"When the government fears the people, you have liberty. When the people fear the government, you have tyranny."
~ President Thomas Jefferson
| Visit the U.S. National Debt Clock You better sit down before you read this one! | "There is dirt under every BUSH!" | Thursday, August 21st, 2008 |
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!EMERGENCY ACTION! - PORT MILITARIZATION RESISTANCE IN TACOMA NOW!
From seattle.indymedia.org - Thursday, July 31, 2008 PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY in the NW Region PORT MILITARIZATION RESISTANCE IN TACOMA NOW! USNS Brittin is now unloading returning Strykers from the 4th Brigade stationed at Ft. Lewis. We need you to help resist the Port of Tacoma from being a revolving door for the war in Iraq NOW! Port Militarization Resistance is a tactic to end the war by resisting military shipments via public infrastructure by regional organizations and individuals. (Further and transportation info below) Thursday, July 31st 11 AM, Shutdown the War-machine in Downtown Tacoma Tollefson Plaza--1701 Pacific Ave 4-6 PM, Port Militarization Resistance Rally and Protest (Family friendly event. Come & hook-in for later actions) Federal Courthouse--1713 Pacific Ave 8 PM, Port Action Meeting Point At Puyallup Avenue & East D St. (5 minute walk from courthouse) Friday, August 1st 11 AM, Shutdown the War-machine in Downtown Tacoma Tollefson Plaza--1701 Pacific Ave 4-6 PM, Port Militarization Resistance Rally and Protest (Family friendly event. Come & hook-in for later actions) Federal Courthouse--1713 Pacific Ave 8 PM, Port Action Meeting Point At Puyallup Avenue & East D St. (5 minute walk from courthouse) Saturday, August 2nd 12-3 PM, No War on Iraq! No War on Iran Demo! (A family-friendly demo and overpass rally) At I-5's Exit 119, outside Fort Lewis Brought to you by IVAW, G.I. Voice, and Olympia SDS Olympia carpool will meet at the corner of Harrison and Division @ 11 am 4-6 PM, Port Militarization Resistance Rally and Protest (Family friendly event. Come & hook-in for later actions) Federal Courthouse--1713 Pacific Ave 8 PM, Port Action Meeting Point At Puyallup Avenue & East D St. (5 minute walk from courthouse) Sunday, August 3rd (If unloading continues) 4-6 PM, Port Militarization Resistance Rally and Protest (Family friendly event. Come & hook-in for later actions) Federal Courthouse--1713 Pacific Ave 8 PM, Port Action Meeting Point At Puyallup Avenue & East D St. (5 minute walk from courthouse) Transportation information: All Tacoma meeting points are VERY accessible by SoundTransit. Come to the Tacoma Dome Station. You can then take the free Link Rail two stations to the Union station and get off. Or walk 15 minutes. The Port Action meeting spot is within sight of the Tacoma Dome Station. See the AREA MAP at Google maps. Find out more information about Port Militarization Resistance: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Militarization_Resistance Stay tuned for further information at: olypmr.org olyimc.infotage.net seattle.indymedia.org [via Olympia Movement for Justice & Peace (OMJP)] Contacts: Chance Kroll (510) 219-6155. Katee O (716) 479 2360. COMMUNITIES RALLY TO PREVENT MILITARIZATION OF PUBLIC PORT Tacoma, WA 7/31/08 On July 28, 2008, the USNS Brittin returned to the Port of Tacoma. This ship is transporting damaged equipment from the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team 2nd Infantry for repair and further deployment. Community members, anti-port militarization activists and others from the peace and justice community of Washington and Oregon will descend on the Tacoma Federal Courthouse, 1713 Pacific Avenue, everyday from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm to demand the withdrawal of the military from this port. These peaceful, family friendly vigils will continue everyday until the equipment is gone. Others intend to quarantine the equipment in the Port. Demonstrators site a variety of new and exciting tactics to be used in opposition of the military use of this public port. "We hope to create safe space for all to voice their opposition to these crimes against peace and to resist the use of public lands to enable a bloody occupation," says Olympia Port Militarization Resistance member Patty Imani. Many demonstrators oppose the use of their community as a "revolving door" for military equipment that is being used to commit war crimes. Tacoma, the larger community, and the world asserts that this war violates international law as defined by the Nuremberg Charter and Principles. In the past, similar peaceful Port Militarization Resistance demonstrations have been met with overwhelming police violence. Police have illegally used chemical weapons and "less than lethal weapons" on people whose only crime was to attempt to uphold international law. In March of 2007, this equipment left the Port of Tacoma for Iraq. Resisters sought to prevent the material from leaving, in hopes that this would prevent the deployment of troops. Through the use of enormous and unnecessary violence, police eventually cleared a path for this equipment to board the ship. There were 37 arrests. The equipment now returns on the heels of the soldiers, who returned home last month. 37 of these soldiers lost their lives in Iraq. This press release was written by representatives from PMR. PMR is action-based coalition of anti-war activists who refuse their community's complacency in illegal occupations by stopping the military use of their streets, people, resources, and public ports. Read More [ permalink ] |
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Bush Knew About Torture Techniques AND Approved Them
Monday, April 14, 2008 By Your-Rights.com Cause of detainee death was HOMICIDE according to Army CID investigation autopsy! An autopsy was performed as part of what seems to be part of an Army CID investigation of a detainee. The medical examiner said the cause of death was HOMICIDE! To quote the medical examiner from the autopsy report: ''This 47-year-old White male, [redacted], died of blunt force injuries and asphyxia. The autopsy disclosed multiple blunt force injuries, including deep contusions of the chest wall, numerous displaced rib fractures, lung contusions, and hemorrhage into the mesentery of the small and large intestine. An examination of the neck structures revealed hemorrhage into the strap muscles and fractures of the thyroid cartilage and hyoid bone. According to the investigative report provided by U.S. Army CID, the decedent was shackled to the top of a doorframe with a gag in his mouth at the time he lost consciousness and became pulseless. This autopsy report by its self is very disturbing. And on top of that autopsy report, we have George W. Bush admitting he not only knew WHAT WAS GOING ON, but that key administration officials discussed specific torture techniques. George W. Bush ADMITS he approved torture! Bush: "I Was Aware" of Harsh Tactics (cached) ABC News President Bush says he knew his top national security advisers discussed and approved specific details about how high-value al Qaeda suspects would be interrogated by the Central Intelligence Agency, according to an exclusive interview with ABC News Friday. What makes me the most angry about this whole mess... Ron Suskind: White House ordered forgery to link al-Qaeda/Saddam to 9/11 attacks The FBI has no hard evidence connecting bin Laden to 9/11 (search) NO LINK has been found between al Qaeda and Iraq before we invaded. (search) George W. Bush tells a reporter that Iraq had "NOTHING" to do with the World Trade Center 9/11 attacks. (video) U.S. and Allied Intelligence Services Had Penetrated The Highest Levels of Al Qaeda Prior to 9/11 (search) (old link) BUSH DID NOT LIE! There WAS a connection between Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein! The connection was the BUSH FAMILY!!! So... The REAL Terrorists attacked on 9/11. George W. Bush used these attacks to ILLEGALLY invade a country that had absolutely nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks. Then George W. Bush captures the people who tried to protect their country from his illegal invasion. Then... George W. Bush imprisons these INNOCENT people with no charges, no access to an attorney, no Habeas Corpus. THEN, George W. Bush authorizes innocent people to be tortured for information about ties to al Qaeda that didn't even exist before our illegal invasion! Then the C.I.A. DESTROYS THE EVIDENCE OF TORTURE as a Judge Sought Interrogation Data! All of this torture, George W. Bush says, is to ''protect'' the American people from the al Qaeda threat that didn't even exist before Bush invaded Iraq! So, after knowing all of this, why hasn't the United States Congress STARTED IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS? Maybe it is because THEY ARE MAKING TO MUCH MONEY FROM THE WAR! RELATED: Loose NUKES: Secret ILLEGAL U.S. Government Backroom Deals Bush Consolidates the National Security State Proof that George W. Bush had advanced knowledge of 9-11 - George W. Bush Can't Remember His Own Lies Bush, Cheney subject to arrest for War Crimes Rumsfeld Charged with Torture in French Court MSNBC: 9/11 Commission findings based largely on testimony waterboarded out of suspects. In other words, forced confessions rather than investigations Proof: BUSH AUTHORIZED TORTURE plus Waterboarding videos Read More [ permalink ] |
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Proof: BUSH AUTHORIZED TORTURE plus Waterboarding videos
Friday, December 7, 2007 By Your-Rights.com Printed on page A6 of the Friday, December 7th issue of the Seattle-P.I. is this Associated Press (AP) news article which says it all, right in the same paragraph. They are too afraid to use the word "TORTURE!" and instead call it, "harsh questioning methods." The article goes on to explain in the very next sentence that one of the "harsh questioning methods" is "waterboarding, which simulates drowning." Here is the key paragraph... "CIA Director Michael Hayden said the CIA began taping the interrogations as an internal check on the program after President Bush authorized the use of harsh questioning methods. The methods included waterboarding, which simulates drowning, government officials said."Notice how the author seriously plays down the fact that Bush authorized torture by how they worded the paragraph. The sentences should have said this, "President Bush authorized the use of TORTURE, including waterboarding, which simulates drowning." "His sufferings must be that of a man who is drowning, but cannot drown." - Lt. Grover Flint, Philippine-American WarYou can clearly see that waterboarding is torture from the waterboarding video's listed below: (playlist) Waterboarding video 1 In this video clip, Robin Williams shows us waterboarding. This is from the 1999 film, "Jakob the Liar." Waterboarding video 2 This video clip is from the 1997 movie, "G.I. Jane". Waterboarding video 3 This video clip is from MSNBC's "Countdown" with Keith Olbermann. What do you think was the real reason the CIA destroyed those torture tapes? They didn't want to risk anyone knowing what they really did!!! Think about this for a minute... Is it possible that any of the video's presented here may be very mild in nature compared to what really happened in Guantanomo? Waterboarding is listed at a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. Demand IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS NOW!!! There has been incredible naivety among Americans who have questioned whether or not Bush authorized the use of torture. This is due to the Press NOT doing their jobs along with intense government secrecy, secret prisions, etc. The only reason this article was even written was because the Government said it happened! Where is investigative reporting??? Instead all we have is the Press parroting whatever Government officials are saying. Related: George W. Bush ADMITS he approved torture Waterboarding is 'drowning', 'water torture': expert testimony FOX Hosts: Waterboarding Not So Bad, Just a Washcloth on the Face UCSB Students Dressed as Clowns Pun'k The CIA Tags: bush, cia, drowning, impeach, tape, torture, torture video, torture tape, video, war crime, waterboarding Read More [ permalink ] |
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Kucinich to File Articles of Impeachment Against Cheney
From 911Blogger.com - Tuesday, April 17, 2007 By GeorgeWashington UPDATED: Kucinich Files Articles of Impeachment Against Cheney! The Washington Post is reporting that Congressman Kucinich will file articles of impeachment against Cheney. This essay lays out a very strong legal argument for impeachment based upon Cheney falsely linking Iraq and 9/11. This essay is a harder-hitting round-up of Cheney's various crimes. Please contact Congressman Kucinich's office and urge him to include 9/11 in the articles of impeachment against Cheney. The above 2 essays might be good to pass along (and if you know of any harder-hitting essays linking Cheney and 9/11, send them also!) Kucinich's contact info: 2445 Rayburn HOB Also, please work the boards at the Huffington Post, the Daily Kos and elsewhere (you can find some places to post by looking here), to urge that impeachment be initiated against Cheney and that articles of impeachment include 9/11. I am very aware of the arguments by some 9/11 truthers against impeachment. However, it is impossible to try a sitting Vice President (or President) until they are removed from office. Therefore, impeachment is a good first step. In other words, criminal or war crimes trials cannot occur until Cheney is out of office, and impeachment is a way to help show him the door early. By the way, HERE is an argument for why Cheney should be impeached first, before Bush or anyone else. Dennis Kucinich Urges Conversation about ImpeachmentRead More [ permalink ] |
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Bush Administration Exposed In New Documentary
From 911blogger.com - Wednesday, December 27, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Iraq: Death of Reason has now been released to the public by Vice in the wilderness productions. This stunning new film attacks the Evangelical Church's error in supporting the war in Iraq. Produced and directed by Raymond Schwab and Elliott Nesch of Beit Shalom Ministries, Iraq: The Death of reason addresses just war theory, Abu Ghraib torture, depleted uranium, the deceptions sold to the American public by the Bush administration, false flag operations, war profiteers and calls the Christian church to reconsider their position, since prior to invasion 79% of evangelicals supported military action. For more info go to www.beitshalomministries.org To view the film for free online go to: Read More [ permalink ] |
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Citizens' Hearing on the Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq
From democracyinaction.org - Monday, December 11, 2006 For immediate release: December 11, 2006 Contact: Cindy Sousa 206-734-5040 cindy@sdmcc.org Citizens' Hearing to Put Iraq War "on trial" Before Watada Court Martial; Tribunal Announced on 60th Anniversary of Nuremberg Principles. The "Citizens' Hearing on the Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq" will be held on January 20-21, 2007, in Tacoma, Washington, two weeks before the February 5th court martial of 1st Lieutenant Ehren Watada at Fort Lewis. Organizing Committee members Rob Crawford, Associate Professor at the University of Washington, Tacoma says that the national event "will put the Iraq War on trial, in response to the Army's trial of Lt. Watada, the first U.S. military officer to refuse deployment to Iraq." Organizers announced the upcoming tribunal today, December 11th, on the 60th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly's affirmation of the Nuremberg Principles, which--in the aftermath of World War II--disallowed soldiers from following unlawful orders that can lead to war crimes. Nuremberg Trials prosecutor Benjamin Ferencz, 86, said that "The enduring lessons and principles of the Nuremberg trials were that aggressive war is 'the supreme international crime' since it incorporates all of the other crimes. In addition, Nuremberg held that those responsible for crimes against humanity and major war crimes will have to answer before the bar of justice." Iraq War veterans, experts in international law and war crimes, and human rights advocates will offer testimony, in a format that will resemble that of a congressional committee. According to Dr. Lawrence Mosqueda, member of the Organizing Committee and Professor at Evergreen State College: "We are inviting testimony by Iraq War veterans and experts to inform military personnel and other citizens to reflect deeply on their roles and responsibilities in an illegal war." Testifiers include: *Denis Halliday, Former UN Assistant Secretary General, coordinated Iraq humanitarian aid; *Daniel Ellsberg, military analyst who released the Pentagon Papers in the Vietnam War; *Richard Falk, Professor Emeritus of International Law at Princeton University; *Nadia McCaffrey, Gold Star Families Speak Out; Brussels Tribunal advisory board; *Harvey Tharp, former U.S. Navy Lieutenant and JAG stationed in Iraq; *Antonia Juhasz, policy-analyst and author on U.S. economic policies in Iraq; *John Burroughs, Lawyers' Committee on Nuclear Policy Executive Director; *Eman Khammas, Iraqi human rights advocate (via video). *Benjamin G. Davis, Assoc. Prof. of Law, University of Toledo; expert on law of war. The hearing will present the case that Lt. Watada would, if allowed, make at his court martial. His defense attorneys maintain that the war on Iraq is illegal under international treaties and under Article Six of the U.S. Constitution. Further, Lt. Watada's defense argues that the Nuremberg Principles and U.S. military regulations require soldiers to follow only "lawful orders." In Lt. Watada's view, deployment to Iraq would have made him party to the crimes that permeate the structure and conduct of military operations there. A panel comprised of military veterans, members of military families, students, and representatives of labor unions, local governments, academia, and religious organizations will hear the testimony, examine witnesses, and issue a fact-finding report. Panelists will focus on the legality of the war, whether the invasion of Iraq in 2003 constituted a "crime against the peace," whether the military occupation and economic constriction of Iraq constitutes a "crime against humanity," and whether individual soldiers have an obligation or duty to refuse unlawful orders. David Krieger, who was a U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant stationed in Hawaii during the Vietnam War, and is currently the Director of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation will serve as panel chair. Krieger, who was a member of the Jury of Conscience at the 2005 World Tribunal on Iraq, observes, "The Citizens' Hearing will place the legality of the Iraq War on trial. U.S. soldiers have always had the duty to disobey unlawful orders. That obligation was strengthened at the Nuremberg Tribunals following World War II. Following superior orders to commit unlawful acts is not a defense." Krieger asserts, "Lt. Watada's position is that if the war itself is illegal, which he believes it to be, then orders to participate in the war must also be illegal. There is a duty to disobey such orders. If this position cannot be tried in U.S. courts, it must be tried before the court of public opinion." Lietta Ruger of Military Families Speak Out (MSFO), Washington state chapter, says: "this hearing will focus attention on the role of the U.S. government--rather than that of individual soldiers--in perpetrating the crimes of the Iraq War." Tribunal organizer and Evergreen State College geography professor Dr. Zoltan Grossman comments: "The Citizens' Hearing will focus critical attention on the underlying premises of the Iraq War at a critical time when its future is being decided. The Citizens' Hearing will heighten the discussion of the Iraq invasion and occupation in the public--and within the military itself--as similar tribunals did during the Vietnam War." Nuremberg Trials prosecutor Benjamin Ferencz concludes, "The best way to protect the lives of courageous young people who serve in the military is to avoid war-making itself. One cannot kill an idea with a gun, but only with a better idea. If people believe that law is better than war, they must do all they can to enhance the power of law and stop glorifying war." The Evergreen State College's Tacoma Campus (1210 6th Ave.) will host The Citizens' Hearing on January 20-21, 2007. The organizers of the Citizens' Hearing are also launching a new website: http://www.WarTribunal.org to provide regular updates about the project. For more information about the case of U.S. Army Lt. Ehren Watada, go to http://www.ThankYouLT.org -END- ### January 20, 2007 From: 10:00 AM until 06:00 PM Read More [ permalink ] |
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Groups Across Country Plan for Human Rights and Impeachment Day on Sunday, Dec. 10; Many Events Already Planned, More in the Works
From democrats.com - Tuesday, November 28, 2006
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Bush quietly resumes training Latin American militaries
From blacklistednews.com - Friday, November 10, 2006 WASHINGTON -- Concern about leftist victories in Latin America has prompted President Bush to quietly grant a waiver that allows the United States to resume training militaries from 11 Latin American and Caribbean countries. The administration hopes the training will forge links with countries in the region and blunt a leftward trend. Daniel Ortega, a nemesis of the United States in the region during the 1980s, was elected president in Nicaragua this week. Bolivians chose another leftist, Evo Morales, last year. A military training ban was originally designed to pressure countries into exempting U.S. soldiers from war crimes trials. The 2002 U.S. law bars countries from receiving military aid and training if they refuse to promise immunity from prosecution to U.S. servicemembers who might get hauled before the International Criminal Court. The law allows presidential waivers. The White House lifted the ban on 21 countries, about half in Latin America or the Caribbean, through a presidential memorandum Oct. 2 to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The training is conducted in the USA. Read More [ permalink ] |
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The President Can Now "Disappear" YOU
From Air America Radio - Thursday, September 28, 2006 The Senate voted 65-34 Thursday evening to approve legislation, sought by President Bush, that will make legal all but the most blatant of detainee abuses; the measure also lays the groundwork for military tribunals that strip defendants of the rights that have--until now--been a hallmark of the American justice system. What the major media outlets do not tell you about this bill is that it gives unprecedented powers to the president to basically kidnap and indefinitely detain any United States citizen or anyone else in the world. Yes, this includes YOU. You can now just basically "disappear" without a trace and they don't even have to even tell anyone they took you. All the president has to do is say that you are an enemy combatant for whatever reason the president chooses!!! You could be tortured the entire time you are detained, without any judicial oversight, whether you actually did anything illegal or not. They can torture you until you admit to anything they want you to say. And now they can legally use this torture testimony against you in a "court" where you can be sentenced to prison forever or put to death!!! Key parts of the Military Commissions Act - Establishes special rules for military-commission trials for Al Qaeda suspects accused of committing war crimes. The rules permit the exclusion of a defendant from his trial if classified evidence is being presented, and the admission of hearsay and coerced statements as evidence. - Authorizes a three-officer military panel to determine a detainee's status as an enemy combatant eligible for indefinite detention in US custody. This is in lieu of the ability to file a habeas corpus petition challenging the legality of the detention in federal court. - Creates a retroactive legal defense for US personnel who engaged in harsh interrogation tactics from September 2001 to December 2005. Also narrows the range of activities that might constitute a violation of Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions outlawing torture and cruel treatment. - Expands the definition of an unlawful enemy combatant to provide that anyone who offers "material support" to someone engaged in hostilities against the US can be held indefinitely in military detention, regardless of whether he or she actually engaged in hostilities. Also provides that only noncitizens held as unlawful enemy combatants may be tried by a military commission. Read More [ permalink ] |
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The Bush Crimes Commission Hearings
From bushcommission.org - Sunday, September 24, 2006 The testimony on this DVD stands as a compelling moral condemnation of this regime. We know that it is the most demented, lawless, contemptible of human life, and egregiously evil government in the history of the Republic -- Here is proof. On this DVD you'll see evidence and substance in the form of stunning testimony from eye-witnesses and experts on torture, global warming and HIV/AIDS that this regime is guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Read More [ permalink ] |
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Tell Your Senators: America Doesn't Support Torture
From TrueMajority - Sunday, September 24, 2006 Should America really debate when and how torture is acceptable? I don't think so. I experienced combat in three wars so nobody needs to tell me that "war is hell," but the reason we fight in the first place is supposed to be defending the values and principles which made America great. Those values do not include secret jails, holding prisoners' heads under water, and declaring ourselves exempt from the rules on war crimes. Yet that is exactly what this Administration is trying to legalize right now in the Senate. Tell your Senators that America doesn't support torture 40 Retired Admirals and Generals, Military Leaders and Former DOD Officials Urge Congress to Preserve the Geneva Conventions Bush Detainee Plan Adds to World Doubts Of U.S., Powell Says Read More [ permalink ] |
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One Voice Can Make A Difference - Ehren Watada
From Wikipedia - Friday, August 18, 2006 Ehren Watada (1978 - ) is a First Lieutenant in the United States Army who publicly refused to eploy to Iraq for the Iraq War in June 2006, saying that he believed the war to be illegal and that it would make him party to war crimes. Read More [ permalink ] |
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