06/12/08 MNF: MND-B Soldier attacked by IED A Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldier was killed from wounds sustained when the Soldier’s vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device in west Baghdad at approximately 3:30 p.m. June 12
06/12/08 MNF: MNF-W Marine dies of non-combat related incident A Multi-National Force – West Marine died as the result of a non-combat related incident June 11. The Marine’s name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin and release by the Department of Defense.
06/11/08 DoD Identifies Army Casualty Staff Sgt. Tyler E. Pickett, 28, of Saratoga, Wyo., died June 8 in Kirkuk Province, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using improvised explosive devices. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment...
06/11/08 DoD Identifies Army Casualty Pfc. Thomas F. Duncan, III, 21, of Rowlett, Texas, died June 9 in Sinjar, Iraq, of wounds suffered during combat operations. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, Wash. The incident is under investigation.
06/11/08 MNF: MNC-I Soldier dies of non-battle related causes A Multi-National Corps - Iraq Soldier died of non-battle related causes in Baghdad, June 11. An investigation into the cause of death is under way.
Source: Iraq Coalition Casualty Count Father of all, we pray to you for those we love, but see no longer: Grant them your peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and, in your loving wisdom and almighty power, work in them the good purpose of your perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCOTUS seems to have prompted this return of Thursday Constitution blogging.
w00t!
Linda Greenhouse at The New York Times reports:
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday delivered its third consecutive rebuff to the Bush administration’s handling of the detainees at Guantánamo Bay, ruling 5 to 4 that the prisoners there have a constitutional right to go to federal court to challenge their continued detention.
The court declared unconstitutional a provision of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 that, at the administration’s behest, stripped the federal courts of jurisdiction to hear habeas corpus petitions from the detainees seeking to challenge their designation as enemy combatants.
I am so flipping stoked by this. What a great thing to come home to after a very long and intense day at work.
Those who have been paying attention, those who care about the rule of law, those who cherish our Constitution have all noted that the Bush administration's behavior has been resolutely lawless. They have no concern for ancient traditions (making them anything but conservative) and no concern for human rights. Even the Supreme Court, hardly a bastion of liberality these days, has now repeatedly slapped them down.
I pray we may yet see the restoration of the rule of the law. In the meantime, stay informed, stay vigilant, stay feisty, and refuse to shut up until law prevails once more.
I also got an e-mail from Senator Patrick Leahy. He writes, in part:
A majority of the Court has ruled that provisions in the 2006 Military Commissions Act designed to strip away all habeas rights for detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay detention center are unconstitutional. The Court has ruled that the Constitutional right to habeas corpus extends to territories, including Guantanamo Bay, where the United States exercises de facto control. The Court further held that the administration’s detention procedures were constitutionally inadequate, and that those detainees who have been determined to be "unlawful enemy combatants" are entitled to seek habeas relief in Federal court.
The Court’s 5-4 decision sustains the long-held and bipartisan beliefs that I and others have always maintained: Congress made a grave error when, for the first time in its history, it voted to strip habeas corpus rights, instead leaving in place hopelessly flawed procedures to determine whether detainees can be held indefinitely with no meaningful court review merely by the Executive’s decree.
Senator Obama's comments (via SusanG at Daily Kos):
Today's Supreme Court decision ensures that we can protect our nation and bring terrorists to justice, while also protecting our core values. The Court's decision is a rejection of the Bush Administration's attempt to create a legal black hole at Guantanamo - yet another failed policy supported by John McCain. This is an important step toward reestablishing our credibility as a nation committed to the rule of law, and rejecting a false choice between fighting terrorism and respecting habeas corpus. Our courts have employed habeas corpus with rigor and fairness for more than two centuries, and we must continue to do so as we defend the freedom that violent extremists seek to destroy. We cannot afford to lose any more valuable time in the fight against terrorism to a dangerously flawed legal approach. I voted against the Military Commissions Act because its sloppiness would inevitably lead to the Court, once again, rejecting the Administration's extreme legal position. The fact is, this Administration's position is not tough on terrorism, and it undermines the very values that we are fighting to defend. Bringing these detainees to justice is too important for us to rely on a flawed system that has failed to convict anyone of a terrorist act since the 9-11 attacks, and compromised our core values.
Dday over at Digy's Hullabaloo has this to say (and I say "hear, hear!"):
It's really not enough to mount a campaign to end the practice of torture in a future Administration, although that is of course important. There needs to be continued investigations into how this started and who was responsible, and those responsible absolutely must be brought to justice. John Ashcroft, John Yoo, William Haynes, David Addington and Doug Feith all will be sitting before Congressional committees in the next few weeks. Whether it's through the appointment of a special counsel in an Obama Administration, or tracking down anyone involved with authorizing torture when they go abroad and can be charged under international war crimes statutes, justice must out. A truth and reconciliation commission is the best method, but whatever the case, those who betrayed American values and shamed themselves through their actions cannot be allowed to drift free, only to crop up in some successive Republican White House.
I will let the Bill of Rights have the closing comment tonight:
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Zimbabwe Under Military Rule? TIME - 2 hours ago A Zimbabwean soldier secures the area as Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe toors The Zimbabwe Internatinal Trade Fair in Bulawayo. Shaken by the rebuke he suffered at the hands of Zimbabwe's voters on March 29, President Robert Mugabe was widely rumored ... Desperate in Zimbabwe Akron Beacon Journal Zimbabwe: Jails Emptied to Take in Opponents AllAfrica.com
The CBD (Central Business District) of New Orleans has lots of neo-classical architecture. I am fond of neo-classical architecture, so I am having a field day looking at columns, capitals, the occasional pediment, various forms of decorative carving, arches, and pondering proportion.
06/11/08 DoD Identifies Army Casualty Staff Sgt. Tyler E. Pickett, 28, of Saratoga, Wyo., died June 8 in Kirkuk Province, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using improvised explosive devices. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment...
06/11/08 DoD Identifies Army Casualty Pfc. Thomas F. Duncan, III, 21, of Rowlett, Texas, died June 9 in Sinjar, Iraq, of wounds suffered during combat operations. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, Wash. The incident is under investigation.
06/11/08 MNF: MNC-I Soldier dies of non-battle related causes A Multi-National Corps - Iraq Soldier died of non-battle related causes in Baghdad, June 11. An investigation into the cause of death is under way.
I realize I have not posted since very early yesterday morning. Tuesday was a long day at work, just shy of 13 hours. At the end of the day I got time with the boss to work on some gnarly challenges that had stymied me and she is usually tied up in meetings or answering questions from many people all at once. Tonight I was, I believe, still recuperating from the long work day yesterday and have not even read all the blogs, just a few.
I do have thoughts for another reflective post and a few more pics and will be traveling this weekend. Home to ABQ where I will preach on Sunday morning and have dinner with my ex and my (still) father-in-law for Father's Day (got him a card tonight on the way home).
Because I don't believe God changes the laws of physics for our convenience, I cannot really ask y'all to pray for no lightning on Friday, but I would very much like for my plane to leave on time and get home on time this round. We had some great bolts of lightning this afternoon, with deep rumbly thunder and warm rain. I love electrical storms when I'm not scheduled to fly.
Leila Fadel of McClatchy-Tribune reports (via the Houston Chronicle):
BAGHDAD — Iraqi lawmakers say the U.S. is demanding 58 bases as part of a proposed "status of forces" agreement that will allow U.S. troops to remain in the country indefinitely.
Leading members of the two ruling Shiite parties said in a series of interviews that the Iraqi government rejected this proposal, along with another U.S. demand that would effectively hand over the power to determine whether a hostile act from another country is aggression against Iraq. Lawmakers said they fear this power would drag Iraq into a war between the U.S. and Iran.
"The points that were put forth by the Americans were more abominable than the occupation," said Jalal al Din al-Saghir, a leading lawmaker from the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq. "We were occupied by order of the Security Council," he said, referring to the 2004 resolution mandating a U.S. military occupation in Iraq at the head of an international coalition. "But now we are being asked to sign for our own occupation. That is why we have absolutely refused all that we have seen so far," he said.
I remember when the concern was 14 permanent bases. This is NOT getting enough publicity.
It is hard enough to deal with disease. Working through bureaucratic medical systems does not make it easier. Communication is often difficult. And there is the endless worry.
Please keep Kirstin and all with similar struggles in your prayers.
My friend Phyllis could use some prayer too. --the BB
06/09/08 DoD Identifies Army Casualty Sgt. 1st Class David R. Hurst, 31, of Fort Sill, Okla., died June 7 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment...
06/08/08 MNF: SVBIED attacks Coalition Forces in Kirkuk A suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device exploded near a patrol base in the Ta’Mim province, June 8, killing one Coalition force Soldier.
06/08/08 MNF: MND-B Soldier attacked by IED A Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldier was killed when the vehicle he was riding in was struck by an improvised explosive device at approximately 9:45 p.m. June 7 in eastern Baghdad.
Apparently the new trend in “criminal justice” is not to allow rape victims to use the word rape, or even sexual assault, in court. Instead, a woman testifying against someone who has raped her is supposed to say “when the defendant and I had sexual intercourse.” In one case, the woman could not call herself a “victim” or the alleged perpetrator an “assailant.”
The reason given for this nonsense is that the word rape is prejudicial. By the same logic, words like theft, fraud, and murder ought to be banned from trials, too.
Yes, the accused has a presumption of innocence, but it seems some judges presume the complainant must be lying. Fair trial? I don’t think so.
I have long supported using this remedy for the constitutional crisis we have been in for some time. I do not care whether it is feasible. I do not care whether we "have the votes." The public investigation of the crimes of this administration needs to take place. While the instrument of impeachment was thoroughly degraded by the Republicans who went after Bill Clinton for lying about a blow job (anyone who really cared about that needs a life), if Congress does not use this remedy now it may never again be possible to use it.
The last time immunity was debated in Congress, House Democrats held firm, saying they thought the administration's modifications would amount to a suspension of the Constitution. We hope they have the same courage of their convictions this time around.
McClellan to testify before House in CIA leak case
By LAURIE KELLMAN
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush's former spokesman, Scott McClellan, will testify before a House committee next week about whether Vice President Dick Cheney ordered him to make misleading public statements about the leaking of CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity.
McClellan will testify publicly and under oath before the House Judiciary Committee on June 20 about the White House's role in the leak and its response, his attorneys, Michael and Jane Tigar, said on Monday.
The Daily Mail has an article about the wife McCain dumped. Near the conclusion we read what Perot has to say about the Senator from Arizona.
But Ross Perot, who paid her medical bills all those years ago, now believes that both Carol McCain and the American people have been taken in by a man who is unusually slick and cruel – even by the standards of modern politics.
‘McCain is the classic opportunist. He’s always reaching for attention and glory,’ he said.
‘After he came home, Carol walked with a limp. So he threw her over for a poster girl with big money from Arizona. And the rest is history.’
Although I was in that area today, I felt like an intruder. When I am taking pics downtown or in the French Quarter or elsewhere, I don't feel like a tourist. I am a witness to the city in which I am currently working. But where the devastation was so great it did not feel right to go about snapping photos, not even as a witness on behalf of the people. And, in fact, I did not get to the worst-hit spots. I saw lots of modest homes, all new but not part of tracts, which is unusual. And shops, mostly new. There were a few old ones, but not many. They had long since been torn down and replaced. I saw grassy fields where I am certain homes once were. I saw a few buildings still bearing the spray-painted marks of the rescue searchers. Advertisement for construction materials and contractors were everywhere. Some larger buildings were still being torn down. It was a beautiful day and a sobering afternoon.
My hat is off to those who rebuild, those who return, those who stay. --the BB
And today was quite an outing. I drove over to the region of the Lower Ninth and back again. Then we parked downtown and hoofed it into the French Quarter and across to the Riverwalk. Here are the girls watching a tanker going one way and a paddle wheel boat going the other. Behind them a little way away was Jackson Square and St Louis Cathedral, where we visited last Sunday with Grandmère. (I honestly think they expect daddy to spoil them like an indulgent grandparent now. Sigh.) Then they noticed a building that was preserved but turned into a brewery.
Belle: Hmm, aren't you getting a bit thirsty, Maggs?
Maggie: Now that you mention it.
And, though they are of age, I schlepped them off in a different direction. After a very hot walk through the French Market (I melt at 70 degrees in dry climates, so you can imagine, though for your sensibility's sake I hope you don't), and daddy wound up springing for bottled water, lest we all perish of heat stroke. One more shot of the Mississippi.
And la pucelle d'Orléans, Jeanne. The girls wanted to climb up on the horse. Daddy could not reach that high and was quite afraid of getting arrested in the attempt. No beer and then this. An afternoon of disappointments.
When I was growing up on Madison Avenue in Fresno, California, we had a crepe myrtle in the back yard. It is a rather lovely tree/shrub with ruffly petals. Ours was a medium, slightly purplish pink. Here in New Orleans I have seen quite an array of shades from the pink I grew up with to the more intense pink in this photo to a warmer and darker reddish shade to snow white and a color I had not seen in crepe myrtles before, a lovely orchid-lavender shade, quite delicate.
There are tons more photos from today, mostly French Quarter architecture.
The next time you mount a prayer posting, would you please thank all those who prayed for Mike D'Armour after his cancer diagnosis nine days ago. He died at home in his wife's arms this morning. He had opted for hospice over chemo or radiation which was fitting since he had founded the hospice movement in Durango. Give thanks to the Lord for a wonderful life.
May Mike rest in peace and rise in glory and may his wife and loved ones find comfort.
I ask your prayers for my sister's niece Jan who is in hospice care. We live in the same town but have not met yet. I hope to next weekend. Please hold her up as she moves toward the light.
Please continue to remember Kirstin, who writes movingly of grace upon grace.
May the Holy Spirit fill the upcoming Lambeth Conference with endless surprises of peace, joy, charity, true communication, dialogue, and healing. Granted, none of those are what I, in my pessimistic mode, expect, so that is why they would be surprises. God can do it, I know, so we can also pray that the bishops cooperate with the Spirit.
China continues to experience aftershocks in the quake region, so let us remember those who rebuild their lives, those who mourn, those who died.
Zimbabwe and Pakistan are centers of tension as presidents try to hold on to power and democracy tries to establish itself. Pray for the people of those countries.
Pray for the wisdom and will for the world to address the food crisis for the good of all and not the enrichment of the few and the starvation or malnutrition of the many.
Greece has also sustained an earthquake with two deaths and 125 injuries so far reported.
Tornadoes and rains are hitting the Midwest.
And finally, let us give thanks for the civil union of Mark Andrew and Gene Robinson at St Paul's Church New Hampshire yesterday.
From the Eucharist of Creation:* Your Spirit tends and nurtures, shapes, calls forth, and quickens all things, teasing endless possibilities from the riches of your passionate joy.
The dancing immensities honor you; the rhythms of birth and death bless you; the crashing surf and winging bird chant your praises; the blood coursing in our bodies and the wind rising in our throats combine to sing your goodness, as we join the music of the spheres and the exultation of the heavenly hosts, glorifying your Name in the endless chorus:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
* (c) by me, but I do grant permission when asked. --the BB
I have not had time and energy to note our first visitor from Uganda, and I apologize for waiting . This morning I looked and we had first visitors from two more nations: Iraq and Georgia. Welcome to you all!
The Republic of Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa, bordered on the east by Kenya, the north by Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by Tanzania. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, within which it shares borders with Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda takes its name from the Buganda kingdom, which encompasses a portion of the south of the country including the capital Kampala.
When I met the imam of the Shi'ite mosque in Oakland shortly after 9/11, I learned that he was from Uganda. He appeared Indian. Well, his family was from India, had moved to Uganda, fled under Idi Amin to Canada, and eventually he was called to be the spiritual director in Oakland. My other, very indirect, connection with Uganda was the partnership between St John's in Oakland and the Anglicans in Uganda, one that involved lots of building and sharing until the support given by TEC to the LGBT community led to the Bishop of Uganda severing all ties. Now, I ask you: why is it easier for me to get along with my Muslim sisters and brothers than with my Anglican ones? I would suggest because our interfaith dialogue focused on our human commonalities and our intra-communion squabbles focus on our differences. The differences with our Muslim friends were not denied, just not moved to the center. Is there anything to be learned by this?
If you are young enough not to recognize references to Idi Amin, you may find extensive information here and here.
We hear and read so much about Iraq these days, though little of its significance in the history of civilization. Let us remember that it was the site of great ancient civilizations on whose heritage the entire western world is drawn. Think of the Code of Hammurabi. Wikipedia has this:
The region of Iraq was historically known as Mesopotamia (Greek: "between the rivers"). It was home to the world's first known civilization, the Sumerian culture, followed by the Akkadian, Babylonian, and Assyrian cultures, whose influence extended into neighboring regions as early as 5000 BC. These civilizations produced some of the earliest writing and some of the first sciences, mathematics, laws and philosophies of the world; hence its common epithet, the "Cradle of Civilization".
It is sad to ponder the contrast between that and the current situation.
There is also a very rich history between ancient and modern eras. Just consider what "Baghdad" conjured up before the past decade and a half.
Georgia (Georgian: საქართველო, transliterated as Sakartvelo) is a Eurasian country, chiefly located in the South Caucasus, at the juncture of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. [Wikipedia] When I look at Russian headlines I see references to Georgia by its Russian name, Gruznya (Грузия).
The ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Iberia were here and it was one of the earliest nations to become Christian. Georgia struggles with independence movements in Abkhazia and Ossetia and is in tension with Russia related to this. More from Wikipedia:
Georgia is a representative democracy, organized as a secular, unitary, semi-presidential republic. It is currently a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the World Trade Organization and the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. The country seeks a membership of NATO and, in the longer term, accession to the European Union.
OK, time for some music.
Treat your woman right!
That should have your hips moving.
Ekitagururo - Victoria Burke
Iraq's greatest musician and artist, Ilham Al-Madfai singing the old song "Khutar", directed by Fadi Hagopian. Video was shot and produced in Amman-Jordan.
An interesting mix of cultures here in a wedding theme bit of song and dance - I believe we have the "treat your woman right" theme at an earlier stage here, sauce for the goose and all that. Rather cute video.
iraqi music majed almohandes - wallah wahshny [If only his hands would sit still. The dramatic romantic scenes are nice. Et un beau visage, n'est-ce pas, Comtesse?]
I have one or two CDs at home of Georgian music and I really like it. A very rich tradition of lush harmonies.
This video is, in spots, a bit too military for my taste but here is some Georgian patriotism nicely sung, the national hymn:
Very elegant and restrained dancing - not the exuberance of Riverdance for sure.
Here is a great dance sampler by the ensemble Rustavi (embedding not allowed). Here is another bit of music and dance, demonstrating the rich a cappella harmonies and seriously fancy footwork. [I think I am now in the market for a Georgian boyfriend.]
Something a little calmer: Qeti Melua - Tcitcinatela
Americans-"ქართული ანსამბლი" sing Georgian music [for your Sunday evening worship]:
We conclude with a blast from the past: Vintage collection-Georgian vocal quartet
Promise / Lie: What's the difference? Dengre, that pit bull of investigating intricate corruption scandals, reminds us (in great detail) that former House aide John Albaugh is cooperating in the ongoing investigations related to Jack Abramoff and his clients and politicians.
Senator John McCain has a role in this. Dengre writes:
During a November 17, 2004 Hearing on the scandal, John McCain made a promise:
"I pledge, as a member of the Committee on Indian Affairs, that we will not stop until the complete truth is told."
It was a promise—like all John McCain promises—that McCain quickly broke.
[Emphasis in the original]
Coments near the end of dengre's post:
And yet, McCain now points to his investigation cover-up of Abramoff as proof of his qualifications to be President. A serious look into McCain’s work on the Abramoff Scandal would disqualify him. ...
The lobbying system Abramoff worked in was created by a lobbyist named Charlie Black. And Black is now running McCain’s campaign.
McCain limited the Abramoff scandal to a very, very narrow scope. He collected 750,000 pages of documents and selectively used them to justify a narrow investigation.
It seems that some 742,000 pages are still being suppressed by McCain.
So much for not stopping until the complete truth is told.
Do we need another president who says one thing and does another? Aren't you tired of Orwellian "war is peace" rhetoric?
After learning that "clean air" is a euphemism for relaxed standards and "no child left behind" means no child will be spared a regime of narrow unthinking conformity, one comes to realize that when a Republican rides around in the "Straight Talk Express" the chances are you will not get straight talk at all.
... let's have a full and free discussion of this bit of news!
Gretchen Peters reports this juicy tidbit at ABC News:
The US military has awarded an $80 million contract to a prominent Saudi financier who has been indicted by the US Justice Department. The contract to supply jet fuel to American bases in Afghanistan was awarded to the Attock Refinery Ltd, a Pakistani-based refinery owned by Gaith Pharaon. Pharaon is wanted in connection with his alleged role at the failed Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), and the CenTrust savings and loan scandal, which cost US tax payers $1.7 billion.
The Saudi businessman was also named in a 2002 French parliamentary report as having links to informal money transfer networks called hawala, known to be used by traders and terrorists, including Al Qaeda.
Interestingly, Pharaon was also an investor in President George W. Bush's first business venture, Arbusto Energy.
[Emphases mine]
You can see a great mock "wanted" poster and read the full article here and comments by smintheus (to whom I tip my hat for this story) at DKos.
Smintheus writes (and I'm using the links from that paragraph):
And yet Pharaon was a Harvard classmate of Bush's and a key investor in Arbusto/Harken Energy. He has a notoriously unsavory record. During the Carter administration he was involved in the disgrace of Bert Lance, and then a dozen years later in another banking scandal, the collapse of the shady BCCI due to massive fraud that cost the bank's clients billions of dollars. In the US, he was the second largest shareholder in CenTrust when it went belly up. The Federal Reserve then barred Pharaon from doing business in the US, and the FBI indicted him. Pharaon has been a fugitive ever since.
Thank God the truth about corruption in our government sometimes leak out! It is possible that the Bush administration has set the historic record for corruption in the United States, hardly the claim to infamy most folks would want. Bush keeps saying history will judge his actions. In his shoes, I'd be scared shitless to ponder that. --the BB
The views expressed on this blog are solely those of the blogger and do not represent the positions of any group or organization with which he may be affiliated. As one who spent decades stuffing down his opinions and emotions, I am inclined to cut loose here, which I believe is healthy, honest, and part of the process of sanctification in the long run. Politics and spirituality mingle freely here, along with theatre reviews, photography, and passionate talk about food, literature, and the human journey. If anything written here offends you, please find other blogs to read. I am here to share, not to do battle.
