Why Did Barak Threaten to Veto the National Defense Authorization Act?

2011-12-06 04:51:04

“Because the authorities codified in this section already exist, the Administration does not believe codification is necessary and poses some risk.”
As clear as I can see it, they are saying that giving the rights of a POW to detainees in the US,
WOULD UPSET CURRENT LONG STANDING CRITICAL PRACTICES
by codifying that which is illegal under convention and constitution,
causing unnecessary changes in current practice and dangerous legal questions.
In short, what they have been doing is consciously criminal.
Found @ http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/12/the-real-reason-for-obamas-threat-to-veto-the-indefinite-detention-bill-hint-its-not-to-protect-liberty.html
“By requiring military detention of the captured, Congress is undoing

all the manoeuvring that two regimes have accomplished in removing POW
status from detainees.”

PDF @ http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/legislative/sap/112/saps1867s_20111117.pdf
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
W AS H I N G T O N , D . C . 2 0 5 0 3
November 17, 2011
(Senate)
STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY
S. 1867 – National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2012
(Sen. Levin, D-MI)
The Administration supports Senate passage of S. 1867, the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012. The Administration appreciates the Senate Armed Services
Committee’s continued support of our national defense, including its support for both the base
budget and for overseas contingency operations and for most of the Administration’s initiatives
to control spiraling health costs of the Department of Defense (DoD).
The Administration appreciates the support of the Committee for authorities that assist the ability
of the warfighter to operate in unconventional and irregular warfare, authorities that are
important to field commanders, such as the Commanders’ Emergency Response Program, Global
Train and Equip Authority, and other programs that provide commanders with the resources and
flexibility to counter unconventional threats or support contingency or stability operations. The
Administration looks forward to reviewing a classified annex and working with the Congress to
address any concerns on classified programs as the legislative process moves forward.
While there are many areas of agreement with the Committee, the Administration would have
serious concerns with provisions that would: (1) constrain the ability of the Armed Forces to
carry out their missions; (2) impede the Secretary of Defense’s ability to make and implement
decisions that eliminate unnecessary overhead or programs to ensure scarce resources are
directed to the highest priorities for the warfighter; or (3) depart from the decisions reflected in
the President’s FY 2012 Budget Request. The Administration looks forward to working with the
Congress to address these and other concerns, a number of which are outlined in more detail
below.
Detainee Matters: The Administration objects to and has serious legal and policy concerns about
many of the detainee provisions in the bill. In their current form, some of these provisions
disrupt the Executive branch’s ability to enforce the law and impose unwise and unwarranted
restrictions on the U.S. Government’s ability to aggressively combat international terrorism;
other provisions inject legal uncertainty and ambiguity that may only complicate the military’s
operations and detention practices.
Section 1031 attempts to expressly codify the detention authority that exists under the
Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40) (the “AUMF”). The authorities
granted by the AUMF, including the detention authority, are essential to our ability to protect the
American people from the threat posed by al-Qa’ida and its associated forces, and have enabled
us to confront the full range of threats this country faces from those organizations and
individuals. Because the authorities codified in this section already exist, the Administration
does not believe codification is necessary and poses some risk. After a decade of settled
jurisprudence on detention authority, Congress must be careful not to open a whole new series of
legal questions that will distract from our efforts to protect the country. While the current
language minimizes many of those risks, future legislative action must ensure that the
codification in statute of express military detention authority does not carry unintended
consequences that could compromise our ability to protect the American people.
The Administration strongly objects to the military custody provision of section 1032, which
would appear to mandate military custody for a certain class of terrorism suspects. This
unnecessary, untested, and legally controversial restriction of the President’s authority to defend
the Nation from terrorist threats would tie the hands of our intelligence and law enforcement
professionals. Moreover, applying this military custody requirement to individuals inside the
United States, as some Members of Congress have suggested is their intention, would raise
serious and unsettled legal questions and would be inconsistent with the fundamental American
principle that our military does not patrol our streets. We have spent ten years since September
11, 2001, breaking down the walls between intelligence, military, and law enforcement
professionals; Congress should not now rebuild those walls and unnecessarily make the job of
preventing terrorist attacks more difficult. Specifically, the provision would limit the flexibility
of our national security professionals to choose, based on the evidence and the facts and
circumstances of each case, which tool for incapacitating dangerous terrorists best serves our
national security interests. The waiver provision fails to address these concerns, particularly in
time-sensitive operations in which law enforcement personnel have traditionally played the
leading role. These problems are all the more acute because the section defines the category of
individuals who would be subject to mandatory military custody by substituting new and
untested legislative criteria for the criteria the Executive and Judicial branches are currently
using for detention under the AUMF in both habeas litigation and military operations. Such
confusion threatens our ability to act swiftly and decisively to capture, detain, and interrogate
terrorism suspects, and could disrupt the collection of vital intelligence about threats to the
American people.
Rather than fix the fundamental defects of section 1032 or remove it entirely, as the
Administration and the chairs of several congressional committees with jurisdiction over these
matters have advocated, the revised text merely directs the President to develop procedures to
ensure the myriad problems that would result from such a requirement do not come to fruition.
Requiring the President to devise such procedures concedes the substantial risks created by
mandating military custody, without providing an adequate solution. As a result, it is likely that
implementing such procedures would inject significant confusion into counterterrorism
operations.
The certification and waiver, required by section 1033 before a detainee may be transferred from
Guantánamo Bay to a foreign country, continue to hinder the Executive branch’s ability to
exercise its military, national security, and foreign relations activities. While these provisions
may be intended to be somewhat less restrictive than the analogous provisions in current law,
they continue to pose unnecessary obstacles, effectively blocking transfers that would advance
our national security interests, and would, in certain circumstances, violate constitutional
separation of powers principles. The Executive branch must have the flexibility to act swiftly in
conducting negotiations with foreign countries regarding the circumstances of detainee transfers.
Section 1034′s ban on the use of funds to construct or modify a detention facility in the United
States is an unwise intrusion on the military’s ability to transfer its detainees as operational needs
dictate. Section 1035 conflicts with the consensus-based interagency approach to detainee
reviews required under Executive Order No. 13567, which establishes procedures to ensure that
periodic review decisions are informed by the most comprehensive information and the
considered views of all relevant agencies. Section 1036, in addition to imposing onerous
requirements, conflicts with procedures for detainee reviews in the field that have been
developed based on many years of experience by military officers and the Department of
Defense. In short, the matters addressed in these provisions are already well regulated by
existing procedures and have traditionally been left to the discretion of the Executive branch.
Broadly speaking, the detention provisions in this bill micromanage the work of our experienced
counterterrorism professionals, including our military commanders, intelligence professionals,
seasoned counterterrorism prosecutors, or other operatives in the field. These professionals have
successfully led a Government-wide effort to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al-Qa’ida and its
affiliates and adherents over two consecutive Administrations. The Administration believes
strongly that it would be a mistake for Congress to overrule or limit the tactical flexibility of our
Nation’s counterterrorism professionals.
Any bill that challenges or constrains the President’s critical authorities to collect intelligence,
incapacitate dangerous terrorists, and protect the Nation would prompt the President’s senior
advisers to recommend a veto.
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft (JSF): The Administration also appreciates the Committee’s
inclusion in the bill of a prohibition on using funds authorized by S. 1867 to be used for the
development of the F136 JSF alternate engine. As the Administration has stated, continued
development of the F136 engine is an unnecessary diversion of scarce resources.
Medium Extended Air Defense Systems (MEADS): The Administration appreciates the
Committee’s support for the Department’s air and missile defense programs; however, it strongly
objects to the lack of authorization of appropriations for continued development of the MEADS
program. This lack of authorization could trigger unilateral withdrawal by the United States
from the MEADS Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Germany and Italy, which could
further lead to a DoD obligation to pay all contract costs – a scenario that would likely exceed
the cost of satisfying DoD’s commitment under the MOU. Further, this lack of authorization
could also call into question DoD’s ability to honor its financial commitments in other binding
cooperative MOUs and have adverse consequences for other international cooperative programs.
Overseas Construction Funding for Guam and Bahrain: The Administration has serious concerns
with the limitation on execution of the United States and Government of Japan funds to
implement the realignment of United States Marine Forces from Okinawa to Guam. The bill
would unnecessarily restrict the ability and flexibility of the President to execute our foreign and
defense policies with our ally, Japan. The Administration also has concerns over the lack of
authorization of appropriations for military construction projects in Guam and Bahrain.
Deferring or eliminating these projects could send the unintended message that the United States
does not stand by its allies or its agreements.
Provisions Authorizing Activities with Partner Nations: The Administration appreciates the
support of the Committee to improve capabilities of other nations to support counterterrorism
efforts and other U.S. interests, and urges the inclusion of DoD’s requested proposals, which
balance U.S. national security and broader foreign policy interests. The Administration would
prefer only an annual extension of the support to foreign nation counter-drug activities authority
in line with its request. While the inclusion of section 1207 (Global Security Contingency Fund)
is welcome, several provisions may affect Executive branch agility in the implementation of this
authority. Section 1204 (relating to Yemen) would require a 60-day notify and wait period not
only for Yemen, but for all other countries as well, which would impose an excessive delay and
seriously impede the Executive branch’s ability to respond to emerging requirements.
Unrequested Authorization Increases: Although not the only examples in S. 1867, the
Administration notes and objects to the addition of $240 million and $200 million, respectively,
in unrequested authorization for unneeded upgrades to M-1 Abrams tanks and Rapid Innovation
Program research and development in this fiscally constrained environment. The Administration
believes the amounts appropriated in FY 2011 and requested in FY 2012 fully fund DoD’s
requirements in these areas.
Advance Appropriations for Acquisition: The Administration objects to section 131, which
would provide only incremental funding – undermining stability and cost discipline – rather than
the advance appropriations that the Administration requested for the procurement of Advanced
Extremely High Frequency satellites and certain classified programs.
Authority to Extend Deadline for Completion of a Limited Number of Base Closure and
Realignment (BRAC) Recommendations: The Administration requests inclusion of its proposed
authority for the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of Defense to extend the 2005 BRAC
implementation deadline for up to ten (10) recommendations for a period of no more than one
year in order to ensure no disruption to the full and complete implementation of each of these
recommendations, as well as continuity of operations. Section 2904 of the Defense Base Closure
and Realignment Act imposes on DoD a legal obligation to close and realign all installations so
recommended by the BRAC Commission to the President and to complete all such closures and
realignments no later than September 15, 2011. DoD has a handful of recommendations with
schedules that complete implementation close to the statutory deadline.
TRICARE Providers: The Administration is currently undertaking a review with relevant
agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Justice, to clarify the responsibility
of health care providers under civil and workers’ rights laws. The Administration therefore
objects to section 702, which categorically excludes TRICARE network providers from being
considered subcontractors for purposes of the Federal Acquisition Regulation or any other law.
Troops to Teachers Program: The Administration urges the Senate’s support for the transfer of
the Troops to Teachers Program to DoD in FY 2012, as reflected in the President’s Budget and
DoD’s legislative proposal to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and
Title 10 of the U.S. Code in lieu of section 1048. The move to Defence will help ensure that this
important program supporting members of the military as teachers is retained and provide better
oversight of 6 program outcomes by simplifying and streamlining program management. The
Administration looks forward to keeping the Congress abreast of this transfer, to ensure it runs
smoothly and has no adverse impact on program enrollees.
Constitutional concerns: A number of the bill’s provisions raise additional constitutional
concerns, such as sections 233 and 1241, which could intrude on the President’s constitutional
authority to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive diplomatic communications. The
Administration looks forward to working with the Congress to address these and other concerns.
*****

Voterevolution – Sep 30, 2006

Congressman Ryan brings it 3:03; 12,000,000$/hr in Iraq, like it says, he loses it!
‘Shadow Company’ Trailer 2:50; the one that really got me the most of the whole following list.

It hurts deep, life is ever cheaper than cheap; good thing info is even cheaper! media to the people, media to the people! right on!
I thought we would be hearing from our vets in the streets, today’s boys are more savy, they have it on video, and they know how to share it:

New Homegrown Documentaries Industry Makes Timely Agitprop

These films are following a new marketing paradigm for civically focused documentaries.
Eshewing the profits that go with major markets inclined to shut out content like this anyway, they aim for direct sales motivated by hosting free screenings.
As a marketing strategy this is more concerned with getting out the word than it is effective at turning a profit.
In one of the following clips (Preview of Interview with Robert Greenwald 2:44; of ‘High Price of Low Prices’), Robert Greenwald speaks to the appeal
that being invited to see it by co-workers, freinds, and family has for people who would not want to help fund the film.An exciting new documentary ‘the War Tapes’,made of footage by the troops on the ground, is playing this coming week,
fri oct 6th, thru thurs. 12th, at Times Cinema, at 5906 W Vliet St, Milwaukee, WI., at 7 & 9:00pm, with a 3pm matinee on sunday.
You can see the trailer at thewartapes.com/trailer, and look up screenings atthewartapes.com/screenings;
though it is not nearly as well developed, or populated, as the list for the following one, which is sure to propagate much better online.

Recently released, and aimed effectively at small showings by citizens, is Robert Greenwald’s ‘Iraq for Sale’, Trailers,
hook up with locals who will show it to you at iraqforsale.org/screenings.php.
Go meet new people, or, better yet, buy the DVD (‘Iraq for Sale’), and host a party (screenings.php), where you can meet freinds new and old.

Another similar documentary telling the soldiers’ tale now showing locally is The Ground Truth,
which is also not quite as booked online as Robert Greenwald funded Brave New films’ ‘Iraq for Sale’.
As I have yet to see any of these three, I cannot yet speak to whether the better movie was made by money, or vets, but my opinion is not one that matters.
The Ground Truth screenings can be found here, enter your zip code and radius, or see recent Milwaukee listings here.

There’s more! a film that combines the others’ themes, by focussing on the civilian contractor “vets” perspective.
‘Shadow Company’, the (2:50) Trailer for which is quite promising.
Also, “Soldiers Speak Out” (Trailer 4:51), which appears to have quite the online activist community behind them.
So, we have four videos from those who have fought there, and two on profiteering, one of which is both.
Five fine films due largely to the efforts of those who served.

youtube.com has also given me back some of what the media used to offer, it is there for example, that I became aware of the fact that there is this one guy,
Jack Cafferty (War Crimes Immunity: “What Are We Becoming?”, “Just Do It!”), that just might make ‘TV’ worth watching again,
the paradigm of grassroots marketing as conciously elaborated by Robert Greenwald (inPreview of Interview with Robert Greenwald),
and this well spoken young man’s Re: War Crimes Immunity: “What Are We Becoming?”3:56.

The following is a youtube “playlist” focussed on ‘Iraq for Sale’ trailers and bonus footage, as well as Haliburton stuff:

Preamble:

Iraq Vets; Free Fire Zones 2:00; Rob Serra’s turning point.

Vets pics; All is Not Okay 4:03; homegrown, with Seether track.

Falujha Finalle 3:38

Truthout Vet; Demoralized 3:34

First, Haliburton’s version:

Halliburton; Proud to Serve Our Troops 0:29

Halliburton ad; Message from CEO David Lesar 0:29

Halliburton TV spot; It’s a Girl! 0:31

What if Halliburton’s CEO came clean? 1:13

Then the “media”:

Cafferty File: Sweetheart Halliburton Contracts 1:18

MSNBC; Robert Greenwald on Countdown with Keith Olbermann 6:11

MSNBC; ‘Iraq for Sale’ “plugged” 1:02

CNBC; Robert Greenwald 4:34

ABC; Robert Greenwald 3:02

CNN; Military contractors shoot civilians 2:20

Trophy video exposes private security contractors shooting 2:29; full vid on youtube, speaks for itself.

CNN; Iraqi Imprisoned Eight Months for Having Cell Phone 3:21; “perhaps 1 in 1,000, to 1 in 10,000 could”, “risky indeed”, never mind, I’m cured of TV again.

CNN; War Professor says military ops in Iran already 7:02

BBC; Why We Fight – Contractor Cheney and Facilitated Corruption 3:08

Olbermann to Bush, “Have you no sense of decency, sir?” 2:43

Journalists Targeted in Iraq 5:06

Then, Brave New Films (Iraq for Sale / Robert Greenwald):

‘Iraq for Sale’ bonus scene: Soldiers outsourced to KBR 2:01; “wait around while the KBR contractors do the job I had to train them to do”

Pursuing the War Profiteers for Interviews 3:49; (the value of records).

Halliburton lies about ‘Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers’ 2:50 (the value of archiving phone calls).

‘Iraq for Sale’ bonus scene: Blackwater 5:54

The Tale of Prince – A War Profiteer 2:58

CACI made $$ torturing at Abu Ghraib then covered it up 4:36; viewer response?

Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers – teaser trailer 3:07

Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers – Teaser 2 3:07

Iraq for Sale NYC Premiere 2:48

Brave New Films introduction 5:24

Preview of Interview with Robert Greenwald 2:44; talks about walmart film.

Robert Greenwald speaks about Walmart at SALON (Oct. 2005)5:06

The Other Films:

The War Tapes 9:53; part 1 of 10 (apparently the entire movie on youtube free)

Addenda:

Staff Sergeant Jimmy Massey USMC speaks 5:09

This guy has George W Bush down pat. Very funny. 3:05

Go Hallibruton Go 9:16; pt. 1 of 4.

David Rovics: Halliburton Boardroom Massacre 2:51

David Rovics on New Orleans 4:09

Dahr Jamail on War Profiteering in Iraq 10:11

Anti-Flag; 1 Trillion Dollar$ 2:36

One People, One Struggle 3:09

Veterans for Peace; Mike Hastie 4:01

Confessions of a Wal-Mart Hit Man 10:19

Jim Page;When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again 3:56

NOFX- You’re Wrong 2:14

funnytube – Jul 26, 2006

i’ve combed youtube.com for info on our war on the mideast.

i thought i’d start with the one’s that brought me there.
damn! that reminds me, i just missed the daily show again again,
anyway, here are the humorous ones first to soften you up.
in the next few days i will post some very graphic war vid links,
and some very informational links on Palestine’s water and such to follow after that.
if you hate the Daily show, you may want to skip a bit. 

MySpace on The Daily Show 6:12 Daily Show 

you gotta watch a short ad first, but i think it’s worth it, press the smaller play button.
huffingtonpost / stop-this-shit this is a really great folk song on the recent G8 summit 

Bush Stop Doing This Shit long version of open mike 

truthout / The Ballad of Dumb George the story of gaffs at G8; text 

Animal House Summit Maureen Dowd text 

Border Security with Mr Bush 0:32 ABC
writes itself has become so overused during recent administrations
Lewis Black- Red White & Screwed clips 9:29 

SNL.PresidentGore.wmv 4:19 Gore retrospective of his presidency
but this guy being this funny, with these lines… a big hm??? 

My Pet Goat…… 1:16 Bill Maher with michael moore 

Stephen Colbert – Media’s Role in the War in Iraq 3:35 a good overview ;)  

Top Ten Bush Moments 2:09 David Letterman 

bushspeechwriter write your own bush quote audio with this easy database 

————————————————————
Lebanon:
COLBERT REPORT: ROAD TO WWIII 3:17 

Israel/Lebanon Fallout 1:46 Daily Show 

media coverage of the war in Lebanon 3:49 Daily Show 

Israeli-Lebanon crisis 3:00 Daily Show 

————————————————————
Chris Rock about the War on Terror 5:29 

Bush & Dick:
Bush and Cheney – A politic of hope 0:42 Daily 

Cheer up campanarios! war may suck, but this stuff is funny!
i don’t mean the war, i mean our “leadership” 

Dead-Eye Dick 10:28 Daily Show 

Surprise Visitor at the White House 0:31 

Dick Cheney’s “Suite Demands” 3:07 Daily Show 

Cheney’s “Last Throes” statement June 2005 8:56 Daily Show 

Cheney STILL Believes The Iraq Insurgency In Its Last Throes 1:23 FOX 

now, back to Bush: 

How To Bash Bush – A Lesson 4:53 Daily Show 

Will Ferrell is George Dubya Bush in Whitehouse West 4:02 

Will Ferrel on George Bush on Global Warming 3:39 

this ‘uns too loud
The Bush Family’s Greatest Hits 0:39 Daily Show 

Thou Shalt Not Lie: Part III 4:48 Daily Show 

- Bush – Because he said so 4:29 Daily Show 

All The President’s Words 4:11 Daily Show 

George W. Bush Uncensored 0:21 Daily Show 

Bush Collage 1:16 Daily Show 

Steve Colbert – 6-15-2006 – Formidable Opponent 4:17 

How It All Began: George Bush? Hmm… President? 1:26 

Bush Script Writer 4:03 a speechalist’s story 

George W Bush Finally Comes Clean 4:08 

Again stupid Bush 2:47 

George W. Bush is gay 3:16 

Gay Marriage 5:02 Daily Show 

Gov. Bush Vs. Pres Bush 5:36 Daily Show 

Bush: Debate 4:44 Daily Show 

Behind the 8-Ball at the Pump 3:28 Daily Show 

“Oh, Really? bin Laden? Who?” 1:24 Daily Show 

Alito’s confirmation hearings 2:54 Daily Show 

get your war on comix 

THE JOKER (Steve Miller Does Dubya) text 

The G-DOH-P text 

Bush’s surprise speech to Stanford protestors 5:04 this one seems a little fake, i suspect an imposter 

George W Bush Porn 1:38 

The Five Second Rule 0:53 some kid with potato chips 

Anti-Recruitment Ad #2: Runner 0:39 

Anti-Recruitment Ad #3: Latino Soldiers 0:37 apaches! yah! go army! 

Anti-Recruitment Ad #1: Firefighters 0:36 train for your future 

imagine by Bush 2:08 

Bush Iraq Update – The world would be better off if we left! 0:21 

TERRORIST BLOOPERS 3:03 P0YKPAC 

Boom Boom 2:49 

Voting Machine 1:07 

george tells a joke 1:40 

King George & the Administration of Fear 3:35 i hope you found this less hilarious than i did 

what where we thinking 2:32 george is a joke

 

 

Lebanese targets hit in the first week of “restricted pinpoint attacks” – Jul 20, 2006

this is a list of Lebanese targets hit in the first week of
“restricted pinpoint attacks” to ‘defend’ Israel from Hezbollah
all three runways at airport,
airport fuel tanks
road to the airport,
roads,
hwy linking Beruit and Damascus,
bridges, 46
tunnels,
lighthouse,
port facilities,
electrical pylons,
power plant fuel tanks,
generators,
water mains,
pumping stations
fuel depots,
gas stations,
houses,
milk factory,
ambulances,
an ambulance caravan from Syria,
procter and gamble warehouse,
countless apartment buildings,
shops,
stalls,
way disproportionate number of cars,
empty seafront restaurant,
mobile television relay stations,
comm networks,
cellphone towers,
glass factory,
U.N. peacekeepers’ main headquarters in the south,
Christian suburb on the eastern side of Beirut,
truck-mounted water well drill,
the office of PLO foriegn minister,
barracks of Lebanese logistics unit
(some members of which had just shown Robert Fisk
what they thought was a fallen piece of wing and
burning fuel from an f-16; they are now dead),
another Lebanese barracks,
multiple army bases,
schools
Grain Silos

is thier aim amazingly bad, or thier lies?

and then there’s the blockade

Israeli Air Force General Ido Nehushtan says, “The targets chosen are connected either directly or indirectly with terrorism,”
Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres, “no civilian life will be hit, that no civilian infrastructure will be destroyed.” “Israel didn’t start the war. Israel didn’t attack anybody.”

“There has also been widespread destruction of public infrastructure.”
International Committee of the Red Cross

“Since the start of the month, Israeli forces have killed nearly 50 Palestinians, the majority of them being innocent civilians. In May, the killing of more than 40 Palestinians by Israeli forces was scarcely reported in the US media. The recent artillery barrage on Gaza left many children under the age of ten dead. The number of Palestinian children killed in the last three weeks by Israeli forces is equal to the number of Israeli children killed by Palestinian groups over the past two years.”
July 04, 2006, http://poeticremi.blogspot.com/

Found a pic of men in Beirut watching Hizbullah leader
Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, while the Isrealis claim to think
the explosions behind are hitting him
(they did nab some apartments and houses though).

btw, the CIA has closed the book on Osama Bin Laudin.

h u b r i s ZIONAZIS
Israel still holds nearly 10,000 abducted Palestinians, including many members of the Palestinian government. Ali Abuminah, co-founder of ElectronicIntifada.net, Israel explicitly introduced the tactic of hostage taking for the purpose of prisoners exchangesin the early 90s. Today, Israel holds many Lebanese prisoners and occupies the Shebaa Farms. When did Israel every respect the sovereignty of any of its neighbors. Israel occupies southwest Syria. There are 30,000 Israeli settlers living in southwest Syria cultivating wine and enjoying the Golan Heights and claiming God gave it to them. Israel is establishing new settlements everyday throughout the Occupied Territories. Israel has been violating the airspace and territorial waters of Lebanon continuously and consistently ever since it was forced to withdraw its forces and its collaborator army, the South Lebanon army, in May 2000.

Official Notice; Minimanifesto – May 13, 2006

just so’s y’all can lump me in whatever box of ideas you need me to fit in:
besides being a dedicated and active Green Party activist,
though far to lazy and forgetful for my ‘leadership’ positions;
i also think the following are quite likely:

war always sucks,
but virtual war is rocking good fun,
when you get to take a break and live now and then

high levels of US ‘defense’ and ‘administration’ were involved,
at the very least, in not preventing 911,
certain individuals more so than bureacraticity can explain

we have passed peak oil, deal with it
“burning petroleum for fuel is like burning money for heat” ?Mendeleev

Hugo Chavez is the best single being to happen to the Americas since Simon Bolivar
in this stead he, like Bolivar, is more than a man, he embodies
the progressive compromise with capital, and military hierarchy, but just barely, movement

Anarkik being is all about organization, consensus, and democracy
mob rule is man with big stick rule, chaos does not organize
anarks rule selves collective, organize is only way to do so leaderless

if you are not an anark,
consider it the next time your movement is beheaded
by assasination, or co-opted by excess capital accumulation
it happens every time it matters

the reductionist, determinist, absolutest, inhuman assumptions of the culture of ownership,
esp. as it pertains to communal industrial capital
and it’s control by very few for very selfish prosaic and combative reasons,
has no real human rationale, nor has it ever fit the needs or realities of the majority of humans,
much less other fellow inhabitants of earth

way too much collateral damage occurs every day in Iraq,
our school budgets, our hearts, our minds, our liberties, and our relations,
colatteral human damage from the war is just about everywhere touched by the dollar or english speakers

the most important capital can not be owned,
human imagination is a wage,
it must be earned hourly, and must be fed daily

whatch this space, this is a short list now,
but i have a long list of additions already in mind

Honduras 2009 6/29

A Few Thoughts on the Coup in Honduras – Jeremy Scahill Junne 29, 2009 “Rebel Reports” –

There is a lot of great analysis circulating on the military coup against Manuel Zelaya in Honduras.
I do not see a need to re-invent the wheel. (See here here here and here). However, a few key things
jump out at me. First, we know that the coup was led by Gen. Romeo Vasquez, a graduate of the
US Army School of the Americas. As we know very well from history, these “graduates” maintain ties to
the US military as they climb the military career ladders in their respective countries.
That is a major reason why the US trains these individuals.

Secondly, the US has a fairly significant military presence in Honduras.
Joint Task Force-Bravo is located at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras.
The base is home to some 550 US military personnel and more than 650 US and Honduran civilians:

They work in six different areas including the Joint Staff, Air Force Forces (612th Air Base Squadron),
Army Forces, Joint Security Forces and the Medical Element. 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment,
a US Army South asset, is a tenant unit also based at Soto Cano.
The J-Staff provides command and control for JTF-B.
The New York Times reports that “The unit focuses on training Honduran military forces, counternarcotics
operations, search and rescue, and disaster relief missions throughout Central America.”

Significantly, according to GlobalSecurity, “Soto Cano is a Honduran military installation and home of the Honduran Air Force.”

 

This connection to the Air Force is particularly significant given this report in NarcoNews:

The head of the Air Force, Gen. Luis Javier Prince Suazo, studied in the School of the Americas in 1996.
The Air Force has been a central protagonist in the Honduran crisis.
When the military refused to distribute the ballot boxes for the opinion poll, the ballot boxes were stored
on an Air Force base until citizens accompanied by Zelaya rescued them.
Zelaya reports that after soldiers kidnapped him, they took him to an Air Force base,
where he was put on a plane and sent to Costa Rica.
It is impossible to imagine that the US was not aware that the coup was in the works.
In fact, this was basically confirmed by The New York Times in Monday’s paper:

As the crisis escalated, American officials began in the last few days to talk with Honduran government
and military officials in an effort to head off a possible coup. A senior administration official,
who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity, said the military broke off those discussions on Sunday.
While the US has issued heavily-qualified statements critical of the coup
—in the aftermath of the events in Honduras—the US could have flexed its tremendous economic muscle
before the coup and told the military coup plotters to stand down.
The US ties to the Honduran military and political establishment run far too deep for all of this to have gone
down without at least tacit support or the turning of a blind eye by some US political or military official(s).

Here are some facts to consider: the US is the top trading partner for Honduras.
The coup plotters/supporters in the Honduran Congress are supporters of the “free trade agreements”
Washington has imposed on the region.
The coup leaders view their actions, in part, as a rejection of Hugo Chavez’s influence in Honduras and with
Zelaya and an embrace of the United States and Washington’s “vision” for the region. Obama and the
US military could likely have halted this coup with a simple series of phone calls.
For an interesting take on all of this, make sure to check out Nikolas Kozloff’s piece on Counterpunch, where he writes:

In November, Zelaya hailed Obama’s election in the U.S. as “a hope for the world,” but just two months
later tensions began to emerge.  In an audacious letter sent personally to Obama, Zelaya accused the
U.S. of “interventionism” and called on the new administration in Washington to respect the principle
of non-interference in the political affairs of other nations.
Here are some independent news sources on this story:
School of the Americas Watch
NarcoNews
Eva Golinger’s Postcards from the Revolution

© 2009 Jeremy Scahill
Comments (41)

@ http://informationclearinghouse.info/article22944.htm

At least two leaders of the coup launched in Honduras today were apparently trained
at a controversial Department of Defense school based at Fort Benning, Georgia
infamous for producing graduates linked to torture,
death squads and other human rights abuses.
http://www.southernstudies.org/2009/06/key-leaders-of-honduras-military-coup-trained-in-us.html

Military Coup in Honduras  www.SOAW.org

From CISPES: Here are statements by other members of the Organization of American States:

(http://americasmexico.blogspot.com/2009/06/oas-countries-back-zelaya-calls-for.html).

Honduras Coup not News???
http://www.opednews.com/populum/diarypage.php?did=13629

New Honduran leader sworn in
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8123513.stm

Honduras names new leader after president ousted in military coup
http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Honduras-names-new-leader-after.5408957.jp

Honduran president overthrown, new leader voted in
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/honduran-president-overthrown-new-leader-voted-in-20090629-d1fb.html

Honduras Supreme Court says it ordered presidents’ ouster
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/29/content_11616407.htm

Exiled Zelaya insists he is rightful Honduran president

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/exiled-zelaya-insists-he-is-rightful-honduran-president-20090629-d1en.html

Protests erupt after coup in Honduras
http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/protests-erupt-after-coup-in-honduras-2810235

Honduran President Is Ousted in Coup
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/29/world/americas/29honduras.html

Honduras Zelaya calls for peaceful resistance to coup
http://theusdaily.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=786669&type=home

Costa Rica calls on int’l community to condemn Honduras coup
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/29/content_11616377.htm

Ecuador says not to recognize any new Honduras govt
http://www.forexyard.com/en/reuters_inner.tpl?action=2009-06-28T173730Z_01_N28339621_RTRIDST_0_HONDURAS-PRESIDENT-ECUADOR-URGENT

US seeks return to power of deposed Honduran leader, and safety of his family meantime
http://www.canadaeast.com/news/article/712696

Ecuador, Venezuela condemn Honduras coup
http://english.cctv.com/20090629/101301.shtml

President.Zelaya.in.Costa.Rica
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wbfo/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1523223/World/Honduras.President.Zelaya.in.Costa.Rica.report (Reuters)

June 28th:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/6/28/747720/-%5BUpdate-14%5D-Military-Coup-Underway-Now-in-Honduras

Postcards from the Revolution http://www.chavezcode.com/ 

UN General Assembly To Meet On Honduras Unrest Monday-Spokesman
http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=200906281959dowjonesdjonline000374&title=un-general-assembly-to-meet-on-honduras-unrest-monday-spokesman

Cuba condemns Honduras coup as ‘criminal, brutal’
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN28348369

Coup in Honduras?
Soldiers arrested leftist President Manuel Zelaya Sunday as he planned

to carry out a controversial referendum to extend presidential term limits,

despite a Supreme Court ruling that the vote would be illegal.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0628/p06s07-woam.html

Should Honduras constitution be changed?
http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6660&edition=2&ttl=20090629021348

Lalin scores to help Honduras beat Panama 2-0
http://www.waaytv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10608899&nav=menu635_3

Troops oust Honduran president in feared coup
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/troops-oust-honduran-president-in-feared-coup-20090628-d1cf.html

Honduras court says ordered army to oust Zelaya
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/6/29/worldupdates/2009-06-28T230315Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-406531-1&sec=Worldupdates

Honduran Leader Pushes Ahead With Divisive Vote
http://abcnews.go.com/International/WireStory?id=7948541&page=1

Zelaya vows to go ahead with controversial Honduras vote
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/zelaya-vows-to-go-ahead-with-controversial-honduras-vote-20090628-d137.html

Honduran President Zelaya Ousted in Coup by Military (Update2)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aRbH.AbdAgUA

Background on Military Coup in Honduras
http://www.dollarsandsense.org/blog/2009/06/background-on-military-coup-in-honduras.html

In pictures: Honduran president ousted
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8123314.stm

Honduran military to pick interim president (Vid)
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/06/2009628141859453757.html

European Union condemns military coup in Honduras
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/166142/European-Union-condemns-military-coup-in-Honduras

Argentine President says military coup in Honduras is “a return to barbarism”
http://www.telam.com.ar/vernota.php?tipo=N&dis=1&sec=1&idPub=151669&id=299617&idnota=299617

ALBA representatives reaffirm support to Hondura`s Legitimate Government
http://mathaba.net/news/?x=620928
(the Bolivarian Alliance of the Peoples of Our America)

Obama concerned over expulsion of Honduran leader
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3738299,00.html

Clinton urges condemnation of Honduran action
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/28/AR2009062801032.html

Obama Calls for Order as Honduran Military Arrests President
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/28/obama-calls-order-military-arrests-honduran-president/

Arrest a coup, says Honduras leader
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/feedarticle/8581486

Honduran president calls arrest a ‘kidnapping’
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/28/AR2009062800792.html

Honduras President Zelaya in Costa Rica: report
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1523223/World.News/Honduras.President.Zelaya.in.Costa.Rica.report

Honduran president forced to Costa Rica after coup (2nd Roundup)
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/americas/news/article_1486431.php/Honduran_president_forced_to_Costa_Rica_after_coup__2nd_Roundup__#ixzz0JkgrrKbf&D

Honduras: Military Coup a Blow to Democracy
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HRW/56d116d630d9216a9892fd8f2af18c35.htm

Honduras Zelaya calls for peaceful resistance to coup
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/6/29/worldupdates/2009-06-28T215351Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-406521-1&sec=Worldupdates

Honduras President Zelaya in Costa Rica – CNN
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/6/28/worldupdates/2009-06-28T210221Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-406513-1&sec=Worldupdates 

Court says Honduras to hold presidential vote in Nov. 29
http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=44063

Venezuela Threatens Attack On Honduras
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Honduras-President-Manuel-Zelaya-Deposed-In-Coup-Venezuela-Threatens-Military-Attack/Article/200906415321924

Chavez: CIA Behind Coup in Honduras
http://www.lademajagua.co.cu/infgran11257.htm

UPDATE 2-Chavez threatens military action over Honduras coup
http://www.forexpros.com/news/commodities—futures-news/update-2-chavez-threatens-military-action-over-honduras-coup-66974

Venezuelan, Cuban, and Nicaraguan Ambassadors to Honduras Kidnapped
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/4556

Venezuela says troops kidnap diplomats in Honduras
http://www.forexyard.com/en/reuters_inner.tpl?action=2009-06-28T165015Z_01_N28335731_RTRIDST_0_HONDURAS-PRESIDENT-AMBASSADORS-URGENT

Chavez puts Venezuela troops on alert on Honduras
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-40653020090628

Israelis in Honduras warned to exercise caution amid unrest
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1096197.html

Is Honduras’ Military Junta The Hot New Revolution?
http://gawker.com/5303388/is-honduras-military-junta-the-hot-new-revolution

Honduras Tense After Army Coup – Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124619401378065339.html#mod=rss_Today%27s_Most_Popular

Honduras: Political Crisis Over Controversial Referendum
http://www.petroleumworld.com/sunopf09062801.htm

27th:

Zelaya continues push for controversial Honduras vote
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/zelaya-continues-push-for-controversial-honduras-vote-20090627-d0fl.html

Chavez’s Hollow Pledge on Honduras
http://bellum.stanfordreview.org/?p=1413

26th:

Honduran President staves off coup attempt
http://www.fsrn.org/audio/headlines-friday-june-26-2009/4959

Much has been going on in Honduras this month leading up to this,
from a recent coup attempt (ablove), to an Earthquake, an OAS meeting,
and two important futball games.

7th
Win Over Honduras Keeps U.S. on Track – USA 2, Honduras 1
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/06/AR2009060602623.html?hpid=sec-sports

10th
Honduras edges El Salvador 1-0 in WCup qualifying
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2009-06-10-2132962017_x.htm

2nd
Earthquake shakes Honduras before OAS meeting
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iwUoPU-nOb8Et42KKOKYUa8A43DwD98ILHVO1
http://www.fsrn.org/audio/headlines-friday-june-26-2009/4959

FACTBOX – Key facts about Honduras

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE55R17J20090628