Mood:  don't ask

Broader Privilege Claimed In Firings

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/19/AR2007071902625_pf.html

By Dan Eggen and Amy Goldstein
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, July 20, 2007; A01

Bush administration officials unveiled a bold new assertion of executive authority yesterday in the dispute over the firing of nine U.S. attorneys, saying that the Justice Department will never be allowed to pursue contempt charges initiated by Congress against White House officials once the president has invoked executive privilege.

The position presents serious legal and political obstacles for congressional Democrats, who have begun laying the groundwork for contempt proceedings against current and former White House officials in order to pry loose information about the dismissals.

Under federal law, a statutory contempt citation by the House or Senate must be submitted to the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, "whose duty it shall be to bring the matter before the grand jury for its action."

But administration officials argued yesterday that Congress has no power to force a U.S. attorney to pursue contempt charges in cases, such as the prosecutor firings, in which the president has declared that testimony or documents are protected from release by executive privilege. Officials pointed to a Justice Department legal opinion during the Reagan administration, which made the same argument in a case that was never resolved by the courts.

"A U.S. attorney would not be permitted to bring contempt charges or convene a grand jury in an executive privilege case," said a senior official, who said his remarks reflect a consensus within the administration. "And a U.S. attorney wouldn't be permitted to argue against the reasoned legal opinion that the Justice Department provided. No one should expect that to happen."

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue publicly, added: "It has long been understood that, in circumstances like these, the constitutional prerogatives of the president would make it a futile and purely political act for Congress to refer contempt citations to U.S. attorneys."

Mark J. Rozell, a professor of public policy at George Mason University who has written a book on executive-privilege issues, called the administration's stance "astonishing."

"That's a breathtakingly broad view of the president's role in this system of separation of powers," Rozell said. "What this statement is saying is the president's claim of executive privilege trumps all."

The administration's statement is a dramatic attempt to seize the upper hand in an escalating constitutional battle with Congress, which has been trying for months, without success, to compel White House officials to testify and to turn over documents about their roles in the prosecutor firings last year. The Justice Department and White House in recent weeks have been discussing when and how to disclose the stance, and the official said he decided yesterday that it was time to highlight it.

Yesterday, a House Judiciary subcommittee voted to lay the groundwork for contempt proceedings against White House chief of staff Joshua B. Bolten, following a similar decision last week against former White House counsel Harriet E. Miers.

The administration has not directly informed Congress of its view. A spokeswoman for Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), the Judiciary Committee's chairman, declined to comment . But other leading Democrats attacked the argument.

Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) called it "an outrageous abuse of executive privilege" and said: "The White House must stop stonewalling and start being accountable to Congress and the American people. No one, including the president, is above the law."

Sen. Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.) said the administration is "hastening a constitutional crisis," and Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) said the position "makes a mockery of the ideal that no one is above the law."

Waxman added: "I suppose the next step would be just disbanding the Justice Department."

Under long-established procedures and laws, the House and Senate can each pursue two kinds of criminal contempt proceedings, and the Senate also has a civil contempt option. The first, called statutory contempt, has been the avenue most frequently pursued in modern times, and is the one that requires a referral to the U.S. attorney in the District.

Both chambers also have an "inherent contempt" power, allowing either body to hold its own trials and even jail those found in defiance of Congress. Although widely used during the 19th century, the power has not been invoked since 1934 and Democratic lawmakers have not displayed an appetite for reviving the practice.

In defending its argument, administration officials point to a 1984 opinion by the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, headed at the time by Theodore B. Olson, a prominent conservative lawyer who was solicitor general from 2001 to 2004. The opinion centered on a contempt citation issued by the House for Anne Gorsuch Burford, then administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

It concluded: "The President, through a United States Attorney, need not, indeed may not, prosecute criminally a subordinate for asserting on his behalf a claim of executive privilege. Nor could the Legislative Branch or the courts require or implement the prosecution of such an individual."

In the Burford case, which involved spending on the Superfund program, the White House filed a federal lawsuit to block Congress's contempt action. The conflict subsided when Burford turned over documents to Congress.

The Bush administration has not previously signaled it would forbid a U.S. attorney from pursuing a contempt case in relation to the prosecutor firings. But officials at Justice and elsewhere say it has long held that Congress cannot force such action.

David B. Rifkin, who worked in the Justice Department and White House counsel's office under presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, praised the position and said it is consistent with the idea of a "unitary executive." In practical terms, he said, "U.S. attorneys are emanations of a president's will." And in constitutional terms, he said, "the president has decided, by virtue of invoking executive privilege, that is the correct policy for the entire executive branch."

But Stanley Brand, who was the Democratic House counsel during the Burford case, said the administration's legal view "turns the constitutional enforcement process on its head. They are saying they will always place a claim of presidential privilege without any judicial determination above a congressional demand for evidence -- without any basis in law." Brand said the position is essentially telling Congress: "Because we control the enforcement process, we are going to thumb our nose at you."

Rozell, the George Mason professor and authority on executive privilege, said the administration's stance "is almost Nixonian in its scope and breadth of interpreting its power. Congress has no recourse at all, in the president's view. . . . It's allowing the executive to define the scope and limits of its own powers."

Posted by Joe Anybody at 2:13 PM PDT

Updated: Friday, 20 July 2007 6:03 PM PDT

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Mood:  irritated

TOPOFF 4

Frequently Asked Questions

http://www.dhs.gov/xprepresp/training/gc_1179422026237.shtm

1. What is the TOPOFF Exercise Series?

Top Officials 4 (TOPOFF 4) is the Nation’s premier terrorism preparedness exercise, involving top officials at every level of government, as well as representatives from the international community and private sector. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), TOPOFF 4 is the fourth exercise in the TOPOFF (Top Officials) Exercise Series, a congressionally mandated exercise program. Each TOPOFF exercise involves a two-year cycle of seminars, planning events, and exercises culminating in a full-scale assessment of the Nation’s capacity to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks involving Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).

2. What is TOPOFF 4?

Taking place from October 15–24, 2007, the Top Officials 4 Full-Scale Exercise (TOPOFF 4 FSE/T4 FSE) will involve thousands of Federal, State, territorial, and local officials. They will engage in various activities as part of a robust, full-scale simulated response to a multifaceted threat. The exercise will address policy and strategic issues that mobilize prevention and response systems, require participants to make difficult decisions, carry out essential functions, and challenge their ability to maintain a common operating picture during an incident of national significance. As in a real-world response, agencies and organizations will deploy staff into the field and will face realistic incident-specific challenges, including the allocation of limited response resources and exercise actions needed to effectively manage conditions as they emerge. Planning and preparation for the exercise will also help strengthen working relationships between departments and agencies that are critical to successful prevention and response in real emergencies.

3. Where will the TOPOFF 4 Full-Scale Exercise take place? How were the venues selected?

Joining DHS and other Federal agencies in this important effort are the States of Arizona and Oregon, the United States Territory of Guam, as well as three international partners: Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. As radiological incidents originate in Phoenix, Arizona; Portland, Oregon; and the United States Territory of Guam, State, territorial, and local officials in Oregon and Guam will conduct a full-scale exercise, while Arizona officials will participate in a functional exercise. In coordination with the U.S. Department of State, related activities will also take place in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

States request participation in the exercise to support national exercise goals and to enhance their own preparedness. Typically, two States are selected for each TOPOFF cycle. For the first time in the TOPOFF series, a U.S. territory will take part in the exercise this year.

4. What is the difference between a functional and a full-scale exercise (FSE)?

A functional exercise focuses on coordination of decision-making and communications during a simulated disaster. It is a functional assessment of planning and decision-making in a time of crisis that engages multiple agencies in policy decisions and communications over several days.

A full-scale exercise adds on-the-ground first response activities to test participants on a wide range of capabilities and task areas, including incident response, incident command, cross-jurisdictional coordination, risk communication, and implementation of protocols and policies. Participants in both full-scale and functional exercises also exercise prevention and the intelligence gathering function, which are critical to preventing terrorist attacks.

5. How many, and what kinds of, agencies are participating?

There will be approximately 15,000 participants from government and private sector organizations in TOPOFF 4. Approximately 10,000 participants from more than 275 government and private sector organizations participated in TOPOFF 3.

6. Who participates in TOPOFF training? What top officials are participating?

The exercise engages participants at all levels of government, from Cabinet Secretaries to governors, mayors, and city managers; to local fire, EMS, police, and search-and-rescue personnel; to professionals in law enforcement, public health, and public communications; to members of the private sector.

TOPOFF 4 will enable top officials and relevant personnel to practice different courses of action, gain and maintain situational awareness, and deploy appropriate resources. Top Federal officials, State governors, county executives, mayors, and city managers, along with State, local, and territorial personnel will be key participants and play active roles throughout the exercise.

7. What are the objectives of TOPOFF 4?

TOPOFF 4 has overarching programmatic objectives in five areas, which provide a framework for enhanced interagency coordination, a more cohesive planning process, and a stronger overall exercise experience for participants, culminating in a heightened ability to prevent, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks and natural disasters. The stated objectives for TOPOFF 4 are:

• Prevention: To test the handling and flow of operational and time-critical intelligence between agencies to prevent a terrorist incident.
• Intelligence/investigation: To test the handling and flow of operational and time-critical intelligence between agencies prior to, and in response to, a linked terrorist incident.
• Incident management: To test the full range of existing procedures for domestic incident management of a terrorist weapon of mass destruction (WMD) event and to improve top officials’ capabilities to respond in partnership in accordance with the National Response Plan and National Incident Management System.
• Public information: To practice the strategic coordination of media relations and public information issues in the context of a terrorist WMD incident or incident of national significance.
• Evaluation: To identify lessons learned and promote best practices.

While working to meet the overarching exercise objectives, participating agencies, States, territories, and local entities also exercise to support their own individual objectives.

8. What role does the private sector play in T4?

DHS works through its Private Sector Office and Office of Infrastructure Protection to involve the private sector in the TOPOFF exercise cycle of events. TOPOFF 3 involved more than 5,000 members of the private sector participating at varying levels.

9. How does TOPOFF 4 differ from previous exercises in the TOPOFF series?

With each successive TOPOFF cycle, coordination and cooperation are enhanced, creating continuous improvements in the preparedness effort. The T4 FSE includes the greatest coordination to date, with concurrent exercises being conducted by the Department of Defense and, for the first time ever, will include a response from within a U.S. Territory. The exercise includes a strong prevention component, and is being interlinked with the Terrorism Prevention Exercise Program (TPEP), a component of the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP).

TOPOFF 4 also utilizes a capabilities-based planning approach, allowing Federal, State, territorial, and local officials to identify and exercise multiple emergency response and recovery capabilities that would be employed against a wide array of real-world hazards. Some of the capabilities being exercised this year include: evacuation/shelter-in-place, mass care, and interoperable communications. This approach aligns TOPOFF exercise program with the National Preparedness Goal and associated documents such as the Target Capabilities List (TCL) (which identifies needed capabilities) and the Universal Task List (UTL) (which identifies the tasks necessary to execute each capability). It also gives participants an opportunity to become more familiar with the National Response Plan and National Incident Management System. This collective guidance forms the framework for how our Nation responds to all hazards in a coordinated and consistent manner.

10. What is the scenario for the TOPOFF 4 FSE?

The T4 FSE is based on National Planning Scenario 11 (NPS-11). The scenario begins as terrorists, who have been planning attacks in Oregon, Arizona, and the U.S. Territory of Guam, successfully bring radioactive material into the United States. The first of three coordinated attacks occurs in Guam, with the simulated detonation of a Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD), or “dirty bomb,” causing casualties and widespread contamination in a populous area. Similar attacks occur in the hours that follow in Portland and Phoenix. An RDD is not the same as a nuclear attack. It is a conventional explosive that, upon detonation, releases radioactive material into the surrounding area. Although it does not cause the type of catastrophic damage associated with a nuclear detonation, there are severe rescue, health, and long-term decontamination concerns associated with an RDD.

11. How is the TOPOFF 4 scenario developed?

A team of exercise planners experienced in WMD, war gaming, law enforcement, intelligence, and international terrorist networks develop the scenario. The team also works with planners in the participating nations, States, territories, local jurisdictions, private sector entities, and Federal departments and agencies to ensure that the scenario can sufficiently sustain the exercise and meet participants’ specific training objectives.

12. How relevant is the TOPOFF 4 scenario to the war on terrorism?

The TOPOFF 4 scenario is based on research of actual terrorist organizations’ capabilities and news accounts of events that have transpired since September 11, 2001. The scenario is plausible, but purely fictional.  It is not based on specific military or government intelligence and is not intended as a forecast of future terrorist activities. The scenario contains some artificiality to ensure conformance with agencies’ and jurisdictions’ training objectives.

13. Will real weapons be used?

Real weapons will not be used in the scenario, but the response will be mounted as if they had been.

14. How are lessons learned from past exercises used to inform and improve future exercises?

Lessons learned from each TOPOFF exercise provide valuable insights that guide future planning for securing the Nation against terrorist attacks. The Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) is a capabilities and performance-based program that provides a standardized mechanism for building on such lessons learned. HSEEP outlines an evaluation methodology by using Exercise Evaluation Guides (EEGs). These standardized guides ensure that emergency preparedness can be measured in the exact same way everywhere exercises take place. This makes it possible to assess current capabilities and measure preparedness over time for any jurisdiction—in every response area. In addition to establishing standard evaluation tools, this model gives guidance on gathering and reporting lessons learned, which help to identify strengths and areas needing improvement. This information is then folded back into the exercise process to enhance its relevance and realism for the next exercise in the series.

15. What does it mean to “play” in the exercise? How is exercise play prompted and regulated?

Play is the term used to describe how personnel from a variety of agencies and organizations act out the response to the scenario, as though it had actually occurred.  Players are fed information by exercise controllers, based on a Master Scenario Event List (MSEL). The MSEL contains a number of key events that trigger the need to make decisions and conduct activities to exercise specific agency capabilities and achieve the exercise objectives.

16. What is gained from TOPOFF training?

Top officials from all levels of government gain valuable knowledge and experience dealing with complex issues related to terrorism prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. The exercise offers participants a mechanism to test plans and skills in a real-time, realistic environment and to gain the in-depth learning that only experience can provide. Training activities are based on the objectives of participating departments and agencies.

Several of the overarching objectives of TOPOFF 4 pertain directly to the assignment of roles and responsibilities, and the coordination of communications and operations. By exercising these objectives, participants are able to improve upon their overall ability to respond to major disasters, regardless of whether they are natural or manmade.

TOPOFF 4 also provides an opportunity to fully integrate and conform to Homeland Security Presidential Directive – 8 (HSPD-8), the National Preparedness Goal, and the National Exercise Program. DHS will introduce the five-year National Exercise Program plan during the TOPOFF 4 exercise cycle. This program combines exercise activities, affords departments and agencies the opportunity to reduce the number of separate exercises they must plan and participate in, and, more importantly, provides an opportunity to demonstrate that the government can operate effectively during an elevated threat situation.

17. How does TOPOFF influence Federal, State, territorial, and local preparedness capabilities?

The exercise will offer top officials at all levels of government an opportunity to practice and reinforce operations under the President’s National Preparedness Strategy. The exercise’s implementation of the National Response Plan (NRP) will include practicing capabilities in the areas of incident response, incident command, cross-jurisdictional coordination, emergency and risk communication, and implementation of protocols and policies. Significantly, the T4 FSE will help to introduce a more integrated approach to national preparedness, ensuring that existing preparedness initiatives are closely aligned and operationally synchronized. The T4 FSE also offers an important opportunity to aggressively exercise capabilities developed or strengthened as a result of recent events, including new technologies, policies, and procedures.

18. Is the exercise open to outside observation?

Because of the sensitive nature of the capabilities being exercised, external observation and information dissemination will be carefully managed. Some international, Federal, State, territorial, and local officials and emergency response personnel are invited to observe a portion of the exercise, so that they may better understand how we as a Nation are preparing to address terrorist threats. Members of the media will be able to attend briefings during and after the exercise. Some law enforcement and intelligence components of the exercise are classified and will not be discussed in detail.

19. What happens if there is a real terrorist attack or natural disaster while the exercise is taking place?

The exercise will be halted immediately. No essential personnel will be diverted from any type of actual emergency response effort to respond to simulated events, nor will ongoing preparedness efforts be compromised.

20. What information will be made available to the public about exercise outcomes and lessons learned?

There will be a formal evaluation of the exercise, and findings and lessons learned will be applied to ongoing efforts to improve national preparedness and security. Because of the need to maintain operational security and protect sensitive information about efforts to thwart terrorist activities, information released to the public must be carefully scrutinized.  DHS and its partner agencies make every effort to keep the public informed, without releasing information that could potentially aid our enemies.

21. Who can I contact at DHS public affairs for additional information?

News media inquiries about TOPOFF 4 should be directed to the FEMA News Desk at (202) 646-4600 or send an email to FEMA-News-Desk@dhs.gov

Posted by Joe Anybody at 2:57 PM PDT

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Mood:  happy

Here is a Oregon Country Fair

Drumming Video

Filmed at the campgrounds a 9 min video of the

COUNTRY FAIR (camping) DRUM CIRCLE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu99qhKx8i0

_________a longer 45 min version is on my web site ________

Here is just one small "bottle return" at the campgrounds

By the way "no beer drinking allowed in campgrounds"

PEACE ~ Joe

Posted by Joe Anybody at 5:25 PM PDT

Updated: Thursday, 19 July 2007 11:40 AM PDT

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Mood:  incredulous

http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/january2006/180106perspective.htm

CLICK LINK TO DOWNLOAD THIS POLICE STATE MONTAGE  

The Final Countdown

This montage features many personalities speaking about the NWO, including Alex Jones.

Thanks to

Alex Ansary
Host of Outside the Box
http://www.alexansary.blogspot.com

Posted by Joe Anybody at 3:24 PM PDT

Updated: Tuesday, 17 July 2007 3:26 PM PDT

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Mood:  lyrical

Helloooooooooo Vietnam

Oh wait……..no body remembers that!

That’s that war we all have seem to have amnesia from all of a sudden!

How are my fellow friendly Z3 Readers all doing?

I have been on vacation and it’has been “no sleeping-around” over here.

Let me rattle a few topics I have been involved with in the past couple months/weeks:

Here is my July 4^th 911 Truth - Protest Video Links:

http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2007/07/361946.shtml

Check out this one where I interview a young activist named Lori

When I met her at the 911 Truth march I was impressed by her insights, so I ask to film/ interview her …..which starts a good conversation on Indy Media about youth and politics see that short YouTube link on this Indy Media post of mine here:
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2007/07/361888.shtml

And how about this guy downtown who spoke up, and towards my camera his name is Jerry D Earthling::

http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2007/07/361941.shtml

Just yesterday (Monday 7/9) I took this video on a War Resister Protest March::

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6008175453925948790

In the morning I am going to court to support 6 grannies who are on trial

Then more filming the war resister Agustín, “again” on Wednesday night at PSU

I recently was in court (star witness) (still waiting on verdict) with 2 peacemakers who were arrested for trying to talk to my Senator….. Mr. Smith. They were arrested for not leaving the private property The video I took is (same one judge watched) here:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2235463856419852730&hl=en

The defendants asked me to testify and my video was used as evidence. The judge watched the whole thing. We are awaiting the verdict …. It is a constitutional issue on being denied the right to talk with your Senator.

How about those “racist” minuteman who had a protest at city hall so I videoed them.

That was after that big Immigration Raid at Del Monty a few weeks ago, that video of outside city hall is here:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1033017606657408336

Oh ya, just finished working on another short video ( I was repairing some bad audio) for the Spanish/Mexican, Day-Labor Center, hope to hand that back to that group today (after the grannies-in-court meeting)…They were NOT in court for the TANK protest during the rose festival that I filmed here:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-29585898801983269

Just got back a few weeks ago from a 3 day campout in OLLIE Lake

I made two videos and just finished editing them both today. One is two young kids who are my friends children singing “Country Roads” the other is a 30 min “Nature” video with a music background.

I hope to post them on my video page by next week, what a great place!

So frequently .......Check here for all my video’s

http://www.joe-anybody.com/id83.html

I am still working but almost done with my Barn video… I shot an hours worth of video footage of this very old wooden barn that is falling apart….. Darn that one is behind schedule since I started that a few months ago. I should have that finished any day…its kinda long ….. but sure was a real cool barn by a lake!

Maybe it was all those grandkid birthday video I shot and made DVD copies to all my kids, that was real time gobbler …... but those were some cute films.

But I live today to wage peace and I urge you all to help support the anti war movement.

This world needs love ……remember …”make love – not war” ? …hmmmmmm?

Ya that saying, it too was from that same era of that war we all seem to have forgot about these day’s.

“If your not outraged …your not paying attention!”

Off to the Country Fair in 2 days ….. wow no computer out there!

PEACE NOW!

Joe-Anybody

Posted by Joe Anybody at 4:38 PM PDT

Updated: Tuesday, 10 July 2007 4:43 PM PDT

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Mood:  loud

General Odom's prescription

for supporting the

troops: withdraw; cut off funds; and impeach

This article I found here on Americablog.com:  http://www.americablog.com/2007/07/general-odoms-prescription-for.html

by John Aravosis (DC) · 7/05/2007 07:53:00 PM ET
Discuss this post here: Comment s (145) · digg it · reddit · FARK ·  · Link

Posted by Joe Anybody at 12:22 PM PDT

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Mood:  crushed out

Iraq Social Workers

Speaks at Peace House

on Iraq Refugees Crisis

Rassul

author: Joe Anybody    

   e-mail: iam@joe-anybody.com

(Most of the quotation marks refer to quotes from Z, unless noted)

We all were seated in a big comfortable living room at the Peace House, in Portland Ore.
Z who is a pretty, middle aged lady, a trained social worker from Iraq, who recently was staying in a Refugee camp in Amman, Jordon.
For her requested, privacy reason I am in this article, referring to her as "Z"

She started out the human rights conversation by saying,
"For her to speak about this, it was a big responsibility".
"The Iraq people are suffering inside Iraq and outside of Iraq."

A Power-Point presentation then started up on the screen to her left.
The presentation was titled: "War in Iraq 2003"

Around 50 to 60 people looked up to the screen to see a young teenage child holding a pop-can taped-together-gun. It was soda cans taped together to look like the shape of a machine gun. It wasn't real but the image was stark, it was followed by pictures of destroyed houses, young children watching/staring at the US military with their guns, pictures of kids crying, children hurt, fathers carrying children that were injured in their arms, pictures of children with their arms missing, bloody babies, ... ... and dead babies. There were pictures of babies in wooden coffins crudely made, children missing eyes, missing legs, and injured beyond belief. One picture showed seven bloody babies in a row like at a hospital. These photos were outrageous, they were maddening ... ... ... these were pictures of the war that our country was causing by our invasion of Iraq.

Z mentioned, that these were children she was seeing in the camps in Jordon, and spread across Iraq, and the surrounding countries.
These were "children that lost their Lives," ... ... they are "Lost and Forgotten!"
They can not be 'normal' children again!

And then she rightly asks, "For how many years must this go on in Iraq?"
She quietly says... ... "13 years of sanctions! ... . No medical help! ... ..No care!..... ?"

A quite moment as Z cry's softly as she recants her first hand knowledge.
She wipes her tears and continues.
The room is silent.

She asks "where is this Democracy from America?"
She states, "They (USA) said they wanted to liberate.
And at first we believed, the first six months we were happy! We welcomed the troops.
But after a while there was no 'better life' there was no 'democracy'.

... ..Why?"

She goes on to say ... ..

"Why the torturing?
Why the killing of the Iraqi men?
Why was this happening?
They did not expect this treatment!"

As millions became refugee's she explained how hard it was to be one.
How the Iraq citizens have fled out into other countries.
Of having to leave to find work and just to survive.
"It is hard to be a refugee" she tells us.
"Yes there is no killing, but there is no rights, no home, no schools, no medical, no dignity, no self worth.
They are living in tents.
For over 3 years now they have been living as refugees.
With No Rights at all. And with no resources, they have nothing."

"No one cares"

She continues, "The government doesn't care!"
"They don't investigate or care at all, they just ignore the refuges situation. They are ignoring a population of over 4 million people, who are homeless and have nothing at all.
And no cares!"

Our attention is again directed to the screen where we begin to hear of her personal account in helping in the social work with the Iraqi people. From Baghdad to the camps in Jordon.

Z, first mention is of a boy named Haydar Hussein.
She starts by telling of this small boy of only fours years and his uncle who were coming back from the store to get some candy. They walked into a gun battle. The little boy was shot at and hit. The US forces then entered into the city returning fire. The Uncle and boy hid by a car. The US shot the car ... it exploded. The uncle died ... the young boy laid there, all burned... .. the family watched ... ..but no one could save them ... .

It was too dangerous... ... .for a long time.

After a while they were able to reach the child.
He needed a doctor.
The father took him to the hospital.
The hospital was not able to help in way at all.
In fact it had no water for the past six months.
It had no specialized medicines or treatment, and was over crowded.
They were advised, to leave Iraq in order to get any care for his young son.
They left as Refugees and spent all their money in leaving, to try to save the child in Jordon.
But there was no hope or help to be found... ..
... .even as a Refugee in Jordon.

She then tells us of another child, this one we seen his picture on the screen.
His name is Rassul. (see picture above)
He is now, missing one eye.
He is a young boy only seven years old.
He was walking with his mother one day, when for no reason, a 'sniper' shot him in the face.
He was innocently walking with his mother down the sidewalk, before that fatal shot.
The mother tried to take him to the hospital. The hospital could not help.
There was no room available.
Latter at another hospital they tried to help the child, by implanting a eye for him, but his body rejected it.
They could not help him anymore.
The family tried to get other help but was unsuccessful, but no one cared.
She said "this was a normal boy at one time, was wrongly injured, he needs help, and now no one cares at all."

She then mentions that;
"These Refugee have no rights what so ever.
There is No Help.
And no one cares"

She informed us that, there are the following camps with Iraq Refugees due to this invasion:

Jordon 1 million
Syria 1.5 million
Lebanon 600,000
Egypt 600,000
... and...

Iraq with over 4 million Refugees
She said it was "endless!"
FOUR MILLION REFUGEES in Iraq alone, right now today, living in tents, with nothing!


She then pointed out to us the discrepancy of the stories we hear in the news of victory.
"What victory?
How can that be?"
She eloquently asks, "What did we do to you? What did we do to harm the USA? Why are we to suffer?"

She tells us that although the mainstream news is not clear in what is going on ... .but there are true news articles and facts on the Internet. "It is there, out on the Internet," Z tells us all.

She says in a soft voice "We Iraqi's didn't choose to do this"
"No one wanted it"... .. she then breaks down and cries, covering her face.

She gently mummers..

... ."What can I say to you all?"

... .."No one much talks about this"... ...

... ... ... ... ."Why is Iraq a target?"

... . "No one cares!"

As she collects herself she tells us that on her arrival to the airport, that she was the only visible Iraqi person. She told us, "No injured Iraqis are allowed into the US"
She looks out at us for the answer and asks ... ."Why is that?,
Why can no injured Iraqi enter the US" ... . The room stays silent.

She tells us all of facts like:
A mother burned to death as the explosions go off ... ..
a fathers watched his son and wife catch fire
The father saved the boy first, and by the time he got to his wife she had died.
He is at such as loss and regrets to be unable to of helped her.
He blames himself.
His boy lived ... .. But his wife died
This man lives in Boston right now, and daily lives his pain and loss, as he still blames himself.

Z tells us:
He didn't choose this, it is we Iraqi people who pay the price."
She covers her face and stops talking
She is crying again, this time she sits down
As a lady comforts her and another comes over to assist

Cristy Murray form Code Pink take the microphone and says:
"this is the greatest Refugee crises to today, We in Portland, here through the Peace House hope to start up a program to help Z and the refugees she is speaking of in Jordon. Cristy was not sure how this was all going to start up but it was a decided and firm idea. A collection plate was passed, as every one there wanted to help in some way.
There was a reference to Emmanuel Hospitals program called "Healing With Children" that they may work in conjunction with what Cristy was hoping to start up with the Peace House and in trying to help with the Refugees Z spoke about.

There was a silent auction, and discussion of further talks Z was going to give or had already done here in Portland.
I wish her peace and love, I hope her world can become a better one soon.
She is a brave courageous loving lady. I am glad to have met her and to share her thoughts with all who read this.

I was going to film her but she wanted some anonymity.
I understand, so I took these notes.
Peace Now
~joe-anybody

To donate you can contact the SURGE Protection Brigade for information:
 surgeprotectionbrigade@riseup.net

More Information o this Iraqi Refugee Crises Check this link form the AFSC:
 http://www.afsc.org/iraq/symposium.htm

This link is on Working to Preserve Their Legacy: the Iraqi Women's Movement:
 http://www.afsc.org/iraq/personal_stories/iraqi-womens-movement.htm

Posted by Joe Anybody at 11:28 AM PDT

Updated: Monday, 22 October 2007 5:53 PM PDT

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Mood:  lyrical

 Apathy.  Balance.  Perspective.  Denial.  Dedication.  Relax.  Escape.

On Friday, June 22 I went with my son, and a few friends, on a four day camping trip, that was truly beautiful and relaxing and real fun.  I was having a hard time prior to us leaving for the camp-out, with myself, in dealing with the hard issue of not being around the activist community or in the loop of trying to stop this war like I do every day. I know balance is good but I still was having a tough time putting down my peace sign, my video camera, and my keyboard, to escape into the woods up on Mount Hood. From full Time Activist to look at that view. Not that I knew the woods are beautiful and I truly love it so much out there.

As a matter of 'activism fact' I was in court all morning on Friday {prior to leaving for the woods} as a witness with one of my video on the issue of stopping the funding of this war and the arrests at Senator Smiths office, which  I filmed back on March 16 (link here) The trial is ongoing and I was there to support the two men arrested who are fighting this issue on the grounds of it was un-constitutional to block citizens who are going to see their Senator. Well that was in the morning for 4 hours ..then it was for me and my son ..... "lets hurry we are running late" ..... it is time to go camping, put the war aside for a few days(sic)

So I was inspired to see a dozen peace activists standing along Highway 26 in Sandy Oregon, on Friday afternoon. I made a u turn and had to come back and thank them ..... and document on film their vigil for peace.

They informed me of their website http://oregontraildemocrats.org/Home.shtml

After 10 minutes of thanking and filming ...... I drove off with my 14 year old son into the woods, leaving the city, the cement, the politics, the killing, the war, and the whole screwed up mess behind. I felt kinda like the apathy of America was seeping into my soul. Soon the war would be a passing thought and the beauty of the mountain and its remoteness would suppress any problems still lingering in the world so far behind me. The problems were disappearing around each corner. Soon I will be surrounded by "peace" ..... by eliminating the news, the real world, and information by the remoteness and my isolation, the worlds problems floated away. As I relaxed, people were dieing. But I couldn't tell from my view anymore. This was not the courtroom I was in all morning, this was not "the front lines"

I was proud of these Peacemakers in Sandy

Here is The Portland Indy Media link I posted with pictures http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2007/06/361469.shtml

YouTube link to the 2 minute video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUa4oIw17qU

Posted by Joe Anybody at 10:50 AM PDT

Updated: Tuesday, 26 June 2007 9:55 PM PDT

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Mood:  bright

 SiCKO

Check this website out where you can download the new Moore film

It has Michael Moore's" new film" for a free download as a

Michael Moore's new documentary, SiCKO, should be required viewing for anyone claiming to be a patriotic American. So, per Michael Moore himself, I am offering the movie for your viewing pleasure.

You will need the DivX Codec 6.6.1 to watch the movie.

To download and view the movie:

1. Right click on this link

2. Select "Save Target As..."

3. Pick a location on your computer (Desktop is easiest)

4. When the download completes, double click the file and see if it plays.

5. If the file does not play, download and install the DivX Codec (link above)

Let me know what you think of the movie. Also, please make suggestions on what we can do to change our health care system.

Posted by Joe Anybody at 12:37 PM PDT

Updated: Tuesday, 26 June 2007 11:29 AM PDT

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