Pardon from Potential War Crimes?

Iraq demands US withdrawal

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Monday no security agreement with the United States could be reached unless it included a "specific deadline" for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

Last week, U.S. and Iraqi officials said the two sides had agreed tentatively to a schedule which included a broad pullout of combat forces by the end of 2011 with a residual U.S. force remaining behind to continue training and advising the Iraqi security forces.

But al-Maliki's remarks Monday suggested that the Iraqi government is still not satisfied with that arrangement.

"There can be no treaty or agreement except on the basis of Iraq's full sovereignty," al-Maliki told a gathering of tribal sheiks. He said such an agreement must be based on the principle that "no foreign soldier remains in Iraq after a specific deadline, not an open time frame."

How long do you think we'll have to stay there to save face?

Fear propaganda

From FoxNews' cheery article entitled "7 Reasons to Worry [about sending your kids back to school]"

1. The anti-vaccination movement. Misinformation about vaccines being linked to autism has spread like wildfire. As a result, some parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children. The result: diseases that were on the decline, like measles, are once again on the upswing.

"The anti-vaccination movement is based on irrational fears and is absolutely destructive," Siegel said. "Vaccines are mainly for the sake of the herd, but no one cares about the community. However, if you want to protect the entire population, you have to vaccinate."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in July that a measles outbreak had infected at least 127 people in 15 states. It was the largest outbreak since the mid-1990s and most of those infected had not been immunized.

“I can’t say that every kid who doesn’t get vaccinated will get the measles,” Siegel said. “It really depends on where you live. But vaccines are pretty well regulated and drug makers aren’t making a lot of money on them, contrary to popular belief. Getting vaccinated is basically for the public good."

http://www.know-vaccines.org/parent.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/149984/new_rotavirus_vaccine_danger.html
http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/9635
http://www.relfe.com/vaccine.html

But if it's for the "public good", it's all ok, right?

Police using GPS to thwart the 4th Amendment

From CNN.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- It's the stuff crime movies are made of: Determined police officers shadowing their suspect as he drives around town, watching and waiting for his next move, always careful not to lose him.

David Lee Foltz Jr. faces trial on abduction and sexual battery charges after police tracked him using GPS.

But now, investigators can track a potential bad guy without ever leaving their desks, thanks to the Global Positioning System, or GPS.

The technology is easy to use and the devices are hard to detect.

All police have to do is attach a GPS receiver to a suspect's car and they easily go along for the ride online, tracking the individual's exact location in real time from their computer.

But because investigators often track without a warrant, privacy advocates say the tactic threatens to monitor innocent people as well.

"Those who would give up essential freedom for temporary security neither deserve nor receive either."

And on a similar note.

Georgia signs cease-fire with Russia.

TBILISI, Georgia (CNN) -- A grim Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili said Friday he signed a cease-fire agreement that requires the immediate withdrawal of all Russian forces from Georgian soil.
Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili announces Friday he signed a cease-fire agreement with Russia.

Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili announces Friday he signed a cease-fire agreement with Russia.

The agreement includes a provision for independent monitors and an eventual reconstruction plan for Georgia's economy, said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who brought the documents to Tbilisi.

First, can someone tell me, please, how the hell is this any of our business?

And again we see a stunning display of hypocrisy from our delightful President:

In Washington, President Bush on Friday chided Russia for Cold War-style behavior, saying, "Bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century."

Bush said the United States stands "with the people of Georgia and their democratically elected government." He said the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity "must be respected."

"We will not cast them aside," he said.

Bush said Russia's invasion of Georgia in recent days has "damaged its credibility."

Invading a sovereign nation? How dare he?

Interesting, to say the least.

But the government and the media wouldn't set up a false enemy so that we could get into a war, would they?

And yes, a Youtube video isn't final proof. Just something to consider. Other sources (which I, of course, cannot find at the moment) have reported that it was Georgia, not Russia, that struck first. And we have funded Georgia for years.

Will you be willing to send your drafted sons and daughters to fight and die in WWIII?

Bush condemns China's restrictions on speech

"The United States believes the people of China deserve the fundamental liberty that is the natural right of all human beings.

America stands in firm opposition to China's detention of political dissidents, human rights advocates and religious activists.

We speak out for a free press, freedom of assembly, and labour rights not to antagonize China's leaders, but because trusting its people with greater freedom is the only way for China to develop its full potential."

Hypocrisy.

Finally back!

My dear readers, however few of you remain, I have returned! Since it's currently past midnight, I'm not sure how coherent this post will be, but I have to jump back in sometime.

First, what's new in my life? Surprisingly, not all that much. I've managed to stay just busy enough to neglect this, but I'm trying to do better. I'm preparing to start classes back in the fall, that will be my last semester working on my AA degree. By December I will have (officially) graduated high school, and finished up my Associates Degree. Yay! I'm excited, but I know that this fall is going to be very busy.

I'm also working, on a grassroots level, with the Chuck Baldwin campaign. There's not much going on in my area, which is frustrating, but I know that it's a hard fight trying to get a third-party any attention. Chuck Baldwin is definitely getting no mainstream attention. I've been tirelessly (ok, I do get tired of it) emailing different news websites and requesting that they at least list Baldwin under Presidential candidates, but so far MSN is the only website to actually do so. It's very frustrating for me to see Bob Barr and Ralph Nader listed as "the" third-party candidates on FoxNews, because it's so blatantly biased, and because I know that the message can't reach people if they never hear about it.

But I digress. For those of you who don't know who Dr. Baldwin is, please visit his website, Myspace, or Youtube to find out more. Don't waste your vote on the evil of two lessers!

Aside from the Baldwin campaign, I've only been moderately following the other candidates. To be honest, it all seems like a big soap opera. McCain and Obama have their superficial differences, but deep down they are very much the same.

But anyway, this post is getting a big long, and it's getting more than a bit late, so I'd best close now. I'll be checking in more often, so I look forward to seeing what you guys have up on your blogs and hearing your opinions on mine. I leave you with a video, hope you like!