Bob Morris @ Nov 13th 2005 22:12 - Category: Unfiled ;
Flock is a new browser with innovative features and huge support for blogging. Read more about on my personal blog. (where that post, as well as this one, were posted via Flock.)
Bob Morris @ Nov 13th 2005 17:09 - Category: Unfiled ;
The US Senate, through a Bush ally, has overturned habeas corpus, the bedrock of English and American law for eight centuries that allows a prisoner to challenge his detention in court, for Guantanamo "detainees."
The Graham amendment will create a thousand points of darkness across the globe where the United States will be free to hold people indefinitely without a hearing and beyond the reach of U.S. law and the checks and balances of the courts enshrined in our Constitution. The last time this country suspended habeas corpus was for the internment of tens of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II, a travesty that is now universally recognized as a blot on our nation’s history. The purpose of the writ of habeas corpus has always been to relieve those wrongfully held from the oppression of unchecked executive power. The most reliable way to determine whether someone is properly held or a victim of injustice is to have a right to judicial review of the detention. This has been understood at least since the proclamation of the Magna Carta in 1215.
As has been the practice of this Administration, this latest scheme was accomplished stealthily and in secret. The Center for Constitutional Rights vows to continue to fight for the rule of law. We will not allow American democracy to be eroded a little at a time, until, finally looking around, we can longer recognize what has become of this democratic nation.
"First they came for the detainees, and I did nothing because I was not a detainee.."
Update: From Sue who found the actual act online
Requires reports on secret worldwide detention facilities:
(1) Report required.–Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence shall provide to the members of the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives a detailed report setting forth the nature and cost of, and otherwise providing a full accounting on, any clandestine prison or detention facility currently or formerly operated by the United States Government, regardless of location, where detainees in the global war on terrorism are or were being held.
(2) Elements.–The report required by paragraph (1) shall set forth, for each prison or facility, if any, covered by such report, the following:
(A) The location and size of such prison or facility.
(B) If such prison or facility is no longer being operated by the United States government, the disposition of such prison or facility.
(C) The number of detainees currently held or formerly held, as the case may be, at such prison or facility.
(D) Any plans for the ultimate disposition of any detainees currently held at such prison or facility.
(E) A description of the interrogation procedures used or formerly used on detainees at such prison or facility.
(3) Form of report.–The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in classified form.
SUBTITLE G–OTHER MATTERS
Policy on role of military medical and behavioral science personnel in interrogation of detainees (sec. 1071).
The committee recommends a provision that would require the Secretary of Defense to establish a uniform policy on the role of military medical and behavioral science personnel in interrogation of persons detained by the Armed Forces. The committee expects that in the development of the policy, the Department of Defense will seek the views of medical and behavioral health experts outside of the Department, including medical and behavioral science personnel, physicians, nurses, and psychologists; and scholars in medical ethics–scholars with civilian backgrounds.
The committee is aware that the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) has directed a policy review of the role of medical personnel in detainee operations, including humane medical treatment of detainees, reporting of alleged abuses, and maintenance of medical records. In addition, the committee is aware that the Surgeon General of the Army has directed an assessment of the role of medical personnel in detainee operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The committee is concerned that the February 2005 report of Vice Admiral Albert T. Church, III, on Department of Defense detention operations, found that `since neither the Geneva Conventions nor U. S. military medical doctrine specifically address the issue of behavioral science personnel assisting interrogators in developing interrogation strategies, this practice has evolved in an ad hoc manner.’ The committee concurs with the need for clarity on the role and status of medical personnel in interrogations, and believes that the Secretary should promptly address this issue.
(a) Submittal of Procedures for Status Review of Detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.–Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees, and to the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives, a report setting forth the procedures of the Combatant Status Review Tribunals and the noticed Administrative Review Boards in operation at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for determining the status of the detainees held at Guantanamo Bay.
(b) Procedures.–The procedures submitted to Congress pursuant to subsection (a) shall, with respect to proceedings beginning after the date of the submittal of such procedures under that subsection, ensure that–
(1) in making a determination of status of any detainee under such procedures, a Combatant Status Review Tribunal or Administrative Review Board may not consider statements derived from persons that, as determined by such Tribunal or Board, by the preponderance of the evidence, were obtained with undue coercion; and
(2) the Designated Civilian Official shall be an officer of the United States Government whose appointment to office was made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(c) Report on Modification of Procedures.–The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the committees of Congress referred to in subsection (a) a report on any modification of the procedures submitted under subsection (a) not later than 30 days before the date on which such modifications go into effect.
(d) Judicial Review of Detention of Enemy Combatants.
(1) In general.–Section 2241 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: "(e) No court, justice, or judge shall have jurisdiction to hear or consider an application for a writ of habeas corpus filed by or on behalf of an alien outside the United States (as that term is defined in section 101(a)(38) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(38)) who is detained by the Department of Defense at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba."
It also makes sure armed forces recruiters don’t overlook the home schooled and limits abortions for servicewomen in some way – I think they have to use their own funds and can only have abortions performed at medical facilities in the U.S. Still untangling the amendments on this one.
Bob Morris @ Nov 13th 2005 10:59 - Category: Unfiled ;
Microsoft will wipe Sony’s ‘rootkit’
Microsoft views the Sony copy-protection software as spyware and something to be killed. So does Computer Associates. And for good reason.
On Thursday, a wave of malicious software appeared in the wild that piggybacked on copy-protection technology installed on hard drives by Sony BMG Music Entertainment CDs.
The rootkit, which installs itself from some Sony music CDs when played on a PC, is so sloppily written that it leaves doors open for others to do damage. Not to mention that’s it’s difficult to de-install without harming your system and runs even when you aren’t playing a CD. This is a crystal-clear example of a greedy corporate pig caring only about maximizing their profits and not even slightly about the customer. Oh, did our software screw up your PC and leave you vulnerable to attack? Well, we have to protect ourselves from people copying our CDs. Golly Sony, then maybe millions of people will just have to stop buying your products as you appear to be slimy weasels.
Sony halts production of ‘rootkit’ CDs
Sony BMG Music Entertainment said Friday that it will suspend production of CDs with copy-protection technology that has been exploited by virus writers to try to hide their malicious code on PCs.
Note that Sony said "suspend" and did not say "stop." May they reamed with lawsuits and may it cost them millions in damages, negative publicity, and lost sales.
Bob Morris @ Nov 13th 2005 07:56 - Category: Anti-war ;
Third Anniversary of the "Shock and Awe" Invasion of Iraq
March 18-20, 2006
Saturday, March 18 - Sunday, March 19
Locally-Coordinated Antiwar Protests
Monday, March 20
Youth & Student
Day of Resistance to Imperialism
The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition joins with antiwar organizations globally in calling for March 18-20, 2006, to be Global Days of Action. This is the third anniversary of Bush’s criminal aggression against the people of Iraq .
On Saturday, March 18 and Sunday, March 19, 2006, locally-coordinated demonstrations will take place in cities and towns across the U.S. and around the world, including in Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle and many, many more. More info.
And on Dec. 17 in Los Angeles
4th annual Protest Vigil!
Bring the Troops Home Now!
End the Occupation of Iraq!
Sat Dec 17, 6 pm
Corner of Hollywood & Highland
This will be a big street corner demo of several hundred people in the tourist heart of Hollywood. Bring noisemakers, drums, banners and placards, and yourself!
Bob Morris @ Nov 13th 2005 07:10 - Category: Podcasts ;
Creó and his brother Derrick are Hurricane Katrina survivors from New Orleans. They lost just about everything but some clothes. FEMA was worse than useless.
Derrick spoke about this racist, utterly inadequate response by the goverment at the recent ANSWER LA War and Racism Forum.
Creó is a hip hop artist and just completed the final mix of "Hurricane Katrina", presented here for the first time on the web (and with his permission.)
mp3 (4:45, 1.7 mb)
Bob Morris @ Nov 13th 2005 07:09 - Category: Water ;
Was Macedonia’s civil war of 2001 provoked merely by the stated desire of the Albanian insurgents for more civil rights, or for their alleged desire to hack off the western part of that country? Was it merely a matter of ethnic hatreds, or were other strategic interests involved?
A few years ago, Sam Vaknin painted a general picture of the emerging water crisis around the world and how future conflicts might be at least surreptitiously shaped by rich nations’ common need to acquire and control water supply as lakes and rivers dry up or become salinated. In this context, the Macedonian conflict takes on new dimensions.
Here’s a crucial point.
It also seems likely that Macedonia’s "frozen conflict" will have to thaw out someday, with control of the ensuing flow being an item of top importance for the enemy sides. The stakes will be high, not only for Macedonia’s inhabitants but for international investors from high-water usage industries, who will be eager to be on the winning side.
AKA water privatization. Grab the water, then sell it to the highest bidder. I’m guessing international water speculators will not have the needs of Macedonians uppermost in their minds.
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