By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor, AlterNet
Posted on May 16, 2005, Printed on May 16, 2005
http://www.alternet.org/story/22006
Some school districts are challenging the federal
recruitment guidelines for No Child Left Behind's
military recruitment provision, facing withdrawal
of funding over privacy infringement.
In the heart of California's traditionally
anti-war Bay Area, a stubborn resistance is
growing to access to high school students
by military recruiters.
The rebellion comes at a time when the U.S.
military is simultaneously under pressure
to lift sagging enlistment numbers while
coming under increasing criticism over its
recruitment tactics. U.S. Army officials recently
announced a one-day moratorium on
recruitment, scheduled for May 20, in order
to give recruiters a chance to "focus on
how they can do a very tough mission without
violating good order and discipline."
But federal officials are warning that any
open defiance by school districts to the
military recruitment guidelines contained
within the 2001 federal No Child Left
Behind Act will carry severe consequences:
the complete loss of federal education
funds.
In Alameda County, across the bay from
San Francisco, school district officials are
braving those consequences by promoting
what at first seems like an obscure policy
for military access to student records -- "opt-in."
Section 9528 of No Child Left Behind provides
that "a secondary school student or the
parent of the student may request that
the student's name, address, and telephone
listing ... not be released [to military recruiters]
without prior written parental consent
... ."
When the Santa Cruz City High School District
-- some 50 miles south of San
Francisco -- was considering how to
interpret that clause two years ago, staff
attorney Ann Brick of the American Civil
Liberties Union of Northern California wrote
to the school board urging them to adopt the
"opt-in" policy that "requires a parent's
affirmative consent before such information
is released to the military. ... The
assumption that parents do not object
to the release of this information simply
because they have not expressed their
wishes is very problematic. ... "
According to Dr. Robert Cervantes, the
curriculum leadership manager in the
California Department of Education,
whose duties also include military liaison, the
Santa Cruz City School District and 23
other California districts--including San
Francisco Unified--adopted the "opt-in"
policy around 2003.
"Both the Department of Defense and
the U.S. Department of Education have
categorically deemed 'opt-in' to be
inconsistent with NCLB," Cervantes said. "I've seen
the federal government send down
a lot of policies in my years working in state
agencies, but I've talked with them, and
this is the one that they've really dug their
heels into. They're serious about this one.
There is no ambiguity. Santa Cruz came
close to losing their federal funding over this.
And it's not partial funding. It's all
federal funding. A couple of state legislators
had to intervene to get them to change
their policy and comply."
That was a part of a U.S. Department of Education
crackdown on "opt-in" in the
summer of 2003, in which letters were
sent to state superintendents of education
around the country notifying them that
"opt-in" was illegal.
While the state education departments
in neither Washington or Oregon have an
official policy on the "opt-in/opt-out"
military recruitment information issue,
spokespersons in both departments said
that districts in their states were complying
with the U.S. Education Department's
"opt-out" interpretation.
Meanwhile, California's Cervantes said
that the 23 other rebelling California school
districts have followed suit with Santa
Cruz, changing their policy to releasing student
information to military recruiters unless
the parents or students choose to "opt-out."
But Berkeley did not change.
Since a 2003 policy on military information
policy was passed by the school board in
Berkeley, parents of Berkeley High School
students are provided with a form in the
Student/Parent Handbook asking the
parents to check a box and sign their names
stating: "Please DO release my student's
name, and address, and/or telephone
number." The form goes on to inform
parents that if they "do not check a box and
sign above, [the high school] will NOT
release your child's information to military
recruiters."
"Because we expected the numbers of
'opt-in' students to be so low in Berkeley, this
is partly a measure to minimize paperwork,"
Berkeley Unified School District public
information officer Mark Coplan said --
with a slight smile. "We knew there would be
far more forms to be filled out and handled
by the district if we had asked parents to
opt out." He added that he thought Berkeley's
system was "a better use of time for the
military recruiters themselves. It means
they don't have to waste their time with
students who don't want to be contacted."
Julia Harumi Mass, who has since taken
over some of Brick's staff attorney duties at
the ACLUNC, said in a recent telephone
interview that while her organization doesn't
"recommend to districts to risk federal
funding, I think NCLB allows 'opt-in' on its
face, if that's what districts want to do.
And as a matter of principle, we believe that
the issue of privacy is so important that
the assumption should be don't release the
information unless the parents or students
say to do it."
The results on the amount of student
information available to military recruiters is
not insubstantial. Under Berkeley's "opt-in"
policy, only 27 parents out of
approximately 1,800 students chose
to have their children's information released to
the military. Forty miles south of Berkeley,
under Fremont Unified School District's
"opt-out" policy, 730 of 4,320 junior and
senior students in five high schools chose
to have their information withheld. That
meant that under Fremont's "opt-out"
military recruiters were given information
on 83 percent of the students, while under
Berkeley's "opt-in" they only got 1.5
percent. Other systems around the country
report similar results. In the Portland
(Oregon) Public Schools, which also has its own
anti-war tradition, military recruiters
had access to 76 percent of the district's 6,200
high school students last year under
"opt-out." Even accounting for Berkeley's
legendary social activism, those
differences are clearly significant.
So far, Berkeley has not suffered any
federal consequences from its NCLB
interpretation.
And it may soon have company.
Last month, the governing board of the
Alameda County Board of Education passed a
resolution urging the 18 school districts
under its jurisdiction to adopt the "opt-in"
policy. "Students, parents and legal guardians
should be informed that if a notice is
not provided [by the student, parent, or
legal guardian authorizing disclosure], the
high school will assume that they do not
authorize the school to release the
requested information and their child's
name and contact information will not be
released."
"I thought this was a no-brainer," Barbara
Heringer-Swar told board members while
they were considering the policy.
Heringer-Swar, a military resistance organizer
employed with the Oakland (California)-based
Central Committee For Conscientious
Objectors, brought the military recruitment
information issue to the Alameda County
School Board. "Parents ought to be able to
choose who contacts their children. If we
ask parents to give consent for their children's'
pictures to go in a newspaper, we
should be asking them to give consent
about going to war."
The Alameda County Board has budget
oversight but no other authority over the
county's independent school districts,
so the resolution is only a suggestion. But
given the county district's close working
relationship with the local districts, that
suggestion can be expected to have some weight.
And the possible illegality of "opt-in" may
change, too. Congressmember Mike
Honda, a Democrat representing
a Bay Area district just south of Alameda County,
has authored federal legislation-H.R. 551,
the "Student Privacy Protection Act of
2005" which would end the ambiguity,
amending federal law so that student
information could be released to military
recruiters only "if the parent of the student
involved has provided written consent."
In other words, make "opt-in" the recognized
law of the land.
The proposed legislation is presently mired
in the House Committee on Education and
the Workforce, where Honda communications
director Jay Staunton says it may
languish. "The Republican leadership is
not interested in pushing this legislation,"
Staunton said. "It's not their priority at any l
evel. It's not on their agenda." But
Staunton said that Honda is looking to try
a favorite legislative tactic, attaching the
language of H.R. 551 to a defense or
appropriations bill, where the combination of
needing to get the larger bill passed and
appeals to the more privacy-oriented wing
of conservative Republicans might give it a chance.
J. Douglas Allen-Taylor writes for the Berkeley Daily Planet.
© 2005 Independent Media Institute. All rights reserved.
View this story online at: http://www.alternet.org/story/22006/
(Words of wisdom from our 15-year-old grandson...BW)
I dare not watch it anymore.
It sickens me.
These people are horrible,
these pursuers of pain,
these instigators of paranoia,
these preventers of peace.
I turn on the tube
and count the deaths.
It's gotten to the point where
I'll watch these evil informants
tell me about the bombings,
about the soldiers who've died,
and I say, "How many times have I heard this from you?"
I watch the news to see
the mother of some kid who she will never see again.
I watch her cry.
My heart hurts for her.
But I forget this pain
when I see a man
holding a mic to her face.
I look at him, and I see no remorse.
It's as if he's seen this so many times
that he forgets he's trying to question this grieving mother.
When she begins crying, he gives her
a glance and an apology,
yet he continues to hold the mic to her face,
these consumers of grief,
these stalkers of sadness.
By Vincent Biancalana, 15 years old.
May 2005, Daly City, California
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
NEWSLETTER UPDATE: Sunday, May 15, 2005
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
1) Judge halts court-martial, orders new hearing
For Kevin Benderman
Associated Press
Published on: 05/12/05
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/0505/05sergeant.html
2) SFPD WAR ON BLACK AND BROWN
3) Class in America: Shadowy Lines That Still Divide
By JANNY SCOTT and DAVID LEONHARDT
May 15, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/15/national/class/OVERVIEW-
FINAL.html?pagewanted=print
4) Senate Panel OKs Defense Spending Boost
Editor's Note: When the Soviet Union fell and many called
for a peace dividend, the defense budget was under
200 billion dollars.-smg
The Associated Press
Saturday 14 May 2005
"Washington -- A Senate committee approved a $441.6 billion
defense bill for fiscal 2006 that envisions spending an
additional $50 billion next year for the wars
in Iraq and Afghanistan."
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/051505A.shtml
5) A “Welcome Parade” of Blood and Seething Anger
** Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches **
** http://dahrjamailiraq.com **
May 15, 2005
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
1) Judge halts court-martial, orders new hearing
For Kevin Benderman
Associated Press
Published on: 05/12/05
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/0505/05sergeant.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
2) SFPD WAR ON BLACK AND BROWN
Thursday, May 12, around 1 AM, Daniel Alvarenga Flores,
classical guitarist and composer from El Salvador, 28 yr.
Us resident, was slowly walking back home after giving a
concert at Cafe Radio Havana on 22nd and Valencia St. in SF,
when he observed 2 white PD officers detaining a Latino Brother
crying out in Spanish: "I haven't done anything! What did I do?!".
Daniel figured that the detained man was monolingual Spanish
and approached the scene, offering to translate back to him what
the charges were. The officers declined his offer, stating that
they had a translator... nowhere in sight. As Daniel kept offering
his help, he was told that he was interfering with an investigation,
and one officer proceeded to twist his wrist. Daniel broke his
hand lose, until the other officer held him. Daniel then surrendered
"OK, then arrest me".
The officers bent his arms backward so
violently that Daniel feared his shoulders would dislocate, and
until unbearable pain shot through his left arm. Daniel was
crying out for help, but no one would approach the scene. He
was at this point asked if he had any identification, "Sure !
My driver's licence!". "We won't take you to the station" said
one of the officers who then called for an ambulance, while
repeatedly pushing on Daniel's head on the pavement with his
boot, and asked him to turn on his side. "I can't move !
You broke my arm!".The officers then got him on his feet. In the
ambulance, a paramedic told Daniel: "You know, SF police is very
good; they probably would treat you much worse in El Salvador!".
(Actually Daniel had a negative prior experience with
Salvadoran PD, but recounts that it was much less traumatic
than this SFPD assault and battery....) While being treated at
SFGH Emergency Room for a severe fracture of the humerus (upper arm),
his arm rapidly swelling and increasingly painful, Daniel saw the
2 officers again, coming to serve him with a notice to appear
in Criminal Division SF Superior Court on June 23, 2005,
under 3 misdemeanor charges. The report is signed by Officer
McKinney, Badge #4, issuing unit 3D13E.
Not only Brother Alvarenga's human rights were violated, but
he lost his livelihood : A professional musician loved by his
community, recently accepted into the prestigious SF
Conservatory of Music, Daniel will not be able to honor his
upcoming 3 concerts engagements, including "Noche Bohemia" at
Cafe Bella Vista on the 21 in the Mission, as his rehabilitation
promises to be long and painful. Daniel does not know if he will
be able to play professionally ever again...
As we sat in his luminous Mission flat on Folsom St, Daniel,
reserved young brother whose personality, delicate features
and gentle demure exude spirituality, modesty and kindness,
pushing his long hair away from his face, barely audible, said:
"Senora Flor from La Raza gave me your number... I am victim of
police racist stereotypes! We pay their salaries with our tax
dollars, how can they have the power to treat us like animals,
so intense and brutal, do they lose their sensitivity when they
embrace the uniform, and see all of us as delinquents? The
judicial system has to change, they cannot keep condemning us
without proof... They demonstrate the state of mind you would
expect from a violent drunk or less than an animal. My People
has to know their rights ! The Police has to know that we know
our rights. Police suffers from reality distortion! Democracy?
Utopia ! I survived the war and 2 earthquakes in El Salvador
to end up brutalized unjustly by San Francisco police. The
officers were very racist, assuming I was an undocumented
immigrant, therefore justified in breaking my arm... When
they found out I had a Green Card, they decided not to
arrest me??"
Daniel gave me a CD of his music, we hugged by the front door.
Later on that evening at the house of JulioAyala's parents
(Julio Jr was slained by SSF PD at the SF Airport Hotel on 4-3-05),
we listened quietly to Daniel's beautiful music and lyrics,
while sharing Salvadoran soup and rice, as Julio's father
bursted into tears, because his hijo Julito was not with us
to share this moment...
We sadly remember the lethal assault of Marcos Garcia, beaten
to death by the Mission police on Cesar Chavez and South
Van Ness Avenue 6 years ago, while current Assistant Chief
Greg Surh was the Mission Precinct Captain... The brutalization
of day laborer Jose Padua Damian in 2002 at the same street
corner, covered up by former Captain Greg Corrales...
Daniel is alive. But this brutal assault might change his
life forever. Daniel is not afraid to speak out, because he
knows that SILENCE KILL his RAZA ! Us Latinos and people of
Hispanic origin are acculturated to unconditionally respect
our elders, scholars, and authority. This liberal country of
the US is teaching us the hard way to use discretion on who
to respect ! Daniel does not want to see another casualty by
PD in the news, and is filing with the SF Office of Citizen
Complaints. Together, we will to the next SF Police Commission
hearing to demand full exoneration of all charges, official
apologies from the Police Department and disciplinary action
of the 2 Mission Station offending officers.
Justicia para Daniel Alvarenga Flores! Say NO to PD war on
Black and Brown brothers and sisters in San Francisco !
mesha Monge-Irizarry
Idriss Stelley Foundation
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
3) Class in America: Shadowy Lines That Still Divide
By JANNY SCOTT and DAVID LEONHARDT
May 15, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/15/national/class/OVERVIEW-
FINAL.html?pagewanted=print
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
4) Senate Panel OKs Defense Spending Boost
Editor's Note: When the Soviet Union fell and many called
for a peace dividend, the defense budget was under
200 billion dollars.-smg
The Associated Press
Saturday 14 May 2005
"Washington -- A Senate committee approved a $441.6 billion
defense bill for fiscal 2006 that envisions spending an
additional $50 billion next year for the wars
in Iraq and Afghanistan."
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/051505A.shtml
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
5) A “Welcome Parade” of Blood and Seething Anger
** Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches **
** http://dahrjamailiraq.com **
May 15, 2005
As if to add insult to injury, with over 400 Iraqis killed in violence
during the first two weeks of the newly sworn in Iraqi “government,” US
Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice made a surprise one day visit to the
newest US colony.
After visiting northern Iraq which has been spared the brunt of the
ongoing violence, Rice traveled to the heavily entrenched “green zone”
in central Baghdad where the U.S. “embassy” is located. She addressed a
crowd in the former Republican Palace, the perfect setting for her
symbolic visit to Iraq where more and more Iraqis are referring to the
devastating occupation which has beset their country as their new
“bloodocracy.”
“We are so grateful that there are Americans willing to sacrifice so the
Middle East will be whole, and free and democratic and at peace,” she
announced before she returned to northern Iraq in her huge contingent of
military helicopters to the mountain stronghold of Kurdish Democratic
Party leader Massoud Barzani before exiting the war ravaged nation.
Rather than a welcoming parade with ticker-tape and rose petals for the
US Secretary of State who was one of the architects of the invasion, 34
corpses of men shot, beheaded or with their throats slit were discovered
across Iraq today.
Other aspects of her warm welcome included drive-by shootings in Baghdad
which claimed the lives of a senior Industry Ministry official, his
driver and a prominent Shia cleric as well as a dual-bomb attack in
Baquba which narrowly missed taking the life of the governor of Diyala
province (but took the lives of four others in his convoy). A second
bomb was delivered five minutes after the first by a man running on foot
towards the convoy who then detonated an explosives belt.
When ambulances arrived medical workers found body parts strewn about in
pools of blood and shattered glass as they attended to 37 wounded Iraqis.
Not only are the vast majority of Iraqis in Iraq vehemently opposed to
the ongoing occupation, but in Amman those I met at the ‘Between the Two
Rivers Trucking Company’ today were just as angry about the occupation.
Inside the large office of the general director of the company, drivers
from Baghdad, Baquba, Sadr City, Fallujah, Ramadi and Basra, Sunni and
Shia alike, crowd about glasses of hot tea to take turns venting their
frustrations amidst my questions.
Prior to the invasion they used to make 4-5 trips between Amman and
Baghdad per month. Now they make one trip per month, primarily due to
the fact that prior to crossing the border into Jordan they are forced
to wait in a line several kilometers long…for 18 days. This is due to,
what they believe, unnecessary harassment by Jordanian border authorities.
They sleep in the cabs of their trucks as the line inches closer to the
border, and when a driver from Basra tells me that if they leave their
trucks at night they are shot at by American soldiers, I glace across
the room to find all of the men nodding in agreement.
None of them are content with the situation.
“All of our problems are due to the Americans,” says Ahmed, a driver who
has been trying to get supplies into Ramadi, “The soldiers have
surrounded the city for so long, there is one entry way in and all of
the people of the city are suffering. The Americans brought all of these
problems with them.”
The subject of civil war is broached, and Mohammed, a Shia driver from
Sadr City blurts out, “The occupiers are creating these problems between
the Shia and Sunni, but they will not divide us! All occupations only
mean destruction and suffering!”
Again I look around the room filled with seething Iraqis and find them
nodding once again.
Ahmed raises his voice over the others and with eyes seething with anger
asks, “My cousin is in al-Qaim, and he just told me the Americans have
destroyed so many houses in that area and killed women and children!”
All of the attention in the room shifts to the large, mustached man
wearing a brown dishdasha as he continues.
“They are entering our houses where women and children are, and this is
totally against our traditions and culture. They must leave our country
immediately!”
It isn’t only the Iraqis in Amman who are opposed to the brutal
occupation of their country. Most Jordanians I’ve spoken with over the
last week feel likewise. As an older Jordanian man from Palestine told
me two days ago at my hotel, “The Iraqis must resist this occupation
now, or they will end up like the Palestinians.”
In the office of the trucking company, the mood is that of searing
anger, frustration and urgency.
Hamad, a Shia man from Basra enters the discussion and states, “I have
seen them destroy three farms in Diyala! Why can’t they stay on their
bases like the British do in the south? If they would just stay on their
bases things would be so much better for us.”
“With my own eyes I’ve seen the Americans, when their patrol was hit by
a roadside bomb open fire on all the civilian cars around them,”
exclaims Mohammed.
At this everyone begins talking at once, the anger raising their voices.
Over the din Rathman, a driver from Fallujah demands, “If Bush is a real
man, he should walk down the street alone!”
“Insh’Allah [God willing] Iraq will be the graveyard of the Americans,”
adds Ahmed, “Qaim is three small villages and with all their planes and
tanks they still fail to control it. If they were brave they should
attack one or two villages without planes and helicopters and tanks and
fight man to man!”
A Shia driver from Hilla, a small city south of Baghdad, sternly says
that the US is “the mother company of terrorism.”
My interpreter Abu Talat, my friend Aisha and I decide it’s time to
excuse ourselves. Several of the men follow us to the street as we wait
for a taxi, continuing to make their statements as we wait. They are
anxious to continue, seeing my pen as an outlet for their frustrations
as I continue to take notes.
“Why is the media not talking more about al-Qaim,” asks Ahmed, as a taxi
approaches and begins to pull over to collect us.
“We strongly advise the American people to pressure their government to
leave Iraq,” says a man from al-Karma who asks to be called Ali.
As I begin to step into the car he asks, “We are now free of Saddam
Hussein, so did the Americans come as liberators or acquirers?”
More writing, photos and commentary at http://dahrjamailiraq.com
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
BAUAW NEWSLETTER SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2005
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
1) May 20, 2005
"Stand Up for Truth in Recruiting:
One Day is Not Enough!"
From: "Oskar Castro"
Reply-To: iwillnotkill@yahoogroups.com
2) Mass March on Washington
Saturday, September 24
in Washington D.C.
With Nationally Coordinated Actions
in San Francisco & Los Angeles
Stop the War in Iraq
End Colonial Occupation
from Iraq to Palestine to Haiti
Support the Palestinian People's Right of Return
Stop the Threats Against
Venezuela, Cuba, Iran & North Korea
U.S. out of the Philippines
Bring all the troops home now
Stop the Racist, anti-Immigrant and anti-Labor
Offensive at Home, Defend Civil Rights
{Get the military out of our schools! Don't enlist!
The increasing difficulty the military is having
recruiting new cannon fodder is a profoundly democratic
expression of the sentiments of the American people
-especially it's young. It is mass, direct, action by
those who refuse to enlist. A united, mass antiwar
movement will increase these numbers. Together we can
put an end to this war. ...BAUAW
3) Pablo Paredes Puts the War on Trial
http://sandiego.indymedia.org/
4) MAY 17,2005 is TAKE BACK OUR SCHOOLS DAY
in honor of the historic Brown v. Board of Education
verdict on May 17,1954. A growing tide of youth,
educators, parents, union members, and community
organizations are calling for an end to the
destructive takeover of the Oakland schools.
Schedule of Events (all events are within a few
block radius of 12th Street BART in Downtown Oakland)
Noon -1 p.m.:Rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza
(at City Hall, 14th and Broadway)
1 p.m.-4 p.m.:Student-led teach-ins, First Unitarian
Church,14th and Castro streets
4 p.m.-6:30 p.m.:Major rally, the State
Building,1 5th and Clay streets
5) After the bombs, illness - and few to care
By Paul McGeough, Chief Herald Correspondent
April 29, 2005
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/After-the-bombs-illness--and-few-to-care/
2005/04/28/1114635692332.html?oneclick=true
6) Black and White and Full of Crap
by Ted Rall
Published on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 by UExpress.com
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0511-25.htm
7) Badlands picket continues...
From: Mecca44@aol.com
May 12, 2005
8) The Young and the Jobless
By BOB HERBERT
"A remark by Louis Brandeis comes to mind: "We can have
democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth
concentrated in the hands of a few. But we can't have both."
May 12, 2005
"...For example, a recent report from the Center for Labor
Market Studies at Northeastern University in Boston tells
us that the employment rate for the nation's teenagers in
the first 11 months of 2004 - just 36.3 percent - was the
lowest it has ever been since the federal government began
tracking teenage employment in 1948... 'Two-thirds of this
generation are not living up to their parents' standard of living..."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/12/opinion/12herbert.html?hp
9) Army to Spend Day
Retraining Recruiters
By DAMIEN CAVE
May 12, 2005
"Responding to reports about widespread abuses of the rules for
recruitment, Army officials said yesterday that they would suspend
all recruiting on May 20 and use the day to retrain its personnel
in military ethics and the laws that govern what can and cannot
be done to enlist an applicant."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/12/national/12recruit.html
10) Appeals Court Backs Cheney in
Secrecy Case
By DAVID STOUT
Published: May 11, 2005
"WASHINGTON, May 10 - A federal appeals court said on Tuesday
that Vice President Dick Cheney did not have to divulge details about
how the White House's energy policies were shaped, ruling in a case
that touched on the constitutional separation of powers."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/11/politics/11cheney.html
11) 'Universal health care now!'
By Diane Bukowski
The Michigan Citizen
"DETROIT - As the City of Detroit,
the Detroit Public Schools, and even the
Big Three automakers say the
skyrocketing cost of health insurance has
exacerbated their fiscal woes,
organizers are stepping up a campaign for
state-sponsored universal health care in Michigan."
http://www.michigancitizen.com/
default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=1727&wpage=1&skeyw
ord=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&re
pmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname
12) The Burden of a Violent History
BY JIM MULLIN
jim.mullin@miaminewtimes.com
(Lists over 70 incidences of violence involving anti-Castro
Cubans in U.S.)
http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2000-04-20/news/mullin.html
13) DROP THE PHONY CHARGES ON SHAREEF ALEEM!
SAY NO TO RACIST POLICE BRUTALITY!
14) LA OPINION
REAL ID: The list of "terrorists" has grown
By: Jorge Delgado
May 12, 2005
A CubaNews translation by Ana Portela
Edited by Walter Lippmann
(While the truly REAL terrorists like
Luis Posada Carriles are allowed to
run rampant in the United States of
the Free World of America today.)
http://www.walterlippmann.com/docs154.html
15) CALL TO ACTION: TORTURERS OUT OF SAN FRANCISCO!
CAMPAIGN LAUNCH TO SHUT DOWN CACI, Inc.'s SF OFFICE!
Monday, May 16th, 2 PM
Rally outside Westin St. Francis Hotel
(Union Square - 335 Powell St. at Geary)
16) Always Low Wages. Always.
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Op-Ed Columnist
Published: May 13, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/13/opinion/13krugman.html?hp
17) ARMY RECRUITING
May 12, 2005
Amid recruiting shortfalls and accusations of unethical
behavior by some recruiters, the U.S. Army is spending millions
on new programs designed to convince more young Americans to
join the ranks.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/military/jan-june05/recruiting_5-12.html
18) Just a reminder:
Monday May 16, 7 P.M.,
"DEATH ROW ON THE STREET: THE KILLING OF JULIO AYALA",
presentation by Tania, Julio's sister. At Idriss Stelley
Foundation and Dockta Cooper Networking Project office,
4921 3rd Street, SF, between Palou and Quesada. You can
bring the ninos if you like !
17) ARMY RECRUITING
May 12, 2005
Amid recruiting shortfalls and accusations of unethical
behavior by some recruiters, the U.S. Army is spending millions
on new programs designed to convince more young Americans to
join the ranks.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/military/jan-june05/recruiting_5-12.html
19) Let's face it - the state has lost its mind
The media coverage of this past
election was a pastiche. Our right to
know what our rulers are doing to
people the world over is being lost
in the new propaganda consensus.
By John Pilger
http://www.newstatesman.com/nscoverstory.htm
20) The family released a statement...
by Michael Gillespie
(Thursday 12 May 2005)
"Mass round-ups and detentions of innocent civilians, torture
and abuse of prisoners and detainees, America's honor and
prestige at the lowest point ever, and investigations that
whitewash the president's men and blame it all on the enlisted
personnel. Thus the obscene spectacle of the grieving families
at funerals forced by the president's dishonesty to defend the
honor of their dead even as they mourn: "He was noble and
always carried himself with honor." "[He was] a loving husband
and father, a devoted son and brother." "He wanted to go where
good people needed help." "He will be dearly missed." Small
wonder that the president, desperately attempting to hide
behind a façade of rigid religiosity that glorifies war and
false patriotism that exalts the very evils it claims to
despise, never attends the funerals of those who have died
in the line of duty. How could he?"
http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/14869/
21)Recall Urged for Illegal Biotech Corn
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2005
Contact: Craig Culp, Center for Food Safety, (202) 547-9359;
Bill Freese, Friends of the Earth, (301) 985-3011
Government Must Come Clean on Secret Dealings with Crop Developer
Several hundred tons of the unapproved Bt10 corn, enough to plant
37,000 acres, were mistakenly sold to U.S. farmers under the name
of an approved variety from 2001 to 2004. The resultant harvest of
an estimated 165,000 tons have been sold as food or feed in the
U.S. and abroad. Syngenta first informed the U.S. government of
the mix-up in December 2004, but federal regulatory officials did
not inform the U.S. public that they were eating the untested corn
until the story leaked four months later. U.S. trading partners were
also kept in the dark about possible importation of the corn.
"The potential for yet undetected contamination of other corn varieties
via cross-pollination or seed mix-ups means the unapproved corn could
persist in the food supply for years," said Doug Gurian-Sherman,
senior scientist with Center for Food Safety and a former risk
assessment scientist with EPA. "This happened because the
U.S. regulatory agencies have not followed their own risk
assessment procedures for allowing commercialization of
genetically engineered foods."
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/press_release5.11.2005.cfm
22) Amman, Iraq, and Al-Qaim
** Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches **
** http://dahrjamailiraq.com **
May 14, 2005
23) 'I Will Not Kill' campaign launches
on Capitol Hill News from The Fellowship of Reconciliation
24) Bob Smith, Chair Depleted Uranium Awareness Committee
P.O. Box 480 Franklinton, Louisiana 70438 (504) 581-1086
PRESS RELEASE:
25) CASTRO DEFENDS FUGITIVE SOUGHT BY U.S.
http://playahata.com/hatablog/wp-trackback.php/505
26) Subject: second announcement about peace activities
in Richmond memorial day week
----- Original Message -----
From: "J. Gab..... ....global.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 9:02 PM
27) Recruiter-turned-peacenik hits nerve in N.C.
By Rick Hampson, USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-03-20-recruiter-peacenik_x.htm
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1) May 20, 2005
"Stand Up for Truth in Recruiting:
One Day is Not Enough!"
From: "Oskar Castro"
Reply-To: iwillnotkill@yahoogroups.com
In response to the recent exposure of serious recruiter
improprieties including fraud and coercion the U.S. Army
is issuing a "stand down" order to all Army recruiters for
May 20th, 2005. The American Friends Service Committee is
responding with a national call to action for May 20th, 2005
under the banner, "Stand Up for Truth in Recruiting:
One Day is not Enough!"
We are calling on activists, allies and those concerned
with the militarization of youth to use the date of
May 20th to:
* conduct teach-ins and workshops,
* plan peaceful demonstrations at heavily recruited schools
and invite people negatively affected by military
recruiters to speak,
* peacefully picket recruitment stations.
Themes for these events will include:
* exposure of the unethical and illegal tactics used by
recruiters, particularly in poor communities and communities
of color
* lack of parent & student awareness about the No Child Left
Behind Act Military Recruiter Provision (Sec. 9528) and
school violations of privacy clauses
* the use of JROTC to create generations loyal to and
unquestioning of the military
* the need for viable alternatives to military s
ervice-college, vocational training, living wage jobs
The U.S. Army describes the stand down as a time to
review its recruiting procedures and values and remind
their nearly 8,000 recruiters of the need to stay within
the boundaries of the law. . The impression given by Army
recruitment leaders is that a few "bad apples" are violating
standards due to the increased difficulty of meeting
recruitment quotas during the extended war and occupation
in Iraq We know different. For the last 20 years, the
American Friends Service Committee has been working to expose
and combat what we believe to be a systemic and widespread
problem of abusive and unethical recruitment practices.
One day of "re-training" will not reduce the pressure placed
on military recruiters to meet their monthly quotas –
by whatever means necessary.
The military has clear regulations that are allegedly shared
with its recruiters during their job training, yet an Army
spokesperson recently revealed to the Associated Press that
the Army has investigated 480 allegations of impropriety by
recruiters since Oct. 1, 2005. Some of these cases are still
open while 91 of the 480 allegations have thus far been
considered founded. To date, eight recruiters have been
relieved of duty and another 98 have been reprimanded by
their commands.
Other things that can be done to make an impact and let the
military know that we oppose insidious practices and
recruitment policies are:
* Visit www.afsc.org/youthmil to learn more about the
issues and find out how you, or your organization can
host group trainings.
* Visit www.LeaveMyChildAlone.org and join the campaign
created by Working Assets, the MMOB and ACORN, to get
1,000,000 students "opted out".
* Join or start a local movement to provide information
on comprehensive job & career training, financial aid and
travel alternatives for youth graduating from high school.
* Learn how you can join the growing National Network
Opposing the Militarization of Youth by visiting
www.youthandthemilitary.org.
* Join the Fellowship of Reconciliation's "I Will Not Kill"
Campaign and encourage young people to sign the declaration at http://
iwillnotkill.org/
Also, If you have any local stories or case examples of
recruitment improprieties, or over aggressive recruitment
tactics in schools, or communities it would be great if you
could forward us information on those cases. We are preparing
a press kit for the national media we are in communication
with and want to be able to show them that the problem the
Army is alleging to address is not as isolated as they'd
like the world to think. Certainly, names can be changed
to protect the innocent.
Contact the National Youth & Militarism Program of the
American Friends Service Committee at 215-241-7176, or
youthmil@afsc.org.
Oskar Castro
National Youth & Militarism Program
American Friends Service Committee
215-241-7046
www.youth4peace.org
Peace, Respect & Guidance - for we are not human beings
having a spiritual experience, but
spiritual beings having a human experience.
I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man
in the sky. I believe that what people call God is
something in all of us.
I believe that what Jesus and Mohammed and Buddha and
all the rest said was right. It's just that the translations
have gone wrong.
John Lennon
! Groups Links
* To visit your group on the web, go to:
* http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOOS-BAY/
*
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2) Mass March on Washington
Saturday, September 24
in Washington D.C.
With Nationally Coordinated Actions
in San Francisco & Los Angeles
Stop the War in Iraq
End Colonial Occupation
from Iraq to Palestine to Haiti
Support the Palestinian People's Right of Return
Stop the Threats Against
Venezuela, Cuba, Iran & North Korea
U.S. out of the Philippines
Bring all the troops home now
Stop the Racist, anti-Immigrant and anti-Labor
Offensive at Home, Defend Civil Rights
{Get the military out of our schools! Don't enlist!
The increasing difficulty the military is having
recruiting new cannon fodder is a profoundly democratic
expression of the sentiments of the American people
-especially it's young. It is mass, direct, action by
those who refuse to enlist. A united, mass antiwar
movement will increase these numbers. Together we can
put an end to this war. ...BAUAW}
Thousands will march on Saturday, September 24 in Washington DC.
The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition urges the antiwar movement to come
together for a united demonstration.
September 24 Call to Action
The anti-war movement must make a precise estimate of the
direction of the White House, the Pentagon and Congress as
it charts its next steps for mass mobilization.
The people of the United States must mobilize against the
global War for Empire that masks itself as the so-called
"war on terrorism" and falsely promotes itself as the
"march for democracy."
The people of Iraq are insisting that the United States
leave their country immediately. As in Vietnam, the people
of the United States must demand the immediate end to this
war of conquest. As we fight to end the war in Iraq, we
recognize that it is not enough to focus on a single front
in this War for Empire. We must unite on a principled basis
that recognizes the reality of our epoch. How can this war
drive come to an end? People in Iraq, in Palestine, in Haiti,
in Venezuela, in Cuba are resisting but the people of the
United States must become their allies. Their resistance
is part of the universal aspiration to live free from foreign
domination or threats of a military or economic character.
The war and occupation of Iraq cannot be seen in isolation.
The U.S. is actively attempting to destroy every government
that resists the Empire. The Iraq war is not an aberration
nor is it a "mistake" of conservative politicians. The war
in Iraq is a necessary component in the political program
and the institutions of global conquest and exploitation.
This is what we must be fighting. We don't want the troops
to be brought home from Iraq only so that they can be
deployed in the next front of imperialism. The people of
the United States have every interest in renouncing the
War for Empire that is directed by the U.S. plutocracy.
The plutocrats have the wealth but the plutocracy is in
inherent conflict with genuine democracy and with the
needs of the people.
This is not just Bush's war. It is not only a Republican
or a neo-conservative campaign. Congress again just
rubber-stamped the next $82 billion appropriation to
finance the criminal occupation of Iraq. The vote in the
Senate was 99-0! The amount spent on the war in Iraq and
Afghanistan is now over $350 billion. Likewise, it is the
White House and Congress and both big business parties that
wholeheartedly support the funding of the ongoing war
against the people of Palestine. The occupation of Haiti,
carried out by proxy forces, is nonetheless a project of
U.S. and French imperialism. The U.S. establishment is
preparing to overthrow the government of Venezuela,
just as every successive administration has sought,
unsuccessfully, to overthrow the Cuban revolution since
1959. While the Pentagon possesses the largest nuclear
arsenal on the planet, the White House and Congress and
both parties join together with the Corporate-owned media
to paint Iran and North Korea as looming nuclear threats.
For more than 100 years the people of the Philippines have
struggled, and are struggling today, to reclaim authentic
sovereign control over their own country, free from
endless U.S. interference.
It is time to take to the streets again today, as we have
throughout the last few years, to demonstrate the growing
opposition inside this country to the War for Empire.
Every working person in the United States must know that
the corporate, political and military establishment is
using our tax dollars, and the lives of our sons and
daughters, to wage their global war. It is a war for
domination. It is a war for the benefit of U.S. banks,
oil monopolies, and transnational corporations. These
are the very same corporate entities that are slashing
wages, health care coverage, pensions and outsourcing
millions of jobs to make super-profits from the super
-exploitation of low-wage labor.
The Bush administration cries poverty when it comes to
meeting Social Security's obligations as well as the
funding for education, health care and housing. There
is no poverty claim, however, for the Pentagon and its
corporate contractors: the real military spending level
for the next year will be over $600 billion.
Instead of paying for endless war, we demand that the
resources be used to meet human needs here and around
the world. Instead of acting as shock troops for Empire,
we demand that the soldiers and sailors in the U.S. military
be provided decent paying jobs at union wages, the right to
go to college, and an immediate increase in veterans
benefits.
On September 24 we will march and rally starting at the
White House in Washington D.C. There will be coordinated
actions that day in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The U.S. government says it is promoting the march for
democracy and freedom abroad. What a sham. They pretend
to promote freedom abroad but at the same time fan the
flames of racism, anti-immigrant discrimination, sexism,
homophobia and bigotry of all forms at home.
There is nothing more urgent than to construct unity in
the face of Empire. Real unity cannot be built by
sacrificing the rights of some but rather it will be
forged by embracing everyone's rights and just struggles
for liberation. United we are the majority. United we
can fight and win.
Funds are urgently needed to help build the September 24
mass action. We can't do it without your help. You can
make a contribution through a secure server by clicking
here, where you can also find information on how
to contribute by check.
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Act Now to Stop War & End Racism
http://www.ANSWERcoalition.org http://www.actionsf.org
National Office in Washington DC: 202-544-3389
New York City: 212-533-0417
Los Angeles: 323-464-1636
San Francisco: 415-821-6545
For media inquiries, call 415-821-6545 or 202-544-3389.
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
3) Pablo Paredes Puts the War on Trial
http://sandiego.indymedia.org/
On May 11th, 2005, Pablo Paredes was found guilty of missing
movement. The unauthorized absence charge was dismissed.
Sentencing continues today, May 12th in the court martial.
BUT, DURING THE PRE-SENTENCING PHASE...Marjorie Cohn made
ABSOLUTE MINCEMEAT OUT OF THE PROSECUTION!
So much so that the military judge in the court martial said,
"I BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT JUST PROVED THAT ANY SERVICEMEMBER
HAS REASONABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE WARS IN YUGOSLAVIA,
AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ WERE ILLEGAL"
Read more from the court martial attendees
As his court martial took place, outside around 50 supporters
performed act 1 of the 3 act play "Put the War on Trial", which
Pablo wrote. Following that they marched through Logan Heights
and received a warm reception. One person driving by said
"Thank you for coming to our neighborhood! Gracias para venir
a nuestra barrio!" The march ended at the gates of the 32nd
naval base where supporters held banners over the bridge,
rallied on the sidewalk and showed their support for Pablo and
everyone with the courage to resist this illegal and immoral
war all day, in the unrelentingly hot sun. Support events will
continue today with act 2 of Put the War on Trial and a film
night fundraiser .
Story from Zengers |Audio from night forum 5/11 |Audio from
night forum on 5/10 |Direct Action to shut down recruiting offices
English
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
4) MAY 17,2005 is TAKE BACK OUR SCHOOLS DAY
in honor of the historic Brown v. Board of Education
verdict on May 17,1954. A growing tide of youth,
educators, parents, union members, and community
organizations are calling for an end to the
destructive takeover of the Oakland schools.
Schedule of Events (all events are within a few
block radius of 12th Street BART in Downtown Oakland)
Noon -1 p.m.:Rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza
(at City Hall, 14th and Broadway)
1 p.m.-4 p.m.:Student-led teach-ins, First Unitarian
Church,14th and Castro streets
4 p.m.-6:30 p.m.:Major rally, the State
Building,1 5th and Clay streets
For information on the May 17 events, including curriculum for your
classroom visit www.ednotinc.org
For articles on the destructive effects of the State Takeover:
www.oaklandrising.com
Jonah Zern
Please forward widely!!
May 17:Take Back Our Schools Day is a project of
Organize Da BAY, Education Not Incarceration, Oakland Education
Association, Oakland ACORN, AFSCME 257, Oakland AFT and many more
organizations from the Coalition to Defend and
Improve Public Education
Media Contact: Micah, Organize Da Bay, 510.841.0690,
enigmicah@gmail.com
Education Contact: Jessica Vasquez: 510.847.2523,
jessica_vasquez@hotmail.com
Outreach Contact: Victor Duarte: 510.847.9521,
duarte138@yahoo.com
Oakland City Council Unanimously Passed the Following Resolution
Supporting May 17th's Events on May 3, 2005. The Resolution was
introduced by Councilwoman Jane Brunner:
Resolution to Save Public Education
WHEREAS, on May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court of the
United States issued their historic opinion in the
case of Brown v. Board of Education that called for an
immediate end to segregated education; and
WHEREAS, on May 17, 2004, Mayor of Oakland Jerry Brown
issued a proclamation declaring May 17th "Equal
Education Day" in the City of Oakland; and
WHEREAS, the Oakland Unified School District has been
under the complete fiscal and legislative authority of
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack
O'Connell and his appointed Administrator Dr.
Randolph Ward since June 3, 2003; and
WHEREAS, vested with the authority of the State of
California, Dr. Ward in 2004 closed five Oakland
public schools and has, in his recently issued
"Multi-Year Fiscal Recovery Plan" and in public
statements, announced plans to close up to 9 more
Oakland public schools mainly in the flatlands, while
simultaneously opening up to 25 new, undefined
learning communities within the next two years; and
WHEREAS, Oakland schools have experienced an alarming
rate of student attrition with more than 6,900
students leaving the District since the state takeover
began and thousands more expected to leave in coming
years; and
WHEREAS, according to a March 24, 2005 Oakland Tribune
article, less than 50% of Oakland Unified School
District students graduate high school on time, with
closer to 30% of Latino and African-American students
likely to earn a high school diploma within four
years; and
WHEREAS, the closure of neighborhood schools and such
low graduation rates point to the prevalence of
unequal educational conditions for many Oakland
students and constitute an alarming crisis in the
Oakland public schools that demands immediate
attention; now
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of
the City of Oakland encourages school administrators,
educators, community organizations, and concerned
citizens to participate in educational programs
located on school sites during the school day or
elsewhere after school, on May 17th, 2005, including
1. Study and discussion on the historic
importance of Brown v. Board of Education and its
relevance to public education today.
2. Development and presentation of workshops
to students, parents, and community members on May 17,
2005 on a variety of issues related to equal access to
public education.
3. Ongoing public dialogue among all
sectors of the community on the state of the Oakland
Unified School District and next steps to improve the
quality of education provided to the children and
youth of Oakland.
4. Study of the Oakland Unified
School District's proposed Multi-Year Fiscal
Recovery Plan, including the financial plan, a
timeline for the State of California to return
Oakland's schools to local control, and how we can
support Proposition 98 and increasing resources for
our schools.
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BayAreaOrganizing/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOOS-BAY
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
5) After the bombs, illness - and few to care
By Paul McGeough, Chief Herald Correspondent
April 29, 2005
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/After-the-bombs-illness--and-few-to-care/
2005/04/28/1114635692332.html?oneclick=true
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6) Black and White and Full of Crap
by Ted Rall
Published on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 by UExpress.com
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0511-25.htm
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
7) Badlands picket continues...
From: Mecca44@aol.com
May 12, 2005
Hi everyone
The picketing and boycott of Badlands continues. As you know,
the Castro bar was recently found guilty of discrimination
against African Americans by the city's Human Rights Commission.
We have been picketing on Saturday nights and so far it's going
well. The owner is obviously very threatened since he hired
cheerleaders to walk around the Castro giving out 1/2 price
drink cards last Saturday...they also stood outside the bar
and screamed at us as we marched and spoke with passersby.
We are a peaceful presence and we have been informing people
of what's going on...
This Saturday, join us at 9pm at LYRIC,
127 Collingwood/18th for a special training.
At 10pm we will walk over to the Badlands (just around the corner)
to peacefully picket and hand out flyers...
If you are available Friday night, we are thinking of
flyering at 18th & Castro...please let me know if you can
help with this. I will be there...
SO let me know if Friday works for you...
AND JOIN US SATURDAY FOR WEEK THREE of the picket!!!!
Tommi
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8) The Young and the Jobless
By BOB HERBERT
"A remark by Louis Brandeis comes to mind: "We can have
democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth
concentrated in the hands of a few. But we can't have both."
May 12, 2005
"...For example, a recent report from the Center for Labor
Market Studies at Northeastern University in Boston tells
us that the employment rate for the nation's teenagers in
the first 11 months of 2004 - just 36.3 percent - was the
lowest it has ever been since the federal government began
tracking teenage employment in 1948... 'Two-thirds of this
generation are not living up to their parents' standard of living..."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/12/opinion/12herbert.html?hp
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
9) Army to Spend Day
Retraining Recruiters
By DAMIEN CAVE
May 12, 2005
"Responding to reports about widespread abuses of the rules for
recruitment, Army officials said yesterday that they would suspend
all recruiting on May 20 and use the day to retrain its personnel
in military ethics and the laws that govern what can and cannot
be done to enlist an applicant."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/12/national/12recruit.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
10) Appeals Court Backs Cheney in
Secrecy Case
By DAVID STOUT
Published: May 11, 2005
"WASHINGTON, May 10 - A federal appeals court said on Tuesday
that Vice President Dick Cheney did not have to divulge details about
how the White House's energy policies were shaped, ruling in a case
that touched on the constitutional separation of powers."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/11/politics/11cheney.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
11) 'Universal health care now!'
By Diane Bukowski
The Michigan Citizen
"DETROIT - As the City of Detroit,
the Detroit Public Schools, and even the
Big Three automakers say the
skyrocketing cost of health insurance has
exacerbated their fiscal woes,
organizers are stepping up a campaign for
state-sponsored universal health care in Michigan."
http://www.michigancitizen.com/
default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=1727&wpage=1&skeyw
ord=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&re
pmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname
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12) The Burden of a Violent History
BY JIM MULLIN
jim.mullin@miaminewtimes.com
(Lists over 70 incidences of violence involving anti-Castro
Cubans in U.S.)
http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2000-04-20/news/mullin.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
13) DROP THE PHONY CHARGES ON SHAREEF ALEEM!
SAY NO TO RACIST POLICE BRUTALITY!
On February 3rd, 2005, Denver activist, Shareef Aleem, was targeted
and attacked by campus police at a Board of Regents meeting
convened to discuss the University of Colorado's intended action
against Ward Churchill. Shareef Aleem went to this meeting because
it was advertised as an open meeting, and he wanted to film the
event for Denver Community Television and show support for the
students dissent against education cuts and fee hikes as well as
their protest of attacks on Ward Churchill, a professor who blamed
U.S. foreign policy for leading to the 9/11 attacks. Aleem stood
up in the meeting after one activist had been asked to leave for
openly addressing the Regents. He reiterated that the meeting
was advertised as being public and stated, "Is this a free country
or not? Do we live in a democracy or not? If not, let's stop calling
it that." Campus cops then pushed aside an older Black woman
and began grabbing Aleem, who told them to leave him alone and
not touch him. He said he had a right to be there and that the
students should be allowed to speak. Shareef was grabbed by
cops, pulled down on top of one, had his hands bound and was
shot in the neck with a taser.
HE HAS SINCE BEEN CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE
ASSAULT ON AN OFFICER.
We are asking for national, and even, international support
for this anti-racist activist who has challenged the brutal police
in Denver and the surrounding metropolitan areas. This case
is a political one because of the fact that Shareef showed support
for the students who were expressing their dissent to the right-wing
attacks on campuses across the country trying to silence progressive
voices, and because Shareef has been so active against police
brutality. His case is an attempt to silence him and his activism
and to threaten those who stand by him and his actions. Also,
the possibility of Shareef facing up to 16 years in prison is a real
threat to his and his family's well being.
SHAREEF NEEDS THE SOLIDARITY OF JUSTICE-LOVING PEOPLE
EVERYWHERE! BY ATTACKING SHAREEF'S RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH,
THE POLICE ARE TRYING TO INTIMIDATE AND SILENCE THE ENTIRE
SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT IN DENVER AND AROUND THE COUNTRY!
AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL!
We are asking that people deluge the judge presiding his trial
and the prosecuting District Attorney and let them know that we
will not let Shareef be victimized and demand that the charges
be dropped.
In defense of Aleem, send emails to defendshareef@yahoo.com
and cards or money to pay for his attorney or letters of support
in care of Aleem to 4860 Chambers Road, P.O. Box 173. Denver,
CO 80239.
Letters of protest can also be sent to Judge Michael A. Cox, Adams
County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Dr., Brighton, CO 80601,
or to Don Quick, 17th Judicial District Attorney,
1000 Judicial Center Dr., Suite 100, Brighton, CO 80601.
Anyone can subscribe.
Send an email request to
Action.News-subscribe@organizerweb.com
To unsubscribe Action.News-unsubscribe@organizerweb.com
Subscribing and unsubscribing can also be done on the Web at
http://www.organizerweb.com/mailman/listinfo/action.news
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
14) LA OPINION
REAL ID: The list of "terrorists" has grown
By: Jorge Delgado
May 12, 2005
A CubaNews translation by Ana Portela
Edited by Walter Lippmann
(While the truly REAL terrorists like
Luis Posada Carriles are allowed to
run rampant in the United States of
the Free World of America today.)
http://www.walterlippmann.com/docs154.html
The country can now sleep in peace;
the Republican administration has just
taken an "important step" in its fight
against terrorism with the approval
by the Lower House of the Senate of
the Real ID measure including the
Supplementary Law project of military
expenditures. This measure will become
law in the coming days once the full
Senate gives its final vote and
President Bush signs it and orders
its enforcement.
The measure demands that any person
presenting themselves to the California
Department of Vehicles (DMV) to
request a driver's license should present
proof of identity and citizenship or
legal residence with at least four
documents. This project also eliminates
the possibility of using consular
registrations as documents of identity;
it establishes restrictions to
request political asylum and sets down
new measures to set up barriers
around the border.
With this measure illegal activities
of more than 10 million "terrorists"
will be blocked, terrorists who have
entered national territory through the
inefficiency or convenience of the
system and border control authorities.
The list of "terrorists" is all encompassing:
Thousands of undocumented
"terrorists, mostly Hispanics who,
from sun up to sun down, pick tomatoes,
lettuces and fruits, receiving low
wages, that end up on the table of the
U.S. citizens for the enjoyment of
their pockets and palate.
Hundreds of thousands of "terrorists"
who build the houses we live in, some
climbing up to the roofs of the houses
with temperatures above 100 degrees
Fahrenheit, such as the temperatures of Arizona.
Hundreds of thousands of "terrorists"
who prepare the food in the fast food
restaurants of the nation and who
courteously and diligently attend the
clients.
Hundreds of thousands of "terrorists"
who clean the houses, offices, hotels
and shops of the country.
Hundreds of thousands of "terrorists"
who help hospital staff in the care
and attention of patients.
Hundreds of thousands of "terrorists"
who care for the gardens that allows
us to enjoy the fragrance of flowers
and the colorful patios.
Hundreds of thousands of "terrorists"
who care for the helpless old people,
specially lacking affection due to the
fast modern life.
The list of "terrorists" is long and has
almost the same profile: dark skin,
strong for heavy work and long hours,
willing to work for little, submissive
and faithful.
And their living conditions are, also,
the same: low wages, few chances for
the improvement of their children,
without access to medical care. These are
the terrible people who go to the
emergency services "costing tax payers
money"; and who go to the offices
of social services when they have no
choice but to ask for help or die.
How terrible these "uncivilized
terrorists" who live marginally so
that the system can allow the enrichment
of those who pay low wages and do
not offer medical insurance.
In addition, the measure decrees that
those who have previously acquired a
driver's license will lose them;
sending millions of these "terrorists out
into the streets" for whom this
document is a means to earn a living:
gardeners, food home deliveries,
small business persons who, if they lose
their means of a livelihood, must
go to the charities or social care
institutions to feed their children
adding to the number of poor and to
social dissatisfaction. Because what
the politicians who prepared the
project have not considered is that
they are creating a sub-class among its
own citizens who, sooner or later,
will turn against the system.
It is ironic that the system aims
to prepare its children in the highest
social and moral values; the society
aims to have its citizens respect the
laws and follow its measures. The
government brags that no child should be
left behind and, however, they make
it hard for the parents to take them to
school, take them to a park, to feed them. Why?
For the crime of having crossed the
border illegally although they now bend
their backs working to make this a
better nation.
Poor "terrorists" they no longer
suffer the hardships but the
impenetrability.
Jorge Delgado lives in Irvine, California.
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@lists.econ.utah.edu
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism
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15) CALL TO ACTION: TORTURERS OUT OF SAN FRANCISCO!
CAMPAIGN LAUNCH TO SHUT DOWN CACI, Inc.'s SF OFFICE!
Monday, May 16th, 2 PM
Rally outside Westin St. Francis Hotel
(Union Square - 335 Powell St. at Geary)
CACI International, a private corporation, provided many of the
interrogators at Abu Ghraib prison. Its employees were directly
implicated in the torture scandal. But CACI has faced no consequences so
far. Not one of its employees has been prosecuted, its contract for
"intelligence services" in Iraq was renewed last August, and it
earned over $1 billion in revenue last year - 95% of it from your tax
dollars. Plus, CACI continues to do business undisturbed in San
Francisco and dozens of other cities around the U.S.
This Monday, May 16th, CACI's vice president and other top executives will
be in town to present at an investors' conference at the Westin St.
Francis Hotel. Come help us confront CACI's directors and clients about
their involvement in torture and launch a campaign to shut down CACI's San
Francisco office.
Tell CACI: torturers are NOT WELCOME in our community!
Come to an
ART BUILD & PLANNING MEETING FOR THE CACI ACTION
Saturday, May 14th at 1 PM
St. Boniface Church (133 Golden Gate St. between Leavenworth and Jones,
by Civic Center BART)
FOR MORE INFORMATION and to get involved, email
torturersoutofsf@yahoo.com, call Sarah at 510-472-8476, or come to the
planning meeting/art build on Saturday (details above).
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16) Always Low Wages. Always.
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Op-Ed Columnist
Published: May 13, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/13/opinion/13krugman.html?hp
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17) ARMY RECRUITING
May 12, 2005
Amid recruiting shortfalls and accusations of unethical
behavior by some recruiters, the U.S. Army is spending millions
on new programs designed to convince more young Americans to
join the ranks.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/military/jan-june05/recruiting_5-12.html
RECRUITER: You want a dog tag? It's a custom made dog tag, man.
TOM BEARDEN: On a recent night in Chicago, Army recruiters
were scouring the bleachers before a Golden Gloves boxing
tournament --looking for people to join the Army.
They handed out forms to be filled out with personal information
in exchange for free dog tags and a chance to win an iPod music
player. Some found a receptive audience.
Pitching to young people and trying to hit quotas
RECRUITER: You can go to any state school, like UI, UIC for
free if you go into Army. I got 70-grand for college, I'm
going to get out and they're going to pay me to get a free
education.
TOM BEARDEN: But most were greeted with skepticism...
YOUNG MAN: You all ain't going to draft in the Army or
nothin', is y'all?
RECRUITER: No! There's no draft in this country!
TOM BEARDEN: The military is finding out how hard it can
be to attract volunteers while soldiers and Marines are
dying in Iraq -- more than 1600 so far. The Army alone
has a yearly goal of recruiting 80,000 new people.
Monthly quotas vary. In April, the number was 6,600.
TOM BEARDEN: The Army missed that quota by 42 percent.
For the year, they are down 16 percent.
RECRUITER: You guys want a flag?
TOM BEARDEN: The Army Reserve, National Guard, and the
Marine Corps have also missed monthly quotas, while the
Air Force and Navy have met their goals.
RECRUITER: Anybody else want to fill one out? iPod
raffle for Friday --
TOM BEARDEN: Col. Tom Nickerson is in charge of the
Army's recruiting outreach program.
COL. TOM NICKERSON: It's a very tough environment. It's
the first time that we've recruited for the volunteer
force during a protracted war, so there are some challenges.
TOM BEARDEN: Is the war the issue or is the economy
a factor as well?
COL. TOM NICKERSON: I think there's a number of things.
First of all, I think there are a lot more opportunities
for young Americans today than there have been in the
past, a tribute, if you will, to the improving economy.
Sponsoring sporting events and other tactics
ANNOUNCER IN BOXING RING: It is with great pleasure that
I introduce you to the United States Army's Chicago
recruiting battalion who will be presenting our colors --
TOM BEARDEN: So the Army has stepped up efforts to spread
its message by going to sporting events... and by bringing
sports celebrities into schools. Recently recruiters
brought Army-sponsored bull rider Mike Lee to meet
adoring fans in Calhan, Colorado.
MIKE LEE: You can get something from the soldiers; you
can learn something from these guys that come here to
your school. They give you a new mindset on life that
will make you a successful person.
RECRUITER: The Army has more than what you see or hear
on the news. My career in the United States Army started
back in 1973. I did not have a job; I had no focus,
no direction, so I joined the Army to get that.
It instilled in me discipline that stays with me today.
TOM BEARDEN: The Army is now spending nearly $100 million
a year to sponsor outreach events like professional bull
riding, rock concerts and NASCAR races.
They are events that typically attract crowds of young
men and women who are considered most likely to be
receptive to the Army sales pitch. Sgt. Major Ozell
Johnson is in charge of recruiting in the Chicago area.
He says these days that initial contact is the easy part.
SGT. MAJOR OZELL JOHNSON: For the most part, we found that
most young men and women are really want to serve their
country; however, when they get home and tell mom and dad,
hey this is something I want to do, then that's where the
resistance starts.
AD SPONSORED BY U.S. ARMY (mother speaking to her son):
Something good happen today?
AD SPONSORED BY U.S. ARMY (son speaking): I found someone
to pay for me to go to college --
TOM BEARDEN: So the Army just released a new series
of television ads aimed at what the Army calls "influencers":
parents, teachers and other adults who have influence in
a young person's life.
AD SPONSORED BY U.S. ARMY (son speaking):
It's time for me to be the man.
AD SPONSORED BY U.S. ARMY (mother speaking):
Okay, tell me more.
TOM BEARDEN: The Army is using a lot of different
tactics to try to meet its personnel requirements.
Some 1,500 additional recruiters have been assigned.
Signing bonuses for new recruits have doubled;
they're now as much as $20,000 and there's
talk of raising them even further.
RECRUITER: Have you ever thought about the Army
as a viable option and as a career choice for you?
TOM BEARDEN: The maximum age of recruits has been raised
to forty. And the number of high school dropouts the Army
has accepted has doubled. While that particular change
can boost the number of recruits in the short term, military
sociologist Charles Moskos says that they will hurt the
Army in the long run.
CHARLES MOSKOS: Down the road it's going to have very,
very strong negative effects to recruit people who are not
qualified. And it's a fact that the lower your education
level, the more likely you are not to complete your term
of enlistment, so dropping the standards is going to make
the dropout rate even greater. That's why the real market
has to be looked at college graduates -- something that
the Defense Department has not yet paid attention to.
TOM BEARDEN: The most significant drops in recruiting has been
among African Americans. In 2000, blacks made up 23-percent of
all recruits; five years later, it's 14-percent. Seventeen year
old Keith Nellums, a junior at Englewood Tech Prep High School
in Chicago, says he once considered military service.
KEITH NELLUMS: I really saw it as a way to get an education
and get a good background. But with the war in Iraq and I was
seeing how people was dying, it just scared me basically.
TOM BEARDEN: Polls indicate that African Americans
overwhelmingly oppose the war. Among African American youth
only 36 percent thought the war was justified, compared to
61 percent of white youths.
'Counter-recruiting' and alleged unethical conduct
TOM BEARDEN: Army recruiters insist they aren't troubled by the
decline in black recruits, saying that 14 percent more accurately
represents the percentage of African Americans in
society at large. Even so, Army outreach into minority
neighborhoods and schools like Englewood has significantly
increased.
Students here say recruiters have escalated the pressure to
sign on. Senior Letoya Kimbough is the battalion commander
of her junior ROTC unit at Englewood.
She's been heavily recruited by all branches of the military.
She told recruiters she's going to college first -- and
will then join the Navy. But the navy recruiter is
still calling.
TOM BEARDEN: How often do you hear from the recruiters?
LETOYA KIMBOUGH: Almost every day he calls my house.
TOM BEARDEN: What do the recruiters say when they call
your house?
LETOYA KIMBOUGH: He like tries to encourage me to change
my decision, change my mind, like go into the military
now instead of going to college first.
TOM BEARDEN: Some believe pressure on recruiters to meet
their quotas has led to violations of Army regulations.
In Colorado, Arvada High School Senior David McSwane
says he wanted to see just how desperate recruiters were
so he put them to the test.
DAVID McSWANE: I was just curious, how far would they
go to get one more soldier?
TOM BEARDEN: McSwane, an honors student and editorial
page editor of his high school newspaper, presented
himself at a local recruiting office.
DAVID McSWANE: That's when I told him that I was a
17 year old dropout and that I have a drug addiction.
TOM BEARDEN: And what did he say?
DAVID McSWANE: He said the drug addiction wasn't
a problem, that we would cross that bridge when we come to it.
TOM BEARDEN: And what did that turn out to mean?
DAVID McSWANE: That there was a way of beating a drug
test, the way he knew with this stuff that he would give
me, a detox drink to pass the urinalysis to get in the Army.
TOM BEARDEN: McSwane says the recruiter took him in
a government vehicle to buy the drug elimination kit
and also told him how to get a fake high-school diploma.
DAVID McSWANE: What my recruiter told me to do was go
on the Internet, type in fake diploma and order one off
the Internet, it would need to look real, have a foil
seal on it, and I would need transcripts to go along with it.
The high school name he gave me, which is imaginary, was
Faith Hill Baptist School. So I did that and I brought it
in and he said it was good and he gave it to his superiors
and they cleared it.
TOM BEARDEN: McSwane secretly taped his phone conversations
with the recruiters.
DAVID McSWANE ON TAPE: So they accepted my diploma and
all that?
RECRUITER ON TAPE: Yeah, that's what they told us, so?
DAVID McSWANE ON TAPE: All right. So they don't know that
it's fake or anything? I'm not going to get in trouble?
RECRUITER: Right. They won't know.
TOM BEARDEN: The Army has begun an investigation of the
two soldiers involved. They have been removed from recruiting
duties. Lt. Col. Jeffrey Brodeur heads Denver's Army
recruiting battalion.
TOM BEARDEN: Did these allegations come out of the blue?
Were they a surprise to you?
LT. COL. JEFFREY BRODEUR: They were; they were. I would
not have suspected those two recruiters, I really would
not have; they are good soldiers and they present
themselves as good soldiers.
TOM BEARDEN: Lt. Col Brodeur says the accused recruiters
never submitted McSwane's paperwork, and no one else had
seen the diploma. The U.S. Army recruiting command
acknowledges there were 320 substantiated cases of
wrongdoing by recruiters last year, a 14 percent increase
from 2003. The violations ranged from threats and
coercion to false promises that the recruit would not
be sent to Iraq.
WOMAN AT COUNTER-RECRUITING ALLY: I say that schools
are for learning, not for recruiting --
TOM BEARDEN: Those critical of what they see as overly
aggressive recruiting tactics have stepped up their
opposition --demanding that recruiters not be given such
broad access to the schools. And some school counselors and
teachers like Jackson Potter at Englewood are inviting
so-called counter-recruiters into their classrooms.
JACKSON POTTER: Barry Romo here is a guest speaker. He's
going to give you today a very different perspective than
what you've heard from military recruiters, what it's like
to serve in the Army. Well, there's a different view from
people who have served and seen the death and carnage.
TOM BEARDEN: Vietnam veteran Barry Romo bluntly described
his experiences.
BARRY ROMO: I blew the top of a Vietnamese man's head off.
It went in his skull and totally blew off the top of his
skull. His brain was sitting there --
TOM BEARDEN: Romo went on to join Vietnam Veterans Against
the War, and has been an antiwar activist ever since.
STUDENT: What advice would you give to a young man
graduating out of high school, thinking about going in --
BARRY ROMO: Going into the service? Going to Iraq,
I would say not to do it. You're better off working at
McDonalds and going to a community college; you're
gambling with your life and your future; you're gambling
with your personal integrity.
TOM BEARDEN: Romo told the students to be wary of
recruiters making promises they wouldn't keep.
BARRY ROMO: The Army recruiters promised us free medical
care for life. But we didn't get it in writing. Before
any of you enlist, make sure everything you're promised
is there.
RECRUITER TALKING TO HIGH SCHOOL KIDS: We're just trying
to give you the information on what we can offer you to
get where you want to go in life.
TOM BEARDEN: Despite all of these "challenges," as the
Army calls them, the demand for new recruits is relentless.
The Army goal for May is even higher than last month.
Recruiters all over the country are now out pounding
the pavement, looking for 8,000 new recruits to make quota.
JIM LEHRER: The Army for the first time in recent history
has ordered a one-day suspension of all recruiting next
Friday. The Army's 7,500 recruiters will be lectured on
what is proper to encourage people to enlist.
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
18) Just a reminder:
Monday May 16, 7 P.M.,
"DEATH ROW ON THE STREET: THE KILLING OF JULIO AYALA",
presentation by Tania, Julio's sister. At Idriss Stelley
Foundation and Dockta Cooper Networking Project office,
4921 3rd Street, SF, between Palou and Quesada. You can
bring the ninos if you like !
The meeting is hosted every other Monday at 7 PM by the
Campaign to End the Death Penalty, Bayview Chapter.
The rest of the meeting will be spent on strategizing for
summer CEDP actions, particularly on the case of Tookie Williams,
5 times honoree for the Nobel Prize, innocent Brother on death
row in San Quentin after 20+ years, who might be scheduled for
execution in 2005.
When it comes to Justice4Julio Campaign, the Steeringring
Committee (independently from CEDP) is planning to meet after
the general meeting to divide tasks (press release, flyers
for Press conference and Protest on Wed 18 at 5 P.M. on the
steps of SSF City Hall on Grand Boulevard in South City,
networking on carpool from SF for folks who have no wheels,
how to talk to homies, friends, families and co-workers
about the murder of Julio and upcoming actions. & if you
ain't got the time to do any of this, maybe just show up
to show some love to la familia on Monday !
* Paz * Valor * Solidaridad *
mesha Monge-Irizarry
Idriss Stelley Foundation
4921 3rd St SF 94124
Home office 900 Ingerson, a block away from the Ayala Family
(415) 595-8251 24HR Bilingual Spa. Crisis Line
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Justice4Julio
Please sign up on the group if you haven't already !
Also when you get a chance, please check out:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Justice4Gus/
about the murder of Gus Rugley By SFPD on 6-29-04
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
19) Let's face it - the state has lost its mind
The media coverage of this past
election was a pastiche. Our right to
know what our rulers are doing to
people the world over is being lost
in the new propaganda consensus.
By John Pilger
http://www.newstatesman.com/nscoverstory.htm
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
20) The family released a statement...
by Michael Gillespie
(Thursday 12 May 2005)
"Mass round-ups and detentions of innocent civilians, torture
and abuse of prisoners and detainees, America's honor and
prestige at the lowest point ever, and investigations that
whitewash the president's men and blame it all on the enlisted
personnel. Thus the obscene spectacle of the grieving families
at funerals forced by the president's dishonesty to defend the
honor of their dead even as they mourn: "He was noble and
always carried himself with honor." "[He was] a loving husband
and father, a devoted son and brother." "He wanted to go where
good people needed help." "He will be dearly missed." Small
wonder that the president, desperately attempting to hide
behind a façade of rigid religiosity that glorifies war and
false patriotism that exalts the very evils it claims to
despise, never attends the funerals of those who have died
in the line of duty. How could he?"
http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/14869/
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21)Recall Urged for Illegal Biotech Corn
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2005
Contact: Craig Culp, Center for Food Safety, (202) 547-9359;
Bill Freese, Friends of the Earth, (301) 985-3011
Government Must Come Clean on Secret Dealings with Crop Developer
Several hundred tons of the unapproved Bt10 corn, enough to plant
37,000 acres, were mistakenly sold to U.S. farmers under the name
of an approved variety from 2001 to 2004. The resultant harvest of
an estimated 165,000 tons have been sold as food or feed in the
U.S. and abroad. Syngenta first informed the U.S. government of
the mix-up in December 2004, but federal regulatory officials did
not inform the U.S. public that they were eating the untested corn
until the story leaked four months later. U.S. trading partners were
also kept in the dark about possible importation of the corn.
"The potential for yet undetected contamination of other corn varieties
via cross-pollination or seed mix-ups means the unapproved corn could
persist in the food supply for years," said Doug Gurian-Sherman,
senior scientist with Center for Food Safety and a former risk
assessment scientist with EPA. "This happened because the
U.S. regulatory agencies have not followed their own risk
assessment procedures for allowing commercialization of
genetically engineered foods."
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/press_release5.11.2005.cfm
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22) Amman, Iraq, and Al-Qaim
** Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches **
** http://dahrjamailiraq.com **
May 14, 2005
Amman, Iraq, and Al-Qaim
It feels uncomfortable writing about Iraq from Amman...but my close
friends, Abu Talat (my close friend and interpreter) and intuition have
all provided the same message-do not go inside Iraq at this time.
So I've been in Amman now for about a week, and will resume posting
stories from here soon. We've been working on a couple of stories about
Iraqis in Amman...those should be out soon.
For now, I am using my Iraqi contacts in Baghdad (and other cities) as
well as those who have joined me here, along with watching Al-Jazeera
television, to pass on some news and photos about the situation.
Abu Talat phoned his family today in Baghdad. They've had no electricity
for four days. They told him (uncomfirmed) that all of Iraq has had no
electricity for several days. As Abu Talat says, "Baghdad is running on
the generator."
Of course the gas crisis persists augmented by the lack of electricity,
along with constantly increasing attacks.
We were in a taxi earlier, driving across the orderly streets of Amman
and talking about the situation in Iraq. "Now I feel ashamed to tell
people I am Iraq," says Abu Talat after he told the taxi driver he is
from Baghdad, "Because my country has been totally destroyed."
I look out the window, not knowing what to say. I think to say, 'But it
isn't your fault, habibi," but instead sit quietly, feeling that any
words would be inadequate.
The situation around Al-Qaim where "Operation Matador" is ongoing,
appears to be a micro-version of Fallujah. The military and corporate
media continue to portray the situation as if "foreign fighters" have
taken control of Qaim and surrounding villages (as was said about
Fallujah) when reports from the ground state that interviews with the
fighters have them all saying they are Iraqi.
Of course it behooves the military to claim they are battling "foreign
fighters," because as in Fallujah and elsewhere, it doesn't look good in
the press to admit that they are fighting Iraqis who are fighting for
their independence from the occupiers of their country. Even the marines
in Fallujah admitted they had killed a grand total of 35 foreign
fighters there. That kind of debunks the myth of a foreign terrorist
group taking over the city and terrorizing the citizens.
Another similarity between Qaim and Fallujah is that now there is a
humanitarian crisis in Qaim from the fighting. There are 1,300 displaced
families (approximately 80,000 people) from Qaim and the hospital there
was destroyed amidst fighting on 8 May between resistance fighters and
locals. On the 9th there was no electricity or water in Qaim and the
surrounding areas and schools were closed. On the 11th US warplanes
continued to bomb Obeidy and other nearby locations.
All of the aforementioned statistics were provided to me by a friend who
is here working with the Italian Consortium of Solidarity, an Italian
NGO based in Amman which provides humanitarian aid and has set up an
emergency working group for al-Qaim and has contacts on the ground
there. She also reports that people there need shelter, food, water and
medical care.
The loss of life continues unabated....in the last week at least 37 US
soldiers have been killed, while at least 450 Iraqis have died amidst a
huge surge of ongoing attacks since 28 April, when the Iraqi government
was officially announced.
Abdul-Khaliq al-Raqwi, the director of communications for the Iraqi
Government in al-Qaim, confirmed to Al-Jazeera that 2 US helicopters
were shot down in Qusaybah this past Wednesday. The military denied
this, even though witnesses on the ground confirmed the report as well.
Another interesting incident which occurred the beginning of the month
was when two F-18 Hornet jets crashed in Iraq. The military claimed
there was no indication of hostile fire, yet they crashed in different
locations. On the day of their crash, Baghdad airport was closed to
commercial air traffic for three days with no reason given by authorities.
More writing, photos and commentary at http://dahrjamailiraq.com
You are subscribed to the Dahr Jamail's email Iraq Dispatches because
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(c)2004, 2005 Dahr Jamail.
All images and text are protected by United States and international
copyright law. If you would like to reprint Dahr's Dispatches on the
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23) 'I Will Not Kill' campaign launches
on Capitol Hill News from The Fellowship of Reconciliation
Fwd: [militaryfreeschools] Fwd:
from: Rosalio Munoz
This cam via Arlene Aginouye a leader of the counter
recruitment movement in L.A. Coalition Against
Militarization of the Schools. Rosalio
--- aginouye@aol.com wrote:
on Capitol Hill
CAMS is supporting this national campaign. Please
feel free to send a statement why you will not kill
send a picture to the website, and spread the
word if you can. Thanks. Arlene
Date: Fri, 13 May 2005 23:44:40 GMT
From: "The Fellowship of Reconciliation."
To: ""
Subject: 'I Will Not Kill' campaign launches on
Capitol Hill
Greetings,
News from The Fellowship of Reconciliation
'I Will Not Kill' Campaign to be launched at Capitol
New FOR initiative supports right to resist war
As U.S. military recruiting numbers fall, the
military is stepping up efforts to entice youth
to join their ranks. The launching of the Fellowship
of Reconciliation's 'I Will Not Kill' campaign is an
to educate youth about the reality of war and their
right to say 'no' to killing.
I Will Not Kill
(http://ga3.org/ct/Qd_SBOK10Xs9/)will hold a
press conference on Monday, May 16th, at 3:30 p.m.
at the U.S.Capitol Building (Room HC-9, basement
level on the House side).
FOR members and supporters in the DC area are
welcome to attend as well!
Co-sponsoring organizations include the Center on
Conscience and
War (http://www.centeronconscience.org
http://www.centeronconscience.org/) and the
office of Rep.Cynthia McKinney (D-GA).
Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) will also attend.
"The human right to say no to militarism and killing
must be unconditionally supported for everyone," said
Ibrahim Ramey, coordinator of FOR's disarmament program.
"It is only when we refuse to kill that real peace and,
in this nation and throughout the world, becomes
living possibility".
The mission of the I Will Not Kill campaign is to
Raise awareness of resistance to war, educate youth about
the impacts of war, oppose a future draft, dismantle the
selective service system, promote a culture of life and promote
conscientious objection to war as a positive alternative to
violence and a way to strengthen and uplift communities and
all of civil society.
The campaign will target high school and college age
youth of color and youth from rural and impoverished white
communities. With this audience in mind, the coalition of
organizations sponsoring this campaign stress the importance of
participation by youth and people of color.
For more information, go to
http://ga3.org/ct/Q1_SBOK10Xsk/
To donate to the I Will Not Kill campaign, visit
http://ga3.org/ct/Q7_SBOK10Xso/
Job openings at FOR for two Development Associates
The Fellowship of Reconciliation is looking for two
Development
Associates. The deadline for applications is May
20th, so hurry!
For more information, go to
http://ga3.org/ct/Pp_SBOK10Xsi/ or
call Anita at 845-358-4601 x32.
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24) Bob Smith, Chair Depleted Uranium Awareness Committee
P.O. Box 480 Franklinton, Louisiana 70438 (504) 581-1086
PRESS RELEASE:
On May 12th, Peter Kovacs, the Managing News Editor of the New
Orleans Times- Picayune, the region‚s major daily newspaper, in
a telephone conversation with veterans advocate Bob Smith, and
a Times-Picayune political analyst stated that a story concerning
a bill giving the right for service women and men from Louisiana
to a best practices health-screening test for exposure to depleted
uranium would not be published. The reason Kovacs gave was because
the bill was not costing the state any money. Kovacs went on to
say that the Times Picayune criteria for newsworthiness was how
much it would cost. The fact that the bill supports the troops‚
health concerns is not the criteria. Four other media outlets in
the region have already covered the story expressing concerns
for the troops. On Tuesday, May 3rd, The Louisiana State House
of Representatives passed a bill to give the right to all Louisiana
Servicemen and women returning from Operations Enduring Freedom
and Iraqi Freedom for testing for depleted uranium contamination.
Louisiana is the first state in the nation to have their House
pass this type of bill. The vote was 101 to 0 in favor. The
Louisiana Brigade, with approximately 4,500 National Guardsmen,
is expected to return home from Iraq between October and December
2005. DU is radioactive and can cause leukemia, DNA breakdown,
various other cancers, and birth defects in offspring of soldiers
who have come into contact with it. The VA and the DOD have been
conducting testing that is not sensitive enough to detect whether
a soldier has been contaminated. This bill would have helped
alleviate that by pressuring the State‚s Adjutant General to
insure that the test mandated by DOD orders and Army regulations
would be executed. The „money‰ criteria used by the New Orleans
Times-Picayune is shocking in light of the fact that the country
is at war and legislation supporting the troops health concerns
is of utmost importance.
F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E Bob Smith Chair Depleted
Uranium Awareness Committee Louisiana Activist Network
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25) CASTRO DEFENDS FUGITIVE SOUGHT BY U.S.
http://playahata.com/hatablog/wp-trackback.php/505
HAVANA- President Fidel Castro has rejected calls to hand over a black
militant convicted in 1973 of killing a New Jersey state trooper, saying
she's avictim of racial persecution and not a terrorist, as U.S. officials
declared recently.
"They wanted to portray her as a terrorist, something that was an
injustice, a brutality, an infamous lie," Castro said in a television
address Tuesday night.
While Castro did not identify the woman by name, he was clearly alluding
to ASSATA SHAKUR - the former JOANNE CHESIMARD - who was put on a U.S.
government terrorist watch list May 2. On the same day, New Jersey
officials announced a $1 million reward for her capture.
Castro's remarks were his first comment on the new U.S. actions.
A member of the Black Liberation Army, Shakur, 57, was convicted of
killing New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster as he lay on the
ground. She escaped from prison in 1979 and fled to Cuba.
Castro referred to her as a victim of "the fierce repression against the
black movement in the United States" and said she had been "a true
political prisoner."
"They have always been hunting her, searching for her because of the
fact that there was an accident in which a policeman died," Castro said,
reflecting Shakur's assertion that she did not shoot the officer.
Castro said an appeal for her expulsion had been raised with him several
years ago by a woman who was both "a friend of Cuba" and a friend of
former President Clinton.
"I transmitted my opinion to the president of the United States," he
said, though he did not specify who raised the issue nor when she
visited. He made clear the case involved New Jersey.
Castro suggested that the action was meant to divert attention from
Cuba's demand that U.S. officials arrest Luis Posada Carriles, who is
wanted in Venezuela on charges of involvement in blowing up a civilian
Cuban jetliner in 1976, killing 73 people.
His attorney has said that Posada, a former CIA employee, slipped into
the United States and is seeking asylum. Posada denies any role in the
airplane attack.
Castro, in a televised appearance Wednesday that lasted four hours,
stepped up his denunciations of the U.S. government for failure to
arrest Posada.
Castro read summaries of newly released U.S. intelligence documents
linking Posada and other anti-Castro militants to terrorist attacks
beyond the 1976 bombing of a jetliner that killed 73 people.
The Cuban leader previously has called for a massive rally on May 17 in
front of the U.S. Interests Section, or diplomatic mission, to demand
the arrest of Posada.
He dedicated most of Tuesday's remarks to descriptions of numerous
terrorist actions that Cuba alleges Posada and his anti-Castro
associates have committed over the past 35 years.
Castro referred to earlier published suggestions that Posada and
Florida-based exile Orlando Bosch could have been involved in the 1963
assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
"There are strange things, very strange, mixed up here," Castro said.
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@lists.econ.utah.edu
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism
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26) Subject: second announcement about peace activities
in Richmond memorial day week
----- Original Message -----
From: "J. Gab..... ....global.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 9:02 PM
dear friends please pass this along to anyone you
think might be available to help us --
thanks and peace to us and people everywhere
Gabriella
PEACE ACTIVITIES IN RICHMOND , California, USA
A coalition of West County groups will engage in a
series of peace, anti-violence, and anti-war actions
in recognition of Memorial Day. The public is
encouraged to stand with us at the following actions.
We will be exhibiting large images of the war dead
using posterboards that have three- by five-inch
pictures and the names of American soldiers and images
of Iraqis who have died in Iraq in the last two years.
This powerful visual presentation of the consequences
of war is on loan from United For Peace and Justice
Bay Area. The idea is to demonstrate the human cost
of war to the people in Iraq, the US soldiers and the
people in our community.
We will have literature about the military and
their recent recruitment efforts, information for
kids about the reality of joining the military as
well as some literature that connects the lack of
services in West Contra Costa county, the huge
military budget, and local violence.
We plan to gather:
Tuesday May 24th from 11 am to 1pm at Contra Costa
College between the library and the student union.
The college is at 2600 Mission Bell Drive in San Pablo.
Wednesday May 25th at 1:50 (dismissal time) in
front of Kennedy High School, at 4300 Cutting Blvd, Richmond
Thursday May 26th at 3:05 (dismissal time) in front
of Richmond High school at 1250 23rd St, Richmond
Friday May 27th at the Richmond Farmer's market
(Macdonald and 27th St) from 11 am - 1 pm
Saturday May 28th at Nicholl Park ( 32nd and
Macdonald ) from 12 - 1 pm.
We hope to get at least 10 to 20 activists at each
locale even though the events are during the work day.
We hope that people can come on their lunch hour for
any part of each event. If you want more information,
please contact Gabriella Heinsheimer at
gheinsheim@sbcglobal.net or 524-5297.
If you know when you can come please contact
Soula Culver at sc@lmi.net
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27) Recruiter-turned-peacenik hits nerve in N.C.
By Rick Hampson, USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-03-20-recruiter-peacenik_x.htm
WAYNESVILLE, N.C. - If you were young and tough and wanted
a challenge, Jimmy Massey was the man to see. He was gung ho.
He was Semper Fi . He was the strutting, cussing, tobacco-
chewing Marine recruiter.
The staff sergeant won scores of recruits in this and other
patriotic mountain towns by talking courage, honor, commitment.
Then, following his own adage - "you gotta walk the walk" –
he went to Iraq.
That was two years ago, before Massey left the Marines,
returned to Waynesville, and began saying things about the
war that make people wonder whether they really knew him
in the first place. These days Massey carries a sign around
town that says he killed Iraqi civilians. He confesses to
having enticed some recruits with false promises, and
encouraged others to lie on applications. He has gone to
Canada to testify for an Army deserter seeking asylum,
and he has spoken at peace rallies.
He left a Marine recruiter and returned a peacenik.
This is the story of a veteran and the town to which he
returned - a town that no longer recognizes the man who
once preached the leatherneck gospel and now has a whole
different sermon.
Carolyn Burkes, whose son served in Iraq, wants to kick
his butt for recruiting him. Louise Goss, whose son will
soon return to Iraq, wants to run him over for turning on
the troops. Cpl. Lincoln Walburn, a reservist who could go
to Iraq any time, wants to deck him. "I looked up to the
staff sergeant," says Walburn, whom Massey recruited,
"but he is dishonoring himself and the Marine Corps."
Others want to shake Massey's hand. "It's unthinkably
courageous to admit you're wrong and turn your life around,"
says Daniel Miller, whose Marine son was recruited by Massey.
"Most people would slink away. He's trying to make amends."
More than anything, people are puzzled by Massey's
transformation.
But they don't know the whole story: that for two years before
he went to Iraq, Massey apparently suffered from depression,
which he blamed on the stress of recruiting, and that before
rejoining his unit, he stopped taking his medication.
Does knowing the whole story make a difference? Did depression
color what Massey saw in Iraq, or did what he saw there make
him depressed? Soldiers talk about the "fog of war." Sometimes
things aren't any clearer on the home front.
When Massey came here as the recruiter in 1999 after eight
years in the Corps, he seemed to embody its mystique, down
to his tattoos. Kids dropped by the recruiting station just
to hang out. "Sgt. Massey was someone I could talk to,"
Walburn says. But there was a side people didn't see,
according to a military medical report furnished by Massey.
It was written after he returned from Iraq.
When he was a recruiter, Massey felt stressed by pressure
to fill his quota and by guilt over the half-truths he told
to fill it. He developed shingles and high blood pressure.
In May 2001, halfway through his three-year tour, he was
diagnosed with depression.
But in April 2003, according to the medical report, Massey
asked "to taper off his psychiatric medications. In
anticipation of finishing recruiting duty, he expected that
things would just magically improve. He reports that he would
tell himself that everything would be great as soon as he
was off recruiting and in a normal unit again."
That fall, Massey says, he stopped taking antidepressants
and prepared to rejoin his infantry weapons unit. Walburn
heard worry in Massey's voice, "but he kept up a good front.
If you're a staff sergeant, you don't want to look weak."
A year later, Massey was back. He had left the Marines,
gotten engaged to a local woman and was selling furniture.
No one knew what happened in Iraq. When Mark Phillips, whom
Massey recruited into the Marine Forces Reserve, ran into
him on the street, "He just told me he had some issues and
he had to get out."
Then, in February 2004, the local newspaper published
a story about Massey.
Massey told The Mountaineer that he and his platoon were
staffing a roadblock near Baghdad when a car inexplicably
failed to slow as it approached, despite the Marines'
warnings. The Marines opened fire, killing three occupants.
Only the driver survived.
Massey said that these and other civilian deaths depressed
him, and that finally he told his superiors he thought that
the Geneva Conventions were being violated.
He was sent back to the USA, where a military doctor diagnosed
him with major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
He was honorably discharged with an 80% disability.
Massey's friends were shocked by his charges about civilian
deaths. Walburn says he asked himself, "That's the hard ass
that recruited me?"
Louise Goss, whose son was recruited by Massey, wrote
a letter to the newspaper accusing him of turning his back
on his recruits: "This is war, Mr. Massey. ... Innocent
people die in war, always have and always will."
The Marines say Massey's charges about civilian killings
have been "found to be unsubstantiated," according to a
Corps spokesman, Maj. Doug Powell. He declined to discuss
in detail the incidents Massey described, but said, "You
have to consider the rules of engagement and the current
threat," which demanded heightened suspicion of civilians
and civilian vehicles.
Many Massey recruits feel his description of what he saw
in Iraq doesn't support his conclusions. Soldiers, they
argue, are obligated to fire on a vehicle that fails to
stop at a war zone checkpoint. "In that situation, it's
either kill or be killed," Walburn says. Phillips agrees:
"He was doing his job, whether he knows it or not."
Massey has his defenders. As a recruiter, "He was straight
with me," Marine Sgt. Noah Miller says. "Some recruiters offer
you the sky because if they told you the real deal, they
wouldn't get nearly the number of people they get. ... That
was not the case with Jimmy Massey."
For others, Massey's claims raise difficult issues. Louise
Owens sent a copy of her letter in The Mountaineer to her
son Cody, who spent six months in Iraq last year. His reaction
surprised her: "He said, Mom, I'm not saying he's right or
wrong, but some of the things that happen in Iraq, the U.S.
people don't know about. ... I don't like to hear anyone
putting Massey down who's not been over there and done that.' "
At 33, Massey is not what you might expect in a former Marine
sergeant. He seems introspective. He says he is in therapy,
and takes six different prescription medicines for maladies
ranging from depression to high blood pressure. He lives
on disability pay.
Most local veterans regard Massey as "an outcast," according
to Roy Pressley, an officer at the American Legion post
here. He keeps to himself, and left his sales job because
of tension over his comments on the war. He says that once,
when he was out walking with his protest sign, a man driving
a car swerved at him.
Why the one-man picket line? Isn't he afraid of looking
like a nut?
"It's leadership by example. That's what the Marines
teaches," he replies. "How can I ask another Marine to
protest the war if I haven't done it myself?
"That lifestyle never leaves you," he adds. "Honor, courage,
commitment - that still works well for me. I still eat and
sleep the Marines. I'm still a Marine."
He pulls up his right sleeve to reveal, on his right arm,
a big purple tattoo: the Marines' eagle, globe and anchor
insignia.
When Lincoln Walburn is told of his old recruiter's battle
with depression, he's not sympathetic. He says Massey should
never have tried to go to war.
But he understands why Massey had wanted to get back to his
combat unit after his stint as a recruiter: "That's the Marine
mentality," he says. "He was a staff sergeant in the United
States Marine Corps. If that doesn't say something about who
you are, I don't know what does."
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