whitebeard

Don't curse the darkness, light a candle.

Sue lost her son

Sue lost her son Seth on 3 February last year. He was looking for "improvised explosive devices" near Iskanderiya, south of Baghdad - the infamous IEDs, roadside bombs which have taken hundreds of American lives - when a booby trap blew up next to him.

Here

posted by: Whitebeard at 12:39 | link | comments |
us, war

posted by: Whitebeard at 10:15 | link | comments |
us, war

By Steven E. Jones
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84604
 
 
ABSTRACT
 
In writing this paper, I call for a serious investigation of the hypothesis that WTC 7 and the Twin Towers were brought down, not just by damage and fires, but through the use of pre-positioned explosives.  I consider the official FEMA, NIST, and 9-11 Commission reports that fires plus damage alone caused complete collapses of all three buildings.  And I present evidence for the explosive-demolition hypothesis, which is suggested by the available data, testable and falsifiable, and yet has not been analyzed in any of the reports funded by the US government.
Publication Pending
Steven E. Jones, (2006). "Why Indeed did the WTC Buildings Collapse?," The Hidden History of 9-11-2001, Research in Political Economy, Volume 23, P. Zarembka, editor, Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2006.

For Full Draft Report See:
http://www.physics.byu.edu/research/energy/htm7.html
For More on 9/11 See: http://www.projectcensored.org/newsflash/unanswered_questions_911.html

posted by: Whitebeard at 15:35 | link | comments |
us, war, censored news

Statunitensi contro la guerra (Firenze)

    Bodies Found After US Iraq Offensive
    Reuters

    Saturday 12 November 2005

    Ramadi, Iraq - An Iraqi Red Crescent doctor said on Saturday more than 50 bodies had been found in the rubble of a town near the Syrian border which U.S.-led troops swept through this week in an anti-insurgent offensive.

    Around 2,500 U.S. troops and 1,000 Iraqi soldiers launched Operation Steel Curtain a week ago around the western town of Qusayba. They conducted house-to-house searches to root out insurgents and destroyed a number of houses in airstrikes.

    The U.S. military says it has detained around 180 insurgents and killed at least 36 more in the operation, which was continuing in the nearby town of Karabila on Friday.

    It said around 900 civilians who fled the town were given temporary housing nearby during the operation.

    As residents started to trickle back to Qusayba in recent days, doctor Saif al-Ani, who works for the Red Crescent in the Qaim area, told Reuters they had unearthed at least 54 bodies in the rubble, including some women and children.

    There was no immediate response from the U.S. military to questions about the casualties.

    The military has said it made every effort to avoid civilian casualties. It reported an incident earlier this week in which it said five civilians were killed in a house after being taken hostage by insurgents who occupied the building.

    The U.S. military has in the past accused doctors in western Iraq of misrepresenting civilian casualties after U.S. attacks.

    Operation Steel Curtain was the latest in a series of offensives aimed at securing western Iraq against Sunni Arab insurgents and foreign fighters before a December 15 election.

See the video.

posted by: Whitebeard at 16:15 | link | comments |

Letters from Iraq

The hot Sunni sun
passes Moaning Mosque Spire.
B-company’s pinned down
and under heavy fire.
Underneath the palms
there’s improvised bombs.
Because, Jihad Johnny
knows Yankee is a liar.

On Euphrates east bank
where the desert winds blow,
M 1 Abe
keeps his head down low.
Smoking up Joe,
With a front back go,
Is General Hash,
And his puppet show.

They lost another friend today.
It’s getting rough over there.
They say the food tastes like shit.
They miss the pussy, drugs and beer.

They say the whole things fucked.
I wish the boys were back.
At least I know they're still alive.
Another letter from Iraq.

Police Call Kilo’s
marching double time.
While, the grease monkeys
sweep the motor pool line.
On guard is Shaming Jay.
Rolls his own every day.
Lifer Lenny’s getting fitted
for new box of pine.

On an empty cot,
Presents full of Christmas loot.
All that’s left of Bullet Billy
is a pair of bloody boots.
His mom is on the phone.
His girl is all alone.
We all stand in the rain
for a twenty-one gun salute.

They lost another friend today.
It’s getting rough over there.
They say the food tastes like shit.
They miss the pussy, drugs and beer.

They say the whole things fucked.
I wish the boys were back.
At least I know they're still alive.
Another letter from Iraq.

Ramadan Rebel
Is in the holding cell.
The brass looks away
while MPs give em hell.
Guantanamo rule book.
From Basra to Kirkuk.
Beat em’ in a bag,
and drop em’ in a well.

Iron Mike’s on patrol
his weapon status red.
He rolls out the gate
with a foot full of lead.
Tango’s on the hill,
looking for a kill.
Mohammad’s got him convinced
he’d be better off dead.

They lost another friend today.
It’s getting rough over there.
They say the food tastes like shit.
They miss the pussy, drugs and beer.

They say the whole things fucked.
I wish the boys were back.
At least I know they're still alive.
Another letter from Iraq.

Ali Babba’s on the offense
picking up the beat.
Delta needs an e-vac,
but the bird’s outa seats.
There’s a four man stack
outside the Haji Shack.
Bradley’s zipped in
calling Willie Pete.

There’s celebratory fire.
And a purple thumb vote.
Tom cruise is on a sortie
from a gulf love boat.
Smart bombs are a coming.
See the children running.
The dead are all laughing,
but we don’t get the joke.

They lost another friend today.
It’s getting rough over there.
They say the food tastes like shit.
They miss the pussy, drugs and beer.

They say the whole things fucked.
I wish the boys were back.
At least I know they're still alive.
Another letter from Iraq.

An eye for an eye.
And, blood for Texas Tea.
At the call to prayer
Al Queda’s on his knees.
Issac versus Ishmael.
Allah versus Christ.
Basic Training to Route Tampa
rolls in the F-N-Gs.

Mairnes say Sempi Fi
as they cross Highway Ten.
Uncle Sam’s in Highschool
Seeking a “few good men”.
Rummy’s in the Green Zone.
We’d all rather be home.
Where we can watch the war
On C-N-N

They lost another friend today.
It’s getting rough over there.
They say the food tastes like shit.
They miss the pussy, drugs and beer.

They say the whole things fucked.
I wish the boys were back.
At least I know they're still alive.
Another letter from Iraq.

the heretic

posted by: Whitebeard at 18:10 | link | comments |
us, war

posted by: Whitebeard at 19:59 | link | comments |
us, latin america

European Jews for a Just Peace, EJJP

European Jews for a Just Peace, EJJP, is a federation of Jewish groups from different European countries. Its principles are formulated in the Amsterdam Declaration

Amsterdam Declaration
"We, representatives of eighteen Jewish peace organisations from nine European countries, gathered together at the conference “Don’t say you didn’t know” in Amsterdam on the 19 and 20th of September 2002, call upon:
A) the Israeli government to change its current policy and implement the the proposals in the following declaration and
B) all other governments, the United Nations and the European Union to put pressure on the Israeli government to implement the proposals in the following declaration:
We believe that the only way out of the current impasse is through an agreement based on the creation of an independent and viable Palestinian state and the guarantee of a safe and secure Israel and Palestine. We condemn all violence against civilians in the conflict, no matter by whom it is carried out.
We call for: *.*

posted by: Whitebeard at 00:53 | link | comments |

Shame also for Italy

Los falsos papeles sobre el uranio de Níger se fabricaron en Italia
ENRIC GONZÁLEZ  -  Roma
 
EL PAÍS  -  Internacional - 04-11-2005    
 
Los documentos falsos sobre la falsa importación de uranio de Níger por parte de Irak fueron fabricados en Italia por un ex carabiniere y espía de tercer orden llamado Rocco Martino. Una investigación del diario La Repubblica, que aportó, entre otros testimonios, el del propio Martino y el de James Schlesinger, ex director de la CIA y asesor del presidente George W. Bush, reveló que una cadena de trampas, chapuzas y dobles juegos hizo que esos documentos llegaran a Londres y a Washington y fueran dados por buenos, aunque todo el mundo parecía saber que no lo eran. El subsecretario de la Presidencia del Gobierno italiano, Gianni Letta, y el director del Sismi (Servicio de Inteligencia Militar), Niccoló Pollari, reafirmaron ayer, ante la comisión parlamentaria para secretos de Estado, que Italia no tuvo nada que ver con el asunto.

 Follows

posted by: Whitebeard at 13:05 | link | comments |
us, italy, war

War Profiteering by Defense CEOs
Reviewed by Bailey Malone

A report by the Institute for Policy Studies and United for a Fair Economy reveals that CEOs in the US defense industry have seen a 200 percent pay increase since September 11, 2001 - as compared to an average seven percent increase for all CEOs - equal to 431 times what the average worker earns.
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0831-02.htm
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=12600

Chemical Industry Now a Main Partner in EPA Research
Reviewed by Charlene Jones

The Environmental Protection Agency is increasingly relying on joint corporate ventures to conduct research. As a result, the American Chemical Council is the EPA's leading research partner. This arrangement shifts resources from basic public health and environmental research to studies that address the concerns of corporate contributors.
http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=596

Bush Administration Dismantles VA
Reviewed by David Abbott

The Bush Administration has recently stepped up efforts to dismantle the Veterans' Administration health care system by privatizing its functions. Funds are now being used from the VA budget to study the outsourcing of healthcare workers' jobs.
http://www.military.com/opinion/0,,77901,00.html
http://www.afge.org/Index.cfm?Page=CongressionalTestimony&File=1_101201.htm

UN Reports on how Millions are working as Slave Laborers
Reviewed by Bailey Malone

UNICEF reports that two million people, mostly women and children, are being trafficked as slaves worldwide. A large number of these work in the sex industry. An additional report by the International Labor Organization finds that at least 12.3 million people are involved in "forced labor"-working involuntarily and in fear of punishment. At least 10,000 people within the US are in forced labor situations including the sex trade industry.
http://mambo.agrnews.rack2.purplecat.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1079&Itemid=2
http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/7728/1/286

Global Warming Hits Tipping Point
Reviewed by Charlene Jones

Western Siberia is undergoing an unprecedented thaw that could dramatically increase the rate of global warming. Researchers recently returned from the region found that an area of permafrost spanning one million square kilometers-the size of France and Germany combined-is melting for the first time since it formed 11,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age. British and Russian scientists report that the melting permafrost is releasing hundreds of millions of tons of methane, which is 20 times more potent than the carbon dioxide currently driving the worldwide warming crisis.
http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/25351/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,12374,1546824,00.html
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/earth/mg18725124.500

U.S. Uses Napalm in Iraq
Reviewed by Cole Ryan and David Abbott

The U.S. has been secretly using napalm in Iraq despite a 1980 international ban on the use of incendiary weapons by the United Nations. The US never signed the UN protocol banning incendiary weapons and uses semantic deception to cover up the use of napalm by calling the weapons firebombs or Mk-77s.
http://electroniciraq.net/news/1928.shtml
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0617-01.htm
http://aljazeera.com/cgi-bin/news_service/middle_east_full_story.asp?service_id=5875
http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,,1518692,00.html

Pentagon Pushes for more Secrecy
Reviewed by Brian Murphy and David Abbott

The Department of Defense is pushing for a new rule that will further weaken the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). A provision in the 2006 National Defense Authorization Act would render files concerning ongoing military operations immune from requests under FOIA. The Act has the potential to enable the Pentagon to seal off large amounts of information from watchdog groups, journalists and the American public.
http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_item&itemid=1781

World Health Organization Allows Genetic Engineering of Smallpox
Reviewed by Lauren Kelly and Matt Johnson

Despite the eradication of smallpox, strands still exist in two laboratories in the US and Russia. Research is being done to develop even more deadly versions of the smallpox virus. The Department of Homeland Security claims they are experimenting with the virus in order to facilitate the development of vaccines to combat the possible use of smallpox in a terrorist attack. Despite criticism that accidental release of the virus could threaten millions of lives, the World Health Organization has approved the genetic modification of the deadly smallpox virus and continuing research.
http://www.biosafety-info.net/article.php?aid=268
http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/smallpox041105.cfm
http://www.comeclean.org.uk/articles.php?articleID=92

Peace Corps as Military Service
Reviewed by Zoe Huffman and Sarah Randle

The U.S. military is offering recruits an opportunity to meet part of their military obligations by serving in the Peace Corps. Congress authorized this recruitment plan three years ago. The Peace Corp may begin accepting military transfers as early as 2007. This is a policy change for the Peace Corp, which has historically resisted ties to U.S. intelligence agencies or the Defense Department since its founding in 1961.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/080405Y.shtml
http://rpcv.org/pages/sitepage.cfm?id=1234

Ecuador Defends International Criminal Court
Reviewed by Charlene Jones and Sarah Randle

Ecuador's president Alfredo Palacios has stood up to pressure by the US and refused to sign a bi-lateral pact that would give US citizens immunity from prosecution by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The US has consequently cut aid to Ecuador, as it has done in 11 other nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. More than 100 countries have signed US immunity agreements while 53 countries have declined.
http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=1135

Strong-arm Voting Tactics in the House
Reviewed by Bailey Malone, Charlene Jones and Chris Bachelder

House Republicans continue to maneuver around congressional rules in order to push through controversial legislation by thin margins. In July, a 15-minute vote on CAFTA was held open for 63 minutes to pressure Republicans who voted "no" into changing their votes.  Most recently, a five-minute vote for the Gasoline for America's Security Act was held open for 46 minutes, until the legislation gained enough votes to pass. Each bill passed by two votes.

Sources:
On Gasoline for America's Security Act:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/100805Z.shtml
http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=9864105&src=rss/topNews
Objections by Democratic Representatives:
http://www.kucinich.us/floor_speeches/en_parl_inquiries7oct.php
On CAFTA: http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/07/29/1420251&mode=thread&tid=25
http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/cafta/3374.html

posted by: Whitebeard at 21:50 | link | comments |

 Free Marwan Barghouti

http://www.freebarghouti.org/Petition
to Free Marwan Barghouti
By: Campaign to Free Marwan Barghouti

To: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Israeli Minister of Justice Meir Sheetrit:

On April 15th, the Israeli army arrested Marwan Barghouti in Ramallah and transferred him to the Moskobiyeh detention center in Jerusalem, where he was held in solitary confinement and tortured, according to his lawyers. More specifically, he was subjected to sleep deprivation and position abuse, whereby he was forced to sit for many consecutive hours on a small sloping chair while his hands and feet were shackled (a common method of torture widely used by Israel known as “shabeh” - for more information see The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, http://www.stoptorture.org.il/).

posted by: Whitebeard at 09:31 | link | comments |
palestine