"Republicans screw the Arabs. Democrats screw the Arabs, but with a smile," Cairo under siege

EXCLUSIVE from comrade Hossam: Cairo Under Siege Ahead Of Obama's Speech

Right before he took off from DC, on what the media has been depicting as some "odyssey," to address the Muslim World from Cairo, President Obama had described the 81-year-old Egyptian President Mubarak as a "force for stability." This week Cairo and its twin city Giza have been a showcase of what this "stability" cost.

The capital is under occupation. Security troops are deployed in the main public squares and metro stations. Citizens were detained en masse and shops were told to close down in Bein el-Sarayat area, neighboring Cairo University, where Obama will be speaking. In Al-Azhar University, the co-host of the "historical speech," State Security police raided and detained at least 200 foreign students, held them without charges in unknown locations. Exams were postponed in the major universities fearing demonstrations, and students were told to stay at home. And in several areas in Cairo and Giza, there will be in effect a curfew, where shops won't be allowed to open, citizens instructed not to open their windows. Almost everyone I know will be staying home tomorrow watching Obama's speech, not necessarily because they are keen on knowing what the freshly-elected US leader has to say to the Muslim world, but because they know it will be virtually impossible to move anywhere in the city on Thursday thanks to Obama's force-for-stability host.

Read more HERE

Christian soldiers marching onward to liberate Afghani's from 'Fundamentalists'-oh, the irony

Liberating Women in Iraq American Military Style

A Briefing Paper

OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Prepared by Kristen McNutt, Researcher,

Association of Humanitarian Lawyers

Presented to The United Nations Commission on Human Rights 2005 March Session

Geneva

Iraqi female detainees have been illegally detained, raped and sexually violated by United States military personnel. Women who stay at home in traditional roles are more likely to be imprisoned as bargaining chips by US troops seeking to pressurize male relatives, according to the New Statesmen (UK) . In December 2003, a woman prisoner, “Noor”, smuggled out a note stating that US guards at Abu Ghraib had been raping women detainees and forcing them to strip naked. Several of the women were now pregnant. The classified enquiry launched by the US military, headed by Major General Antonio Taguba, has confirmed the note by “Noor” and that sexual violence against women at Abu Ghraib took place. Among the 1,800 digital photographs taken by US guards inside Abu Ghraib there were, according to Taguba's report, images of naked male and female detainees; a male Military Police guard “having sex” with a female detainee; detainees (of unspecified gender) forcibly arranged in various sexually explicit positions for photographing; and naked female detainees. The Bush administration has refused to release photographs of Iraqi women prisoners at Abu Ghraib, including those of women forced at gunpoint to bare their breasts (although these have been shown to Congress). UK Member of Parliament Ann Clwyd (L) has confirmed a report of an Iraqi woman in her 70s who had been harnessed and ridden like a donkey at Abu Ghraib and another coalition detention centre after being arrested last July. Clwyd said: "She was held for about six weeks without charge. During that time she was insulted and told she was a donkey."

Read more HERE

Victory for Matthis Chiroux - good things come to those that struggle

Chiroux, a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, refused to participate in what he described as "an illegal and immoral occupation" May 15th, 2008, in Washington D.C., after nine other veterans testified to Members of the U.S. Congress about abuses they experienced during deployments to Iraq. Chiroux also vowed to remain public in the U.S. to defend himself from any charges brought against him by the military.

"My resistance as a noncommissioned officer to this abhorrent occupation is just as legitimate now as it was last year," said Chiroux, adding, "Soldiers have a duty to adhere to the international laws of war described as supreme in Art. 6 Para. 2 of the U.S. Constitution, which we swear to abide by before the orders of any superior, including our former or current president."

I received this from the campaign this morning:

Today, I stood before the Army. I looked a board of officers in the eyes, and I told them I thought they were sending people off to participate in war crimes. And what did they say? Get out of here, Sergeant, and keep your damn G.I. Bill!!!Indeed, folks!

The Army awarded me a recommendation for a general discharge under honorable conditions from the Individual Ready Reserve for my refusal to deploy to Iraq last summer. This landmark decision means not only am I a free man, I’m free to continue school this fall with the “new” G.I. Bill that I earned while on active duty.

...

During the hearing, my girlfriend Alexandra among others were present in the board room to offer moral support. Having them there made all the difference as I squared off with the military over human slaughter that we’ve all been forced to bow down to.So what does this mean for the military?

RESIST!!!! Now’s the time, ladies and gentleman. The flood-gates are open. Your leaders are listening, and more and more, they are agreeing. Resisters are moving away from being the exception, and slowly becoming the norm.If I can refuse to go to Iraq, climb monuments, march into presidential debates, lobby congress, face the military, not go to jail and not even loose my G.I. Bill, we just don’t have any excuses anymore!

Resistance is rising, and IVAW will stand firm underneath it. My story is now history, and I humbly pass the torch. More to follow soon on my testimony at Winter Soldier and the juicy details of my hearing.

Now, I’m going to sleep like I haven’t in a year!

Peace and Solidarity,

Matthis Chiroux

Matthisresists.us

See also http://ivaw.org/

My heartfelt thanks go out to him and all the resisters-we need more people to do this and now hopefully they will find the encouragement they need. In solidarity brother.

Matthew Chiroux continues resisting Bush's illegal wars

Hi folks,

Just passing on the press release for my hearing with the Army this Tuesday. If you are or know any journalists or bloggers, independent or otherwise, please pass this release on and help spread the message that just because Obama's in the whitehouse doesn't mean G.I. Resistence to our illegal wars is going to stop!

Peace and Solidarity,

Matthis Chiroux

matthisresists.us

For Immediate Release

(ST. LOUIS, MO) The U.S. Army will hear the case of Sgt. Matthis Chiroux, an Individual Ready Reservist who last summer publicly refused activation and deployment orders to Iraq, on April 21 at 1 Reserve Way in Overland, St. Louis, MO, at 9 a.m.

Chiroux, a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, refused to participate in what he described as "an illegal and immoral occupation" May 15th, 2008, in Washington D.C., after nine other veterans testified to Members of the U.S. Congress about atrocities they experienced during deployments to Iraq. Chiroux also vowed to remain public in the U.S. to defend himself from any charges brought against him by the military. (see matthisresists.us for a record of that speech and others by Chiroux)

"My resistance as a noncommissioned officer to this abhorrent occupation is just as legitimate now as it was last year," said Chiroux, adding, "Soldiers have a duty to adhere to the international laws of war described as supreme in Art. 6 Para. 2 of the U.S. Constitution, which we swear to abide by before the orders of any superior, including our former or current president."

Following Chiroux's refusal to deploy, the military did not contact him until after he and 10 other IVAW members marched on the final presidential debate Oct. 15, 2008, in Hempstead, N.Y. demanding to question then Senators Obama and McCain regarding their war policies and plans to care for returning veterans. After the veterans were brutalized and arrested by police, (one suffered a fractured skull and is currently suing the police for damages) the Army charged Chiroux with "misconduct" for refusing to deploy, announcing their intentions to discharge him from the reserves as a result.

"I go now to St. Louis to honor my promises and convictions," said Chiroux. "Obama or No-Bama, the military must cease prosecuting Soldiers of conscience, and we will demonstrate to them why."

Following the hearing, Chiroux and other IVAW members will testify about their military experiences which led them all to resist in different capacities the U.S.'s Overseas Contingency Operation (formerly the Global War on Terror).

For more information, see matthisresists.us and ivaw.org.

New York school occupation-watch the police brutality.

At approximately 6am yesterday, Friday April 10th, students re-occupied the Graduate Faculty building at the New School in New York City. Students were able to occupy the entire building this time, holding it for nearly five hours. The building was surrounded by 100+ police from every division of the city, plus dozens more undercover and black suv ops, horse police and police helicopters.

Police used pepper spray and mace while forcibly arresting students, and several students were assaulted by NYPD. So far 19 students have been arrested, and are currently in jail in Manhattan's 6th Precinct at 100 Center Street in Chinatown. There is a solidarity rally being held at 10pm tonight in Union Square in Manhattan for anyone in the city to come and show your support! More details, video of police violence and lies, and well as photos.

See videos and reports HERE

Send messages of support HERE

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE STUDENT OCCUPATION MOVEMENT IN THE U.S.? Conference Call on Monday...

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH, 9PM EASTERN
NUMBER: 1-517-417-5200
CODE: 664146#

All students and student organizations are welcome to participate!

Since the invasion of Gaza on December 27, 2008, resistance to Israeli aggression and U.S. complicity in Israel's wars crimes have spread.

Almost immediately, thousands took to the streets in Palestine, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, Venezuela and various cities throughout Europe and the United States. Now more than ever Israeli foreign policy has been exposed for what it really is: a campaign of terror and brutality, both required to maintain an unjust occupation of stolen land.

The movement to free Palestine took a massive step forward as students began occupying universities throughout Britain, demanding university divestment from Israel, humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza and the admittance of Palestinian students into their universities. Currently there are 22 occupations taking place in Britain alone.

In inspiration, on February 6th, students occupied the University of Rochester with similar demands. To read more about this please check out: http://www.thesitch.com/.

While this was the first student occupation in the United States in response to the invasion of Gaza, it was not the only occupation in recent months. Last December, close to 100 student occupied the New School in New York City demanding the resignation of Bob Kerry, in addition to demanding more accountability amongst the administration with regard to investment and student voices. To find out more, check out: http://www.newschoolinexile.com/

Join the call to hear a full report of the student occupation of the University of Rochester. We are also working to get call-in reports from the New School occupation organizers and British students with occupations underway.

After reports, we will also have a full discussion of next steps for the student occupation movement in the United States: where is it possible next? What are our demands? What are the lessons from the University of Rochester and the New School?

ALL ARE WELCOME! Please spread the word!

Stop the wars? yes, we can!

From Stop the War Coalition

http://www.stopwar.org.uk/

HELP US RAISE £10,000 Our Goal: £10000 Currently: £4205 Updated: 12/12/2008 Countdown to Obama Millions of people around the globe celebrated when Barack Obama won the US presidential elections. This does not mean war is over. We may have seen the last of Bush, but we must make sure his war policies go with him. In the New Year we will be mobilising for a national Peace and Justice demonstration in London on April 2nd, at the time of the G20, which will be Obama's first UK visit. We will also be supporting a demonstration at the NATO conference in Strasbourg. Celebrate the end of the Bush years with a commitment to remain active and help us reach our target of £10,000. We are going to need this money. Peace has its price. Donate now. Donate Now

Protest against the arrest of shoe-throwing Muntadar Al-Zaidi

Protest against the arrest of shoe-throwing Muntadar Al-Zaidi

Called by: Stop the War Coalition


Date: 19 December 2008
Time: 13:00 - 14:00
Location: US Embassy
Grosvenor Square
London, United Kingdom

Media Workers Against the War, and the International Federation of Journalists have called for the immediate release of Muntadar Al-Zaidi, the journalist who hurled his shoes at George Bush in protest at his bloody occupation. Al-Zaidi has not been seen since he was arrested. The BBC reports he has been severely beaten.

The swift incarceration of this journalist contrasts sharply with the treatment of war criminals Bush and Blair. Their decision to go to war in 2003 has led to the deaths of up to a million Iraqi civilians.

Muntadar Zaidi's life is now in great danger. Not even his family know his whereabouts. We must speak out for the right of Iraqis to protest this criminal occupation.

Supported by Media Workers Against the War, Iraqi Democrats Against the Occupation and Stop the War Coalition.

All welcome, please forward widely.

Play the 'Throw a Shoe at Bush' game HERE-hilarious...

Play the 'Throw the Shoe at Bush' game HERE...

And another slightly harder one HERE...

And a brilliant Norwegian one HERE...



Protest against the arrest of shoe-throwing Muntadar Al-Zaidi

Called by: Stop the War Coalition


Date: 19 December 2008
Time: 13:00 - 14:00
Location: US Embassy
Grosvenor Square
London, United Kingdom

Media Workers Against the War, and the International Federation of Journalists have called for the immediate release of Muntadar Al-Zaidi, the journalist who hurled his shoes at George Bush in protest at his bloody occupation. Al-Zaidi has not been seen since he was arrested. The BBC reports he has been severely beaten.

The swift incarceration of this journalist contrasts sharply with the treatment of war criminals Bush and Blair. Their decision to go to war in 2003 has led to the deaths of up to a million Iraqi civilians.

Muntadar Zaidi's life is now in great danger. Not even his family know his whereabouts. We must speak out for the right of Iraqis to protest this criminal occupation.

Supported by Media Workers Against the War, Iraqi Democrats Against the Occupation and Stop the War Coalition.

All welcome, please forward widely.

Some wise words from wordster Dizzie Rascal

When asked whether he believes in political parties, he sharply replies:

"yeah, they exist-i believe in them, i don't know if I care...Politicians are gonna say what they say...every now and again you get a genuine one. People as a whole make the difference. I don't think one person or party can make a difference".

True say Mr Rascal.

**Dizzie for Prime Minister**

How did YOU vote? Or your next-door neighbours 2nd cousins dog twice removed?

I counted 42 categories before i ran out of time and i was only a third down the page!

A great time filler for students who are supposed to be reading (it's 'Reading' week at SOAS-half term to all you normal people): beats washing the windows.

See for yourself here

And the croud goes wild...

Obama letter to UN about Hamas 'terrorists'

Obama letter, originally uploaded by solomonsmfield.

Chris Rock about the War on Terror

Stolen from a certain Mr Game:

why (hopefully) the US elections will go like they will. There was a wonderful moment on Newsnight when Paxman, who increasingly represents the most obnoxious face of the British ruling class whimsically pointed out that the war was 'irrelevent' in the US election. He was vociferously contradicted by all Americans on the panel. The reason he was attempting to assert this was because of the elites visceral dislike of any concensus established by popular mobilization. In correctly warning that Obama is not about to change the nature of US capitalism it is absolutely vital that socialists do not resemble the dissolute cynicism of our rulers. You see the erosion of Bush all through Chris Rock's act amongst ordinary people even if he is hardly very radical himself. That erosion has been an excellent thing and the vote tonight is an index of it depth. And that is no bad thing. Hopefully

US attack on Syria

"When you got a N**ger running for President..."