP which, after all, reported of Sandoval September 28th, "He was found not guilty of the two murder charges, but the panel decided he had placed a detonation wire on one of the bodies to make it look as if the man was an insurgent."  But today AP wants to say "presumably insurgents"?   August 24th Maria Hinojosa spoke with James Burmeister for NOW on PBS (she also spoke with Agustin Aguayo for the same segment)   HINOJOSA: During his many missions, James was caught in three road-side bombings... And amazingly, a fellow soldier caught one of the explosions on camera. BURMEISTER: We were in a five humvee set. Rolling down a--down a main street in Baghdad in our sector.  I'm the gunner on top of this humvee...  Just a big bomb goes off. And it's so fast, you don't--you don't see the bomb. You're scared. You're checking your body parts to see if you're missing anything.  A few days after that, I had actually passed out in my room. Passed out, just hit the floor. HINOJOSA: James says that was the first sign of his post traumatic stress disorder. He says doctors thought he also may have sustained a traumatic brain injury, so he was sent to Germany on medical leave.  Two months later, while still on medication, he was ordered back to Iraq. BURMEISTER: They were desperate for people to get back there. They just needed people in Baghdad. They just need bodies to man the guns and the equipment. HINOJOSA: James saw only two options: either go back to Iraq...or go AWOL, Absent Without Leave, a crime punishable by jail time and even court-martial. BURMEISTER: I got back home--talked to my wife. You know, I said, "I think I'm gonna leave." It was like a 15 minute decision that I'm--I'm gonna leave--I'm gonna leave the Army. HINOJOSA: On May 4th of this year James fled to Canada, a familiar haven for over 55,000 Americans during the Vietnam War. But times have changed and Canadian immigration laws are much stricter now. When James arrived in Ottawa he realized his only viable option to legally stay in Canada was to apply for refugee status.  We were with him and his family the day they put in their application. BURMEISTER: Today I am here at the immigration office to file my refugee claim, and starting the whole process today and hope everything goes well. HINOJOSA: Up until now James and his family had been living underground.  During this war about 300 U.S. soldiers are known to have fled to Canada and around 50 have applied for refugee status. None to this day have been granted but no one has been sent home either. They, along with James, wait to see if Canada will take them in permanently.   Speaking to the CBS June 29th, he explained:  "Our platoon in particular would set up small groups called small kill teams maybe a group of four, five people, some snipers and we would set up fake cameras.  We would put 'Property of US Government' in English and Arabic and we would wait for an Iraqi to come up and touch it because that gives the US the right to kill them, so they say.  That would be the typical thing we'd do. . . . I didn't see how that was helping at all."  Following the roadside bombing caught on tape (which wasn't the only bombing James endured), he was put on 'leave' when he should have been sent to a hospital.  The military didn't want to take responsibility for that and expected him to get (apparently brief) medical treatment while he was on so-called 'leave.'  Mina Al-Oraibi (Asharq Alawsat) reported, "Following three months of lengthy treatment and surgery for a head injury, the US Army issued an order to send Burmeister back to Iraq" and James explained to her, "They wanted to send me back there on crutches and taking anti-depressants."  James told the CBC that he was being threatened and told to lie about his status because he was wanted back in Iraq which is when he made his decision:   Like I said, I was back on leave, just taking care of my hospital stuff. My commander of my company told me that I had two days to get ready to head back to Baghdad.  They gave me 24-hours duty on the first day so I couldn't go home and tell my wife so I was -- when I got back after the 24-hours -- just was looking on the internet about Canada and I heard a lot of stories about Vietnam war resisters coming up to Canada so the idea just popped into my head to look on the -- look on the internet.  And I also included 'refugee" in that search.  Came across the website Resisters.ca and called them up and asked what kind of options I had.  You know, they told me I should look at all my options before just running up to Canada but at that point I had already looked at a lot of them, I had already talked to my commander about consientious objector status and they just said no to that.  So that day I bought the ticket and next day flew out from Nuremberg Germany to Toronto and made my way up here.  [The audio clip at CBC is an interview Burmeister did with Rob Benzie.  More from the interview -- for those who can't stream online or with hearing disabilities -- can be found in the September 25th snapshot.]   Burmeister left Canada and returned to the US where he turned himself in on March 4th.  Camilla Mortensen (Eugene Weekly) reported  on his return and noted, "His father fears the Army wants to keep Burmeister quiet about the 'bait-and-kill' teams the he alleges have been used to kill Iraqi civilians.  While James Burmeister awaits the Army's decision, his father [Erich Burmeister] is fighting to bring him home." In May, James Burmeister's father Erich wrote about his son at Courage to Resist:    He is not a kid anymore.  When he joined the army, he was a typical poor kid, naive kid, painted himself in a corner kid.  A typical young man high on testosterone low on common sense, he brought the recruiter's line of crap and fine-print flim flaw, and was coached on how to assure his induction despite medical conditions that would have disqualified him.   So the army trained him how to kill efficiently in urban warfare situations and shipped his naive butt over to Baghdad to carry out the orders of his commander and chief, the Warrior Prince Bush, our president, brave military veteran of Vietnam.  So my son was forced to take part in and was witness to acts of human cruelty beyond his wildest imagination.  He killed other young men just like him.  In another place in another time, they could have been friends, they could have worked side by side and shared their dreams, now their ghosts will haunt his dreams, like the dreams of this brand new generation of "winter soldiers".  For the matter of a few feet, or maybe even a few inches, my son's brains would have been spilled out on a Baghdad street.  My nightmare of a soldier's dad, of cradling my son's blown up head in my lap while I try to put it back together, it would have become reality like the nightmares of the families of those soldiers who have already died, and those who will die next week, next month, and next year.   So now my son sits in Army custody, brain injured by a roadside bomb and struggling mightly with PTSD while he awaits court-martial for desertion, because he refused redepolyment to combat in Iraq in May 2007 in protest over the war crimes he was ordered to engage in.  He married a fifty-caliber machine gun atop a hummer providing perimeter security for one of the now infamous small kill teams.    In June, his mother Helen Burmeister spoke at a rally outside Fort Knox.     Helen Burmeister: I'm Helen Burmeister and I'm here today to support my son Prviate 1st Class James Burmeister.  My son is an Iraq War veteran and I'm very proud of him today.  He fought bravely in Iraq.  He followed orders.  He was wounded in a roadside bomb and he's been diagnosed with PTSD and a possible brain injury.  Our request today is that the army release James.  We want James to be able to put this traumatic experience behind him so he can begin to heal -- both emotionally and physically.  I believe my son has done his part.  Now it's time for him to be given the recognition he deserves.  Short of that, we are requesting that he be allowed to go home to Oregon.  And thank you.  Thank you to everyone for all your support today.     Chris Kenning (Courier-Journal) reported on Helen Burmeister's efforts and spoke with US war resister Darrell Anderson who also went to Canada.  Anderson returned September 30, 2006 to turn himself in October 3rd.  Like Burmeister, he suffers from PTSD and he also lost his benefits.  He told Kenning, "It wasn't the easy choice, it was the hard choice.  I lost my GI Bill, my veteran's benefits . . . but I did what's right, and I've still got my pride."   Today Chris Kenning (Courier-Journal) reports on James Burmeister's court-martial yesterday and the sentence of jail (six months), reduction in rank (busted down to private), dishonorable discharge (bad conduct) and "a loss of pay" and quotes Burmeister's military attorney, Captain Tyson McDonald, stating of the military, "They're not happy that dirty laundry was getting aired."  Nick Kyonka (Toronto Star) quotes Vietnam vet and Vietnam Veterans Against the War's Carol Rawert-Trainer stating the court-martial took four hours and, "It's quite a shock to everybody.  We all thought they were going to take it easy on him because he turned himself in, but it doesn't look that way."  She also spoke at the rally last month to show support for James Burmeister:   Carol Rawert Trainer: I am a Vietnam Era veteran and my husband is a retired USAF officer and Vietnam Veteran.  We belong to Lousiville Peace Action Community and Vietnam Veterans Against the War, two great organizations that work for peace and justice.  I learned of PFC James Burmeister through my involvement with the GI Rights Hotline.  We are disgusted at the way the government treats our returning war heroes and we will not sit by and watch it happen.  You hear the slogan 'Support Our Troops.'  Well that is why we have come here today.  I have personally heard too many horror stories of veterans in the Lousiville area who return from war and do not receive proper medical care or benefits or counseling for PTSD which is all too prevalent in this war.  The Army seems to care more about their retention at any cost to the soldier and family than they do about the care of the soldiers affected by this war.  Too many soldiers are battling their physical and emotional problems alone.  The suicide rates have risen dramatically.  This is obscene.  We are here today to demand that the army grant James a discharge in lieu of court-martial.  We are watching what the army is doing.  James served honorably in Iraq and carried out his duties as commanded.  He received head injuries and shrapnel in his face in the 3rd attack on his convoy.  He also has PTSD and seizures and is on many medications as a result of his experience.  When he was recuperating in the hospital in Germany he realized that what he was commanded to do -- killing innocent people, sometimes in bait-and-switch schemes, was immoral.  The army trains these troops from basic to kill, kill, kill and does not differentiate between innocent Iraqis or insurgents.  James could not, would not, do it any longer.  He had to live with himself and his actions for the rest of his life.  The army does not care about the lifelong problems these honorable soldiers face.  In fact they were going to send James back to Iraq even though he was on medications for high blood pressure, depression, sleep problems and more.  At least James is one of the lucky ones who realized he needed help before it was too late.  Going back to Iraq would be dangerous to his life as well as to those who served with him.  We are here today to support James and his family in their struggle for justice!  James' family has suffered through other family circumstances that dictate that James be home to help them.  We hope the army will grant James an immediate discharge not only for his own personal needs but for his families' needs.  Even though he would not receive medical benefits which he needs, he would be home in a safe and loving environment.  This is what is fair.  This is what is just.  James was there when the army needed him.  Now the army must be there for James and the countless other heroes who need assistance and support as they cope with their war-induced problems.   War Resisters Support Campaign Lee Zaslofsky tells Kyonka regarding the verdict, "In that case, his post-traumatic stress disorder and some of the other problems that he has won't be dealt with properly.  I just hope this isn't an ill omen for some of the other (resisters)."   Turning to news of Robin Long.  Or how about "Huh?"  "The Morning Show discusses Canadian government's decision to expel an American war resistor, then Jane Mayer . . ."  It does?  No, KPFA's The Morning Show did not.  Despite the summary and announcing it on air.  Kind of like, as noted in yesterday's snapshot, "And US war resisters may see refuge in Canada."  Which should have been noted as taking place on Tuesday.  Or rather not taking place.  Probably not a good idea to self-pat yourself on the shoulders, in the midst of your latest round of begging, when you're unable to deliver on what you have promised and appear to think that, as the program ends, you can just pretend you never promised the segment.  Or if you let Aileen pimp the most embarrassing segment of the week as "independent, listener sponsored media," don't expect people to be in a hurry to toss a few coins at you -- not even to get you to be quiet.   Heath Druzin (Idaho Statesman) reports, "Long, who has a child with a Canadian woman, has been considered absent without leave since he fled the U.S. Commanders at Fort Carson will decide whether he should be discharged from the military, returned to duty, court marshaled or given a less severe punishment, Fort Carson spokeswoman Karen Linne said."  Monique James (KTVB) notes, "He's been living in British Columbia for the past three years and has a two-year-old son there.Long's sister, Christine, says she fears for her brother now that he's back in the U.S. 'When I heard what was going on I'm kind of freaked out because he's my brother, I don't want anything to happen to him,' said Christine Long." Robin is the father of a Canadian child.  It's not a minor issue.  It is, however, an issue that Judge Anne Mctavish should have to explain overlooking.  Apparently dizzy from the high altitude of the bench, she forgot the law: Robin, as the father of a Canadian citizen, should not have been deported.  It's not just the common sense that it splits up a family (which it does), it's also that the immigration policies are very clear regarding children and parents.  Judge Mctavish needs to be asked what gave her the right to override precedent and law in making her decision to evict Robin from the country? Also covering Long? The Idaho Examiner runs a summary of the article here while The Seattle Times does so here.  KBOI News files a brief summary.  The Chicago Tribune files a small brief on Long here.  Iran's Press TV covers his story here. And Susan Bourette (Christian Science Monitor) observes of the decision to deport Robin,  "In a country that provided refuge to an estimated 90 percent of some 100,000 deserters and draft dodgers who went into exile during the Vietnam War, it's an unprecedented decision -- though perhaps not unexpected, given the political temper of the times in Canada."   Free Speech Radio News filed a report yesterday:   Aura Bogado: When more than 50,000 people made their way from the US to Canada to avoid fighting in the Viet Nam war, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau welcomed them, declaring Canada a "refuge from militarism". Today, while much smaller in number and largely unnoticed in the US, a new generation of "deserters" are fighting for the same sanctuary -- including Robin Long, who came to Canada in 2005 seeking refugee status. But as FSRN's Sarah Olson reports, Canadian government officials have not extended the same welcome to these modern war resisters.   Sarah Olson: A federal judge in Vancouver ruled that Robin Long must go home, saying Monday that the 25-year-old had failed to provide clear and non-speculative evidence that he'd be singled out for harsh treatment if he returned to the United States. By Tuesday afternoon, despite two federal court victories, last month's Parliamentary resolution welcoming Iraq  war resisters and the support nearly two-thirds of Canadians have shown for US war resisters,  Long became the first Iraq Warwar resister to be deported from Canada.  Bob Ages with the War Resisters Support Campaign in Vancouver.   Bob Ages: We think they have expedited what amounts to kidnapping and extraordinary rendition precisely to try to set a precedent to take the wind out of the sails of a campaign of support which has been growing in strength both in terms of our legal arguments and our political support.   Sarah Olson: To understand the legal landscape Long is navigating, one must examine three other cases.  First, the Hinzman-Hughey case.  Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey arrived in Canada in 2004 and in 2005 became the first US soldiers to petition for refugee status.  They were denied but appealed all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada which declined to intervene in November of last year.  Attorney Alyssa Manning represents deserters now living in Toronto.  Her client, Corey Glass, won a stay of removal last week based largely on how dramatically Hinzman-Hughey changed things.   Alyssa Manning: We argued that it established new law in the area of Canadian refugee law and that is that if you are fearing the persecution of the state itself as opposed to some other actor in your country of origin then you have to seek protection from that state before you can get refugee protection. Before the Hinzman decision, it wasn't thought that you had to seek state protection if it was actually the state that was persecuting you.   Sarah Olson: The second case is army private Joshua Key.  Unlike Hinzman and Hughey, Key was an Iraq veteran. In 2005, the refugee board found that although Key had received orders which violated the Geneva Convention disobeying these orders didn't entitle Key to refugee status.  A federal court heare his appeal earlier this month.  Key's attorney, Jeffry House.   Jeffry House: The federal court said that the right to refuse inappropriate orders is larger than what the refugee board had thought.  It isn't simply that a soldier can refuse to commit war crimes, a soldier can also refuse to commit violations of the Geneva Convention if that's required of him or her on a systematic basis.  The court held that if the United States were to prosecute Joshua Key for refusing to violate the Geneva Conventions then that would give rise to a refugee claim.   Sarah Olson: This July 4th decision was the first legal victory for Iraq War resisters and House says it could have substantial implications.   Jeffry House: Any case in which it was alleged by the person concerned that he or she was required to commit inappropriate acts on a systematic basis probably would have a right to have their case re-heard.    Sarah Olson: Finally there is national guard Sgt. Corey Glass.  Glass arrived in Canada in 2006 after going AWOL while home on leave in the middle of an 18-month deployment.  His bid for refuge was also rejected.  His legal appeals unsuccessful.  And his deportation seemed so likely he gave up his apartment and quit his job.  But thanks in part to the Key decision the federal court stayed his removal last week while his legal team presents new evidence. Attorney Alyssa Manning.   Alyssa Manning: The really interesting thing about the reason coming down in Corey's case is that it will be the first decision that will consider all of the evidence that we gathered about what has happened to simarly situated individuals in the United States -- people like Stephen Funk or Camilo Mejia, people who spoke out against the war and then were court-martialed and imprisoned.    Sarah Olson: This makes Robin Long's removal yesterday all the more unfortunate.  Long is expected to be sent to Fort Carson, Colorado  where his tanker unit is based.  Despite the Canadian court's assertion that most deserters don't even face a court-martial or prison time, the percentage of soldiers facing prosecution is much higher when the soldier is on record opposing the war. And this has Long's US supporters concerned. For Free Speech Radio News, I'm Sarah Olson, Oakland, California.   There is a growing movement of resistance within the US military which includes Megan Bean, Chris Bean, Matthis Chiroux, Richard Droste, Michael Barnes, Matt Mishler, Josh Randall, Robby Keller, Justiniano Rodrigues, Chuck Wiley, 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, Jose Vasquez, Eli Israel, Joshua Key, Ehren Watada, Terri Johnson, Clara 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, Logan Laituri, Jason Marek, 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. In addition, VETWOW is an organization that assists those suffering from MST (Military Sexual Trauma).     RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot" "Robin Long" "The court-martial of the kill-team whistle blower" "adolph reed jr. takes on katty-van-van" "Ralph Nader gets federal matching funds" "John Pilger; Rosa Clemente caught lying" "Kiss my Black ass, Rosa Clemente" "Adolph Reed Jr. and the 'movement'" "The silence on Bonusgate" "Barack excited about seeing 5 more states" "THIS JUST IN! BARACK'S SUMMER VACATION!"

THIS JUST IN! BARACK'S SUMMER VACATION!

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE

SENATOR BARACK 'SWEETIE' OBAMA IS GEARING UP FOR A FIVE NATION TOUR.

DAVID AXELROD, THE ALICE TO BARACK'S CAROL BRADY, DECLARED THAT THERE WAS NO TIME TO ROUND OUT BARACK'S FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE, "OR GIVE HIM ANY."

BAMBI SEEMED OBLIVIOUS AND WAS RUSHING AROUND PACKING JUICE BOXES AND SNACK 'EMS WHILE HE EXCITEDLY TALKED ABOUT HE WAS "GOING TO VISIT ALL THE STATES IN THE U.S. NOW!"

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Starting with war resistance. As noted yesterday, US war resister Robin Long was deported from Canada. Robin's story makes the New York Times today (A14) with an article by Ian Austen and a photo by Darryl Dyck (The Canadian Press) of Sarah Bjorknas. Austen notes, "Mr. Long was expelled a day after the Federal Court of Canada rejected his request to delay his removal order pending further legal appeals. That decision and Mr. Long's expulsion were somewhat unexpected. Two other American deserters received Federal Court permission this month to stay in Canada to continue their appeals. . . . Sadia Qureshi, a spokeswoman for Diane Finley, the immigration minister, said agents from the Canada Border Service Agency sent Mr. Long back to the United States from British Columbia, where he had been living, at 9:55 a.m. local time." Petti Fong (Toronto Star) speaks with War Resisters Support Campaign - Vancouver's Sarah Bjorknas, "In Ontario, where he lived for a time, Long was engaged to be married and had a child, according to Sarah Bjorknas, one of his supporters. About 50 American deserters are currently making refugee claims to stay in Canada, said Bjorknas, and a couple of hundred are presumed to be living quietly underground." Robin and Renee had a child (the child and Renee are Canadian). That should have been enough for any Canadian court. Some form of immigration status should have been granted Robin since he was the father of a Canadian child. Check the laws -- something Judge Anna Mactavish appears not to have done. As Ruth noted last night, "Today is very sad because Robin was deported. It is also very sad because a Canadian judge decided to break up a family. I hope the young boy is able some day to ask Judge Mactavish why she sent his father out of the country." Chris Cook (Gorilla Radio) interviewed Sarah Bjorknas Monday night. UPI cites 'word warrior' army Major Nathan Banks who "said Long would be returned to Fort Knox, Ky., for disciplinary procedures, which could include prison time." Courage to Resist explains, "Courage to Resist has made civilian legal representation available to Robin and will be doing everything possible to provide him our full support. We plan to collaborate with many other groups in our efforts to help Robin in the coming weeks. Refusing to fight in an illegal war is not a crime--except under the Uniform Code of Military (In)Justice."

Liam Lahey (The Villager) explores the reactions and notes: "Dale Landry is wanted by the U.S. Air Force for refusing to fight in Iraq after serving in Afghanistan. Landry spent the night of July 14 in full uniform outside the U.S. Consulate on University Avenue in support of Long. The Parkdale resident, who turned 23 this past week, lives with two other American military personnel in a small apartment." Tom Banse (OPB News -- link has text and audio)
speaks with Iraq Veterans Against the War Ash Woolson US war resister who states, "The Canadian people are not for the war in Iraq. It seems that the government is really pushing against these veterans and it's not the people." Meanwhile Janice Tibbetts and Linda Nguyen (Canwest News Service) dig into the legal aspects: "'We've got a divided court,' said Toronto lawyer Geraldine Sadoway, whose client, Justin Colby, recently lost his refugee bid, after fleeing to Canada two years ago following a one-year stint as a medic in Iraq. Ms. Sadoway says she cannot figure out why the Federal Court rejected Mr. Colby's claim on June 26, only one week before it handed the first ever victory to deserter Joshua Key, who also served in Iraq."

Robin is from Idaho and the Idaho Statesman notes, "A Boise native is believed to be the first deserter from the Iraq war to be deported back to the U.S. from Canada. Late Tuesday, Robin Long, 25, was en route from Canada to Fort Lewis, Wash., said Army Capt. Greg Dorman. From there, the private first class will be taken to Fort Carson, Colo., where he was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, which was recently renamed the 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, said Dorman, a Fort Carson spokesman." Robert Matas (Globe and Mail) explains that "Canadian authorities failed to co-ordinate the deportation with U.S. military police. Mr. Long spent last night in a jail cell at the Whatcom County prison, just south of the Canada-U.S. border" and quotes police Sgt Ernie Stach declaring, "We're in the process of co-ordinating the transfer. I don't know when he will go." We know where he won't go: Fort Knox. After ignoring the story all week -- declared today, "He's expected to be returned to his unit at Fort Knox, Kentucky." Pravda on the Hudson. Linda Nguyen (Canwest News Service) quotes Fort Knox spokesperson Ryan Brus who states Long will be going to Fort Carson until a recommendation is made by the unit commander about what to do next and that he is returning in time to "witness the case of James Burmeister, an American deserter who is currently facing criminal charges at Fort Knox." July 4th, Louisville's WHAS11 reported (text and video) on James Burmeister

Renee Murphy: . . . But first here, our top story, we're looking at the charges being brought against a US soldier. Supporters say that Private 1st Class James Burmeister should be back in Oregon with his family this Fourth of July holiday but instead he is being held at Fort Knox facing a court-martial on AWOL and desertion charges. WHAS11's Kelsey Starks joins us now ith more on our top story. Kelsey?

Kelsey Starks: 23-year-old James Burmeister is being held at Fort Knox for five months now. He is charged with deserting his army unit while on leave from Iraq. Yesterday he got a court-martial date but his friends and family say because he suffers from head injuries Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after surviving a roadside bomb attack in Iraq, they're hoping some of those charges can be dismissed.

Helen Burmeister: My son is an Iraqi War veteran. And I'm very proud of him today. He fought bravely in Iraq. He followed orders. He was wounded in a roadside bomb. And he's been diagonsed with PTSD and a possible brain injury.

Kelsey Starks: Video blogger James Pence followed Helen Burmeister to Fort Knox last week where she was fighting for her son, hoping to get him out of Fort Knox. PFC James Burmeister enlisted in the army in June of 2005. Two years later while on leave he went AWOL -- Absent Without Leave -- to Canada. After ten months, he turned himself in to Fort Knox.

Nina Benson: He went AWOL after six months of being there when he was back in Germany on his rest and recuperation because he didn't feel that the treatment that he was getting for his injuries were proper -- were up to par with what he should be getting.

Kelsey Starks: Fort Knox is one of only two processing centers for army deserters. Nearly 5,000 army army soldiers were charged with deserting last year -- that's a number up 92% from 2004.

Harold Trainer: They really do need to find more solutions.

Kelsey Starks: Harold Trainer and his wife Carol [Rawert-Trainer] are following James' case very closely here in Louisville. They both served in the military during Vietnam.

Carol Rawert-Trainer: It's not rare that there are so many suffing from PTSD today that aren't getting help. That part's not rare. And it's not even rare that we have AWOLs anymore. The rare thing is how aggressive the army is going after James instead of just giving him a discharge.

Harold Trainer: Those young men and women give our country and our government a blank check when they sign to go into the military. The country and the government really needs to give them a blank check back to take care of them.

Kelsey Starks: Now a Fort Knox spokesperson did not return our phone calls this afternoon. If James is convicted of desertion, he could get a dishonorable discharge and even face time in prison. His court-martial date, by the way, is scheduled for July the 16th. Kelsey Starks, WHAS11 News.

On coverage of Robin Long, many, like the Detroit Free Press and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, cover the story in their around-the-world briefs roundup. Marcia noted The Canadian Press' article, Rebecca noted Dan Karpenchuk's report for Australia's ABC, Kat noted the roundup in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Mike noted the Bombay News Net's coverage and that instead of writing their own article Sydney Morning Herald just ran AP's -- Ruth noted NEWS.com.au which did write their own article -- while Elaine noted Al Jazeera's coverage and the idiot Suzanne Goldberg (Guardian of London) of whom Elaine points out, "Stupid Goldberg should know that it war resisters leaving the US during Veitnam were not just war resisters 'fleeing the Vietnam draft.' She should know that because war resisters -- deserters and draft dodgers -- also went to England. England had no Pierre Trudeau and would cowtow to Richard Nixon in such a craven manner that it makes Tony Blair's lackey days to the Bully Boy look almost like 'independence'." In addition, the story was picked up by Thaindian News, the BBC, and RTT among others.


There is a growing movement of resistance within the US military which includes Megan Bean, Chris Bean, Matthis Chiroux, Richard Droste, Michael Barnes, Matt Mishler, Josh Randall, Robby Keller, Justiniano Rodrigues, Chuck Wiley, 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, Jose Vasquez, Eli Israel, Joshua Key, Ehren Watada, Terri Johnson, Clara 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, Logan Laituri, Jason Marek, 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. In addition, VETWOW is an organization that assists those suffering from MST (Military Sexual Trauma).


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"THIS JUST IN! MICHELE KORT RUINS MS.!"

THIS JUST IN! MICHELE KORT RUINS MS.!

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE

MICHELE KORT -- A RIP-OFF 'BOOK' AUTHOR -- WAS WRONGLY PUT IN CHARGE OF MS. MAGAZINE AND THAT'S HOW MS. MAGAZINE DID NOT ONE DAMN THING WHILE HILLARY WAS THE VICTIM OF NON-STOP SEXISM.

WHEN FORCED TO MENTION HILLARY, THEY TOSSED TO BARACK SUPPORTER DONNA BRAZILE WHO HAS SPENT DECADES PRETENDING SHE'S NOT A LESBIAN -- EVEN AFTER ANDREW SULLIVAN OUTED HER IN THE 90S. WHAT BUSINESS DOES MS. MAGAZINE HAVE PUBLISHING A COLUMN BY A CLOSETED LESBIAN? SINCE WHEN DO THEY SHY AWAY FROM OUT AND PROUD AND GO WITH CLOSET CASES?

WHEN REACHED FOR COMMENT MS. KORT ATTEMPTED TO DENY LYING TO READERS WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SILENCE ON THE SEXIST ATTACKS AGAINST HILLARY BY INSISTING THAT THE TAX STATUS PREVENTED MS. FROM COVERING THEM.

WHEN THESE REPORTERS INFORMED KORT THAT WE HAD COPIES OF THOSE E-MAILS, KORT ASKED, "IS IT JUST OF THOSE E-MAILS OR DO YOU HAVE THE ONES I FORWARDED AND AUTHORED CONTAINING SEXIST ATTACKS ON HILLARY?"

WHEN WE REFUSED TO ANSWER HER QUESTION, KORT BECAME NERVOUS AND ASKED WHAT DOES C.I. REALLY KNOW ABOUT KORT'S 'BOOK' WRITING?

WHEN THESE REPORTERS RESPONDED "EVERY THING," KORT WENT INTO A PANIC AND BEGAN CURSING.SAID KORT, "F**K HILLARY, WHO GIVES A DAMN ABOUT A WOMAN PRESIDENT! YEAH, THE SO-CALLED 'FEMINIST' MAJORITY FOUNDATION ONLY ISSUED TWO 'WIRES' ON THE SEXISM AGAINST HILLARY FROM JANUARY UNTIL WE DECLARED HER CAMPAIGN OVER IN JUNE. SO WHAT? WE HATED HILLARY! I HATE HILLARY! IF MS. CAN'T BE USED TO GO AFTER GODD**N WOMEN, WHAT'S THE POINT! I HATE ALL WOMEN! I HATE MYSELF! YOU TELL THAT B**TCH C.I. THAT I WROTE MY LAST BAD 'BOOK' ALL BY MYSELF!"

SINCE THESE REPORTERS ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE RESEARCH C.I. DID ON MICHELE KORT'S 'BOOK,' WE LEFT LAUGHING WHILE SHE ATTEMPTED TO WRITE AN ESSAY EXCUSING BARACK'S USE OF HOMOPHOBIA IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO SCARE UP VOTES.

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Starting with war resistance. Chris Cook (Gorilla Radio) explained last night, "To recap if you've just tuned in, Robin Long the American war resister, who has been in Canada for some time, more than a year at least, was arrested last year in Nelson and has been going through these various court processes to avoid deportation. His hearing was today in Vancouver where he was petitioning for an extension so he could work on an appeal to try to stay in the country because he faces arrest in the as a deserter in the United States. Justice Mactavish in Vancouver denied that appeal so it looks like Robin Long is on his way back to America to face what passes for American justice." The War Resisters Support Campaign - Vancouver issued a call for action last night:

Supporters of Robin Long and the War Resisters coming from both sides of the border will gather in a peaceful protest under the Peace Arch at the border at 9 am Tuesday July 15. (while the Peace Arch is neutral ground, supporters should bring appropriate identification in the unlikely event they are required to pass through Canadian Customs) In the meantime, please take a moment to email or phone Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, and ask him to immediately stop the deportation of U.S. Iraq war resister Robin Long. (The Canadian Border Services Agency falls under his ministry). Also ask him why the federal government is refusing to respect the clearly expressed will of Canada's Parliament, that U.S. war resisters should be allowed to stay and that deportation proceedings against them should cease?In a recent Angus Reid poll, almost two-thirds of Canadians said they want U.S. Iraq war resisters to be allowed to stay in Canada. Demand to know why the Harper government is unwilling to be accountable to Canadians. Minister of Public Security Stockwell Day Email: day.s@parl.gc.ca (Ottawa office); days1@parl.gc.ca (Penticton constituency office) Phone: 613.995.1702 (Ottawa); 250.770.4480 (Penticton constituency office)Fax: 613.995.1154 (Ottawa); 250.770.4484 (Penticton) Please check the War Resisters Support Campaign website for updates on Robin's status and on emergency actions. For more information about the campaign please visit: http://www.resisters.ca/

October 2, 2007, Long was arrested. October 4, 2007, he was released and Canada's CBS interviewed him (video link is on upper right hand of the page). Robin told them, "When I got arrested and was sitting in the detention cell in Nelson, I was pretty sure I was going home right away. I was pretty sure I would be deported. The way that the immigration officer made it sound, I would be deported Friday. That's not quite what happened and I'm very thankful for that." He was asked how he felt "about the challenges ahead" and Robin responded, "I have at least a couple more months in Canada and hopefully something will happen in the next couple of months within the government and maybe some kind of legal action will let us stay here other than the refugee protection. But if not I'm prepared to go back to the United States and face up to desertion. It's better than going to Iraq." The arrest was over documents sent but not received because he had moved for work. That one incident triggered everything that followed for Robin Long in spite of Canadian Judge Robert Barnes decision regarding Joshua Key's claims for refugee status issued on the Fourth of July as well as the motion the House of Commons passed June 3rd.

25-year-old Robin Long is from Boise, Idaho and enlisted in July 2003. In March 2005, he was told he'd be going to Iraq and ordered to report to Fort Carlson in April of 2005. Instead, he self-checked out. Long remained underground for two months and went to Canada only for a wedding (June, 2005). While in Canada, liking what he saw, Long decided to stay. He and his partner Renee have a son (born in Canada). The decision to deport Robin will break up a family. A detail not noted in the press coverage of the decision. Nor is it noted that, by Canadian law, as the father of a Canadian citizen, Long could apply for (and be granted) citizenship. "A good person and sort of a gentle soul" is how she's always heard Robin described, Sarah Bjorknas explained to Chris Cook last night.

Chris Cook: Is there another avenue of appeal Sarah for Robin or is he just going to be whisked out of the country as we've seen other people that Americans want to extradite done -- John Marshall comes to mind?

Sarah Bjorknas: We understand that there are no other legal avenues. And that indeed they have him and we don't know precisely where he is. They don't have to tell us where and when they move him anywhere including across the border.

Bjorknas also explained that Robin was not being extradicted. Canada doesn't (and didn't during Vietnam) have any treaty with the US that would cover military desertions.

Robert Matas (Globe and Mail) reports that Robin "was troubled by evidence of abuse of Iraqi detainees that came out in May of 2004, Mr. [Shepherd] Moss said. Mr. Long concluded the abuse was systemic and condoned by the U.S. administration, Mr. Moss said. After some soul-searching, Mr. Long decided he would not go to Iraq and would not participate or be complicit in what he believed were war crimes, the lawyer said." Jeff Hodson (Metro News) explains attorney Moss "argued Long faced lengthy jail times and could even get the death penalty. The judge ruled that a death sentence was only a 'theoretical possibility' as the last soldier sentenced to death for desertion was during the Second World War." Kim Bolan and Suzanne Ahearne (Vancouver Sun) and Brian Hutchinson (National Post) point out that Long would be the first war resister deported from Canada since the start of the illegal war. Judge Anne L. Mactavish long career has included being the president of the Human Rights Tribunal Panel back in the nineties. Apparently, that temporary post carried only temporary awareness. Bob Ages, chair of the War Resisters Support Campaign - Vancouver, tells The Canadian Press, "I don't think there's time to even file papers. We're down to the wire here. She's [Mactavish] refused us the ability to follow due process and exhaust all his legal avenues in Canada." Catherine Elsworth (Telegraph of London) notes Mactavish "rejected his last-ditch plea for a stay of his deporation order, saying he had failed to provide convincing evidence he would suffer 'irreparable harm' if he returned to the US." Apparently, Mactavish either didn't care about splitting up a family or wasn't informed of it. Canada's New Democratic Party issued the following this afternoon:

NDP MP Bill Siksay (Burnaby-Douglas) is calling on the Conservative government to stop the deportation of American Iraq war resister Robin Long, scheduled for today.
"Stockwell Day, Diane Finley and Stephen Harper should respect the will of Parliament and the Canadian people and stop this deportation immediately," said Siksay. "The House of Commons has passed a motion supporting a special programme that would allow conscientious objectors who refuse to serve in the war in Iraq to remain in Canada. The government must respect this action by the House and stop deportation action against Robin Long and other Iraq war resisters."
The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration reported to the House of Commons about the need for such a programme, and on a motion moved by MPs Olivia Chow and Siksay, the House concurred in that report.
"The Canadian government and the Canadian people do not support George Bush's illegal war in Iraq. We must have the courage of those convictions and back them up by ensuring that Americans who take a stand against that war receive a welcome in Canada," noted Siksay.
"Robin Long must be allowed to stay," Siksay concluded.

UPI 'covers' the news of the judge's ruling by undercounting war resisters. Linda Nguyen (Canwest News Services) notes, "There are an estimated 200 American army deserters who have sought refugee status in Canada." Greg Quinn (Bloomberg News), CBC, Dan Slater (Wall St. Journal), Candace Heckman (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) and AP are among the other outlets reporting on the news. Among those who have ignored it? Democracy Now!, The Progressive ("Peace and social justice since 1909" is apparently an empty slogan), The Nation and just about every outlet in Panhandle Media.

Robin Long described his position on the Iraq War, on staying in Canada and more back in October 2007:

Because I feel the war in Iraq is an illegal war of aggression and it's an indiscriminate killing of the Arab people and I believe it's all for lies and the wrong reasons so I couldn't with good conscience take part in that conflict. . . . When I joined the army, I thought that the war in Iraq was a good thing. I was lied to by my president. The reasons that were given, I thought they were valid. But just because I joined the army didn't mean I abdicated my ability to evolve intellectually and morally and what I saw in the independent media and even in mainstream media changed my view of what was going on over there and based on what I had learned I made a decision to desert. . . . When people coming back from Iraq were proud of what they had done, bragging about killing people and showing me pictures of their first kill with big smiles on their faces and that just didn't sit right in my stomach. So I made the decision then. That was probably the turning point right there.

Laura Baziuk (Peace Arch News link has text and video) descibes approximately 30 people gathering at the Peace Arch this morning to show their support for Robin Long. The group carried signs with slogans such as "ROBIN LONG BELONGS IN CANADA" and "war Resisters welcome here." Demonstrator Carleen Pickard declared, "We believe he was deported this morning so he is already in the United States." Allan Dowd (Reuters) has just had confirmation that Long is out of Canada: "The Canada Border Services Agency confirmed Long's removal, but declined to give other details, citing privacy laws. Long's refugee claim had already been rejected and he could not appeal Monday's court ruling."

There is a growing movement of resistance within the US military which includes Megan Bean, Chris Bean, Matthis Chiroux, Richard Droste, Michael Barnes, Matt Mishler, Josh Randall, Robby Keller, Justiniano Rodrigues, Chuck Wiley, 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, Jose Vasquez, Eli Israel, Joshua Key, Ehren Watada, Terri Johnson, Clara 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, Logan Laituri, Jason Marek, 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.

[. . .]

In news in the US presidential race, Brett Lieberman (The Patriot News) reports, "The bonus scandal stole millions from the public, but it could end up saving third-party presidential candidate Ralph Nader $81,000 in legal fees he was ordered to pay after being tossed from the Pennsylvania ballot in 2004." Barack Obama gave a speech today. Yawn. Free Speech Radio News includes the nonsense and you know they never actually LISTEN. He's promised nothing. "Can" is the word. "Can" is ability. "Can" is not a vow. That's very difficult for the insane Cult of Obama to grasp. There was nothing new offered in his dull, lip-smacking (maybe he needs to go back to wearing lip gloss?) speech. It's the same non-specific garbage he's said for 18 months now. He does not give specifics on "residual" troops left in Iraq. It's a non-plan. And his alarmist talk about "finishing" Afghanistan sounds not all that different than the current White House occupant's yammering. He wants to "fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban" and that's "a war that we have to win." Remember when people were appalled by Bully Boy speaking like? Remember when people (rightly) pointed out a 'war' on terror was like a 'war' on drugs and Americans needed to grow up and get realistic? At this point, he's even worse than John Kerry's 2004 run.

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