The Occupation Project: A Campaign of Sustained Nonviolent Civil Disobedience to End the Iraq War

Voices for Creative Nonviolence has just launched the 'Occupation Project: A Campaign of Sustained Nonviolent Civil Disobedience to End the Iraq War' (visit site to sign-up). The campaign began today, February 5, and will run for eight weeks. The campaign challenges Representatives and Senators to publicly declare that they will vote against any further funding for the war in and occupation of Iraq.

Today a total of eight local congressional offices were occupied across the country, including the San Francisco offices of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA), and the Portland office of Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR). Members of Veterans For Peace, one of the 18 organizations endorsing the campaign, participated in an action at a congressional office in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Dan Pearson, a spokesperson for the Occupation Project, explained the campaign’s goal is to defeat the $93 billion “emergency supplemental” war funding bill that the Bush administration forwarded to Congress yesterday.

Listen to the Democracy Now! interview with Kathy Kelly, Executive Director of Voices for Creative Nonviolence.

Bush's Record Low 28% Approval Rating

According to the latest CBS News poll, the president's overall approval rating has now fallen to a mere 28%—the lowest in his presidency. Not too surprising. However, to help put this approval rating into perspective, Jaimie Etkin (Radar) has put together 2 lists; 1 of people and things with equal popularity, and the other list with people and things with greater popularity.

OTHER THINGS WITH A 28 PERCENT APPROVAL RATING
• Boxer Briefs
• Kelly Osbourne
• Body Hair on Guys
• Reptiles
• A Wall Along the Mexican Border
• Text Message Flirting
• Porn
• Cottage Cheese

THINGS WITH AN APPROVAL RATING HIGHER THAN BUSH
• Brussels Sprouts (51%)
• Coke Zero (41%)
• Hillary Duff (52%)
• Jennifer Love Hewitt (36%)
• Fruit Cake (40%)
• Kevin Federline (45%)
• Rosie O'Donnell on The View (46%)
• Crocheting (72%)
• Fishing (49%)
• Legalizing Prostitution (58%)
• The Dentist (45%)
• Hanson (53%)
• In-Laws (68%)
• Figs (76%)
• The Name "Shiloh Nouvel Jolie Pitt" (29%)
• Ciara's Goodies (55%)
• The Pussy Cat Dolls (56%)
• Ryan Seacrest (60%)
• Spiceworld (57%)
• MTV VJ John Norris (35%)
• The Barenaked Ladies (73%)
• Russian Pop Duo T.A.T.U. (58%)
• The "Dude, You're getting a Dell!" Guy (42%)
• The Backstreet Boys (66%)
• Nickelback (57%)
• Sum 41 (63%)
• Hootie & The Blowfish (84%)
• Stepping in Dog Shit (35%)
• Walking in the Rain Without an Umbrella (60%)
• Small Breasts (50%)
• Getting Kicked in the Balls (41%)

Radar Online

Watch out for DNA sucking Feds!

According to The New York Times, U.S. authorities will soon begin collecting DNA samples from suspects arrested or detained by federal authorities, including hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants. Before the U.S. Justice Department changed them, the rules were that it was only convicted felons who had their DNA logged. Now, all you have to do is look suspicious, and the feds can detain you for just that. You no longer have to commit a crime to get your DNA stolen from you and filed into the U.S. database.

"DNA profiles have the potential to reveal our physical diseases and mental disorders. It becomes intrusive when the government begins to mine our most intimate matters," said Peter Neufeld, co-director of the Innocence Project, which has exonerated dozens of prison inmates using DNA evidence.

The Raw Story

Rupert Murdoch says News Corp. loves Bush. Surprise!

Rupert Murdoch talks about the Internet and digital media growth, and how Fox News is a bias as you can get.

From The Hollywood Reporter: Asked if his News Corp. managed to shape the agenda on the war in Iraq, Murdoch said: "No, I don't think so. We tried." Asked by Rose for further comment, he said: "We basically supported the Bush policy in the Middle East...but we have been very critical of his execution."

I never thought you would be so blunt and staright forward about it Murdoch. So for all the people that absolutely sweat Fox News. Do you really think it's healthy to watch one news station for all your news. Especially a news station where the CEO just said that "[they] basically supported the Bush policy in the Middle East..." ?

American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War On America

Twenty-five years ago, when Pat Robertson and other radio and televangelists first spoke of the United States becoming a Christian nation that would build a global Christian empire, it was hard to take such hyperbolic rhetoric seriously.

Today, such talk no longer sounds like hyperbole but poses, instead, a very real threat to our freedom and our way of life. In American Fascists, Chris Hedges, veteran journalist and author of the National Book Award finalist War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, challenges the Christian Right's religious legitimacy and argues that at its core it is a mass movement fueled by unwavering nationalism and a hatred for the open society.

The Christian Right, like these early fascist movements, doesn't openly call for dictatorship, nor does it use physical violence to suppress opposition (sometimes). Today's movement is not yet revolutionary. But the ideological architecture of a Christian fascism is being cemented in place, whether it be voluntary or involuntary.

Get it at Amazon

Interview with Ehren Watada, first Officer refusing to fight in Iraq

Truthout interviews 1st Lt. Ehren Watada to find out why he's chosen to be "the only known U.S. military officer to publicly refuse to be sent to Iraq."

Watada believes the war is illegal and that "he is duty-bound as an officer under international and military conventions to refuse unlawful orders." Watada's court-martial begins today and he faces up to 4 years in prison and an Army dismissal.

Watch the interview...

9/11 Taking the Fun Out of Cartoons

Last week in Boston, the late night cartoon Aqua Teen Hunger Force character was around town making 'obscene gestures'. His figure was displayed on battery powered boards that flashed lights. Police mistook these for explosive devices, which lead to the whole city going into panic. Hundreds of officers were involved in the security operation, which also included major roads being shut down and railways suspended. The bomb squad even 'detonated' one of the 'devices' in a controlled explosion.

This marketing campaign cost Turner Broadcasting System (who owns CNN) $2 million, $1 milion to cover the security operation, and the other $1 million as a goodwill gesture. Menino (the city's mayor) on Monday defended the city's response to the stunt, which he described last week as outrageous in the heightened security environment the United States has been in since the September 11 attacks of 2001.

Bush to Congress: $2.9 trillion spending plan

First, ""My formula for a balanced budget reflects the priorities of our country at this moment in its history: protecting the homeland and fighting terrorism, keeping the economy strong with low taxes and keeping spending under control while making federal programs more effective," Bush said." Wow. I personally love when ever he says this, " protecting the homeland and fighting terrorism,"

Bush is also proposing to increase the maximum Pell grant, which goes to low-income students, from the current $4,050 to $4,600. Oh wow, and extra $550! Are you serious? Bush is out of his mind, as Democrats are pushing for even larger increases.

"The president's budget is filled with debt and deception, disconnected from reality and continues to move America in the wrong direction,"
--> Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad.

Bush is just looking for ways (that aren't going to work) to make things better, without stopping his 'war.' Here's a clue to increase domestic spending: turn off your war machine.

Yahoo! News

Another victim of the U.S. fear culture and propaganda

A Penn Law School student who allegedly fired his weapon at the door of two neighbors he suspected of terrorism was suspended yesterday from the law school.

His lawyer, Peter Bowers, said the attack on the men he believed were terrorists - actually two roommates studying bio-engineering at Drexel University - "appears to have been a mental health or emotional issue."

Authorities "need to do appropriate mental health evaluations," Bowers said.

His client, Joseph Cho, 31, of Pine Street near 44th, is still awaiting arraignment for his alleged role in the assault. The two victims are each of Indian descent.

Cho, a Yale University graduate, has been charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, trespassing and vandalism, said Lt. John Walker, with Southwest Detectives.

He had gone to the Drexel students' apartment at 12:30 p.m., pounding on their door. When they didn't answer, Cho shot rounds from his legal Glock-9 into the door's lock.

He was later arrested by police.

"It is a bizarre case that we are investigating," Walker said. "You would think he would be more tolerant and more understanding to different cultures of people" because of his educational background.

Yesterday, Provost Ron Daniels sent a memo to the university's deans and senior administrators, stating that "the student has been temporarily suspended from the law school. The matter will be reported to the Law School's Committee on Student Conduct and Responsibility for its consideration."

The university, Daniels continued, was offering support services to any students seeking counseling to deal with the matter.

Cho, meanwhile, was described as an "outstanding young man," Bowers said. "It's really an unfortunate incident."

The law student enlisted in the Army after the Sept. 11 attacks and served for three years. He was given an honorable discharge, according to Bowers.

Philadelphia Daily News

Bush to Seek Record $716 Billion for Defense Spending

Next week, Bush is putting in a request for $716 Billion for defense and to fund the war on terror. According to Tony Capaccio (Bloomberg.com), the budget will go something like this: $93.4 billion in additional money for fiscal 2007 to cover costs of the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The remaining $622.6 billion would cover the year ending Sept. 30, 2008 and include $141.7 billion for the wars.

Capaccio also writes, "The military funding request is greater than the annual gross domestic product of all but 14 countries." Meanwhile, Bush has pulled funding for healthcare programs, such as Access to Care, for citizens with no insurance to receive affordable health care. So now we have people who can't afford their medications, and who are walking around with disease and pain with no way to receive help, however they will be defended by Bush, with $716 billion!

Patriot$ don't a$k Question$. United Republik of Amerika

US-Iraqi fight with cult cover-up for a massacre?

Independent reporters in Iraq have discovered that the battle between a messianic cult and U.S.-Iraqi forces was a cover-up. With a possible motive of suppressing Shia-Sunni unity which was growing in the area of Najaf.

"We were going to conduct the usual ceremonies that we conduct every year when we were attacked by Iraqi soldiers," Jabbar al-Hatami, a leader of the al-Hatami Shia Arab tribe (supposed 'cult') said.

"We thought it was one of the usual mistakes of the Iraqi army killing civilians, so we advanced to explain to the soldiers that they killed five of us for no reason. But we were surprised by more gunfire from the soldiers."

From another eyewitness to the tragedy: "American helicopters participated in the slaughter," Jassim Abbas, a farmer from the area said. "They were soon there to kill those pilgrims without hesitation, but they were never there for helping Iraqis in anything they need. We just watched them getting killed group by group while trapped in those plantations."

Via AlterNet

Saddam hanging photos being used to "mentally torture" Guantanamo inmates

According to lawyers for Australia's only Guantanamo inmate, Guantanamo Bay prisoners were shown photos of Saddam Hussein hanging from a rope post-execution.

"Displaying photos of condemned men to those who may be facing capital charges can only be interpreted as an attempt to intimidate and compel submission under a threat of death and mentally torture an already abused detainee population," Joshua Dratel said in a statement to the Australian media.

Dratel also said photos of Saddam's 2006 trial were on a poster in a Guantanamo exercise yard, which read: "Because Saddam chose not to co-operate and not tell the truth, because he thought by lying he would get released, for that reason he was executed."

Via REUTERS