The Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs medical systems are broken when combat wounded soldiers fall through the cracks, as shown in the article below: "Staff Sgt. Howard LeRoy Hizer made it back from Iraq with a Bronze Star in November 2003, but he's still fighting to get healthy and get home."

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/?Page=Article&ID=2832

by Patrick B. Yancey

Strike the Root

02/14/05

Only when high-minded rhetoric is combined with higher acts can any State be called anything approaching legitimate, and this government has, for generations, strayed from that road. Whatever moral mandate has ever been enjoyed by the State has long since evaporated, along with its honor, in the fires of the cities it has burned to the ground...

http://www.strike-the-root.com/51/yancey/yancey1.html


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

by J. Kamilewicz

Portland [ME] Press Herald

02/14/05

I accept that there are justifications for going to war. However, I cannot find anyone who can give me a solid reason to justify our going to and continuing the war in Iraq. ... I am afraid for my son. I certainly worry about his being killed, but I am also worried about his being placed in the position of killing, too. Most of all, I am angry that we are sending our soldiers to a war that nobody can justify. Most Americans, especially members of Congress, do not have to worry about a loved one in the middle of this war, and they duck the tough questions...

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/viewpoints/mvoice/050214iraq.shtml


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

by Naomi Klein

The Nation

02/14/05

'The Iraqi people gave America the biggest 'thank you' in the best way we could have hoped for.' Reading this election analysis from Betsy Hart, a columnist for the Scripps Howard News Service, I found myself thinking about my late grandmother. Half blind and a menace behind the wheel of her Chevrolet, she adamantly refused to surrender her car keys. She was convinced that everywhere she drove (flattening the house pets of Philadelphia along the way) people were waving and smiling at her. 'They are so friendly!' We had to break the bad news. 'They aren't waving with their whole hand, Grandma -- just with their middle finger.'

So it is with Betsy Hart and the other near-sighted election observers: They think the Iraqi people have finally sent America those long-awaited flowers and candies, when Iraq's voters just gave them the (purple) finger...

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20050228&s=klein


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

by William Pfaff

The American Conservative

02/14/05

It is hard to avoid the conclusion that the Bush administration is not torturing prisoners because it is useful but because of its symbolism. It originally was intended to be a form of what later, in the attack on Iraq, came to be called 'shock and awe.' It was meant as intimidation. We will do these terrible things to demonstrate that nothing will stop us from conquering our enemies. We are indifferent to world opinion. We will stop at nothing. In that respect, it is like the attack on Fallujah last November, which -- destructive as it was -- was fundamentally a symbolic operation...

http://www.amconmag.com/2005_02_14/article1.html


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

Vidal is a lonely genius, Carr says
Australian intelligence officer reveals secrets
Govt in the dark on Habib's release
Shiites win lion's share of vote

http://tinyurl.com/3p6k7


From Information Clearing House

AMS: Iraq election lacked legitimacy:

The Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq has said the country's elections cannot be accepted as they were conducted while under occupation. Election officials announced the results earlier in the day, saying 47% of eligible voters took part in the 30 January vote.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/037265CD-CB74-417D-8C2E-DB957A0390D1.htm
http://tinyurl.com/3ma5l


Turkey criticises Iraq poll results:

Turkey has criticised the landmark elections in neighbouring Iraq, saying they have failed to produce a parliament truly representative of the people because of low turnout and "manipulation" of votes in some areas.

http://tinyurl.com/6nz68


From Information Clearing House

To head off this threat of a Shi'ite clergy-driven religious movement, the US has, according to Asia Times Online investigations, resolved to arm small militias backed by US troops and entrenched in the population to "nip the evil in the bud".

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/GB15Ak02.html


Iraqi vote gives Shia parties a mandate for Islamic law:

A coalition of Shia religious parties has won the Iraq election, taking almost half the votes and raising the spectre of Islamic law finding its way into the country's new constitution.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=610875
http://tinyurl.com/6r6z4


From Information Clearing House

Many in newly elected government are closely allied with Iran
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6965081/


From Information Clearing House

http://www.ufppc.org/content/view/2261/


Informant: jensenmk

From ufpj-news