Contractors are hired guns..who knew?
The title is tongue in cheek of course, we all know why the mercenaries are in Iraq and Afghanistan. But this piece in the NYT really lays it all out. From the writeup:
Under the cover of a benign government information-gathering program, a Defense Department official set up a network of private contractors in [...]
Fed Judge lets Blackwater murderers off the hook.
From the NYT via Crooks and Liars:
In a significant blow to the Justice Department, a federal judge on Thursday threw out the indictment of five former Blackwater security guards over a shooting in Baghdad in 2007 that left 17 Iraqis dead and about 20 wounded.
The judge cited misuse of statements made by the guards in [...]
David Baldacci, at it again -
This post is one of my “classics” from South by Southwest. I say that because it is one to which people have returned over the years. It was first posted November 9, 2007. Baldacci is still a very popular author.
Best selling novelist, David Baldacci’s new book Stone Cold came out this week, [...]
What Now Army Of One?
Now the United States is the only remaining occupier of Iraq. The rest of the “Coalition Of The Willing” have taken their toys and soldiers and left it all up to the people of Iraq…and America. Knowing the people there want to be left alone to deal with their problems other nations have the sense [...]
It’s Time To Leave…No…I Mean Really Leave
A little while back US troops were withdrawn from major Iraq cities and the world cheered. The cheering wasn’t for them as much as their reduced presence in the general population of Iraq. Both the Iraqi’s and our troops were relieved that the new puppet government felt strong enough to keep the peace in their [...]
The First Step Can Be The Hardest
Looking back over the big news from the past week I was bored. Another big wig poliician got caught dipping his wick in someone besides his significant other and I just didn’t care. He is like King David from the Old Testament after all.
Big stars ded both from dreaded disease and sudden heart failure and [...]
11,000 Iraqi’s still being held by US Government
From Jurist:
The US-led Multi-National Force in Iraq said Tuesday that it is still holding 11,057 Iraqi prisoners in three separate camps throughout the country. The prisoners currently held in the three US camps, Camp Taji, Camp Cropper, and Camp Bucca, will either be released or transferred to Iraqi authorities as the military works to [...]
US Contractors arrested by Iraq officials.
This will be interesting to watch, as the contractor and his company have ties to KBR..from Jurist:
Five US contractors have been arrested by Iraqi officials for their alleged involvement in the May death of an American in Baghdad’s Green Zone, according to Sunday reports. The suspects are not yet charged but may be the first [...]
An important message from IAVA
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America has released a new ad. It brings light to a dark subject..how to talk to a loved one that is returning from one of Bush’s wars. Watch it below, its only 32 seconds of your life ok?
They want to keep the conversation going about our returning soldiers and what [...]
OLC Torture Memos revealed – an Overview
President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder should be given a great deal of credit for releasing the latest memos produced by the Bush Office of Legal Counsel, to the American Civil Liberties Union. Glenn Greenwald makes this point strongly in his first post following the release of the mostly unredacted material. It [...]
Six years ago the lights went out in Iraq
Bush invaded Iraq six years ago today.From ICasualties.org:
U.S. Confirmed Deaths
Reported Deaths: 4259
Confirmed Deaths: 4258
Pending Confirmation: 1
DoD Confirmation List
From Just Foreign Policy.org
My video from last years disgusting anniversary.
Sphere: Related Content
August 31, 2010
US President Barack Hussein Obama announced today that combat in Iraq would end August 31, 2010.
The plan he laid out also includes a provision to leave 50 thousand troops for peacekeeping purposes.
Looks like McCain will get the thousand years of occupation he said he wanted and the official fighting will be over.
YAYYYYY?????
If they really [...]
US Army Sgt convicted of murdering Iraqis
From Jurist:
US Army Sgt. Michael Leahy Jr. was convicted Friday on charges stemming from the 2007 deaths of four Iraqi detainees, and was given a life sentence at a court-martial at a US military base in Germany. Leahy will have a possibility of parole after being dishonorably discharged, having his rank reduced to private, and [...]
With recent developments on Pakistan Afghanistan Border the front line for generations to come is obvious!
US: Pakistan Deal Is a ‘Negative Development’
NATO: Troop Surge in Afghanistan Will Help
The front lines are still just getting set
Allies alarmed by Pakistan deal with Taliban
I am alarmed that in the past I have heard that the Government vowed to stay out of certain areas because as far as we are led to believe it [...]
Pondering the photo ban…
Lincoln’s birthday and the President’s Day holiday brought with them television shows covering the Civil War…and more than a few explorations of the impact war photography had on the publics view of that war.
The American Civil War was brought home to many because it was fought in their front yards…and to many more through battlefield [...]
