The Truth, the Half-Truth and Nothing But ..Oh, Crap!

Breaking from CNN

The White House will allow key presidential aide Karl Rove and former counsel Harriet Miers to be interviewed by committees probing the firings of U.S. attorneys, but they will not testify under oath, Rep. Chris Cannon says.

Chris Cannon (R-Utah) is not known for supporting transparency, he voted against legislation to reaffirm aspects of the Freedom of Information Act of 2007, an amendment that would strengthen the Presidential Records Act, a Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act and Presidential Library Donation reform.

Last Night's Vigil and Remembering Those Who Served

Approximately 75 people turned out for the MoveOn sponsored candlelight vigil last night on the corner of Washington and Linn Streets. Participants read off the names of soldiers from Iowa who had died in Iraq. Letters from loved ones about their sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and grandchildren were read. Despite high winds, candles were lit and relit in rememberance of those who have perished prosecuting the war.

A particularly poignant moment occurred when a local teacher described the poor treatment her cousin received by the military as he attempts to recover from his very serious wounds. Local musician led the crowd in an acapella version of an Irish protest song.

Tonight, a march is planned to begin at 5 pm beginning at the University of Iowa Pentacrest.

Below are those Iowans who died while serving (including those in Iowa National Guard)

Maj. Stuart M. Anderson 44 3rd Corps Support Command, Army Reserve Peosta, Iowa One of eight soldiers killed when their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Tal Afar, Iraq, on January 7, 2006

Gunnery Sgt. Jeffrey E. Bohr Jr. 39 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Ossian, Iowa Killed in northern Baghdad while engaging Iraqi forces on April 10, 2003

Spc. Casey Byers 22 Company B, 224th Engineer Battalion, Iowa Army National Guard Schleswig, Iowa One of two soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded underneath their up-armored Humvee during a route clearing operation south of Ramadi, Iraq, on June 11, 2005

Pfc. Benjamin R. Carman 20 Company E, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Jefferson, Iowa Killed in a long firefight after Iraqi insurgents launched a large-scale attack in Ramadi, Iraq, on April 6, 2004

Pvt. Michael J. Deutsch 21 C Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division Dubuque, Iowa Killed when his M113 Armored Personnel Carrier hit a landmine in Baghdad, Iraq, on July 31, 2003

Sgt. Nathan R. Field 23 4249th Port Security Company, Army Reserve Lehigh, Iowa One of two soldiers killed when their Humvee was hit by a civilian vehicle in Umm Qasr, Iraq, on January 7, 2006

Lt. Col. Paul J. Finken 40 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Mason City, Iowa One of three soldiers killed when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in eastern Baghdad, Iraq, on November 2, 2006

Sgt. Paul F. Fisher 39 Detachment 1, Company F, 106th Aviation Battalion, Iowa Army National Guard Cedar Rapids, Iowa Fisher was seriously injured when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down by a surface-to-air missile in Falluja, Iraq, on November 2, 2003. He died of his injuries at Homburg University Clinic in Germany on November 6.

Pvt. Kurt R. Frosheiser 22 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division Des Moines, Iowa Killed when the vehicle he was driving hit a roadside bomb in Baghdad, Iraq, on November 8, 2003

Command Sgt. Maj. Marilyn L. Gabbard 46 Joint Forces Headquarters, Iowa Army National Guard Polk City, Iowa One of 12 soldiers killed when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter they were in crashed.

Sgt. Seth K. Garceau 27 Company A, 224th Engineer Battalion, 155th Brigade Combat Team, Iowa Army National Guard Oelwein, Iowa Died on March 4, 2005, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries sustained when his up-armored Humvee was struck by a roadside bomb while traveling between Karbala and Ramadi, Iraq, on February 27

2nd Lt. Richard B. Gienau 29 Company A, 224th Engineer Battalion, Iowa Army National Guard Peoria, Illinois Killed when his up-armored Humvee was struck by a roadside bomb while traveling between Karbala and Ramadi, Iraq, on February 27, 2005

Spc. Dakotah L. Gooding 21 C Troop, 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division Des Moines, Iowa One of three soldiers killed when their Humvee overturned into a canal while on combat patrol in Balad, Iraq, on February 13, 2005

Staff Sgt. Donald D. Griffith Jr. 29 B Troop, 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Mechanicsville, Iowa Died as a result of hostile action in Tal Afar, Iraq, on March 11, 2005

Sgt. Thomas E. Houser 22 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Council Bluffs, Iowa Died due to enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq, on January 3, 2005

Spc. James M. Kiehl 22 507th Maintenance Company, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Des Moines, Iowa Killed when his convoy was ambushed near Nasiriya on March 23, 2003.

Pfc. David M. Kirchhoff 31 2133rd Transportation Company, Iowa Army National Guard Cedar Rapids, Iowa Suffered heat stroke on August 8, 2003, and was evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, where he died on August 14

Spc. Joshua L. Knowles 23 1133rd Transportation Company, Iowa National Guard Sheffield, Iowa Killed when he was hit by a mortar round at a Baghdad International Airport checkpoint on February 5, 2004

Sgt. Bradley S. Korthaus 28 Company C, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Force Service Support Group Davenport, Iowa Drowned while crossing the Saddam Canal on March 24, 2003

Lance Cpl. William J. Leusink 21 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force Maurice, Iowa One of two soldiers killed while conducting combat operations against enemy forecs in Anbar province, Iraq, on May 22, 2006

Cpl. Jarrod L. Maher 21 Company L, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Imogene, Iowa Died due to a non-hostile gunshot wound at Abu Ghraib, Iraq, on November 12, 2004

Lance Cpl. Clinton J. Miller 23 Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, Marine Wing Support Group 37, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Greenfield, Iowa Killed during combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq, on December 11, 2006

Spc. John W. Miller 21 Company A, 224th Engineer Battalion, Iowa Army National Guard West Burlington, Iowa Shot and killed by a sniper while providing security for route clearing operations in Ramadi, Iraq, on April 12, 2005

Sgt. James P. Musack 23 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Riverside, Iowa Died of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident in Samarra, Iraq, on November 21, 2006

Pvt. Kenneth A. Nalley 19 501st Military Police Company Hamburg, Iowa Killed when a heavy equipment transporter crossed the median and struck his Humvee in Samawa, Iraq, on May 26, 2003

Staff Sgt. Scott E. Nisely 48 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry, Iowa National Guard Marshalltown, Iowa One of two soldiers killed by small arms fire while operating in Asad, Iraq, on September 30, 2006

Spc. David L. Rice 22 Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division Sioux City, Iowa Died in Balad, Iraq, of injuries sustained when his Humvee rolled over in Muqdadiya, Iraq, on April 26, 2005

Cpl. Jonathan E. Schiller 20 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Ottumwa, Iowa One of two soldiers killed when a roadside bomb detonated during a combat patrol in Baquba, Iraq, on December 31, 2006

Cpl. Nathan A. Schubert 22 Company C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit Cherokee, Iowa Died when the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter he was in crashed near Ar Rutba in western Iraq on January 26, 2005

Spc. Daniel L. Sesker 22 C Troop, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, Iowa Army National Guard Ogden, Iowa Killed when a roadside bomb detonated near his Humvee in Bayji, Iraq, on April 6, 2006

Cpl. Stephen D. Shannon 21 397th Engineer Battalion Guttenberg, Iowa Died of wounds suffered when his vehicle was hit by a rocket during combat operations in Ramadi, Iraq, on January 30, 2007

Spc. Aaron J. Sissel 22 2133rd Transportation Company, Iowa Army National Guard Tipton, Iowa Killed when his convoy was ambushed with small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades in Haditha, Iraq, on November 29, 2003

Pfc. Nicholas M. Skinner 20 Company A, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Davenport, Iowa Died from injuries received due to hostile action in Najaf, Iraq, on August 26, 2004

1st Lt. Brian D. Slavenas 30 Company F, 106th Aviation Battalion, Iowa Army National Guard Genoa, Illinois Killed when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down by a surface-to-air missile near Falluja, Iraq, on November 2, 2003

Chief Warrant Officer Bruce A. Smith 41 Detachment 1, Company F, 106th Aviation Battalion, Iowa Army National Guard West Liberty, Iowa Killed when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down by a surface-to-air missile near Falluja, Iraq, on November 2, 2003

Spc. Kampha B. Sourivong 20 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry, Iowa National Guard Iowa City, Iowa One of two soldiers killed by small arms fire while operating in Asad, Iraq, on September 30, 2006

Cpl. Michael R. Speer 24 Company F, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Davenport, Iowa Died from hostile fire in Iraq on April 9, 2004

Staff Sgt. Eric M. Steffeney 28 18th Ordnance Company, 184th Ordnance Battalion, 52nd Ordnance Group Waterloo, Iowa Killed when a roadside bomb detonated in Tuz, Iraq, on February 23, 2005

Pfc. Brandon C. Sturdy 19 Company F, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Urbandale, Iowa Killed by hostile fire in Anbar province, Iraq, on May 13, 2004

Petty Officer 1st Class Jerry A. Tharp 44 Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 25 Muscatine, Iowa Killed when his dismounted patrol was struck by a roadside bomb while operating in Anbar province, Iraq, on July 12, 2006

Pfc. William E. Thorne 26 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division Hospers, Iowa Died of injuries suffered when a roadside bomb detonated near his Humvee during combat operations on August 24, 2006

Spc. Gregory L. Tull 20 Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery Regiment, Iowa Army National Guard Pocahontas, Iowa Killed when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle during combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq, on November 25, 2005

Staff Sgt. Mark A. Wall 27 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team Alden, Iowa Died from a non-combat related cause in Mosul, Iraq, on April 27, 2006. The incident is under investigation.

Protesters Arrested on Wall Street

Reuters and the Irish Times report Anti-war protesters arrested on Wall Street

Police arrested 44 anti-war protesters outside the New York Stock Exchange on Monday after they lay down in front of the entrance to mark the fourth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

There was no impact on trade.

Uniformed police outnumbered the fewer than 100 protesters outside the stock exchange building at the corner of Broad and Wall streets in New York's historic financial district.

"Stop the money, stop the war," people chanted as police hauled away limp-bodied protesters.
Protesters said there had been four separate but coordinated acts of civil disobedience. A police spokesman said 44 people were arrested.

Demonstrators said they were directing their protest at major defense contractors Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Halliburton, General Electric and others.

"U.S. service members and Iraqi civilians are dying so that an elite few can profit," said Fabian Bouthillette, 26, a high school teacher who served for two years in the U.S. Navy.

The demonstrators began the day at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, several blocks from the stock exchange, where they were met by seven Vietnam War veterans who said they were guarding the monuments.

Taking the 4th

Tomorrow marks the 4th anniversary of the War in Iraq.

Tonight (Monday 3/19) there will be a candlelight vigil sponsored by MoveOn held on the corner of Washington and Linn St. in Iowa City at 6:45 pm and tomorrow on the Pentacrest, March for Peace will begin at 5 p.m. Organizers expect hundreds of University of Iowa students and area residents to attend. The rally for peace includes music by Illinois John Fever and speaker Frank Cordaro, a former Catholic priest who has served more than three years in federal prison for non- violent civil disobedience. A march through downtown follows, to demonstrate the community’s opposition to the war in Iraq. Event sponsors are the UI Antiwar Committee, Iowans for Peace, PEACE Iowa, University Democrats, People for Justice in Palestine, School for Moral Courage, GLBTAU and Iowans for Sensible Priorities.

Apparently You Can Avoid Death, If Not Taxes in Iowa

From State Senator Joe Bolkcom's Networker

With all due deference to Senator Joe Bolkcom, who is doing a great job on behalf of Iowans--particularly with exorbitant car title loans/predatory lending practices!--This item about the recently passed sales tax on cigarettes has a humorous syntax problem...

"Congratulations to all the advocates that worked so hard to gain support for the $1 increase in tobacco. It will go down as a turning point in fight against the cancer and tobacco illness and death."

If the statement was true, my guess is that smokers would feel a whole lot better about paying those added taxes.

Why MCA?

On Wednesday, March 21, join the Bill of Rights Defense Committee and millions of our allies throughout the U.S. in an overwhelming grassroots repudiation of the Military Commissions Act!
The Military Commissions Act (MCA):
- Legalizes the President's ability to name anyone in the world an "unlawful enemy combatant" and to detain them indefinitely, denying them basic rights, including due process of law, - Denies habeas corpus--the right for a detainee to challenge his or her detention before an impartial judge--to anyone who is not a U.S. citizen,
- Allows detainees to be convicted on the basis of secret and hearsay evidence, and testimony gained from the detainee through torture and coercion, and
- Permits the executive branch to ignore the Geneva Conventions.

The Message: Please phone both your Senators and your Representative (find their contact information here) and urge them to:
- Co-sponsor legislation restoring habeas corpus and other fundamental rights abolished by the MCA (see bill numbers below).
- Seek out Republican co-sponsors for legislation restoring habeas corpus.
- Hold hearings on legislation that would repeal key provisions of the MCA.
- Speak out publicly on the importance of a thorough restoration to our vanishing rights.

Proposed Legislation includes bills to restore or preserve habeas corpus and bills to partially dismantle the Military Commissions Act (MCA):
S. 576 (Sen. Christopher Dodd) and H.R. 1415 (Reps. Jerrold Nadler and Jane Harman), Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007, would not only restore the right of habeas corpus for those detained by the United States, but would also do the following:
- Prohibit testimony gained by torture or coercion,
- Narrow the definition of enemy combatant,
- Reassert the Geneva Conventions,
- Provide for expedited judicial review of Military Commissions Act

Bills that would restore habeas corpus alone:
S. 185 (Senators Patrick Leahy and Arlen Specter), the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007, would restore the right of habeas corpus for those detained by the United States.
H.R. 1416 (Reps. Jerrold Nadler and Jane Harman), Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007 (House version of Senate bill S. 185 above).
H.R. 267 (Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee), the Military Commissions Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007, would restore the right of habeas corpus for those detained by the United States.
H.R. 1189 (Rep. David Wu), To Preserve the Right of Habeas Corpus, would restore the right of habeas corpus for all U.S. legal residents.

Make Sure Your Voice is Heard!
Click here for talking points and a link to a flyer you can print and distribute.
On Wednesday, March 21, 2007, call the Capitol switchboard, 202-224-3121, and ask the operator to connect you (24 hours a day) or call your legislators directly (find their Washington office phone numbers at http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=303219523&url_num=3&url=http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/).
For more information about the MCA, click here.

Racist Like A Fox?

Iowa Liberal points to Huffington Post who provides this interesting video. It is no wonder that racial tensions in this country continue to be exacerbated when media "news-a-tainment" outlets lead the charge.

Going Into the Drink

Often people argue that we should be more like Europe when it comes to our attitudes toward alcohol. The article below should be required reading to offer the counterpoint to that common wisdom.

The issues of alcohol abuse are complex but, in a college town like Iowa City, very observable. I contend that communities must decide how to find a balance between the real public health issues surrounding alcohol abuse and the equally real economics that limit political action. Given that there is likely to be a referendum about whether Iowa City should have a 21-Ordinance (which is not likely to solve the problems associated with underage drinking in isolation, in my opinion), I think time is running out for cooler heads to prevail.

From Spiegel

Nobody drinks more than the Europeans. The Irish, Brits and Finnish in particular like to get plastered in excessive boozing marathons. A new EU study has found worrying continental drinking habits and warns of the consequences beyond the next morning's hangover.

Europeans from Cyprus to Ireland indulge in a rather intoxicating continental pastime: drinking. The champions of excessive or binge drinking are the Irish, Brits, Finns and Danes, according to a European Union survey on alcohol consumption released on Wednesday.

The study -- which polled 28,584 people between last October and November -- found that for young people in particular, the odd drink is not enough to satisfy their thirst: almost one in five between the ages of 15 and 24 consumes five or more beverages in one session, defined as the benchmark for binge drinking. (The 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimates there are 11 million underage drinkers in the United States. Nearly 7.2 million are considered binge drinkers. Iowans as a whole are #4 in the US in binge drinking with 18.9% of adults having five or more drinks on one occasion.)

Binge champions are the Irish with 34 percent, followed by the Finnish, British and Danish with 27, 24 and 23 percent respectively. Italians and Greeks, on the other hand, tend to stay relatively sober: only 2 percent of those asked reported excessive alcohol consumption.

The study also emphasized that heavy drinking has more consequences than just a hangover the next morning: 195,000 Europeans die annually of alcohol abuse, and every fourth death among young men aged 15-29 is related to drinking. Alcohol also plays a role in 8-10 percent of illnesses and injuries of European citizens. In Britain, half of all violent crime is alcohol related, according to the government.

The survey found that about three-quarters of those questioned would agree on a clamp down on how alcohol is sold (77 percent), support the banning of alcohol advertisements (76 percent) and are in favor of lowering blood alcohol level limits for young and novice drivers (73 percent). Eighty percent said they would support random police alcohol tests for drivers.

The European Commission said that about 55 million adults -- 10 percent of Europe's population (Iowa, which is #15 in the US compares at 5.5%)-- drink at harmful levels. This makes the continent the heaviest drinking region in the world, with the average adult consuming the equivalent of 11 liters (23.25 pints) of pure alcohol per year. (In comparison, Johnson County residents drank approximately 2.8 gallons per person in 2006--#4 highest county consumption in Iowa)

Ain't Nothing But A House Party!

Okay, so I'm an old school J. Geils Band kind of guy...

The Gazette reports

Housing developments receive federal funds Two affordable housing developments in Johnson County have received nearly $5 million in federal money. The Housing Fellowship of Iowa City received almost $1.2 million from the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, Gov. Chet Culver said in a press release Wednesday. The Housing Fellowship will use the money to acquire and rehabilitate 14 units for family housing across Iowa City.

Harmony Development received $3 million from the same program and almost $800,000 from the HOME Investment Partnership program to build 30 units in North Liberty for senior citizens and seniors with disabilities, the release said.

Another Chief of Staff Takes One for the Team

From AFP:

The chief of staff to US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has resigned amid intense scrutiny of the Justice Department accused of excessive use of tough anti-terror laws and being overtly political.

Gonzales' chief of staff Kyle Sampson has resigned his position as chief of staff to the attorney general from Monday, March 12, the department said.

"Kyle Sampson has served as a key member of my team beginning at the White House and continuing here at the Department of Justice first as my Deputy Chief of Staff and then as my Chief of Staff," Gonzales said in a statement.

"I am very appreciative for his service, counsel and friendship during the last six years and I thank him for his service to the department."

Calls mounted over the weekend for Gonzales to resign, with critics saying he has failed to make the transition from being the personal lawyer of President George W. Bush to heading up the country's Justice Department.

Gonzales has been a loyal aide to George W. Bush since 1995 when the now-president was governor of Texas. Long before his nomination to the attorney general's post in 2004, he ran the Bush's legal services.

The United States has been rocked by a series of revelations that officials overstepped their authority in applying tough anti-terror laws brought in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Believed to be one of the chief architects of the president's expanded powers, Gonzales is also credited with redefining the word "torture" in interrogating terror suspects and with the US refusal to apply the Geneva Convention to such prisoners.

Airing on the Side of America

From Ben Smith Blog

Tweaking the Fox News Channel, the president of liberal Air America Radio this morning sent a letter to the chairmen of four state Republican parties, offering to host and broadcast the state parties' upcoming presidential debates.

Agreeing to the debate “would allow Republicans to differentiate themselves from Democrats,” Air America President Mark Green wrote to the Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, and South Carolina Republican chairmen in a deadpan communication provided this morning to The Politico.

The Nevada State Democratic Party dropped plans for Fox to broadcast an August debate after furious pressure from online activists, a move that drew attacks from Fox and the label of “Stalinist” from one Fox News commentator, Mort Kondracke.

“Should you accept Air America’s offer, Republicans would both embrace free debate and stick it to Stalin at the same time,” Green wrote.

The letter presses forward with what Fox’s critics see as a victory over the network, and draws a parallel between Fox, which famously presents itself as “fair and balanced” despite a prime-time roster heavy on conservative talking heads, and Air America, an openly partisan outlet that, despite recent business woes, claims to have 2.5 million listeners around the country.

Green – who dismissed as a front an invitation from Fox to provide a questioner to the Nevada debate -- offered to co-host the debate with Fox or another conservative outlet.

Bush Acknowledged "FBI shortfallings"

From the International Herald Tribune

While in Uruguay, President George W. Bush has acknowledged "FBI shortfallings" connected with the disclosure that the bureau improperly used the USA Patriot Act to obtain thousands of business, financial and other records in the United States.

But at a news briefing in Uruguay on Saturday, as part of a weeklong trip to Latin America, Bush said that the provision that had been misused remained an important tool against terrorism.

Bush said that he had been briefed on a report by the inspector general of the Justice Department that found that the FBI had improperly issued thousands of national security letters, a form of administrative subpoena, which allowed it to obtain personal information without court approval. He said that the briefing had been conducted by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Robert Mueller 3rd, the director of the FBI.

"My question is, 'What are you going to do to solve the problem, and how fast can you get it solved?'" Bush said. "I was pleased by Director Mueller's answer that he had already begun to address the problems."

IOWA CIVIL RIGHTS LOBBY DAY

Everyone’s help is needed—gays, lesbians, and straight allies, parents, grandparents, educators, employers, people of faith, concerned citizens, and all those interested in creating communities free from discrimination—to talk to Iowa legislators.

Wednesday, March 14, 8:30 a.m.-afternoon, CIVIL RIGHTS LOBBY DAY at the State Capitol in Des Moines.

Join the coalition, including Iowa Safe Schools, One Iowa, The Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, and the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, to convince our elected officials that we need to ban discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Iowans! Never lobbied before? No worries, we will have plenty of experienced volunteers to help you out. Your stories and experiences are critical in convincing our Legislature to ban discrimination against LGBT Iowans. Can’t make the whole day? No problem. One or two hours or anytime you have to talk to legislators will truly make a difference!

Check in between 8:30-9 a.m. at the Iowa State Capitol. Meet at the table inside the south entrance.

Pre-register at: http://www.iowasafeschools.org/register.htm. Questions? Contact Brad Clark at brad.clark@iowasafeschools.org or 515-321-4226.

Mayan Over Matter

CNN reports Mayan Indian leaders have vowed to "spiritually cleanse" an ancient site in Guatemala after U.S. President George W. Bush visits during his seven-day, five-nation tour of Latin America.

Bush's visit to the ruins at Iximche, a one-time capital of a Mayan group, is part of an effort to show the administration is interested in all its neighbors in the hemisphere.

But many Mayans are angry that Bush is visiting Iximche, founded as the capital of the Kaqchiqueles kingdom before the Spanish conquest in 1524.
Mayan priests say they will purify the sacred archaeological site to rid it of any "bad spirits" after Bush is there.

"That a person like (Bush) with the persecution of our migrant brothers in the United States, with the wars he has provoked is going to walk in our sacred lands is an offense for the Mayan people and their culture," Juan Tiney, director of a Mayan non-governmental organization with close ties to Mayan religious and political leaders, told The Associated Press.

Army Ordering Injured Troops to Iraq?

From Salon

At Fort Benning, soldiers who were classified as medically unfit to fight are now being sent to war. Is this an isolated incident or a trend?

As the military scrambles to pour more soldiers into Iraq, a unit of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, Ga., is deploying troops with serious injuries and other medical problems, including GIs who doctors have said are medically unfit for battle. Some are too injured to wear their body armor, according to medical records.

On Feb. 15, Master Sgt. Jenkins and 74 other soldiers with medical conditions from the 3rd Division's 3rd Brigade were summoned to a meeting with the division surgeon and brigade surgeon. These are the men responsible for handling each soldier's "physical profile," an Army document that lists for commanders an injured soldier's physical limitations because of medical problems -- from being unable to fire a weapon to the inability to move and dive in three-to-five-second increments to avoid enemy fire. Jenkins and other soldiers claim that the division and brigade surgeons summarily downgraded soldiers' profiles, without even a medical exam, in order to deploy them to Iraq. It is a claim division officials deny.

The 3,900-strong 3rd Brigade is now leaving for Iraq for a third time in a steady stream.

March (Against) Madness

Tuesday, March 20, 5 p.m., MARCH FOR PEACE, with a rally and speakers to kick off the march, at the University of Iowa Pentacrest (Iowa and Clinton, downtown Iowa City). Who: You and everyone you know - bring signs, banners, noise makers, etc. Sponsored by: University of Iowa Anti-war Committee, Iowans For Peace, PEACE Iowa, University Democrats, People for Justice in Palestine, School for Moral Courage, GLBTAU, and Iowans for Sensible Priorities. Help publicize the march: go to www.uiantiwar.org to download a flyer.

192 US Soldiers Killed Since January 2007

While Congress is pussyfooting around with deadlines and commitments, 192 more US soldiers have been killed and 681 wounded. During the same period, over 3000 Iraqi civilians and security forces have been killed.

Halliburton plans move to Dubai-- Officers to Avoid Extradition and Taxes?

The Beeb reports Halliburton, the oil services company formerly headed by US Vice-President Dick Cheney, is moving its headquarters from Texas to Dubai.

The company said it hoped the move to the United Arab Emirates would help it expand its business in the Middle East.

Halliburton won valuable contracts in Iraq following the US-led invasion of 2003, some of which were awarded without competitive bidding.

The company also has extensive operations in Saudi Arabia.

The oil giant will keep an office in Houston but the posts of chairman, president and chief executive will be based in Dubai.

Chief Executive Dave Lesar, speaking at a conference in Bahrain, confirmed that he would be relocating.

"As the CEO, I'm responsible for the global business of Halliburton in both hemispheres and I will continue to spend quite a bit of time in an airplane as I remain attentive to our customers, shareholders and employees around the world," he said.

"Yes, I will spend the majority of my time in Dubai."

In 2006, Halliburton made profits of $2.3bn on revenues of $22.6bn. Last month it announced a 40% decline in fourth-quarter profit.

(In a related story, Dubai will become the 51st state in the Union)

Update 5/25: Check out this Annual Report from Corporate Watch.

Two Cinderellas-- Bring On the March Madness

Totally off topic, but how often do I get a chance to cheer on two basketball teams from colleges I received degrees? Unfortunately, if they do get to face each other (a guy can dream), I will have a hard time deciding who to root for. Cinderella #1 Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (15) v. Wisconsin (2) Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi Islanders 26-6 (14-2 Southland) NCAA bid: Southland champions RPI: 81 Coach: Ronnie Arrow (8 years at Texas A&M-CC, 1st NCAA tournament) Best Player: Chris Daniels. Voted Southland Player of the Year, the 7-foot junior* (Sports Illustrated, he's a senior) averaged 15.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks while shooting 59 percent from the floor. Notable Wins: Nevada, Utah State (2) Record in last 10 games: 9-1* (CNN incorrectly reported the record as 7-3 ) Last NCAA tournament: first bid NCAA tournament seed history: In the last 10 years, No. 15 seeds are 2-38 in the first round. Cinderella # 2 Wright State (14) vs. Pittsburgh (3) WSU Category Pitt 23-9 Record 27-7 No. 14 Seed in region No. 3 Horizon Conference Big East 16,088 Enrollment 14,886 0-1 NCAA tourney record 15-19 Here's a thought--run the presidential primaries like The Dance--Obama v. Kucinich, Dodd v. Edwards, Clinton v. Biden, Richardson v. Gravel-- one-on-one debates followed by voting, final four get to face off in Atlanta...

Ailes, Be Seeing You--Dems Moving On

CNN reports "a Nevada Democratic presidential debate that was to have been co-hosted by Fox News Network was canceled by organizers, in part because of a joke by Fox Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes about presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama.

Democrats canceled the debate Friday. They said a comment by Ailes during a Thursday night speech to a group of radio and television news directors indicated the network was biased against their party.

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards dropped out of the debate Thursday, citing, in part, Fox's participation.

(Gark insertion "Apparently as an attempt to make another funny") Fox News Vice President David Rhodes responded to the debate cancellation with a written statement saying MoveOn.org owns the Democratic Party."