Army investigates self on torture, finds little fault

The study cites 94 cases of mistreatment, but incidents at Abu Ghraib are considered a single offense

You read that right, all the grotesque torture at Abu Ghraib was counted by the Army as just one case, and they concluded it, and all other incidents, were merely “regrettable.” Plus, of course, it was all due to just a few bad apples with no fault found with higher-ups.

Even some Republicans found the report suspect.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) continued the questioning about ghost detainees, asking the inspector general at the end of a pointed exchange: “And … the question then springs to mind: What else didn’t you investigate? If we didn’t investigate a gross and egregious violation such as that, then I mean I’m curious what else you didn’t investigate.”

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‘They can have it’ U.S. pulls back from turbulent Iraq province

After more than a year of fighting, U.S. troops have stopped patrolling large swaths of Iraq’s restive Anbar province, according to the top American military intelligence officer in the area.

Most U.S. Army officers interviewed this week said the patrols in and around the province’s capital, Ramadi - home to many Iraqi military and intelligence officers under Saddam Hussein - have stopped largely because the soldiers and commanders there were tired of being shot at by insurgents who’ve refused to back down under heavy American military pressure.

Translation: The US gave up and has lost a key province.

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Rumsfeld knew all about me, says American ‘jailer’ held in Kabul

The saga of “Jack” Idema, the American arrested for running a private interrogation centre in Afghanistan, took a new twist yesterday when he claimed that he was acting with the knowledge and agreement of Donald Rumsfeld’s office.

Mr Idema, who has been accused of having a makeshift jail in which detainees were hung by their feet, claimed that US authorities “condoned and supported” his freelance activities.

He told reporters: “We were in contact directly by fax and email and phone with Donald Rumsfeld’s office.

The Pentagon is now admitting they took prisoners provided by Idema. He and two others are on trial for “ torture, hostage taking and running a private jail “

Military admits accepting prisoner from civilians

The U.S. military acknowledged yesterday that it had accepted an Afghan prisoner in May from three American civilians now suspected of being vigilantes running their own private jail.

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RNC protest news. Permit granted, sort of.

Court ruling halts restrictive NYPD practices in anticipation of RNC.

In a case brought by the New York Civil Liberties Union, a Manhattan Federal Court today released an order blocking the NYPD from using certain tactics at large demonstrations expected to take place at the Republican National Convention.

In a 78-page decision, District Court Judge Robert Sweet ruled that the NYPD cannot close streets and sidewalks leading to demonstration sites without informing the public about alternate ways to get to the demonstrations. Judge Sweet also ruled the NYPD cannot use “pens” made of interlocking metal barricades at demonstrations without assuring that demonstrators can reasonably get in and out of them. And the judge’s decision said the NYPD cannot conduct generalized searches of the bags of people seeking to enter demonstration sites.

UPJ agrees to West Side route

After a protracted and public feud with the city, United for Peace and Justice announced yesterday that it would accept the Police Department’s route for a massive anti-Bush protest during the Republican National Convention.

This is not a good route. NYC, as is their wont, actively tries to stop antiwar demos from happening, and UPJ was not able to negotiate a better route.

From the UPJ Open Letter

We did not make this decision lightly. Our central goal for our August 29 event has always been to maximize the numbers of people out on the streets in opposition to the Bush agenda. That’s why we chose Sunday and why we pursued permits. A wide range of other events, which we support, are being planned throughout the convention week, with varying tactics and goals. With the permits for both our march and rally now secured, our August 29 protest will be an event that people from every walk of life can participate in.

Several weeks ago, we won our fight to march past Madison Square Garden, the site of the Republican National Convention, but the rally site remained contested. We have been fighting hard for months to secure the Great Lawn in Central Park, and many of you have supported us in that fight.

Every alternative we proposed to City officials was rejected. Every attempt at resolving concerns was dismissed. The City cut off negotiations and refused to meet with us. Clearly Mayor Bloomberg, a pitbull for the Bush Administration and the Republican Party, is doing everything he can to silence dissent and erode basic Constitutional rights.

RNC Protest Rights.org
From NYC ACLU. News, updates, schedules of the multiple protests, etc.

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The Kerry campaign’s one-word weapon

Right here.

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Science marches on

Army rations rehydrated by urine

Would you eat food cooked in your own urine? Food scientists working for the US military have developed a dried food ration that troops can hydrate by adding the filthiest of muddy swamp water or even peeing on it.

The ration comes in a pouch containing a filter that removes 99.9 per cent of bacteria and most toxic chemicals from the water used to rehydrate it, according to the Combat Feeding Directorate

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Music Plasma

Enter the name of an musical artist. A visual display shows that musician and those related to them musically, radiating out in concentric circles. Click a name, and you get a list of their recordings available for purchase from Amazon - an innovative piece of software, indeed.

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