Saturday, September 16, 2006

"RECOGNIZED AS INDISPENSABLE BY CIVILIZED PEOPLES" RELEVANT PORTION OF ARTICLE 3 OF THE GENEVA CONVENTION: In the case of armed conflict…each Party to the conflict shall be bound to apply, as a minimum, the following provisions: (1) Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria. To this end the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned persons: (a) violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture; (b) taking of hostages; (c) outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating and degrading treatment; (d) the passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples.   This is the infamously unclear Article 3 cited by George W. Bush as "vague" and "subject to interpretation." You don't have to consult 50 years of case law and commentary by military lawyers. Almost every citizen who has not been hypnotized by Fox News or Talk Radio knows what cruel, humiliating, and degrading treatment is because we all have been humiliated, degraded, and treated cruelly at one time or another in some way or another, especially those of us who are non-rich, non-white, non-Christian, and non-conforming—You don't have to be an ex-POW to figure it out, though I imagine being locked in a concrete box for years at a time might clarify the issue for you.   Outrages against personal dignity abound in these United States after five long years of fear-mongering and war—What? You haven't have been taken aside at an airport security checkpoint and subjected to a strip search, and had the contents of your luggage tossed like a Caesar salad? Travel by air? You'll get your turn.   Never been profiled and pulled over by a traffic cop? Why, you must be as pretty as Ann Coulter or as studly as Karl Rove. Never been sexually harassed by a boss? Maybe you aren't as pretty as Ann or as studly as Karl.   Have you never been laid off, or outright fired, had your desk rifled and your personal things tossed in a box by the herpie (human resources person) and marched publicly from the building, all or in part because you did not participate with sufficient slavish enthusiasm in the workplace consensus reality, which very often has a religious or political dimension? If you are a true blue citizen living behind the Fox Curtain in Red America working as a corporate janissary to make a living and feed your family, it's likely you have, maybe more than once.   Never had your campaign signs stolen, your bumper sticker peeled off, your flyers ripped up or tossed in the dumpster, received anonymous threats through your mail slot, or otherwise had your right of free speech abrogated or suppressed? You must be a Republican. Or else you aren't trying hard enough.   We haven't even gotten to the really outrageous outrages against personal dignity. But sometimes it's the little things that really shake you. I was walking my beagle one night last week, and 3 policemen pulled up to say "Hi" one after another over the course of a few blocks. The reason, I suspect, is that I was wearing my digital camera on a lanyard around my neck, and carrying a small collaspible tripod, some neighbor or other saw the glint of metal, and called it in. That's how bad the fear has gotten. I had my camera and tripod because I wanted to take some pictures of some neon signs on the main avenue on the way home (which I did). When the last cop slowed to a stop beside me, I was beginning feel some personal outrage, and I said with some exasperation, "Is it illegal to walk my dog?" All he said was, "It's dark out here," and slowly pulled away.   Fear is what the man I am ashamed to call the President is selling. It is an outrage against the dignity of our nation. What has been called into question in this matter is not the character or motives of George W. Bush, it is our character as the people of this nation. Will we chose to live in and act out of fear? Then we have lost the war, no matter how many terrorists we torture and kill. Are we a civilized people, or not? 9:51:42 PM    comment []

"We must also provide our military and intelligence professionals the tools they need to keep our country safe."   George W. Bush     TOOL     TOOLS     NEW TOOLS     OLD TOOLS     PROFESSIONALS USING TOOLS     5:07:36 PM    comment []

What’s happening in Washington now is that the establishment political class—and that includes the military, moderate Republican and Democratic members of Congress, the jabbering pundits and op-ed writers, and the bulk of the thinktank denizens—are coming to grips with the stark fact that the war in Iraq is over. And that the United States has lost. It’s beginning to sink in, but it won’t be confronted directly by the political class until after the November elections. After that, all hell is going to break loose. If the Democrats win back Congress, it will happen faster—but even if the Republicans hang on, the gusting winds on Iraq now buffeting the White House will gather strength to become a full-fledged, Category 5 hurricane. Richard Dreyfuss, Iraq's Reality Sinks In, September 8, 2006 VIA James Wolcott and TomPaine.com 4:34:46 PM    comment []

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

MADE IN AMERICA? (6) This is a case for the flag from a soldier's coffin, a soldier who died in the service of our country, most likely in a foreign land. As you can see, pilgrims and seekers, this case is made to fit the triangle into which the white gloved honor guard folds and presents Old Glory, in solemn ritual, to a grieving widow, father, or mother. This case also has space for display of the dead soldier's decorations, and a photo of the soldier in dress uniform, as represented here by images printed on slick paper. This case is sold by Micheal's, a chain box store that sells arts and crafts supplies nationwide. Is this case for an American soldier's funeral flag made in the United States of America, or in a foreign land? Let's look at the back. This flag case is made in China. 9:19:43 AM    comment []

Saturday, June 17, 2006

THE NUMBER 2502 Current Time in Baghdad: 7:05:31 AM Sunday   10:11:15 PM    comment []

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

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Monday, May 29, 2006

LEST WE FORGET A group that is well represented among our nation’s war dead are immigrants who, although not citizens, willingly fought and died for their adopted country. For immigrants, often poor with few options, the armed forces historically has offered an avenue into the American mainstream. Currently, more than 37,000 immigrants, referred to as green-card soldiers, serve in the U.S. military. About a third of them are from Mexico and other Latin American countries. The immigrant soldiers who have died fighting for their country of choice have been awarded citizenship posthumously. MARINE LANCE CPL. JOSE ANTONIO GUITERREZ was the first U. S. soldier killed in the Iraq; killed by friendly fire on the first day of the Iraqi invasion. José Gutiérrez was not a U. S. citizen. He was an illegal immigrant. (GUATEMALA) PFC. JESUS FONSECA, 19, of Marietta, Georgia. Fonseca died in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near his position. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea. Died on January 17, 2005. (MEXICO) SPC. KENDALL K. FREDERICK, 21, of Randallstown, Maryland, died near Tikrit, Iraq, on October 19, 2005, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during convoy operations.  Frederick was assigned to the Army Reserve's 983rd Engineer Battalion, Monclova, Ohio. (TRINADAD) MARINE CPL. JOSE ANGEL GARIBAY, 21, of Costa Mesa, California, killed on March 23, 2003, in a fire fight near An Nasiriya with Iraqis who had deceived the Americans by feigning surrender. (MEXICO) MARINE GUNNERY SGT. JOSEPH MENUSA, 33, of Tracy, California. Killed in combat on March 27, 2003. He was assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California. (PHILLIPINES) SGT. DIMITRI MUSCAT, 21, of Aurora, Colorado. Muscat died in Balad, Iraq, of non-combat related injuries sustained earlier that day in Samarra, Iraq. The incident is under investigation. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. Died on February 24, 2006. (RUSSIA) SGT. GUY SANGUINETTE, 23, killed when a roadside bomb detonated near his Humvee while he was on patrol in Baghdad on October 29, 2004, (JAMAICA) SPC. JUSTIN B. ONWORDI, 28, of Chandler, Arizona, Killed in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near the vehicle he was traveling in while on patrol. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 12th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Died on August, 2004. (NIGERIA) MARINE STAFF SGT. RIAYAN A TEJEDA, 26, of New York, N.Y.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed April 11 during combat operations against enemy forces in northeast Baghdad. (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) SPC. IRVING MEDINA, 22, of Middletown, N.Y.; assigned to 4th Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; killed November 14, 2003, while traveling in a convoy when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Baghdad. (MEXICO) IRVING MEDINA 10:16:40 PM    comment []

FOUR CLICKS: TODAY WE REMEMBER WALK AT ARLINGTON WE MOURN THE DEAD THESE COLORS DON'T RUN   8:46:44 PM    comment []

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

PINK GOES CODE PINK WATCH AND LISTEN: PINK SINGS DEAR MR. PRESIDENT DR. OMED STOLE THIS LINK FROM LOVE DURING WARTIME 9:13:30 PM    comment []

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

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Monday, April 17, 2006

SCENIC TULSA: SIGNS OF THE TIMES Annie Beagle and I drove downtown to deliver fat envelopes of tax forms to the main post office this evening. This little nocturnal pilgrimage is something of a tradition that many people observe in Tulsa. Tonight, just past the traffic policemen with their reflective vests and orange flashlights, there was a small group of protesters encamped on the streetcorner. I do believe they object to rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar's, considering what Caesar is doing with the denari in these latter days. What lovely heresy. I gave them a thumb's-up, snapped a couple of dpics, and called out that they would be appearing on Dr. Omed's blog tonight. Dr. Omed sometimes keeps his promises. 'Nuf said. 10:53:15 PM    comment []

Thursday, April 13, 2006

"I THINK I WON!" Gahan Wilson has an answer. Oklahoma's own Flaming Lips ask the question: "What will you do with all your power?" THE FLAMING LIPS: THE YEAH YEAH YEAH SONG 8:49:50 PM    comment []

Saturday, March 25, 2006

A SIGN... THROUGH A DIRTY WINDSHIELD Dr. Omed was making his homeward commute one day last week, and spotted a black ribbon sticker on the back of the SUV in front of him. It wasn't one of those great honking tanks I dream of keying in the dead of night, but still, it was an SUV. The driver of the SSUV (Slightly Slimmer Utility Vehicle) may have attached a different meaning to the rear end of his or her car when he or she slapped the magnetic symbol on it than I did when I spray painted black ribbons on bridge abutments with a cardboard stencil, but... Some of my black ribbons survive around town; you just have to know where to look. Yellow is not this driver's color. Whatever the driver intends by it, it signifies a different meaning than that of the yellow ribbon, which I decode as: Support the troops=support the war=support Bush / No yellow ribbon=you're no patriot=you support the terrorists=traitor. It was a lot easier to smugly slap one of those yellow suckers on your bumper back when patriotism was a thousand or so US lives and a few hundred billion dollars cheaper, and Bush hadn't proclaimed victory at least once for every soldier killed. WHAT DO YOU THINK? 11:48:25 AM    comment []