Department of followups: Serbian war crimes edition
Video from Srebrenica massacre surfaces, 6/4/05 --- Serbian news agency B92 reports that "Slobodan Medic, Pera Petrasevic, Aleksandar Medic, Aleksandar Vukov and Branislav Medic have been indicted for war crimes against civilians allegedly committed on July 17, 1995." I wonder whether any of these were the "Scorpion" paramilitary policeman who shouted at a victim, "What are you trembling for?" shortly before helping kill him.

Srebrenica, ten years later, 7/12/05 --- In late September, Serbian foreign minister Vuk Draskovic acknowledged that his country's failure to capture Srebrenica war criminal Ratko Mladic was "jeopardising Serbia's bid for closer ties with the European Union and Nato and its position in forthcoming talks on Kosovo's status." (BBC).

There's been a recent flurry of activity on this front. First, US diplomats seem to be renewing pressure on Serbia to produce Mladic -- on Friday Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns announced he would be visiting Belgrade next week to demand the captures of Mladic and former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. Reuters:

Burns' pressure comes despite an EU move last month to back opening talks with Belgrade on its eventual membership in the wealthy bloc that had long been held up due to the fugitives. ... Defiance would keep Serbia excluded from NATO and could prompt the United States to again suspend aid to Serbia, which it resumed this year after Belgrade handed over lower-profile fugitives, Burns said. The two men are indicted for genocide in the 1992-95 Bosnian war including the massacre 10 years ago of up to 8,000 Muslims in the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica. "It's a lack of political will on the part of the Belgrade authorities," Burns told reporters. "It does not stand to reason that these people cannot be found." "They ought to be able to do this and until they do this they will not have a normal relationship with the United States," he added.

Meanwhile, Yugoslavian war crimes chief prosecutor Carla Del Ponte seems to be nearly a kingmaker in Serbian politics, strongly urging the selection of a defense minister who has pledged his cooperation. Focus 1 reports:

Zoran Stankovic has promised the chief prosecutor of the Hague Tribunal, Carla Del Ponte that he would, as future SCG Defense Minister, extradite Ratko Mladic in the following two months, the Serbian Blic newspaper reports citing a source close to Serbia Government. [...] Immediately after meeting with Del Ponte, both Vujanovic and Djukanovic said to be ready to make ... Stankovic new Minister of Defense and [yield] the post of SCG Army HQ Chief-of-Staff to Montenegro/.

But it's not at all clear whether Stankovic -- the former chief of a military medical academy -- has the juice to deliver what he's promising. Vukovic, Kostunice et al may be willing partners with Del Ponte -- and still relatively weak assets in the hunt for Mladic and Karadzic. The European Union should be strongly on its guard with Serbia as that country's nominal leadership seeks to join its ranks. The real power still seems to be elsewhere. posted by Thomas Nephew at 6:50:00 PM -- |  

 
Abu Ghraib Protection Act?
The nongovernmental, nonprofit "National Security Archive" research institute is sounding the alarm:

After failing in 2000, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is again seeking an exception from disclosure of vast quantities of important Defense Department records currently available under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The exception would render records that document “the conduct of foreign intelligence or counterintelligence operations” of the DIA Directorate of Human Intelligence (HUMINT) unreachable to the public.

Hiding misdeeds is always the first line of defense -- 90-9 votes in the Senate won't make a difference if no one ever finds out what's going on.

Many of the records documenting abuse in Iraq and Guantanamo obtained by the ACLU under the Freedom of Information Act were from the DIA or about its personnel -- including some who were threatened for objecting to abuse. Moreover, the DIA personnel don't operate under cover, so granting this kind of blanket exception would extend secrecy far beyond what might be justifiable on that basis. (The Archives press release points out that "sensitive information that must be protected for national security reasons is already exempt from the disclosure requirements of the FOIA.")

The provisions involved are included in the Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1042) and the Intelligence Authorization Bill (S.1803). They're more about avoiding scrutiny than about keeping important secrets safe. Contact your Senators and ask them to turn down the DIA -- just like they did in 2000. posted by Thomas Nephew at 11:55:00 PM -- |  

 
Shame, shame, shame
Shame, shame, shame

The Leave No Oilman Behind Act (aka the Gasoline for America's Security Act of 2005) was passed by the corrupt Republican Party -- but only by twisting arms for an extra 45 minutes. Read the full story at Think Progress. posted by Thomas Nephew at 6:05:00 PM -- |  

 
A conspiracy so vast
DeLay Queries Go To Thatcher's Office, Washington Post, 10/4:

Staff members for Margaret Thatcher, Britain's former prime minister, have been questioned in a probe of Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), who is charged with criminal conspiracy regarding corporate political donations, her office said.

"An approach was made to her office to clarify certain points regarding a meeting with Congressman DeLay," said her spokesman, Mark Worthington.

Well, heck, now I'm wondering if DeLay ever met with the pope. We might be able to roll up the whole operation.

Via Charles Kuffner, whose post may deserve title of the year: Reindicted and it feels so good. posted by Thomas Nephew at 5:45:00 PM -- |  

 
90-9!!!
Fox News:

The Republican-controlled Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to impose restrictions on the treatment of terrorism suspects, delivering a rare wartime rebuke to President Bush.

Defying the White House, senators voted 90-9 to approve an amendment that would prohibit the use of "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" against anyone in U.S. government custody, regardless of where they are held.

Washington Post:

The White House had fought to prevent the restrictions, with Vice President Cheney visiting key Republicans in July and a spokesman yesterday repeating President Bush's threat to veto the larger bill that the language is now attached to -- a $440 billion military spending measure.

Newsrack:

posted by Thomas Nephew at 12:01:00 AM -- |  

 
URGENT: Anti-torture vote expected tonight
I just received this from Human Rights First:

Dear Thomas,

Today could be the day. In just hours the Senate is likely to vote on Senator John McCain's anti-torture amendments.

Today our government might finally make clear and absolute the U.S. military's ban on the use of torture - something they should have done long before the atrocities took place at Abu Ghraib, in Afghanistan, and elsewhere. With a vote expected tonight, now we have our chance.

If ever there was a time for you to take action to help end U.S.-sanctioned torture, NOW IS IT. With just a brief moment of your time, you can help us win this crucial vote.

Call your Senators TODAY to win their support for this all-important legislation.

Senator Sarbanes can be reached at (202) 224-4524.
Senator Mikulski can be reached at (202) 224-4654.

It is simple and only takes 2 minutes. Tell the staffer who takes your call:

* I am calling to urge my Senator to vote YES on Sen. McCain's amendments tonight.
* These amendments will ensure our troops will get the guidance they desperately need.
* The Senator has a moral and legal obligation to ban cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.
* These amendments will draw a much-needed line between appropriate interrogation techniques and the horrible abuses I've read about in the papers.

It is easy to make the call - and critical to ensuring success tonight.

Call now. Please don't delay. Your Senators are likely voting TONIGHT.

After you call, reply to this email to let us know you've played an important part to end U.S.-sanctioned torture. We promise to send you an update on how the events unfold tonight.

As I write this, Sen. Rick Durbin is asking his colleagues: 'Is it any wonder that people have been abused when we refuse to repudiate un-American practices like beating detainees?'

Tonight our Senate could go a long way to fix the torture problem and restore our commitment to basic human rights.

It has been a long, hard-fought battle. Your support is critical in these last hours. Every call counts - please forward this message to as many friends and family as you can.

And please let us know you called.

Sincerely,

Jill Savitt
Director of Campaigns
Human Rights First

Links etcetera will be added later. Just do it.


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EDIT, 5:30: Links added. posted by Thomas Nephew at 2:15:00 PM -- |  

 
Every week is Banned Books Week
...but I missed the American Library Association's official Banned Books Week, which was the last week of September this year, as in every year since 1982.

You can get the official story there, with lots of informative links. In 2004, Robert Cormier's "The Chocolate War" topped the list of most-frequently challenged books (for sexual content and allegedly offensive language).

In keeping with the times, a number of other books seem to have been challenged for not depicting gay people and couples as monsters. Over the last decade, J.K. Rowling of "Harry Potter" series fame is among the authors most frequently challenged (for treating witchcraft as entertaining fiction), along with ... Maurice Sendak! (apparently for admitting that human beings don't always have their clothes on).

Alternatively, check out "Paperback Girl," where student librarian Iris is quietly (of course) compiling an excellent blog detailing incident after incident of library censorship around the country.

Most recently, Iris got my attention with a post about the Limestone County, Alabama school board taking it to the next level: not just banning the book "Whale Talk" -- but its author as well:

One week before banned author Chris Crutcher was scheduled to speak to students at Limestone County's Clements Junior & Senior High Schools, board members once again chose to censor his work -- this time a G-rated assembly about what it means to be a writer. [...]

Crutcher was not surprised. "When you think you can keep kids safe by keeping them ignorant," he said, "you'll go to almost any extremes. This isn't about Whale Talk; it's about any book that has the potential to offend someone, which is any book. I wish some of these school board members knew more about child and adolescent development, or had the information most teachers and school librarians are required to have before they are allowed a voice in education. I mean, kids who might die in Iraq in a few short years are being 'protected' from the language that has the power only to offend someone's sensibilities?"

On the bright side, at least I have the beginnings of a Christmas shopping list. posted by Thomas Nephew at 9:30:00 AM -- |  

 
Good for a grin
Dear cretins -- the strong salutation alone might have earned the coveted Puree Soiree "Complaint letter of the year" award, but the author builds steadily from there.

Seems like only yesterday -- Relive New York Times reporter Elisabeth Bumiller's meteoric rise to antistardom in the New York Press fall 2004 "Wimblehack" tournament! The contest pitted 2004 election campaign reporter hacks against eachother for worst campaign coverage. Matt Taibbi refereed rounds 1, 2, 3, and 4, and showed great integrity in awarding Bumiller a default victory in the final against his personal favorite, Howard Fineman, who had deceitfully failed to file a post-election story.

(SPECIAL BONUS TREASURE HUNT: In which round is George Will described as a "pig in a lace hat"? Personally, I think he looks more like a weasel in a lace hat, but reasonable people can differ.)

Harriet Miers's blog!!! -- OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M THE NOMINEE!!!

This is BIGGEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!! EVER!!!!
OMG OMG OMG

I give it a B+ -- On a related note, Hugh Hewitt allegedly eats sandwich recommended by the White House.

UPDATE: My insider friend just called me again; apparently I misheard his end of the conversation, it was a fish sandwich.

That's gotta hurt -- Bush in Freefall.

My heart going boom boom boom -- "Honey, whaddayathink? This movie looks like it might be pretty nice -- maybe we can even take Junior!"

What did I not know and when did I not know it? -- Bush to investigate self (repeat engagement -- say, what's up with that self-investigation?)


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NOTES: "Dear cretins" via Greg Burgas and Jim Henley. Covering Wimblehack, eRobin said Bumiller was bad but no Wilgoren. "OMG" via Michael Silence. Hewitt update via the Poor Man Institute, where it's Mr. and Ms. The Editors from now on -- congratulations! "Freefall" via Brian Tamanaha. "My heart" via Jim MacDonald. "What did I not know" by Tom Burka.
posted by Thomas Nephew at 6:15:00 PM -- |  

 
Freedom of speech in Ole Virginny
Perhaps based on the premise that he was in the United States, Pakistani-American and former Air Force service member Tariq Khan decided to test the proposition that he could safely protest against Pentagon recruiters at George Mason University. He taped a small sign to his chest with words to the effect "Recruiters Lie," and stood next to a recruiting table. I hope that even pro-war advocates will agree that what followed was dangerous and shameful:

A JC operations representative arrived on the scene to tell Tariq that as a student, he had no right to voice his opinion without a permit, and that he must leave. Tariq defended his right to stand there, peaceably, and the operations staff-member called campus police. While waiting for their arrival, the ROTC guy returned to rip Tariq's sign off of his person and throw it in the trash.

Witnesses report that the responding police officer physically assaulted Tariq next to the stage in the JC, putting him in a headlock, choking him, and then proceeding to throw him against the stage. The entire time, Tariq announced, and witnesses concur, that he was being non-violent and not resisting. Eventually he was put in cuffs and taken away by two Mason police officers.

Via Facing South. I have a certain sympathy for Khan's belief that he shouldn't require a permit to peaceably speak his mind at the most useful location to do so.

Additional details appear to demonstrate racism and a general lack of clarity by some ROTC and police personnel about what it is that they're supposed to defend. (Hint: not a recruiting table.) George Mason University's President Merten's office can be reached at 703-993-8700, and the university provides a comment form with which visitors can share their thoughts about the contemptible institution it is. posted by Thomas Nephew at 1:05:00 AM -- |  

 
I, too, am troubled by the Miers nomination
From the Al Franken Show -- JUST DELETED FROM DAVID FRUM'S BLOG:

She rose to her present position by her absolute devotion to George Bush. I mentioned last week that she told me that the president was the most brilliant man she had ever met. To flatter on such a scale a person must either be an unscrupulous dissembler, which Miers most certainly is not, or a natural follower. And natural followers do not belong on the Supreme Court of the United States.

The most brilliant man she ever met? That's taking the famed White House contempt for reality a little too far, I think, and I hope even the President would agree.

But I'm also troubled by David Frum deleting the above statement from his blog. Does he now support flattery on a Miersian scale? Does he now agree Bush is the most brilliant man Miers has ever met? Or is he backing away from "certainly not an unscrupulous dissembler?" Or do natural followers belong on the Supreme Court after all? It's all very difficult to follow.

Via Kevin Drum.


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EDIT, 10/3: link added to Frum "last week" quote. posted by Thomas Nephew at 7:25:00 PM -- |  

 
Ellen Sauerbrey? Mike Brown II
Unnoticed amidst the Katrina furor, Bush has nominated yet another unqualified political hack to head a key relief agency. Still, I'm excited -- because this time the hack hails from my adopted home state of Maryland! On August 31, Bush nominated former State Delegate and 2000 Bush Maryland campaign chief Ellen Sauerbrey to be Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration.

Population Action International writes:

In her current role as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women [...] Sauerbrey has led U.S. efforts to rewrite international consensus agreements that promote women's reproductive health and freedom. Demonstrating a clear priority of politics over the needs and rights of women, she has championed President Bush's scientifically unproven 'abstinence-only' policies in place of successful and comprehensive HIV-prevention and family planning programs.

The L.A. Times' Ken Silverstein notes:

Although appointing political allies to government jobs is a tradition in Washington, the refugee bureau is a complex agency with a broad portfolio. Past administrations, Republican and Democratic, have generally turned to someone with technical expertise to head it.

Sauerbrey, 68, was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1978. She has been a conservative activist for decades but has no direct experience mobilizing responses to humanitarian emergencies.

Inexperienced, sure, but at least she's innovative. During a failed bid for the governor's office -- and together with former Senator Alfonse D'Amato (R-NY) -- she helped pioneer the so-called check swap technique to launder campaign donations through an ally's political action committee. Like so much else these days, it apparently wasn't strictly illegal -- but it came so very, very close. Brava, Ellen!

Who knows, maybe there will even be some way for her to apply the experience to refugee questions -- Pentagon money in, "refugee" personnel out, refugee money in, Halliburton profits out. Regardless, I'm confident Sauerbrey will work out fine in her new position -- as far as her boss is concerned. posted by Thomas Nephew at 5:50:00 PM -- |  

 
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty

...Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters,
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison,
Where the executioner's face is always well hidden,
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten,
Where black is the color, where none is the number,
And I'll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it,
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it,
Then I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin',
But I'll know my song well before I start singin',
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall. (Bob Dylan)

Bless you, Riggsveda. posted by Thomas Nephew at 1:15:00 AM -- |  

 
Hear, hear, Hunter
Some fool at Blogs for Bush DeLay:

I really do urge our Democrats to step back from the edge - you are sitting in a lake of gasoline and you are playing with fire. We on our side will only put up with so much before we start to pay back with usury what we have received.

Ooooooooo. Scary! Hunter, at Daily Kos:

Step back from the edge? You poor boy, asleep in the back of the car the whole trip, finally waking up and wondering where you're at.

Swift boats. Aluminum tubes. Niger uranium. 'Mushroom clouds'. Whitewater.

Vince Fucking Foster.

You can't even see the edge from here. You left it behind a hundred miles back.

So don't give me chest-thumping crap about civil wars, if your politicians are indicted. Don't give me visions of a lake of fire, if all those who find you loathsome refuse to suck at your teats of scientific ignorance in the name of religion, racism in the name of freedom, and corruption in the name of the New World Order.

Get used to the world you have created, and the stench your worshipped heroes have unleashed.

Via digby. Let me add: Texas redistricting -- and hunting for the Texas assemblymen who tried to stop it with the FAA. The 2000 election. "Nope. No weapons over there" (More laughter). This. This. This. This. This. This. This. This. This. This. This. This. This. This. And above all, this.

If you still support DeLay (or frankly, if you ever did), if you're shilling for the Republican leadership, then I say you're for criminals, for a criminal "any thing goes" ideology, and a party of criminals -- the POC -- who wouldn't know a democracy or a human right or an honorable impulse if it walked up and introduced itself by name. Whether DeLay is ever convicted or not. Whether his ilk in Congress or around the country ever run afoul of prosecutors themselves or not. You either have nothing to do with them, or you're covering for them. You're either for them or against them.

Commie hippie sheriff's deputy Texas grand jury foreman William Gibson:

I like his aggressiveness and everything, and I had nothing against the House majority man, but I felt that we had enough evidence, not only me, but the other grand jury members.

DeLay guy: I say your kind of party is sitting in that lake. And I hope a couple of matches are about to get lit.


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UPDATE, 10/3: The fool wins the coveted Poor Man "Wanker of the Week" award. posted by Thomas Nephew at 12:03:00 AM -- |