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OMNI NEWSLETTER: EVENTS, ACTIONS, COMMENT
MARCH 26, 2006, CREATING A CULTURE OF PEACE
UPCOMING EVENTS
“Our task must be to [widen] our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” Albert Einstein
MARCH 26, SUNDAY, PROTEST THE WAR
Dickson and College, 11-1:30. Continue the big voice raised March 11; don’t let the warriors and the complicitly silent think nonviolence, international law, and constitutional government lack support!
MARCH 26, SUNDAY, VIDEO UNDERGROUND, Out of the Past
In 1995, Kelli Peterson started a gay and straight club at her Salt Lake City high school. The story of her ensuing battle with school authorities is interspersed with looks back. PARKING: Behind OMNI/United Campus Ministry, on Storer and Maple Streets., north in UA Lot 36 on Douglass.
MARCH 28, 3PM, TUESDAY
OMNI at the University of Arkansas for Peace, Justice & Ecology is hosting director Robbie Leppzer on Tuesday, March 28, with 2 films at Giffels Auditorium. Leppzer will screen his film, “Columbus Didn’t Discover Us: Native People’s Perspectives on the Columbus Legacy” in Giffels at 3 pm. Giffels is on the 2nd floor of Old Main on the UA campus. “Columbus Didn’t Discover Us” has aired on PBS and Free Speech TV.
At 6 pm in Giffels Leppzer will show his most recent documentary, “The Peace Patriots“ a feature documentary film about dissent in a time of war, specifically the current war in Iraq. Howard Zinn, author of “A People’s History of the United States,” said, “This film gives us hope and inspiration. I hope it will be seen widely.”
MARCH 28, 6:30, OMNI’S HUMAN RIGHTS/DEATH PENALTY COMMITTEE At OMNI. Discuss the Hamley killing and related issues. Mark Swaney, Betsey Wright, and others. (Carol and Ed Tarvin, Melanie Dietzel, and others were at the first meeting last week.) Death Penalty matters will also be discussed.
MARCH 29, WEDNESDAY, 7p.m., STRUGGLE AGAINST EXXONMOBIL IN COLOMBIA, at OMNI, Jose Julio Perez will talk at the UCM Sanctuary about US corporate and military involvement in the Colombian coal industry. Colombia exports the majority of coal entering the United States and is home to El Cerrejon, the largest open pit coal mine in the world. PARKING: Behind OMNI/United Campus Ministry, on Storer and Maple Streets., north in UA Lot 36 on Douglass.
MARCH 31, Deadline for reservations to the ACLU’s Annual Spring Dinner Fundraiser on April 6, Clarion Inn, 6pm social, 7pm dinner. Senator Dale Bumpers Speaker. Contact Frank Head 521-1508 or fhaed@aol.com
APRIL 1, SATURDAY, 10:30 –12:00 PROTEST THE WAR
Mall and Joyce, at MacDonald’s just east of W-M.
KEEP THE MARCH 11 RALLY GOING every first Saturday.
APRIL 1, 11:30, RAPID RESPONSE WRITERS Every First Saturday.
Ozark Mountain Smokehouse on Dickson. Contact Larry Froelich.
APRIL 2, SUNDAY, 7PM, OMNI’S PEACE COFFEEHOUSE OPEN MIC
Contact Kelly Mulhollan and Donna Stjerna.
April 5, Sustainable Communities Networking Meeting and Idea Party at Fayetteville Library on Wed. April 5 6-7:30. Promote your business or organization or get support for your projects.
APRIL 5, Wednesday, 7pm the Omni Center and Arkansas Indymedia welcome the Beehive Design Collective to present their collaboratively produced artwork at the UCM building on the corner oF Maple and Storer. The beehive collective creates elaborate murals that detail the effects of US trade policy in Latin American countries and the modern-day effects of economic colonialism. A presentation to be understood by anyone not just the experts. The collective will also be appearing at Fayetteville High School during the day. See www.beehivecollective.org or contact, dirtyjoe@riseup.net for more info.
PROTEST THE WAR 11-1:30 Dickson and College
APRIL 9, VIDEO UNDERGROUND, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Alex Gibney, who wrote and produced Eugene Jarecki's The Trials of Henry Kissinger, examines the rise and fall of an infamous corporate juggernaut in Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, which he wrote and directed. The film points out that the culture of financial malfeasance at Enron was evident as far back as 1987, when Lay apparently encouraged the outrageous risk taking and profit skimming of two oil traders in Enron's Valhalla office because they were bringing a lot of money into the company. But it wasn't until eventual CEO Jeff Skilling arrived at Enron that the company's "aggressive accounting" philosophy truly took hold. The Smartest Guys in the Room explores the lengths to which the company went in order to appear incredibly profitable. Show Time: 110 Minutes
APRIL 16, Easter Sunday, Fayetteville Dances of Universal Peace. From Jamila
APRIL 18, OMNI FORUM ON MINIMUM WAGE Will be Filmed at CAT. Another in OMNI’s Monthly CAT Forums (Middle East, Darfur, Death Penalty, Iraq, Getting Out of Iraq).
April 19, Wednesday, Monthly Member Meeting, League of Women Voters of Washington County
FPL, 11:30 a.m., bring sack lunch. Contact: Betty Solis.
APRIL 22, SATURDAY, EARTH DAY, OMNI AND SIERRA HAVE 2 BIG EVENTS
11-3 WORLD PEACE WETLAND PRAIRIE RESTORATION Work and Celebration. Music, information, brown bag lunch. Contact Jennifer Creel, Fran Free, Kelly Mulhollan, Donna Stjerna.
LECTURE WITH FILMS BY LINCOLN AND ALICE DAY from Washington, D.C. Subject: The destruction of the earth and species by wars. Location: Terra Studio, Durham (past Elkins). Purchase tickets in advance. Ride a bus out (first lucky 35, 6:00), dinner catered by ONF at 6:30, lecture at 7:30.
APRIL 26th, 27th, and 28th 6-9pm
CAT TV's annual SPRING FLING FUNDRAISER. Jori Costello MC.
Community Talent Show in 3 CATegories:
WED. – DRAMA THURS. – COMEDY FRI. - ACOUSTIC MUSIC
LIVE at the CAT TV studio! $10 entry form for 10 minutes to perform and the WINNERS are based on pledges received so have your friends, family, and friends (oh my!) to call in their donation for your act. Also studio audience members are highly recommended, so c'mon down to the CAT and have some fun while supporting freedom of speech and being involved in your community!
April 29, Saturday, CAT’s FREEDOM VIDEO FESTIVAL -FREEEEE!-
SATURDAY, APRIL 29th - all day long on the big screen at the Radisson.
And THE FAT CAT AWARDS! recognizing local producers who have aired shows on CAT in 2005. Also on April 29th at the Radisson 6-8pm. Tickets are $10 with food served.
MAY 10, WEDNESDAY, 7pm, JOHN SEED ON “Global Warming, Endless Warfare, Pollution, and Mass Extinction.” Australian Rainforest Activist, John Seed explores deep ecology and how to be engaged and effective at such a time. At Giffels Auditorium in Old Main on UA Campus Seed in raising money for his rainforest projects; suggested donation $5 to $20….or more.
MAY 11, JOHN SEED, 7P.M., Headwaters School
An evening event consisting of spoken word/lecture, music, poetry, and film
Suggested Donation $5.00-$20.00
MAY 12-14, JOHN SEED, River Spirit Retreat
Weekend Workshop - $150.00 (including meals & camping) CONTACT FOR BOTH EVENTS: River Spirit Retreat - www.riverspirit.com Email: haven@riverspirit.com, Phone: 870-446-5642
MAY 13, SATURDAY, JULIA WARD HOWE’S PEACE MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH.
Watch for announcement of place and time. Contact Melanie Dietzel, Jo Bennett, Marion Orton.
May 18, Thursday, Annual Meeting, League of Women Voters, 5:30.
May 27, Play for Peace, 12 noon to 10PM. Now getting organized: your input is wanted. A day to have fun, build community; reconcile differences; and envision and act as though we lived in a world where peace and justice prevails. Our acting as if becomes a kinesthetic prayer. Artists; musician; dancers; cooperative games leaders, mediators;community
organizations; clowns; and anyone promoting peace are welcome to share your gifts. Contact me to sign up and share your ideas. Patricia Mikkelson, Coordinator, Livable Future Project, livablefuture@yahoo.com, www.neighborhoodlink.com/org/livablefuture
JUNE: PEACE GARDENS NETWORK PERIPATETIC PARTY
Watch for announcement. Contact Dick, Marie Riley.
INTERWEAVE EVENTS
Interweave meets the Third Monday of each Month @ 6:30 at the UUFF Annex Building These dates are:
March 20, April 17, May 15, June 19, July 17, August 21
Each Month On the 4th Sunday Interweave has a community Outing "Dinner & a Movie"
We invite Interweave members and friends to dinner (5pm)and then view the underground film @ OMNI (7pm).
This Sunday March 26 we will meet at Jose's @ 5pm
April 23 we will meet at R.O.T.C. @ 5pm
May 28 we will meet at Common Grounds @ ! 5pm
June we hope to see you at the Pride picnic @ Agri park 1-5pm
July 23 we will meet at Jose's @ 5pm
August we will meet at R.O.T.C. @ 5pm
The Third Annual Pride picnic will be June 25 @ Agri Park 1:00-5:00pm
Also On June 25 Interweave will be facilitating a Pride service @ the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fayetteville @ 11:00am
FAYETTEVILLE, NWA, ARKANSAS
FAYETTEVILLE
PROTEST THE WAR: KEEP UP THE PRESSURE
--Our committee continues. Join us. Contact Greg Moore, Susan Idlet, Karen Idlet, Melanie Dietzel, Dick Bennett
--OMNI’S 3 FORUMS ON CAT: Nov.: Panel on Middle East with Profs. Swedenburg, Gordon, and Ghadbian; Interview of Prof. Clea Bunch??; Roundtable with
--Links to photos and all newspaper reports given in March 18 Newsletter.
--Publication of the March 11 poems and speeches together in a booklet.
--Letters to editor by
--Web sites: www.omnicenter.org and www.bringhometroops.org
--Efforts will begin soon to contact church officials (in addition to those represented at our M11 march), professionals, business people, and others in preparation for March 2007.
--In a letter Bill Williams says this about his March 11 speech, the other speeches and the poems and songs, the march and rally: “There is the real temptation for folks to feel like we are winning. We can't afford to let up - not now. Not ever.”
-- Tell Congress to Hold an Open Debate on the Occupation of Iraq
After three years and more than 2,300 American soldiers dead, there's no end in sight. President Bush just asserted that U.S. forces are likely to remain in Iraq through 2009. Yet, Congress has done little beyond rubber-stamping the President's requests for more and more money to support the occupation.
Ask your representative to vote to allow open discussion of the situation in Iraq.
It's time for Members of Congress to hold an open debate on the occupation of Iraq. Regrettably, the Republican leadership in the House refuses to allow this -- so now a bi-partisan group of representatives are supporting a legislative maneuver called a "discharge petition." If a majority of representatives sign the petition, Speaker Hastert will have no choice but to allow a 17 hour debate on the Iraq occupation -- split equally between both sides of the aisle.
This is a topic of the highest national importance. Tell your representative you support full and fair debate on the floor of the House.
Click here to tell your representative -- the time for that discussion is now.
Then, please forward this newsletter to everyone you know to help spread the word about this important issue!
STREET PROTESTS
Every first Saturday of the month from 10:30am to 12 Noon at the corners of North Mall & Joyce Boulevard.
Weekly: We will protest on the following Sundays at College & Dic kson, 11:00am - 1:30pm. March 26, April 9 and April 16
OMNI’S LENDING LIBRARY
Three new pamphlets from PETA: “All Animals Are Equal: Or Why Supporters of Liberation for Blacks and Women Should Support Animal Liberation, Too”; “The PETA Guide to Compassionate Living: Choosing a Kinder Lifestyle for Yourself, the Earth, and the Animals”; “It’s as Easy as Pie! At Home, at Work, at School You Can Help Animals.” And PETA’s magazine is Animal Times The Magazine That Speaks Up for Animals. www.PETA.org; PETA@peta.org
OMNI’S PLANT SALE
On Saturday, March 18th, the first organizational meeting for OMNI's plant sale was held.
We talked about some of the details of the sale and then planted seeds. It is not too late to start seeds for the sale. There are still seeds available (cherry tomato, rutger tomato, dill, broccoli, zucchini and flower seeds) if you would like to plant and house plants for the sale. And, thanks to fellow OMNI members we still have a lot of pots. The only thing we ran out of was potting soil. Also needed for the sale will be boxes, the kind a case of cat/! dog food, or pop comes in is best, but any cardboard box will work. If you would like to start seeds, or have other plants for the sale please let me know, email me, or phone at 571-3253. Pippin
OMNI’S NEW OUTDOOR SIGNS
To ensure new visitors know where OMNI is located, we have had 2 signs made by Joe Alexander.
HOWL: The Sunday 3-19 women’s open mic continued full of energy, affection, and talent, Leigh Wilkerson MC for Mendy Knott. A full Deep End and readings by Brenda, Starr, Leigh, Diana, Path, Diana, Fran, Marilyn, and Nancy on the guitar. And plenty of good food.
FSTV
Connecting social justice movements and media with an audience committed to social change. E.g., “Youth Channel Access Update”: “Save Access Update” (www.mnn.org/saveaccess); “Media in the 21st Century,” moderated by Mara Trapp; doc. on Pres. Bush’s enormously expensive, selective attendance inauguration, contrast to the urgent needs in the U.S. and world.
COMMUNITY ACCESS TV AND CABLE COMPANY FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS
Community TV stations are not gifts from the cable co., but are required payback to the community for cable’s use of the people’s property and airwaves. The question should always be: Does our cable monopoly give enough back to the people it is supposed to be serving? Get the Save Access Tool Kit from www.mnn.org/saveaccess Also: “Reclaim the Media” on the extreme limitations of monopoly cable tv, both for what it gives us and more importantly for what it does not.
NWA
PROTECTING SPECIES
See above: OMNI’s Lending Library.
American Humane Association, “protecting children and animals since 1877.” Pub. newsletter: The Humane Review. www.americanhumane.org
GRASSROOTS MILITARISM
Fort Smith Regional Air Show 3-25-26, featuring “the Air Force’s Thunderbirds and their first female piolot, Capt. Nicole Malachowski.” Ecstatic reporting by TMN with large photo of female child aiming a machine gun in the gun turret of the “Pacific Prowler,” a B-25 Mithell bomber. “Thousands Watch Air Show.” “’We’r expecting as many as 170,000people here (Saturday).’”
DEMOCRAT? OPPONENT OF CONG. BOOZMAN
Woodrow Anderson, III, 33, filed against 3rd Dist. Rep. John Boozman, declaring he was “a pro-life, pro-business, conservative Democrat.” Instead of feeling dismay over another choice between 2 Republicans, let’s set ourselves to defeat Bush-clone Boozman by educating Anderson about “life,” “business,” and “conservative.” OK? You will head up our committee? Be on it?
ARKANSAS
PEACE AND JUSTICE HEROES AWARDS
Watch for announcement.
2004 awardees: Jean Gordon, political activist, Little Rock; Dan Vega and Roger Henry, CAT news commentators,Fayetteville; Hank Kaminsky, sculptor, Fayetteville; Rev. Rhett Baird, UUFF, Fayetteville; Meals for Kids Program, Ft. Smith; Scott Davis, reporter, Springdale.
ARKANSAS NEEDS AND PRIORITIES
--Need for college assistance, “Scholarship Program Helps Cash-Strapped Families,” TMN (3-20). A msall foundation in Calif. Is helping poor youth attend college, providing $500,000 through 2008. Ark.’s needs are just as great or greater. Why not national assistance like the G. I. Bill? This is surely more important than the big highway to XNA or the one planned around Bella Vista.
--See John Brummett’s masterful analysis of school aid funding in TMN 3-26.
USA, WORLD
USA
DEPARTMENT OF PEACE REGIONAL PEACE CONFERENCES
Florida State Conference
Orlando, Florida
April 7 - April 9
Texas Regional Conference Midwest Regional Conference
Kalamazoo, MI Austin, Texas
April 21 - April 22 July 22 - July 23
Southeast Regional Conference
Atlanta, GA
September 16-17
Dear Friends,
We are thrilled to announce that our Department of Peace Campaign State Coordinators and District Leaders, in conjunction with The Peace Alliance, will be initiating eight Regional conferences across the United States over the coming months.
Each conference will have it's own unique flare depending on the region putting it on. Powerful speakers, meaningful connections with fellow activists, peace leadership training and so much more. Youth are also invited to attend, and will have an opportunity to meet with their state coordinators and congressional district team leaders, particularly as our university initiative continues to emerge. Lynn McMullen, our National Campaign Coordinator, will be at each event. Info@ThePeaceAlliance.org; www.ThePeaceAlliance.org
SUPPORT INDEPENDENT, ALTERNATIVE TV
Support CAT by creating and performing in programs (Short Takes, Forums, Interviews, etc.), and by helping to bring Free Speech TV to CAT (send your contribution to OMNI earmarked for FSTV). Send your contribution to CAT to pay for the great contribution they make to alternative TV and to help them expand their services. Join and support FSTV (www.freespeech.org, info@freespeech.org; www.action.freespeech.org; 303-442-8445; POB 6060, Boulder, CO 80306). Big telephone and cable companies want to do away with local media control and access. Safeguard the power of your community to decide how best to serve local communications needs. Contribute to CAT and FSTV.
FSTV (3 to 9 a.m. every morning, compliments of OMNI)
How do you get a copy of the fine program you have seen? First, check their online store (www.freespeechstore.org) to see if for sale. If not, search for the title online. I you can’t find it, call FSTV for producer’s contact information (viewercomments@freespeech.org).
How receive the schedule? www.freespeech.org
“Behind the Screen: A Newsletter for Friends of Free Speech TV”(www.freespeech.org)
BUSH
--FSTV excellent documentary by Robert Greenwald on Bush Admin. secrecy, plans for world domination (Project for a New American Century), neocons, contempt for constitutional government, false patriotism, etc.
---“Cops of the World,” song by Phil Ochs with clips of brutal wars abroad and repression at home (FSTV).
--“The Sunshine Gang,” NOW (PBS Fridays), on individuals trying to penetrate the Bush Admin.’s walls of secrecy to find the truth.
--“New Food Act a Hard Bill to Swallow” by Harold Meyerson (Washington Post), TMN (3-16): the GOP House majority eliminated “long-standing protections” for our foods by passing the National Uniformity for Food Act “at the behest” of the food industry. It should be called the Swallow at Your Own Risk Act. Contact Cong. Boozman.
-- BUSH VIOLATES NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION TREATY
Michael Klare | Reigniting the Arms Race
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/032306L.shtml
Michael Klare writes: For thirty-five years nuclear nonproliferation was a major priority of US foreign policy. But now, in a throwback to early cold war power politics, President Bush has agreed to supply nuclear technology to India in blatant violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. A treaty you recall is law of the land. The House voted impeachment of Clinton for one felonious lie over one peccadillo; now Bush endangers the world, and the House is silent. Have you asked Boozman, Why are you silent?
--Impeach Bush
Peter Phillips is co-editor with Dennis Loo from Cal Poly Pomona of the The Case for Impeachment of Bush and Cheney scheduled for release this summer by Seven Stories Press. Phillips is a Professor of Sociology at Sonoma State University and Director of Project Censored.
PENTAGON RECRUITING
“Army of None: What the Military Recruiters Are Not Telling You” (FSTV), exposing the lies and deceits by recruiters.
--Doc. on police harrassment of anti-recruiting protesters (in Pittsburgh I think). By Mental-Revolution Productions. FSTV.
JUSTICE: PRISONS
--“Corrections,”: documentary on corporate prison-industrial complex, which is motivated by profit—that is, by increasing and sustaining prisons, increasing and hardening sentencing laws, decreasing alternative incarceration--, with minimal interest in rehabilitation. (one of the series “Breaking the Chains” over FSTV)
-- AETN, PBS (3-21): “The New Asylums” on “Frontline”: the nearly half a million mentally ill people serving time in U.S. prisons and jails. “Troop 1500” on “Independent Lens,” a Girl Scout troop assists daughters with mothers who have been convicted of serious crimes. “Frontline” (3-21).
FAILURE OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY
FSTV (Ch. 18, 3-20), Liberty News TV, “The Quinn Report,” juxtaposes the Democrats’ response to Bush’s State of the Union with what the Dems might have said for peace, justice, and ecology. Changes appearing however: the 40 Democrat military vets running for Congress. editor@libertynewstv.com, www.libertynewstv.org
ECOLOGY
--FSTV, “Life Running Out of Control”: Critique of bio-technology/genetic engineering (GE, modification GM), which is spreading throughout the world and increasing US government and corporate power (Monsanto’s Roundup, Dow, and other chemical companies) globally by controlling the world’s food supply (an aspect of globalization). But the film also tells about the global resistance in Canada (Monsanto vs. Schmeiser), India (Vandana Shiva), and other countries.
---DVD, “The Future of Food” (2004, 2hr. 30 min.), exposes the relationships among US agri, big business, and government in the development of biotechnology/genetically modified foods, and their impact upon small farmers.
GLBT
“The Perfect Response”
On Wednesday, March 1, 2006, at a hearing on the proposed Constitutional Amendment to prohibit gay marriage, Jamie Raskin, professor of law at AU, was requested to testify. At the end of his testimony, Republican Senator Nancy Jacobs said: "Mr. Raskin, my Bible says marriage is only between a man and a woman. What do you have to say about that?" Raskin replied: "Senator, when you took your oath of office, you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You did not place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible." The room erupted into applause.
WORLD
PEACE ACTIONS
--Peace Trek: “Jews, Muslims, Christians Cross Sahara Together,” TMN (3-20), sponsored by Breaking the Ice, a German nonprofit encouraging conflict resolution. “Trek Promotes Peace.”
--Nudity for Peace: “Venezuelans Pose Nude for American Artist,” TMN (3-20). The artist photographer, Spencer Tunick, has arranged group nudity around the world. “’The body represents beauty, love, and peace.”
--Preventing water wars: At the 4th World Water Forum in Mexico City, myriad small solutions were advocated to improve the conidition of the about 1.1 billion people lacking clean drinking water that kills 3.1 billion people a year. TMN (3-20), “Experts Suggest Small Projects to Solve Big Water Problems,” by Mark Stevenson (AP).
NONVIOLENCE IN ACTION
In the early hours of the 5th of August 2005 a group of planters entered AWE (Atomic Weapons
Establishment) Aldermaston and planted vines and fig trees. They were soon arrested for their
conversion of a nuclear weapons research facility into a peace garden.
One of the planters, Martin Smedjeback, reflects on what he calls the ripple effect of nonviolence - making peace with peaceful means. "I have been thinking thousands and thousands of hours on how to create peace in the world. For me the trial is not about a broken fence - it is about the world we want to create tomorrow."
See all about this bizarre process.
http://www.transnational.org/forum/meet/2006/Smedjeback_VineFig_Trial.html
See also TFF Nonviolence Forum about nonviolence and its relevance today
http://www.transnational.org/forum/Nonviolence/Nonviolence.html
The UN Charter commits members to work for "peace by peaceful means" (Article 1). Gandhi said: "Non-violence in politics is a new weapon in the process of evolution. Its vast possibilities are yet unexplored."
We at TFF explore it constantly. We are not discouraged for a second by the fact that we live in a world where people who work for nonviolence have often been killed or put in prison -- while mass murderers, war lords, nuclear fundamentalist terrorists go free. Undoubtedly nonviolence is much stronger...
TFF: Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research
http://www.transnational.org Vegagatan 25 S - 224 57 Lund Sweden
IRAQ WAR
The invasion and occupation of Iraq is symptomatic of a nation conditioned for war: Eisenhower’s invasion of Guatemala, Eisenhower/Kenndy/Johnson/Nixon intervention in Vietnam, Reagan’s invasion of Grenada, Bush I’s invasion of Panama (William Blum counts 43 since 1945); Congress handing over its war powers to a president, a compliant public. This is why we must create a Culture of Peace that can create a public opposed to the US Warfare State. Have you examined your own priorities lately?
--“Radioactive Contamination in Iraq,” one of 16 presentations at the International Tribunal on the U.S. invasion of Iraq. FSTV. (No mainstream media reportd the Tribunal; these 16 films are from Deep Dish TV.)
-- U.S. Iraq Bases Permanent & Locations for "Missile Defense"
Military builds up its bases in Iraq: From: "Global Network" globalnet@mindspring.com
U.S. officials talk of a long-term commitment, but they avoid using the word "permanent."
By Associated Press, March 21, 2006.
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/03/21/Worldandnation/Military_builds_up_it.shtml
From: "Global Network" globalnet@mindspring.com
--US Casualty Rate in Iraq Increasing Dramatically
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/032306J.shtml
Over the past month, the average rate at which US troops have been killed in Iraq has significantly fallen, but the rates at which they are being wounded have dramatically increased. In the 39 days from February 11 through March 21, 616 US soldiers were injured in Iraq, an average of 15.8 per day. Have you asked your newspaper why they are not reporting and showing photos of the injured?
--The New York Times | The Joy of Being Blameless
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/032306K.shtml
The contrast could not have been more stark, nor the message more clear. On the day that a court-martial imposed justice on a 24-year-old Army sergeant for tormenting detainees at Abu Ghraib with his dog, President Bush said once again that “Defense” Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was doing a "fine job" and should stay at his post. Are you now always putting “Defense” in quotation marks?
--An Interview With Juan Cole on Withdrawal From Iraq
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/032306P.shtml
Chalmers Johnson states: The military is out of control. As part of the executive branch, it's expanded under cover of the national security state. Back when I was a kid, the Pentagon was called the Department of War. Now, it's the Department of Defense, though it palpably has nothing to do with defense. Have you bought the OMNI bumper sticker on the Department of War?
--VIDEO SPECIAL | Latino March for Peace
A Film by Scott Galindez and Ted Sapphire
http://www.truthout.org/multimedia.htm
On March 12, 2006, Fernando Suarez del Solar and Pablo Paredes started a march with a coalition of the willing across 240+ miles in a quest for peace that aims at raising the Latino voice of opposition to the war in Iraq. The March will run from Tijuana, Mexico, all the way to the mission district of San Francisco, making strategic, symbolic and ceremonial stops along the way. The 241-mile march is inspired by Gandhi’s 1930 Salt March protesting British imperialism and will serve as a loud cry for an end to the bloodshed in Iraq. Where is NWA’s Latino Voice for Peace and Justice?
--VIDEO SPECIAL | Why Did We Go to War?
http://www.truthout.org/multimedia.htm
George Bush finally let Helen Thomas ask him a question after four years of ducking her. She asked him a simple question: "Why did we go to war?" Three years after the start of the war, he still has no answer that makes sense.
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