Every ones doing it! Join the party!
Pretty soon there’ll be no one left to kidnap!
From the NYT
BAGHDAD, April 3, 2007
“An Iranian diplomat kidnapped by armed men wearing uniforms of the Iraqi security forces was freed here on Tuesday, Iraq’s foreign minister said, adding that he continued to work to free five Iranians held separately by American military forces and was optimistic that they would be released soon.”
Opps. Your Iranian? Not Iranian/American by any chance? No? Dam!
Well… ..can I borrow a couple a bucks till Friday? I’m holding this Baghdad family, I sure the cousin will pay; I can drive you to the embassy, but I got no gas…
(updated; April 8, 2007)
Opps! I guess I got this all wrong!
Instead of a joke it turns out it's another story about the shadow army working for the USA.
BAGHDAD, Iraq
Gunmen wearing Iraqi army uniforms seized an Iranian diplomat as he drove through central Baghdad, officials said Tuesday. Tehran condemned the abduction and blamed U.S. forces in Iraq.
One Iraqi government official also said the diplomat was detained Sunday by a special Iraqi army unit that reports directly to the U.S. military. But a military spokesman denied any U.S. troops or Iraqis that report to them were involved.
And Now after his release:
TEHRAN, April 7 (Xinhua)
The Iranian diplomat released this week after being abducted in Iraq said that he had been tortured by CIA agents, the official IRNA news agency reported on Saturday.
For some reason I don't doubt the Iranians statement about torture.
Why would that be I wonder?
mh
Yesterdays ruling is a victory for those of the opinion that corporate power must be effectively regulated to save the Republic.
"..the 'Bushite Regime' has used issues such as abortion, intelligent design and the size of government to divide us while they project their corporate agenda, through the middle."
From the NYT, April 2, 2007
(my emphasis)"In one of its most important environmental decisions in years, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to regulate heat-trapping gases in automobile emissions. The court further ruled that the agency could not sidestep its authority to regulate the greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change unless it could provide a scientific basis for its refusal."
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., Antonin Scalia (Reagan Appointee), Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr., all Bush administration appointees, ruled against the majority; indicating a split in the supreme court between those who champion corporate interests, one the one hand; and the 5 justices who ruled that any evaluation of the law should be guided by scientifically acknowledged facts; a corner stone of the Republic.*(* I am not a lawyer, so in my search for some sources on the basic tenants in the Rule of Law, I was textually drown (dam lawyers).
So, right to the source of law in the USA, the Congress. These rules of evidence, passed by Congress to update previous, similar law, show how important scientific evidence is to the process.)
FEDERAL RULES OF EVIDENCE(pdf)
DECEMBER 1, 2006
THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Rule 702. Testimony by Experts
If scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist
the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact
in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience,
training, or education, may testify thereto in the form of
an opinion or otherwise, if (1) the testimony is based upon sufficient
facts or data, (2) the testimony is the product of reliable
principles and methods, and (3) the witness has applied the principles
and methods reliably to the facts of the case.
Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Thomas have corporate backgrounds. Justices Scalia and Alito do not, but have positions on key issues which make them corporate-friendly. Scalia supported Nixon during Watergate and after; and is seen to have "deep respect for the executive branch". Scalia's position thus aids in destroying the separation of powers, which is in the corporate interest. Justice Alito has a libertarian streak, and as such, I believe, incorrectly balances corporate freedom and personal freedom; failing to recognize that corporations are not like the individual owners of the companies of yesteryear, but rather they are soulless Things upon which limits need to be placed.
The interests of the Powerful in the Republic are naturally reflected in law; as corporate power grows, the laws of the Republic will, more and more, reflect their interest.
I hope this article will help people of all political stripes to see that the 'Bushite Regime' has used issues such as abortion, intelligent design and the size of government to divide us; while they project their corporate agenda through the middle.
The Reagan/Bush Supreme Court appointments, all surrounded by much consternation, have a common thread; they all represent the interests of Corporate Power, as this case illuminates.
Sumner Redstone, Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Viacom, Inc.; SCARED DINOSOAR
Jeff Zucker, President and Chief Executive Officer of NBC Universal.
NOT A SCARED DINOSOAR
Viacom is suing Youtube/Google for 1 Billion dollars for content use violations. At the same time other content owners are setting up their own video distribution site.
From The Hollywood Reporter, March 23, 2007:"News Corp. and NBC Universal announced plans Thursday to launch a video distribution site this summer featuring thousands of hours of content from at least a dozen networks and two major film studios."
The model that all of us consumers of network TV were hoping would emerge on the Internet is one step closer to reality. Free content will be available on this new site, paid for by advertising revenues generated there.
From The Hollywood Reporter again:"Although the executives said that most content on the site will be free, full-length movies will be sold "principally" on a download-to-own model. Zucker said that, as a general rule, if television content is available for electronic sell-through on platforms like iTunes, it will also be available in the same way on the new site. Chernin added, however, that "most TV episodes, shortform clips and mash-ups" will be free on the site."
With major content owners uploading complete shows, the quality we've become accustomed to at Youtube will become substandard very quickly.
The future many had hoped would unfold, namely Network Television on the Internet, free, on demand and paid for by on site advertising, is coming this summer, to a portal near you!
Yeah!mh
