U.S. News
An organization called Move America Forward put together a trip that carried some parents of US troops to Iraq. The reason is because the parents wanted to know where their child was killed and that maybe they could better understand what happened. This group left in early November but was only able to make it to Arbil, which is the capital of Kurdistan in Norther Iraq. Sadr City, which is the area the parents wanted to go was too dangerous. However, the local government and troops showed great support to the parents for their sacrifice. The group is looking to return some time in the near future, except they hope this time more families will join them. The trip cost over $5000 per person but most of the parents received donations from across the US which included checks from soldiers!
Early Release As Possible Solution to California’s Prison System Problem
California has the largest prison system in the United States, housing 170, 000 inmates. As of now they are operating at 70% over their designed inmate capacity, and some experts are saying the inmates and guards are at risk due to this problem. Therefore, a federal court is giving California 6 months to greatly reduce the number of inmates. California state officials have sent some inmates to other states, but due to the overcrowding of most states in the US it will be almost impossible to transfer enough inmates to satisfy the federal ruling. Another option that was mentioned is the early release of inmates, which I personally hope is an option they do not choose. more info >>
The Solution for Bad Customer Service: Cell Phone
Everyone has experience bad customer service at some point int there life; about once a week for me! It also seems that there is nothing that can be done to teach these people a lesson. Every time you get a hold of a manager/supervisor, all they say is “we will look into it” and yet nothing ever gets done. Well, now there is something that we can do to turn the tables on those guilty of “bad customer service”. And that is to use your cell phone to record them in the act. Just as what happened to Michael Richards (aka Kramer from Seinfeld), the cell phone can be a powerful tool for persuasion. Once the video was out on Richards something was done about it! more info >>
New Hampshire First to Offer Free Cervical Cancer Vaccine
A new vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, the number 2 cause of cancer deaths in women, and other Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) diseases was approved by the FDA in June 2006. HPV, which is the main cause of cervical cancer, is also the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States. It is estimated that 6.2 million people will become infected each year in the United States and that over half of all sexually active men and women will become infected with HPV at some point in their life. Gardasil, the vaccine used to prevent cervical cancer from HPV, has reported excellent results in its studies. Hopefully this act by New Hampshire to offer the free vaccine to girls will convince the other states to do the same. more info >>
Will the Military Draft Return?
The military draft has not been used in the US since 1973, which is when the US converted to an all volunteer military. Rep. Charles Rangel, democrat of New York, is proposing the reinstatement of the military draft to, in his ignorant opinion, help strengthen the US military and prepare us for any future problems that might occur in Iraq. This would prove to be a big mistake if somehow the military draft was reinstated. The reason is because our all volunteer military is working and to force men and women to join would demoralize them and our military. Whenever there is a tragic event in the US the men and women step up to defend our country, so there is no need for the military draft to be reinstated! more info>>
Donald Rumsfeld in Threat of Being Prosecuted
The former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is soon to be prosecuted for the alleged abuses at Abu Ghraib prison and at the US detention facility located in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. This is just another repercussion Donald Rumsfeld is facing since his resignation as US Secretary of Defense. The court filing is to be held in Germany because the German law allows for the prosecution of war crimes and associated wrongdoings that have taken place anywhere in the world.
The offenses based on the abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison has been described before by Haider Sabbar Abed al-Abbadi, whom describes to reporters the abuse he and several other prisoners underwent. There were also several pictures that showed the cruelty these prisoners had to face. I will not go into details as this has already been explained, however I think it is ironic that these prisoners were punished in the same prison Saddam Hussein used to torture his own prisoners.
There are also charges for the abuses that were committed at the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. This is mainly based on one individual, Mohammad al-Qahtani, in which the US has said is the 20th hijacker in the 9/11 terrorist attack. Donald Rumsfeld approved the interrogation plan that Qahtani underwent and the US has said that this interrogation produced valuable intelligence. However, Qahtani was forced nude & sexually humiliated, religiously humiliated and other disruptive interrogation techniques during his imprisonment at the US detention facility.
This is no coincidence that Donald Rumsfeld is being prosecuted just days after his resignation, because as the US Secretary of Defense, or any other high governing official, he was under legal immunity. Michael Ratner, who is the president of the Center for Constitutional Rights and is helping bring this legal action to Germany, said “The utter and complete failure of US authorities to take any action to investigate high-level involvement in the torture program could not be clearer.” He also mentions that the Military Commissions Act that was just recently passed protects these high governing officials from being prosecuted in the US.
Donald Rumsfeld is not the only defendant in this case. Others include former CIA director George Tenet, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and other US military and civilian officers. No comment has been made by the Pentagon because the case has yet to be filed. The Bush Administration is rejecting adherence to the International Criminal Court, ICC, because they feel that this will be used to unjustly prosecute US officials. So it seems that the Bush Administration is now being sought after for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have a bad feeling that this is only the beginning of the prosecutions that the Bush administration will receive.
Son Rapes His Own Mother!
In Albertville, Alabama officials say that 19 year old Gary Helms raped his mother after a dispute with his brother over a girlfriend. His mother was passed out drunk on the couch when the rape started and even after she woke up he continued to hold her down until he finished. There are not a lot of details as of now, but officers say that Gary does admit to it and will most likely be charged with 1st degree rape. For more info: Mother Raped By Her Own Son
The US and Global Warming
Global Warming is considered important to some people, but not so important to others. However, something does need to be done before it gets too bad to fix. The US is the leader in producing greenhouse gases and has been for some time. The reason is because they keep refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol, which is an amendment that regulates the amount of greenhouse gases a country puts out. So Global Warming in the US will continue until they sign the Kyoto Protocol or if the EPA can start reducing the greenhouse gases, which it is not doing as of now. For more info CLICK HERE
Truth Behind The Military Commissions Act of 2006
President Bush signed the Military Commissions Act of 2006 on October 17, 2006. With the signing of this act US citizens, if deemed by the President, Secretary of State or Tribunal, can be denied their rights. To me, US citizens rights should never be denied, especially those that are to be protected by the Geneva Conventions. President Bush said this act is to help the US in the war on terror which is understandable, but when the US citizens rights are in jeopardy then we have a serious problem. For more information Click Here: Truth Behind the Military Commissions Act of 2006
USS Intrepid Stuck in the Mud
The 63-year old aircraft carrier was to be moved to Bayonne, N.J. to undergo a 2-year restoration, but after about 15 feet the old ship decided it wasn’t going any further. For about a month or two before this failed moving attempt the crews moved over 27 feet of silt to help preparve. Several tugboats pulling at one time couldn’t even pull this ship out of the mud. This aircraft carrier has survived 5 kamikaze attacks and has also survided a torpedo, so it should be able to make it a few miles down the Hudson to get restored. However, no plans have been made as to when they will attempt to move the ship again so that they can start the restoration process. Officials are still saying that the restoration should be completed by fall 2008, and then the ship will be moved to her New York City berth.
