July 11, 2006
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TUESDAY POLITICS
As I was riding in to work listening to Air America like usual, they were discussing the astounding development that the Pentagon is going to release new guidelines for Gitmo (including suspected Al-Kaeda folks). And then they said that because it is now on the records that Bush ignored one of the Geneva Convention rules about prisoners (calling them instead enemy combatants) and those rules say defiance of them amount to a war crime, it could be expected that when this comes up in Congress some Democrat is going to bring those words up – Bush & War Crime. Of course, they followed by saying that won’t make a bit of difference except to just get those words out there on the air waves. A month ago three men killed themselves at the camp, and remember how the Bush news folks tried to spin it as an act of war against the U.S.? Apparently, that accomplished more movement than all the efforts of all the human rights groups so far. However, now that it has happened, Amnesty International has issued a statement: “By rounding up men from all over the world and confining them in an isolated penal colony without charge of trial, the United States has violated several U.S. and international laws and treaties.” Stay tuned.
Deep Thought: “Whenever I hear the sparrow chirping, watch the woodpecker chirp, catch a chirping trout, or listen to the sad howl of the chirp rat, I think: Oh boy! I’m going insane again.”
Today I am grateful for: Nonfiction.
Guess the Movie: “A word to you about escape. There is no barbed wire. No stockade. No watchtower. They are not necessary. We are an island in the jungle. Escape is impossible. You would die.” Answer: The Bridge on the River Kwai, 1957.
Winner: pray14me.
Experts: Iraq Likely to Become Major US Election Issue
By Jim Malone
Washington
11 July 2006
Opposition Democrats hope to seize control of one or both chambers of the U.S. Congress in the November mid-term elections, in large part because of voter dismay over the situation in Iraq. In the first of a two-part series, VOA national correspondent Jim Malone has more on how Iraq could impact this year’s U.S. congressional elections. (Rest of article here.)
Comments (23)
I am truly worried about the Supreme Court which is no longer even remotely in consensus. The court’s fracture is HUGE. Steven’s opinion about Bush’s authority is the first time the brakes have been applied to the war on terror in 5 years…
War and the products of war are always very sad. I really don’t know what to do or say about it anymore, especially in light of developments in North Korea, Iran, and Israel with the Hamas.
The movie was not what I first guessed, I was thinking Escape from Alcatraz, but it is The Bridge on River Kwai.
Have a great evening.
Tricia
Not a clue about the movie. I keep wondering what the gov. will do next to all of us.
Bridge on the River Kwai is the correct!
About the only thing Bush has gotten right during his two terms is he has definitely perfected the art of screwing up!
It upsets me and scares me a little that our president flaunts the very laws and freedoms he is supposed to be protecting.
It is just sic.
WEll I cannot spell the name of the movie but I know it. Pappion? A movie about a french penal colony.
Do not believe it will be the war that will cause the political shift, people vote their pocket books and the cost of fuel is just ruining many of us.
That’s Bridge on the River Kwai! Yeah I wish we could just get out of Iraq but I guess thats not so easy. But at least we have to treat prisoners fairly & respect their rights. Bush isnt doing any of that! Kev
Yes, the admin, they are fookers.
I would have guessed Papion (not sure on that spelling)…the movie about the French prision.
Hope all’s going well!
*hugs*
yeah, i’ve traveled a lot, but luckally no more trips so i can visit with friends and work on school project. what a joy.
my mom and Grandpa keep talking about this. i overheard some of it a couple days ago. they were comparing his presidency to Nixons. i’m not in any way caught up enough in politics to be disgussing it though. I’d say something way off and end up looking like a retarded fool.
RYC: The things that have drug me through this ordeal called dying are surely character building, but I would rather have gotten character a different way. I don’t see you talking about losing your job here, or maybe that is todays post..perhaps I’ll wait and check back. Life..man it’s tough isn’t it? Maybe this is why a spiritual teacher I had once calls Earth, the living Hell..marilyn
no it’s a baby peacock and it is growing, well it was one of three, and of course a momma and a daddy…. they are adorable.
Bridge on the River Kwai is my favorite war movie, if there can be such a thing. I see someone already guessed it. That’s a striking photo, too, by the way.
It is odd and unnerving to have such an apparently simple man leading a key country in such complex times.
Interesting to say the least. My grandfather taught me that I could lose frends discussing politics and religion…so I minimize myself to discussions with my daughter and a few friends who agree to disagree.
Saw you in my footprints so swung by to say hello.
…* /N
I’m commenting here about something from your last post. I think a women’s group sounds like such a neat idea. One thing I learned when I used to be a group leader and planner is that you can’t look for a consensus when planning a group activity. It never worked for me. Finally, I would plan something and tell the appropriate people that an activity was happening and hope I wouldn’t be the only one there. I always managed to seem to get enough people. I used to plan get togethers for college age/young adult singles for the church I used to attend.
thank you for your comment! your site is amazing – it’s great to see so much interest and concern for the world and others, as well as self-health and peace of mind! A joy to read…
This thing we have done will be like some others.. in time it will simply be shameful and few if any will attempt to defend it….
I didn’t think anyone would pay any attention to the Gitmo suicides, I’m happy to see I was wrong.
I won’t comment much, as I never have much to say, but I like to come here and just read sometimes.
g.
Why do countries abuse and torture prisoners? They end up losing public opinion. I watched a tv special on the civil war and how the north tortured the southern prisoners and it seems as if that is still causing friction & resentment to this day.
No matter what label they want to put on them, we ought to be ashamed of the way those prisoners have been treated.