 |
Zebra 3 Report by Joe Anybody
Friday, 12 October 2007
Defendant knocks Web illiterate juror in RIAA case
Mood:
 not sure
Now Playing: Inept jurry decides a case ....... NOT!
Topic: TECHNOLOGY
October 10, 2007 11:23 AM PDT Defendant knocks Web illiterate juror in RIAA case
Posted by Greg Sandoval
Jammie Thomas is hard to rattle. She doesn't raise her voice or get angry when a reporter asks her to read a story where she is called a "liar" by a member of the jury that found her guilty of copyright violations and ordered her to pay the recording industry $220,000 in damages. She calmly reads the quotes by juror Michael Hegg, from Duluth, Minn., that appeared Tuesday in a story by Wired.com. She then draws a bead on where Hegg said he is a father, former snowmobile racer and has never been on the Internet. "I don't need to say too much, obviously," Thomas told CNET News.com on Wednesday. "They admit that they are computer illiterate. This person (Hegg) has never been on the Internet, so how can he say whether my story is possible? I've been contacted by Internet security experts who said that spoofing my address would have been trivial. Internet illiterate people are not going to be able to understand that." Thomas was sued by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sharing 24 songs online and infringing on intellectual property. Instead of settling for a few thousands dollars like most of those sued by the group, Thomas is the first to take her case to a jury. In the interview with Wired's David Kravets, Hegg, a steelworker, said that during deliberations, the jury concluded after only five minutes that Thomas was guilty. He said that they spent five hours trying to decide what to award the recording industry. Hegg, 38, said the jurors did not believe her story that someone spoofed her IP address. "She should have settled out of court for a few thousand dollars," Hegg told Wired. "Spoofing? We're thinking, 'Oh my God, you got to be kidding.' She's a liar." Thomas, 30, has announced that she intends to appeal the case brought against her by the RIAA, She said she is seeking to argue her case before someone who is more tech-savvy. But if Thomas can produce experts that can at least prove its possible her IP was spoofed, why didn't she present them in court? "We didn't have the money to put those experts on the stand," Thomas said. "(Hegg) can say my story is not true, but at the same time you're talking about a person with no technology background whatsoever. He said his wife is an Internet guru, but his wife wasn't on the jury." Thomas also was disappointed that the jury may have been punishing her for crimes committed by others. "We wanted to send a message," Hegg said in the Wired interview, "that you don't do this, that you have been warned." Thomas doesn't believe the law allows that. The jury "saw those feeds that showed 2 million people shared using (file-sharing service) Kazaa and they want to hold me responsible for that," Thomas said. "The law states that you can't hold me responsible for the actions of another. This is one of the reasons why I'm appealing." On a separate issue, a Web site created to accept donations from supporters has crashed after receiving more than 500,000 visitors, Thomas said. Freejammie.com is being moved to a new host server and should reappear in a few days. Thomas said the site has raised more than $9,000 and the money will go to pay her legal bills.
Posted by Joe Anybody
at 5:07 PM PDT
Grad student suspended after pro-gun-rights e-mail
Mood:
 irritated
Now Playing: Conservative(sic) Gun Rights Advocate "suspended"
Topic: CIVIL RIGHTS
October 10, 2007 7:56 PM PDT Grad student suspended after pro-gun-rights e-mailA Minnesota university has suspended one of its graduate students who sent two e-mail messages to school officials supporting gun rights. Hamline University also said that master's student Troy Scheffler, who owns a firearm, would be barred from campus and must receive a mandatory "mental health evaluation" after he sent an e-mail message arguing that law-abiding students should be able to carry firearms on campus for self-defense. Hamline spokesman Jacqueline Getty declined on Wednesday to answer questions about the suspension, saying that federal privacy laws prohibited the school from commenting. Scheffler had previously waived his privacy rights in a letter to Hamline University President Linda Hanson. The nonpartisan civil liberties group FIRE, which stands for the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, has taken up Scheffler's case, but with no luck so far. In a letter to FIRE on September 28, Hamline's attorneys said the school would not reconsider Scheffler's punishment Scheffler had sent the pair of e-mail messages after Hamline offered students counseling after the Virginia Tech shooting in April, which took place half a continent away. His response was that, if administrators were truly concerned about safety on campus, they should "lift a ridiculous conceal carry campus ban and let the students worry about their own 'security.'" Scheffler is licensed under Minnesota law to carry a concealed sidearm, which requires a background check and specific training. In May, after word got out about Scheffler's punishment but before FIRE became involved, conservative blogs rallied to his defense. A psychologist in Tennessee called it a case of university officials learning that "a conservative is on the loose on campus." Captain's Quarters interviewed Scheffler about so-called gun-free zones and concluded he was a "nice guy caught up in the academic manifestations of political correctness." That's the high-level summary. Some of the details are important, though. Angry e-mails: One point is that while Scheffler's e-mails were not threatening, they were angry and had sexist and racist overtones. Read them for yourself: The first, to Vice President of Student Affairs David Stern, said: "I myself am tired of having to pay my own extremely overpriced tuition to make up for minorities not paying theirs. On top of that, I am sick of seeing them held to a different standard than the white students (Of course its a lower and more lenient standard)." The second message, to President Linda Hanson, said: "For a 'Christian' university, I am very disappointed in Hamline. With the motif of the curriculum, the atheist professors, jewish and other non-Christian staff, I would charge the school with wanton misrepresentation...3 out of 3 students just in my class that are 'minorities' are planning on returning to Africa and all 3 are getting a free education ON MY DOLLAR." (Hamline is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and claims to promote "the ethics and values of the United Methodist tradition.") Even some libertarians who think Scheffler was ill-treated have criticized his grammar and approach. A professor at Brooklyn College who believes the suspension was unjustified said he was nevertheless "dismayed that (Scheffler) has progressed to the master's degree level without having mastered some aspects of basic grammar." "Privacy" rights: What's odd is that Hamline initially claimed the e-mail messages were "threatening" and placed Scheffler on an indefinite suspension that required him to undergo a mental health evaluation, a possible "treatment plan," an interview with the dean of students, and so on. The possibility of "further" internal discipline was also mentioned. But then, after FIRE pointed out being suspended for expressing political views violated the school's freedom of expression policy, President Hanson retreated to a fallback position. Hanson said that the suspension was also based on "critical input from various members of the Hamline community." The bizarre thing is that to this day, Hamline has never informed Scheffler what those anonymous allegations were (or who his anonymous accusers are). It claims that Scheffler's formal waiver of his rights under federal privacy law is insufficient because it has to "protect the privacy rights and interests of these other individuals." FIRE's Harvey Silverglate quipped: "Confidentiality is so protected at American colleges and universities that they don't even let the students know what the charges are!" Hamline's response: I spoke with Hamline spokesman Jacqueline Getty on the phone on Wednesday and exchanged six e-mail messages with her, but never actually got an answer to why the school wouldn't answer general questions about student free speech rights and due process. All she gave me was this statement: Hamline has never suspended a student for advocating for gun rights, nor for advocating for any other rights...As we have already informed FIRE, federal privacy laws that protect the rights of that student actually prevent the university from correcting each item of misinformation on FIRE's press release and from articulating in detail what may have transpired with this student. This misses the point. If there are serious allegations against Scheffler, he has a right under the student code to hear them and be able to respond. It's hardly appropriate to base a suspension and mandatory psychological evaluation on anonymous and undefined allegations that may not even exist. It's also inappropriate, especially in light of the Cleveland shooting on Wednesday, to try to squelch discussion of whether holders of concealed carry permits should be able to bring their sidearms on campus. It's already legal at the University of Utah and other states are considering the idea of eliminating victim disarmament zones. That may be a good idea; it may not. But universities should try to encourage debate rather than punish students for poorly written rants broaching the topic.
Posted by Joe Anybody
at 5:04 PM PDT
Wednesday, 10 October 2007
Catholics support GI resistance, initiate call to refuse
Mood:
 incredulous
Now Playing: Copird from Courage To Resist Website
Topic: WAR
Catholics support GI resistance, Initiate call to refuse | |
"Refuse to kill. Refuse the order to go to war ... We know your resistance to war will be difficult and require great courage." By Jonah House and Dorothy Day Catholic Worker. September 28, 2007 http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/443/1/ Brothers and sisters in the military: "Refuse to fight! Refuse to kill!" You are being ordered to war in the footsteps of veterans, who, more than 10 years ago, were sent to fight the first Gulf War. Many of those vets returned with severe and unacknowledged illnesses. Many gave birth to severely deformed children. All were abandoned by the Veterans Administration. You are being ordered to war by the most powerful nation on earth. You are being ordered to war by a nation with the most destructive weapons ever conceived, developed, deployed or used. You are being ordered to war by a nation whose self-acknowledged posture is that of world domination, mastery, control. This nation can have no moral justification for war. We, the undersigned, are convinced that war is the greatest evil on earth. We believe that humankind must end war, or war will end humankind, and, in fact, all of creation. Our convictions have driven us time and again to the Pentagon, White House and Congress in acts of civil resistance to war. Now, we bring our plea to you, sisters and brothers, in the armed forces. - Refuse to kill.
- Refuse the order to go to war.
- Leave the military before it is too late.
We know your resistance to war will be difficult and require great courage. But please reflect: - Is it more difficult than fighting in war?
- Is it more difficult than being a pawn of corporate greed?
- Is it more difficult than living with a violated conscience?
- Is it more difficult than living with the poisons of war in your body and spirit?
Wrong is easy. Right is difficult and long. Do what your heart says is right. We knowingly and willingly make this plea to you in violation of 18 USC Sec. 1381 and 2387 (see below). We knowingly and willingly embrace some of your risk by urging you to refuse duty in the U.S. military. We plead with you, as Bishop Oscar Romero pleaded with Salvadoran troops: "When you hear the words of a man telling you to kill, remember instead the words of God: 'Thou shalt not kill!' No soldier is obliged to obey an order contrary to the law of God?In the name of God, in the name of our tormented people who have suffered so much and whose laments cry out to heaven, I beseech you, I beg you, I order you in the name of God, stop the repression!'" If you choose to leave the military, please know that our hearts and homes are open to you.
As of September 28, 2007, Signed by: Abbot Bishop John-Anthony, O.S.C., Benedictine, Victoria, B.C. * Briana Adato * David Agee * Gwendolyn Albert * Jackie Allen * Jeanne Allen * Dorothy N. Anderson, Tucson, AZ * Frances Annemarie Ostensen * Amy Antonucci * Mary Beth Appel * David Arthur * Gary Ashbeck, Jonah House * Alice Bach * Mary Ann Bacon * Elizabeth Bain, S.S.N.D. * Katherine & Clinton Bamberger * Sara Bania-Dobyns * Sr. Diane Bardol, G.N.S.H. * Ellen Barfield, Veterans for Peace * Steve Barrett * Dotti Freed Baumgarten * Harvey Baylis * Mike Beckman * Suzanne Belote * Karin Bennett * Barbara Benton * Daniel Berrigan, S.J. * Frida Berrigan * Johanna Berrigan, House of Grace * Kate Berrigan, Oberlin College * Dr. Rosalie Bertell, G.N.S.H. * Jacqueline Berry * Sharon Browning, Philadelphia PA * Lauren Biehl * Pat Birnie * Mary Ellen Blackwell, S.F.C.C. * Gregory Boertje-Obed * Kathy Boylan, Dorothy Day Catholic Worker * Tim Boylan * Bob Bossie, S.C.J. * Roy Bourgeois, M.M. * Rev. Bill Brisotti * Joan Brown, O.S.F. * Rev. David & Marion Atwood Brown * Bunny Bryant, West Chester, PA * Danny Burns * David Busch * Bernard J. Bush, S.J. * Catherine Bush * Fran Cahill * Lauren C. Cannon, Voices in the Wilderness * Jesse Carr, Oberlin College * Joan Cavanagh * Edith T. Cheney * Carolyn Chernoff, Philadelphia, PA * Jen Clapham * Thomas Cleary * Ronald F. Coburn, MD, Prof of Physiology and Medicine at University of Pennsylvania * Andy Collins * Frank Corcoran, Veterans for Peace * Tom Cordaro * Corienne Carey * Oscar Castro, AFSC, National Youth and Military Program * Chloe Cola * Marlene Colbeck, NJ * Mark & Luz Colville, Amistad Catholic Worker * Catia Confotini * Fr. Frank Cordaro, Des Moines Catholic Worker * Susan Crane, Jonah House * Gary & Jennifer Culp * Rob Currie, S.J. Nicaragua * Amy Dalton * Murphy Davis, Open Door, Atlanta, GA * John Dear, S.J. * Stephen Dear * Joseph G. DeBenedictis, B.F.C.C. * D.C. Anti-war Network Gwendolyn Debrow * Michelina & Vinton Deming, Philadelphia, PA * Peter DeMott * Marie DeMott Grady * Des Moines Catholic Workers * Mary Pat Dewey, O.P. * Susan Chase Dietrich * Gretchen Ditschle * Keith Dodge * Rev. William Dohman, J.C.L. * Sean Donahue * Mary & Mike Donnelly, ME * Sean Donovan, Catholic father * Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, DC * Chris Doucot * Jackie Downing * Terrence Doyle * Gwen Dubois, MD * Edward Dyer * Bob Earnest * Ruth Gagnon Eastbrook * Alice Edgerton * Stephen Edgerton * Susan C. Edwards, Delaware County Wage Peace and Justice * Ann Ehrich * Vincent Scotti Eirene * Barbara & Richard Epstein * Leonor Esguerra * Marjorie Eulmer, Brandywine Peace Community * Every Church a Peace Church * Anne C. Ewing * Sr. Jacinda Fernandes, OSB * Joe Ferrara, Chicago IL * Renaye Fewless * David Fife, Tucson, AZ * Lloyd Fillion * Michael Fitzpatrick * Ana Grady Flores * Elizabeth Flower, Quaker, Philadelphia, PA * Rev. Frank Fortkamp * Constance M. Fox * Paul Frazier * Magdalene Carole Francis-Lohmar, Sanctuary of Hope Solitude * Jason Fults * Marcia Gagliardi * Stephanie Gail * Finnian Gallagher, Belfast, No. Ireland * Tory Gates * Dr. Peter Gathje * Carol Gilbert, O.P. * Jack Gilroy * Ted Glick * Neil Golder * Stella Marie Goodpasture, O.P. * Thomas Gordon * Ellen Grady * Oona Grady DeFlaun * Grand Rapids Chapter of Don't Waste Michigan * Fr. John Grathwohl * Vince Green * Bruce Grimes, Sumneytown, PA * Lisa Guido * Stephen M. Gulick, Philadelphia, PA * Bishop Tom Gumbleton * Jean & Joe Gump * Evelyn Haas * Bill Hagel * Robert Hain * Mary Ann Hain * Mary Hankins * Clare Hanrahan * John Harris, Hartford Catholic Worker * Judith A. Heffernan, M.Div * John Heid * Jane Heil * Cassie Heino * Libby Heino * Gwen L. Hennessey, O.S.F * Robert Herbstritt * Mary Hess, WILPF, Hartford, CT * Cynthia Hirni * Barbara Hirshkowitz * Mary Sean Hodges, O.P. * Lee Hoefer * House of Grace Catholic Worker * Jane Hosking * Donna Howard * Barbara Huber, S.C. * Reggie Hutchins * Ralph Hutchinson * Ithaca Catholic Worker Community * Iraq Pledge of Resistance, Tucson,AZ * Allan Irving, Prof Social Work, Widener University * Joe Izzo, Quaker * Tom Jackson * Lana & Steve Jacobs * Ron Jacobs, Vermont * Melissa Jameson, War Resisters League * Christopher Jones * Edythe M. Jones, Esq. * Chuck Johnson * Jonah House, Baltimore MD * Mary Juette, Woodbury, MN * Jackie Hudson, O.P * Brian Karabinos. * Barb Kass * Barb Katt * Chuck Kausman * George & Maureen Kehoe-Ostensen * Joergen Kehoe-Ostensen * Carol Marie Kelly, O.S.F. * Stephen Kelly, S.J. * Kathleen R. Kennedy * Megan Kennedy * Scott Kennedy, Resource Center for Nonviolence * Betty Kenny, O.S.F., Rochester, MN * Robert G. Ketron, Baltimore, MD * Ken & Mary Kiernan, Rockaway Beach, NY * Harry C. Kiely * Joel Kilgour, Loaves and Fishes Catholic Worker * Ed Kinane * Richard John Kinane * Betty King, Catholic mother * Rev. Steven M. King * Margaret Knapke * Stephen Kobasa * Bob & Tess Koenig * Gary G. Kohls * Harris Kornstein * Samuel Krakow, Drexel Hill, PA * Robert Krall * Shawn Kraemer * Katherine Krolczyk * Rev. George J. Kuhn * Art Laffin, Dorothy Day Catholic Worker * John LaForge * George Lakey * Maura Leahy, Pendle Hill, PA * Jonathan Leavitt * Rev. Dexter Lanctot, * Kathleen Lanctot, Epiphany House, * Pat Landsel * Eric LeCompte, Pax Christi USA * Karen B. Lenz, Philadelphia, Catholic Worker * Bronwyn Lepore * Thomas Lewis, Emma House Catholic Worker * Ed Loring, Open Door, Atlanta, GA * Robert Ludwig * Eileen T. Lundy * Elizabeth Marx, Temple Univerity * Margaret McKenna, M.M.S. * Lissa McLeod * Elmer Maas * Joan MacIntyre, CA * Kitty Madden, Casa Materna de Matagalpa * Andy Mager * Paul Magno, Peter Maurin Center, DC * Rev. Susan Manning, Pebble Hill Church * Linda Manzo, Brandywine Peace Community * Kristan Markey * Dolly J. Marshall * Reba & Scott Mathern-Jacobson * Monica McAghon * Elizabeth McAlister, Jonah House * Colleen McCarthy * Kathryn E. McClanen * Maureen McDonnell, O.P. * Rick McDowell * James F. McGovern, Jr. * Laura McIlvain, PA * Joyce McLean, Los Gatos, CA * Skip Mendler, North Branch Friends Meeting * Dave McReynolds * Hannah Mermelstein * Karol & Glen Miller, Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action * Will Mische * Emma Miles * Mike Miles * Ollie Miles * Philip Miles * Susan Miller * Esther Mohler-Ho * Dr. Pamela Monaco * Jeff Monjack * Anne Montgomery R.S.C.J. * Ceylon Mooney * Maureen Morello, NJ * ichael Morrill, PA * Patricia Morrison, Tucson, AZ * Joe Morton * John Mote * Rev. Sebastian Muccilli * Tom Mullian, Brandywine Peace Community * Luci Murphy * Retta Murphy * Margaret M. Murtha * Tom & Carole Murtha, Haddon Heights, NJ * Ched Myers * David Naar * Michele Naar-Obed * Hattie Nestle * Bob Neveln, Assoc. Prof of Computer Science and Math * Ruth O'Neil * Martha Ni h'Uailaighe * Kathleen & Michael Niece, Coastside Catholic Worker, CA * Sara Nissley * Anthony Nicotera, IL, SOA Watch/Chicago Peace Response * Karl & Trisha Novak * Max Obuszewski * Dick Ochs * Stephen Oldham * Gil Ott * Paula & Frank Panzarella * Jonathan Parfrey * Jerry Park * Lavender Parke * Carol Parker * David Partridge, Co-chair, Clergy Against Nuclear Attack (CANA) * Andy Peifer * Melanie Persche, O.L.V.M., Huntington, IN * Walter Pietsch, ARISE, NY * Ardeth Platte, O.P. * Russ Plywaczynski, Loyola Univ. Chicago * Bill & Gaile Pohlhaus, Wayne, PA * Laurie Pollack, PA * Beth Preheim, Marian, SD * Doris Pulone, Mt. Holly, NJ * Bill Quigly, Law Professor, Loyola Univ. New Orleans * Elizabeth Raasch-Gilman * Robert Raines * Susan Ravitz, LEPOCO * Kimberly Redigan, Catholic Mother and Teacher * Barbara Reed * Margaret Mary Reher * Paul Rehm * Ken Reichstein * Jerry Reitman * Mary T. Rice * Richa * Rosalie Riegle * Grace Ritter * Jon Robb * Patricia Rogan, S.B.S. * Gene Roman, N.Y. * Lin Romano * Leo Romo * Kurt Rosenberg, Swarthmore, PA * Ellen Rubin * Elsa Russell-Lichtenberg * Dick & Gladys Rustay, Open Door Community, Atlanta, GA * Francis Maria Salvato, S.R.I., ThD, Minister General Sodales Franciscani Immaculatae * Leo Sandy * Marlene Santoyo, Germantown Monthly Meeting * Rev. Finley Schaef * Claire & Scott Schaeffer-Duffy * Betty Schroeder * Leslie Schultz * Carol Seeley * Lois Seeligsohn * Rev. Robert R. Schulze * Brayton Shanley * Donna Sharer * Marsette Sloan * Robert M. Smith, Brandywine Peace Community * David Smith-Ferri, CA * Anne Somsel * Joseph C. Spina, O.S.F. * Michael Sprong, Marion, SD * St. Francis Catholic Worker * St. Isaac of Nineveh Gift of Tears Catholic Worker * Rev. Amy Stapleton * Lesley Stearns, Philadelphia, PA * Gail Steiner * Audrey Stewart * Jessica Stewart * Tricia Sullivan, Ground Zero Community, Poulsbo, WA * Cy & Lois Swartz, Grandparents for Peace in the Middle East, PA * Michelle Syverson, Catholic Peace Activist * Mary & Carl Tann * Ann Tiffany * Linda H. Traver-Neeld, West Chester, PA * Brian Terrell, Catholic Peace Ministry, IA * William & Ellen Thomas, Peace Park Anti-nuclear Vigil, DC * Ray Torres, First United Methodist Church of Germantown, PA * Bonnie Urfer * Marge Van Cleef * Claire Vogel * Voices in the Wilderness * Brendan Walsh * Elizabeth Walters, I.H.M. * Jamie Walters * Michael Wehle * Dr. Fred Wilcox * Bonnie Willdorf * Sara Willi * Lillian & George Willoughby * Teresa F. Wilson * Bonnie & Mike Wisniewski, Los Angeles Catholic Worker * William R. Woodward WWII Veterans for Peace * John Wurth * Rev. Bill Wylie-Kellermann * Fr. Jerry Zawada Contact Jonah House (410-233-6238) or Dorothy Day Catholic Worker (202-882-9649) for more information.
18 USC (United States Code) Section 1381. Enticing desertion and harboring deserters, Whoever entices or procures, or attempts or endeavors to entice or procure any person in the Armed Forces of the United States, or who has been recruited for service therein, to desert therefrom, or aids any such person in deserting or in attempting to desert from such service; or Whoever harbors, conceals, protects, or assists any such person who may have deserted from such service, knowing him to have deserted therefrom, or refuses to give up and deliver such person on the demand of any officer authorized to receive him - Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both. Section 2387. Activities affecting armed forces generally (a) Whoever, with intent to interfere with, impair, or influence the loyalty, morale, or discipline of the military or naval forces of the United States: (1) advises, counsels, urges, or in any manner causes or attempts to cause insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty by any member of the military or naval forces of the United States; or (2) distributes or attempts to distribute any written or printed matter which advises, counsels, or urges insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty by any member of the military or naval forces of the United States - Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction. (b) For the purposes of this section, the term "military or naval forces of the United States" includes the Army of the United States, the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Naval Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve of the United States; and, when any merchant vessel is commissioned in the Navy or is in the service of the Army or the Navy, includes the master, officers, and crew of such vessel. |
Posted by Joe Anybody
at 11:07 AM PDT
Updated: Wednesday, 10 October 2007 11:09 AM PDT
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
LA POLICE 26 under Investigation
Mood:
 celebratory
Now Playing: Will Justice Prevail - LA police under investigation for May 1 abuse
Topic: FAILURE by the GOVERNMENT
An LAPD report details numerous errors made by commanders and officers in the May confrontation with immigration rights protesters and journalists.By Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
10:23 AM PDT, October 9, 2007 http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-melee10oct10,0,7174441.story?coll=la-home-centerThe May Day MacArthur Park melee, in which LAPD officers clashed with protesters and journalists, occurred because of a series of errors by police commanders, according to a long-awaited report released this morning.
Officials said 26 officers are under investigation and could face discipline for excessive use of force during the incident.
The report, prepared by top officials of the Los Angeles Police Department, highlighted numerous missteps by commanders and officers before and during the confrontation:
* Deputy Chief Caylor "Lee" Carter "underestimated the size and significance" of the rally, which took place at the end of an immigration protest. When an LAPD captain suggested additional planning for the rally before the march, he was "verbally reprimanded" by Carter, the report said.
* Commanders did not take advantage of the more than 450 officers available to handle the crowds at the park, relying instead on a smaller group of elite officers who easily became overwhelmed.
* Officers appeared to use more force on journalists and protesters than LAPD policies or the law allow, the report said. "It appeared that some of the officers and supervisors in MacArthur Park believed that, contrary to department policy, baton strikes could be used to compel a person to disperse, even if they were merely standing in front of the officers, failing to respond to direction," the report said.
* There was confusion among officers about who was in charge, with some officers saying there was tension between Carter and two other commanding officers. "As a result, subordinate officers witnessed conflicting direction and obvious tension between the three command officers." Subordinates in the field made numerous requests over the radio "that went unacknowledged and unanswered," the report said.
Such were the problems in communication, the report said, that Police Chief William J. Bratton, who had left the office to attend an event at Universal Studios, "learned of the problems at MacArthur Park when the mayor called him from Central America."
The clash injured 42 protesters, reporters and police and is considered a black eye for the LAPD. TV footage showed officers wielding batons and firing rubber bullets at reporters covering the story.
Bratton has been highly criticized for the way the incident was handled by officers.
A preliminary report this summer faulted two commanders: Carter and Cmdr. Louis Gray. The LAPD said it was Gray, who was not at the scene, who gave the order to use force.
Carter, who was captured on film near the melee, went along with the decision. Carter retired shortly after being informed that Bratton was demoting him for his role in the incident. Gray was removed from his field command and assigned to administrative work.
In addition, Bratton ordered that officers be retrained in crowd-control tactics. He also created a crowd-control bureau and bought new technology to aid in crowd management.
The report is available online at www.lapd.org.
richard.winton@latimes.com Discussion What do you think of the action of the LAPD during the MacArthur Park melee? What should be done by the city now? 1. I am disturbed by the amount of anger posted here, especially against the demonstrators and illegal immigrants. I just don't agree with the notion that they have no rights or got what they deserved because they flouted our immigration laws. . Secondly, it seems as though most didn't even read the article as these posts don't really address the details of the commission's report. contrary to those who think its fine for the police to beat protester, even rowdy protesters, it is against LAPD policy to beat someone who is just standing still and not following orders.
Submitted by: Al
1:32 PM PDT, Oct 9, 2007 2. With all the thoussand of participants that were there that day, I think that the police did what they had to do. These morons were throwing stuff at the officers, how were they to know if the rest of the crowd was to follow. If maybe the protesters would put their own people under control, things did not have to get this far. And what stupid people would think of taking their kids anyways. Think consequences next time.
Submitted by: ANG
1:29 PM PDT, Oct 9, 2007 3. It is extremely unacceptable, after the fact, that the police acted and conducted themselfs in such a GESTAPO manner. There is an under current of racism in the ranks of the LAPD. People and the public have the RIGHT to protest their discontent on the political issues that are taken place. This country is a democracy not a socialist state. I'm an active U.S. Veteran and I was hurt in the scene. Where are the political representative of humanity now? Everybody in this country is a foreingner. Why is there no wall being built in the northern border, where all the terrorist activity is taken place?
Submitted by: Ivan Vargas
1:17 PM PDT, Oct 9, 2007 Read all 39 comments
Posted by Joe Anybody
at 1:55 PM PDT
Monday, 8 October 2007
Mystery 'tin whiskers' ruining electronics
Mood:
 d'oh
Now Playing: Lead free solder is causing problems - there called
Topic: TECHNOLOGY
http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/239488/3/ Mystery 'tin whiskers' ruining electronics Jordan Robertson - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Saturday, October 06, 2007 | SAN JOSE, Calif. -- They've ruined missiles, silenced communications satellites and forced nuclear power plants to shut down. Pacemakers, consumer gadgets and even a critical part of a space shuttle have fallen victim. The culprits? Tiny splinters -- whiskers, they're called -- that sprout without warning from tin solder and finishes deep inside electronics. By some estimates, the resulting short-circuits have leveled as much as $10 billion in damage since they were first noticed in the 1940s. Now some electronics makers worry the destruction will be more widespread, and the dollar amounts more draining, as the European Union and governments around the world enact laws to eliminate the best-known defense -- lead -- from electronic devices. "The EU's decision was irresponsible and not based on sound science," said Joe Smetana, a principal engineer and tin whisker expert with French telecommunications equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent SA. "We're solving a problem that isn't and creating a bunch of new ones." Typically measuring under a millimeter long, tin whiskers look like errant strands of static-charged hair, erupting in every direction from tin-based materials like solder. Their cause is hotly debated. Other metals also grow whiskers, but not like tin. Trouble arises when the whiskers bridge separate parts of increasingly miniaturized circuit boards. They also can flake off and interfere with sensitive optics. While scientists debate their cause, they agree on one thing: Small amounts of lead mixed with the tin have been remarkably effective at preventing whisker eruptions for decades. Lead, however, is a serious health concern. In children, it can cause learning or behavioral problems and has been associated with anemia and kidney problems. In adults, exposure has been linked to high blood pressure and reproductive organ damage. Last year, Europeans barred the toxic metal from most electronics to prevent its being incinerated or accumulating in dumps after computers and other gadgets are tossed out. Similar measures are being considered or are already in place in other countries, including Japan, China, South Korea, Argentina, Australia and the United States. Some companies say the EU rules threaten the reliability of their products, exposing them to unknown risks and possibly threatening people's safety. But EU officials say the regulations banning lead, cadmium, mercury and three other hazardous substances are needed to protect people and the environment. They also note that many types of electronics are exempt from the law, including military and other national security equipment, medical devices, and servers, data storage computers and telecommunications gear that use leaded solders. Exemptions are also granted when alternatives to the hazardous materials don't exist yet, or because the substances can't be replaced without jeopardizing safety. Still, even some companies with exemptions say it's getting harder to buy the leaded parts. They worry about the increased risk of pure-tin parts, the culprit behind the most devastating tin-whisker-related failures. "Over time (the failures) are just going to get worse and worse and worse," said Jim McElroy, executive director of International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative, or iNEMI, a group of big electronics makers, government agencies and other parties active in tin whisker research. "Even if the military is exempt forever, they will be forced to convert because they can't get the components they want," he said. "And that will eventually happen across the board." Tin whiskers have left a trail of destruction in a string of important machinery, chronicled in an extensive database of publicly disclosed failures kept by researchers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Last year, for example, NASA engineers testing parts for the space shuttle Endeavour discovered that millions of tin whiskers were causing an electronic box to inaccurately point the shuttle's engine, knocking the rocket's trajectory off-kilter, according to Henning Leidecker, chief engineer of the electronic parts office of NASA's Goddard and a tin whisker expert. It turns out NASA had approved the pure-tin-coated clamps used for holding circuit boards in place back when the electronics were made in the 1980s, before NASA adopted its current rule requiring a small amount of lead in its tin coatings. "These whiskers have the potential to destroy missions," Leidecker said. Failures blamed on tin whiskers have run the gamut of devices and manufacturers. In the 1980s, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalled some pacemakers because of a high failure rate caused by tin whiskers. In 1998, PanAmSat Corp.'s $250 million Galaxy IV communications satellite, which provided service to tens of millions of pagers across North America and thousands of pay-at-the-pump gas station machines, was deemed a total loss after two processors failed. The main spacecraft control processor, which governs the satellite's positioning and other functions, failed for an unknown reason, and the backup couldn't be used because tin whiskers had shorted it out a year before. At least 10 other satellite failures have been blamed on tin whiskers, according to the NASA database. Over the past two decades, also according to the NASA database, nuclear power plants have been temporarily shut down at least seven times after tin whiskers in the alarm system circuit boards triggered false alarms, alerting managers to threats that didn't exist. There have been no reported injuries. "There's a real loss of money because the plant is shut down and stays down, and it also presents a situation where workers are taught not to believe the alarms," Leidecker said. "Are you comfortable with that? I am not." The military also isn't immune. Whisker-related malfunctions have been reported in the radar used aboard fighter jets, in the target-detection system of certain missiles, along with various unspecified problems in other parts of the U.S. military's missile programs. Little is known about those failures, other than the part that failed and the cause. Most involve military secrets and are only known because they're revealed in technical forums by defense contractors, who incur heavy repair expenses for malfunctioning tin-whisker-infested equipment and are active in scientific circles looking for a fix that doesn't involve lead. Tin whisker experts said the industry is working fast to come up with a lead-free solution. So far, other materials have shown to be effective in preventing tin whiskers, but not as powerfully as lead. One promising remedy is tin-silver-copper solders, said George Galyon, a senior technical staff member at IBM Corp. However, Galyon noted that lead-free solders often require much higher temperatures, which can warp circuit boards and cause materials to degrade. Despite the setbacks, he said the major players realize anti-lead laws give them no choice. "It's whistling in the wind if you think we're turning this back," he said. "China's full-bent on it, the major markets are into it. The world flipped over in one fell swoop." On the Net: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center tin whisker page: http://nepp.nasa.gov/whisker/ iNEMI page: http://www.inemi.org/cms/ |
. READ MORE . ON TIN WISKERS ... IN A RECENT ARTICLE HERE (10-10-07)
Posted by Joe Anybody
at 3:53 PM PDT
Updated: Wednesday, 10 October 2007 12:41 PM PDT
Sunday, 7 October 2007
FCC won't probe disclosure of phone records
Mood:
irritated
Now Playing: SPYING on citizens deemed OK to do - 'Terrorism' is why!?
Topic: CIVIL RIGHTS
http://www.news.com/FCC-wont-probe-disclosure-of-phone-records/2100-1036_3-6212116.html?tag=html.alert.comp Published: October 6, 2007, 4:00 PM PDT FCC won't "probe disclosure of phone records" The head of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission declined to investigate reports that phone companies turned over customer records to the National Security Agency, citing national security concerns, according to documents released on Friday. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin turned down a congressional request for an investigation as a top intelligence official concluded it would "pose an unnecessary risk of damage to the national security," according to a letter National Intelligence Director Michael McConnell sent to Martin on Tuesday. Intelligence officials "support your determination not to initiate an investigation," McConnell wrote to Martin. At issue are reports last year that some big telephone companies allowed the U.S. government access to millions of telephone records for an antiterrorism program. The reports have prompted scrutiny by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Democratic Rep. Edward Markey, the chairman of a key Energy and Commerce subcommittee, asked Martin to investigate. In his response, Martin included Tuesday's letter from McConnell. A representative for the FCC declined further comment. Markey, of Massachusetts, said McConnell's stance was "unsurprising given that this administration has continually thwarted efforts by Congress to shed more light on the surveillance program." "I believe the agency could conduct its own examination of such reports in a way that safeguards national security," Markey said in a statement. The Energy and Commerce Committee also asked AT&T, Verizon Communications and Qwest Communications International on Tuesday to describe how U.S. government agencies sought to obtain information about customer telephone and Internet use.
Posted by Joe Anybody
at 11:26 PM PDT
Updated: Sunday, 7 October 2007 11:27 PM PDT
Friday, 5 October 2007
BLACKWATER USA - Waxman wants truth & more information
Mood:
 happy
Now Playing: INVESTIGATE BLACKWATER NOW
Topic: WAR
Iraqi Corruption Showdown brewing
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/05/iraq.corruption/ - NEW: Rep. Henry Waxman demands documents on Iraq contractor
- Waxman accuses State Department of covering up "an epidemic of corruption"
- State Department says it will provide information if it is kept classified
- Ex-Iraqi official estimates the total lost to corruption at $18 billion
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Democrats' top investigator in Congress reacted angrily Friday to a report that the former Blackwater USA employee accused of killing an Iraqi vice presidential guard was hired by another U.S. contractor weeks later. The report comes alongside Rep. Henry Waxman's warning of a "confrontation" with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice over how much Americans should be able to learn about corruption in Iraq. In a sharply worded letter, Waxman demanded Rice turn over a long list of documents related to the contractor, Andrew Moonen. "Serious questions now exist about whether the State Department may have withheld from the U.S. Defense Department facts about this Blackwater contractor's shooting of the Iraqi guard that should have prevented his hiring to work on another contract in support of the Iraq War," wrote Waxman, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Moonen is accused of fatally shooting an Iraqi guard and fleeing the scene, according to a Congressional memo describing the investigation report. He was fined, fired and flown home from Iraq, and the company later paid $20,000 in compensation to the victim's family.
Moonen returned to the United States within a few days of the incident, his attorney said, but in February he returned to Kuwait working for Combat Support Associates (CSA), a company spokesman said. CNN reported Thursday night that CSA said it was unaware of the December incident when it hired Moonen, because the State Department and Blackwater kept the incident quiet and out of Moonen's personnel records.
Waxman wrote it is "hard to reconcile this development" with previous assertions State Department officials have made in recent days.
Waxman earlier accused Rice and the State Department of a cover-up of what he called "an epidemic of corruption" in Iraq in general. He branded the State Department's anti-corruption efforts "dysfunctional, under-funded and a low priority." Waxman further blasted the department for trying to keep secret details of corruption in Iraq, especially relating to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. "Corruption is increasing in Iraq, and the State Department can't keep us from knowing that -- can't censor that -- just because it might embarrass or hurt our relationship with [al-]Maliki," Waxman said at the House committee hearing.  Watch Waxman ask why negative comments must be said behind closed doors » Deputy Secretary of State Larry Butler repeatedly refused to answer questions from Waxman about Iraqi corruption but offered full disclosure if his testimony would be kept secret. Asked if he believes the Iraqi government has the political will or the capability to root out corruption, Butler responded, "Mr. Chairman, questions which go to the broad nature of our bilateral relationship with Iraq are best answered in a classified setting." But he was more forthcoming when talking about efforts that al-Maliki has taken to improve matters, commending the prime minister for dispatching Iraqi forces to surround a refinery to ensure oil did not end up on the black market. But Waxman appeared unmoved. "Why can you talk about the positive things and not the negative things?" he asked. "Shouldn't we have the whole picture?" "I'd be very pleased to answer those questions in an appropriate setting," Butler replied. Waxman laughed and asked, "An appropriate setting for positive things is a congressional hearing, but for negative things, it must be behind closed doors?" "As you know, this goes to the very heart of diplomatic relations and national security," Butler said. "It goes to the very heart of propaganda," Waxman said, putting funding for anti-corruption activities through June 15, 2006, at $65 million, "or less than 0.003 percent of the total" spent by the Iraqi Relief and Reconstruction Fund. The State Department said details of anti-corruption efforts must be secret to protect investigators and Iraqi allies. In a letter to Rice last week, Waxman called the department's position "ludicrous." Fellow Democratic Rep. John Yarmuth of Kentucky agreed. "It's pretty clear that the administration just wants to muzzle any comments that reflect negatively on the [al-]Maliki government," he said. Earlier, the former head of the Iraqi Commission on Public Integrity, Judge Radhi Hamza al-Radhi, told the hearing that al-Maliki had protected family members from corruption investigations, citing Salam al-Maliki, Iraq's former transportation minister and the prime minister's cousin. Al-Radhi resigned last month and fled Iraq after he and his family were attacked and 31 of his anti-corruption employees were killed. He said corruption has affected "virtually every agency and ministry, including some of the most powerful officials in Iraq." "Corruption has stopped possible advances by the government on the political level, on economic reconstruction, on basic services, amenities and infrastructure and on the rule of law," he told the committee, estimating the total lost to corruption at $18 billion. In Baghdad, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh acknowledged his country is plagued with a "high level" of corruption, but he said officials are trying to rein in the problem. U.S. Comptroller General David Walker, head of the Government Accountability Office, said there appeared to be no U.S. plan for countering the corruption. He urged Congress to consider conditioning future appropriations on such a plan "so we can achieve some results rather than have just more efforts." Waxman questioned whether Iraq's government was "too corrupt to succeed." If so, he added, "We need to ask if we could, in good conscience, continue to ... prop up his regime." CNN's Bob Constantini contributed to this report.
Posted by Joe Anybody
at 6:02 PM PDT
Impeachment Joe Anybody - Col Ted Westhusing - Petraeus guy
Mood:
 on fire
Now Playing: My feelings on Impeachment & my cousin Ted
Topic: WAR
I posted this on www.BlueOregon.com just minutes ago under the topic of the Impeachment issue & my House Representative Earl Blumenauer I repaeat my cousins words <see last paragraph of this post of mine for his quote> 
This isn’t rocket science
Crimes have been committed
They need to be investigated its that simple.
My cousin shot himself in the head in Baghdad in 2005 in his trailer
He was in a war that was waged based on lies and cooked information
He was a high ranking US Military official, training the Iraqi police force His death bed note said "Death before Dishonor"
He was working with "contractors” & his commanding officer was that General Petraeus guy.
He got nowhere with Petraeus.
He was disgusted, it was fruitless, (sound familiar to anyone)
He was the highest ranking officer to die in Iraq (he was, but now I’m not sure in that recently there is so many dieing over there)
Here is a news story on my cousin
http://www.texasobserver.org/article.php?aid=2440&print=true
Get this He killed himself out of disgust for this immoral war.
Geeee morals what’s that ? I have written Earl about this war
And about illegal spying on citizens, and other violations by this administration Either you act like Petraeus did to my cousin Ted, or you do what is ethical and just. Its one or the other. I have been sticking up for Earl for years on Indy Media and other places as I also do for Ralph Nader....
But I draw my line now, due to his stubborn refusal to know right form wrong
He is pretty much almost irritated by us wanting Impeachment I stand by my cousins words "I will not be sullied any more"
This man Bush deserves nothing but a trial.
It makes no difference if it is popular, or worth it, or if it will stick and he be removed As Bonnie Tinker said at the town hall meeting, "the time for Justice is always now" My cousin Ted thought so
John Bradach’s nephew thought so
And with the sincerity that Joe Walsh (The Lone Vet) has asked numerous times so courageously, "How many more must die before you wake up and do something?"
Apparently it could be millions (or more) For this rocket science program has The Blumenauer clan touting that they care.
But if they did they would be out wearing a red shirt.
I have been there 10 weeks in a row, it is in sacrifice of my lunch hour I do this to bring Justice to the table at Earls office, in hopes that guys just like my cousin Ted and John's nephew, and the Iraq refugees I just recently met can have a little peace and a chance to live another day. I need my representative to represent me.
It’s amazing my cousin a Col. shot himself to keep his honor. Yet Earl and Willie all sit around and pretend they care but their hands are tied.
I wish my cousin had his hands tied that fateful day
I wish Earl (Willie) could see the difference between crimes worthy of Impeachment vs. rocket science spin.
So many are dead. So many are dieing.
And I read out here bickering over fine print law, and justification to do what ever they want (fill in blank) at their own whim n peril, with no remorse
Its plain and its simple - Our country is murdering the Iraqi population. If your against this reckless administration trashing the constitution and international law then come on out and put your BLOOD red "Impeach" shirt on and stand for justice and honesty OR.... bicker and hem n haw over sally said, she said, and/or fine print rules of Congress and Executive law.
But like my cousin Ted, who was a professor at West Point said, “This is wrong I will die before I listen to Petraeus and Bush for one more day” (my words) BANG! One shot to his head.
Ya got really love this frickin war and the men who keep it going
I can see why these Representative (rocket scientists) don’t get it
Its so hard to know right form wrong. Ya know the suicide rate is escalating over there?
And the horror stories from Refugee’s and Veterans are Horrific (actually mind numbing)
Those torture pictures alone scarred me for life, yet Bush uses back room signage statements (more fine print) to use rendition and sick torture methods, scrapping Geneva, and habeas corpus and as much as spits on the constitution
Oh "we don’t want to start a circus by bringing up Impeachment"….noooooo!
I would rather be at a circus than this blood bath….. millions are now dead! One side for Peace Justice, and Impeachment One side for Law Breaking and Blood, Death, Murder, and Suicide Provocateurs
(who all for war profiteering/greed/oil/power) Pick your sides, no need to bring your rocket scientific stuff …..its either, your on one side or the other. That said to help clarify the right n wrong part, read this short clip Ted wrote before he died, notice the part to Petraeus his “cdrs”
Sounds to me like Move On was “Right On”! (quote) Thanks for telling me it was a good day until I briefed you. [Redacted name]—You are only interested in your career and provide no support to your staff—no msn [mission] support and you don’t care. I cannot support a msn that leads to corruption, human right abuses and liars. I am sullied—no more. I didn’t volunteer to support corrupt, money grubbing contractors, nor work for commanders only interested in themselves. I came to serve honorably and feel dishonored. I trust no Iraqi. I cannot live this way. All my love to my family, my wife and my precious children. I love you and trust you only. Death before being dishonored any more. Trust is essential—I don’t know who trust anymore. [sic] Why serve when you cannot accomplish the mission, when you no longer believe in the cause, when your every effort and breath to succeed meets with lies, lack of support, and selfishness? No more. Reevaluate yourselves, cdrs [commanders]. You are not what you think you are and I know it.
COL Ted Westhusing
Life needs trust. Trust is no more for me here in Iraq. http://www.blueoregon.com/2007/10/blumenauer-resp.html?cid=85210388#comment-85210388
Posted by Joe Anybody
at 2:24 AM PDT
Updated: Friday, 5 October 2007 2:27 AM PDT
Wednesday, 3 October 2007
United States is preparing an imminent military attack on Iran.
Mood:
 loud
Now Playing: Russian nuclear experts leave - heading for cover from a USA attack?
Topic: WAR
Iranian and Israeli news outlets are reporting that Russia has evacuated its entire staff of nuclear engineers and experts who were working at the Bushehr nuclear reactor, increasing speculation that the United States is preparing an imminent military attack on Iran. According to the Khorramshar News Agency, which represents ethnic Arabs in opposition to Ahmadinejad's regime who live near the reactor, the Russians packed their bags and left on Friday. DEBKAfile offers three different scenarios to explain the sudden withdrawal of the experts. a) Russian-Iranian negotiations about how work will proceed on Bushehr have again hit a roadblock. This is highly unlikely because Vladimir Putin is set to visit Iran later in the month to sign a set of nuclear accords. b) The Russians have learned that an Iranian attack against American interests in the Persian Gulf or Israel is imminent. This is extremely doubtful because any preemptive Iranian attack would give Israel and the U.S. the pretext they are desperately searching for to launch a devastating bombing campaign. c) Moscow or Tehran have been tipped off that an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities is imminent and the Russians are getting their people out of harm's way. This seems to be the most plausible scenario, especially since reports emerged Friday from numerous "unnamed" worldwide intelligence sources that military action is just around the corner.
With every passing week, war rhetoric and maneuvering escalates as an assault on Iran seems all but inevitable. This past weekend, Former US ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said there was no alternative to a military option and that plans should be enacted for a "limited strike against their nuclear facilities." Veteran newsman Seymour Hersh reports that the Bush administration has switched targets from Iran's nuclear facilities to instead target the Revolutionary Guard in a series of planned "surgical" air strikes. "During a video conference over the summer, Bush allegedly told Ryan Crocker, the US ambassador to Iraq, that he was considering striking Iranian targets across the border and that the British "were on board," reports AFP.
Posted by Joe Anybody
at 6:51 PM PDT
Updated: Wednesday, 3 October 2007 6:54 PM PDT
Tuesday, 2 October 2007
BLACKWATER USA - FREAKIN - PAID KILLERS
Mood:
irritated
Now Playing: Topics on BLACKWATER (three dozen links below) from CNN
Topic: WAR
Today, October 02, 2007, 2 hours ago Katy Helvenston never wants Blackwater or America to forget her boy. Scott Helvenston was a decorated Navy man who, at age 17, became one of the youngest Navy SEALs in U.S. history. Today, October 02, 2007, 3 hours ago The founder and chief executive of Blackwater USA defended his company against allegations that his contractors were trigger-happy mercenaries Tuesday, saying that his personnel have distinguished records and have never intentionally killed civilians. Today, October 02, 2007, 3 hours ago A 2004 crash that killed everyone on board -- three crew members and three U.S. troops -- was caused by pilots from a Blackwater plane taking a low-level run through a mountain canyon in Afghanistan, testimony revealed Tuesday. Today, October 02, 2007, 9 hours ago Erik Prince, the chairman and CEO of Blackwater USA, appeared Tuesday before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Yesterday, October 01, 2007, 11:19:00 PM One group of Blackwater USA contractors was involved in two separate shootings on September 16, according to a senior Iraqi National Police official who contributed to a report detailing the second shooting. Yesterday, October 01, 2007, 11:00:00 PM Blackwater USA guards have used deadly force weekly in Iraq and have inflicted "significant casualties and property damage," according to a congressional staff report released Monday that cites internal company and State Department documents. Yesterday, October 01, 2007, 9:00:00 PM The security company's chief will tell a House committee that it is effective in a difficult climate. Will Democrats buy it? Thursday, September 27, 2007, 4:34:00 AM Private military contractor Blackwater USA "delayed and impeded" a congressional probe into the 2004 killings of four of its employees in Falluja, Iraq, the House Oversight Committee said Thursday in a report. Wednesday, September 26, 2007, 7:45:00 PM Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday he wants closer oversight of Pentagon contractors in Iraq and has dispatched a team there to review military procedures. Tuesday, September 25, 2007, 8:28:00 PM A House lawmaker on Tuesday complained to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about the alleged muzzling of State Department officials in inquiries involving Blackwater USA and Iraq's government. Sunday, September 23, 2007, 3:13:00 AM The Iraqi government said it will file criminal charges against employees of security firm Blackwater USA who were involved a gun battle in Baghdad in which civilians were killed, an Iraqi Interior Ministry official said Sunday. Saturday, September 22, 2007, 7:57:00 PM Allegations that Blackwater USA -- whose operations were suspended after 20 Iraqi civilians were shot to death last weekend -- was "in any way associated or complicit in unlawful arms activities are baseless," the company asserted Saturday. Saturday, September 22, 2007, 7:55:00 PM Iraqi investigators have a videotape that shows Blackwater USA guards opened fire against civilians without provocation in an incident last week in which 11 people died, a senior Iraqi official said Saturday. He said the case had been referred to the Iraqi judiciary. Friday, September 21, 2007, 8:00:00 AM American convoys protected by Blackwater USA resumed, four days after the U.S. Embassy suspended land travel by its diplomats in response to its alleged killing of civilians Friday, September 21, 2007, 3:48:00 AM The security firm Blackwater USA is starting to resume normal operations in Iraq after a hiatus sparked by concerns among Iraqi and U.S. government officials over its actions. Thursday, September 20, 2007, 12:14:00 AM A joint U.S.-Iraq commission will focus on security contractors in Iraq after an uproar over a Baghdad firefight involving Blackwater USA, the U.S. State Department announced Wednesday. Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 5:08:00 AM Ground movements of American civilians in most of Iraq were on hold Tuesday after an uproar over a Baghdad firefight involving American security firm Blackwater USA. Tuesday, September 18, 2007, 8:47:00 PM Private security firm Blackwater USA has issued the following statement in response to accusations leveled at it about an incident Sunday in Baghdad, Iraq: Tuesday, September 18, 2007, 7:00:00 AM The Iraqi government said Tuesday it would review the status of private security companies as anger over the alleged involvement of Blackwater USA in a fatal shooting Thursday, February 08, 2007, 12:17:00 AM A manager for a private security contractor warned executives that he lacked proper equipment in Iraq a day before four of its employees were killed and two were left hanging from a bridge, a House committee disclosed Wednesday. Tuesday, September 20, 2005, 12:12:00 AM A U.S. State Department employee and three employees of a security contractor were killed Monday in northern Iraq when their vehicle was hit by a suicide car bomber, a U.S. official in Baghdad said Tuesday. Thursday, April 21, 2005, 9:59:00 PM A suicide car bomber killed at least nine people and wounded 24 others Friday near a Shiite Muslim mosque in Baghdad, police sources said. Thursday, April 21, 2005, 8:21:00 AM Seven Blackwater USA employees, all Americans, died Thursday in Iraq, the company said. Thursday, April 21, 2005, 12:39:00 AM The Islamic Army in Iraq claimed responsibility for shooting down a helicopter Thursday and killing all 11 people onboard -- one of them apparently executed after surviving the crash. Monday, April 11, 2005, 2:10:00 PM More than a year after four U.S. civilian workers were killed in Iraq, a lawsuit against the workers' employer is pending as the company and the plaintiffs contest which court should hear the case. Thursday, March 31, 2005, 5:06:00 AM A translator with U.S., Romanian and Iraqi citizenship was with three Romanian journalists who were kidnapped this week in Baghdad, a senior Romanian official said Thursday. Tuesday, July 06, 2004, 5:44:00 PM Islamic insurgent groups in Iraq are taking an unexpected step to give an inside view of their terror attacks on Westerners by sharing video not only of the assaults, but also of the planning behind them. Thursday, April 01, 2004, 5:49:00 PM Blackwater Security Consulting -- whose four employees were viciously killed and their corpses mutilated by a mob in Fallujah, Iraq -- is one of a growing number of private security contractors that are hiring veterans for jobs previously assigned to the military. Thursday, April 01, 2004, 3:21:00 AM Top U.S. officials in Baghdad Thursday decried the killings of four U.S. security contractors in Fallujah, vowed to hunt down the perpetrators and promised to pacify the restive anti-U.S. hotbed. .
Posted by Joe Anybody
at 6:57 PM PDT
Updated: Tuesday, 2 October 2007 7:04 PM PDT
Newer | Latest | Older
|
|
