1) Denver Post Coverage of Today’s Immigrant Rights
March
March
The Denver Post said that “a group calling itself World
Can’t
Wait” led the immigrants’ rights march today, which the Post said was
attended by roughly 800 demonstrators.
Can’t
Wait” led the immigrants’ rights march today, which the Post said was
attended by roughly 800 demonstrators.
The Post article linked to below quotes at length from WCW’s press
statement:
statement:
“This is Germany in the 1930s all over again!” according
to a
press statement. “The past seven years of the Bush regime have seen a
dramatic escalation of attacks on immigrants on many fronts.”
to a
press statement. “The past seven years of the Bush regime have seen a
dramatic escalation of attacks on immigrants on many fronts.”
But marchers say they don’t believe there would be
significant changes under a Barack Obama
significant changes under a Barack Obama
or John McCain administration.
“Obama has made no call to reverse this whole ugly
program,”
the statement says. “Stop the attacks on Immigrants! Stop the ICE
raids! Stop the Criminal Bush Program!”
program,”
the statement says. “Stop the attacks on Immigrants! Stop the ICE
raids! Stop the Criminal Bush Program!”
(The pictures on the Post Web site say: “We are America:
Immigrant
Rights Are Human Rights” … which might lead to some confusion over
whether World Can’t Wait’s message is “We are America”)
Immigrant
Rights Are Human Rights” … which might lead to some confusion over
whether World Can’t Wait’s message is “We are America”)
2) Another Rendition Program Comes to Light ….
One question that is posed when Obama promises to “shut down
Guantanamo” is: “What would he propose to do with the
detainees being held there? Transfer them somewhere else to be
tortured?”
Guantanamo” is: “What would he propose to do with the
detainees being held there? Transfer them somewhere else to be
tortured?”
If you listen when Obama mentions shutting down Guantanamo, he
never really answers this question. And — much like Obama’s desire to
change policy around Iraq, this element of agenda may not be as out of
step with current Bush Regime thinking as people think.
never really answers this question. And — much like Obama’s desire to
change policy around Iraq, this element of agenda may not be as out of
step with current Bush Regime thinking as people think.
For this and many other obvious reasons, this story from the
NY
Times front page today seems potentially very significant: The U.S.
military has acknowledged that, during the past 4 years, they have secretly
transferred more than 200 detainees
from Iraq and Afghanistan to other countries including Saudi Arabia and
Egypt. This marks the first instance in which the U.S. military has
acknowledged transferring detainees in Iraq to the intelligence
services of their home countries. Before being transferred, according
to the Times article, the detainees are held in secret in Iraq and
Afghanistan for up to weeks at a time and interrogated by intelligence
officers.
NY
Times front page today seems potentially very significant: The U.S.
military has acknowledged that, during the past 4 years, they have secretly
transferred more than 200 detainees
from Iraq and Afghanistan to other countries including Saudi Arabia and
Egypt. This marks the first instance in which the U.S. military has
acknowledged transferring detainees in Iraq to the intelligence
services of their home countries. Before being transferred, according
to the Times article, the detainees are held in secret in Iraq and
Afghanistan for up to weeks at a time and interrogated by intelligence
officers.
According to the Times, one major impetus for transferring
detainees to their home countries was that, starting in 2006, the Bush
Reigme decided that Guantanamo Bay was doing “irreparable damage to
America’s image abroad and might actually be a catalyst for the spread
of Islamic radicalism. Also, that year the Supreme Court shot down the
Bush administration’s plans for trying Guantanamo detainees by miltary
commission.”
detainees to their home countries was that, starting in 2006, the Bush
Reigme decided that Guantanamo Bay was doing “irreparable damage to
America’s image abroad and might actually be a catalyst for the spread
of Islamic radicalism. Also, that year the Supreme Court shot down the
Bush administration’s plans for trying Guantanamo detainees by miltary
commission.”
Times reporters Mark Mazetti and Eric Schmitt write: “The
system is similar in some ways to the rendition program used by the
Central Intelligence Agency since the Sept 11. attacks to secretly
transfer people suspected of being militants back to their home
countries to be jailed and questioned. But there are significant
differences; the prisoners can block their transfers to home countries,
military officials say. Officials of the Internation Committee of the
Red Cross interview all detainees before they are returned to their
home countries, Bernard Barrett, a Red Cross spokesman said.”
system is similar in some ways to the rendition program used by the
Central Intelligence Agency since the Sept 11. attacks to secretly
transfer people suspected of being militants back to their home
countries to be jailed and questioned. But there are significant
differences; the prisoners can block their transfers to home countries,
military officials say. Officials of the Internation Committee of the
Red Cross interview all detainees before they are returned to their
home countries, Bernard Barrett, a Red Cross spokesman said.”
The military claims that before transferring the detainees
to
their home countries, they must receive assurances the detainees would
be treated humanely. Yeah right. In line with the
Bush Regime’s doublespeak policy of torturing-while-not-calling-it-torture , military
officials interviewed by the Times refused to say what their definition
of “humane treatment was.”
to
their home countries, they must receive assurances the detainees would
be treated humanely. Yeah right. In line with the
Bush Regime’s doublespeak policy of torturing-while-not-
officials interviewed by the Times refused to say what their definition
of “humane treatment was.”
And an official with Human Rights Watch noted it is very
difficult
for them to monitor treatment of detainees once they are sent back to
their home countries.
difficult
for them to monitor treatment of detainees once they are sent back to
their home countries.
So once again, Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain: “Shut down
Guantanamo… and then what? Torture detainees somewhere else?”
Guantanamo… and then what? Torture detainees somewhere else?”
3) U.S. Miltary Denies Afghan/U.N. accounts of U.S.
airstrikes
airstrikes
Despite the fact that the United Nations corroborated the
Afghani
government’s charge that U.S. airstrikes killed 90 civilians last
Friday –including 60 children — the U.S. military is denying
it.
Afghani
government’s charge that U.S. airstrikes killed 90 civilians last
Friday –including 60 children — the U.S. military is denying
it.
U.S. military and Pentagon officials speaking
anonymously said the actual Afghani death toll was 25 militants and 5
civilians.. In
the U.S. military’s version of events, U.S. forces came under fire from
militants wielding rifles and grenades and that was the reason they
decided to launch airstrikes. They also accused the Taliban of hiding
civilians among the population.
anonymously said the actual Afghani death toll was 25 militants and 5
civilians.. In
the U.S. military’s version of events, U.S. forces came under fire from
militants wielding rifles and grenades and that was the reason they
decided to launch airstrikes. They also accused the Taliban of hiding
civilians among the population.
Does this “justification” sound familiar? It is worth
noting
that even in the U.S. military’s version of events, they killed two
women and three children in the airstrikes.
noting
that even in the U.S. military’s version of events, they killed two
women and three children in the airstrikes.
But Times reporter Eric Schmitt notes: “If the higher
death
toll proves to be correct, however, this would almost certainly be a
severe embarassment to the military, and the deadliest case of civilian
casualties caused by any United States military operation in
Afghanistan since 2001.”
death
toll proves to be correct, however, this would almost certainly be a
severe embarassment to the military, and the deadliest case of civilian
casualties caused by any United States military operation in
Afghanistan since 2001.”
According to the Times, a U.S. commander is currently
investigating the airstrikes.
investigating the airstrikes.
Meanwhile, a picture next to the story in the Times, of a
young
Afghani girl crying after her relative was killed in the bombings,
speaks more than 1000 words.
young
Afghani girl crying after her relative was killed in the bombings,
speaks more than 1000 words.
This image should be juxtaposed against Joe Biden’s macho
bragging
last night about how Barack Obama wants to send more troops to
Afghanistan.
bragging
last night about how Barack Obama wants to send more troops to
Afghanistan.
4) Russian Officials Issue Heavy Rhetoric regarding
Georgia Conflict
Georgia Conflict
On Wednesday, Russia’s representative to NATO,
Dmitri O. Rogozin, said: “There are two dates that changed the
world in recent years: Sept 11, 2001, and Aug 8, 2008.”
Dmitri O. Rogozin, said: “There are two dates that changed the
world in recent years: Sept 11, 2001, and Aug 8, 2008.”
He went on to say: “Sept 11 motivated the United States
to
behave really differently in the world. That is to say, Americans
realized that even in their homes, they could not feel safe. They had
to protect their interests oustide the boundaries of the U.S. For
Russia, it is the same thing.”
to
behave really differently in the world. That is to say, Americans
realized that even in their homes, they could not feel safe. They had
to protect their interests oustide the boundaries of the U.S. For
Russia, it is the same thing.”
These words come on the heels of escalating tensions between
Russia and the U.S. On Tuesday, the Russian government officially
recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as separate regions from
Georgia. Meanwhile, NATO warships arrived in the Black Sea delivering
“humanitarian aid,” meaning there are now Russian and U.S. ships
pretty close to each other in the Black Sea.
Russia and the U.S. On Tuesday, the Russian government officially
recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as separate regions from
Georgia. Meanwhile, NATO warships arrived in the Black Sea delivering
“humanitarian aid,” meaning there are now Russian and U.S. ships
pretty close to each other in the Black Sea.
“Of course, they are bringing in weapons,” Russian
President Dmitri A. Medvedev said of the ships. The White House has
denied Russia’s accusations.
President Dmitri A. Medvedev said of the ships. The White House has
denied Russia’s accusations.
5) New McCain ad Accuses Obama of being soft on Iran
This will be something to watch for in Obama’s speech
tonight: what does he say about Iran?
tonight: what does he say about Iran?
A new ad released by McCain blasts comments made by Obama
about
Iran back in May… The ad takes comments out of context: Obama said
that, compared to previous U.S. adversaries, Iran was a “tiny” threat.
about
Iran back in May… The ad takes comments out of context: Obama said
that, compared to previous U.S. adversaries, Iran was a “tiny” threat.
McCain’s ad focuses only on calling Iran a “tiny threat,” arguing that
Iran is actually a major threat.
Iran is actually a major threat.
But the point is: What lengths will Obama go to tonight to
distance himself from McCain’s new ad, and what will be revealed in the
process about Obama’s stance on Iran?
distance himself from McCain’s new ad, and what will be revealed in the
process about Obama’s stance on Iran?
6) U.S. soldiers acknowledge massacring 4 Iraqis.
U.S. soldiers acknowledged shooting 4 Iraqis in the head
while
they were blindfold and handcuffed and then dumping their bodies in
a canal in Bagdhad.
while
they were blindfold and handcuffed and then dumping their bodies in
a canal in Bagdhad.
The NY Times’ source is statements made by the soldiers,
provided
to the Times by other soldiers in the unit. The incident happened in
either March or April 2007.
provided
to the Times by other soldiers in the unit. The incident happened in
either March or April 2007.
The soldiers said in their statements that they had
just
been told to release the detainees because there wasn’t evidence to
hold them.
just
been told to release the detainees because there wasn’t evidence to
hold them.
Even though the statements were made in January,
none of the soldiers has yet been charged.
none of the soldiers has yet been charged.
7) Secret Meeting Yesterday Between Top US, Pakistani
Military Officials
Military Officials
Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chief of Staffs;
and
General Petraeus were among those who met aboard an aircraft carrier
yesterday with Pakistani officials “to discuss how to
combat the escalating violence along the border between Pakistan and
Afghanistan.”
and
General Petraeus were among those who met aboard an aircraft carrier
yesterday with Pakistani officials “to discuss how to
combat the escalating violence along the border between Pakistan and
Afghanistan.”
Eric Schmitt of the NY Times wrote: “While
officials
from the two allies offered few details on Wednesday about what was
decided or even discussed at the meeting-including any new strategies,
tactics, weapons, or troop deployments–the star studded list of
participants and the exteme secrecy surrouding the talks underscored
how gravely both nations regard the growing militant threat.”
officials
from the two allies offered few details on Wednesday about what was
decided or even discussed at the meeting-including any new strategies,
tactics, weapons, or troop deployments–the star studded list of
participants and the exteme secrecy surrouding the talks underscored
how gravely both nations regard the growing militant threat.”
One apparent impetus for the meeting was that Mullen met
with a
Pakistani General last month and told him that the Pakistani government
had to crack down more on “militants.”
with a
Pakistani General last month and told him that the Pakistani government
had to crack down more on “militants.”
Neither Pakistan nor the US would comment on whether they
had
agreed to send more U.S. forces to Pakistan as a result of this latest
meeting.
had
agreed to send more U.S. forces to Pakistan as a result of this latest
meeting.