Archive for Saturday, November 1, 2008
Morales: Government will take over for DEA in Bolivia
"Bolivian President Evo Morales said Saturday that he was suspending the work of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Bolivia and that the government will take control of its activities in the war on drugs."
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Posted at 10:23 PM | 0 comments | Permalink
Judge orders review of wiretap memos
"A federal judge has ordered the Justice Department to produce White House memos that provide the legal basis for the Bush administration's post-Sept. 11 warrantless wiretapping program."
Posted at 10:21 PM | 0 comments | Permalink
Experts say FDA findings on compound misleading
"A panel of experts accused the Food and Drug Administration of creating 'a false sense of security' with its assessment that a compound used to make food and beverage containers poses no immediate health risks."
Posted at 10:19 PM | 0 comments | Permalink
UN says Colombian military executing civilians
"Colombia's U.S.-backed security forces are engaging in 'systematic and widespread' extrajudicial executions of innocent civilians as part of their counterinsurgency campaign, a top United Nations diplomat said Saturday."
Posted at 10:18 PM | 0 comments | Permalink
Is war in the Congo fueled by mining?
This analysis suggests that war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is due to fighting over gold, diamonds, and minerals. The analysis does not offer any solutions nor talk about alternative explanations for the conflict.
Who is involved? The president of the DRC is Joseph Kabila. Laurent Nkunda is a former general who has taken control of large parts of eastern DRC--near Rwanda. Many people believe that Hutu militants from the Rwandan genocide are also operating in DRC, but not for Nkunda who is sympathetic to the Tutsis. The United Nations has a mission in DRC.
Where is this happening? DRC is in central Africa. The civil war is happening mostly in eastern DRC, especially near Rwanda.
What can you do? Learn about and use non-violent ways to resolve conflict in your life. Write to your political leaders and ask them to get involved in the problems of central Africa. Support cultural exchanges--understanding of other cultures can reduce violence.
Context of the story:
Why is this important? The DRC is the third largest country in Africa, resource rich but economically poor, and home to violence and warlords.Who is involved? The president of the DRC is Joseph Kabila. Laurent Nkunda is a former general who has taken control of large parts of eastern DRC--near Rwanda. Many people believe that Hutu militants from the Rwandan genocide are also operating in DRC, but not for Nkunda who is sympathetic to the Tutsis. The United Nations has a mission in DRC.
Where is this happening? DRC is in central Africa. The civil war is happening mostly in eastern DRC, especially near Rwanda.
What can you do? Learn about and use non-violent ways to resolve conflict in your life. Write to your political leaders and ask them to get involved in the problems of central Africa. Support cultural exchanges--understanding of other cultures can reduce violence.
Posted at 9:47 PM | 0 comments | Permalink
Somali rape victim, 13, stoned to death
A 13-year-old girl complained that she was raped by three men, but the local leaders accused her of adultery and stoned her to death in a stadium with 1,000 spectators.
Who is involved? Somali leaders in Kismayo and the victim was Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow.
Where is this happening? Kismayo, or Chisimaio, is in Southern Somalia, which is on the Horn of Africa in eastern Africa.
What can you do? Support your local rape crisis intervention programs. Learn about and apply non-violent conflict resolution in your life. Finally, support programs that help establish fair and stable governments in foreign countries. Education programs, cultural exchanges, and rule of law initiatives may help lead to a functioning government in Somalia.
Context of the story:
Why is this important? Violence against women is especially common in the lawless lands of Somalia.Who is involved? Somali leaders in Kismayo and the victim was Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow.
Where is this happening? Kismayo, or Chisimaio, is in Southern Somalia, which is on the Horn of Africa in eastern Africa.
What can you do? Support your local rape crisis intervention programs. Learn about and apply non-violent conflict resolution in your life. Finally, support programs that help establish fair and stable governments in foreign countries. Education programs, cultural exchanges, and rule of law initiatives may help lead to a functioning government in Somalia.
Posted at 9:43 PM | 0 comments | Permalink
US kills al-Qaeda propaganda chief in Pakistan
One of the recent US missile strikes in Pakistan killed an important Qaeda leader. The US still refuses to confirm or deny attacking in Pakistan.
Who is involved? The US military is part of a NATO-led force in Afghanistan. Al Qaeda is a terrorist network with many people in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan. Pakistan is a US ally in the war on terror.
Where is this happening? North Waziristan is a tribal area in Northern Pakistan and near Afghanistan.
What can you do? Write to your political leaders and demand that the costs and benefits of attacking more countries be discussed in public.
Context of the story:
Why is this important? Incidents such as this make it clear that there are benefits to attacking targets in Pakistan, but no one in the US is actually talking about the costs and benefits and the best way to proceed.Who is involved? The US military is part of a NATO-led force in Afghanistan. Al Qaeda is a terrorist network with many people in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan. Pakistan is a US ally in the war on terror.
Where is this happening? North Waziristan is a tribal area in Northern Pakistan and near Afghanistan.
What can you do? Write to your political leaders and demand that the costs and benefits of attacking more countries be discussed in public.
Posted at 9:41 PM | 0 comments | Permalink
US border agents detain Mexican troops
US border patrol detained seven Mexican troops and their Hummer with a machine-gun turret on Friday. They were sent back to Mexico with their vehicle.
Who is involved? US Border Patrol and troops from the 23rd Regiment Motorized Cavalry of the Mexican Army.
Where is this happening? Between the Colorado river and the newly built border wall near Yuma, Arizona. The Colorado River forms parts of the borders between California, Arizona, and Mexico.
What can you do? Learn more about the failed war on drugs and the widespread corruption in Northern Mexico. Promote rule of law initiatives, educational exchanges, and cultural exchanges with Mexico.
Context of the story:
Why is this important? Some people think that the Mexican army helps drug smugglers by providing reconnaissance or by distracting US agents. According to the US, Mexican troops crossed the border 42 times between Oct. 2007 and Aug. 2008.Who is involved? US Border Patrol and troops from the 23rd Regiment Motorized Cavalry of the Mexican Army.
Where is this happening? Between the Colorado river and the newly built border wall near Yuma, Arizona. The Colorado River forms parts of the borders between California, Arizona, and Mexico.
What can you do? Learn more about the failed war on drugs and the widespread corruption in Northern Mexico. Promote rule of law initiatives, educational exchanges, and cultural exchanges with Mexico.
Posted at 9:38 PM | 0 comments | Permalink
British commander in Afghanistan resigns in disgust
The leader of British special forces in Afghanistan resigned. The official reason was "personal", but he said in his letter that "chronic underinvestment" in military equipment led to the deaths of four British soldiers in Afghanistan.
Who is involved? Major Sebastian Morley, head of Britain's SAS forces in Afghanistan. "Whitehall" is the center of the British government--somewhat equivalent to refer to "The Beltway" in the US.
Where is this happening? Major Morley was head of SAS in Afghanistan, which is between Pakistan and Iran. Britain is one of the NATO countries fighting in Afghanistan.
What can you do? Citizens from the US, the UK, France, and other NATO countries can write to their political leaders and ask them why troops are not properly equipped in Afghanistan. Ending the war in Afghanistan would also make this a moot issue: support efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan and the region.
Context of the story:
Why is this important? British forces have a large role in Afghanistan, and if their leader is unhappy with their equipment, then it may signal serious problems ahead.Who is involved? Major Sebastian Morley, head of Britain's SAS forces in Afghanistan. "Whitehall" is the center of the British government--somewhat equivalent to refer to "The Beltway" in the US.
Where is this happening? Major Morley was head of SAS in Afghanistan, which is between Pakistan and Iran. Britain is one of the NATO countries fighting in Afghanistan.
What can you do? Citizens from the US, the UK, France, and other NATO countries can write to their political leaders and ask them why troops are not properly equipped in Afghanistan. Ending the war in Afghanistan would also make this a moot issue: support efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan and the region.
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Posted at 9:28 PM | 0 comments | Permalink
US: 19 militants killed in Afghan operations
The US military reported that operations in Afghanistan have killed 19 militants. But, the US is "not commenting" on operations in Syria or Pakistan.
Who is involved? The US military, the US government, Afghan police, and militants fighting against the US-backed Afghan government.
Where is this happening? In eastern Afghanistan--very near the border with Pakistan.
What can you do? Write to your political leaders and ask them why there is no dialogue about the the attacks in Pakistan and Syria.
Context of the story:
Why is this important? The most important aspect of this report is that the US military usually makes a report when it attacks militants, but it is not making reports about its operations in Pakistan or Syria. Killing militants in those countries may be a good thing, but there is no public dialogue about the issue because the US government refuses to talk about it.Who is involved? The US military, the US government, Afghan police, and militants fighting against the US-backed Afghan government.
Where is this happening? In eastern Afghanistan--very near the border with Pakistan.
What can you do? Write to your political leaders and ask them why there is no dialogue about the the attacks in Pakistan and Syria.
Posted at 9:25 PM | 0 comments | Permalink
Almost 20% of mortgages are underwater
"At least 7.5 million Americans owe more on their mortgages than their homes are currently worth, according to a real estate research firm's report released Friday."
Posted at 5:17 PM | 0 comments | Permalink
