The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins

It's a common mis perception that, because I'm not Christian and I'm against the "War on Terror", I must be sympathetic to terrorist activities and fundamentalist Islam. And I know many people are branded with this misconception.

However, these people who label dissent as being one with the terrorists are completely wrong. It's both of these religions that I see as dangerous and the cause of mass murder. The only difference between radical Islamic terrorists and the 'War on Terror', is that the war in Iraq (and all other U.S., British, and Israeli imperialistic ventures throughout history) is state backed terrorism.

In "The God Delusion" by Richard dawkins, he says it's the scientist and humanist in him that makes him hostile to religions—fundamentalist Christianity AND fundamentalist Islam are to blame—that close people's minds to scientific truth, oppress women and abuse children psychologically with the notion of eternal damnation.

Below, Jeremy Paxman interviews Professor Dawkins as part of the Newsnight book club...

The Militarization of Local Police, a dangerous game

Today I came across the article, "Your Local Police Force Has Been Militarized", which in turn pointed me to Radley Balko’s “Overkill: The Rise of Paramilitary Police Raids in America” (Cato Institute, 2006). A report detailing the unnecessary and excessive militarization of local police units in the United States. The report also provides an extensive catalogue of abuses and mistaken raids, and offers recommendations for reform.

Today 17,000 local police forces have military equipment like Blackhawk helicopters, machine guns, grenade launchers, battering rams, explosives, chemical sprays, body armor, night vision, rappelling gear and armored vehicle. In 1999, the New York Times reported that a retired police chief in New Haven, Connecticut, told the newspaper, “I was offered tanks, bazookas, anything I wanted.”

According to Pentagon data obtained by the Associated Press, some 16,000 law enforcement agencies obtained more than 380,000 pieces of equipment from military surplus worth $124 million in fiscal 2005. (Homeland Stupidity)

See an interactive map of 'Botched Paramilitary Police Raids'

Shi'a Iraqi soldiers beat Sunnis as U.S. trainers watch

The following is footage of Shi'a Iraqi soldiers delivering a "brutal beating" to several local Sunnis, it was obtained by a British television station. So this is what is taught to the Iraqi soldiers, that it's ok to beat a suspect? Especially when they aren't even fighting back.

British Channel Four says. "Two journalists – embedded with the First Cavalry division – witnessed suspected insurgents being viciously beaten and abused."

Via The Raw Story

The Betrayal of America: How the Supreme Court Undermined the Constitution and Chose Our President

Instead of being impartial arbiters of the law, the five conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices knowingly, blatantly, gave the Presidency of the United States to their man, George W. Bush.

"The Betrayal of America: How the Supreme Court Undermined the Constitution and Chose Our President" by Vincent Bugliosi sets out the arguments, citing chapter and verse, on how this was achieved and how the Constitution has been seriously and dangerously undermined. Read The Betrayal of America...

CBS Refuses to broadcast excellent journalism and Iraq footage

This is The Battle of Haifa Street, a grassroots story and example of selfless journalism by Lara Logan, CBS's chief foreign correspondent.

In an email to AlterNet, Logan asks them for help in getting the word out on "a story that is largely being ignored even though this is taking place every single day in Baghdad, two blocks from where our office is located."

Watch the video CBS is ignoring and will only publish online:

Tens of thousands march in Washington protesting war

The protest sponsored by United for Peace and Justice was held today in D.C. at the National Mall. There were tens of thousands of people there including Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Sean Penn and Jane Fonda.

"The rally on the Mall unfolded peacefully, although about 300 protesters tried to rush the Capitol, running up the grassy lawn to the front of the building. Police on motorcycles tried to stop them, scuffling with some and barricading entrances." (AP) More pictures

Video via AMERICABlog

Tell U.S. military to dismiss subpoena of journalist Sarah Olson

"Sarah Olson is a journalist who published an exclusive interview with Army 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, the highest-ranking member of the military to refuse to deploy to Iraq. Now, the Army wants Olson to be their witness in the lieutenant’s upcoming court martial. The Army is trying to turn speaking to the press into a crime — and wants to have a reporter participate in the prosecution of political speech."

"By summoning this reporter to testify against her source the Bush administration is once again admonishing dissenters (and the press who cover them) to shut up and sing, a very un-American thing to do." (GNN)

"Journalists should not be asked to participate in the prosecution of political speech," Olson said. "Dragging a journalist into court like this ... really damages the barrier between press and government. When speech is the crime, the journalist really can be the investigative arm, the eyes and ears of the government." (SF Gate)

Stand up for a free press — send letters to Lt. Gen. James M. Dubik and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. Take action now — the military trial starts February 5.

Sir! No Sir! - GI war resistance in 1960's

Sir! No Sir! is a movie revealing the untold story of the GI movement to end the war in Vietnam.

Directed by David Zeiger, this is the story of one of the most vibrant and widespread upheavals of the 1960s – one that had a profound impact on American society, yet has been virtually obliterated from the collective memory of that time. This hidden history combines fast-paced archival footage with thoughtful interviews, “perfectly timed with new doubts about the Iraq War” (Variety).

McCain has sleepy time during State O' Union

I would have too, if I was watching it. Read...

Iran getting great deals at Pentagon 'yard sales' ; China too

Really now, is this a surprise? No. Not to me at least, just read up on the history of U.S. foreign relations/policy and you will see what I mean.

From GNN: "Wouldn’t it occur to someone not to sell F-14 Tomcat parts because the only country that uses those planes is Iran?"

Military gear bound for Iran, China traced to Pentagon [The Chron]
Iran gets army gear in Pentagon deal [AP]

Diebold voting machine key copied from photo on their website

In what has to be one of the stupidest moves ever made by any company in the history of the universe: Diebold lets people make their very own copy of the 'get into any voting machine' key. Just watch video below (or read more)

Critics of Bush's Iran policy being censored. Surprise!

According to The New York Times, "Two former government Mideast experts accused the White House on Monday of abusing secrecy rules to block the publication of an article they had written for the Op-Ed page of The New York Times that criticized Bush administration policy toward Iran."

Now isn't this surprising!? No. This shit happens all the time.

Via Impolitical (a blog I highly recommend by the way!)