February 2009 archive

CPAC Continues To Ride

The Ox Cart Into

The Ditch And

They Really Didn’t “Love” Bush

Barack Obama to end US combat operations in Iraq by 2010

President Barack Obama has made the historic announcement that he will end US combat operations in Iraq by the end of August 2010.

By Alex Spillius in Washington

Last Updated: 8:32AM GMT 28 Feb 2009

In a speech at a Marine Corps base, he said around 100,000 troops would be brought home by then with 35,000 to 50,000 staying on to advise Iraqi forces, target terror and protect US interests.

Mr Obama, whose popularity was fuelled by his opposition to the war, issued a “responsible” withdrawal timetable three months slower than he had previously promised voters.

More controversial among fellow Democrats was his decision to leave up to 50,000 troops in the country until the end of 2011, which he said was vital to preserve a dramatically improved security and political climate.

Nancy Pelosi, Democrat speaker of the house, said she thought the number was unnecessarily high. She said: “I don’t know what the justification is for … the 50,000 troops in Iraq. I would think a third of that, maybe 15,000 or 20,000.”

Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, said: “I’m happy to listen to the secretary of defence and the president, but when they talk about 50,000, that’s a little higher number than I had anticipated.”

Iraq hero goes on the warpath

Victoria Cross holder condemns government failure to care for veterans suffering post-combat stress.

Exclusive by Terri Judd

Saturday, 28 February 2009

The Army’s most decorated serving war hero has accused the Government of failing soldiers suffering from mental trauma resulting from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for twice saving the lives of colleagues in Iraq while under heavy rocket fire, told The Independent it was “disgraceful” that some veterans were struggling to receive treatment. He said the Government was relying on military charities to cover its own deficiencies and called on it to act to better help the growing number of his comrades suffering from severe combat stress, depression and mental breakdowns.

USA

Sharper Downturn Clouds Obama Spending Plans



By PETER S. GOODMAN

Published: February 27, 2009

The economy is spiraling down at an accelerating pace, threatening to undermine the Obama administration’s spending plans, which anticipate vigorous rates of growth in years to come.

A sense of disconnect between the projections by the White House and the grim realities of everyday American life was enhanced on Friday, as the Commerce Department gave a harsher assessment for the last three months of 2008. In place of an initial estimate that the economy contracted at an annualized rate of 3.8 percent – already abysmal – the government said that the pace of decline was actually 6.2 percent, making it the worst quarter since 1982.

Under The Rainbow

Baked

Officials in Gunma found “several hundred” cannabis plants in the ruins of a house that was gutted by fire. No word on whether the firemen battling the blaze inhaled.

A 22-year-old native of Tonga who plays rugby for Japan’s national team tested positive for marijuana and “other substances.”

Flights were delayed at Miyazaki Airport while an SDF crew removed the fuse from a World War II-era bomb that was buried nearby.

In other ordnance news, the government said it would set aside ¥1 billion to find and remove unexploded shells from World War II in Okinawa. It is estimated that this job will take 100 years.

Officials in Nara announced a major renovation of Daikodo hall in the Horyuji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 



by A H Rahman

The next two are by British-Indian hip-hop artist Panjabi MC. Fun dance music.

(Beware of the Boys)

So many of us have been writing about events that tear at the human soul, from hatred and ill treatment of our fellow human beings to the ultimate evil, torture.

I’ve learned so much of tragedy, from Winter Rabbit’s essays on how Native Americans and their precious culture are treated, to Robyn’s essays on having to fight to even go into the ladies’ room without fear of attack.  And those are only two examples.

Now there are going to be hearings this upcoming week on torture.

I wonder how I can stay human with such deep knowledge of the evil we can do to each other.

I think of what I hate.

And I believe in order to stay human, I also need to think about what I love.

I’ll tell you, sometimes it’s hard.  Sometimes I despair.

(courtesy of YouTuber SidewalksOfNY315)