This Blog is created to stress the importance of Peace as an environmental directive. “I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it’s hell.” – Harry Truman
(I receive no compensation from any entry on this blog.)
…House Speaker John Boehner (click here) will deliver the commencement address at Catholic University Saturday despite some unusually scathing criticism from a group of prominent Catholics who say he's failed on a key matter of faith: caring for the poor.
"Your record in support of legislation to address the desperate needs of the poor is among the worst in Congress," the group of 75 Catholic academics and community leaders wrote Boehner Thursday in a letter published by the National Catholic Reporter.
"This fundamental concern should have great urgency for Catholic policy makers. Yet, even now, you work in opposition to it," they said.
The signatories, many of whom work at the University, focused their criticism on the House Republicans' 2012 Budget, which passed last month and includes deep cuts to some social service programs….
While Speaker Boner is in tears at his speech to win sympathy for his exploitation of the American people while indulging the wealthy, a group of moral Catholics have spoken out on behalf of those that are not able to influence the wealthy or the majority Republican House.
...Mr. Speaker, your voting record (click title to entry - thank you) is at variance from one of the Church’s most ancient moral teachings. From the apostles to the present, the Magisterium of the Church has insisted that those in power are morally obliged to preference the needs of the poor. Your record in support of legislation to address the desperate needs of the poor is among the worst in Congress. This fundamental concern should have great urgency for Catholic policy makers. Yet, even now, you work in opposition to it.
The 2012 budget you shepherded to passage in the House of Representatives guts long-established protections for the most vulnerable members of society. It is particularly cruel to pregnant women and children, gutting Maternal and Child Health grants and slashing $500 million from the highly successful Women Infants and Children nutrition program. When they graduate from WIC at age 5, these children will face a 20% cut in food stamps. The House budget radically cuts Medicaid and effectively ends Medicare. It invokes the deficit to justify visiting such hardship upon the vulnerable, while it carves out $3 trillion in new tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. In a letter speaking on behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Stephen Blaire and Bishop Howard Hubbard detailed the anti-life implications of this budget in regard to its impact on poor and vulnerable American citizens. They explained the Church’s teachings in this regard clearly, insisting that:...
I have stated over and over and over how immoral the Republican Value System is regardless of their so called "Christian Base." It is all about money and it always has been. I hope the people of the USA will see through the war mongering and exploitaiton of USA Middle Class, treasure, talent, blood and its soul in order to give the Republicans an eviction from government in 2012.
I have a little more than concern for the fact there is no replacement for Mueller?
You're joking?
There is no second in command ready to take over at a moments notice?
I can understand how Secretary Gates is leaving and the President might want to delay a replacement for Mueller, but, not to find a qualified candidate?
What the heck is going on at Quantico? They aren't preparing agents for leadership? I mean for real. This is ridiculous.
I want an investigation to why there is no one else qualified for the position of FBI director? If there aren't viable candidates then there needs to be an understanding as to why and how the USA fills that gap. This is the most outrageous assessment of our intelligence to date !
...President Obama (click title to entry - thank you) will ask Congress to allow FBI Director Robert S. Mueller to remain in his job an extra two years, a rare exemption meant to lend stability in a time of change atop the national security team and renewed worldwide focus on terrorism.
Obama urged lawmakers to go along with his idea "for the sake of our nation's safety and security." Several Democrats and Republicans in Congress chimed in with support....
Exxon Mobil (click title to entry - thank you) Chairman and Chief Executive Rex Tillerson, foregound, accompanied by fellow oilmen, testifies before the Senate Finance Committee. (J. Scott Applewhite, AP / May 13, 2011)
$22 billion US over ten years. Are they going to pay it back? Because GM and Chrysler are paying their bailout back to the USA taxpayer.
It is called CORPORATE WELFARE.
General Motors received 4 billion dollars (click here) in bailout funds from the US government in December of 2008. The urgency was per GM’s statement that it needed the funds before the end of 2008 to avoid going into bankruptcy. The second installment of 5.4 billion dollars will be available to GM on January 16, 2009. GM will use most of its loan to pay down debt owed to suppliers. As of January 16th, GM will have received a total of 9.4 billion dollars in bailout funds.
There could be an additional 4 billion dollars in February made available from the same 700 billion dollar Wall Street bailout fund. Congress has not yet approved the second half of Wall Street bailout, equal to 350 billion dollars. The additional 4 billion dollars for the auto industry would come from the second half of this bailout through the TARP program if approved.
Chrysler is the second major recipient of this automotive bailout money. In the first week of 2009, Chrysler received 4 billion dollars in bailout funds. Chrysler is not currently slated to receive more bailout funds, but has expressed that it will likely need additional assistance to weather the 2009 market....
I do believe the petroleum industry has outlived its usefulness and it is why they are so hungry for government money.
..."Given profits of $35 billion in just the first quarter alone, it's hard to find evidence that repealing these subsidies would cut domestic production or cause layoffs," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) told the oilmen....
For decades the USA has known the petroleum supply on Earth was FINITE, yet in spite of that reality, the Oil Barrons Ball went on and on and on.
Oil prices were going to come to this. They just were. It is time to realize 'going to the extremes' though Oil Sands exploitation in Canada and hydraulic fracturing in the USA and globally is only prolonging the pain of exploitation. The party had to end sometime.
Unknown: (click title to entry – thank you) Distinctive features, such as the smooth and angular outer shell, covered rotor blades and pointed rear end have bamboozled aviation experts
This piece of JUNK should have been put on a military C5 Transport immediately to return to the USA.But, in Pakistan anything goes.It failed in its mission.Why the Chinese would be interested in technology that fails missions is beyond me and the ‘idea’ that Pakistan actually would provide a venue for these pictures and opportunity for China to examine it only speaks to the warlord culture entrenched in Pakistan.
If the Chinese are counting on FAILED USA military technology to win wars, then I am sincerely not worried.
It is JUNK like this that has the USA national debt out of control. Ah, the power to destroy the world as we know it keeps going on and on and on. When is enough, enough?
The helicopter that failed its mission could have killed some of our best trained and dedicated soldiers. Why would we ever trust it again?
The bin Laden mission was not about technology, it was about the USA soldier and how well they are prepared in defending their nation. They love this country. The Pakistanis, Afghan and Iraq forces should all be able to boast that quality of soldier in defense of their nation.
Pakistan Parliament (click title to entry - thank you)
In joint sitting of parliament lasting more than 10 hours, lawmakers debated the “situation arising from unilateral US action in Abbottabad” which targeted bin Laden. –File Photo
This is from "Dawn" a Pakistani paper. The Anti-Amcrican ads are interesting. They seek to say the USA President is full of fear. Nice people, real nice.
Look, from the beginning it has been my point of view the USA under Rumsfeld should have fought their way across Pakistan into Afghanistan, but, they have nuclear technology. So, instead we had to pay through the nose for every inch of airspace the USA needed.
Pakistan is corrupt to the core. They have killed more decent leaders than they have honored.
Musharraf was no friend to the free world. He was more a war lord then those in the country, that is why is was President for so long. It was only with global attention focused on him that he finally began to conduct himself as someone who may be concerned about the needs and views of the West. He couldn't care less if al Qaeda was operating form within Pakistan.
...US strikes doubled last year, with more than 100 drone operations killing over 670 people, according to an AFP tally, and the CIA has said the covert programme has severely disrupted al Qaeda’s leadership.
A US drone strike in North Waziristan tribal region near the Afghan border on Thursday killed three militants.
It was the fourth such attack reported in Pakistan’s tribal badlands on the Afghan border, which Washington has dubbed the global headquarters of al Qaeda, since US Navy SEALs killed bin Laden in Abbottabad....
One would expect the Pakistan government to breath a sigh of relief the USA was taking down some of the most deadly criminals in the world, but, no, not Pakistan. After all, there is India and Kashmir.
It is more than interesting to realize Pakistan is the lauching point for young Islamic men that seek to experience and particiapte in Jihad. I refer to John Walker Lindh. As soon as that story was realized everyone should have known what the USA and allies were facing in the region.
Lindh is interesting from the standpoint of where young men go to fight the holy war. He never wanted to fight the USA, he was interested in fulfilling an 'ideal.' How lucky for bin Laden to have all these young men come to a common place to fight jihad. You talk about a 'set up,' a general couldn't hope for better. And, did Pakistan ever stop it? NOooooooo.....
Was Pakistan ever an ally? At one time it tried to be, during that time we had decent people within its leadership, but, with the death of Benazir Bhutto and so many of her family over the decades; all one has to realize is the corruption and distain that country has for civilization.
This is what the Taliban are doing to the peolpe in Pakistan, yet what does the Pakistan Parliament do? Single out the USA to try to gain power over our military.
It is the 'warlord' culture that can't be destroyed and it is the 'warlords' that will cause problems from now to the end of time. Just think about it, you could be a warlord, too.
Warlords are crime bosses. Same thing. Corruption.
A man, (click here) who lost his family member in twin suicide bombs attacks, reacts as he talks on a phone in Peshawar, Pakistan on Friday, May 13, 2011. Twin explosions struck a paramilitary training center in northwestern Pakistan on Friday, in the bloodiest attack in the country since a U.S. raid killed al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden. (AP photo)
Blogger was down for awhile. I know that causes stress for some, but, when these circumstances happen it should cause all who use this service pause to realize how incredible the company has been in accepting a huge responsibility in 'connecting' people to each other.
Google is a rather incredible corporation that seeks little else except the opportunity to serve the underserved in providing a place 'of expression' for insight, experiences, opinion and outreach. Frequently, that means families enjoy common experiences and communities find ease of connection.
Thank you. I am sure the time Blogger was down was a more difficult for the people of Google than those that come to this forum.
The White House yesterday (click title to entry - thank you) defended a decision to invite a rapper to Michelle Obama’s evening of poetry. The first lady invited writers, musicians, and one rapper — Lonnie Rashin Lynn Jr., known as Common— to perform Tuesday night to “showcase the impact of poetry on American culture.’’ The performers include poets Billy Collins, Rita Dove, and Elizabeth Alexander, and singers such as Aimee Mannand Jill Scott. The inclusion of Common set off Republican complaints. Common, who is considered tame as rappers go, is known for rhymes that tend to be socially and politically conscious.Karl Rove, however, called him a “thug.’’ White House spokesmanJay Carney defended the decision to invite him and said reports about Common were deliberately being distorted. (AP)
Social comment is a NON-VIOLENT method of expressing an understanding. If a person cannot 'bring a message' to the White House and to invited police then what kind of country are we?
We have seen this kind of method of networking before by President Obama. He thrives in a climate of 'reasonable objection' within social structure. This is his way of making a statement of support to both police and the communities they seek to reduce levels of violence. I hope it works.
It would be interesting if the police attending the social event actually would find something in 'Common' with the gentleman rapper.
There are No - Go districts in USA cities. If bridges can be built I am confident the President and the First Lady will find it. I wish all a sincere good luck in an effort to seek a higher purpose.
If this wasn't a random shooting it was probably domestic violence. There are too many guns on the street in the USA. It allows aggreived people leverage over innocent people seeking to improve their lives and/or move on.
Three killed, including suspect, in shooting at San Jose State University
As students attended evening classes, a shooter opened fire inside a San Jose State campus garage Tuesday night, killing two people in a chilling scene that also claimed the shooting suspect's life.
Authorities were alerted at 8:36 p.m. about the shooting at San Fernando and 10th streets.
"I don't think we've had anything like this before," said Sgt. John Laws, a campus police spokesman.
San Jose State police were tight-lipped about the shooting and would not release further information about the suspect or victims. But authorities said they did not believe the shooting was random....
Michael Moore has a keen sense of 'propriety' in the way democracy seeks death of a human being. I applaud him. His outrage is in regard to more than the killing of Osama bin Laden. His statements are about much more than the current activity of Navy Seal Six.
The 'loss of civilized discourse in the USA' has been playing out since "W" went looking for 'the smoking gun' and we ended up in an illegal war in Iraq. Then the defense of the Bush administration to justify themselves launched an aggressive campaign to justify the unjustifible.
Everything became politics. All the 'sensibilities' of 'being American' in a system of justice able to protect Americans from 'evil,' if you will, is being trashed with substitutions of permanent incarceration without a trial. That is simply unacceptable. Michael mentions that in his statements, but, it is glossed over to provide a platform for denouncing the actions of President Obama. Michael never once criticized the President for his decisions, he simply stated, 'let's just say we did what we did.'
I never heard Michael Moore say the actions of the Navy Seals were a problem. I didn't hear that at all.
He made the analogy of World War II. The Nuremberg Trials. I don't blame him for seeking the 'higher values' of justice at a time in our country when justice of any kind is least valued. The only justice that seems to be valued in the USA is the justice at the end of the barrel of a gun. There is something lost in this country. There is a hole in the heart of American justice since the eight years of Bush/Cheney. We have lost our way. Michael Moore was simply stating that same thing in a different context.
I believe the American Navy Seal Six Team that trained and trained and trained and carried out a flawless mission for the people of the USA are heroes. They did what they had to do. Nuremberg Trials are not really possible in a situation such as this. The scenario is a bit different. I think Michael Moore knows that, but, it was his way to state his point of view.
The difficulty for the USA in 'believing' in their justice system in regard to trying terrorists as they were tried after the 1993 World Trade Center bombing is their shattered sense of 'self' as an American. This was nearly ten years in coming after a detour into Iraq. People needed to vent their feelings over such a horrible set of values we have all lived through from the trauma of September 11, 2001 through the nightmare of eight years of dead and maimed Americans in a war of lies. There was a lot that occurred when bin Laden was killed. I sincerely don't have a problem with any of it.
Trials of these characters are different from that of Nazi Germany because al Qaeda is not a sovereign nation. We didn't roll into a country with allies at our side. Russia didn't break the first front on the enemy in a way that would allow eventual capture of sincere 'officers' of an organized and extremely dangerous military. It is different. So, while the Nuremberg Trials illustrates the 'better of ourselves' it does not have complete application to the 'times we live in.'.
Not to say the World Courts are defunct. I don't believe they are and the current leader of the Ivory Coast should come to appreciate that fact. But, where do nations hold terrorists for trial? In the country where it occurred or on a global stage with standards established following WWII. Perhaps that is still a question for the World Courts and the United Nations to ask.
In the specific case of Osama bin Laden. There is something very wrong here. He evaded capture by living in Pakistan. He was somewhat comfortable and while he didn't live up to his Hollywood image, I am confident impoverished young Islamic men that saw the released video will still find it charasmatic and an example of themselves. These men don't have the clout in the world as they are assigned by citizens. Bin Laden and Gadaffi are not 'entities' that waged war against the West. They weaseled others into acting as suicide bombers or martyrs as they might be known. They managed to pervert a religion and turn the cultural understanding of Muslims on its ear. They are not invading armies. They don't have that capacity. They never had that capacity and while they are criminals of heinous crimes against CIVILIZATION they are mostly 'punks' when compared to Nazi Germany.
For those that argue bin Laden caused all the fiscal problems of the West, think again. The only 'effect' al Qaeda had was immediately after the attacks on the World Trade Towers, the Pentagon and in a Pennsylvania field. The rest of the mess proudly belongs to capitalistic horseplay by Bush and Cheney that took their eye off the ball and raised the debt ceiling every year they were in office. So, get real. Bin Laden was never 'all that.'
If Michael Moore wants to mourn for the America of Pre-"W," than I applaud him and seek the comfort of his passion and insight.
Is $2 Trillion a 'magic number' with the Regressives? In 2004, "W" wanted $2 Trillion to take down SSI. Like what is it about $2 Trillion that rings so pleasingly to the GOP?
Boehner seeks $2 trillion spending cuts in exchange for lifting federal limit on borrowing (click title to entry - thank you)
Boehner said that the spending cuts should be larger than the increase in debt limit that would be allowed the president.
...The Republican speaker rejected any effort to increase taxes...
Like here we go again. Same ole, same ole....
...Geither estimates he would need an extra $2 trillion in borrowing authority for the federal government to get through the end of 2012....
So, House Speaker Boner has decided that cutting $2 Tillion somewhere is going to resolve the need for a debt ceiling increase. Is that it?
I have a suggestion for Boner and the Tea Baggers, why don't they cut to the chase and start suggesting where these cuts are suppose to occur. I figure it this way, rather than taking away health care benefits to Senior Citizens in the form of Medicare, let's start degrading the American Dream like you all have in the past.
A good 'leg up' on the Regressive demands is to cut the $800 billion in tax incentive in the Tax Structure of the USA for a housing credit per year. Right?
Why not take all the 'residuals from Americans that even make the Middle Class the Middle Class. Take away education for their children, tax incentives for their American Dream and financial security in their lives, and let's simply remove dignity from the Grandparents of the children without education by casting their security into paying their medical bills until they are added to the homeless population? Sound like a plan, Boner?
After all where would we be without the subsidies to the petroleum industry. Gas is so dirt cheap I just can't stand it anymore.
...The county (click title to entry - thank you) is apparently bucking a trend in school nutrition, since some say the sugar content in flavored milk contributes to childhood obesity. A serving of flavored milk can have as many as 27 grams of sugar - the same as eight ounces of Coca-Cola.
Some school districts have prohibited flavored milk, and Florida considered a statewide ban in schools.
Risse, the Anne Arundel County schools supervisor of food and nutrition services, said county schools use only a fat-free version of flavored milk that has 11 grams of sugar per serving....
It doesn't have EMPTY calories, either.
While it is completely understandable how many parents may believe 'milk flavorings' are benign, now they know they aren't. Some parents may be relieved this is no longer an option for their child when in fact it is banned at home.
There are all kinds of dietary needs by children. Unfortunately, when some children are excluded from choices either by parents or school authorities while others are not, there can be problems with hazing / bullying and all kinds of self esteem issues.
Dietary choices for children should be clear and somewhat a unilateral decision. I applaud parents who seek good nutrition information for their children and children able to stand up for themselves in their own choices. But, for school administrators that see a sincere problem, both in basic health, behavioral issues related to poor diet and good social conduct when diversity in diet is an issue, then limiting choices is a good avenue.
I am confident the nation will divide on this issue, but, when it comes to servingt soda to children it should be considered an extremely poor choice. Artifical colors and flavoring sometimes complicates child behavior, so whether in soda or milk products the choices should be well considered.
Isn't nutrition and choices taught in health classes at all grades anymore?
...Prosecutors (click title to entry - thank you) say the company based in the Los Angeles suburb of Azusa paid more than $5 million to an intermediary that was used to buy a Mexican official a yacht called the Dream Seeker for $1.8 million and a Ferrari for nearly $300,000....
The Middle Class of the USA isn't receiving much regard from Wall Street Speculators, so the President is seeking ways to improve their incomes. Bringing illegal immigration under control is one way of supporting the minimum wage. When the minimum wage has strength in the market place wages at other levels tighten as well. That is a fact, not a myth. Does Wall Street and Republicans actually care about the 'integrity' of the minimum wage? No. Therefore, they don't care about the poor or Middle Class.
By Peter Nicholas and Michael A. Memoli Washington Bureau
May 10, 2011, 12:59 p.m.
...In a speech at the Chamizal National Memorial, Obama also sought to link the challenge of illegal immigration with another major political concern: economic anxiety. He said immigration reform "is an economic imperative."
"Over the past decade, even before the recession, middle-class families were struggling to get by as costs went up but incomes didn't. We're seeing this again with gas prices," he said. "Well, one way to strengthen the middle class is to reform our immigration system, so that there is no longer a massive underground economy that exploits a cheap source of labor while depressing wages for everyone else."...
There must be xome success in stopping southern border crossing, otherwise, we would not be seeing this level of desperation.
SANTA ANA, Calif.—Four men have been arrested and charged with leading a smuggling ring that ferried illegal immigrants by sea from Mexico to Southern California. Federal authorities announced Monday that the arrests came after the discovery of an abandoned boat near a San Diego County beach on Friday. Agents tracked the suspects to an apartment in Anaheim. There, they found nine illegal immigrants from Mexico whose clothes were still wet and caked with sand from the boat landing.
Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, says the immigrants are still in custody....
...“No other country (click title to entry - thank you) in the world and no other security agency has done so much to interdict al Qaida than the ISI and our armed forces,” said the Prime Minister, adding that the ISI was a “national asset”....
This is exactly the problem with the Pakistani ISI. They have considerable power and government officials and candidates are concerned about the potential and conduct to their own safety.
In the USA, we regonize the fact that our security services are not necessarily perfect all the time. Every once in a while a Special Prosecutor is assigned and investigations are conducted. Ask Karl Rove and Lewis Libby. That was a security breach for the USA right in the Executive Branch.
The idea that the USA simply accepts the idea that no one within the Pakistan government knew what was going on in close proximity to its government buildings is nonsense.
Some one was throwing their weight around in a country known for its hostile tribal areas and remote authority.
The Pakistani government needs some house cleaning. The sooner the better. The influence of Musharraf corruption has to be found and eliminated.
We've been getting a mixed set to values for a couple of months now. There are reasons for that.
A payroll boost of 244,000 jobs in April — thanks to the biggest private-sector gain in five years — sparked economic enthusiasm Friday, balanced by expectations that unemployment will continue to rise....
That means there is a healthy private sector coming back. Why? Because the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, passed on February 13, 2009 (click here) has finally been distributed to the 'jobs market' and not simply sitting on shelves waiting for State's attention and treasury accounting.
There is more confidence by the private sector that for awhile and for as long as it lasts, there is reason to hire and expand their products and services.
...At the same time, though, the bureau’s companion household survey measured an uptick in the unemployment rate to 9 percent in April from 8.8 percent in March....
That means the economy, under a paradigm shift starting in late 2008 and early 2007, is still shrinking. The State, County and Local governments are still experience belt tightening and there is a drop in jobs. Those might be private sector jobs as some of the States are serviced by the private sector. So, there is a drop in private and public jobs, but, dominated by the contraction of the public sector spending.
...The national economy grew at a slow 1.8 percent pace in the first three months this year, a comedown from the 3.1 percent pace in the fourth quarter last year.
The labor department’s report said average hourly earnings for employees on private, nonfarm payrolls rose 3 cents in April, to $22.95. Meanwhile, the average workweek for all employees was unchanged....
What plays into rising incomes is also the value of the USA dollar. One has to remember, the USA under the Republicans, is an 'import' economy and NOT an export economy, so we are susceptible to rising prices as the value of the dollar is 'toyed with' by The Fed.
It is imperative the USA return to a manufacturing economy whereby 'American Conscience' products, especially in the area of automobiles and energy, are manufactured in the USA with strong export opportunities. It will bring more stability in the USA dollar and a balance to a global economy.
Uday and Qusay Hussein, Saddam Hussein's two sons, suffered more than 20 bullet wounds each in their final stand against American forces, US military pathologists said today.
The announcement came as two corpses the US says are the slain brothers were shown to journalists at a US military base in Baghdad in a further bid to convince sceptical Iraqis that two of the most feared figures of the former regime would not be coming back.
Acting on a tip from an informant, the US today added to its claimed killing of Saddam's two sons with an announcement that it had captured up to 10 people in Tikrit believed to be members of the former dictator's personal bodyguard....
There is a reason the bodies were 'touched up' before presenting them as 'evidence' to the public. It is cultural and states if the face is untouched and appears peaceful at the time of death they were in 'Allah' graces. If the same is true the person was not.
The reasons for releasing the pictures was completely "W"rong. The presentation of the pictures worked in reverse to quell ethnic crimes and killings. It was a huge blunder and should not be repeated. This only illustrates the "W"rong approach by the Bush/Cheney administration throughout their time in the Executive Branch.
In the same scenario, Saddam's execution was made public. There was ethnic chanting at the time and while that was a moment of relief for a group of people, there were others galvanized by it.
I mean when does a segment of the USA political populous 'get it' and stop acting like irrational children demanding the entire world march to their demands?
The same ranting over this only reflects the disrespect of religious and ethnic differences in the USA as well and is a form of religious bigotry. In rejecting the civilized conduct of the Obama administration in respect to Islamic/Muslim beliefs and traditions only shows bigotry and hatred.
This segment of USA political society is not a matter of being uncivilized and needing education about 'the real world' it is a choice in their behavior and demeanor. It is inflammatory and feeds the hatred in order to win electoral consent to serve in office.To act in anger is to state their is something "W"rong with the current conduct of the Executive Branch and Legislative Branch when not in 'lock step' with that anger. Anger is suppose to be 'served' and not ridiculed or demeaned. Anger is suppose to show 'the last step' before 'the next step.'
Just as a note: Psy-Ops is rarely correct and the continued turbulence and assault in the Middle East and on USA lawmakers is proof of that. The unit needs to be dissolved and the operations of same left to commanders, generals, anthropologists and leaders of government. I mean really.
This is the former President and Prime Minister of Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, father to Benazir and organizer of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).
Friday, May 06, 2011 By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (click title to entry - thank you) was informed on Thursday that former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had been killed in custody before his execution and that no medical officer had been present in the prison at that time.
Counsel for the federation, Babar Awan, told the 11-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, that resumed the hearing of the presidential reference sent to it by President Zardari under Article 186 of the constitution by invoking its advisory jurisdiction on the trial of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB), that the execution certificate even did not mention the name and stamp of medical officer and the execution time. Babar contended that no medical officer had certified the execution of the former prime minister.
Silence prevailed and tears rolled down from the cheeks of Pakistan People’s Party senior leaders present in the courtroom as Babar gave his arguments.
During the course of the proceedings, Babar said the drama of killing Bhutto was played in Lahore where the then Lahore High Court chief justice issued death warrant for the former prime minister. “It was a judicial murder and the drama of killing Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was played in Lahore”, he added.
He contended that after the case had been transferred to the Lahore High Court, the then chief justice Maulvi Mushtaq Hussain had been the first judge who had served a death sentence on Bhutto. “Maulvi Mushtaq wanted to make sure that Bhutto was judicially murdered,” he said.
During the hearing, Babar provided the court the proof of Bhutto’s death sentence issued by the then LHC chief justice on March 25, 1979, directing the superintendent of the district jail in Rawalpindi to hang Bhutto by the neck until he be dead on April 4, 1979.
Babar submitted that during the trial, ZAB had requested the court to record his statement in audio tape, however, the court rejected his request and deprived him of this right.
Meanwhile, Punjab Advocate General Khawaja Harris informed the bench that whole Wednesday night he and the Punjab IGP had gone through the police record but did not find any file containing FIR and investigation officer (IO) notes against ZAB.
The court, while rejecting the statement of Khawaja Haris, directed the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) and Punjab AG to convene a meeting with the FIA DG, Railways IG and Punjab IG for the search of record.
Justice Chaudhry, in his remarks, said, “We are interested in the record that how Bhutto was got involved in the case. Therefore, provide the record, no matter from wherever you bring it.”
The CJP observed that ZAB was a person of international repute and certain things must be avoided which might go against his personality. He said that they knew it was not a case of an ordinary man but of Bhutto, who was well-known. “We are aware of the reference which has been sent from the president and we have to show respect to it by answering the questions,” he added.
Justice Javed said not only Mehmood remained silent but the parliamentarians and other also remained quite.
He asked Babar that as the case had come up before the Supreme Court after a long time, then who could be blamed for the missing record.
The court adjourned the hearing of the case until Monday.
The secrets surrounding the covert nature of Osama bin Laden's safe haven in Pakistan should alert an international investigation into the activities of Pakistan's ISI and government as the corruption certainly has effected the way Afghanistan conducts its business. As a matter of fact, President Karzai has stated he told the former President Musharraf of the presence of bin Laden in Pakistan years before President Obama and the Joint Chiefs finally ended it.
According to a report from the Open Source Center, several Pakistani agencies conducted a joint operation in Abbottabad, arresting 40 people on suspicion of links to bin Laden.
Participating were the Inter-Services Intelligence Agency, Military Intelligence, the Intelligence Bureau, and the Abbottabad Police.
Official Pakistani sources were quoted as having referred to the arrests as the "second phase" of the operation that killed the al Qaeda leader.
Afghan intelligence sources suspected that Osama bin Laden was living in the region around Abbottabad, Pakistan as long ago as four years ago – but nothing was done about it because the president of Pakistan at the time, Pervez Musharraf, angrily rejected any such possibility....
