This is a Moderated Forum for a small group of Democrats who have been unable to express political or economic opinion without harassment from bullies on open threads.
References: SHRUB by Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose, Random House, Copyright 2000
Back Ground: Lost History: Contras, Cocaine, The Press & Project Truth by Robert Parry, The Media Consortium, Arlington, Virginia, Copyright 1999 by Robert Perry.
PARRY ASKS:
>How did the vaunted Watergate press corps of the 70s become the Monica Lewinsky press corps of the 90s?
>What's real and what's not about cocaine trafficking by President Reagan's Nicaraguan contras?
( For opinion see Message 16706547 )
Taliban Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia by Ahmed Rashid, published in the United States by Yale University Press. Copyright 2000 by Ahmed Rashid. The author covered Afghanistan as a reporter for approximately 21 years.
ucomics.com
Political Commentary:
democrats.org
AND
democrats.com
democrats.com
us.net
October 1, 2001
Statement by Chairman Terry McAuliffe on the Importance of Democracy
"Through many tests the Civil War, Pearl Harbor, the Great Depression and Vietnam our country has endured crisis and emerged stronger. Each time, we were emboldened by our shared values and sought comfort in the rituals of American life.
Even as we continue to honor the victims, console their families, thank the relief crews and prosecute the perpetrators, the time is also right for the exercise of democracy and civic activism."
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Arctic Oil: A Distraction, Not a Solution
Oil companies are after Alaska's Arctic Refuge, but drilling would deeply scar this majestic wilderness without solving our country's energy problems.
Spread the word: Send (a) letter from Robert Redford to friends and family.
nrdc.org
For additional information:
Message 16662802
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President Bush's energy plan won't work, because it makes the wrong choices. The Bush Administration energy plan ignores high-tech, energy-efficient solutions in favor of increased oil, gas, coal, and nuclear production, while his budget proposal slashes funding for renewable energy and efficiency by a third.
The Sierra Club realizes that we can't drill, dig or destroy our way out of our energy problems. That's why we're pushing for a more honest, balanced policy that promotes energy efficiency, uses clean renewable energy like wind and solar power, and emphasizes responsible production. Americans need an energy policy that provides quicker, cleaner, cheaper, and safer solutions. See what America would look like under the Bush energy plan. Where does he plan to put those 1,300 new power plants?
sierraclub.org
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USA: Presidential order on military tribunals threatens fundamental principles of justice
-- AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
November 15, 2001
Amnesty International is deeply troubled by the Military Order signed by President
George W. Bush on 13 November allowing for the trial by special military
commissions of non-US citizens suspected of involvement in "international terrorism."
Since the attacks in the USA on 11 September, Amnesty International has been
calling for anyone suspected of involvement in these crimes to be brought to justice in
accordance with international standards for a fair trial. This sweeping presidential
order bypasses those fundamental principles, in contravention of US obligations under
international law, specifically the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
ratified by the USA in 1992. As such it is unacceptable and should be revoked.
Amnesty International is particularly concerned that the Military Order:
- is discriminatory by affording foreign nationals a lower standard of justice than US
nationals;
- gives unfettered and unchangeable discretionary power to the executive to decide
whom will be prosecuted and under what rules, as well as to review convictions and
sentences. This is inconsistent with the principle of the separation of the executive
and the judiciary;
- expressly bypasses the normal principles of law and rules of evidence applied in the
trials of people charged with criminal offenses in the US courts;
- provides no right of appeal against conviction or sentence to a higher court, or
access to redress for any human rights violations that may occur during arrest,
detention or prosecution;
Amnesty International believes that the Military Order creates a parallel system which
violates fundamental principles of justice in any circumstances, including in times of
war. For example, the 1949 Geneva Conventions, ratified by the USA in 1955, require
that prisoners of war must be tried in courts which guarantee fundamental rights of
fairness, including the right of appeal.
Amnesty International is particularly alarmed that the death penalty may be imposed
by such a tribunal. International standards require that the legal process in any capital
proceedings provide "all possible safeguards" to ensure a fair trial, including the right
to appeal.
The Military Order creates the risk that people may be executed after a trial
conducted by a court whose decision cannot be appealed but only reviewed by the
executive who selected the individual for prosecution in the first place.
Amnesty International believes that the Military Order threatens to severely
undermine, rather than reinforce, confidence in the administration of justice and
maintenance of the rule of law. The organization considers that in proceedings
undertaken pursuant to this order, justice will neither be done, nor seen to be done.
Times of crisis pose particular challenges to governments. It is precisely in such
times that the principles of fair justice must be scrupulously upheld. The suffering of
the victims of the attacks of 11 September, their families, and the public at large,
deserves no less.
amnesty.org
Last updated : November 15
For opinion see:http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=16716460
Message 16705404
Message 16685494
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How Dare They? -- An AlterNet Editorial
Don Hazen, AlterNet
November 7, 2001
Here is the Public Campaign email, ready to be mailed to friends and colleagues:
Dear friend,
I'm outraged by what's going on in Washington right now, which is why I'm sharing this message with you. I apologize if you've already gotten a copy of this -- but that means this effort is taking off! (And after you're done reading this, please forward this message to your friends.)
The nation mourns, many suffer and in response a group of highly profitable corporations, and major campaign contributors, demand (and get from the House of Representatives) a $25 billion refund on all the taxes they paid going back to 1986. How Dare They!
Our nation suffers an anthrax attack and the big-name pharmaceutical companies pull out the stops to protect their drug patents, preventing the government from obtaining large supplies of potentially critical medicine at affordable costs. How Dare They!
A half million people have lost their jobs and the airlines, but not their workers, get a $15 billion bailout. Not only that, in their bill to keep airport security in private hands, Republican House leaders even tried to undo a provision of the airline bailout bill that capped the compensation of airline CEOs! How Dare They!
The economy may be crashing -- and corporate lobbyists' solution is to make business meals and entertainment 100 percent deductible, which means we taxpayers go back to paying for their three-martini lunches.
How Dare They!
Corporate tax breaks, sweetheart deals, bailouts. How dare the special interests try to take advantage of one of the greatest tragedies in American history to line their own pockets? They dare to do this because with millions in campaign contributions, they've got the best Congress money can buy. Big money contributors, who should, along with the rest of the nation, be chipping in during a difficult time, are instead calling in chits. While we have our hands on our hearts, they're picking our pockets.
It's time to tell Congress and the President that we're outraged by this. This is a time for all of us to pull together and share in whatever sacrifices are necessary, with no special exemptions for the rich and powerful.
PLEASE DON'T PUT THIS MESSAGE ASIDE FOR LATER!
1. Forward it to your friends.
2. Go to tbwt.com |
