Thursday, December 13, 2007
Highest Ever Per Capita & Overall Army Suicides
"Soldiers, families and equipment are stretched and stressed," Gen. George Casey, Army chief of staff, told Congress last month.
Evangelical Christians Turn the Other Cheek
By bringing the Salem Witch Trials to Africa:
Although old tribal beliefs in witch doctors are not so deeply buried in people's memories, and although there had been indigenous Christians in Nigeria since the 19th century, it is American and Scottish Pentecostal and evangelical missionaries of the past 50 years who have shaped these fanatical beliefs.
Although old tribal beliefs in witch doctors are not so deeply buried in people's memories, and although there had been indigenous Christians in Nigeria since the 19th century, it is American and Scottish Pentecostal and evangelical missionaries of the past 50 years who have shaped these fanatical beliefs.
Hillary Clinton on International Law
Why she should never be President:
Ironically, the current front-runner for the Democratic nomination for president shares much of President Bush’s dangerous attitudes toward international law and human rights.
Ironically, the current front-runner for the Democratic nomination for president shares much of President Bush’s dangerous attitudes toward international law and human rights.
Iraq Sunni Leader: Ordeal will not end unless the occupation ends
'Other regional parties are also involved in meddling in Iraq’s issues but to a much less extent. But the US-led occupation remains the main irritant'
Red Cross: "Palestinian Territories face a deep human crisis"
Israel's harsh security measures come at an enormous humanitarian cost, leaving those living under occupation with just enough to survive, but not enough to live normal and dignified lives.
Silent Partners in Crime
Because the technique of waterboarding exists in a legal gray area, many members of Congress may prefer a don't ask-don't tell approach.
World's Central Banks Collaborate to Bolster Financial Sector
The actions are on a greater scale than the moves taken by the Fed to shore up the economy after the 9/11 attacks on the US, indicating the severity of the current situation and how seriously central banks are taking it
Update: The Guardian is calling it a "meltdown"
Update: The Guardian is calling it a "meltdown"
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Nasa images show climate change from space
Images from a Nasa mission into space have shown for the first time that noctilucent clouds, which are only created at certain temperatures, appear to be increasing in frequency and extent.
Chain of Command for Torture
"To meet that need, CIA designed specific, appropriate interrogation procedures," Hayden wrote. "Before they were used, they were reviewed and approved by the Department of Justice and by other elements of the executive branch."
Torture
An Simple Guide
Step 1: Employ torture to extract false confessions
Step 2: Use confessions to justify emergency laws
Step 3: Profit
There were two types of confession they made under torture: First, just making things up, anything, to answer the questions. . . . They would be asking and asking, and the guys would say they’d say anything, make things up. Second, they would ask the officers what to say. The guys would say they’d be tortured so bad, they’d be screaming, “Tell me what you want me to say! Tell us what to say and we’ll say it!” (Page 45)
Step 1: Employ torture to extract false confessions
Step 2: Use confessions to justify emergency laws
Step 3: Profit
There were two types of confession they made under torture: First, just making things up, anything, to answer the questions. . . . They would be asking and asking, and the guys would say they’d say anything, make things up. Second, they would ask the officers what to say. The guys would say they’d be tortured so bad, they’d be screaming, “Tell me what you want me to say! Tell us what to say and we’ll say it!” (Page 45)
CPA Order No. 2
This 11:23 video explains one of the biggest blunders of the war.
No wonder chaos and corruption (see previous post) are so rampant.
No wonder chaos and corruption (see previous post) are so rampant.
Iraq Only Less Corrupt than Somalia and Myanmar
So says Transparency International (Bottom of Page 7).
According to the New York Times, Iraqis seem to concur: "The size of the corruption exceeds the imagination,” said Shatha Munthir Abdul Razzaq, a member of Parliament’s largest Sunni bloc. “Because there are no tough laws, no penalties for those who steal".
According to the New York Times, Iraqis seem to concur: "The size of the corruption exceeds the imagination,” said Shatha Munthir Abdul Razzaq, a member of Parliament’s largest Sunni bloc. “Because there are no tough laws, no penalties for those who steal".
Implicit Approval for CIA Tape Destruction?
The official said that C.I.A. officials had continued to press the White House for a firm decision, and that the C.I.A. was never given a direct order not to destroy the tapes.
“They never told us, ‘Hell, no,’” he said. “If somebody had said, ‘You cannot destroy them,’ we would not have destroyed them.”
“They never told us, ‘Hell, no,’” he said. “If somebody had said, ‘You cannot destroy them,’ we would not have destroyed them.”
Monday, December 10, 2007
Global Warming Denial
The U.S fights targets for reducing carbon dioxide at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia.
Meanwhile, a report from the House Committe on Oversight and Government Reform concludes that 'the Whitehouse systematically manipulates Climate Change Science'.
When Dr. Thomas Karl, the Director of National Climatic Data Center, appeared before the House Oversight Committee, his testimony was also heavily edited by both White House officials and political appointees at the Commerce Department. He was not allowed to say in his written testimony that “modern climate change is dominated by human influences,” that “we are venturing into the unknown territory with changes in climate,” or that “it is very likely (>95 percent probability) that humans are largely responsible for many of the observed changes in climate.”
Meanwhile, a report from the House Committe on Oversight and Government Reform concludes that 'the Whitehouse systematically manipulates Climate Change Science'.
When Dr. Thomas Karl, the Director of National Climatic Data Center, appeared before the House Oversight Committee, his testimony was also heavily edited by both White House officials and political appointees at the Commerce Department. He was not allowed to say in his written testimony that “modern climate change is dominated by human influences,” that “we are venturing into the unknown territory with changes in climate,” or that “it is very likely (>95 percent probability) that humans are largely responsible for many of the observed changes in climate.”
10 Million Whitehouse Emails "Missing"
'The Presidential Records Act of 1978 mandates Whitehouse communications be preserved'
US, Iran Experts to Meet Dec. 18
[Iraq Foriegn Minister] Zebari expressed confidence about plans for another round of talks between the nations' ambassadors.
A (small) sign of diplomacy? Is somebody in the White House actually listening? (See Below)
A (small) sign of diplomacy? Is somebody in the White House actually listening? (See Below)
The "Price of Democracy" in Iraq
'Iraq is moving in the direction of a failed state, a highly decentralized situation -- totally unplanned, of course -- with competing centers of power run by warlords and militias'.
Well according to Foreign Policy Magazine, it already is a failed state. But at least not as bad as Sudan.
Well according to Foreign Policy Magazine, it already is a failed state. But at least not as bad as Sudan.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
State of Iraq: "Fragile" or "Precarious"?
Why can't anyone come to an consensus on the state of Iraq?
The British Defense Select Committee says the situation is 'precarious'.
But Gen. David Petraeus, Commander of the multinational forces in Iraq, calls it 'fragile'.
Who do you think is right?
The British Defense Select Committee says the situation is 'precarious'.
But Gen. David Petraeus, Commander of the multinational forces in Iraq, calls it 'fragile'.
Who do you think is right?
Iraq Expected to Miss Deadline on Constitutional Referendum
Maybe this impasse will resolve itself when Iraqi Kurds have succeeded in ethnically cleansing the city of Kirkuk.
“I left the house, like thousands of Arabs have done, to protect myself from the hatred and aggression of the pesh merga, who are so aggressive against Arabs,”
“I left the house, like thousands of Arabs have done, to protect myself from the hatred and aggression of the pesh merga, who are so aggressive against Arabs,”
Saturday, December 8, 2007
2007 NIE
So Bush is first alerted to the revised Iran Intelligence contained in the 2007 NIE in July, by Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell.
But according to Seymour Hersh, isn't fully "briefed" until November 28?
Does Bush even plan to ever actually read the NIE?
Because he didn't read the 2002 NIE on Iraq's WMDs. And in 2004 he didn't even read the one page summary of the NIE on the future of Iraq, according to former chairman of the National Intelligence Council Robert Hutchings.
Given Bush's history of not reading National Intelligence Estimates, just exactly how extensively was he "briefed" on the 2007 NIE?
But according to Seymour Hersh, isn't fully "briefed" until November 28?
Does Bush even plan to ever actually read the NIE?
Because he didn't read the 2002 NIE on Iraq's WMDs. And in 2004 he didn't even read the one page summary of the NIE on the future of Iraq, according to former chairman of the National Intelligence Council Robert Hutchings.
Given Bush's history of not reading National Intelligence Estimates, just exactly how extensively was he "briefed" on the 2007 NIE?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)