Global
To encourage restraint in war coverage, governments don’t need to
shoot journalists -- though sometimes that’s helpful.
Thirteen journalists were killed while covering the war and occupation in Iraq last year, says a new report by the Committee to Protect Journalists. The deaths were a subset of 36 on-the-job fatalities related to journalistic work across the globe in 2003.
CPJ’s annual worldwide survey “Attacks on the Press,” released on March 11, indicates that some of those deaths in Iraq were not just random events in a hazardous war zone.
Journalists who were “embedded” with the American military tended to be safer. But as a practical matter, the tradeoffs shortchanged news readers, listeners and viewers. “The close quarters shared by journalists and troops inevitably blunted reporters’ critical edge,” CPJ reports. “There were also limits on what types of stories reporters could cover, since the ground rules barred journalists from leaving their unit.”
Thirteen journalists were killed while covering the war and occupation in Iraq last year, says a new report by the Committee to Protect Journalists. The deaths were a subset of 36 on-the-job fatalities related to journalistic work across the globe in 2003.
CPJ’s annual worldwide survey “Attacks on the Press,” released on March 11, indicates that some of those deaths in Iraq were not just random events in a hazardous war zone.
Journalists who were “embedded” with the American military tended to be safer. But as a practical matter, the tradeoffs shortchanged news readers, listeners and viewers. “The close quarters shared by journalists and troops inevitably blunted reporters’ critical edge,” CPJ reports. “There were also limits on what types of stories reporters could cover, since the ground rules barred journalists from leaving their unit.”
AUSTIN, Texas -- Gosh, we are having such a swell time here in Texas. For starters, once again the speaker of the Texas House is under investigation by a grand jury. We're so proud. We have nothing against this guy personally, we're just rooting for an indictment as a matter of Texas tradition. This would make five out of the last six House speakers indicted for one thing or another, and you must admit, that's some record.
(As a matter of strict accuracy, I should note that there was one speaker in there who was not indicted, but rather was shot to death by his wife. However, she was indicted -- although not convicted, because in Texas we recognize public service when we see it.)
(As a matter of strict accuracy, I should note that there was one speaker in there who was not indicted, but rather was shot to death by his wife. However, she was indicted -- although not convicted, because in Texas we recognize public service when we see it.)
I'm an optimist by disposition, but some weeks it's hard to find evidence of progress in human affairs. There on the TV screen was Secretary of State Colin Powell smoothly fulfilling his designated function as the Empire's prime dispenser of official lies. That particular morning, Powell was ladling unctuous bilge about the U.S.-sponsored coup in Haiti, even as the renaissant Tonton Macoutes, under the tolerant gaze of USMC officers, swarm across Port au Prince.
And here was Senator John Kerry, the Democratic nomination in his grasp. Having made his own extremely zestful contribution to the body count in Vietnam during the Phoenix sweeps, Kerry knows where many of the Empire's bodies are rotting. In his first senate term he even led useful hearings into the BCCI scandal and the arms-for-cocaine shuttle in Central America. Then the Elders of Empire told him to mind his manners and shut up, which he promptly did.
And here was Senator John Kerry, the Democratic nomination in his grasp. Having made his own extremely zestful contribution to the body count in Vietnam during the Phoenix sweeps, Kerry knows where many of the Empire's bodies are rotting. In his first senate term he even led useful hearings into the BCCI scandal and the arms-for-cocaine shuttle in Central America. Then the Elders of Empire told him to mind his manners and shut up, which he promptly did.
What would happen if Libertarian candidates got the same type of training as the big parties and enough money to get out their message? Ohio is about to find out.
The Libertarian Party of Ohio hired Robert Butler as executive director, and he started work last Monday, March 1st. He's had experience fundraising for the Republican National Committee and the Libertarian Party of Indiana. He's also run his own businesses in Taiwan and most recently, an English-language school near Cancun, Mexico.
Butler anticipates the inevitable question: "You left sunny Cancun for Ohio? Willingly?"
"There's just one reason I'm here in Ohio, and that's to help more Libertarians win their races. The Libertarian Party is the future of America, and only the Libertarian Party has the solution for the new economy and the new world we live in," Butler said.
When Butler lived abroad, he learned an uncomfortable truth: It?s often easier to start a new business in countries such as Taiwan and Mexico than in the United States.
The Libertarian Party of Ohio hired Robert Butler as executive director, and he started work last Monday, March 1st. He's had experience fundraising for the Republican National Committee and the Libertarian Party of Indiana. He's also run his own businesses in Taiwan and most recently, an English-language school near Cancun, Mexico.
Butler anticipates the inevitable question: "You left sunny Cancun for Ohio? Willingly?"
"There's just one reason I'm here in Ohio, and that's to help more Libertarians win their races. The Libertarian Party is the future of America, and only the Libertarian Party has the solution for the new economy and the new world we live in," Butler said.
When Butler lived abroad, he learned an uncomfortable truth: It?s often easier to start a new business in countries such as Taiwan and Mexico than in the United States.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and FirstEnergy just can't seem to learn the most important lesson, safety-first. Despite safety problems and an ongoing criminal investigation, the NRC on Monday signed-off on FirstEnergy restarting the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant.
Ohio PIRG will continue to be a watchdog of FirstEnergy and the events at Davis-Besse. Demonstrating to our state and local officials that we expect them to stand-up to powerful special interests like FirstEnergy is an important step. Thank you to the over 400 activists who sent letters last week asking state officials to oppose restarting Davis-Besse.
Please send an e-mail to the NRC and express your disappointment in their decision. Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.
To take action, click on this link or paste it into your web browser: pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=590&id4=OHFreep
Ohio PIRG will continue to be a watchdog of FirstEnergy and the events at Davis-Besse. Demonstrating to our state and local officials that we expect them to stand-up to powerful special interests like FirstEnergy is an important step. Thank you to the over 400 activists who sent letters last week asking state officials to oppose restarting Davis-Besse.
Please send an e-mail to the NRC and express your disappointment in their decision. Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.
To take action, click on this link or paste it into your web browser: pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=590&id4=OHFreep
Late Wednesday, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Don Nickles (R-OK) put
forward a budget resolution that, if enacted, would cut Medicaid
by at least $11 billion over five years.
If enacted, this will result in an increase in the number of uninsured and even more severe cuts to Medicaid than we have seen over the past few years. In addition, this comes at a time when most states are still suffering from the recession and the increased federal relief is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2004. The inclusion of this provision in the budget resolution will make the extension of temporary fiscal relief (or FMAP) even more difficult.
We must move quickly on this issue as the full Senate is scheduled to debate and vote on the Budget Resolution this week (week of March 8.)
If enacted, this will result in an increase in the number of uninsured and even more severe cuts to Medicaid than we have seen over the past few years. In addition, this comes at a time when most states are still suffering from the recession and the increased federal relief is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2004. The inclusion of this provision in the budget resolution will make the extension of temporary fiscal relief (or FMAP) even more difficult.
We must move quickly on this issue as the full Senate is scheduled to debate and vote on the Budget Resolution this week (week of March 8.)
(Another update from my friend John, who had this interesting and telling observation. I personally, am left with the profoundly obvious
realization that Sean Hannity is nothing other than, quite simply stated, an idiot).
I was at the Wright-Pat BX yesterday and I looked at the new "nonfiction" book section. Lots of neocon war-against-evil stuff there, including Richard Perle's "An End to Evil". But the most ridiculous title was Sean Hannity's (sp?) book called...
Deliver Us From Evil: Defeating Terrorism, Despotism, and Liberalism
Wow. Interesting axis of evil he identifies there. If you defeat both despotism and Liberalism, what remains?
LIBERALISM - Webster's Dictionary....
"A political philosophy based on belief in progress, the essential goodness of man, and the autonomy of the individual and standing for the protection of political and civil liberties"
Sounds despotically treacherous to me. I'm glad ol jacked up frat boy Sean Hannity is doing his part to remove it from our planet. - A
I was at the Wright-Pat BX yesterday and I looked at the new "nonfiction" book section. Lots of neocon war-against-evil stuff there, including Richard Perle's "An End to Evil". But the most ridiculous title was Sean Hannity's (sp?) book called...
Deliver Us From Evil: Defeating Terrorism, Despotism, and Liberalism
Wow. Interesting axis of evil he identifies there. If you defeat both despotism and Liberalism, what remains?
LIBERALISM - Webster's Dictionary....
"A political philosophy based on belief in progress, the essential goodness of man, and the autonomy of the individual and standing for the protection of political and civil liberties"
Sounds despotically treacherous to me. I'm glad ol jacked up frat boy Sean Hannity is doing his part to remove it from our planet. - A
When news of Pakistan's clandestine program involving its top nuclear scientist selling rogue nations, such as Iran and North Korea, blueprints for building an atomic bomb was uncovered last month, the world's leaders waited, with baited breath, to see what type of punishment President Bush would bestow upon Pakistan's President Pervez Musharaff.
Bush has, after all, spent his entire term in office talking tough about countries and dictators that conceal weapons of mass destruction and even tougher on individuals who supply rogue nations and terrorists with the means to build WMDs. For all intents and purposes, Pakistan and Musharraf fit that description.
Remember, Bush accused Iraq of harboring a cache of WMDs, which was the primary reason the United States launched a preemptive strike there a year ago, and also claimed that Iraq may have given its WMDs to al-Qaeda terrorists and/or Syria, weapons that, Bush said, could be used to attack the U.S.
Bush has, after all, spent his entire term in office talking tough about countries and dictators that conceal weapons of mass destruction and even tougher on individuals who supply rogue nations and terrorists with the means to build WMDs. For all intents and purposes, Pakistan and Musharraf fit that description.
Remember, Bush accused Iraq of harboring a cache of WMDs, which was the primary reason the United States launched a preemptive strike there a year ago, and also claimed that Iraq may have given its WMDs to al-Qaeda terrorists and/or Syria, weapons that, Bush said, could be used to attack the U.S.