3.06.2003
The Watch offered this link, Mark Twain's "The War Poem". Was going to go to The Watch permalink for the specific posting , but the site is always good. I go to my 'daily reads' about everyday.
Lots to research but not much in the way of daily news posted today...
3/06/2003
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Yesterdays post about DynCorp seems only more pertinent today in the light of a link at Byte Back about Afganistan's heroin production going up up up:
"Afghanistan retook its place as the world's leading producer of heroin last year, after US-led forces overthrew the Taliban which had banned cultivation of opium poppies."
Now of course you read about DynCorps ubiquity in providing services to our military. I happened to remember something about heroin DynCorp and motor oil. Your reading yesterday told you they (DynCorp) man poppy and coca eradication flights, earning them a Soldier Of Fortune magazine coverstory entitled "COLOMBIA'S COKE-BUSTIN' BRONCOS." DynCorp has been charged with terrorism for negatively affecting the lives of 10,000 Ecuadorans that live on the border of Columbia- and are being sprayed:
"The report indicated that herbicide spraying in Colombia, near the Ecuador border, with the herbicide called Round Up Ultra, caused "harm to the health and the crops of 100 percent of the population within five kilometers of the border with Colombia."
" According to the Court's order, the "use by DynCorp of the toxic herbicide in a prolongued and repetitive form has caused continuous and severe harm to the plaintiffs, which constitutes Crimes Against Humanity."
I have read The Narco News Bulletin since hearing Al Giordano interviewed on Democracy Now; he spoke eloquently about the necessity of freedom of the press as well as about reporting on drug crimes high in Mexican government (the ex Presdidents brother Raul Salinas) occasioning money laundering by Citibank. He was sued and has won the case. .
From building Baghdad decimating missile systems to rebuilding Baghdad: The new czar of the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance sure is a man of many hats. Three star general and friend of Donald Rumsfeld Jay Garner left his post as assistant vice chief of staff of the Army into the presidents chair at a missile defense company. Looks like now he'll be overseeing humanitarian aid... From the article:
"David Kirp, a professor at UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy who focuses on ethics, said the Bush administration is sending a profound message to Iraqis by placing a man with Garner's background in charge of reconstruction and humanitarian aid.
"This is a lovely example of our indifference to the people of Iraq," he said. "It truly bespeaks a lack of serious thinking on the administration's part."
Much like the pre-emptive bombing/attack to save the Iraqi people idea...
In the interest of adding to the discourse while turning you on to yet another interesting website I offer this piece that discusses "Bill O'Reilly's enemy of the state"
Here's a tool: The Top 200 Government Contractors...
3/06/2003
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Imagine, you are accosted by security at the mall for wearing a " Give Peace a Chance" t-shirt that you had just bought there ; then arrested for not taking it off or leaving.
"I was in the food court with my son when I was confronted by two security guards and ordered to either take off the T-shirt or leave the mall," said Downs.
Read the article. Hard to believe, at least in the America I grew up in... I'm glad the victim of this, Mr Stephen Downs, is a lawyer...
My buddy Greg who has lived in the area said that the local NPR station, WAMC has been having a field day with this."That a woman's peace group of 100+ went into the mall at noon today wearing peace shirts - no security or police in sight, newspeople all over the place, not many shoppers there, people calling in from "other" malls, it's a riot, joke of the day!!! :)))"
3/06/2003
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Do yourself a favor. Head on over to Dave Neiwart's site Orcinus and read Rush, Newspeak and Fascism parts 1-7. Neiwarts writing is good, you might want to look into his archives to read his pieces on Fundamentalism. It will take you a bit to read 1-7 but remember: Your brain deserves the treat. In these complex times we need more perspective to analyze well, "outside of the box" as the saying goes.
Read the link to "Some History of the Conservative movement and "How to Fight Back" at See The Forest blog. Yup, a lot of reading already; and I haven't even offered any of the days news links... Good brain food though.
3/06/2003
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