A documentary, focussing on the how U.S. soliders are being treated upon return from Iraq is looking for donations to get finished – no surprise the big networks are not backing it then. Interesting project though.
Unbelievable that a soilder who lost his arm was asked “Is that war still on?” when he explained what had happened (see trailer).
The Real ID Theft Act is being voted on in the U.S. Senate tomorrow and according to Ars Technica, it contains a astonishing section that has been attached to this bill (which in turn has been attached to a large military appropriations bill):
H.R. 418 [the Real ID Act of 2005] would provide additional waiver authority over laws that might impede the expeditious construction of barriers and roads along the border. H.R. 418 would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive any and all laws that he determines necessary, in his sole discretion, to ensure the expeditious construction of barriers and roads under IIRIRA ‘ 102…
Section 102 of H.R. 418 would amend the current provision to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive any law upon determining that a waiver is necessary for the expeditious construction of the border barriers. Additionally, it would prohibit judicial review of a waiver decision or action by the Secretary and bar judicially ordered compensation or injunction or other remedy for damages alleged to result from any such decision or action.
Incredible, the bill prohibits the judiciary from reviewing any decisions made by the Dept of Homeland Security – they could kill people while building that wall and nobody could do anything(like sue the state) for it. There goes one of their 3 Pillars of democracy, freedom my ass.
No need for me to quote the article.
Amazing how under-reported this has been, heck there was only a general election last week in the U.K.
Now that there is no election to be won in the US, that trivial charade of looking for WMDs in Iraq can be quietly stopped
Wow, I’m still in shock – it would seem that there are over 59million morons and millionares in the US and a man with both attributes no less is in charge for another four years. Exactly how scared are ye over there?
The term ‘only in America’ seems strangely appropriate.
Thanks to Paul O’R for pointing me to a fascinating comment attributed to Herman Goering during the Nuremberg Trials:
“Why, of course, the people don’t want war,” Goering shrugged. “Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don’t want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship.”
“There is one difference,” I pointed out. “In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars.”
“Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.
Interesting how familiar that last paragraph seems (and I wasn’t alive during WW II)…
Why do I think this video (Real) (Windows Media) just won’t be shown on any major network before Wednesday?
The struggle for the soul of America has barely begun.
If you caught The Nation’s “100 Facts and 1 Opinion” piece, then probably their last word before next week’s election is their editorial endorsment of John Kerry.
It should be noted that The Nation don’t see Kerry as the perfect presidential candidate, just in case you think they’re a bunch of left wing pinkies (or ‘liberals’ as they might be called by some) Rather The Nation’s argument is more relavent to the threat the current administration would pose to democracy in the US if they were allowed to serve another 4 years.
The largest and most important [stake] is the protection of American democracy. It is always difficult while enjoying the comforts and privileges of taken-for-granted liberties to imagine that they could be lost; but the elements of Bush’s misrule have plainly converged to form this threat.
I don’t live in the US but I do read international and US news feeds and it’s obvious that Bush has not strengthened democracy and freedom in the US. Lots of reassuring statements in a folksy or intimidating tone, yes, but evidence that the US population is even feeling optimistic or secure? It’d hard for me to understand how nearly 50% of the US population don’t smell a rat (maybe they think it’s one hell of a charming rat?).
I just don’t get it but readers of Orwell must identify with how the current administration are controlling perception.
The Nation is running a pretty damning piece,100 Facts, 1 Opinion highlighting just how – well, I’ll let you read it.
Makes one wonder tho, who still wants to vote Bush back in – it would seem he has screwed just about everyone in the past four years.
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