I found this article to be very true in so many ways.  The fight isn't over yet, and vigilance is still the word of the day.  Although their is a much more hopeful air in the political arena with the election of our 44th president, there is so much to be dealt with in so many arenas that we must continue, all of us, to be  watchdogs in the venue of politics.

by Patricia Demasi (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments) on Thursday, Nov 6, 2008 at 11:09:58 AM

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http://www.november5.org/ (*More to come on Friday.)

by Kevin Gosztola (302 articles, 146 quicklinks, 81 diaries, 1082 comments [77 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Nov 6, 2008 at 11:27:35 AM

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I heartily agree with the sentiments in Kate Mucci's article, but I'm not optimistic that the new administration will be able to satisfy in the first 100 days the euphoric hopes that have gripped not only the United States, but the entire world. The pit dug by the Bush administration is too deep. Yes, hold their feet to the fire, but remember that the right direction, rather than speed, will get us where we need to go.

by Gary Penner (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments) on Thursday, Nov 6, 2008 at 8:23:17 PM

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Kate Mucci gives us a proper exhortation. This writer would limit the feet to Obama's own, and to always make the fire specific. For the President-elect has the power mandate is to change what he sees needing change.

During the Aug 31, 2008, CBS 60 Minutes show about bombing civilians In Afghanistan, a head of operations in a computer screened control room directing air attacks in both Afghanistan and Iraq uses incoming coordinates explains that his command center has clearance to sacrifice up to thirty civilians in a strike targeting insurgents, or a single insurgent leader. If more than thirty is under consideration, the President's or Vice- President's go ahead is required!!

"Bombing Afghanistan,":

“"There's this macabre kind of calculus that the military goes through on every air strike, where they try to figure out how many dead civilians is dead bad guy worth,’ says Marc Garlasco, who knows the calculus of civilian casualties as well as anyone.

At the Pentagon, Garlasco was chief of high value targeting at the start of the Iraq war. He told 60 Minutes how many civilians he was allowed to kill around each high-value target -- targets like Saddam Hussein and his leadership.

"Our number was 30. So, for example, Saddam Hussein. If you're gonna kill up to 29 people in a strike against Saddam Hussein, that's not a problem," Garlasco explains. "But once you hit that number 30, we actually had to go to either President Bush, or Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld."

Garlasco says, before the invasion of Iraq, he recommended 50 air strikes aimed at high-value targets -- Iraqi officials.

But he says none of the targets on the list were actually killed. Instead, he says, "a couple of hundred civilians at least" were killed."

Neither were any 9/11 attackers from Iraq, Somalia nor Pakistan, yet their children have paid with their lives as insurgencies fight violent U.S. foreign policies within their countries

Meanwhile, Afghan President Hamid Karzai trys to explain to his people why they’re being killed by his allies.

"Asked if he is asking the American government to roll back the air strikes, Karzai says, "Absolutely. Oh, yes, in clear words."

Afghan Official: Coalition strike kills civilians
The Associated Press - 12 hours ago
Karzai on Wednesday called on US President-elect Barack Obama to ensure that Afghan civilians are not killed in operations by US forces, following a bombing ...

U.S. Strike Said to Kill Afghan Civilians by Reuters, New York Times, Nov. 5, 20008

Scores of civilians have been killed in U.S. air strikes this year leading to seething resentment against the presence of foreign troops and a rift between Karzai and his Western backers.

Karzai referred to the incident in the Shah Wali Kot district in the southern Taliban heartland of Kandahar province.

"By bombing Afghanistan, the war against terrorism cannot be won,"

Karzai did not give any more details but several villagers who had taken a group of wounded to the hospital in Kandahar city said more than 90 people had been killed and dozens more wounded in the air strike on Monday, which they said hit a wedding party. Karzai told a news conference. "As we speak today, we had again civilian casualties ... In Shah Wali Kot of Kandahar we had civilian casualties," he said."

The U.S. military said it was checking reports.

said U.S. forces spokesman Commander Jeff Bender.

"If innocent people were killed in this operation, we apologize and express our condolences to the families and the people of Afghanistan," he said in a statement.

Karzai requested Obama make it his priority to end civilian casualties.

"The main problem which has become a matter of tension (with the United States) is civilian casualties," Karzai said. "Civilian casualties should completely stop. The war in the villages of Afghanistan will never give fruit."

Some 4,000 people, around a third of them civilians, have been killed this year in fighting with the Taliban, who have expanded the scope and scale of their insurgency trying to oust Karzai's Western-backed government and eject foreign forces.

Since during the nominating conventions the international condemnations and denunciations of the U.S. for a UN verified toll of 60 children among a total of 90 civilians in one air strike in Afghanistan did not cause even a ripple of attention in America, it was good of Obama speak about this great shame.

How many more Afghani, Somali, Iraqi, Pakistani children will die in cowardly U.S. air-strikes on 'insurgents' against the Bush foreign policies stemming from a 9/11 attack by Saudi Arabians?

"Frustration with such strikes is rising in Pakistan. On Thursday, the parliament called for making talks with militants the 'top priority.'"

Almost two years ago, the parliament of Afghanistan asked for negotiations with the Taliban, proposing a 35 year back amnesty for all fighters and calling for the removal of all foreign armed forces.

It's not just the Iraqis that want America to leave.

Ah but big brother U.S. conglomerate owned media makes sure that their audiences continue to 'understand' that the wars of occupation must continue.

Fine, but as John Pilger said Nov. 6th, on Democracy Now:

“Well, it comes down to, I suppose, asking an Afghan child how they feel when their family has been destroyed by a 500-pound bunker-busting bomb dropped by the United States and dropped by President Obama, as he continues that war. I think that’s the reality that we really have to begin to discuss now, having celebrated, and rightly celebrated, the ascent of the first African American president of the United States."

Well, if we can trust Obama not to bomb children, how 'bout pressuring him to try to embarrass Bush out of continuing to bomb until January 20th?

America does not need such war criminal leadership as Gen. Petraeus provides as exemplified in his statement:

"Certainly there does have to be a better explanation of the blows that have been struck in recent weeks and months," Petraeus told The Associated Press in an interview. "It is hugely important that three of 20 extremist leaders have been killed in recent months."

Those three dead 'extremist' leaders will easily be replaced by three even more fervent warriors encouraged to battle the U.S. extremists who, on Bush, Cheney and Petraeus orders are bombing civilians in violation of even Geneva Conventions of which the United States is a signer.

The 'insurgent' leaders will be replaced! The dead children's places can never be taken up by others for their grieving families, nor in our painful conscience.

Write, call Obama, Congress and media to encourage Obama act now. It is already too late for so many!

by Jay Janson (105 articles, 0 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 117 comments [4 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Nov 6, 2008 at 10:30:08 PM

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... and one that gives just enough hope mixed with caution as should be.

Yes, those powers that caused all this carnage are still in place, and one should never lose sight of the fact that it was more them than us that placed Obama in office.

I for one do not see him listening to us. And my reasoning for that is he didn't seem to care about what we thought before when he was courting our votes, so I see little incentive for him to listen to us now.

He lost me a long time ago when he back-tracked on Iraq, later FISA and his latest approving of this asinine "bail-out" bill only confirmed that not only was Obama not going to expose those "men behind the curtain", but that he was one of them.

So, good luck with holding any one's feet to any fire, I'm not trying to discourage any one from trying, hell, as mentioned, I'll help. But I have little hope we'll be able to get near his feet, let alone get them to a fire.

by Mr M (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 66 diaries, 2845 comments [654 recommended, 27 rejected]) on Thursday, Nov 6, 2008 at 10:34:40 PM

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It is amazing that this article, same as that of W.Christopher Edler's, does not bring up the most horrible crime of all times perpetrated by Bush's cronies : the massmurder of 9/11 committed on broad daylight in plain sight in which 3000 Americans were sent to their deaths for an agenda, the PNAC. 9/11 was a justification for wars that followed. You can not talk accountability and justice for war crimes but leaving out the false flag that was used as justification for those illegal wars.

Bush administration, alongside all neo-cons, ought to be thrown into hell fire and reduced to ashes in the same manner that they pulverized 3 buildings with people within. It is more than keeping their feet to the fire, it is about throwing the criminals into molten steel so as they  get a feeling of the suffering they inflict upon innocents all over the planet.

Some magic is going to take place in a matter of minutes. My comment on W.Christopher Epler's article 'Justice Must Be Served" made the article to vanish from the front page all of a sudden. Let us  marvel at the speed with which this one will disparate too.

A 9/11 genie is at work at OEN. Just watch.

by ramsheyi (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 793 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Nov 6, 2008 at 11:50:42 PM

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The issue of 9/11 is completely separate from Obama's election as far as this article is concerned.  That does not mean it isn't of concern to this author, it only means that it is not germaine to the issues covered in this article.   It is counterproductive to cloud the subject of keeping Obama to his word with issues about which he may or may not have "insider" knowledge. 

I seriously doubt he was involved in the inside job that was 9/11, although nothing would surprise me at this point. 

Before you cast any stones about 9/11 at this writer, I would suggest you go to the website from which I hail - www.matrixnewsnetwork.com.  For seven years, on nationally broadcast television on two continents, and in articles posted on this and other progressive sites, we at The Matrix News have done more than our part, at considerable risk and expense, to expose the lies of 9/11.

Please take some time and visit the column and guest pages on the Matrix News website to see the many people who have expressed their opinion on this and many other important issues that the major controlled media will not address.

by Kate Mucci (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 5 comments) on Friday, Nov 7, 2008 at 12:13:33 AM

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Kate,

Thank you for the link that I took time to visit. It is not a site dedicated to 9/11 truth though. I am personnally interested in 9/11 and anything surrounding it because this crime is the mother of every other crime committed by Bush administration thereafter. As long as the mystery of 9/11 is not resolved and the perpetrators not punished by death penalty everything else is irrelevant. The 700b bailout theft would not have occured so brazently and in all impunity if the criminals had been impeached and removed when it was still time to do it.

It is getting too late by each day. There is an urgency to go ahead with this mystery and catch the gangsters before they run away to Paraguay or Switzerland or other far away havens.

It is an obligation to talk about it every day and every hour and every instant til the final day when  Justice will prevail.

Does Obama know about 9/11 truth? Well, he is from Inside and not from outer space.

by ramsheyi (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 793 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, Nov 7, 2008 at 1:15:48 AM

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  Are you a gatekeeper?   In other words, would you delete any nonviolent post from "your" thread or would you allow a truly creative and open discussion of where we are now in history?

    Please respond...

by mary sunshine (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 149 comments [79 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Friday, Nov 7, 2008 at 4:39:27 AM

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by mary sunshine (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 149 comments [79 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Friday, Nov 7, 2008 at 5:08:36 AM

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You mean we can hold Obama's feet to the fire the same way we held Pelosi and congresses feet to the fire over Iraq, impeachment, etc. Or do you mean the way Obama supporters held his feet during FISA? I'm sorry but I don't see where washing their feet has got us anywhere...

Such a suggestion seems ludacris, unless you just close your eyes and ears and pretend. Should I forget the bailout vote, the Patriot act, FISA, Iraq....really how much reality do I need to ignore for 'CHANGE NO ONE SHOULD BELIEVE IN'?

by chris rice (111 articles, 144 quicklinks, 35 diaries, 233 comments) on Friday, Nov 7, 2008 at 7:03:35 AM

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Chris - I think you missed the point of my article.  Did you not read where I said The Patriot Act must be repealed?  No more executive orders.  No more signing statements. 

Pelosi - don't even get me started on her.  Or Harry Reid, who happens to be from my state.  And the bailout. .. Read the columns I wrote about that on our website www.matrixnewsnetwork.com   Unfortunately, Obama did push for the bailout.  Of course... he had to... it was the "politically correct" thing to do.   And that is one of the reasons I wrote this article.  

Every single politician must be reminded constantly that we do see what they're doing.  For the first time in a long time, with this election, we have some momentum for a real accounting.  People are more involved and aware right now than ever.  But we can't let the interest dwindle, and you can't expect it to be kept alive just on the internet.  Interest wanes as life and Christmas interfere.

 You have to take your concerns to the street.  It is my job as a television producer and host to bring all of this to the attention of people in a very "in your face" kind of way.  Every week for 7 years my husband and I have been basically shaking people awake, on TV and in person, every chance we get. We have been physically threatened, chastized and insulted, but the message gets out, and that's what's important.  But I can't emphasize enough, the momentum and the change cannot be instituted by people lounging in the comfortable environs in which their TVs and computers reside. 

 You must go out, far beyond the confines of the internet, and see that the change YOU want is lobbied for just as aggressively as the status quo is maintained by those who lobby for big pharma and big oil.  The guys in Brooks Brothers suits don't make their cases by sending e-mails or writing blogs. 

Remember, a lot of people don't understand how the system works.  They really don't know that everything is manipulated.  They're so busy keeping a roof over their heads and food in the stomachs of their children, they don't have time to think, much less analyze.  They don't have time to sit at a computer and surf the net for conspiracy theories. 

So if you really want to make a change, get out there and talk to people. Speak up when you see injustices and wrongs.  March on Washington.  Yeah, that's right.  Get up and go. 

Here online you are generally preaching to the choir.  Go into the community, be "in the faces" of those who make the laws.  So far we have used one little tool in the great chest that is the Constitution.  There are many others - use them as well.

by Kate Mucci (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 5 comments) on Friday, Nov 7, 2008 at 12:44:27 PM

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And, uphill work!  I think we still need to make the government more responsive to the voters, and I think abolishing the Electoral College and 2 party system will help...Obama getting elected is but a tiny babystep in the right direction (maybe).

by Jill Herendeen (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 213 comments [13 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, Nov 7, 2008 at 9:18:54 AM

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Always right on the money, Kate. I admire your passion for keeping people informed. Hang in there.

by Allison Hawkins (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments) on Wednesday, Nov 12, 2008 at 9:56:09 PM

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