John McCain Approves these ads

John McCain Approves these ads

The War on Terror

The War on Terror, started by the US government as a response to the September 11, 2001 terror attacks and later joined by other governments, has had and continues to have grave consequences for the human rights of their citizens and of citizens of other countries. This is a high price for an uncertain gain.

However, before I list these consequences, I would like to make it clear that I believe, as any rational human being, that terrorism is evil, that it has to be destroyed and that democracies have a right to defend themselves against violent, anti-democratic fanatics (see this post).

I also believe that democratic governments should be especially vigilant because the freedoms that they are elected to protect, offer opportunities for those who hate freedom, opportunities that do not exist in other political systems. Potential terrorists find it relatively easy to enter a democracy and operate in it. A democracy is a very vulnerable form of government because of the freedom it gives to everyone, even those who don’t mean well.

RNC Media Intimidation Condemned

MINNEAPOLIS – Police and local and federal officials in St. Paul, Minnesota are under fire from independent media groups for their crackdown on reporters at this week’s Republican National Convention.
[Television and radio host Amy Goodman was one of several journalists arrested this week. (© bignoisetactical (YouTube))]Television and radio host Amy Goodman was one of several journalists arrested this week. (© bignoisetactical (YouTube))
“We are concerned that police in St. Paul prevented journalists from covering a breaking story,” said Committee to Protect Journalists Executive Director Joel Simon on Tuesday. “We urge authorities to drop any pending charges and allow journalists to continue with their work.”

The New York-based group, which monitors media suppression around the world, condemned the arrest of four journalists who were documenting the confrontational end to an otherwise peaceful antiwar protest on the opening day of the Convention.

Well-known television and radio personality Amy Goodman, host of the nationally syndicated program Democracy Now!, was arrested when inquiring about the condition of camerawoman and producer Nicole Salazar and sound technician Sharif Abdel Kouddous.

RNC Media Intimidation Condemned

Police and local and federal officials in St. Paul, Minnesota are under fire from independent media groups for their crackdown on reporters at this week’s Republican National Convention.
[Television and radio host Amy Goodman was one of several journalists arrested this week. (© bignoisetactical (YouTube))]Television and radio host Amy Goodman was one of several journalists arrested this week. (© bignoisetactical (YouTube))
“We are concerned that police in St. Paul prevented journalists from covering a breaking story,” said Committee to Protect Journalists Executive Director Joel Simon on Tuesday. “We urge authorities to drop any pending charges and allow journalists to continue with their work.”

The New York-based group, which monitors media suppression around the world, condemned the arrest of four journalists who were documenting the confrontational end to an otherwise peaceful antiwar protest on the opening day of the Convention.

Well-known television and radio personality Amy Goodman, host of the nationally syndicated program Democracy Now!, was arrested when inquiring about the condition of camerawoman and producer Nicole Salazar and sound technician Sharif Abdel Kouddous

George Washington, Under the Bus

The AP is reporting that Barack Obama is back to his old tricks of implying that anyone who does not support him, or dare criticize him is a horrible racist. I think this time though, he may have gone too far. While speaking on the campaign trail, Obama had the audacity to actually try to distance himself from the founding fathers of our country:

Your Handy-Dandy Guide To White House Corruption

Are you confused by the tangled web of criminal indictments, subpoenas and investigations going on against the White House? The hiring and firing of Justice officials, the destruction of CIA interrogation tapes, the use of persuasive torture to interrogate and wiretapping? Misleading the country and Congress into going to war? Whewwww. It isn’t easy. Luckily, Slate has an interactive Venn Diagram to help you understand the crimes and who has been implicated in each.