Under The Holly Tree

Where Did The Israeli Locksmith Scammer Send His $ To?

2009-11-24T16:31:00.000-08:00

So who did Eli Barhanum who was arrested for his involvement in the Dependable Locksmith scam bust by the Feds send his money orders to? El Ad Group. And who is El-Ad Group? Read the Wiki HERE. It is a subsidiary of Delek Group, owned by Yitzak Tshuva.

Affidavit for Complaint of Eli Barhanun

BEST LINK FOR ALL INFORMATION WITH COURT LINK CASES AND MUCH MORE

Blackwater's Secret War in Pakistan: Jeremy Scahill

2009-11-24T15:59:00.000-08:00

At a covert forward operating base run by the US Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) in the Pakistani port city of Karachi, members of an elite division of Blackwater are at the center of a secret program in which they plan targeted assassinations of suspected Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives, "snatch and grabs" of high-value targets and other sensitive action inside and outside Pakistan, an investigation by The Nation has found. The Blackwater operatives also assist in gathering intelligence and help direct a secret US military drone bombing campaign that runs parallel to the well-documented CIA predator strikes, according to a well-placed source within the US military intelligence apparatus.

Read further>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

SCAM Israeli Owned Locksmiths BUSTED!!!!!

2009-11-24T15:29:00.000-08:00

Refresh your memories, I posted about this February 15, 2008

HERE is that post.

Now WATCH and READ

10 Connects Helps Bust National Locksmith Scam - WTSP-TV, Channel 10, Tampa Bay, FL (11/04/2009)
http://www.wtsp.com/video/default.aspx?aid=93212

"One of
Overland Park Locksmith Charged With Deceiving Customers - WDAF-TV, Channel 4, Kansas City, MO (11/04/2009)
http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-locksmith-customers-op-110409,0,10447.story

Dependable Locks workers charged in scam – St. Louis Business Journal, St. Louis, MO (11/04/2009)
http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2009/11/02/daily45.html

Oh WOW, YNET has an article

US: 3 Israelis arrested for mail fraud

For ALOA's LONG list of articles on this go HERE

http://www.therolladailynews.com/state_news/x255178727/Locksmith-tech-among-those-facing-federal-charges

Eliyahu Barhanun, a.k.a. Eli Barhanun, a.k.a. Eli Barhanin, 29, Creve Coeur, MO, is charged in with a felony violation of structuring financial transactions to avoid federal reporting requirements, in violation of 31 U.S.C. § 5324; and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1343, and 1956, all in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371.

David Peer, 31; and Moshe Aharoni, 28, both of the Clearwater, Florida area, are each charged with conspiracy to recruit and employ aliens who are not authorized to work in the United States, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §§ 1324 and 1324a; mail and wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 and 1343;and engaging in financial transactions to promote unlawful activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C

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BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU GAVE DEPENDABLE LOCKSMITHS AN F

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SO, let me walk you through this to show you how they work. Let's start HERE

Israel News United States of America News for Israeli Top News חדשות

israel blog news, online news edition, Newspaper from Israel, offers real-time breaking news, breaking News, opinions, analysis, funny news, commentary relating to events, Israel News United States of America News for Israeli Top News חדשות Israel, Middle East from Los Angeles New York Miami News United States of America
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NOW, let's take some of the phone numbers they have there, let's start with this one and then Google it 877-364-5264. What do you come up with? Page after page of "locksmiths". "carpet cleaners", "water damage restoration", "moving companies", "roadside assistance". Go ahead, link to them, ALL the same 1-877 number, ALL different webpages that look official, right? OH MY GOD, you can even have your CHRISTMAS LIGHTS put up! Hey, what a deal!

I just called for Christmas lights. Ring.............................

Him: Hello

Me: Hi, I'm calling for Christmas lights, do you do that?

Him: UH HUH

Me: Well I'm wondering why you share a phone number with so many other companies

Him: What do you mean?

Me: Welllllllllllllllllll, I can get my carpet cleaned, my furniture moved, my locks fixed, roadside assistance, AND my Christmas lights put up, it's ONE STOP SHOPPING to call you! Why is that?

Him: Because they are all our companies.

Me: UH, and you are also from Israel doing business here ILLEGALLY and the Feds are closing in on you, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

OK now it is REALLY getting ridiculous! Take that link for the Christmas lights and go to the bottom and link to where it says Christmas lighting installation. It goes HERE I just dialed the phone number on that link and the guy answered, "Locksmith" I said, "I think I have the wrong number, aren't you a Christmas light company?" "No, we're a locksmith"!

These guys are REALLY confused!

AFFIDAVIT

BEST LINK FOR ALL INFORMATION: LOCKSMITH WIKI

Scam Israeli Owned Locksmiths in the US BUSTED!!!!!

2009-11-20T17:33:00.000-08:00

US: 3 Israelis arrested for mail fraud

For ALOA's LONG list of articles on this go HERE

http://www.therolladailynews.com/state_news/x255178727/Locksmith-tech-among-those-facing-federal-charges

Eliyahu Barhanun, a.k.a. Eli Barhanun, a.k.a. Eli Barhanin, 29, Creve Coeur, MO, is charged in with a felony violation of structuring financial transactions to avoid federal reporting requirements, in violation of 31 U.S.C. § 5324; and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1343, and 1956, all in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371.

David Peer, 31; and Moshe Aharoni, 28, both of the Clearwater, Florida area, are each charged with conspiracy to recruit and employ aliens who are not authorized to work in the United States, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §§ 1324 and 1324a; mail and wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 and 1343;and engaging in financial transactions to promote unlawful activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C

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BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU GAVE DEPENDABLE LOCKSMITHS AN F

**********************************************
SO, let me walk you through this to show you how they work. Let's start HERE

Israel News United States of America News for Israeli Top News חדשות

These guys are REALLY confused!

Dispatches: Inside Britain's Israel Lobby (VIDEO)

2009-11-17T19:06:00.000-08:00

Watch HERE

My Thoughts on the Fort Hood Massacre

2009-11-14T21:04:00.000-08:00

It's been nine days. It has taken me that long to feel I could even begin to formulate my first clear thoughts on what took place at Fort Hood Novemember 11. We know now that fourteen died. Several are still hospitalized, some in critical condition. Some have been released. The assailant, Dr. Nidal Hasan, major, psychiatrist, U.S. army, Muslim, was shot four times and is currently hospitalized. His family has retained an attorney for him, retired Col. John Gilligan. He has been charged with fourteen counts of murder. The military prosecutor is seeking the death penalty. Currently
army officials have stated, " investigators believe that he acted without the knowledge or guidance of any terror groups." It is also known that Dr. Hasan had email communications with a radical imam in Yemen who had been at the same Virginia mosque where Dr. Hasan's mother's funeral service was held and two of the 9/11 hijackers attended. We have also been told that authorities knew of this communication but have stated that it was within the realm of Dr. Hasan's research.

We have also been told that Dr. Hasan gave a power-point presentation while attending a masters degree program in 2007 (HERE is the presentation) Slides #49 and 50, the most ominous, "Muslim soldiers should not serve in any capacity that renders them at risk to hurting/killing believers unjustly>>>will vary! Recommendation: Department of Defense should allow Muslim soldiers the option of being released as "consciencious objectors" to increase troop moral and decrease adverse events". The Washington Post has more to say HERE.

We also know that approximately 3500 declared Muslims are currently serving in the military, with estimates as high as 20,000 because the military does not demand an enlistee to state their religious affiliation. Although the Association of Patriotic Arab Americans is made up of Muslims and Christians, it was founded shortly after 911 by Jamal S. Baadani, a Muslim American. We know that the armed services depend heavily on Arabic speaking service men and women to aid in transalation and cultural awareness. The same holds true in Afghanistan, where Muslims are serving. We know that Muslims are serving honorably in both arenas. (This is a well known fact, why am I even writing this other than to remind anyone reading here who may be looking for the reason to cast doubt on all Muslims?)

Caveat, these are not my thoughts on Dr. Hasan's proclivity to commit a horrendous act because he is Muslim. Nothing could be further from the truth. My former husband from whom I am amicably divorced is Muslim, my eldest daughter is Muslim, many of my closest friends and loved ones are Muslim. I do not in any way shape or form believe that Islam had anything to do with Dr. Hasan's murderous rampage. I do however believe that he was an extremely conflicted man who was being forced to do something he simply was not willing to do, this however, let me make this most clear, does not in any way absolve him from what he chose to do. Read, "chose", because as human beings we are born with the power of choice in all we do. Life is not always so simple though. Often times outside influences bear upon our choices. In the case of Dr. Hasan's choice to open fire upon his fellow soldiers, I do believe there were circumstances, had they been different, Dr. Hasan's actions also could have been different.

My thoughts concerning this crystalized when Richard Silverstein posted a question,
"Could Army Have Offered Hasan a Way Out Short of Deployment". In his post he refers to a report from NPR that it is possible that Dr. Hasan made a call last year to the Center on Conscience and War. The caller had asked if there was a way out of the military as a Muslim who objected to fighting a war against Muslims. The NPR report states:

What McNeil said that day, however, no doubt would have offered little
encouragement to Hasan, who was charged Thursday with 13 counts of premeditated murder for allegedly gunning down a dozen fellow service members and a civilian last week at Fort Hood in Texas.

"An aversion to fighting a particular kind of war can't be grounds for
conscientious objector status," McNeil says. "The military regulation says it has to be a sincerely held belief about participation in any war."

And the burden is on the soldier to prove the genesis and sincerity of
those beliefs.

What about others who have sought consciencious objector release from the military? How easy has it been for them to pass the hurdle of the "burden of proof of the genesis and sincerity of those beliefs"? Have there been problems there as well?

The answer is yes. One such case is Agustin Aguayo who went AWOL for 24 days rather than be deployed to Iraq for another tour of duty, turned himself in, was flown back to Germany to be held at Manheim prison awaiting court martial, eventually was court martialed and denied his firmly held consciencious objectors plea, was sentenced to eight months in prison, then recieved a bad conduct discharge from the army which will stay with him for life. Read his petition HERE which was denied.

We know now that Dr. Hasan at the very least in 2007 was of the firmly held belief that Muslims should be granted consciencious objector's release from the military should they request this from his power point presentation. We also know that he very possibly called the Center on Conscience and War. We know from early reports after the Fort Hood shooting also that Dr. Hassan approached the imam at his mosque in Killeen asking him how he should counsel those who may have changed their minds about their commitment and willingness to deploy. In the conversation Dr. Hassan had with his imam the imam states that he told Dr. Hassan “There is something wrong with you”. Granted, the imam is stating Dr. Hassan seemed “disjointed” but was the question pertaining to how he should counsel those whose minds had changed a “wrong question” to ask? Absolutely not, because there are hundreds if not thousands of enlisted military grappling with this same question who have actually taken action themselves without going off the deep end and killing. But many of these men have sought support from the right sources, ie IVAW or Courage to Resist.

Read further what the NPR report states:

“But Hasan’s stated desire to have the military carve out a special
conscientious objector exemption for Muslims, and his pursuit of one for
himself, likely would have ended before it started.

Why? Because Hasan’s singular focus was on an aversion to fighting Muslims, experts say, and not a proven, deeply held abhorrence to all war — no matter the circumstances or the enemy.”

Now, with these narrow defintions which the military has put in place it is virtually impossible to get out of the military on CO status once you have enlisted, so it truly is a case of buyer beware. Having said that, the only course open to those wishing to get out of the military after enlistment due to whatever moral/consciencious/religious reason, just about the only options are fleeing (hundreds of resisters in Canada) or face court martial, imprisonment, dishonorable discharge. In the case of Dr. Hassan, what IF he had been pointed in the right direction where he could have had support? What IF he had been listened to and not told, nope, your CO thoughts won’t work, “there is something wrong with you”.

So, Dr. Hassan sought to carve out a space where Muslims in particular could receive a CO exemption in the case of fighting other Muslims. This was seen as something that couldn’t be done. I ask “why not?” If the person is stating their religious beliefs preclude them from deploying, doesn’t anyone think this should hold water whatever their beliefs are?

Liz Diamond writes a very interesting point in her commentary, "Which wolf do you choose to feed?",

One recurrent theme in the reporting of the Fort Hood shootings is that Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan wanted out of a military that was fighting his co-religionists in Afghanistan and Iraq. If, in some upside-down world, the United States were ever to go to war with Israel, many of us would find it easier to understand if Jewish soldiers had difficulty fulfilling their duties, and would likely make some accommodation for those who conscientiously objected.

Interesting point Ms. Diamond. Very interesting point indeed.

Can anyone reading here possibly imagine Dr. Hasan hearing things said by his patients of what they had witnessed in Iraq and Afghanistan? Heck, he more than likely heard stories similar to those told by Winter Soldier. Session after session with patients suffering from PTSD. It is even possible that he had patients who commited suicide as we know the suicide rate for returning military. Can anyone possibly put themselves in his place, the stress he was under, having turned to people for counsel and reaching a dead end? Does this excuse his actions? Absolutely not. However, with the reports coming out of how troubled this man was for a long time, it is also clear that the path he was on was also shared by the military-no way out he thought. Forced to deploy.

My point is that no where thus far have we seen reports that he turned to the organizations who may have been able to support him-again-I am not suggesting that it would have worked-but fact is-thus far we haven’t seen that he did. Under military guidelines he would not have been able to avoid court martial had he refused to deploy, but he would have at least had the support he had been seeking and never received. That is if he had the COURAGE to resist. Death by cop while perpetrating the greatest damage against your percieved enemy, the US military, simply is not an option.

Dr, Hasan had a project-to carve out an exemption for Muslims who seek consciencious objector's status when asked to fight other Muslims. I personally find this honorable that he was seeking to help others who were in the same boat as himself. Again, read what Liz Diamond wrote in her commentary, "Which wolf do you choose to feed?"Unfortunately, no, that isn’t a strong enough word, there are now 14 people dead because the military has their “policies”. And, Dr. Hasan, cracked.

Fact is, the military once you are in makes it virtually impossible to get out. The military needs to RE-EXAMINE this policy, human beings are not robots who can be wiped clean of their own convictions in order to service a machine.

Again, please do not try to say I am making excuses for his actions, because I am NOT. This event I see as having far more nuance and factors which attributed to this disaster than what is being reported or commented on.

To close, Janis Whitlock writes in her article for Psychology Today titled, "Who is to blame when healer turns killer?"

Nidal Malik Hasan will stand trial and be punished. What remains to be
answered is whether we collectively question why there were no off-ramps for Nidal Malik Hasan before he hit his wall..... Nidal Malik Hasan is a man who lived and tragically expressed the contradictions inherent in the collective American psyche - contradictions brought to him over and over through his contact with a countless number of soldiers asked to use violence to create peace, asked to think of and treat as "other" a people Nidal Malik Hasan knew as "us."

Yes Mr. Silverstein, the army could have offered Dr. Hasan, a very troubled man, a way out.

Amampour Interview with Saeb Erekat

2009-11-04T09:22:00.000-08:00

FYI: This is who is the chief negotiator for the Palestinians who the US government is working with, so in light of that, the following is what he said in an interview with Cristiane Amampour: (If anyone reading here has the link for a video I would appreciate if you left it in a comment--Thanks!)SOURCE

Nov 4, 2009 (Al-Bawaba via COMTEX) -- ZZFNV | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Amanpour's interview with Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erakat; Helene Pelosse, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency; and Majid Jafar, Executive Director of Crescent Petroleum. See more of Amanpour. at HYPERLINK "https://atlwebaccess.turner.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.cnn.com/amanpour" o "https://atlwebaccess.turner.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.cnn.com/amanpour" t "_blank" www.cnn.com/amanpour. ***ANY USE OF THIS MATERIAL MUST CREDIT CNN'S 'AMANPOUR' Full Transcript CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, HOST OF CNN'S

AMANPOUR: Tonight, fading hopes for peace in the Middle East and the challenge of moving past petroleum. In our special program from the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, we look at two vital signs shaping the future. Good evening. I'm Christiane Amanpour, and welcome to the program in Abu Dhabi, where we're helping to launch a new CNN center here and for a close-up look at the Middle East in flux. It's another week further away from achieving peace in the Middle East, but here in the Persian Gulf, it's another week closer to figuring out what to do when the oil runs out. We'll ask two people how to reduce the UAE's massive carbon footprint. But first, we turn to a man who spent two decades at the negotiating table. Saeb Erakat has been the chief Palestinian negotiator in talks with a succession of Israeli governments, and we welcome him back to this program. Things seem to be all in flux yet again. Prime Minister Netanyahu has said, "I urge the Palestinians to come to the negotiating table." Are you going to do that?

SAEB ERAKAT, CHIEF PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATOR: I urge him not to miss an opportunity. I urge Netanyahu to choose between settlements or peace. I hope that he chooses peace. He cannot condition us with 3,000 housing units...

AMANPOUR: Well, hold on a second. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that he's made, quote, "unprecedented concessions." What offer has he made on this settlement issue?

ERAKAT: Well, I think what we heard from Mr. Netanyahu is he wants to continue building 3,000 housing units, he wants to exclude Jerusalem where 59 percent of the construction takes place, and he wants to exclude public buildings and infrastructure. If this happens, it means, Christiane, that in 2010-2011, he will build more settlements that were built in 2008-2009. So I -- I think Madam Clinton should know these figures, because they're...

AMANPOUR: Did she bring this Netanyahu position to Abu Mazen, Mahmoud Abbas?

ERAKAT: No. She said that the United States considers settlements as illegitimate and the United States rejects and doesn't accept the annexation of East Jerusalem by Israel.

AMANPOUR: Except for the fact that, even though President Obama made a complete halt on freeze -- a complete freeze on settlement activity, a hallmark of his policy, they're now softening their tone on that, to the point that Hillary Clinton today has said what Prime Minister Netanyahu's done is unprecedented, and that means more settlements.

ERAKAT: Well, what I think we -- we all have choices, Christiane. Now it's 19 years later. We have accepted and recognized Israel on 78 percent of historic Palestine (ph) and accepted to have our state on the remaining 22 percent of the land. Now, it seems to me that Mr. Netanyahu wants to partition this 22 percent. If this is the case, this is a non-starter.

AMANPOUR: I'm going to play you what Prime Minister Netanyahu said.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: This is a new demand. It's a change of policy, of Palestinian policy. And it's -- it's -- it doesn't do much for peace. It doesn't work to advance negotiations. It actually is used as a pretext or at least as something, as an obstacle that prevents the re-establishment of negotiations. ERAKAT: That tells me something, that Mr. Netanyahu did not read the roadmap of the Americans, which he claims to have accepted, because in that roadmap, Israel has an obligation to stop settlement activities, including natural growth. So it's not a Palestinian demand, even. It's not a Palestinian precondition. Now the issues of Jerusalem, border, settlements, we're supposed to negotiate. Now he's dictating the outcome of these issues by settlements, by -- by fait accompli policies.

AMANPOUR: OK. Where does this go now? Is there any likelihood in the next few weeks, before Palestinian elections, of -- of -- of the Palestinian president sitting down with the Israeli prime minister, direct negotiations?

ERAKAT: I think -- I think we all have...

AMANPOUR: No, but is there any prospect of that happening?

ERAKAT: With this, the continuation of 3,000 housing units that Netanyahu intends to continue, and to exclude Jerusalem, I think this is going to be a non-starter.

AMANPOUR: A non-starter?

ERAKAT: And I think, further than that, 19 years later, I think President Abbas must ask himself the question, if the Israeli government insists in continuing with settlement activities and dictation and fait accompli policies, is the two states possible anymore? Because the land that I'm supposed to have my state on, the West Bank and Gaza and East Jerusalem, is being eaten up by settlements and wars. And maybe -- and maybe it's time to -- Mr. Netanyahu, he made the choice. He had the choice between peace and settlements, and he chose settlements. And Abu Mazen must make the choice.

AMANPOUR: Between?

ERAKAT: Between continuing following in order his dream and our dreams and our ambitions to achieve a state and the fact on the ground that Israel is undermining the two-state solution. And maybe we should go to see other options. Maybe the one-state solution is the option now.

AMANPOUR: Well, as you know for Israel, that won't be -- that's also a non-starter, a one-state. But let me ask you about Abu Mazen, the president of the Palestinian Authority. He's basically floating the notion that he will not context the next round of elections. He's said that he doesn't want to see -- he might not seek the presidency, nor, indeed, run in the elections. Is that right?

ERAKAT: Yes. And I don't blame him. To be honest with you, I don't -- I don't blame him at all. Not to...

AMANPOUR: Is this a ploy, or do you believe this will happen?

ERAKAT: No, no. Abu Mazen -- Abu Mazen is one of the most decent persons you could encounter in your life. He's not one of us. He's not a bargainer. He's not asking (inaudible) now he had committed all his obligations. He stood all his life for the two-state solution. He had recognized Israel's right to exist in peace and security. And in return, what he sees is more settlements, more of his land being eaten up, more dictation. What he sees is an Israeli government that wants to condition Jerusalem and borders and settlements without negotiations and then blaming him, assigning blame that he doesn't want negotiations.

AMANPOUR: Let me ask you about, obviously, a major complicating issue in terms of what the Israelis say and, in fact, now what the Palestinians are saying. The Goldstone report, from what I gather, Abu Mazen was asked, pressured by various people, including the United States, not to move this along from the Human Rights Council and that he got a considerable amount of support from other Arab countries and other -- other -- other nations not to. And now everybody's saying, no, you're wrong, you should have brought it to the Security Council.

ERAKAT: Well, it was really a very special cast in Arab and regional and Israeli and American politics. Goldstone report was there. There were 57 nations discussing this thing. There were a Palestinian-Arab-Muslim proposal. There was an American proposal. Abu Mazen thought we did not have the votes, so it was the motion of postponing the issue...

AMANPOUR: To postpone bringing it to the Security Council.

ERAKAT: Bringing it to the Security Council for three months or six months was brought up. Everybody agreed, and then everybody said we do not agree. So Abu Mazen was extremely under attack in the Arab world, in Palestinian circles, and he...

AMANPOUR: But are you saying they had supported him?

ERAKAT: Well, nobody objected to the notion, and all those present in the Muslim bloc, the Arab bloc, the (inaudible) bloc, nobody objected to the notion of postponement when the Pakistani ambassador read the motion. But once the public opinion was an uprising against the postponement, everybody said, "It's Abu Mazen who did it, not us."

AMANPOUR: So does he feel betrayed by his own fellow Arab leaders?

ERAKAT: He has this feeling, yes. Yes, he feels betrayed by Arabs, Israelis, some Palestinians, and to a certain extent by Americans.

AMANPOUR: And to a certain extent by the Americans?

ERAKAT: Yes.

AMANPOUR: In terms of the -- the -- I mean, I just want to ask you point blank. I heard you say this week something about a third intifada, and I want to know whether you really mean that and that this very, very crucial and difficult moment right now is going to be calmed down, or do you think that there will be violence erupting?

ERAKAT: I don't (inaudible) erupt. I don't want violence to erupt. I have spent my life in building a Palestinian peace camp, Christiane. This is not a job that I do. This is a life commitment. I don't want my son to be a suicide bomber. I don't want my son to be killed in conflict. I want peace. I want a two-state solution. What I said was, the Israeli provocations in East Jerusalem, you remember 2000? This is like pouring fuel to the fire, and we urge them to end it, because we don't want -- because, you know, desperation will lead to desperate acts. (Bill Clinton voiced this same opinion in Abu Dhabi today, read HERE)

AMANPOUR: Abu Mazen said that there was -- he was close to making an agreement with Prime Minister Olmert. Is that true?

ERAKAT: That's true. We never came so close.

AMANPOUR: And yet he didn't go forward.

ERAKAT: No, that's not what happened. What happened was, Olmert gave a map. Abu Mazen gave a map. And for the first time, we had a very close map. We're talking about the high 90s, in terms of percentages of the West Bank and the swaps of land. We agreed to go to Ashant (ph) and on January 3, 2009, to lock in this agreement with Secretary Rice at that time. What happened, Olmert decided to go to Gaza, attack Gaza, and then he had the scandal at home. But I think -- this is why what we're saying to Mr. Netanyahu today, why do you want to eat the apple (ph) from the start? Why do you want to reinvent the wheel? Why can't you have a public statement saying, "I will resume negotiations where we left them on December 2008"?

AMANPOUR: OK, now let me ask you right now, given the unlikely nature of direct negotiations, do you think there will be sort of a go-between activity, indirect negotiations between the Palestinians and -- and the Israelis, perhaps leaving settlements aside, talking about territory, maps?

ERAKAT: Well, look, I think, at the end of the day, the required decisions are not required from Americans or Europeans or Arabs. Decisions must be made by Palestinians and Israelis. What we want Mr. Netanyahu to stand up, to stand tall and tell his people, what they -- what they need to hear, we tell him there was an Israeli government and we came so close with it. Mr. Netanyahu, do you accept to resume negotiations where we left them in December 2008? Because we cannot go back to point blank zero.

AMANPOUR: You say you came very close during the Bush administration.

ERAKAT: Absolutely.
AMANPOUR: So who have been better negotiators or facilitators, the Bush administration or the Obama administration?

ERAKAT: Well, I -- I think Obama did not get his chance yet. It's really unfair to speak of President Obama and to jump to premature conclusions. President Obama has made it very clear that establishing a Palestinian state is a national American interest, and we want him to stay the course. We have no quarrel with Mr. Obama. We have a real quarrel with Mr. Netanyahu. Will you accept to resume negotiations on all core issues where we leave them in December 2008? Question, yes or no, Mr. Netanyahu?

AMANPOUR: So far he's saying no.

ERAKAT: If he says no, then he can do (inaudible) stance saying that he wants to negotiate and, you know, he wants to discuss things and we're saying no. If this is what he wants to achieve, this will not save lives of Israelis and Palestinians.

AMANPOUR: On that note, Mr. Erakat, thank you very much, indeed. Next, the beginnings of an eco-city in the heart of the Persian Gulf. How the region is planning the transition from oil to renewable energies. Stay with us

No Justice for Maher Arar

2009-11-02T21:57:00.000-08:00

I cannot write here, not the words that are sticking in my throat choking. This is a DARK omen. President Obama, what are you going to do? Nothing? Are you going to say nothing?

Free: Full Circuit Denies Claim Over Rendition

By Mark Fass

November 03, 2009

A Canadian engineer who claims he was sent by the United States to Syria to be tortured in 2002 cannot sue U.S. officials in federal court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit said yesterday in an in banc ruling.

The 7-4 majority held that the Canadian, Maher Arar, failed to state a claim under the Torture Victim Protection Act and that his remaining claims did not satisfy the test for "implied" constitutional causes of action under the 1971 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388.

"Applying our understanding of Supreme Court precedent, we decline to create, on our own, a new cause of action against officers and employees of the federal government," Chief Judge Dennis G. Jacobs wrote in his 59-page majority opinion.

"Rather, we conclude that, when a case presents the intractable 'special factors' apparent here. . . it is for the Executive in the first instance to decide how to implement extraordinary rendition, and for the elected members of Congress—and not for us as judges—to decide whether an individual may seek compensation from government officers and employees directly, or from the government, for a constitutional violation."

In a statement yesterday, David Cole, the Georgetown University Law Center professor who argued Mr. Arar's appeal in cooperation with the Center for Constitutional Rights, said the ruling "effectively places executive officials above the law."

"This decision says that U.S. officials can intentionally send a man to be tortured abroad, bar him from any access to the courts while doing so, and then avoid any legal accountability thereafter," he said. "It effectively places executive officials above the law, even when accused of a conscious conspiracy to torture."

Read the full article>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

In contrast, from the Canadians:

Prime Minister releases letter of apology to Maher Arar and his family and announces completion of mediation process
26 January 2007
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today released the letter of apology he has sent to Maher Arar and his family for any role Canadian officials may have played in what happened to Mr. Arar, Monia Mazigh and their family in 2002 and 2003.

“Although the events leading up to this terrible ordeal happened under the previous government, our Government will do everything in its power to ensure that the issues raised by Commissioner O’Connor are addressed,” said the Prime Minister. “I sincerely hope that these actions will help Mr. Arar and his family begin a new and hopeful chapter in their lives.”

Canada’s New Government has accepted all 23 recommendations made in Commissioner O’Connor’s first report, and has already begun acting upon them. The Government has sent letters to both the Syrian and the U.S. governments formally objecting to the treatment of Mr. Arar. Ministers Day and MacKay have also expressed Canada’s concerns on this important issue to their American counterparts. Finally, Canada has removed Mr. Arar from Canadian lookout lists, and requested that the United States amend its own records accordingly.

The Prime Minister also announced that Canada’s New Government has successfully completed the mediation process with Mr. Arar, fulfilling another one of Commissioner O’Connor’s recommendations. This settlement, mutually agreed upon by all parties, ensures that Mr. Arar and his family will obtain fair compensation, in the amount of $10.5 million, plus legal costs, for the ordeal they have suffered.

The text of the Prime Minister’s letter to Maher Arar is attached.

* * * *

Dear Mr. Arar:

On behalf of the Government of Canada, I wish to apologize to you, Monia Mazigh and your family for any role Canadian officials may have played in the terrible ordeal that all of you experienced in 2002 and 2003.

Although these events occurred under the last government, please rest assured that this government will do everything in its power to ensure that the issues raised by Commissioner O’Connor are addressed.

I trust that, having arrived at a negotiated settlement, we have ensured that fair compensation will be paid to you and your family. I sincerely hope that these words and actions will assist you and your family in your efforts to begin a new and hopeful chapter in your lives.

Yours sincerely,

Fault Lines - Maher Arar full interview

Anna Baltzer & Mustafa Barghouti Extended Interview on Jon Stewart

2009-10-29T07:56:00.000-07:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Exclusive - Anna Baltzer & Mustafa Barghouti Extended Interview Pt. 1

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Exclusive - Anna Baltzer & Mustafa Barghouti Extended Interview Pt. 2

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

Japanese Latin Americans Set to Gain Justice After Kidnapping by the US in WWII

2009-10-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

So few Americans know of this. They know what happened to Japanese Americans on the mainland during WWII, that they were interred, but they are unaware of what our government did to Japanese Latin Americans. From the Campaign for Justice Website:

INTRODUCTION

What would you do if this happened to you? Former internees have mostly come to peace with what they went through, though the government has never openly admitted that it commited human rights violations. We say we never want this to happen again, but it is happening now to other people. Do we need to go through it ourselves before we can understand that this was a crime?

BACKGROUND

Wartime Abduction and Incarceration

From December 1941 to February 1948, the U.S. government orchestrated and financed the mass abduction, forcible deportation and internment of 2,264 men, women, and children of Japanese ancestry from 13 Latin American countries.

Stripped of their passports en route to the U.S. these Japanese Latin Americans (JLAs) were declared “illegal aliens”.

The U.S. planned to use them as hostages in exchange for Americans held by Japan. Over 800 JLAs were included in two prisoner of war exchanges between the U.S. and Japan.

The remaining JLAs were imprisoned without due process of law in U.S. Department of Justice internment camps until after the end of the war.

After the War

Most of the incarcerated JLAs were forced to leave the U.S. after their release from camp.

However, since many were initially barred from returning to their home countries, more than 900 JLAs were deported to war devastated Japan.

Over 350 JLAs remained in the U.S. and fought deportation in the courts. Eventually, about 100 were able to return to Latin America. It was not until 1952 that those who stayed were allowed to begin the process of becoming U.S. permanent residents. Many later became U.S. citizens.

Causes

Japanese Latin Americans were subjected to gross violations of civil and human rights by the U.S. government during WWII.

These violations were not justified by a security threat to Allied interests. Rather, it was the outcome of historical racism, anti-foreign prejudice, economic competition, and political opportunism.

The Civil Liberties Act excludes JLAs

The US Congress passed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. This granted an apology and $20,000 compensation payments to US citizens and legal permanent residents of Japanese ancestry. It also established an education fund.

Most JLAs were excluded because the US government claimed they were “illegal aliens.”

Mochizuki settlement a questionable victory

In 1996, a class action lawsuit, Mochizuki v. USA, was filed on behalf of all Japanese Latin Americans who had been denied redress.

It resulted in a settlement agreement granting an apology and $5,000 compensation payments in exchange for termination of lawsuit.

A provision in the agreement allowed for pursuit of legislation for equitable redress in the US Congress.

While most Japanese Latin American internees accepted the Mochizuki settlement, some rejected the offer and continued litigation in the US courts. Four other lawsuits were filed and eventually dismissed.

Escalating to an international court

Unable to find justice in the US courts, a petition on behalf of the three Shibayama brothers and the Japanese Peruvian Oral History Project was filed with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)in June 2003.

The petition seeks to hold the US government accountable for the ongoing failure to provide redress for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

After three years, the IACHR has determined that it has jurisdiction over this petition and is deliberating the facts of the case.

For more information on CFJ's role in the redress history, please see the What We Do section. Read further>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
********************
Now after all these years,

Japanese Latin American Commission Bill Passes House Judiciary Committee
LOS ANGELES, CA - Yesterday, a bipartisan majority of members of the House Judiciary Committee voted to favorably report the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act (H.R. 42). Now that the legislation passed the full Committee, it is ready for passage in the House of Representatives.

"I commend chairman John Conyers and the members of the Judiciary Committee for recognizing the importance and timeliness of this legislation," said Christine Oh, Legislative Director of Campaign For Justice. "Yesterday's result is a testament to the fact that our national leaders and representatives are moving this country in the right direction. I urge the leadership of the House of Representatives to expedite the bill to floor vote while there are former internees still left to tell their stories."

If passed by House of Representatives and Senate and signed into law, the JLA Commission bill would establish a commission to investigate and determine the facts surrounding the wartime deportation, internment and relocation of Latin Americans of Japanese descent by the U.S. government and recommend any appropriate remedies based on its findings.

Former internees, their families, and members of the campaign are extremely grateful to our friends and supporters for their encouragement and partnership on this very timely and important bill. We ask that our supporters spread the word to their contacts to push for passage of the bill in the House of Representatives.

The House Judiciary Committee also favorably reported H.R. 1425, the "Wartime Treatment Act," which would establish two fact-finding commissions, one to study the internments and restrictions imposed by the U.S. government on certain European Americans and European Latin Americans during World War II, and the other to study government policies limiting the ability of Jewish refugees to come to the United States before and during the war.

For more information, please contact Christine Oh, CFJ Legislative Director, at (213) 500-9346 or info@campaignforjusticejla.org. Visit the CFJ website at www.campaignforjusticejla.org.

Japanese Latin American Redress - Richard Katsuda

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HR 1425: Wartime Treatment Study Act can be read HERE

HR 42, Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act can be read HERE

Break Dancing in Gaza

2009-10-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

Featured in this week's Time magazine is the article, "Break Dancers in Gaza, Keeping it Real" Article can be read HERE

The Camp Breaker's website is HERE with several other video's which can be viewed.

Visit the Camp Breakerz youtube channel HERE

"We have one goal, one dream. To bring freedom to Palestine and happiness to our people through break dancing. The shows are dramatic art that tell stories and allow us to express our feelings about the situation here in Gaza, about the war and the rights of the Palestinian people.

"Christians" Kill Child "Witches" Don't They?

2009-10-18T10:07:00.000-07:00

In a disturbing article from the AP, a report is coming out of Nigeria that "Evangelical Christian" churches there are abusing and in some cases killing children who have been accused of witchcraft. Read that full article HERE.

Evidently the article states there is a California connection:

Nwanaokwo said he knew the pastor who accused him only as Pastor King. Mount Zion Lighthouse in Nigeria at first confirmed that a Pastor King worked for them, then denied that they knew any such person.

Bishop A.D. Ayakndue, the head of the church in Nigeria, said pastors were encouraged to pray about witchcraft, but not to abuse children.

"We pray over that problem (of witchcraft) very powerfully," he said. "But we can never hurt a child."

The Nigerian church is a branch of a Californian church by the same name. But the California church says it lost touch with its Nigerian offshoots several years ago.

"I had no idea," said church elder Carrie King by phone from Tracy, California. "I knew people believed in witchcraft over there but we believe in the power of prayer, not physically harming people."

However, when you go to the website for Mount Zion Full Gospel Church in Lagos, they state they are associated with The House of Prayer of All Nations USA.

I wouldn't want to point a finger at the wrong "House of Prayer for All Nations, USA"

If anyone reading here knows which one it is, could you leave the information here please.

Remember Bishop Thomas Murthee, the African Evangelical leader from Kenya who cast demons out of Sarah Palin? (Video HERE)

"Christian" whack jobs. Whether it be a "California" connection or any other state, there is a STRONG connection to what is going on in these witch hunts in Africa to what goes on in these "Evangelical" churches here.

Child witch victims in Nigeria

In The name Of Jesus: Child Witches (nightline)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlRG9gXriVI

Limbaugh Groupies Get "Creative" with Swastika Crop Circles

2009-10-14T06:09:00.001-07:00

Are you happy Rush? Here is some of the latest work done by your groupies. Sick.

The Day of The Awards of the Absurd, The Nobel Peace Prize Becomes Toilet Paper

2009-10-09T08:54:00.000-07:00

Two of them, yes two are in the news today. Two awards announced that are so far into the realm of the absurd, the stuff science fiction is made of, that one must shudder at the realization, Orwell's "1984" has truly arrived, war has become peace.

The first news has circled the globe already, our president, Barak Obama, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The nomination for this honor coming only days after he took office, prior to any accomplishments whatsoever. Hope inpregnated in the nomination itself. Hope.

What does that word even mean? One definition reads "something that is hoped for or desired" Yet another is slightly different "to look forward to with confidence or expectation"
The first definition goes to longing-coming from oppression in many cases. The second goes straight to expectation and confidence, in this case, Obama who ran on the slogan of "hope" was given the confidence by many who voted for him because they expected results for their longings to be fulfilled.

In the case of Palestine, if one were using this issue to influence your vote, there were two viable options this past presidential election, one of two men was going to win, either McCain or Obama. Ironically at the time, a poll was taken in Palestine where McCain came out on top slightly. I asked a dear Palestinian friend of mine at the time how this could possibly be the case. He told me that Palestinians have learned that they would rather have straight talk from a tough opponent than anything that is lofty and non-concrete. It took me a while for me to understand what he was telling me, but eventually I did. Placing hope in a politician due to lofty speeches is not at the end of the day going to guarantee anything. Improvement possibly could have been hoped for, relief from years of Israeli aggression propped up by America, never. As an American myself, I can only in utter shame and sadness agree. Would McCain have been doing anything better had he been elected? No. He wouldn't have put forth any effort like Obama has in my opinion, but the question begs to be answered, Obama has said many things and then back tracked. His settlement stance is one prime example, first he says no more settlements, then he backed away.

A defining moment in Obama's presidency has been his Cairo speech, the first American president to go straight to the Muslim world to address them. A much needed outreach after eight years of George Bush's Middle East policy which included the pre-emptive, illegal war on Iraq. Obama in his Cairo speech addressed the Palestinian/Israeli issue in the following excerpt:

The second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world.

America's strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable. It is based upon cultural and historical ties, and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied.

Around the world, the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries, and anti-Semitism in Europe culminated in an unprecedented Holocaust. Tomorrow, I will visit Buchenwald, which was part of a network of camps where Jews were enslaved, tortured, shot and gassed to death by the Third Reich. Six million Jews were killed -- more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless, it is ignorant, and it is hateful. Threatening Israel with destruction -- or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews -- is deeply wrong, and only serves to evoke in the minds of Israelis this most painful of memories while preventing the peace that the people of this region deserve.

On the other hand, it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people -- Muslims and Christians -- have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than 60 years they've endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and neighboring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations -- large and small -- that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: The situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. And America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own. (Applause.)

Oh how the speech was hailed. It's a moment in history! He took himself to the Muslim world in peace. You are going to have to show me though where his speech concerning Palestine was in any way significantly different than what George Bush said when he entered office. He also pledged efforts towards a two-state solution, albeit not as eloquently. 20-20 vision shows us that the Bush administration gave a blank slate to Israel-US efforts towards "peace" in Israel/Palestine were nil during Bush's tenure. One must remember though that at the time of the Cairo speech, Rahm Emmanuel and Dennis Ross had already been welcomed in by the Obama administration. Yes, Obama has sent George Mitchell who accomplished peace in Northern Ireland, yet on the other hand, through votes and pressure on Israel's puppet leader of the PA, Abu Mazen, voting on the Goldstone Report in the Human Rights Council was postponed until March. This is peace? This is "hope"? This is reaching out to the Muslim world?

"War is peace"-George Orwell. The 2009 Nobel Peace Prize goes to President Barak Obama.

News yet of another award of the absurd has also been announced. The Dali Lama, winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, has accepted an award presented to him in Congress-the first ever Tom Lantos "Human Rights Award". (view the C-Span video HERE)To have the term "human rights" in the same sentence with the name Tom Lantos goes beyond the pale of decency. Tom Lantos who passed away in February 2008 was on record as being Israel's staunchest hawk in Congress. The Fanonite wrote:

Lantos was also an enthusiastic supporter of Operation Defensive Shield, Sharon’s war of terror on the Palestinians. According to one analyst, “Lantos isn’t just a Democrat who voted for the Iraq war, he was one of its co-authors…Lantos has never met a war he didn’t like. His unblinking defense of Israeli policy gives him tunnel vision with the rest of the Middle East.” Already in 2006 he was gunning for war; he wrote an article “Now or Never to Prevent a Nuclear-Armed Iran.” Lantos was also a prominent supporter of the School of Americas, where Latin America’s military dictators and would-be torturers were trained. Lantos played a key role in building Democratic support for the Patriot Act. According to the Jeruslame Post, he represents Israel in countries with which it has no diplomatic relations.

In further absurdity, in January of this year, during the massive Israeli offense on Gaza for which the Goldstone Report has found war crimes were committed, the Dali Lama spoke before a conference wearing a keffiyeh around his neck as he urged Israelis and Palestinians to "work together" (view video HERE)

Today the Dali Lama accepted a "human rights" award from the foundation of a man who over a lifetime in Congress voted for torture (his support ot the SOA) and war. The keffiyeh he wore in January is missing. Chameleon.

Today in Sweden, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Barak Obama, whose administration has like all past administrations done what Israel has "hoped", no "had confidence in" and "expected" the US to do, cover their crimes. "Hope"-yes this was his slogan.

"War is peace".-George Orwell

Postscript: China has accused the US of meddling in their affairs with the presentation of the Tom Lantos "humanitarian award". Note, Obama, todays Nobel Peace Prize winner, has not yet met with the Dali Lama, 1989's Nobel Peace Prize Winner. He is postponing meeting with him until after he meets with China's president next month.

Article: "How did Barack Obama get a Nobel prize for peace whilst still at war?

Full Moon Over Yemeni President As He Hosts Abbas

2009-10-04T16:28:00.000-07:00

How does one even begin to explain Yemen's president's statement concerning Mahmud Abbas's visit there today? Searching for answers, knowing that certainly there are newspapers and Satellite television in Yemen, I can only come up with one possibility. It's the full moon today! How can anyone in their right mind congratulate Abbas's efforts in achieving Palestinian unity after the PA acquiesced on defering the vote on the Goldstone report? Has Yemen's president been holed up somewhere and is unaware? God, I hope so, because this statement is something out of the Twilight Zone:

"He congratulated efforts exerted to bring together Fatah and Hamas, noting that this move serves the Palestinians issue and their legitimate struggle to gain their rights".

In more full moon news, the National is reporting that Egypt is hoping to schedule Palestinian national unity talks for later this month.

And the beat goes on as Abbas peddles his wares to willing hosts as all hell breaks loose just as Israel desires.

Palestinian fury as Abbas stalls Israeli war crimes vote

Published Date: 05 October 2009
By Ben Lynfield in Jerusalem
PALESTINIAN president Mahmoud Abbas is facing a wave of anger from his own people after foiling a United Nations resolution that would have brought Israeli officials closer to prosecution for alleged crimes during last winter's Gaza war.
Critics say it is one of the worst blunders Mr Abbas has made during his four-year term.

"Many people here believe it's treason," said Iyad Sarraj, director of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme in Gaza City. Gaza is still reeling from

Israel's Operation Cast Lead last winter that left almost 1,400 Palestinians dead, most of them civilians.

Read further>>>>>>>>>>>>

Abbas Orders Probe Into Who Supported Deferring the Goldstone Report at the UN (AKA Let's Sing "Who Stole the Cookie From the Cookie Jar?)

2009-10-04T09:57:00.000-07:00

We've all read it, the shocking yet not to be unexpected news that the Palestinian Authority supported the delaying of the vote in the UN Human Rights Council on passing the Goldstone Report to the UN General Assembly for further action which could have resulted in Israel being tried for war crimes for it's massacre of Gaza in their actions in Dec. 2008-January 2009.

Now YNet is reporting that Abbas is calling for an investigation of who was behind supporting the deferral. I've heard it all now. First, is Abbas trying to say that the PA's left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing? Is he suggesting that the PA didn't support the deferral? Is he looking for a scapegoat to defray blame from himself where the buck is SUPPOSED to stop? What sort of masqerade "investigation" by the PA is YNet reporting here?

Send in the clowns. Better yet, since Abbas has made nicey nice with Bibi, let's just do this all in cordial manner, in fact, I suggest they sit down around the campfire, roast some samores and sing a song to get to the bottom of this. Yes Abu Mazen, how are you going to explain your way out of this one? Absolutely pathetic.

Here goes Abu Mazen, let's sing this song and play the game. You need to take it outside around the campfire. Let's get to the bottom of this because you, the complete and utter sell out to your people, need to be picked up and hosed down so that you can continue this sham of "peace negotiations" you have been engaging in so that Israel can continue occupying, imprisoning, murdering, starving and humiliating your people, all with YOUR cooperation.

Get down to it Abu Mazen, if you need the recipe for samores it is HERE

Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? Abu Mazen stole the cookies from the cookie jar. Who me? NOT ME, couldn't be! YES YOU!

Update: Syria has cancelled the cookie thief's visit.(Oh my, in that article it is stated,

"Damascus is lately occupied with a long list of activities, which may not give birth to such a visit."

You bet they are occupied. On the very same page of the website quoted, champress.net, another article is about the visit to Syria this week by Angelie Jolie and Brad Pitt and their meeting with President Assad two days ago on Friday! )

Ramallah AP is reporting: "In an attempt at damage control, Abbas says he'll have a low-level committee look into the decision-making process". Shhhhhh, sing softly, "who stole the cookie from the cookie jar........shhhhhh"

Sunday Offering # 73: S-T-R-A-N-G-E Atonement!!!

2009-10-03T21:21:00.001-07:00

I'm all for differences in beliefs, but watch this one at your own peril!

Guy Lives With 4,600 Scorpions @ Yahoo! Video

Pam Spaulding :: Hanging citizen journalists out to dry: shield-law amendment excludes unpaid bloggers

2009-09-29T10:33:00.000-07:00

READ THE LINK, EVERY BLOGGER OUT THERE NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS.

Saudi Arabia Opens Coed University

2009-09-27T00:12:00.000-07:00

Do I have some sort of dylexia or possibly am I hallucinating what I am reading HERE

Saudi Arabia is the most religiously strict country in the Middle East, with total segregation of the sexes, and it practices Wahhabi Islam, a byword for conservatism around the region. But the university will not require women to wear veils or cover their faces, and they will be able to mix freely with men.
They will also be allowed to drive, a taboo in a country where women must literally take a back seat to their male drivers.

OMG NO WAY!! Please do not think I am making a values judgment, I lived in KSA when the Kingdom didn't even have fresh milk! (1975-1980)

Ehren Watada FREE From the Military!!

2009-09-25T21:38:00.000-07:00

Army to allow Iraq war objector to resign

By AUDREY MCAVOY
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

HONOLULU -- The Army is allowing the first commissioned officer to be court-martialed for refusing to go to Iraq to resign from the service, his attorney said late Friday.

First Lt. Ehren Watada will be granted a discharge Oct. 2, "under other than honorable conditions," attorney Kenneth Kagan said.

Watada told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin he was happy the matter has finally been closed.

Read further>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Read "Another Miscarriage of Justice in the Case of First Lt. Ehren Watada" (link to my own notes from inside the courtroom of his court martial in February 2007 HERE)

As those who have followed Ehren's case would know, the army tried to retry Ehren but FAILED due to Ehren's Constitutional protection against double jeopardy.

Edit to add (9-26) Gregg Kaseoka of the Honolulu Star has also written an article which can be found HERE. However, I feel I need to add to a portion of the information he wrote in order for people to understand. It concerns this paragraph:

"The Army had been contemplating prosecuting Watada for his anti-war sentiments, citing statements against the war and Bush that were not part of the original court-martial. Watada could have been court-martialed for conduct unbecoming an officer for making those statements.

However, Piek said yesterday, the last two remaining specifications under Article 133, conduct unbecoming an officer, have been dismissed".

The first time Ehren was court martialed, these two charges were originally brought against him (explanation below) They concerned an interview he gave to Sarah Olson (HERE) and the speech he gave at a Veterans for Peace rally which Dahr Jamail, (co-winner with Mohammed Omer last year of the Martha Gellhorn Prize), had transcribed (HERE). The army subpoenaed both Sarah Olson and Dahr Jamail. In an article which can be read in it's entirity HERE, Sarah Olson states:

"Every journalist wants to stand by their reporting," Olson told me. "I am no exception. I am proud of the work I did on the Lt. Watada story." But Olson says the Army's request cuts to the heart of the First Amendment. "The Army is attempting to use me - a journalist -- to build its case against personal political speech. That's something I don't think any journalist can do." And she's not the only one who believes this. The Society of Professional Journalists, the Editorial Staff at the LA Times and PEN American Center have issued statements in support of her position.......
When I asked Olson her greatest concern regarding this subpoena, aside from the possibility of a six month jail term, she recounted her dismay in even getting the story out. "For most people," Olson contended, "if you don't see it in the nightly news on television, how do you know it's happening? You don't." Olson also spoke quite fervently about the invasion of journalist's rights, saying, "If you can't report on controversial subjects for fear of being dragged into court - that threatens our Democracy."

In order to save them from having to testify and to lift their subpoenas or face jail time (first court martial), Ehren stipulated to having made those statements. The army then set those two charges aside "without prejudice" which in legal terms means a "dismissal "without prejudice" allows a new suit to be brought on the same cause of action". So even though he was not charged with these two charges the first time, the military could have do so later. So Ehren did this out of courage to save these two journalists from being drug into court or face jail times themselves. At the time he did this, he knew that these charges could be brought later even if he won in his first trial. This is not the act of a coward as many have called him, this was an act of HONOR and COURAGE.

You did it Ehren, hold your head HIGH. THANK YOU FIRST LT. EHREN WATADA!

June 2006..............................

"Walled Horizons"

2009-09-20T22:28:00.000-07:00

Read the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights July 9,2009 statement on the illegal wall that Israel is building HERE.

Watch: 60 Minutes: Hate Thy Neighbor (Illegal Israeli Settlements)

2009-09-20T20:17:00.000-07:00

Apologies, for the life of me I haven't been able to figure out how to embed the video.

Go HERE to watch this EXCELLENT report. Within that link is a link to Liam Barlett's blog also.

Eid Mubarak

2009-09-19T15:14:00.000-07:00

"I Am Israel" (video)

2009-09-14T17:23:00.001-07:00

Department of Labor Releases Child Labor Report

2009-09-13T09:09:00.000-07:00

This morning via email list serve notice I received the following article, "Department of Labor Releases List of Slave-Made Goods"

Embedded in the article is the link to the 194 page Labor Department report.

Somehow I cannot help but think while immersing myself in full-time Child Development classes that somehow the new buzz word to be "culturally sensitive" to other culture's child rearing practices misses the mark in such a way that these child development specialists seem to live on an entirely different planet. (I'm referring to the practice of child labor, not other cultural differences in child rearing)

Those of us who live in "developed" countries have the luxury, and yes I do call it a luxury, to raise our children in comfort according to our means. Families in other countries do not have this luxury. For mere survival they must put their children to work while our children and we ourselves could very well be enjoying the products of their labor unknowingly.

If anyone is reading here has any information concerning third-world countries who have been able to abolish child labor successfully and how they did this without dire consequences to the families who depended on their children working, your input would be much appreciated.

In THIS video, one in seven children worldwide are working, focusing on children mining in Africa.

Child labor and chocolate in the Ivory Coast which produces 40% of the world's production of cacao. View HERE.

"Tanzania's Child Labor" (child miners searching for the rare gem tanzanite). One boy shown was lucky enough to leave the mines to be trained as a mechanic-STILL child labor.

Beyond any words, "Nepalese Child Labor and Prostitution"

There are many more videos on child labor available on google video and youtube.

These children are ours in humanity to protect.

In addition, my fellow Palestine Blogs blogger, Haitham Sabbah, has a post on this issue concerning Jordan being on the list for "forced labor" in the garment industry. Read that post HERE.