Guantánamo Guard and Ex-Prisoners Meet (via the BBC)

by Andy Worthington
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
www.andyworthington.co.uk
14 January 2010

On Monday and Tuesday evenings, the BBC’s Newsnight ran an extraordinary two-part feature on Guantánamo, bringing former guard Brandon Neely over from the United States to meet — and apologize to — former prisoners Shafiq Rasul and Ruhal Ahmed, two of “The Tipton Three,” from the West Midlands, who were freed in March 2004 and whose story was later featured in “The Road to Guantánamo,” a powerful film about their experiences.

Brandon Neely served at Guantánamo in the first six months of the prison’s existence, between January and June 2002. He was then deployed to Iraq, but when the Army attempted to recall him from his Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR) status to active duty in May 2007, he ignored every letter and email, until the Army gave up, granting him an honorable discharge in June 2008.

Colombia says ‘no’ to US bases

Dandelion Salad

PressTV
Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:44:31 GMT

Amid reports of a deal reached for the establishment of US military bases in Colombia, the country’s foreign minister says there is no need for more American personnel.

In an effort to reassure other South American countries, Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez told the BBC that Colombia seeks only “information, technology, intelligence” in the form of military cooperation with the US.

“We don’t need personnel, we need more information, technology, intelligence – that’s the key issue… Those who fight best in Colombia are our own soldiers. We don’t need American soldiers to do this.”

“We are not going to have American bases in Colombia. Today we have 71 military personnel from the US,” Bermudez said.

His remarks come as South American nations feel threatened by what is considered as ‘suspicious intentions’ of their northern neighbor.

He, however, said while it is important for his country to stay in good relation with its neighbors, especially Venezuela, Colombia appreciates US help.

The minister said the US has been helping Colombia in fighting “narco-traffickers and terrorists.”

h/t: CLG

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Larry King: Hugo Chavez: Bush White House Tried To Assassinate Me!

What We Can’t Conquer, We Buy By Siv O’Neall

Military Bases on Dandelion Salad

Obama drops missile shield for Czech Republic

RussiaToday
September 17, 2009

The U.S. is to shelve the Bush administration’s plans for a missile-defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Barack Obama confirmed the decision in a telephone conversation with the Czech prime minister, according to the country’s media.

Waxman to Weiner: Pelosi Will Allow Single-Payer Full House Vote! + Kucinich: Ready to change this system!

Dandelion Salad

This is fabulous news! Single Payer has a chance. Contact your Congress people when they are home for their Aug vacation. Keep on them! ~ DS

VoiceofAmericans2008
July 31, 2009

Anthony Weiner (D-NY) House Energy & Commerce Committee
Weiner/Welch amendment to get Single-Payer on agenda again.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

more about “Waxman to Weiner: Pelosi Will Allow S…“, posted with vodpod

h/t: Connie

***

Weiner Pushes for Single-Payer Plan

Kucinich Secures Congressional Victory for States’ Single Payer Drive

Dandelion Salad

by Congressman Dennis Kucinich
Washington, July 17 , 2009

Kucinich Amendment Allows States to Seek a Federal Waiver

Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today created an opening for the single payer health care movement by winning adoption of an amendment which eliminates a federal barrier to states choosing to enact single payer health plans. The amendment won on a bipartisan basis during lengthy committee action on HR 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act.

“Although the amendment does not create a single payer health care system, it removes a major obstacle for any state that wishes to pursue the single payer option. This amendment builds on the momentum of the national movement for single payer health care,” said Kucinich.

Viva Palestina aid convoy enters Gaza + We are in Gaza (photos)

Dandelion Salad

PressTV
Viva Palestina aid convoy enters Gaza
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:21:43 GMT

The Viva Palestina humanitarian convoy enters the Gaza Strip, breaking the deadly Israeli blockade imposed on 1.5 million Palestinians for a second time.

The American aid convoy carrying hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of supplies for the people of Gaza crossed the Rafah border on Wednesday upon receiving permission from Cairo after a 10-day delay.

The 200 activists are allowed to stay in the coastal territory only for 24 hours, a Press TV correspondent reported.

Viva Palestina activists, all Americans, including Charles Barron, a New York City Councilman, say that they have been stranded on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing for about 10 days despite earlier arrangements.

The humanitarian aid convoy consisting of 50 vehicles is the second organized by British Member of Parliament and Press TV presenter George Galloway.

***

Photos: Viva Palestina US » WE ARE IN GAZA!!!!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

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Press Advisory from Viva Palestina

War Resistor Successfully Challenges ‘Misconduct’ Charge By Stephen Dohnberg

Sent to DS by the author, thanks Stephen.

Dandelion Salad

by Stephen Dohnberg
Global Pundit
crosposted at Digit Journal with photos
April 22, 2009

War Resistor Sgt Chiroux successfully challenged his misconduct hearing, facing down the U.S. Army and offering a potential “green light” for other soldiers challenging the legality of U.S. action in Iraq and Afghanistan.

War resistor Sgt. Matthis Chiroux, who refused to deploy to Iraq under the Individual Ready Reserve, today successfully challenged his misconduct hearing and was granted a ‘General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions’.

Senior Bush figures could be prosecuted for torture, says Obama + Prosecution possible for those who OK’d torture

Dandelion Salad

by Ewan MacAskill and Robert Booth

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 21 April 2009 11.30 BST

President says use of waterboarding showed US had ‘lost moral bearings’ as Dick Cheney says CIA memos showed torture delivered ‘good’ intelligence

Former US vice-president Dick Cheney has asked the CIA to declassify memos detailing ‘success’ of torture. Photograph: Kevin Wolf/AP

Senior members of the Bush administration who approved the use of waterboarding and other harsh interrogation measures could face prosecution, President Obama disclosed today .

He said the use of torture reflected America “losing our moral bearings”.

He said his attorney general, Eric Holder, was conducting an investigation and the decision rested with him. Obama last week ruled out prosecution of CIA agents who carried out the interrogation of suspected al-Qaida members at Guantánamo and secret prisons around the world.

[…]

via Senior Bush figures could be prosecuted for torture, says Obama | World news | guardian.co.uk.

h/t: CLG

***

Obama: Prosecution possible for those who OK’d torture

By Steven Thomma and Marisa Taylor | McClatchy Newspapers | April 21, 2009

WASHINGTON — Hours after he said that he’d never prosecute CIA officers for harsh interrogations of suspected terrorists, President Barack Obama opened the door Tuesday to prosecuting the Bush administration officials who OK’d the techniques.

Obama said it was up to Attorney General Eric Holder to decide whether Bush administration officials should be charged with war crimes or other offenses for approving techniques such as waterboarding.

“I do worry that this gets so politicized that it hampers our ability to function effectively,” the president said when he was asked about a possible independent investigation.

[…]

via Obama: Prosecution possible for those who OK’d torture | McClatchy.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

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Ten Terrible Truths About The CIA Torture Memos, Part 1 by Andy Worthington

Spanish judge keeps Guantanamo probe alive + Waterboarded 183 Times + More revelations from Bush torture memos

Fault Lines: Richard Armitage on torture

Torture on Dandelion Salad

Barack Obama on Dandelion Salad

Capitalism versus Socialism – Poll confirms massive anti-capitalist shift in US public opinion by Eric Sommer

Dandelion Salad

by Eric Sommer
Global Research, April 17, 2009

New Poll Finds American Workers Turning Massively Towards Socialism: Unbelievable but True

In periods of intense economic crisis, transformations which normally require years or decades can take place in weeks or months. A new U.S. poll taken in early April astonishingly shows that U.S. adults under 30 are approximately evenly divided on the question of socialism-versus-capitalism. According to a telephone poll by Rasmussen 33 per cent of the under-30’s prefer socialism, 37 percent prefer capitalism, and 30 per cent are undecided.

Monsanto Uprooted: Germany Bans Cultivation of GM Corn

Digg

Dandelion Salad

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany

Germany has banned the cultivation of GM corn, claiming that MON 810 is dangerous for the environment. But that argument might not stand up in court and Berlin could face fines totalling millions of euros if American multinational Monsanto decides to challenge the prohibition on its seed.

The sowing season may be just around the corner, but this year German farmers will not be planting gentically modified crops: German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner announced Tuesday she was banning the cultivation of GM corn in Germany.

[…]

via Monsanto Uprooted: Germany Bans Cultivation of GM Corn – SPIEGEL ONLINE – News – International.

h/t: lostlyrics

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

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Vandana Shiva: The Future of Food and Seed

A Farm for the Future (must-see)

The World According to Monsanto – A documentary that Americans won’t ever see (video)

The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil (must-see)

Monsanto

Food on Dandelion Salad

Council kills surveillance camera plan (MO)

Dandelion Salad

By Sara Semelka
The Columbia Daily Tribune
Tuesday, April 7, 2009

In a move that surprised city staff and the downtown business community alike, the Columbia City Council last night on a 6-1 vote denied a transfer of funds that would have allowed the lease of surveillance cameras for downtown streets.

Barack Obama drops ‘war on drugs’ rhetoric for needle exchanges

Dandelion Salad

Dan Glaister
guardian.co.uk
Monday 16 March 2009 20.31 GMT

The Obama administration signalled today that it was ready to repudiate the prohibition and “war on drugs” approach of previous presidents, and steer policy towards prevention and “harm reduction” strategies favoured by Europe.

David Johnson, an assistant secretary of state, said the new administration would embrace policies supporting federally funded needle exchanges. The aim, he said, was to establish a policy based on public health needs. “This will result in a policy that is broader and stronger than the one we had in the past,” Johnson said on the sidelines of a UN drug strategy conference in Vienna.

[…]

In a statement last week announcing the nomination of the new drug czar, Obama said: “With escalating violence along our Southwest border and far too many suffering from addiction here at home, never has it been more important to have a national drug control strategy guided by sound principles of public safety and public health.”

[…]

via Barack Obama drops ‘war on drugs’ rhetoric for needle exchanges | World news | guardian.co.uk

h/t: CLG

see

Ron Paul: It’s Time To End Prohibition Of Marijuana!

Ni’lin pays tribute to Jewish victims of the Holocaust

Dandelion Salad

Crossposted with permission from Jewish Peace News

Jewish Peace News
2.28.09

And Now For Something Completely Different

For a change of pace from our usual dose of death and destruction, an inspiring story:

The village of Ni’lin has paid a particularly high price for its struggle against the Wall and annexation of its lands, including two children who were shot and killed by the Israeli Army in the summer of 2008. Nevertheless, the people of the village continue to protest at least once a week against the Wall, joined by Israeli activists, in particular Anarchists Against the Wall, as well as international activists.

The article below tells the remarkable story of how the people of Ni’lin have put together an exhibit to honor International Holocaust Remembrance Day and commemorate the near destruction of European Jewry under the Nazis.

Activists who have been in Ni’lin recently told me that the reason they heard for the village committee putting together the exhibit was this: if Israeli activists care enough to come to their village to learn about the Palestinian struggle and act in solidarity with Palestinians, they feel obligated to learn Jewish history as well.

This is what solidarity looks like.

–Rebecca Vilkomerson

Ni’lin pays tribute to Jewish victims of the Holocaust

by George H. Hale

BETHLEHEM – Every Friday, the West Bank village of Ni’lin is home to some of the most violent clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian, Israeli and international demonstrators.

Each week, activists from the village’s Land Defence Committee stage demonstrations at the Separation Barrier which cuts off as much as half the village’s farmland and water from its inhabitants.

The Iraqi Muslims who convert to Christianity

Dandelion Salad

MegaNewsbreak

A campaign of violence against Christians has seen thousands flee the country since 2003.

Many of those who remain have complained of intimidation and persecution.

But in some parts of Iraq, Muslims are now choosing to become Christians.

Al Jazeera’s Omar Al Saleh reports from Irbil in Northern Iraq.

Good News: Court blocks sale of Redrock wilderness

Dandelion Salad

by Robert Redford

From an email from NRDC

It’s Inauguration Day and all of us are focused on the historic proceedings in Washington. But I wanted to share a fantastic piece of environmental news because I know it will lift your spirits even more.

On Saturday night, a federal judge ruled in our favor and blocked the Bush Administration from proceeding with the lease sale of 110,000 acres of Utah’s Redrock wilderness to oil and gas companies.

This is a huge victory for our nation’s legacy of public lands — and a final rebuke to the Bush Administration as it slinks out of town.