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Latest News
Week of January 16 2006
Senior British Officer Critical of U.S. Conduct in Iraq An official Army journal, Military Review, published a very candid critique of U.S. military conduct and strategy in Iraq by a senior British military officer. The report cites, among other things, institutional racism, failure to train and educate soldiers to win the "hearts and minds" of the Iraqi people, and the failed strategy to "to kill or capture all terrorists and insurgents." Read an article on The Guardian and the article published on Military Review: Changing the Army for Counterinsurgency Operations by Brigadier Nigel R.F. Aylwin-Foster.
US Troops Seize Award-Winning Iraqi Journalist U.S. troops stormed the Baghdad home of an Iraqi journalist during the night, firing several shots into his bedroom where he slept with his wife and children. Ali Fadhil was then hooded and taken to an undisclosed location only later to be released and told it was all a mistake. Or maybe it was intimidation as Fadhil was investigating missing or misappropriated funds in Iraq for Guardian Films and Channel 4. Read an article on the Guardian as well as Fadhil's own harrowing report.
Take Action: Express your opinion with a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. See tips for writing the letter on Fair and Media Matters. Find addresses for media outlets on the Congress.org web site.
Italian Peace Activists File Lawsuit Against U.S. Five plaintiffs, all living within 10 kilometers of the U.S. Air Force Base at Aviano in northeastern Italy, have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Government for causing harm to their communities due to the presence nuclear weapons (50 B-61 bombs), in violation of international law and the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty.
The objective of the lawsuit, aside from the battle in court, is also to call attention to the presence of nuclear weapons in Italy and Europe.
In addition to the nuclear weapons at Aviano, there are another 40 at the Ghedi Air Base in the province of Brescia.
Take Action: Write a letter to the editor of your favorite newspaper. Make sure this news is known in the U.S. See tips for writing the letter on Fair and Media Matters. Find addresses for media outlets on the Congress.org web site.
March 18, 2006 - International Day of Protest On the third anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, the world will unite in a global day of protest calling for an end to the occupation. Read the call to action on the United for Peace and Justice web site for events in the U.S., keep an eye on Stop The War for events in the U.K., and get ready to organize in Rome.
Take Action: Encourage your friends to participate. Spread the word.
Bush's Trip to New Orleans and FEMA Admits Error On his way to a closed door, $4 million fundraiser for the Republican National Committee in Palm Beach, Florida, President Bush stopped off in New Orleans. He did not tell residents what they wanted to hear: that federal funds would be committed to building the strongest possible levees. He did, however, say that New Orleans was "a heck of a place to bring your family." Read the article In New Orleans, Bush Speaks With Optimism but Sees Little of Ruin and watch news coverage of the trip.
For a local's view, read the blog by Wade Rathke, New Orleans resident and founder and chief organizer of ACORN.
Meanwhile, FEMA has admitted to a "reporting error" and has changed its count of people displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita to 2 million, an increase of 30% over previous figures. Read an article on the Washington Post.
Share Your Ideas With True Majority The grassroots organization True Majority has set up a forum inviting you to share your ideas and shape their activities for the coming year. The True Majority "Idea Swap" allows you to voice your opinion on the main issues on which to focus for 2006.
Take action: Let them hear from you: Idea Swap. And spread the word with your friends.
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