More Deaths in Afghanistan than in Iraq

More US and NATO troops were killed in Afghanistan than in Iraq for the second straight month:

Militants killed more U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan in June than in Iraq for the second straight month, a grim milestone capping a run of headline-grabbing insurgent attacks that analysts say underscore the Taliban’s growing strength.

The fundamentalist militia in June staged a sophisticated jailbreak that freed 886 prisoners, then briefly infiltrated a strategic valley outside Kandahar. Last week, a Pentagon report forecast the Taliban would maintain or increase its pace of attacks, which are already up 40 percent this year from 2007 where U.S. troops operate along the Pakistan border.

So it seems as soon as the situation in Iraq gets stabilized chaos breaks out in Afghanistan. And then just in time for a general election the press seems to be ignoring the situation in Afghanistan, and coverage in general of America’s wars.

The only option for victory in these countries is to let Arab nations that know the cultures and politics proceed with reconstruction. Meanwhile American withdrew it’s forces, but continued to release funds to rebuild what we destroyed.

McCain doesn’t have a good plan for Afghanistan, he wants highly trained swimmers searching for Osama bin Laden in the desert badlands of Pakistan and Afghanistan. McCain likes to tote a “secret plan” for victory, but Bush talked of a secret plan in 2004, and nothing seems to be improving in the two war fronts.

Kucinich reads Bush Articles of Impeachment on the House floor

I flipped on my television at approximately ten-thirty Eastern time on Monday night, and I was pleasantly surprised to find Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) speaking on C-Span. Kucinich was talking about President Bush and his various crimes against the United States, and I soon became aware that the Representative was introducing Articles of Impeachment against President Bush (also known as House Resolution 1258).

Dennis Kucinich had begun his long trudge through the Articles two hours earlier, and he would continue his reading, to an almost empty House chamber, for nearly another three hours. There were 35 Articles in total, each one detailing a crime that Bush had committed that warranted impeachment. I congratulate Kucinich for having the courage and conviction to undertake this task.

A summary of each offense for each Article, as provided by the index of the Articles of Impeachment, reads as follows: Read more

In favor of exercising caution with Sanctions

Did you know that, during the 1990’s, the foreign policies of the United States killed hundreds of thousands of innocents just in the country of Iraq alone? You might be wondering what kind of terrible policy could have caused that measure of destruction. Well, the policy is the use of sanctions, and it can be just as harmful to other countries as all-out war would be.

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2005 Bush Inauguration Violated Protesters Rights

A judge ruled that the Bush administration violated protesters rights of assembly and speech by keeping the protesters far at bay reports the Washington Post:

U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman found that the National Park Service violated its own regulations by giving the inauguration’s private organizers preferential treatment and extraordinary control over access to Pennsylvania Avenue. The Presidential Inaugural Committee roped off most of the parade route and allowed only those with tickets inside.

Protesters were limited to small, specific areas, leading to a lawsuit by antiwar activists.

“The inauguration is not a private event,” Friedman said in his ruling. “The National Park Service, on behalf of the PIC, cannot reserve all of Pennsylvania Avenue for itself, leaving only the Ellipse and the northern part of John Marshall Park to protesters.”

This ruling could be overturned if it’s appealed. If it’s not protesters will have greater access to the presidents inauguration.

If you can remember Bush’s 2005 inauguration was more like the induction of communist hardliner. Fences kept everyone except for Bush donors and supporters from being near the event. Meanwhile snipers “guarded” the protesters, and tall metal fences blocked access to many parts of Pennsylvania Avenue.

Inside the event Bush spent tens of thousands on a bomb proof cage thrown. At least we have only 9 more months of Bush’s invasion of American freedoms and his wasteful spending.

Congressman John Murtha Endorses Clinton

Congressman John Murtha, (D-Pennsylvania) has endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton. Murtha, a superdelegate, gained national attention in 2006 when he came out to strongly oppose the war in Iraq.

“I’ve known Senator Clinton for fifteen years. I know that she continually reaches out for opinions and ideas not just from our nation’s leaders, but from all Americans.

“In ten months, President Bush will leave office. Our country is worse off today than when he took office over seven years ago.

“Senator Clinton is the candidate that will forge a consensus on health care, education, the economy, and the war in Iraq.

“This week, she highlighted the policy failures in Iraq and addressed the real challenges we face in regards to rebuilding our military, restoring our readiness and fully preparing our armed forces to meet and deter future threats. I know that Senator Clinton has a similar position that I have in regards to the war in Iraq.

“Her experience and careful consideration of these issues convinced me that she is best qualified to lead our nation and to bring credibility back to the White House.

“Therefore, I whole-heartedly endorse her candidacy and recommend to all Pennsylvanians, and all Americans, that they vote
for Senator Hillary Clinton for President of the United States.” [NYTimes.com]

John Murtha understands it’s time to get serious about responsibly ending the war in Iraq, and Senator Clinton is the one to get the job done.

A Greater Appreciation for Peace

Eric Hall hailed from the fine city of Jeffersonville, Indiana. Jeffersonville is a city located on the Ohio River, just north of Louisville, Kentucky. “Jeff”, as its inhabitants have affectionately termed it, is part of Clark County, which was named for General George Rogers Clark (brother of William Clark of the Lewis & Clark expedition). The city of Jeffersonville itself was named for Thomas Jefferson, whose grid design was used as the layout for the city. Some of the localities that Eric Hall grew up with, in Jeffersonville, are Schimpff’s Confectionary (where you can get some of the best chocolate in the country, in my opinion), the Howard Steamboat Museum, and Mick’s Lounge (where the Papa John’s pizza restaurant chain was founded). Eric went to school at Jeffersonville High School, and he graduated from it in 2002. A little while after graduating high school, Eric joined the United States Army, as did many others from small towns where there were few opportunities. He found himself in favor of the goals of the Iraq War and desirous of contributing to the cause. My cousin went to the same school (from first grade through high school) and was friends with Eric, and that is how I first became aquainted with the story of Eric Hall’s Post Traumatic Stress disorder and the events resulting from it.

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A Surge of Failure

Contrary to what the President has told us in recent months, the surge in Iraq is not working. It’s true that fewer people are dying compared to the mass casualties of previous years, and that Al Qaeda in Iraq is “on the run.” But the simple fact is that people are still dying, American soldiers are still dying, and that political stability for the country (the entire justification for the surge) has not even been accomplished.
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Corporate Control

It is a well-known and unfortunate fact in the United States that businesses, corporations, and special interests play a much greater role in our politics and government than we would certainly like it to. There has been, for decades, if not centuries, the element to our politics that is the corrupting influence of money. It has become particularly pronounced in recent years, especially in this 2008 Presidential Election, where candidates of both political parties are raising millions and millions of dollars each in campaign cash. In fact, this could be the first billion-dollar presidential campaign in our country’s history. That is, assuredly, not a positive sign.

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Who Is Afraid of a Security Threat? That would be Rudy Giuliani

Our strong on crime and terrorism man canceled a trip to an office building when his security team was informed of an unspecified threat. On the other hand a headline like “Anti Terrorism Strongman, Giuliani Injured in Blast” wouldn’t look to good for his campaign. Let’s just hope the bomb would cause more than just an injury.

Anyways by running on a hate filled platform Giuliani only increases the odds of a terrorist incident happening to him or America. There’s a reason why most international terrorism occurs during Republican terms, and that’s because foreigners understand that Republicans are aggressive nationalists that will invade a nation, even just for financial gain.

No one wants wimpy foreign policy, but Americans should be especially fearful of bully based foreign policy, for that causes far more people to want harm to befall America. That’s why candidates that haven’t bullied other nations like Iraq, by declaring wars and then funding them without questions should be challenged for their positions.

Candidates like Kucinich and Obama have shown they are against the Iraq war and other needless violence, while others (including leading Democrats) have admitted to not being able to withdraw all troops from Iraq before 2012.

Why Joe Biden should be the next President

Among those in the current field of Democrats vying to become the next President of the United States are:

1. Barack Obama, a rising star in the party renowned for his inspiring rags-to-riches story and ability to electrify audiences all over the country with his charisma and oratorical prowess.
2. Hillary Clinton, a tough-talking former first lady who happens to be a capable politician in her own right.
3. John Edwards, a popular former senator who has done a good job labeling himself the populist candidate in the race whilst fiercely going after his two fellow poll leaders. His pro-labor, pro-universal health care views make him appealing to a large number of Democrats.

These 3 candidates alone provide most Democrats the opportunity to vote for someone whose views are very similar, if not in direct lockstep with their own. While it’s great that we have a diverse field, a huge drawback is that we as voters sometimes forget or ignore, with help from our media, that we have 4 more choices who are possibly every bit as, if not more, qualified and able to be President. These choices are Bill Richardson, Joseph Biden, Christopher Dodd, and Dennis Kucinich. Read more

Why Dennis Kucinich Should Be the next President

In the mid 1800s with slavery at it’s peak few actively spoke out against it. Now we consider the Quakers, John Brown, and others who championed the cause of captive peoples as heroes. Their simple ideology was that all people are equal. Dennis Kucinich embraces these same views of equality and he is unafraid to speak up about it. Read more

Congress Finally Does Some Good

The Democrats realized something recently. They control the congress. Sure, it took them about a year to realize, but they’ve realized it. They have control, and they are finally starting to make that clear to the president. Read more

Impeachment: the biggest research subject ever

A big issue right now is the impeachment of Bush and Cheney, and I think it’s time we role up our shirtsleeves and do some heavy investigating into their political careers. Read more

Get Military Recruitment out of our schools

The other day at school during lunch, my small group and I were approached by a navy recruiter. He thought he would be able to relate to us more by telling Chuck Norris jokes. “Did you know Chuck Norris’ tears can cure cancer? Too bad he doesn’t cry,” the guy quipped. After listening to a handful of more Chuck Norris jokes that I’ve already heard, I asked him “If Chuck Norris is so great, can he end the war?” Some people reading this might perceive that as rude. But what is more rude is that the military is actively recruiting young adults while still in high school. Read more

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