U.S. Fears Iraq Won't Keep Up Rebuilt Projects

Nov 21, 2009 - BAGHDAD — In its largest reconstruction effort since the Marshall Plan, the United States government has spent $53 billion for relief and reconstruction in Iraq since the 2003 invasion, building tens of thousands of hospitals, water treatment plants, electricity substations, schools and bridges. But there are growing concerns among American officials that Iraq will not be able to adequately maintain the facilities once the Americans have left, potentially wasting hundreds of millions of dollars and jeopardizing Iraq’s ability to provide basic services to its people. The projects run the gamut — from a cutting-edge, $270 million water treatment plant in Nasiriya that works at a fraction of its intended capacity because it is too sophisticated for Iraqi workers to operate, to a farmers’ market that farmers cannot decide how to share, to a large American hospital closed immediately after it was handed over to Iraq because the government was unable to supply it with equipment, a medical staff or electricity. - 11 Comments

"We're too scared to have real trials in our country" is a level of cowardice unmatched in the world.

Nov 14, 2009 - http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2009/11/14/terrorism/index.html Understanding and Combatting Terrorism, USMC Major S.M. Grass, 1989: 'Terrorism is a psychological weapon and is directed to create a general climate of fear. As one definition cogently notes, "terror is a natural phenomenon, terrorism is the conscious exploitation of it." - 0 Comments

Ugly Truth: Most U.S. Kids Sentenced to Die In Prison Are Black

Nov 11, 2009 - On Monday the U.S. Supreme Court heard two cases that could have major implications for the way juvenile offenders are treated in our criminal justice system. Sullivan v. - 4 Comments

U.S. Navy Honors Notorious Marine Basher

Mar 20, 2009 - PUBLIC POST * What is wrong with them? Links at the original source. Please share. - 9 Comments

Joe Girardi Adds "Life Saver" to List of Titles

Nov 06, 2009 - After World Series win, Joe Girardi stops to help crashed motorist Guiding his team to its 27th World Series championship tells us little about the character of manager Joe Girardi. Especially when the feat is compared to what Girardi did after the party at Yankee Stadium ended. Police say Girardi stopped in the wee hours Thursday to help a motorist who crashed her car into a wall after losing control on the Cross Country Parkway in suburban Westchester County. - 9 Comments

The Media’s Complicity: Analysis of ACORN Coverage

Oct 21, 2009 - The Media’s Complicity: Analysis of ACORN Coverage by Billy Hallowell The mainstream media were complicit in their coverage of the ACORN scandal. Their behavior was and continues to be an insult to democracy and journalistic responsibility as the Fourth Estate has ignored facts, engaged in one-sided sourcing, and avoided basic and inherently important journalistic questioning. bertha lewis press club First, there was avoidance. - 2 Comments

Who Killed California?

Oct 15, 2009 - by Troy Senik http://nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/who-killed-california My apologies for having nothing originally in this post.  The text was here but didn't show up. Apparently this article is too long to be printed here, at about 11 pages.  It is nevertheless worth reading, unless, as someone has already done, you have made your  mind up what to believe before reading. - 29 Comments