Criminal Investigation in Germany of U.S. Officials for War Crimes in Abu Ghraib Torture

In a historic effort to hold high-ranking U.S. officials accountable for brutal acts of torture including the widely publicized abuses carried out at Abu Ghraib, on Tuesday November 30, 2004, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and four Iraqi citizens filed a criminal complaint with the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office at the Karlsruhe Court, Karlsruhe, Germany. Under the doctrine of universal jurisdiction, suspected war criminals may be prosecuted irrespective of where they are located.

The four Iraqis were victims of gruesome crimes including severe beatings, sleep and food deprivation, hooding and sexual abuse.

The U.S. officials charged include Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Former CIA Director George Tenet, Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence Dr. Stephen Cambone, Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, Major General Walter Wojdakowski, Major General Geoffrey Miller, Brigadier General Janis L. Karpinski, Lieutenant Colonel Jerry L. Phillabaum, Colonel Thomas Pappas, and Lieutenant Colonel Stephen L. Jordan.

The criminal complaint was brought under the German Code of Crimes against International Law (CCIL) and seeks an investigation into war crimes allegedly carried out by high ranking United States civilian and military officials, including the incidents which occurred in Iraq.

The charges include violations of the German Code, “War Crimes against Persons,” which outlaws killing, torture, cruel and inhumane treatment, sexual coercion and forcible transfers. The Code makes criminally responsible those who carry out the above acts as well as those who induce, condone or order the acts. It also makes commanders liable, whether civilian or military, who fail to prevent their subordinates from committing such acts.

The German Code of Crimes against International Law grants German Courts what is called Universal Jurisdiction for the above-described crimes. Article 1, Part 1, Section 1 states: "This Act shall apply to all criminal offenses against international law designated under this Act, to serious criminal offences designated therein even when the offence was committed abroad and bears no relation to Germany.” This means that those who commit such crimes can be prosecuted wherever found: they, like pirates of old, are considered enemies of all humankind.

The German CCIL places a prosecuting duty on the German prosecutor for all crimes that constitute violations of the CCIL, irrespective of the location of the person, the crime, or the nationality of the persons involved. Complaints can be filed with the German prosecutor to seek an investigation of specific crimes, as was done here. While outside parties can bring complaints to the attention of a prosecutor in the U.S., there is no duty to prosecute such complaints and they do not become part of an official court procedure. In Germany, the prosecutor is under a duty to determine if an investigation and indictments are warranted; if he fails to do so, the complainants can appeal to the court.

There are no international courts or courts in Iraq that can carry out investigations and prosecutions of the U.S. role, either: the United States has refused to join the International Criminal Court, thereby foreclosing the option of pursuing a prosecution in international courts; Iraq has no authority to prosecute; and the U.S. gave immunity to all its personnel in Iraq from Iraqi prosecution.

With Christmas coming, you need to know where to spend your money with companies who make contributions to campaigns and causes that think like you do... well like i do anyway... Here is a list compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics of donations to campaigns for the elections just concluded...


WITH US:
* Price Club/Costco donated $225K, of which 99% went to democrats;
* Rite Aid, $517K, 60% to democrats;
* Magla Products (Stanley tools, Mr. Clean), $22K, 100% to democrats;
* Warnaco (undergarments), $55K, 73% to democrats;
* Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, $153K, 99% to democrats;
* Estee Lauder, $448K, 95% to democrats;
* Guess ? Inc., $145K, 98% to democrats;
* Calvin Klein, $78K, 100% to democrats;
* Liz Claiborne, Inc., $34K, 97% to democrats;
* Levi Straus, $26K, 97% to democrats;
* Olan Mills, $175K, 99% to democrats.
* Gallo Winery, $337K, 95% to democrats;
* Southern Wine & Spirits, $213K, 73% to democrats;
* Joseph E. Seagrams & Sons (includes beverage business, plus considerable media interests), $2M+, 67% democrats.
* Sonic Corporation, $83K, 98% democrat;
* Triarc Companies (Arby's, T.J. Cinnamon's, Pasta Connections), $112K, 96% Democrats;
* Hyatt Corporation, $187K, 80% to democrats;


AGAINST US:
* WalMart, $467K, 97% to republicans;
* K-Mart, $524K, 86% to republicans;
* Home Depot, $298K, 89% to republicans;
* Target, $226K, 70% to republicans;
* Circuit City Stores, $261K, 95% to republicans;
* 3M Co., $281K, 87% to republicans;
* Hallmark Cards, $319K, 92% to republicans;
* Amway, $391K, 100% republican;
* Kohler Co. (plumbing fixtures), $283K, 100% republicans;
* B.F. Goodrich (tires), $215K, 97% to republicans;
* Proctor & Gamble, $243K, 79% to republicans;
* Coors, $174K, 92% to republicans; (also Budweiser - sd)
* Brown-Forman Corp. (Southern Comfort, Jack Daniels, Bushmills, Korbel wines - as well as Lennox China, Dansk, Gorham Silver), $644, 80% to republicans;
* Pilgrim's Pride Corp. (chicken), $366K, 100% republican;
* Outback Steakhouse, $641K, 95% republican;
* Tricon Global Restaurants (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell), $133K, 87% republican;
* Brinker International (Maggiano's, Brinker Cafe, Chili's, On the
Border, Macaroni Grill, Crazymel's, Corner Baker, EatZis), $242K, 83% republican;
* Waffle House, $279K, 100% republican;
* McDonald's Corp., $197K, 86% republican;
* Darden Restaurants (Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Smokey Bones, Bahama Breeze), $121K, 89% republican;
* Mariott International, $323K, 81% to republicans;
* Holiday Inns, $38K, 71% to republicans

with love and apologies to dr. seuss

how the grinch stole gay marriage
by mary ann horton

Every gay down in Gayville liked gay marriage a lot...

But the Grinch, who lived just east of Gayville, did NOT!!

The Grinch hated happy Gays! The whole Marriage season!
Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.
It could be his head wasn't screwed on just right.
It could be, perhaps, his Florsheims were too tight.
But I think the most likely reason of all was
His heart and brain were two sizes too small.

"And they're buying their tuxes!" he snarled with a sneer,
"Tomorrow's the first Gay Wedding! It's practically here!"
Then he growled, with his Grinch fingers nervously
drumming,
"I MUST find some way to stop Gay Marriage from coming!"

For, tomorrow, he knew... All the Gay girls and boys
would wake bright and early. They'd rush for their vows!
And then! Oh, the Joys! Oh, the Joys!

And THEN they'd do something he liked least of all!
Every Gay down in Gayville the tall and the small,
would stand close together, all happy and blissing.
They'd stand hand-in-hand. And the Gays would start
kissing!

I MUST stop Gay Marriage from coming! ...But HOW?"

Then he got an idea! An awful idea!
THE GRINCH GOT A WONDERFUL, AWFUL IDEA!

"I know what to do!" The Grinch laughed in his throat.
And he went to his closet, grabbed his sheet and his hood.
And he chuckled, and clucked, with a great Grinchy word!
"With this beard and this cross, I look just like our
Lord!"

"All I need is a Scripture..." The Grinch looked around.
But, true Scripture is scarce, there was none to be found.
Did that stop the old Grinch...? No! The Grinch simply
said,
"With no Scripture on Marriage, I'll fake one instead!"
"It's one man and one woman," the Grinch falsely said.

Then he broke in the courthouse. A rather tight pinch.
But, if Georgie could do it, then so could the Grinch.
The little Gay benefits hung in a row.
"These bennies," he grinned, "are the first things to go!"

 Then he slithered and slunk, with a smile most uncanny,
around the whole room, and he took every benny!
Health care for partners! Doctors for kiddies!
Tax rights! Adoptions! Pensions and Wills!
And he stuffed them in bags. Then the Grinch, with a chill,
Stuffed all the bags, one by one, in his bill.

Then he slunk  to the kitchen, and stole Wedding Cake.
He cleaned out that icebox and made it look straight.
He took the Gay-bar keys! He took the Gay Flag.
Why, that Grinch even took their last Gay birdseed bag!

And NOW!" grinned the Grinch, "I will pocket their Rings."
And the Grinch grabbed the Rings, and he started to shove
when he heard a small sound like the coo of a dove.
He turned around fast, and off flew his hood.
Little Lisa-Bi Gay behind him sadly stood.
The Grinch had been caught by small Lisa-Bi.
She stared at the Grinch and said, "My, oh, my, why?"
"Why are you taking our Wedding Rings? WHY?"

But, you know, that old Grinch was so smart and so slick
He thought up a lie, and he thought it up quick!
"Why, my sweet little tot," the fake Shepherd sneered,
"The judges are evil, the other states weird."
"I'll fix the rings there and I'll bring them back here."

It was quarter past dawn... All the Gays, still a-bed,
all the Gays still a-snooze when he packed up and fled.
"Pooh-Pooh to the Gays!" he was grinch-ish-ly humming.
"They're finding out now no Gay Marriage is coming!"
"Their mouths will hang open a minute or two
then the Gays down in Gayville will all cry Boo-Hoo!"

He stared down at Gayville! The Grinch popped his eyes!
Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!
Every Gay down in Gayville, the tall and the small,
was kissing! Without any bennies at all!
He HADN'T stopped Marriage from coming! IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?"
"It came without lawyers, no papers to sort!"
"It came without licenses, came without courts!"
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!

"Maybe Marriage," he thought, "doesn't come from the court.
Maybe Marriage...perhaps... comes right from the heart.
Maybe Marriage comes from all the words the Gays say.
Words like Husband, like Wedding, and Spouse who is Gay."

And what happened then...? Well...in Gayville they say
that the Grinch's small brain grew three sizes that day!

And the Gays had their Weddings. They promised for life.
They swore to be faithful, to Wife and her Wife.
The Husbands were happy, to each other they vowed
To be Out and be Honest, be Gay and be Proud.
They told all their neighbors and friends of their Spouse,
They told of their Marriage and sharing their house.
They said "We got Married." They shouted it loud.
Their marital status was "Married and Proud."

And the minute his heart didn't feel quite so tight,
He whizzed with his load through the bright morning light.
And he brought back the rings, cake and Gay birdseed bags!
And he... ...HE HIMSELF... hung the Gay Rainbow Flag!

"The Lord looked down, at the proud and the tall,
and said "These are my children, and I love them all."

(Cleveland, Ohio) CBS and NBC are refusing to run television commercials for the United Church of Christ calling the ads "too controversial".

As reported first by 365Gay.com, the 30 second commercials are aimed at attracting gays and others who feel alienated by other denominations. (story)

The 30-second commercial features two muscle-bound "bouncers" standing guard outside a picturesque church and selecting which persons are permitted to attend Sunday services. Written text interrupts the scene, announcing, "Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we." A narrator then proclaims the United Church of Christ's commitment that: "No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here."

MCC says that on Tuesday, CBS, NBC told the Church that the ads, which say "like Jesus -- the United Church of Christ (UCC) seeks to welcome all people, regardless of ability, age, race, economic circumstance or sexual orientation," imply the acceptance of gay and lesbian couples and therefore violate network standards.

"Because this commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples and other minority groups by other individuals and organizations," reads an explanation from CBS, "and the fact the Executive Branch has recently proposed a Constitutional Amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, this spot is unacceptable for broadcast on the [CBS and UPN] networks."

Similarly, a rejection by NBC declared the spot "too controversial."

"It's ironic that after a political season awash in commercials based on fear and deception by both parties seen on all the major networks, an ad with a message of welcome and inclusion would be deemed too controversial," said the Rev. John H. Thomas, the UCC's general minister and president.

"What's going on here?"

The ads had been scheduled to run from today until Dec. 26.

The ad has been accepted and will air on a number of networks, including ABC Family, AMC, BET, Discovery, Fox, Hallmark, History, Nick@Nite, TBS, TNT, Travel and TV Land, among others.

"We find it disturbing that the networks in question seem to have no problem exploiting gay persons through mindless comedies or titillating dramas, but when it comes to a church's loving welcome of committed gay couples, that's where they draw the line," says the Rev. Robert Chase, director of the UCC's communication ministry.

CBS and NBC's refusal to air the ad "recalls the censorship of the 1950s and 1960s, when television station WLBT in Jackson, Miss., refused to show people of color on TV," says Ron Buford, coordinator for the United Church of Christ identity campaign. Buford, of African-American heritage, says, "In the 1960s, the issue was the mixing of the races. Today, the issue appears to be sexual orientation. In both cases, it's about exclusion."

The UCC has a long reputation for welcoming gays and lesbians. Although its individual churches are mostly autonomous, many offer blessing services for same-sex couples. In 1972 it became the first mainstream denomination to ordain an openly gay man.

The ad can be viewed online at www.stillspeaking.com

---

So they are basically saying that showing any positive view of gays is wrong because of Bush and the FMA, and because it would be "controversial" to say that gays are nice people and many of them are in relationships. I guess it's not "controversial" to peddle the same pathetic stereotypes that we see endlessly on Queer Eye or Will & Grace or Project Runway.

Ugh. Here is their contact information, and the contact information for the UCC:

NBC

Randy Falco
President
NBC Television Network
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
Phone: 212-664-5083 (Mr. Falco's office)
Phone: 212-664-4444 (general switchboard)
Fax: 212-664-3019
E-mail: nbcshows@nbc.com

Robert C. Wright
Vice Chairman and Executive Officer
General Electric (he is also Chairman and CEO of NBC)
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
Phone: 212-664-4555 (Mr. Wright's office)
Fax: 212-664-7288
Web site: www.ge.com (this includes a "contact us" section for e-mailing GE)

CBS

HOW TO CONTACT CBS:

CBS TELEVISION IS A DIVISION OF VIACOM, INC. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B)

CBS Television's main phone number is 212-975-4321. You may also find this information helpful:

Sumner M. Redstone
Chairman and CEO
Viacom, Inc.
1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
212-258-6000

Mr. Leslie Moonves
Chairman and CEO
CBS Television
7800 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-575-2600

email: audsvcs@cbs.com

Barb Powell
Press Contact
United Church of Christ
700 Prospect Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44115
216-736-2175
powellb@ucc.org

Gay book ban goal of state lawmaker



Wednesday, December 01, 2004
KIM CHANDLER
News staff writer


MONTGOMERY - An Alabama lawmaker who sought to ban gay marriages now wants to ban novels with gay characters from public libraries, including university libraries.


A bill by Rep. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, would prohibit the use of public funds for "the purchase of textbooks or library materials that recognize or promote homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle." Allen said he filed the bill to protect children from the "homosexual agenda."

"Our culture, how we know it today, is under attack from every angle," Allen said in a press conference Tuesday.


Allen said that if his bill passes, novels with gay protagonists and college textbooks that suggest homosexuality is natural would have to be removed from library shelves and destroyed.


"I guess we dig a big hole and dump them in and bury them," he said.


A spokesman for the Montgomery-based Southern Poverty Law Center called the bill censorship.


"It sounds like Nazi book burning to me," said SPLC spokesman Mark Potok.


Allen pre-filed his bill in advance of the 2005 legislative session, which begins Feb. 1.


If the bill became law, public school textbooks could not present homosexuality as a genetic trait and public libraries couldn't offer books with gay or bisexual characters.


When asked about Tennessee Williams' southern classic "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof," Allen said the play probably couldn't be performed by university theater groups.


Allen said no state funds should be used to pay for materials that foster homosexuality. He said that would include nonfiction books that suggest homosexuality is acceptable and fiction novels with gay characters. While that would ban books like "Heather has Two Mommies," it could also include classic and popular novels with gay characters such as "The Color Purple," "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "Brideshead Revisted."


The bill also would ban materials that recognize or promote a lifestyle or actions prohibited by the sodomy and sexual misconduct laws of Alabama. Allen said that meant books with heterosexual couples committing those acts likely would be banned, too.


His bill also would prohibit a teacher from handing out materials or bringing in a classroom speaker who suggested homosexuality was OK, he said.


Allen has sponsored legislation to make a gay marriage ban part of the Alabama Constitution, but it was not approved by the Legislature.


Ken Baker, a board member of Equality Alabama, a gay rights organization, said Allen was "attempting to become the George Wallace of homosexuality."


Aside from the moral debates, the bill could be problematic for library collections, said Jaunita Owes, director of the Montgomery City-County Library, which is a few blocks from the Alabama Capitol.


"Half the books in the library could end up being banned. It's all based on how one interprets the material," Owes said.

...a special thanks to brian in la for bringing this to my attention...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush offered up a new entry for his catalog of "Bushisms" on Thursday, declaring that his administration will "never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people."

Bush misspoke as he delivered a speech at the signing ceremony for a $417 billion defense spending bill.

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we," Bush said.

"They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

No one in Bush's audience of military brass or Pentagon chiefs reacted.

The president was working his way toward a larger point. "We must never stop thinking about how best to defend our country. We must always be forward-thinking," he said.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush's misstatement "just shows even the most straightforward and plain-spoken people misspeak."

"But the American people know this president speaks with clarity and conviction, and the terrorists know by his actions he means it," McClellan said.


WAR IS PEACE ! FREEDOM IS SLAVERY! IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH!

"Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the moon

July 20, 1969

We came in peace for all mankind."

As of April 2004, President Bush had made 33 trips to Crawford during his presidency, bringing his total to more than 230 days at the ranch in just over three years. “Add his 78 trips to Camp David and five to his family’s compound at Kennebunkport, Maine, and Bush has spent all or part of 500 days – or about 40 percent of his presidency – at one of these his three retreats.” “Bush Retreats to a Favorite Getaway: Crawford ranch,” Houston Chronicle, April 11, 2004. 

Ghost star Whoopi Goldberg has defended her choice to attack American President George W. Bush, which led to her being dropped as a spokesperson for diet aid company Slim-fast. Bosses at Slim-Fast dropped the Oscar-winning star from their ad campaign, after admitting they were "disappointed" in her remarks at last Thursday's $7.5 million star-studded fundraiser for presidential hopeful John Kerry at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

"Just because I'm no longer in those (commercial) spots, it doesn't mean I will stop talking. While I can appreciate what the Slim-Fast people need to do in order to protect their business, I must also do what I need to do as an artist, as a writer and as an American - not to mention as a comic. I only wish that the Republican re-election committee would spend as much time working on the economy as they seem to be spending trying to harm my pocketbook."



Whoopi Goldberg seems to be the latest in a long line of performers and artists who in the last year have spoken out against the Bush Administration and their policies and who seem to have been visited with great retribution.

Tim Robbins and Susan Saradon were not invited to the Baseball Hall of Fame's celebration of the 15th Annaversary celebration of the movie "Bull Durham"... a film that they starred in.... for fear that they might say something based soley on their reputations.

Bill Mahr had his series "Politically Incorrect" cancelled from ABC in the days before the start of the invasion of Iraq for speaking out against the Bush Administrations plans for invading.

Howard Stern's morning was dropped by Clear Channel Communications stations removing him from the largest radio markets in the country after his continual outspokenness against the Bush Administration.

Michael Moore had to seek a Canadian company to distribute his movie "Farenheit 9/11" after Disney (also the parent company of ABC) refused to release his documentary critical of Bush and his Administration.

The First Amendment's Freedom of Speech is one of the cornerstone of our country... if people, famous or otherwise are not free to say what they feel, especially when it concerns something so important as how our country is being run, then is our government and our leaders any better than the dicators they condemn around the world and throughout history ?

The stupid Republican leadership in the US Senate is holding a debate and vote on the Federal Marriage Amendment... mind you they have stopped working on the spending bills that have to be passed by October 1 to do this. And there is nothing else more important going on in our country.

While all the reports say they don't have the 67 votes needed to pass a Constitutional Amendment, make sure you contact your US Senator and tell them you don't think our Constitution needs changing.

Both Senators Kerry and Edwards have said they will interrupt their campaign schedules to be in Washington on Wednesday to vote against this amendment.

Gay Activists Urge Boycott of Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Gay activists are urging a boycott of Virginia because of a new ban on civil unions and other marriage-like arrangements for same-sex couples.

VirginiaisforHaters.org urges people not to buy products or services from Virginia-based companies and suggests tourists visit other states. The name is a play on the state tourism motto, ``Virginia is for lovers.''

Another group, Make Love Legal, is developing strategies for boycotting the 400th anniversary celebration of the founding of Jamestown in 2007.

``This whole idea is: Don't spend your money in a place where people hurt you,'' said Diane Horvath, a Richmond attorney who is spearheading the Jamestown initiative.

The state's Affirmation of Marriage Act, which prohibits gay marriage, was amended this year to also ban civil unions and arrangements ``purporting to bestow the privileges of marriage.'' Gays fear it may interfere with legal contracts, such as powers of attorney, medical directives and wills.

``This is a national issue,'' said Jay Porter of Seattle, who with his partner created the boycott Web site. ``Someone came up with this really punitive legislation and got it through the state legislature and in my mind, that could happen just about anywhere in the U.S.''

The bill's sponsor, Republican Delegate Robert Marshall, said he believes the threat of economic harm to Virginia is remote.

``If they don't like the expression of the will of the people of Virginia, they don't have to come here,'' he said. ``This was done by freely elected representatives.''

Democratic Gov. Mark R. Warner tried to amend the bill to make it less restrictive, but lawmakers rebuffed his attempts by veto-proof margins.

``Governor Warner has devoted considerable time and effort to promoting Virginia tourism, and this certainly will not help,'' said Warner spokesman Kevin Hall.

The new ban takes effect July 1, and gay-rights group Equality Virginia plans a legal challenge. Republican Attorney General Jerry Kilgore has vowed to defend its constitutionality.

The boycott Web site also targets companies that have contributed Marshall's campaign, including Altria Group Inc., parent company of tobacco giant Philip Morris.

Altria spokesman David Sylvia said his company contributes to both Democrats and Republicans and offers domestic partner benefits to employees.

Another targeted company is clothing retailer J.Crew, which has a distribution and customer service center in the state and, according to the boycott organizers, many gay customers. A company representative declined to comment.

On the Net:

http://virginiaisforhaters.org

Delegate Robert Marshall: http://www.trincomm.org/marshall/

from the HARPERS INDEX

* Number of blank votes recorded by touchscreen voting machines in a January election for the Florida House of Representatives: 137

*Number of votes by which that race was one: 12

*Minimum number of misleading statements on Iraq made by the Bush Administration's top officials since March 2002: 237

*Percentage of these that contradicted, made selective use of, or mischaracterized existing government intelligence: 100

*Number of Holsteins diqualifed from the Ohio State Fair because they were wearing a hairpiece: 2

*Percentage of same sex unions granted to Vermont residents since July 2000 that have been dissolved: 3

*Percentage of heterosexual marraiges that are dissolved within 5 years: 20

*Percentage of the 13,129 varities of dirt in the US that are endagered: 4

Mission Accomplished ???

One year ago today, that yahoo cowboy of a President got his rocks off by struting on the deck of an aircraft carrier and proclaiming that he had done what not even his father had the balls to do... and it was over.

or was it?

last year the president's people disavowed putting up that fateful sign saying it was done by some "over eager seamen" but that may 1, 2003 definitely saw and end to what they called major hostilities

or was it?

this past month (april) saw 134 american servicemembers and several american contractors die in Iraq. More deaths than any previous month so far.

Is this mission accomplished mr. president? Is this an end to major hostilities mr. president?

When will it end ? It seems from everything we have found out from books and commssions that a lot of people spent a lot of time planning to getting us into iraq. it doesn't seem that anybody ever contemplated how to get our troops home.

National Guard troops who were called up at the start of our invasion have now been there over 18 months and many units have been told they will now have to stay there at least four more months. Yet the president says its mission accomplished, an end to major hostilities, and things are going as planned.

In just 60 days, the US is supposed to turn over control of iraq to iraqis. but who exactly are we going to give control to? and who is going to control iraq if the most powerful army in the world cannot keep the peace and control the country. the u.s. wil be caught in a hard spot however if we do not turn over control of iraq to iraqi on june 30. if we give up control of iraq, then we are creating a vaccum of power and unleashing chaos on the whole middle east that will make the antics of saddam look like childs play. if we do not give up control of iraq, there are many millions of people around the world who will have even more reason to dislike us for going back on our word. it looks as if dubbya might have created his own cage with a rock on his left and that proverbial hard spot on his right.

in any case, american soldiers will remain in iraq, as targets, and more americans will die.

of the 134 dead soldiers this month alone, photographs of the 116 who have been identified by the pentagon were shown on friday morning's USAToday. the white house doesn't want you to see their coffins because it humanizes the war dead... so other people are going to make sure that you see their faces.

almost 800 american servicemember have died since our aggressive move of "pre-emption" into iraq. friday night on ABC's nightline, the entire show was devoted to reading the names of those dead soliders. The pentagon has prevented any photographs from being taken of our brave soldiers being returned to their country or photographs of our country honoring their remains at burial, but there are people who want to make sure that their sacrifices are honored and acknowledged in some small way.

Note: the Nightline show was not broadcast on 8 ABC stations owned by Sinclair Broadcasting company who have given lots of money only to Republican candidates this year. This company has an obligation by broadcasting over publically owned frequencies to serve the public interest and guarentee that all issues and opinions have access to state their views. The names of the servicemen who have died in iraq are regularly published in newspapers all across the country. i guess it only peoples a problem when you say their names out loud.

Since the Vietnam War, presidents have worried that military actions would lose support once the public glimpsed the remains of U.S. soldiers in flag-draped caskets.

The Bush administration has found a simple solution. On the eve of the Iraq war, a directive arrived from the Pentagon "There will be no arrival ceremonies for, or media coverage of, deceased military personnel returning to or departing from Ramstein [Germany] airbase or Dover [Del.] base, to include interim stops.




Today it was reported that a civilian worker and her husband were both fired from a contractor doing work in kuwait for photos she sold that appeared in the Sunday Seattle Times.

Why is the Shrub trying to be so secretive ??




In an effort to help expose what is really going on with the war, author Russell Kick filed and Freedom of Information Act request with the Department of Defense to have access to any photos the government may have of the coffins of dead Americans returning from the war, in a effort for all of use to understand what is going on in more human terms. Although his initial request was rejected, eventually the DoD did send him a CD with 361 high resolution digital photographs on it which are published on his website: the memory hole

be aware that his site does load very slowly even with my DSL connection. i don't know if that is because of its unusually high load due to the recent stories in the news or what, but its well worth a look if you are so inclined.

In the meantime more and more American men and women are dying every day in Iraq and the President has no idea how or when to bring them home....

...war without end....

What is a liberal ??

Somebody came along and said 'liberal' means 'soft on crime, soft on drugs, soft on defense and we're gonna tax you back to the Stone Age because people shouldn't have to go to work if they don't want to. And instead of saying, 'Well, excuse me, you right-wing, reactionary, xenophobic, homophobic, anti-education, anti-choice, pro-gun, Leave it to Beaver trip back to the '50s, we cowered in the corner and said, 'Please don't hurt me.'  The West Wing 


Liberalism is, I think, resurgent. One reason is that more and more people are so painfully aware of the alternative. The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith


As mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government. I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberality. George Washington


Of all the varieties of virtues, liberalism is the most beloved. Aristotle


Liberalism is trust of the people, tempered by prudence; conservatism, distrust of the people, tempered by fear. William Gladstone


Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human wants. People have the right to expect that these wants will be provided for by this wisdom. Jimmy Carter


Liberalism is the supreme form of generosity; it is the right by which the majority concedes to minorities and hence it is the noblest cry that has ever resounded on this planet. Jose Ortega y Gasset


A liberal is a man or a woman or a child who looks forward to a better day, a more tranquil night, and a bright, infinite future. Leonard Bernstein


Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives. John Stuart Mill

What is a War Criminal ?

What kind of victory is it when someone is left defeated? What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy. What is a war criminal? Was not war itself a crime against God and humanity, and, therefore, were not all those who sanctioned, engineered and conducted wars, war criminals? The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. Non-cooperation with evil is a sacred duty.
   — Mahatma Ghandi

63 of 100 biggest metro areas lost jobs during bush years

According to a study by American City Business Journals using statistics from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, two-thirds of the countries metropolitian areas have fewer jobs than they did before The W became prez.

79 of the top 100 metropolitian areas showed slower job growth under Bush the younger than they did during any of his 3 predecessors: Clinton, Bush the elder, or even Ronald Reagan.

99 of them had worse employment conditions than under President Clinton. THe only exception was lone Honolulu.

The cities with the BEST job growth under the shrub's administration were: Riverside, CA (3.24%), Las Vegas (2.93%), West Palm Beach, FL (2.15%), and Sacramento, CA (1.97%). The worst under his administration were: San Jose, CA (-6.04%), San Francisco, CA (-4.15%), Detroit, MI (-2.22%), Toldedo, OH (-1.98%), and Dayton, OH (-1.94).

The cities with the best job growth under Bill Clintons administration were: Las Vegas (7.28), Austin, TX (5.93%), Phoenix, AZ (5.60%), Sarasota, FL (4.98%), Orlando, FL (4.93). The worst cities during his administration were: Honolulu (-0.18%), Hartford, CT (0.64%), Buffalo, NY (0.68%), Syracuse, NY (0.81%), and Los Angeles, CA (0.85%).

Looking at Bush's numbers even the worst cities during the Clinton Administration dont look so bad. And we are supposed to elect Bush in november because why .............. ???

OK, if anyone has been trying to get a hold of me on yahoo.. . yeah yahoo has struck again and this time its me....

the justin81us id is currently "locked for security reasons" of which i am not sure what they are... how do u get to talk to anyone there....

if u want to IM me on send me an email use justinzhere@yahoo.com

thanks for your patience and understanding !!!!

Harper's Index
april 2004

Number of articles in major US newspapers that have called any White House statement on Iraq a lie: 0

Number of the 5 tax-cut questions asked the president on Meet the Press that concerned the cut's inequity: 0
Average amount a Cabinet member will save this year due to cuts in the captial-gains and dividend taxes: 42,000
Median US household income in 2002: 42,409

Number of people in France who are injured each year opening oysters: 2000

Estimated percentage of web links for requests to "unsubscribe" from mass emails that fail: 69

Number of votes cast in New Hampshire's Republican primary this year for write-in Democratic candidates: 8092
Number of votes by which George Bush won New Hampshire in November 2000: 7211

Number of states that do NOT use the word "evolution" in their science curricula: 5

Factor by which the average pay of a pro baseball player and a Fortune 500 CEO, respectively, have increased since 1973: 60, 58

Number of snowballs a New York City man sold on the street one day last December: 10
Profits he reaped: $9.50

One year ago today, the united states of america, invaded the sovereign nation of iraq, unprovoked, in the name of eliminating terrorism.

In that year the US has spent billions and billions of dollars. It has cost over 500 american lives and thousands of american injuries.

And what do we get for all of that ?? Do you feel more secure from terrorism than you did a year ago?

What did we get for our money and those lives ?

How many weapons of mass destruction has the US secured and prevented from falling into "the wrong hands" ??
How many terrorists plots have been prevented from taking place in the US ??
How many terrorists are in jail for past crimes ??

What exactly did all this money buy us ?

We are spending 87 billion dollars to rebuild iraq. What would happen if we spend 87 billion dollars to rebuild the US... to widen and repair roads and bridges. To repair, remodel, and expand schools.... to upgrade the water and sewer infrastructre in american cities... to create quick and efficient transportation in or largest cities... to put americans back to work in america.

Are Iraqi citizens better off than they were a year ago ? Bombs go off daily and there are frequent firefights throughout the country. Many areas to not yet have reliable power or water supplies. Local police forces are run but gangs or tribal leaders. Some places in iraqi cities even armed US soldier fear to go. I'm sure that living under Saddam Hussien was no walk in the park but peace and stability is the best environment for all of us. The only thing the US has succeeded in creating is unrest and unsureity for the iraqi people.

THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO FEAR--- IS FEAR ITSELF.

In 2001 terrorists killed 2,978 people in the United States including the 5 killed by anthrax.

That same year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the following number of deaths:

700,142 Deaths by heart disease
553,768 Deaths by cancer
101,537 Deaths by accident
30,622 Deaths by suicide
17,330 Deaths by homicide
5,431 Deaths by fatal workplace injuries
3,247 Deaths by drowning

There have been no US deaths by terrorism since 2001. The FBI reports the following statistics in the years prior to 2001: 2000 ? 0; 1999 ? 1; 1998 ? 3; 1997 ? 0.

In the five years covered above about 7 million people died from the various causes listed and yet less than 3,000 people died from a terrorist attack.

So why is the nation, especially our government freaking out about terrorism ??

Terrorism is successful only if the people are terrified.

Since September 11, 2001, it seems that the only organization who has been terrifying Americans is our own government. With its color coded terrorism alert levels, the terrorists don?t even have to actually blow up anything to create widespread media coverage and upset across our country. Our own government is doing the dirty work for them.

HARPER's INDEX
march 2004

Amount the new Democratic Mayor of San Francisco contributed to the 2000 Bush campaign: $500

Fine paid by two of US Attorney General John Ashcroft's PACs for breaking campaign-finance law in 2000: $37,000.00

Year in which then congressman (now defense secretary) Donald Rumsfeld gave a speech criticzing war profiteering by Brown & Root: 1966

Maximum prison sentence for causing the death of a US worker by willfully violating Federal Safety Regulations: 6 months

Maximum prison sentence for harassing a wild burro on federal lands: 12 months

Estimated number of doctors in China with experience treating HIV/AIDS: 100

Number of the 4 million Bosnian refugees since 1991 who are still wating to go home: 400,000

Number of times Osama bin Laden used the term Al Qaeda publicly before September 11, 2001: 0

Howard Dean will not be the nominee for President of the Democratic Party in 2004. Although he is currently second in the count for delegates to the convention, he has ceased to campaign for the party’s nomination.

Even though he will be back in Vermont come the election, he will have made a huge difference, not only in the views that the Democratic nominee will present to the country, but also to the political discussion as a whole when we go to the polls in November.

The political talking heads are writing his political obituary as an also ran whose campaign blew up in a scream one cold night in Iowa, but nothing could be farther from the truth.

A year ago, Howard Dean was the former governor of Vermont and a doctor who decided to run for President to impact the political discussion on our nation’s health care mess. Something that as a five time governor of a state that ranks 42nd in the number of citizens who lack heath insurance he knows a lot about. (Just for reference, G.W. Bush’s home state of Texas, where he was governor for just 1½ terms, ranks first in the number of citizens who are not covered by health insurance). Nobody at that time seemed to care or listen to what Dr. Dean had to say.

When our government invaded Iraq, Dr. Dean was the only candidate who was brave enough to stand against the administration and say publicly that what was being done in the name of our country was wrong. The other candidates were afraid to do so.

Suddenly candidate Dean was number one in the polls for the nomination and had money flowing into his campaign while the others were struggling.

The only smart move that the other candidates had was to start to sound and act like Governor Dean or risk being at the sidelines.

While Senator Kerry may have a longer Washington pedigree (the last President with substantial Washington experience was President Nixon) and Senator Edwards may have a better smile and more personal warmth, but Governor Dean has effected the issues in this election in the way no other candidate in or out of the race has yet to date.

Our election this November will be about who our government responds to.

If we re-elect the current President then they will continue to give our hard earned tax dollars away enhance the huge profits of companies who funded his election; they will continue to give themselves huge tax breaks, while the rest of us continue to bare the burden of their excessive spending; they will continue to put more importance on what goes on in your bedroom than in their friends corporate boardrooms; they will continue to scare citizens with the spectre of terrorism into giving up freedoms and rights that have so long been the very basis of our nation.

If we don’t re-elect him then at least we have a chance to see that those same funds go to help individual citizens who are in unfortunate situations, to help better educate our children, to rid our country of disease and illness, to protect our land and water for those who will come after us and most importantly to be a leader and role model in the community of nations and not the big bully on the playground who takes his ball and goes home when he doesn’t like the rules.

Just because Dr. Dean is back in Vermont and not on the campaign trail doesn’t mean that his voice hasn’t been heard, that his opinions and speeches have not created a positive impact in the direction our nation is going, and hopefully come January 20, 2005 that Dr. Dean will be in a position to continue to make our nation a better place with an important position in the new Democratic administration.

FOX News Channel's O'Reilly: I was wrong about Bush

The Associated Press reports:

Feb 12, 2004 NEW YORK - Bill O'Reilly says he was wrong about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and that's made him more skeptical of the Bush administration.

O'Reilly, who has the top-rated political talk show on cable news, was confronted on ABC's "Good Morning America" about his statement before the Iraq war that if Saddam Hussein is overthrown and there were no such weapons found, he'd apologize to the nation.

"Well, my analysis was wrong and I'm sorry," O'Reilly told Charles Gibson on Tuesday.

"I am much more skeptical of the Bush administration now than I was at the time," O'Reilly said.

O'Reilly places the blame on intelligence officials for their pre-war assessments.

"I don't think there's any doubt . . . that George W. Bush wanted to remove Saddam," he said. "And in history, I believe that will be a good thing . . . But I think every American should be very concerned, for their families and themselves, that our intelligence isn't as good as it should be."

WHERE ARE THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION ??

Vice President Dick Cheney: Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt he is amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies, and against us. (Remarks to VFW, 8/26/03).


Secretary of War..I mean Defense Donald Rumsfeld: There are a number of terrorist states pursuing weapons of mass destruction -- Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, just to name but a few. But no terrorist state poses a greater or more immediate threat to the security of our people than the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. (Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing Transcript, 9/19/2002)


President George W. Bush: Saddam Hussein could strike without notice and inflict "massive and sudden horror" on America. (AP, 10/6/02)


Secretary of State Colin Powell: “Our conservative estimate is that Iraq today has a stockpile of between 100 and 500 tons of chemical weapons agent. That is enough agent to fill 16,000 battlefield rockets.” (Remarks, U.N., 2/05/03)


President "Shrub": "Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised." (Address, D.C., 3/17/03)


War Secretary Donald Rumsfeld: "We know where they are. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat." (Remarks, ABC, 3/30/03)


President Bush: “there's no doubt in my mind, when it's all said and done, the facts will show the world the truth. There's absolutely no doubt in my mind. (Remarks, 7/09/03)

.... i don't believe it mr. bush, something we finally agree on something. i just don't think that you will like the truth.

When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ball point pens would not work in zero gravity.

To combat this problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion developing a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 300 Degrees.

The Russians used a pencil.

During this year's Super Bowl, you'll see ads sponsored by beer companies, tobacco companies, and the Bush White House. But you won't see the winning ad in MoveOn.org Voter Fund's Bush in 30 Seconds ad contest. CBS refuses to air it.

Meanwhile, the White House is on the verge of signing into law a deal which Senator John McCain (R-AZ) says is custom-tailored for CBS and Fox, allowing the two networks to grow much bigger. CBS lobbied hard for this rule change; MoveOn.org members across the country lobbied against it; and now our ad has been rejected while the White House ad will be played. It looks an awful lot like CBS is playing politics with the right to free speech.

CBS's censorship demonstrates why this issue is so important: a few big media companies can effectively stop political speech.

CBS still refuses to run "Child's Pay." But together, we can increase the pressure on CBS. And through the power of the Internet, we can make sure that millions of people see the ad and learn about the controversy.

add your name to the CBS petition at moveon.org or call the CBS comment line at 212-975-3247.

Intelligent Quotes

Question: If you could live forever, would you and why? Answer: "I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever," -- Miss Alabama in the 1994 Miss USA contest.

"Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can't help but cry. I mean I'd love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff," -- Mariah Carey

"I've never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body," -- Winston Bennett, University of Kentucky basketball forward.

"I'm not going to have some reporters pawing through our papers. We are the president," -- Hillary Clinton commenting on the release of subpoenaed documents.

"That lowdown scoundrel deserves to be kicked to death by a jackass, and I'm just the one to do it," -- A congressional candidate in Texas.

"I don't feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves." -- John Wayne

"Half this game is ninety percent mental." -- Philadelphia Phillies manager, Danny Ozark

"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it." -- Al Gore, Vice President

"I love California. I practically grew up in Phoenix." -- Dan Quayle

" It's no exaggeration to say that the undecided could go one way or another" -- George Bush, US President

"We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need?" -- Lee Iacocca

"I was provided with additional input that was radically different from the truth. I assisted in furthering that version," -- Colonel Oliver North, from his Iran-Contra testimony.

"The word 'genius' isn't applicable in football. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein," -- Joe Theisman, NFL football quarterback & sports analyst.

"We don't necessarily discriminate. We simply exclude certain types of people." -- Colonel Gerald Wellman, ROTC Instructor.

"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure." -- Bill Clinton, President

"We are ready for an unforeseen event that may or may not occur." -- Al Gore, VP

"Traditionally, most of Australia's imports come from overseas." -- Keppel Enderbery

"Your food stamps will be stopped effective March 1992 because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you. You may reapply if there is a change in your circumstances." -- Department of Social Services, Greenville, South Carolina

“If we let the loggers go in and cut down all the trees we wouldn’t have a problem with forest fires.” – George Bush

Top ten reasons George W. Bush should NOT be re-elected...

1) Compassionativity is not a word.
2) Social Security IS a federal program.
3) Benjamin Franklin did NOT invent the light bulb.
4) Trout are not extinct.
5) Brazil DOES have blacks.
6) Speaking is an important part of being president.
7) Our children is learning enough.
8) Fool me once, shame on you... fool me twice, shame on me.
9) Two words... Big Oil.
10) Sanity is an inalieble right.

Bush = Hitler ???

from the website : Truthout.org ---


The propaganda.
The lies.
The rhetoric.
The nationalism.
The flag waving.
The pretext of 'preventive war'.
The flaunting of international law and international standards of justice.
The disappearances of 'undesirable' aliens.
The threats against protesters.
The invasion of a non-threatening sovereign nation.
The occupation of a hostile country.
The promises of prosperity and security.
The spying on ordinary citizens.
The incitement to spy on one's neighbors - and report them to the government.
The arrogant triumphant pride in military conquest.
The honoring of soldiers.
The tributes to 'fallen warriors.
The diversion of money to the military.
The demonization of government appointed 'enemies'.
The establishment of 'Homeland Security'.
The dehumanization of 'foreigners'.
The total lack of interest in the victims of government policy.
The incarceration of the poor and mentally ill.
The growing prosperity from military ventures.
The illusion of 'goodness' and primacy.
The assassination teams.
The closed extralegal internment camps.
The militarization of domestic police.
The media blackout of non-approved issues.
The blacklisting of protesters - including the no-fly lists and photographing dissenters at rallies.

For full text of article CLICK HERE

The anti-gay American Family Association is doing a
poll on gay marriage, which they are going to present the results to Congress.

Please pass this URL far and wide. (I doubt they expect anyone but
their own, anti-gay members to answer it.) Thanks!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Well Brittany Spears got married. For 55 hours anyway.

Some people like her see marriage as a "stunt" or a "pratical joke" but there are others in our country who only wish that they were allowed to get married.

Hollywood is filled with examples of marriages that didn't last much longer than Brittany's did:

* Dennis Rodman and Carmen Electra were married for 9 days.
* Drew Barrymore and Jeremy Thomas were married for 19 days.
* Drew Barrymore and Tom Green were married less than 6 months.
* Nicholas Cage and Lisa Marie Presley were married 3.5 months.
* Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley were married 18 months.
* Shannon Doherty and Ashely Hamilton were married 5 months.
* Shannon Doherty and Rick Salomon were married 8 months.
* Jennifer Lopez and Ojani Noa were married less than a year.
* Jennifer Lopez and Chris Jud were married 8 months.
* Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe were married 9 months.
* Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were married 4 months (the second time)
* Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson were married 1 year (the first time)
* Janet Jackson and James DeBarge were married 8 months
* Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Joli were married a little less than 2 years.

Elizabeth Taylor and Za Za Gabor have both been married 8 times, while others such as Joan Collins and Charlie Chaplin look almost sane in comparason at 4 marriages a piece.

And yet... there are those who say that by legalizing marriage between two people of the same sex, our country will be destroying the "sanctity of marriage." Looks like some people should get their own house in order before they start throwing stones.

Since July of 2000, when the Vermont civil-union law went into effect 6600 couples have paid their $30 fee for their civil union liscense. Only 25 of those couples have sought a dissolution of their civil union. (There is one case pending in Iowa).

While marriage may not be for everyone, gay or straight, that is not the point. The point is to
have the opportunity if a person so desires to have one's relationship recognized by the government. Of the 1900 gay households in Vermont on the 2000 US Census, only 936 have sought such a legal standing as a civil union. Almost 86% of civil unions performed have been for couple from the other 49 states where there are no such laws yet.

Massachuettes will have to provide legal recognition equal to that of heterosexual marriage to gay couples by this May and California has a law going into effect next year (keep your hands off Governor Terminator!) that will provide domestic partnerships with the same 300 legal rights and responsibilites as marriage.

Maybe some day we will live in a country where one of the Fab Five from "Queer Eye" can make as much a fool of theselves with their personal lives and many of our straight celebrities currently do. Of course, those guys would have to totally redecorate those tacky Las Vegas wedding chapels first.