St, Patrick's Day 
Google prevails in copyright suit
Court dismisses infringement claim...By Elinor MillsPublished: Friday 17 March 2006In a legal win for Google, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by a writer who claimed the search giant infringed on his copyright by archiving a Usenet posting of his and providing excerpts from his website in search results.
The lawsuit was filed by Gordon Roy Parker, also known as Ray Gordon, who publishes his writings under the business name of Snodgrass Publishing Group. Parker, of Philadelphia, also posted a chapter of one of his e-books on the Usenet bulletin board network, a collection of thousands of discussion forums called newsgroups.In his 2004 lawsuit against Google, Parker alleged that the search giant violated copyright law by automatically archiving a copy of his posting on Usenet and by providing excerpts from his website in search results.However, the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ruled on Friday that under case law, Google's activities, akin to those of an ISP, do not constitute infringement.
The court said: "When an ISP automatically and temporarily stores data without human intervention so that the system can operate and transmit data to its users, the necessary element of volition (wilful intent to infringe) is missing."The ruling cited a January decision in the Field vs Google case in federal court in Nevada which concluded that cached versions of web pages Google stores and offers as a part of many search results do not infringe copyright.The ruling comes after a decision last month in which a federal judge in Los Angeles said portions of Google's image search feature, which displays thumbnail versions of images found on adult photo site Perfect 10 and others, are likely to violate US copyright law.The search engine also faces copyright lawsuits filed last year by authors and publishers groups over its controversial Library Project book-scanning scheme, and a lawsuit filed by Agence France Press and threat of litigation from the World Association of Newspapers for aggregating headlines and photos without permission or compensation.In his lawsuit, Parker also claimed Google was liable for defamation because the search company archived allegedly defamatory messages posted by Usenet users and that Google was invading his privacy by creating an "unauthorised biography" of him, the court said. However, the court said Google is immune because it either archived or provided access to content that was created by a third party.Most of the 11 claims in the lawsuit, which also included racketeering, negligence, abuse of process and civil conspiracy, were dismissed for failure to state a claim. Others were dismissed because Google was found not to be held liable under certain statutes.The ruling also complained about the "rambling" and "unwieldy" lawsuit, which named "50,000 John Does" as defendants. Parker, a former paralegal, said he wrote the complaint himself and does not have a lawyer.Parker said he will appeal the decision. "The court is confused about what cache means," he said in a telephone interview. "Google really is a third-party republication."He complained: "Google takes my content, uses it to bolster its search engine and attracts traffic to which they pitch advertising from my competitors."Michael Kwun, litigation counsel for Google, wrote in an email: "The Parker decision is one of several recent rulings finding that Google's services are consistent with principles of copyright law. Indeed, Judge Surrick relied in part on Judge Jones' decision in Field vs Google. We are very pleased with this decision."Elinor Mills writes for CNET News.com
"Cock-A-Doodle-Do""Okeydoke"
The Icons of American Power look good on Bush.
Said differntly : "He cleans up well."
THE ONE PREDICTION I found the most interesting is the statement, "In an op-ed article in The Wall Street Journal, he warned that a military campaign against Mr. Hussein, while certain to succeed, "would be very expensive - with serious consequences for the U.S. and global economy - and could well be bloody," including his unleashing of "whatever weapons of mass destruction he possesses."The risk of this was minimal. Bush knew by the UN Inspectors that there were no weapons of mass destruction. Bush never intended to remediate the circumstances with Iraq. The UN Inpsectors simply validated what the Bush White House already knew. There were no weapons of mass destruction. The chances of a failed initial invasion due to a strong retaliation by Hussain was impossible. The rest, as they say, is history. Iraq never attacked Israel, nor did it unleash chemical and biological weapons against invading forces. Al-Qaeda didn't expand its anti-U.S. terrorism. But a lot of the other fears that preceded the U.S. invasion of Iraq three years ago have come true: increased anti-American feeling in the Arab world; a drain on the U.S. Treasury and on the nation's military; distraction from pressing the anti-terrorism effort against Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda; and a civil war that confirmed Iraq was easier to invade than to leave. In addition, the path toward democracy in the region has been far more difficult, both in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East. As a result, the American public increasingly sees President Bush's decision to invade Iraq not as the signal success for which he had hoped, but as a mistake that threatens to mar forever his place in history. Ironically, the most accurate forecast of what has unfolded in Iraq came from two men to whom the president probably should have paid greater heed: his father, former President George Bush, and Brent Scowcroft, the elder Bush's close friend and former national security adviser. Only they know what, if anything, the elder Bush told his son on the eve of the war. But we know what he and Scowcroft wrote in a 1998 article and book defending their conduct of the 1991 Persian Gulf War, especially the decision not to invade Iraq to topple Saddam Hussein. "While we hoped that popular revolt or coup would topple Saddam, neither the U.S. nor the countries of the region wished to see the breakup of the Iraqi state," they wrote. "We were concerned about the long-term balance of power at the head of the Gulf. "Trying to eliminate Saddam, extending the ground war into an occupation of Iraq, would have violated our guidelines about not changing objectives in midstream, engaging in mission creep, and would have incurred incalculable human and political costs." Some of those comments, to be sure, stemmed from the way that the first President Bush had mobilized an international coalition to oust Hussein from Kuwait. But their underlying concerns about the region proved to be true. As they noted, in their most prescient comments: "Had we gone the invasion route, the U.S. could conceivably still be an occupying power in a bitterly hostile land. It would have been a dramatically different - and perhaps barren - outcome." More than four years later, as President George W.
Bush prepared to invade Iraq, Scowcroft issued a similar warning that proved mostly true. In an op-ed article in The Wall Street Journal, he warned that a military campaign against Mr. Hussein, while certain to succeed, "would be very expensive - with serious consequences for the U.S. and global economy - and could well be bloody," including his unleashing of "whatever weapons of mass destruction he possesses." As it turned out Iraq never attacked Israel, nor did it unleash chemical and biological weapons against invading forces. Al-Qaeda didn't expand its anti-U.S. terrorism. But a lot of the other fears that preceded the U.S. invasion of Iraq three years ago have come true: increased anti-American feeling in the Arab world; a drain on the U.S. Treasury and on the nation's military; distraction from pressing the anti-terrorism effort against Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda; and a civil war that confirmed Iraq was easier to invade than to leave. In addition, the path toward democracy in the region has been far more difficult, both in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East. As a result, the American public increasingly sees President Bush's decision to invade Iraq not as the signal success for which he had hoped, but as a mistake that threatens to mar forever his place in history. Ironically, the most accurate forecast of what has unfolded in Iraq came from two men to whom the president probably should have paid greater heed: his father, former President George Bush, and Brent Scowcroft, the elder Bush's close friend and former national security adviser. Only they know what, if anything, the elder Bush told his son on the eve of the war. But we know what he and Scowcroft wrote in a 1998 article and book defending their conduct of the 1991 Persian Gulf War, especially the decision not to invade Iraq to topple Saddam Hussein. "While we hoped that popular revolt or coup would topple Saddam, neither the U.S. nor the countries of the region wished to see the breakup of the Iraqi state," they wrote. "We were concerned about the long-term balance of power at the head of the Gulf. "Trying to eliminate Saddam, extending the ground war into an occupation of Iraq, would have violated our guidelines about not changing objectives in midstream, engaging in mission creep, and would have incurred incalculable human and political costs." Some of those comments, to be sure, stemmed from the way that the first President Bush had mobilized an international coalition to oust Hussein from Kuwait. But their underlying concerns about the region proved to be true. As they noted, in their most prescient comments: "Had we gone the invasion route, the U.S. could conceivably still be an occupying power in a bitterly hostile land. It would have been a dramatically different - and perhaps barren - outcome." More than four years later, as President George W.
Bush prepared to invade Iraq, Scowcroft issued a similar warning that proved mostly true.
In an op-ed article in The Wall Street Journal, he warned that a military campaign against Mr. Hussein, while certain to succeed, "would be very expensive - with serious consequences for the U.S. and global economy - and could well be bloody," including his unleashing of "whatever weapons of mass destruction he possesses." As it turned out, the Iraqi president possessed none, and the initial military campaign was quick and minimally costly. But as Scowcroft forecast, "A military campaign would have to be followed by a large-scale, long-term military occupation" and "is certain to divert us for some indefinite period from our war on terrorism." "Possibly the most dire consequences would be the effect in the region," he wrote. "The shared view in the region is that Iraq is principally an obsession of the U.S. The obsession of the region, however, is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "There would be an explosion of outrage against us. We would be seen as ignoring a key interest of the Muslim world in order to satisfy what is seen to be a narrow American interest."
Three years later, the likelihood of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian dispute is more remote than when Bush entered office. Democratic elections produced a hard-line Palestinian government in place of a more moderate one. In Iraq, meanwhile, elected officials bicker over how to divide power, while civil war intensifies at the very time that domestic political pressures are forcing the impending withdrawals of Western forces, both British and American. Six weeks after the March 2003 invasion, Bush proclaimed that "major combat operations in Iraq have ended ... the United States and our allies have prevailed." Nearly three years later, that happy day seems even further away than it did then.
Carl P. Leubsdorf is Washington bureau chief of the Dallas Morning News. Readers may write to him at cleubsdorf@dallasnews.com.
Michael Moore Today
3rd Anniversary of Iraq War
A Call for a Week of Local Action: March 15-22, 2006
March 19th will mark the third anniversary of a war that never should have happened -- a war based on lies that continues to devastate the lives of thousands, both in Iraq and the United States.
United for Peace and Justice joins our partners in the global antiwar movement in calling for a massive outpouring of opposition to the war in Iraq. We are urging opponents of the war to organize a wide array of events in their hometowns for the entire week surrounding this anniversary. More than 500 actions are planned in all 50 states, as well as many more in countries around the world.
Some highlights: On March 15, UFPJ will join MediaChannel to kick off the week of peace and justice events with a National Day of Local Media Protest. On March 16, youth and students all over the country will stand up against 3 years of unnecessary war and its impact on their generation. During the week leading up to the 19th, two important marches -- the Veterans and Survivors March for Peace and Justice from Mobile to New Orleans and Peregrinacion por la Paz from Tijuana to San Francisco -- will be underway, each dramatically demonstrating how the war in Iraq is destroying our communities at home.
Find a 3rd Anniversary event in your area:
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?list=type&type=96
"Go see this movie!" -- Michael Moore
http://www.michaelmoore.com/
V for Vendetta
By John DeFore / Hollywood ReporterAUSTIN -- In a political environment that can brew controversy out of allegorical children's fables or a documentary about penguins, it is hard to imagine the intensity of feeling that will greet "V for Vendetta," a movie whose heroes are terrorists. One foresees news talk shows in which red-faced pundits denounce the filmmakers and call for boycotts. Given a film as entertaining and solidly crafted as this one, such attention could turn into strong boxoffice.
Of course, plenty of films -- particularly those set in dystopian futures like this one -- identify with revolutionaries. But most put heavy sci-fi clothing on their brave new worlds, while "V" takes pains to tie its reality to our own. Although based on a comic book, it isn't as heavily stylized as a superhero movie. Its score and production design, both rich and inviting, are heightened without suggesting that this near-future London is an outright fantasy, though the new government, a restrictive state led by John Hurt's Sutler, is draped in some awfully Nazi-ish iconography.
If the film's look and feel refuse to flee from the real world, its dialogue takes every chance to connect to it. We are told about the recent past, that "America's war grew worse and worse, and eventually came to London." Hot-button terms like "rendition" are sprinkled about; dissidents are handled as in a third-world dictatorship; and our hero (who calls himself V) lectures citizens who have surrendered their liberties to a government that promised to protect them from terrorism.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=6225
The Trailer
http://vforvendetta.warnerbros.com/trailer.html
Dinner With Dick in Charleston Tonight:
Cheney plans Friday visit to Charleston
Air Force Base, banquet among stops
BY SCHUYLER KROPF
The Post and Courier.
http://www.charleston.net/stories/?newsID=75802§ion=localnews
Driving Directions
http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?addr=105+meeting+street&csz=Charleston,+SC&country=us&new=1&name=&qty=
Four influential Latino peace activists will lead a 241 mile quest for peace!
Citizens for PabloMain Contacts:
Pablo Paredes (619) 857-4947
pablopare@gmail.com
Victor Paredes (917) 864-9179
vicparedes@msn.com
On March 12, 2006 Fernando Suarez del Solar, Pablo Paredes, Camilo Mejia and Aidan Delgado will lead a coalition of the willing across a 241 mile quest for peace that aims at raising Latino voice of opposition to the War in Iraq. The March will run from Tijuana, Mexico all the way to The Mission district of San Francisco making strategic, symbolic and ceremonial stops along the way. The 241 mile march is inspired by Gandhi’s 1930 Salt March protesting British imperialism and will serve as a loud cry for an end to the bloodshed in Iraq.
Latinos represent nearly 15% of the US population, 11% of the US military and an estimated 20% of the fallen service members in the first months of the invasion of Iraq. The Latino population is a growing force in the US and their voice must be an active part of the more than 60% of US citizens that oppose the war in Iraq. That’s why on March 12th, 4 Latinos of different ages, nationalities and hometowns will come together to lead the Latino community in a loud and definitive call for an end to the war in Iraq. Because of their unique experiences with this war; Fernando, Pablo, Camilo and Aidan are dedicated to working to end the bloodshed in Iraq.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=5919
Latino Moritorium March:
On March 12, 2006 Fernando Suarez del Solar, Pablo Paredes, Camilo Mejia and Aidan Delgado will lead a coalition of the willing across a 240+ mile quest for peace that aims at raising Latino voice of opposition to the War in Iraq. The March will run from Tijuana, Mexico all the way to The Mission district of San Francisco making strategic, symbolic and ceremonial stops along the way. The 241 mile march is inspired by Gandhi’s 1930 Salt March protesting British imperialism and will serve as a loud cry for an end to the bloodshed in Iraq.
http://www.swiftsmartveterans.com/
Bush Approval Falls to 33%, Congress Earns Rare Praise
Dubai Ports Fallout
Released: March 15, 2006
Navigate this report
Summary of Findings
Summary of Findings
In the aftermath of the Dubai ports deal, President Bush's approval rating has hit a new low and his image for honesty and effectiveness has been damaged. Yet the public uncharacteristically has good things to say about the role that Congress played in this high-profile Washington controversy.
Most Americans (58%) believe Congress acted appropriately in strenuously opposing the deal, while just 24% say lawmakers made too much of the situation. While there is broad support for the way Congress handled the dispute, more Americans think Democratic leaders showed good judgment on the ports issue than say the same about GOP leaders (by 30%-20%).
http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=271
New Orleans on March 19th or Bust !
WAR VETS AND STORM SURVIVORS PLAN EPIC MARCH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
C/o VFP * 216 South Meramec Ave. * St. Louis, MO * 63105 *
www.vetgulfmarch.org
WAR VETS AND STORM SURVIVORS PLAN EPIC MARCH
February 13, 2006 – Veterans For Peace, the turbulent new Iraq Veterans Against the War, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, and Gold Star Families for Peace – all national organizations demanding a US withdrawal from Iraq – will march with hurricane survivors, beginning March 14, 2006, from the historic Stone Street Baptist Church in Mobile for five days, through three states down coastal Highway 90, and arrive in New Orleans on March 19, the third anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq. They are demanding not only an end to the Iraq war, but a large increase in resources to the Gulf Coast, with those resources being placed under “democratic control by the actual survivors, along with an unconditional ‘right of return’.”
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=5881
ATTENTION MARCHERS
Stories and Photos From The March"As registrants, journalists, et al, who plan to attend the march"
NEW DEPARTURE AND ASSEMBLY POINT 13-14 MARCH :
100 BESSEMER AVENUE, PRICHARD AL There will be one shuttle from New Orleans to Mobile on March 13th, a
VFP bus, departing NOLA Airport at 6 PM from a designated point (watch
this page for specifics, or call March Coordinator Elliott Adams at
518-441-2697 after March 10th). All who cannot make this shuttle,
contact Ward Reilly (225-766-1364) or Michael Cuzzort (504-427-0938).
There are a very few hotel/motel rooms put on reserve (but not paid
for) for Mobile AL on March 13 (Check with Paul Robinson at
251-604-1837). We will have camping space available on the 13th,
indoors and out, near our new departure point at 100 Bessemer Avenue,
Prichard, AL (just outside Mobile).
http://www.vetgulfmarch.org/
Bush is disposable to Repuglican strategy, but, the legislature is not. Bush needs his Repuglican legislature for two more years of abuse of the USA treasury.
Bush Approval Falls to 33%, Congress Earns Rare Praise
Dubai Ports Fallout
In the aftermath of the Dubai ports deal, President Bush's approval rating has hit a new low and his image for honesty and effectiveness has been damaged. Yet the public uncharacteristically has good things to say about the role that Congress played in this high-profile Washington controversy.
Most Americans (58%) believe Congress acted appropriately in strenuously opposing the deal, while just 24% say lawmakers made too much of the situation. While there is broad support for the way Congress handled the dispute, more Americans think Democratic leaders showed good judgment on the ports issue than say the same about GOP leaders (by 30%-20%).
The new Pew survey underscores the public's alarm over the prospect that an Arab-owned company could have operated U.S. ports. Fully 41% say they paid very close attention to news about the debate, which is unusually high interest for a Washington story and is only slightly lower than the number tracking Iraq war news very closely (43%). There was broad opposition to the proposed deal from across the political spectrum, including two-to-one disapproval among conservative Republicans (56%-27%).
http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=271
The Abu Ghraib files
279 photographs and 19 videos from the Army's internal investigation record a harrowing three months of detainee abuse inside the notorious prison -- and make clear that many of those responsible have yet to be held accountable.
Editor's note: The 10 galleries of photo and video evidence appear chronologically in the left column, followed by an additional Salon report on prosecutions for abuse and an overview of Pentagon investigations and other resources. The nine essays accompanying the photo galleries were reported and written by Michael Scherer and Mark Benjamin. Photo and video captions were compiled by Page Rockwell. Additional research, reporting and writing for "The Abu Ghraib Files" were contributed by Jeanne Carstensen, Mark Follman, Page Rockwell and Tracy Clark-Flory.
The human rights scandal now known as "Abu Ghraib" began its journey toward exposure on Jan. 13, 2004, when Spc. Joseph Darby handed over horrific images of detainee abuse to the Army's Criminal Investigation Command (CID). The next day, the Army launched a criminal investigation. Three and a half months later, CBS News and the New Yorker published photos and stories that introduced the world to devastating scenes of torture and suffering inside the decrepit prison in Iraq.
http://salon.com/news/abu_ghraib/2006/03/14/introduction/
Events
Events listed are not necessarily endorsed or organized by UFPJ. This calendar is maintained as a resource for the entire peace and justice movement. For further information about any event listed, please click on the event listing and contact the person and/or email address listed as the contact for the specific event.
Listing 3rd Anniversary of Iraq War Events(s)
http://unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php?caltype=39&lcountry=&state=&search=Search
On the Third Anniversary of the War and Occupation of Iraq
March 18 & 19 - International Days of Action Against the War
Baltimore - Detroit - San Francisco - Atlanta - Denver -
Rally at Times Sq. (41st & Broadway), followed by a March to the U.N.
- and dozens of cities across the country
This Year - Keep the Heat in the Street!
March 18 & 19, 2006 will mark the third anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. The Troops Out Now Coalition calls on the entire antiwar community at the local and national level to rise above anything that would hinder the unity that the world and history demands of us. Together we must grasp the opportunity to help transform the turning tide against the war into a human tidal wave of antiwar resistance in the streets.
http://www.troopsoutnow.org/home.html
MARCH 18 - 19 COORDINATED ACTIONS
AGAINST POVERTY, RACISM AND WAR - BRING ALL THE TROOPS HOME NOW
Organizing Centers and Local Activities Listing
The Troops Out Now Coalition Headquarters is at:
39 West 14th Street, #206, NY, NY, 10011
212-633-6646
Email:info@troopsoutnow.org
March 18 Rally at Times Sq. (41st & Broadway, NYC), followed by a march to the U.N.
Click on your area to see your local organizing center and March 18 activity information! Don't see your area? Sign up here to become a local organizing center for the March 18 - 19 International Days of Action to Shut Down the War!
http://www.troopsoutnow.org/m18orgcents.html
An Urgent Appeal: Please Release Our Friends in Iraq
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/freethecpt
Arabic Materials - Links
http://www.cpt.org/iraq/response/arabicresources.htm
CPT Release: CPT Release: We Mourn the Loss of Tom Fox
10 March 2006
In grief we tremble before God who wraps us with compassion. The death of our beloved colleague and friend pierces us with pain. Tom Fox’s body was found in Baghdad yesterday.
Christian Peacemaker Teams extends our deep and heartfelt condolences to the family and community of Tom Fox, with whom we have traveled so closely in these days of crisis.
We mourn the loss of Tom Fox who combined a lightness of spirit, a firm opposition to all oppression, and the recognition of God in everyone.
We renew our plea for the safe release of Harmeet Sooden, Jim Loney and Norman Kember. Each of our teammates has responded to Jesus’ prophetic call to live out a nonviolent alternative to the cycle of violence and revenge.
http://cpt.org/iraq/response/06-10-03statement.htm
Baris Means Peace
Report back from Istanbul
By Celeste Zappala
In Taksim Square in Istanbul near a statue of Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish nation, I stood with 500 people who had come to commemorate the day three years ago that the people of Turkey defied the United States, and demanded that their government refuse to allow Turkey to be used as a jumping off point for the attack in Iraq.
Three streams of protesters marched to the square and we were watched by several busloads of rifle carrying police. The demonstration was passionate and peaceful, as is the anti-war movement of Turkey. I was proud to speak to the gathering and tell them that the majority of American people neither support Bush or the war. I told them about Sherwood and how he and so many American military had hoped to serve and protect their country only to be betrayed by the Bush Administration's lies and ideology. I witnessed to my belief that we as human beings are capable of solving conflict without violence, and we who live in democracies have an urgent responsibility to force our governments to respond to our will.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index.php?id=614
Firm Failed to Protect U.S. Troops' Water
By Larry Margasak / Associated PressWASHINGTON - Halliburton Co. failed to protect the water supply it is paid to purify for U.S. soldiers throughout Iraq, in one instance missing contamination that could have caused "mass sickness or death," an internal company report concluded.
The report, obtained by The Associated Press, said the company failed to assemble and use its own water purification equipment, allowing contaminated water directly from the Euphrates River to be used for washing and laundry at Camp Ar Ramadi in Ramadi, Iraq.
The problems discovered last year at that site — poor training, miscommunication and lax record keeping — occurred at Halliburton's other operations throughout Iraq, the report said.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=6221
March to New Orleans begins
By Ron Colquitt / Mobile RegisterMore than 100 peace activists from this area and across the nation left Mobile on foot for New Orleans Tuesday morning to protest the war in Iraq and what they say is inadequate aid for Hurricane Katrina victims.
The marchers came from California, New York City, Colorado and other states to join with locals who participated in the march. They began their trip to New Orleans following a brief prayer service near Mobile's Stone Street Baptist Church.
Several of the marchers carried signs calling for the ouster of President Bush and for more federal aid for hurricane victims.
One sign said, "Impeach Bush, he lied, New Orleans died."
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=6224
'Key Influencers' Get an Eyeful at Marine Boot Camp
By Wayne Woolley / Newark Star-LedgerPARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- With spittle flying from his lips, Staff Sgt. Craig Finger herded 38 wide-eyed new recruits off a bus and onto the yellow footprints where generations of young men and women have begun their transformation from civilian to Marine.
"Congratulations on your decision to become a United States Marine. It is a decision you will never regret," Finger shouted in a raspy baritone. "For the next 13 weeks, the words `I,' `me' and `mine' will no longer be part of your vocabulary."
The recruits -- a few with knees visibly trembling -- shouted back in unison, "Sir, yes, sir."
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=6222
Limiting military recruiters
As services push to meet enlistment goals, high schools restrict access at parents' request
By Anne Ryman / Arizona RepublicHigh schools, long a key target for military recruiters, are placing more limits on recruiters' access to students because of parents' complaints.
A growing number of schools throughout the country have set limits over the past year, including two of Arizona's biggest school districts. The changes come after parents complained that recruiters were overzealous or were on campus too often.
In Arizona, the Tucson and Sunnyside unified school districts limited each military branch to one visit per month. Paradise Valley Unified School District in the Valley is moving to confine recruiters to the counseling office; they used to roam the campuses almost freely, talking to students.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=6223
The Boston Globe
Landmark becomes bridge to nowhere
Beloved Newton arch to close, close, close
Echo Bridge spans the Charles River, connecting Newton to Needham. (Globe Photo / Greg M. Cooper)
By Matt Viser, Globe Staff March 17, 2006
NEWTON -- The landmark retains its trademark echo. But the 129-year-old arched stone bridge is no longer a scenic link between Newton and Needham over the Charles River.
Echo Bridge is scheduled to be closed today, indefinitely, due to safety reasons.
Several sections of the cast-iron handrails are cracked, rusted, or missing, posing a danger that someone could fall off the 60-foot-high bridge, said Ria Convery, a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, which owns the bridge.
''They're in pretty bad repair, and they keep getting worse," she said.
The bridge is a civic touchstone for generations of Newtonites and has become a local landmark for a fragmented city of 13 villages.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/03/17/landmark_becomes_bridge_to_nowhere/
Air Force wants to build wind turbine on Cape military base
March 17, 2006
BOURNE, Mass. --The Air Force wants to build a wind turbine on the Massachusetts Military Reservation that would power the base's groundwater cleanup.
The initiative, which cleans millions of gallons of polluted water a day at eight treatment facilities, spends more than $1 million annually on electricity. The contamination at the base is from its military activities.
Air Force officials told the Cape Cod Times that the turbine could save $170,000 per year -- paying for itself in eight to 10 years -- while using a cleaner energy source.
"We are an environmental organization," said Jon Davis, manager of the Air Force's Installation Restoration Program. "We do anything we can to lessen our impact."
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/03/17/air_force_wants_to_build_wind_turbine_on_cape_military_base/
Portland fisherman survives second sinking in five months
March 17, 2006
PORTLAND, Maine --A third-generation fisherman from Portland is counting his blessings after being rescued at sea for the second time in five months.
John Emerton, 41, was one of three fishermen rescued Wednesday by the Coast Guard after the 44-foot Celtic Pride sank 55 miles southeast of Casco Bay.
Emerton experienced a similar ordeal in November when a rogue wave smashed the cockpit windows and swamped the Sea Witch Five, a 55-footer out of Portsmouth, N.H.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2006/03/17/portland_fisherman_survives_second_sinking_in_five_months/
House committee supports strengthening sex predator laws
March 17, 2006
CONCORD, N.H. --A panel of legislators has given initial approval to a bill that would strengthen New Hampshire's laws dealing with child-sex offenders.
The plan passed the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety committee by a 17-2 vote Thursday. It would impose longer sentences and make it easier to seek life without parole. It also would allow some sex offenders to be committed to a secure hospital if they're not competent to stand trial or if they are found innocent by reason of insanity.
The plan strengthens requirements for sexual predators to register and increases penalties if they don't. It also would prohibit convicted child sex offenders from living near schools, daycare facilities and parks.
Gov. John Lynch and Attorney General Kelly Ayotte both support the plan.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2006/03/17/house_committee_supports_strengthening_sex_predator_laws/
60 immigrants arrested as officials target Hub violence
By Maria Cramer, Globe Staff March 17, 2006
During a two-day sweep through the city this week, federal officials arrested 60 immigrants, nearly all with records of arrests or convictions, in what they said was an effort to rid the streets of potential offenders and stem the recent violence that has gripped Boston's neighborhoods.
Of the immigrants arrested, 57 had been convicted or charged with crimes ranging from drug-related offenses to rape, kidnapping, and attempted murder, said Matthew J. Etre, acting special agent-in-charge of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New England.
The sweep marked the largest raid on immigrants with records in New England since the agency was formed three years ago, he said. Forty-three were legal residents, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but legal immigrants are subject to deportation if they have been convicted of a felony.
Advocates for immigrants criticized the arrests, which were mostly of men living in Dorchester, East Boston, and Mattapan, saying that authorities had targeted people of color and gave too few details about the charges.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/03/17/60_immigrants_arrested_as_officials_target_hub_violence/
Emboldened Democrats court party's left wing
Sen. Clinton seen abandoning turf
Stepping up their message to the left are Senators John F. Kerry (left) of Massachusetts, Evan Bayh of Indiana, former senator John Edwards of North Carolina, and former Virginia governor Mark Warner. "It's very important for them to know we'll fight for their beliefs," Edwards said.
By Nina J. Easton, Globe Staff March 17, 2006
WASHINGTON -- Former senator John Edwards got high marks from labor for a new effort to unionize hotel workers, and Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold's demand this week that President Bush be censured was music to the ears of activists on the left.
Meanwhile, Mark Warner, former Virginia governor, recently hired one of the leftist blogosphere's biggest names to run his Internet outreach campaign, and Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana began a blog on the liberal Huffington Post, peddling his foreign policy views.
The next round of prospective Democratic presidential candidates, even those with centrist credentials, is actively courting the Democratic Party's left wing -- which speaks loudly through its blogs, enjoys rising fund-raising clout built on Howard Dean's 2004 campaign, and is imbued with a confidence that it can build on Republican disarray. The Democrats are rushing to fill a void left in the hearts and minds of many liberal activists by New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's efforts to move to the center, particularly on the Iraq war.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/03/17/emboldened_democrats_court_partys_left_wing/
Strippers win right to meal breaks, OT
March 17, 2006
SYDNEY, Australia --Australian strippers have won the right to take time off after taking their clothes off.
The country's Industrial Relations Commission on Friday approved new workplace rules for members of the strippers' union, the Striptease Artists Australia.
"We've got rights to have public holiday pay now, which we've never had in our career before," said a union spokeswoman called Mystical Melody. "We've got rosters and set hours. We can't work more than 10 hours a shift."
The award also entitles unionized strippers to overtime, rest periods, meal breaks and maternity leave, she added.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/03/17/strippers_win_right_to_meal_breaks_ot/
Two million to view N.Y. St. Pat's parade
NEW YORK --New York City and Savannah, Ga., are marking St. Patrick's Day today with the nation's biggest parades.
About two million spectators are expected along 5th Avenue in New York, with more than 100,000 expected to march.
In Savannah, St. Patrick's Day traditionally marks the biggest tourism boost of the year. And with the holiday falling on a Friday this year, businesses are counting on the "bucks" of the Irish to fill their coffers all weekend.
Savannah boasts the nation's second-largest St. Patrick's Day parade with more than 300 floats, bands and marching units, second only to New York.
Meanwhile, Ireland's prime minister is delivering a bowl of shamrocks to President Bush at the White House.
And at least a third of the nation's Catholic dioceses are letting parishioners ignore the Lenten rule about not eating meat on Fridays.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/03/17/two_million_to_view_ny_st_pats_parade/
U.S. envoy discusses plans for Iran talks
In this hand out photo released by U.S. military, U.S.Army Soldiers of Company C, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division and Iraqi Army Soldiers from 4th Iraqi Army Division exit a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in support of Operation Swarmer in Samarra, Iraq, Thursday, March 16, 2006. U.S. forces, joined by Iraqi troops, on Thursday launched the largest airborn assault in nearly three years, targeting insurgent strongholds north of the capital, the military said. The Operation Swarmer was aimed at clearing "a suspected insurgent operating area" northeast of Samarra and was expected to continue over several days. (AP Photo/ U.S. Navy 3rd class Shawn Hussong)
By Steven R. Hurst, Associated Press Writer March 17, 2006
BAGHDAD, Iraq --U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said Friday that discussions were under way about when he would meet with Iranian officials about Iraq and that the talks should be held in Baghdad.
In an interview with The Associated Press, the Afghan-born Khalilzad also said the international community, particularly Arab states in the Persian Gulf, should help fund the rebuilding of the war-shattered country because they have "a lot at stake."
Khalilzad, who has played a major role in forcing Iraqi politicians to begin serious negotiations on forming a new government, suggested that Shiite Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari was not the unifying figure Iraq needed as the next head of government.
On Wednesday, Shiite political heavyweight Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, who spent years in self-exile in Iran during Saddam Hussein's regime, called for Tehran to open talks with the United States about Iraq.
A day later, Iran said it was willing to hold such talks, but both sides said the discussions would be limited to efforts to stabilize Iraq.
http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2006/03/17/us_envoy_discusses_plans_for_iran_talks/
Syria opposition forms united front to oust Assad
March 17, 2006
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Exiled Syrian opposition leaders announced the creation of a united front on Friday with the aim of forming a transitional government to replace President Bashar al-Assad with democracy.
Former Vice-President Abdel-Halim Khaddam, who broke with Assad last year after serving under his late father Hafez al-Assad, told a news conference: "All factions of the Syrian opposition and activists have come to the conclusion that the regime in Syria has to be changed."
He was speaking after a two-day meeting of opposition groups in Brussels including the Muslim Brotherhood, liberals, communists and Kurds.
http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2006/03/17/syria_opposition_forms_united_front_to_oust_assad/
Blair's party declares big loans in UK sleaze row
By Katherine Baldwin March 17, 2006
LONDON (Reuters) - A sleaze row threatening British Prime Minister Tony Blair gained momentum on Friday when his Labour party said it had received 14 million pounds ($25 million) in previously undeclared loans from individuals.
The huge sums, which helped bankroll the party's election win last May, shocked some Labour lawmakers who accuse Blair and his inner circle of running a secret slush fund and risked deepening rifts within party ranks.
"I'm astonished at the amount of money involved in these secret loans, and would want to know where the money has gone," Labour parliamentarian Ian Davidson told Reuters.
http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2006/03/17/blairs_party_declares_big_loans_in_uk_sleaze_row/
Liberia requests extradition of Taylor: Nigeria
By Tom Ashby March 17, 2006
LAGOS (Reuters) - Liberia has formally requested the extradition of former president Charles Taylor, who is living in exile in Nigeria and is indicted for war crimes, the Nigerian presidency said in a statement on Friday.
Taylor agreed to step down and take asylum in Nigeria in 2003 as part of a peace deal ending 14 years of civil war in Liberia, but he was indicted for war crimes by a special U.N.-backed court in neighboring Sierra Leone.
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo is consulting with the African Union and regional bloc ECOWAS on how to respond to the request, the statement added.
http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2006/03/17/liberia_requests_extradition_of_taylor_nigeria/
'Credentials' cost Fla. teachers their jobs
March 16, 2006
MIAMI --A growing scandal over teachers who paid to get credit for courses they never took has cost nearly three dozen educators their jobs, and hundreds of others were being investigated.
The Miami-Dade County School Board voted 5-4 on Wednesday to fire six teachers and accept resignations from 26 others.
The punishments stem from a scam run by former high school teacher William McCoggle, who claimed to offer continuing-education classes through a private company. McCoggle pleaded guilty to fraud in November, admitting he did little more than sell transcripts, requiring no tests, homework or other academic work.
http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2006/03/16/credentials_cost_fla_teachers_their_jobs/
WHO announces new global TB strategy
By Thomas Wagner, Associated Press Writer March 17, 2006
LONDON --The World Health Organization announced a new strategy on Friday to fight the global tuberculosis epidemic and urged governments to donate more money to help WHO meet its goal of reducing TB's prevalence and its daily death toll of 5,000.
WHO said its greatest challenges remain the spread of TB among HIV-infected people in Africa and a multidrug-resistant form of TB, especially in former Soviet provinces in Eastern Europe.
The new Stop TB Strategy, published in Friday's issue of the Lancet medical journal, was developed during meetings with international health professions over a two-year period.
It refines an earlier 1995 WHO tuberculosis strategy and is part of an ambitious action plan that the U.N. organization announced last month, aimed at treating 50 million people for the contagious lung infection, halving TB prevalence and death rates, and saving 14 million lives between now and 2015. The ambitious plan hopes to raise US$56 billion (euro46.7 billion) to fight TB.
The strategy's goals include providing high-quality medical services to the world's poorest areas and promoting research for new diagnostics, drugs and vaccines aimed at fighting TB.
http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/articles/2006/03/17/who_announces_new_global_tb_strategy/
More kids are getting anti-psychotic drugs
By Lindsey Tanner, AP Medical Writer March 17, 2006
CHICAGO --Soaring numbers of American children are being prescribed anti-psychotic drugs -- in many cases, for attention deficit disorder or other behavioral problems for which these medications have not been proven to work, a study found.
The annual number of children prescribed anti-psychotic drugs jumped fivefold between 1995 and 2002, to an estimated 2.5 million, the study said. That is an increase from 8.6 out of every 1,000 children in the mid-1990s to nearly 40 out of 1,000.
http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/articles/2006/03/17/more_kids_are_getting_anti_psychotic_drugs/
Israel orders thousands of turkeys killed
A dead turkey is seen in a chicken coup at a farm in the village of Ein Hashlosha, southern Israel, were hundreds of turkeys were found dead Thursday, March 16, 2006. Israel's agriculture minister Zeev Boim said Thursday that the widespread death of turkeys at two communities in southern Israel could have been caused by the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu. The outbreak, if confirmed, would be the first case of the virus in Israel. (AP Photo)
By Amy Teibel, Associated Press Writer March 17, 2006
JERUSALEM --Israeli officials on Friday ordered tens of thousands of turkeys destroyed as they awaited final word on whether the country has experienced its first outbreak of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu.
About 11,000 turkeys have died in recent days, and after preliminary tests, Health Minister Yaakov Edri said there was a "very high chance that this is avian flu."
"We are already pretty sure it is avian flu, but of course, there are more tests to be done," Edri told Army Radio.
An Agriculture Ministry spokeswoman, Dafna Yarisca, told The Associated Press it could take anywhere from hours to days until final results were in.
http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/articles/2006/03/17/israel_orders_thousands_of_turkeys_killed/
Defiant Hamas draws up cabinet list
Hamas leader and Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ismail Haniyeh greets residents after attending Friday prayer in Gaza March 17, 2006. (REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa)
By Nidal al-Mughrabi March 17, 2006
GAZA (Reuters) - While its exiled chief challenged Israel to long-term conflict, Hamas fine-tuned its cabinet list on Friday after more moderate Palestinian factions refused to join the militant Islamist movement in a coalition.
Hamas said it would complete its government on Saturday before giving the list to President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah faction and other parties had wanted the surprise winner of the January 25 election to accept past interim peace deals with Israel.
The group's inability to win over more moderate factions could make it harder to rule and could also bolster efforts by Israel and the United States to isolate the new government.
Hamas leader-in-exile, Khaled Meshaal, said running the Palestinian Authority would not deflect the group from its overriding goal of pursuing a long-term struggle with Israel.
http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2006/03/17/defiant_hamas_draws_up_cabinet_list/
SEC wants more info on blood substitute
March 17, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. --The Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking information about the clinical development of Northfield Laboratories Inc.'s blood substitute Polyheme. The company said Thursday it will comply.
PolyHeme is a chemically modified human hemoglobin that requires no cross matching and is therefore compatible with all blood types. The substance has been experimentally used on trauma patients at several hospitals around the country without patient consent.
Evanston-based Northfield said in a statement that it had received an informal request to voluntarily provide certain information to the staff of the SEC, adding that it intends to respond to the request.
Public concerns about the safety of the blood substitute arose after a Feb. 22 report in The Wall Street Journal. The newspaper reported that Northfield has pushed to continue testing the blood substitute without disclosing earlier results, including the deaths of two patients among 10 who had suffered heart attacks.
http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/articles/2006/03/17/sec_wants_more_info_on_blood_substitute/
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
Washington Conducts Secret Negotiations with Baghdad
Iraq reportedly agrees upon USA’s conditions
Despite the fact that the opposition against USA’s war plans is growing in the world, the majority of Americans are ready to approve the army operation against Iraq, even if the USA does not obtain the approval for that from the United Nations. It should be mentioned here that the number of proponents of the military solution of the Iraqi problem has increased over the recent months.
Below are the results of the recent poll.
The attitude to the beginning of army actions without the UN’s and international community’s approval. Information provided by Zogby service.
The poll was conducted on March 5-7th: 49% of Americans supported the military action in Iraq without the UN approval, 47% were against it. January 24-25th: 37% stood for the war without UN’s approval, 59% stood against it.
The information from CBS and the New York Times. The poll was conducted on March 7-9th : 55% supported the army situation, 41% stood against it. The poll on March 4-5th: 36% backed up the military operation, 60% did not.
The information from ABC channel. Respondents were asked a question: “Is the UN approval necessary for army actions to start?” The poll was conducted on March 5-9th: 61% of American citizens said that they did not see a necessity to obtain such a permission. Thirty-five percent of them said that the UN approval was mandatory.
Let us not dwell upon the truth of those polls. The propaganda machine can always alter any statistics data. It would be better to pay attention to the official position of the White House regarding the issue. The USA was very persistent about the voting to take place during this week. Yet, now the American administration does not mind continuing the discussion until the end of the current week, even next week, if there is a need for that. Probably, this question will be withdrawn from the UN Security Council agenda at all. The Spanish Foreign Minister already released a statement like that before (Spain is one of the countries, which supports the USA’s position).
As observers believe, that statement is the indication of the fact that the USA’s stand on the Iraqi problem changes at the moment. It is not ruled out that it is linked with London’s attempts to change the text of the resolution in order to make more UN Security Council democratic members uphold it. Of course, it goes about temporal members of the Security Council: Chile, Mexico, Angola, Cameroon, Pakistan and Guinea. The opportunity of the American administration to launch the army action in Iraq depends a lot on those countries. As it turns out, those countries are not ready to go together with Uncle Sam. Moreover, they are tired of playing the role of extras, who just stand, stare and do nothing. The mentioned countries stated that they had an alternative proposition, which would be submitted at a session of the UN Security Council. Representatives of those countries with Chile and Mexico at the head announced that the initiative, the details of which are not known yet, is aimed at overcoming the discrepancy between UN Security Council members. It became known from diplomatic sources that the so-called “group of six,” which unites Chile, Mexico, Angola, Cameroon, Pakistan and Guinea, worked on the draft of the statement, which recommended Iraq to execute several conditions during a certain period of time. The need of the unanimous approval for such a document at the UN Security Council is considered to be the major problem on the way.
To crown it all, Chile’s Foreign Minister Soledad Alvear stated that her country would reject the draft of the resolution, which Great Britain, the USA and Spain submitted to the UN Security Council. Such a decision was made at the session, which Chile’s President Ricardo Lagos conducted by with the leaders of major parties of the country. As it became known, the Mexican government adhered to the same position.
The States realize the vulnerability of its position. As it turns out, in addition to the pressure that the American administration shows on Security Council members, the USA conducts secret negotiations with Baghdad. Baghdad and Washington maintain unofficial contacts with a view to achieve a mutually acceptable way for the regulation of the conflict. However, those contacts have not brought any results yet. This was reported Thursday by the London-based Saudi newspaper al-Hayat. The newspaper wrote with reference to a political source in Baghdad that a series of top meetings between American and Iraqi officials took place in several Arab and European cities. The newspaper’s source informed that Iraq agreed upon all American conditions both regarding disarmament issues, and the issues to set up the coalition government and to have Saddam Hussein as the “non-ruling president.”
The newspaper also wrote that negotiations slowed down at three points. First of all, Iraq rejected the idea to deploy American army bases on its territory. Second of all, Iraq is not ready to recognize the state of Israel immediately. Nevertheless, the newspaper’s source informed that Iraq would agree for that too, albeit to have that as a joint Arab decision. Finally, Baghdad wants Washington to take account of Iraq’s oil obligations to several foreign countries. Yet, the USA requires the complete control over the oil industry.
Although the sides failed to come to agreement, the Iraqi leadership is intended to introduce certain changes to the country’s constitution. Al-Hayat newspaper wrote that amendments would touch upon freedom of press and political parties activities.
http://english.pravda.ru/world/2003/03/15/44472.html
The United States of America will cease to exist on February 5th, 2006
17.03.2006
Back in June 2005 I realized that in order to turn the United States into a full-fledged police state, one more major "terrorist attack" would be needed. But it would have to be even more spectacular than the U.S. Government-engineered "9/11." That means one thing: a nuclear bomb being detonated in America by "terrorists." Here is what I predicted in June 2005:
Sometime before the 2008 presidential election, and possibly much, much sooner, the United States Government will detonate a small nuclear bomb in an American city, killing 10,000 to 100,000 civilians.
The U.S. government will blame Al Qaeda or Iran, “postpone” upcoming elections, make Bush the president indefinitely (i.e. “President for Life”), suspend the Constitution, impose martial law, and the fearful American public will go along with it all.
The U.S. government will control the “investigation” of the nuclear explosion. It will control the media even more so than it does now (by suspending the Constitution), so nobody will be in a position to challenge its findings. And swooning patriotism over the desire to “get even,” combined with a renewed draft will solve the military’s problem of obtaining enough recruits.
Detroit is an ideal city to “nuke” because it’s an economically blighted city, it’s got a large Arab population that the government can accuse of being Al Qaeda aiders and sympathizers, the bomb will wipe out all those Arabs, and it will give the government an excuse to bail out the beleaguered American auto industry just like it did the airline industry after 9/11.
The government can plant several other nuclear bombs in other cities, such as San Francisco and Miami. Then after the Detroit bomb is detonated, the government can “find” these other unexploded bombs and claim that they believe there are others still lurking out there. Seeing one bomb go off, finding two others, and believing that there are still more would so terrify the public that they and congress would happily go along with suspending the Constitution and declaring martial law.
http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/feedback/17-03-2006/77430-bush-0continued ...
The demonstration was organized by Global Peace and Justice-Turkey. They had invited me to speak and my trip was supported by the Chamber of Engineers and Architects. A strong element of the peace effort there is the presence of professionals, architects, physicians and engineers who join with teachers, students and union organizations to form a very politically aware and powerful counterpoint to a somewhat conservative government. The country is 90% Muslim, and the government is secular. Many people are not practicing religiously but identify as a Muslim Nation.
The Pew Study of Bush's Fall from Grace. Bush is disposable to Republican strategy to maintain legislative influence to 2008.
