Appeal for Redress

I am once again in debt to my friend Carl at Which Way To The Future? for the heads up on this effort by service members to have a response from their elected officials.   This will be an important statement that will co-exist with official hearings into the NeoCon War Machine if Democrats win control of congress.

As I have expressed on my other blogs... Please help vote these people out of office and help pave the way for accountability and constructive alternatives to the ever worsening conditions in Iraq...

Appeal for Redress

An Appeal for Redress from the War in Iraq

Many active duty, reserve, and guard service members are concerned about the war in Iraq and support the withdrawal of U.S. troops. The Appeal for Redress provides a way in which individual service members can appeal to their Congressional Representative and US Senators to urge an end to the U.S. military occupation. The Appeal messages will be delivered to members of Congress at the time of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January 2007.

The wording of the Appeal for Redress is short and simple. It is patriotic and respectful in tone.

As a patriotic American proud to serve the nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq . Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home.

If you agree with this message, click here.

The Appeal for Redress is sponsored by active duty service members based in the Norfolk area and by a sponsoring committee of veterans and military family members. The Sponsoring committee consists of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans For Peace, and Military Families Speak Out.

Members of the military have a legal right to communicate with their member of Congress. To learn more about the rights and restrictions that apply to service members click here.

Attorneys and counselors experienced in military law are available to help service members who need assistance in countering any attempts to suppress this communication with members of Congress.

Several members of Congress have expressed interest in receiving the Appeal for Redress.

Click here to send the Appeal to your elected representatives.

Continue Reading...

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Tags :: Politics · Iraq · Appeal for Redress · War Of Terror

Cheney Waterboarding

Thanks to the Vice-President of Torture for opening mouth and inserting waterboard...

Such a candid and spontaneous reaction to the reality he dwells in that thinks nothing of a little torture if it suits him...   Never mind that most confessions obtained under torture are not seen as effective for the effort of inflicting it or the worthless information it produces.

The White House transcript (hat tip to Dusty) is a very interesting read.   Cheney was in rare form and right at home with the wingnut radio hosts and just accidentally let the slip up of the day come blubbering out, without thought, contemplation or remorse...   How telling...   - ƒç

McCLATCHY
WASHINGTON BUREAU




Cheney confirms that detainees were subjected to water-boarding

By Jonathan S. Landay
McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney has confirmed that U.S. interrogators subjected captured senior al-Qaida suspects to a controversial interrogation technique called "water-boarding," which creates a sensation of drowning.

Cheney indicated that the Bush administration doesn't regard water-boarding as torture and allows the CIA to use it. "It's a no-brainer for me," Cheney said at one point in an interview.

Cheney's comments, in a White House interview on Tuesday with a conservative radio talk show host, appeared to reflect the Bush administration's view that the president has the constitutional power to do whatever he deems necessary to fight terrorism.

Continue Reading...

Dusty's 'Right To Be A Little Left of Center - ( A classic - not to be missed... )

Guardian.co.uk - Cheney endorses simulated drowning

Christian Science Monitor - Cheney confirms use of waterboarding

Majikthise... - Tony Snow lies about Dick Cheney's water boarding comments

Crooks and Liars - Tony Snow is lying for Cheney

Miami Herald - Cheney calls 'water-boarding' a valuable interrogation tool
The vice president confirmed that an interrogation technique that simulates drowning and has been called 'cruel and inhumane' was used on al Qaeda suspects.

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Tags :: Politics · Iraq · Waterboarding · Cheney · Torture · Secret Prisons · War Of Terror

Resolution of Inquiry :: Iran

      Thanks to Carl at Which Way To The Future? we have info that a bipartisan effort to gain access to White House documents relating to Iran has been successfully written into law.   Carl, a friend from the BlogMad Community works in D.C. and is proving to be a valuable resource for information that does not always hit the news channels or the blogs.   Thanks Carl...   - ƒç

Which Way To The Future?

Stop Bush's October Surprise Attack on Iran!

Just before Congress adjourned in the wee hours of Saturday morning, two bipartisan initiatives emerged to oppose the threatened U.S. attack on Iran, one led by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and the other led by Rep. Wayne Gilchrist (R-Md.). Kucinich introduced a resolution of inquiry demanding documents from the White House regarding such plans. The full text follows:

Requesting the President to provide to the House of Representatives certain documents in his possession relating to United States policy toward Iran.

Resolved, That the President is requested to provide to the House of Representatives, not later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution, all documents in the possession of the President relating to--

(1) the intelligence on Iran's nuclear energy program and Iran's capability to threaten the United States with nuclear weapons;

(2) any decision to remove the ruling regime from power in Iran, by means of United States military strikes, internal or external dissident groups and individuals, and by any other means;

(3) covert action (as defined in section 503 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 413b)) being conducted by any United States Armed Forces in Iran, and training by United States Armed Forces of any group or organization for the conduct of operations hostile to the current regime of Iran, including the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) and any individuals ever associated with MEK, and the Iranian Party of Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK) and any individuals ever associated with PJAK;

(4) creation of a new office in the Department of Defense similar in scope, function, or mandate to the former Office of Special Plans;

(5) ``Prepare to Deploy'' orders by the United States Navy to the waters near Iran; and

(6) all National Intelligence Estimates or any other intelligence community analysis regarding the consequences of attacking Iran, including the likelihood of increased prices of gasoline and oil and the economic impact to the United States of such increased gasoline and oil prices, the likelihood of increased attacks on United States troops in Iraq, and the growth of anti-American sentiment in the Islamic world.

Rep. Gilchrist issued the following press release, last Friday, under the headline "Gilchrest Asks the President To Open a Dialogue with Iran."

U.S. Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest (R_Maryland_1st) is leading an effort in Congress to ask President Bush to begin talks with Iran as soon as possible in hopes of averting another conflict in the Middle East.

In a letter sent to the President Friday, signed by 19 bipartisan members of the House, Gilchrest and his colleagues suggested that the last 26 years of a "no negotiation" policy has not yielded any positive results. By opening a dialogue with Tehran, the President can begin to try to solve this nuclear impasse diplomatically.

"If we hope to convince the American people, our allies, and the international community that we are committed to resolving this matter diplomatically, the U.S. must open up direct diplomatic channels with Tehran," the letter stated.

The letter also suggested that while talks with Iran's President may not be productive, there are other leaders and groups in Iran that would be receptive to such outreach. "We remind you that decision-making power under Iran's government is diffuse. Although we are all familiar with the inflammatory rhetoric of President Ahmadinejad, there are certainly other significant government bodies in Iran that have demonstrated moderation and an eagerness for dialogue. We believe that such bodies should be sought out for engagement."

There are seldom occasions in history where a great country should fear dialogue with a potential adversary. on the contrary, dialogue is needed to explain clearly the compelling nature of America's objectives in the Middle East. More than 25 years of isolating Iran has moved us farther from, not closer to, achieving these goals. No one can dispute that the U.S. has a strong track record of diplomatic successes in autocratic societies after opening negotiating channels.

"We believe America's diplomats are the best in the world and should be allowed to apply their talents to our conflict with Iran. We therefore respectfully urge you to begin the process of holding direct talks with Iran as soon as possible."

Other members who have signed the letter include: Gil Gutknecht (R_Minn.), Ron Paul (R_Tex.), Vic Snyder (D_Ark.), John R. "Randy" Kuhl Jr. (R_N.Y.), Roscoe Bartlett (R_Md.), Jim Kolbe (R_Ariz.), Elijah Cummings (R_Md.), Earl Blumenauer (D_Ore.), John J. Duncan Jr. (R_Tenn.), David Price (D_N.C.), Jim Leach (R_Ia.), John Olver (D_Mass.), Walter Jones (R_N.C.), Peter DeFazio (D_Ore.), Joe Schwartz (R_Mich.), Maurice Hinchey (D_N.Y.), Phil English (R_Pa.), C.L. "Butch" Otter (D_Id.).

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Tags :: Politics · Iran · Resolution of Inquiry · Congress · Anti War · Peace Movement