We like Today in Iraq at least partly because their motto is:
“There are some who, uh, feel like that, you know, the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is: Bring ’em on. We got the force necessary to deal with the security situation.” – George W. Bush, July 2, 2003
Republican’s bin Laden Ad Sparks Furor
Party Hopes to Focus Election on National Security
Reuters
WASHINGTON (Oct. 21) – Republicans unveiled an advertisement on Friday featuring the image and words of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and a warning to voters that “these are the stakes” in the November 7 election.
The Republican National Committee ad, first shown on its Web site and scheduled for airing on cable television early next week, also includes images of al Qaeda fighters in training and other al Qaeda leaders.
“What is yet to come will be even greater,” the ad quotes bin Laden as saying, before concluding with the words: “These are the stakes. Vote November 7.”
[snip]
The bin Laden ad recalls one of the most famous American political ads, the 1964 “Daisy” ad used by Democratic President Lyndon Johnson in his race against conservative Republican Barry Goldwater.
It featured a small girl picking a daisy and a countdown to nuclear explosion before an announcer says, “These are the stakes.”
Read more about the necessary fear-mongering tactics of the national political parties to defeat the American people and win the election (this year, it’s the Repugnican’s turn) here.
Justifying War with Iran: A False Strategy for Nuclear Nonproliferation
by Patrick McElwee
Six nations have been most frequently mentioned in discussions of nuclear non-proliferation in recent years. Four are known to have nuclear weapons and do not allow U.N. inspections of active nuclear weapon sites. Israel’s nuclear stockpile is an open secret. India and Pakistan both have nuclear weapons; they conducted highly publicized nuclear tests in 1998, creating a very tense moment between the rivals. This month, North Korea tested a nuclear device.
Another frequently mentioned country, Iran, does not now have nuclear weapons. It actually signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), the international legal foundation of nonproliferation. Iran allows U.N. inspections of its nuclear facilities, which it claims will be used solely for civilian power plants – legal under the NPT – and never to create a weapon. No proof has ever been offered that Iran is taking steps to produce a nuclear weapon.
The sixth country, Iraq, was invaded on the pretext of having a serious program to produce nuclear weapons, as well as other weapons of mass destruction, which are now known not to have existed since soon after U.N. inspections began there in 1991.
Yet, leaving out occupied Iraq, the only one of these countries the U.S. is threatening to attack is Iran — despite the lack of proof that Iran is even seeking a nuclear weapon. In fact, of those five countries, Iran is the only one currently playing by the rules.
The use of nuclear nonproliferation as justification for threats to attack Iran looks like a sham, just as it was shown to be a sham in Iraq.
[snip]
… diplomacy has been shown to work with North Korea. From 1994 to 2002, North Korea actually shut down its nuclear weapons program under an agreement with the United States. However, the United States failed to meet its side of the agreement – shipments of fuel oil to replace nuclear energy until completion of construction of two light-water reactors that could not produce material for a weapon. Yet the North Koreans kept their program shut down until early 2003. They kicked out U.N. inspectors, withdrew from the NPT and began enriching plutonium again. Diplomacy is the only way to defuse the current crisis.
Diplomacy has also been shown to be capable of dissuading Iran from pursuing even peaceful nuclear technology. In July 2004, Iran announced the suspension of uranium enrichment as a sign of good faith in negotiations with the European Union. Those negotiations failed to deliver for Iran, and they resumed uranium enrichment early this year. Even so, Iran has offered ideas for resolving the stand-off, including having a French company conduct the enriching process for Iran. There is every reason to think that there are diplomatic solutions to this situation.
Read the rest of the article here.
Saturday, October 21st, is Micael Priest’s birthday celebration at the South Austin Museum of Popular Culture. The fabulous MaryAnn Price performs her musical wonderfulness and following that the blazing Three Balls of Fire! Come on out, wish Mr. Priest a happy birthday and have a great time with us at the Museum. Please remember to park on Collier Street and walk over to the Museum. It starts at 7:09 p.m.
For more info, contact the Museum:
South Austin Museum of Popular Culture
1516-B South Lamar Blvd
Austin, Texas 78704
tel: 512.440.8318 email: info@samopc.org url: samopc.org
Troops’ Debt a Growing Security Concern
By THOMAS WATKINS, AP
SAN DIEGO (Oct. 20) – Thousands of U.S. troops are being barred from overseas duty because they are so deep in debt they are considered security risks, according to an Associated Press review of military records.
The number of clearances revoked for financial reasons rose every year between 2002 and 2005, climbing ninefold from 284 at the start of the period to 2,654 last year. Partial numbers from this year suggest the trend continues.
The number of troops held back has climbed dramatically in the past few years. And while they appear to represent a very small percentage of all U.S. military personnel, the increase is occurring at a time when the armed forces are stretched thin by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“We are seeing an alarming trend in degrading financial health,” said Navy Capt. Mark D. Patton, commanding officer at San Diego’s Naval Base Point Loma.
The Pentagon contends financial problems can distract personnel from their duties or make them vulnerable to bribery and treason. As a result, those who fall heavily into debt can be stripped of the security clearances they need to go overseas.
While the number of revoked clearances has surged since the beginning of the Iraq war, military officials say there is no evidence that service members are deliberately running up debts to stay out of harm’s way.
Read the rest of it here.
Cabernet Stew and Drop Biscuits (13 October 2001)
The biscuits make a fine complement for the stew, which needs no thickener for three reasons: floured meat, mustard powder, and potatoes.
Cabernet Stew
1 pound beef stew meat, trimmed of excess fat
3 tablespoons flour
Onion salt to taste
Fresh-ground pepper to taste
Put the flour, onion salt, and pepper in a paper bag, shaking a little to mix it. Add the meat in 2 or 3 batches and shake the bag to coat the meat with flour. Shake off excess flour.
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
Half a large red onion, chopped
Fresh garlic to taste, minced
1/2 cup Cabernet Sauvignon wine
Heat the oil on medium-high heat, then add the floured meat. Turning frequently, brown the meat on all sides, then add the onion and garlic. Sauté until the onions are transparent, then add the wine. Simmer until the liquid is reduced to about 1/4 cup and the alcohol odor is gone.
1 to 1-1/2 cups rich beef stock*
1 large rib celery, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
5 small Yukon gold potatoes, cut into pieces
2 tablespoons Keen’s mustard powder
1 tablespoon summer savory
Another touch of onion salt and pepper to taste
10 Brussels sprouts, cleaned
Add remaining ingredients, except sprouts, mixing everything thoroughly. Simmer stew for a bit less than 1 hour, covered and stirring occasionally. After the hour, place sprouts on top of stew and simmer for another 20 minutes.
*Note: Two points about beef stock: (1) the stock should be deep brown, and (2) it should be more similar to a thin jelly than a liquid.
Sour Cream and Dill Drop Biscuits
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter
3 tablespoons sour cream
1-1/2 tablespoons fresh dill
2% milk (or whole milk) to create a biscuit dough
Preheat oven to 425° F. Mix dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or 2 table knives, cut butter into dry ingredients until thoroughly incorporated. Add sour cream and dill, combine, then add milk to create a sticky biscuit dough.
Grease a baking sheet with butter, then place two-tablespoon “drops” of dough on the sheet, leaving at least one inch between each biscuit. Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
The Nuremberg Principles
Principle I. Any person who commits an act which constitutes a crime under international law is responsible therefore and liable to punishment.
Principle II. The fact that internal law does not impose a penalty for an act which constitutes a crime under international law does not relieve the person who committed the act from responsibility under international law.
Principle III. The fact that a person who committed an act which constitutes a crime under international law acted as Head of State or responsible government official does not relieve him from responsibility under international law.
Principle IV. The fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under international law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him.
Principle V. Any person charged with a crime under international law has the right to a fair trial on the facts and law.
Principle VI. The crimes hereinafter set out are punishable as crimes under international law:
(a) Crimes against peace:
(i) Planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances;
(ii) Participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the acts mentioned under (i).
(b) War Crimes:
Violations of the laws or customs of war which include, but are not limited to, murder, ill-treatment or deportation of slave-labour or for any other purpose of the civilian population of or in occupied territory, murder or ill-treatment of prisoners of war or persons on the seas, killing of hostages, plunder of public or private property, wanton destruction of cities, towns, or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity.
(c) Crimes against humanity:
Murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation and other inhumane acts done against any civilian population, or persecutions on political, racial, or religious grounds, when such acts are done or such persecutions are carried on in execution of or in connection with any crime against peace or any war crime.
Principle VII. Complicity in the commission of a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity as set forth in Principle VI is a crime under international law.
From Xymphora:
If you take the Lancet study numbers and add to it the Afghanistan numbers, and a few more people dead here and there due to the Bush Administration, and remember that Bush is only three quarters done, you are left with the inescapable conclusion that George Bush is one of the greatest mass murderers in modern times, up there with guys like Pol Pot. Americans finally have something to be proud of!
Iraqi Judge Sentences U.S. Citizen To Death After U.S. Military “Demanded” the Man Be Executed
An Iraqi-born US citizen is in a battle to save his life as he tries to avoid execution in Baghdad. But he’s not up against insurgents groups – he’s up against the Iraqi and US governments.
The man, Mohammad Munaf, was arrested by US troops last year. He was charged with kidnapping three Romanian journalists and holding them hostage for nearly two months. Last week, Munaf was sentenced to death. He’s being held in a US-run prison at the Baghdad airport.
Munaf maintains his innocence. Just weeks ago, it appeared he would be set free. Munaf’s attorneys say the presiding judge promised to dismiss the charges after he concluded there was no material evidence to support a conviction.
But then came a strange intervention. Two US military officers appeared in court to advocate giving Munaf the death penalty. One of the officers claimed to be acting on behalf of the Romanian embassy and said Romania “demanded” Munaf be put to death. The two officers then held a private meeting with the judge – without the defense in the room. When he returned, the judge ruled Munaf was guilty and ordered his execution.
Read it here.
This comes from A Star From Mosul, where things haven’t been very nice today. She is a young Iraqi blogger whose life has turned upside down from the military action in that country. Further on in her post, she is particularly critical of Iraq the Model, a blog I’ve long suspected of being a mouthpiece of the US administration. It is interesting to see this independently corroborated.
What’s happening?
Mosul is a mess today.. I woke up late today to know that a fuel tanker exploded near the university: A place full of people and shops and cars waiting in the long gas station line, with a police station nearby.
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — A suicide bomber driving a fuel tanker struck a major police station in the northern city of Mosul on Thursday, killing 12 people and wounding 25, many of them motorists waiting to buy gas at a nearby station, police said.
In the meanwhile, two big explosion happened in my neighborhood today. Many explosions and shooting in several other areas. A total of six car bombs as reported in the news..
In the most sacred month, most sacred day, some people have the heart to kill and orphan and widow.
At least 12 families in Mosul will have sorrow and sadness in Eid, instead of happiness, because someone decided to kill himself in a way many won’t forget..
Read the rest here.
Date: Saturday, Nov. 4th, 1 -3 pm. Rain date is Sunday, Nov. 5th, 1 pm.
Description of Protest: mock, silent, solemn funeral procession (single file) with everyone dressed in funeral black with some women wearing long black veils (we furnish) and some marchers carrying signs (CP to make) saying messages such as “Today We Mourn, Tomorrow We Vote” and “Troops Home Now.”
Location: Meet at City Hall Plaza. Route will begin there and head to Congress Avenue bridge where it will go the extent of the bridge to Barton Springs and loop back to city hall. Lots of parking under City Hall.
For more information: Call Deborah of CodePink at 448-3090.
NOTE: To everyone coming: must wear black — dress like going to a funeral — no shorts. Dont bring signs — we furnish them. Please come on time, because the people in the funeral march have to be lined up, veils need to be put on and signs dispersed before we can begin to march — this takes time. We provide black veils, but you (women) don’t have to wear one or you can bring a black hat or scarf if you like. We will put the women in veils up front.
Thorne Webb Dreyer, Editor
