OpEdNews - Diary: TEARS OF RAGE; TEARS OF GRIEF

"...just nine months after an American raid that killed 11 civilians, including five children under the age of five, another ground and air assault on suspected insurgents in the area left behind a pile of corpses, including at least two children."

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DIANE'S NEWS CLIPS begins here :)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> IF LINK DOESN'T WORK, THEN PASTE ARTICLE LINK(S) INTO YOUR BROWSER -- OR GO DIRECTLY TO >> http://www.truthout.org Chris Floyd | Tears of Rage; Tears of Grief http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121406A.shtml Chris Floyd reports that "just nine months after an American raid that killed 11 civilians, including five children under the age of five, another ground and air assault on suspected insurgents in the area left behind a pile of corpses, including at least two children. As with the earlier incident, Friday's attack has produced conflicting stories of what really happened, but the end result is clear: a multitude of grieving, angry Iraqis further embittered against the American occupation." ----- Judge Rules Gitmo Detainees Have No Rights http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121406J.shtml A federal judge upheld the Bush administration's new terrorism law Wednesday, agreeing that Guantanamo Bay detainees do not have the right to challenge their imprisonment in US courts. "This is the first time in the history of this country that a court has held that a man may be held by our government in a place where no law applies," said Barbara Olshansky, an attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights, which has handled many detainee cases. ----- Timothy Garton Ash | Bush Has Created a Catastrophe in Middle East http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121406C.shtml Timothy Garton Ash writes: "What an amazing bloody catastrophe. The Bush administration's policy towards the Middle East over the five years since 9/11 is culminating in a multiple train crash. Never in the field of human conflict was so little achieved by so great a country at such vast expense. In every vital area of the wider Middle East, American policy over the last five years has taken a bad situation and made it worse." ----- At Least 55 Die in More Iraqi Violence http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121406D.shtml ----- White House Seeks New Ruling to Keep Cheney Visitors Secret http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121406K.shtml The Bush administration, responding to an October order by US District Judge Ricardo M. Urbina to release two years of White House visitor logs to the Washington Post, asked an appeals court Wednesday to overrule a federal judge and allow the White House to keep secret any records of visitors to Vice President Cheney's residence and office. The newspaper, researching the access lobbyists and others had on the White House, sought Secret Service records for anyone visiting Cheney, his legal counsel, chief spokesman, and other top aides and advisers. ----- Bush Administration Uses Subpoenas to Suppress Critics http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121406L.shtml The subpoena raises the possibility that the Bush administration has found a new tool to stop the dissemination of secrets, one that could avoid the all but absolute constitutional prohibition on prior restraints on publication. The disputed document, according to the ACLU, is three and a half pages long and unremarkable and "has nothing to do with national defense." The ACLU said the subpoena was an effort to chill speech about the Bush administration. "The government is involved in a very conscious effort to suppress its critics," said Anthony D. Romero, the ACLU's executive director. ----- DOJ Eases Oversight Rules on Corporate America http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121406F.shtml Under the revisions, federal prosecutors will no longer have blanket authority to ask routinely that a company under investigation waive the confidentiality of its legal communications or risk being indicted. Instead, they will need written approval for waivers from the deputy attorney general, and can make such requests only rarely. ----- Robert Parry | A Way Forward, a Look Back http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121406M.shtml "The abrupt resignation of the Saudi ambassador to the United States and the postponement of George W. Bush's new Iraq policy speech mark a troubling new chapter for a US strategy for the Middle East that continues to spiral toward catastrophe," writes Robert Parry. ----- US Scientists Reject Interference http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121406N.shtml 10,000 US researchers have signed a statement protesting political interference in the scientific process. The statement, which includes the backing of 52 Nobel Laureates, demands a restoration of scientific integrity in government policy. According to the American Union of Concerned Scientists, data is being misrepresented for political reasons. It claims scientists working for federal agencies have been asked to change data to fit policy initiatives. ----- Americans See Widening Rich-Poor Income Gap as Cause for Alarm http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121406O.shtml ----- Democrats Say They're Inheriting a Financial Mess http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121406E.shtml ----- Thomas D. Williams | Soldiers Sue Military Over Mandatory Anthrax Inoculations http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121406B.shtml ----- Medea Benjamin | Peace Women Teach US Government Lesson in Diplomacy http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121406P.shtml Medea Benjamin writes: "It must sound absurd, perhaps even unbelievable, that four peace women were arrested and put on trial for attempting to deliver a peace petition to the US Mission to the United Nations. But while our arrests reflected the 'shoot first, ask questions later' style of George Bush and outgoing UN Ambassador John Bolton, we ended up teaching the government a lesson in diplomacy." ----- J. Sri Raman | Paving the Way for a Perilous Deal http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121406H.shtml ----- Judge: Immigrant Detainees' Treatment Unconstitutional http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121406R.shtml In the first legal decision on a federal law that denies access to US courts to detainees in the war on terrorism, a federal judge ruled Wednesday that foreign prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, could not sue for freedom. But, in a split decision, US District Judge James Robertson also ruled that the law's denial of that right to the more than 12 million legal immigrants living in the United States was unconstitutional. ----- Pentagon: Navy May Have Violated Detention Standards in South Carolina http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121406S.shtml A previously undisclosed Pentagon report concluded that the three terrorism suspects held at a brig in South Carolina were subjected to months of isolation, and it warned that their "unique" solitary confinement could be viewed as violating US detention standards. ----- Tough Chemical Law Passes in Europe With Impacts on US http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/121406EB.shtml On Wednesday, the European Parliament approved the world's most stringent law aimed at protecting people and the environment from thousands of toxic chemicals - legislation that will have a far-reaching effect on industries and products worldwide, including in the United States. ----- New Forest Plan Rule Nukes NEPA http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/121406EC.shtml The US Forest Service finalized rules Tuesday that will allow forest officials to ignore the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) when amending or writing new forest management plans. ----- NOW | The Fight to Unionize the World's Largest Pork Processing Plant http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121406U.shtml ----- Jane Dale Owen | Communities Near Coal Plants Need to Know Health Threat http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/121406EA.shtml _________________________________ Excerpted from: http://www.alternet.org/topstories/ Why Withdrawal Is Unmentionable ...By Michael Schwartz, Tomdispatch.com Pulling out of Iraq would be an imperially momentous decision. It would mean the abandonment of >> http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/45482/ ----- U.S. Chamber of Commerce: The Right Wing's Right Hand in D.C. By Matt Stoller, AlterNet The Chamber of Commerce, run by corrupt lobbyist Tom Donahue, has turned into a http://www.alternet.org/stories/45493/ ----- E.P.A. Library Closures Could Threaten Public Health ... By Leslie Burger, AlterNet Congress needs to act now to reverse the E.P.A.'s closing of tax-payer funded libraries, which contain potentially life-saving information about our environment. http://www.alternet.org/rights/45494/ ----- Good News, Everybody: We've Got a New Iraq Slogan! By Arianna Huffington, AlterNet Bush's language has changed, but his idiocy hasn't. http://www.alternet.org/stories/45491/ ----- Daily Show: Goodbye Rummy [VIDEO] ... By Evan Derkacz 'Don with the wind' ... http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/45469/ ----- Jim and Tammy Faye's son: The Punk Rock Preacher [VIDEO] ... By Evan Derkacz It begins tonight... http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/45486/ ----- Dick Cheney's "final solution" for Iraq (also: Muqtada madness!) ... By Joshua Holland Why dim children shouldn't play with armies. http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/45471/ _________________________________ http://mediamatters.org Who is McCain campaign manager Terry Nelson? And will the media tell us? The media largely ignored the hiring of Terry Nelson to serve as campaign manager for John McCain's presumed bid for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination, and with few exceptions, those that did report on Nelson's hiring have largely overlooked Nelson's connections to various Republican scandals. Read more >> http://mediamatters.org/items/200612130001?src=other _________________________________ http://jablankfort@earthlink.net San Francisco Labor Council Resolution - adopted December 11, 2006 by unanimous vote Cut Off Funding for the Iraq War. ----- Israeli TV catches Olmert "coaching" Italy's Prodi By Dan Williams JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli pundits make much of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's powers of persuasion, but this was one bit of proof that he might well have wanted to do without. Continued: click here ----- Ha'aretz: Baker redux (A MUST READ) "Because of Baker's personality, which radiates aggressive imperiousness, and because for the first time a senior American figure has acknowledged that the absence of an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians contributes to the unrest in the Middle East and even beyond it. All that was missing was that someone there would come to the conclusion that this unending conflict is endangering American interests in the region and even beyond it." This article describes what former Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Arens detailed in his book, Broken Covenant, that I recommended yesterday. It is particularly important because it clearly refutes the wide spread and mistaken belief among "The Left" that the White House has consistently backed Israel's policies of occupation and settlement. Perhaps, that is why it remains "unknown" among Palestinian solidarity activists. Arens's book has been out 10 years and this is the first time that I have seen this critical meeting between James Baker and Shamir mentioned in print. - JB >> Baker Redux >> http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/800260.html _________________________________ [NEWSDISSECTOR] Kucinich In Race, Hill Builds Machine http://www.newsdissector.com/blog/2006/12/14/kucinich-in-race-hill-builds-machine/ _________________________________ The President's IGNORING Tour THE NEED FOR IMPEACHMENT GROWS MORE URGENT DAY BY DAY First the American people spoke in overwhelming numbers on November 7, soundly repudiating current policy, with ENDING the Iraq war/occupation at the top of their list. The Bush administration heard nothing. Then the Iraq Study Group delivered its report, which despite its timid recommendations on actual troop withdrawal again sent the message that something had to change immediately. The Bush administration did not get it. Instead we are told that Bush is on a "listening" tour, apparently desperately trying to find some half-credible person somewhere who will tell him what he wants to hear, that no fundamental change of course is necessary. We are told that Bush is asking all the "tough questions." We are told that Cheney is taking "copious notes." One has to wonder how intelligent decisions could have been made by any other previously insular method. But at the same time we hear that Bush is "resolutely defiant," and in fact plans on sending even MORE troops to Iraq. So what we are witnessing is yet another Karl Rove photo-op, a dog and pony show of attentiveness, with absolutely no intention of taking any advice they would not have given themselves in the first place. ....................snip........................ All the particular violations of law of the Bush Administration which have become public knowledge already, the illegal wiretaps, the authorization at the highest level of torture, preemptive attacks on other countries on flimsy and mendacious justification, these are just the inevitable symptoms of the root cause. The highest constitutional crime of all is to act as a king. And the confession to that crime was the exclamation, "I'm the decider." The instant charade of intense "listening" is nothing more than an attempt to lull, to stall, to buy time, and ultimately to defy the other two branches of government and the people of the United States ourselves, while every day up to ten or more of our troops die for nothing in an illegal war of hubris. [snip] Please take action >> http://www.peaceteam.net/impeachment_now.php _________________________________ .ron corvuswire@verizon.net Announcing the winners of the Armed Madhouse Remix Contest! Hey, I'm a winner in Greg Palast's Armed Madhouse song contest! http://www.gregpalast.com/remix/ | Best Soundscape ... RON CORVUS Texas, USA | Artist's Website: http://www.corvuswire.com | Song Title: Think! You can listen to and download all of the submissions here: http://www.gregpalast.com/remix/index.php/submissions/ _________________________________ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larisa-alexandrovna/ | http://dailykos.com _________________________________ ...................Did you witness something? There's no doubt that the Internet has changed the way we view news. We can log on anytime and read up on the latest news events. And blogs have helped people comment on news stories. Or bloggers can write about events they feel are newsworthy. Well, now mainstream news sources are enlisting the help of everyday people. Yahoo! has opened a site that allows visitors to submit videos and photos of news stories. As I mentioned in today's Computer Minute, Yahoo! won't pay you for your photos or videos. But, your work could be featured on Yahoo! News. So keep your eyes open and camera handy!TO VISIT TODAY'S COOL SITE, GO HERE: http://news.yahoo.com Be sure to listen to me Monday through Friday. Use my map to find me near you: http://www.komando.com/listen/index.aspx _________________________________ eHEALTHY NEWS How Evil Marketing Geniuses Confuse You - Harvard research confirms how drug companies manipulate data to confuse you into believing their drugs will solve your problem. click here ----- Imagine Using Water Instead of Gas in Your Car - This two-minute video demonstrates a new device that lets a car drive 100 miles on 4 ounces of water, and cuts through metal but doesn't burn your hand! http://www.mercola.com/2006/may/30/imagine_using_water_instead_of_gas_in_your_car.htm _________________________________ [ I could watch this again. D] ***** VIDEO: Butterfly Daydream | United States | 8:00 | Gary Hartenstein A young girl is taken away on a fantastical journey in this beautifully animated short that feels like Alice in Salvador Dali-land. http://www.atomfilms.com/af/content/butterfly_daydream _________________________________ NationalGeographic.com http://lava.nationalgeographic.com/pod/ _________________________________ NASA Astronomy picture of the day http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html _________________________________ The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but "That's funny..." ~ Isaac Asimov