The Flim Flam Man (Ava and C.I.)

Back in July, we did "TV: Meet The Fockers" and pointed out that there was no plan despite Congress and the White House insisting that there was a health care plan. We feel the need to note that because Katha Pollitt only just caught on to it last week. Who knew it was our job to supply Katha with hand-me-downs?


She's going to need a good seamstress, able to sew in several panels, if she's ever going to hope to fit into our castoffs, but what's the nation need?



How about some reality and you really can't get that too much on television.



On The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric last week, Katie offered an embarrassing and uninformed "that's the way I see it" piece of nonsense about the conversation on health care. (We know Katie and like her, that doesn't mean she gets a pass.) In her judgmental ramblings, the 'bad guys' in the current health insurance reform debate are the ones objecting. Shame, shame on them, Katie scolded.



Did you notice that? We're not talking health care. We're talking about health insurance reform.



Quite a come down.



But there was Katie blaming some people who object to ObamaCare. Hint to CBS, blaming angry people is not generally how you succeed in driving the ratings up. Hint to CBS, when over half the respondents in polls have a problem with ObamaCare, attacking that group doesn't mean happy Nielsens in the near future.



With the exception of the coverage from MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Reports, we didn't see much worth praising.



Largely what we saw were a bunch of trained dogs dancing in frilly freedom as they got to play 'lefty' while their owners didn't object. The owners didn't object because ObamaCare is not left. It is a prescription for Big Pharma to make millions and a mandate that all Americans have coverage would certainly be a windfall for the insurance companies.



As if to demonstrate just how far he'll go, Barack tossed out his dead grandmother yesterday in Colorado in an attempt to sell his insurance reform. (See "THIS JUST IN! NATURAL BORN LIAR!" and "Barack's distant relationship with the truth.") He really does love using his maternal grandmother whenever he's in trouble. He never enjoyed visiting her and largely avoided her after he finished college. But when in doubt, when needing to sell himself or his policies, he suddenly trots her out. And we're all supposed to ooh and ahh and feel sorry for the selfish ass who made no time for the woman when she was alive but now wants to squeeze her dead bones to advance his own agenda. The term for that behavior is "shameless."



But "shameless" also describes what the networks gave us on ObamaCare. Whether it was ABC, CBS or NBC, it was apparently too much effort for the reporters and anchors to state the obvious: Congress and the White House had hit the road to discuss a plan that still doesn't exist. The House version is different than the Senate version and neither include the things that the White House wants (including penalties on those with 'unhealthy' 'habits').



On Friday, we marveled at NPR's The Diane Rehm Show when, during the first hour, Diane insisted that people who currently had health care and were happy with it would be able to keep it. Uh, no, Diane. David Gregory pinned the HHS Secretary down on that misleading claim July 19th on Meet The Press.



What Diane didn't know, David Brooks grasped. Friday on The NewsHour, PBS featured their popular Shields and Brooks segment which is rivaled only by Shields and Yarnell for popular duos with Shields in the billing.



David offered this on Barack, "The other thing is, he just tells a lot of whoppers now. Now, believe me, Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin are saying some things that are extremely off the charts untrue about the plan, but I just wrote down some of the things Obama said today which are whoppers. He said everyone can keep their health care plan. Well, the CBO doesn't say that. Six million people are going to lose their plan. Preventive care saves money. That's not true. It's going to cost $90 billion a year. That's not true. It's probably going to cost twice as much when it's fully implemented. Government will be out of health care decisions. He tells one thing after another, making it seem so easy. Well, believe me: This is not easy. It's going to take some sacrifices and some really painful cuts for people to get this system under control."



A stark contrast between Bill Moyers Friday on his Journal, "So you can see, perhaps, why it's hard even to describe as protests what's happening today -- the raucous disruption of town meetings that deny others their right to free speech. The cries of tyranny, the analogies to Hitler on the signs and in postings on the internet. That's not conscience at work; it's the product of colicky, cranky unconscionable anger, fueled by lies." Colicky and cranky? Bill, were we you, we wouldn't go there.



And it hurts to watch Bill Moyers become such a damn liar. Bill damn well knows what bioethics is -- he's certainly spoken to enough bioethicists. "Death panels"? Hmm. It's not as if people need to reach to some bad movie for those issues. They can look at a president's council for example. They could, after all, just click here.



These are issue that are largely debated away from the public. They're not pie in the sky musings. They will effect our lives and they already do in that insurance companies already have their own "death panels" which determine what you will get covered and what won't. The bean counters, you understand, are always with us -- forever trying to turn a profit.



And that's why it was so laughable to watch Bill and his goons defend something of so little merit. As long as health care is a for-profit and not a right, we'll never see any change. We'll never see universal coverage, to be sure.



But there was Bill and his guests whoring like they were tossing out half-and-halfs for a buck-fifty. And maybe they would, who knows?



Dr. Kathy (Hall Jamieson) would declare that, "People who are angry and frustrated and not necessarily well informed in part driving by people who are on the other side of the reform effort." No, that's not really a sentence but when you're lying and whoring, grammar flies out the window.



Dr. Kathy is the one who's not "well informed" because it's so very hard to be informed of any legislation . . . before it exists.



What the public has is a bunch of talk often presented as a plan. And for the left, it's nothing to be excited about. Drew Altman at least noted that fact, "It's part of our democracy, but I think it's actually kind of sad because the left, doesn't like this legislation a lot. They're not really enthusiastic about it. They would prefer a single-payer approach with more government."



Barack's hugely unpopular 'plan' is one that doesn't exist.



But he's out selling it to the people.



The conservatives are rallying people against it and it's a great deal more than cries of "socialized medicine" that has them objecting though people pretend otherwise. We went through 40 conservative e-mailings and found HR3200 popped up in half of them -- specifically objecting on the issue of abortion. To pretend that abortion is suddenly not a lightening rod issue is to attempt to fudge your reporting. Ourselves, we believe in and support abortion on demand. But we're not going to be Bill Moyers and lie about the other side just because it's easier than actually doing the work.



Something very ugly is taking place in the country. But it's not the right-wing using their freedom of speech. The real offense is a left that will lie for several proposals that promise nothing to the poor or the working poor just because the proposals are coming from Democrats in Congress and a Democrat in the White House.



It's really ugly to see just how far some will go to whore themselves.



And it's really interesting to note that consumer advocate Ralph Nader is not invited to sit at the table with Bill. Ralph observed Friday, "We have now learned that one Obama promise was to continue the prohibition on Uncle Sam from bargaining for volume discounts on drugs that you the taxpayer have been paying for in the drug benefit program enacted in 2003. Unknown is whether the health insurance companies were also promised continuation of Medicare Advantage with its 14% added taxpayer subsidy to induce the elderly to make the move out of public Medicare. Also unknown is whether the Medicare public option that Mr. Obama formerly espoused but since has wavered on has been put on the concession table." Ralph offered apparently too much reality and too little spin for Bill Moyers' taste. Remember when Bill used to present as "voice of the people"? Now he just whores it for Big Money. What a difference a political party makes.



The left should be demanding not only single-payer but that Congress and the White House stop this circus and takes their lazy butts back to DC and work out a proposal they can then present to the American people. Instead, they've assigned their hopes and dreams to a "death panel" because worshiping Barack is more important to them than fighting for the needs of the people.







Barack's taken to the road (illustration is Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Telemarketer in Chief") and we're all supposed to just believe some more of his airy promises. Remember his promise to filibuster any retroactive immunity for telecoms who broke the law in illegally spying on the American people? Airy promises. Remember his promise to withdraw one brigade a month from Iraq upon being sworn in? Airy promises.



And now he's back with more. Put it in writing, if you mean it, Barack. Until then you're just a Flim Flam Man.





Hands off the man, the flim flam man.

His mind is up his sleeve and his talk is make believe.

Oh lord, the man's a fraud, he's flim flam man.

He's so cagey, he's a flim flam man.

Hands off the man, flim flam man.

He's the one in the Trojan horse making out like he's Santa Claus.

Oh lord, the man's a fraud, he's a flim flam man.

He's a fox, he's a flim flam man.

-- "Flim Flam Man," words and music by Laura Nyro, originally appears on her The First Songs

News from Iraq

M-NF, Multi-National Forces, will be called USF-I starting in January: United States Forces-Iraq. This will take place due to the fact that country's have pulled their forces out; however, if you factor in contractors -- over 130,000 of them on the ground in Iraq -- it's still a multi-national affair.

To add to the suffering of Iraqi refugees, the White House put Samantha Power in charge of them.

Last Sunday found the press reporting 6 deaths and 12 people injured. Monday saw 61 deaths reported and 252 injuries. Tuesday saw 11 dead and 57 wounded. Wednesday's numbers were 11 dead and 21 injured. Thursday 25 lives were claimed and 51 people were wounded. Friday there were 2 reported deaths and 6 reported injured. Saturday saw 6 dead and 15 injured. That's 122 reported deaths and 414 reported wounded in last week alone. Reported. Many deaths go unreported.

And where's the coverage?

Last week the Defense Department released figures backing up the premise that suicides in the military continue to rise. Friday, DoD released the July figures and noted that "four of the nine potential suicides [for June] have been confirmed and five remain under investigation." (Previously, DoD reported no suicides for June.) For July they are investigating eight possible suicides. They also state, "There have been 96 reported active-duty Army suicides during the period Jan. 1, 2009 - July 31, 2009. Of these, 62 have been confirmed, and 34 are pending determination of manner of death. For the same period in 2008, there were 79 suicides among active-duty soldiers. During July 2009, among reserve component soldiers not an active duty, there were four potential suicides. During the period Jan. 1, 2009 -- July 31, 2009, among that same group, there have been 17 confirmed suicides and 28 potential suicides; the potential suicides are currently under investigation to determine the manner of death. For the same period in 2008, there were 32 suicides among reserve soldiers not on active duty."

Earlier this month, three Americans were arrested by Iranian forces when they went hiking in northern Iraq and allegedly crossed over into Iranian territory. Last week, the three were moved to Tehran. They are Shane Bauer, Sara Shourd and Joshua Fattal. Last week, Mother Jones published Bauer's "The Sheik Down."

US servicemembers stationed in Iraq already suffer multiple risks but there's a new one for the 130,000: Swine flu. Last week, Chelsea J. Carter (AP) reported 67 US service members were confirmed as having swine flu and when these cases are combined with Iraqi cases, you have 96 confirmed cases. But that number may be imprecise. Iraq has a broken down health care system and it also has a shortage of swine flu detection kits. Little noted (except in an Iraq snapshot), the World Health Organization's Iraq country Office issued an invitation to bid on H1N1 detection kits -- that's swine flu and swine flu is what it's known as -- July 12th. And when did the bidding process end? July 26th. So there's a shortage currently on swine flu detection kits in Iraq.

The hot press 'trend' story last week was: Blame the Sunnis.

No matter what happened, just blame the Sunnis. It's easy and allows journalists not to ask questions or do their own thinking. And pack mentality always covers the ass, right?

Camp Ashraf remained under lock and key and Amnesty International continued calling out the targeting:

Thirty-six Iranian residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq remain at risk of being forcibly returned to Iran where they could face torture or execution. The 36 have been detained since Iraqi security forces stormed the camp, about 60km north of Baghdad, on 28 July.

At least eight Camp Ashraf residents were killed and many more injured during the raid. Most of the 36 are reported to have been beaten and tortured. At least seven are said to need urgent medical care. Camp Ashraf is home to about 3,500 members of the People's Mojahedeen Organization of Iran (PMOI), an Iranian opposition group which has been based in Iraq since 1986.

Following the raid, the 36 were taken to a police station inside the camp. They were held there for an hour and are reported to have been tortured and beaten before being transferred to a police station in the town of al-Khalis, about 25 km south of Camp Ashraf.

According to reports, the detainees were told to sign documents written in Arabic by those detaining them, but refused to do so. They have also sought access to lawyers, so far unsuccessfully.

Of the seven reported to need medical treatment, Mehraban Balai sustained a gunshot injury to his leg and a broken arm after being beaten by Iraqi security forces. Habib Ghorab is said to suffer from internal bleeding and Ezat Latifi has serious chest pain. He is thought to have been run over by one of the military vehicles used by Iraqi forces in seizing control of the camp.

The PMOI established itself in Iraq in 1986 (during the Iran-Iraq war, 1980-88), at the invitation of the then President Saddam Hussein.

In 1988, from its base at Camp Ashraf, the PMOI attempted to invade Iran. The Iranian authorities summarily executed hundreds, if not thousands, of PMOI detainees in an event known in Iran as the "prison massacres". For a number of years it was listed as a "terrorist organization" by several Western governments.

Following the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the PMOI members disarmed and were accorded "protected persons" status under the Fourth Geneva Convention. This lapsed in 2009, when the Iraqi government started to exercise control over Iraq's internal affairs in accordance with the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), a security pact agreed by the governments of Iraq and the USA in November 2008 and which entered into force on 1 January this year.

US forces in Iraq provided effective protection for Camp Ashraf until mid-2009, after which they completed their withdrawal to their bases from all Iraqi towns and cities.

After they disarmed, the PMOI announced that they had renounced violence. There is no evidence that the PMOI has continued to engage in armed opposition to the Iranian government, though people associated with the PMOI still face human rights violations in Iran.

Since mid-2008 the Iraqi government has repeatedly indicated that it wants to close Camp Ashraf, and that residents should leave Iraq or face being forcibly expelled from the country.

Amnesty International has urged the authorities not to forcibly return any Camp Ashraf resident or other Iranians to Iran, where they would be at risk of torture and other serious human rights violations.

The organization has called upon the Iraqi authorities to investigate all allegations of torture and beatings, and to bring the perpetrators to justice. The organization has also called on the authorities to provide appropriate medical care to the 36 detainees and to release them unless they are to be promptly charged with a recognizable offence and brought to trial according to international standards for fair trial.

Read More
Iraq: Concern for detained Camp Ashraf residents (Public statement, 4 August 2009) Eight reported killed as Iraqi forces attack Iranian residents of Camp Ashraf (News, 29 July 2009)

Amy Goodman doesn't give a damn about Iraq

Amy Goodman loves to play, as Ava and C.I. have long noted, Last Journalist Standing. Catch one of her self-praise sessions across the country and she'll tell you all about bad Judith Miller, The New York Times and Iraq and she'll toot her own horn about how she took the Iraq War seriously.



Seriously?



Seriously requires providing the time. Goody Liar rarely does.



Last week, she offered five hours of programming. Not one segment was devoted to Iraq. But in headlines, when she had a minute, she might mention the six-year-old, illegal and ongoing war which has claimed the lives of over 1 million Iraqis.



Monday Iraq fared best. Mainly because Amy loves to hate Christians -- seriously, this woman has some issues that need to be addressed. And to be as specific as possible, she hates White Christians -- be they Anglo White or Latino White, she hates them.





The Nation magazine reports the Obama administration has extended a contract with the company formerly known as Blackwater for more than $20 million for "security services" in Iraq. Since President Barack Obama took office in January, the State Department has contracted with Blackwater for more than $174 million in "security services" alone in Iraq and Afghanistan and tens of millions more in "aviation services." The latest contract was extended just days before two former Blackwater employees alleged in sworn statements filed in federal court that the company's owner, Erik Prince, views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe.



That's how the above ended up as the fifth headline of the day. The chance to play angry mob venting at Christians was too much for Amy to resist. So that came in at number five and this was the tenth headline on Monday:



In Iraq, at least forty people have died and another 200 were injured in a series of bomb blasts earlier today. In the deadliest incident, two truck bombs exploded in a Shia village near the northern city of Mosul, killing at least twenty-three people and injuring around 130. Thirty-five houses were leveled in the blasts.



40 people died. Didn't lead with it, didn't even make it the lead headline. It was number ten. Followed by:



Iraqi authorities have arrested a British contractor accused of murdering two colleagues in the Green Zone in Baghdad. The suspected gunman, Daniel Fitzsimons, could be the first Westerner to face an Iraqi trial on murder charges since a security pact lifted the immunity that had been enjoyed by foreign contractors for most of the war.



Monday was the best Iraq ever did in headlines and, as already noted, Iraq got no segments. In headlines, Iraq either remained unmentioned or buried all week long.



Tuesday Goody had nothing on Iraq. Wednesday, Iraq made it into one sentence when 9 peace activists were arrested: " The activists had completed a three-day walk to protest the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and the US nuclear stockpile on the sixty-fourth anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. "





Thursday Goody offered a whopping two sentences: "In Iraq, at least eighteen Iraqis were killed in nationwide violence on Wednesday. Another thirty-one were wounded." If she'd grasped that a man in another headline was an Iraq War veteran and identified him as such, Goody could have had three sentences.





Friday Goody served up two more sentences, "In Iraq, at least thirty Iraqis were killed in nationwide violence Thursday. Another fifty-six people were wounded."



In all Goody gave Iraq 283 words last week, 217 of those on Monday. After Monday, Good's serious concern translated into 66 words.



By way of comparison, Free Speech Radio News is a half-hour radio program airing Monday through Friday. In five hours, Democracy Now! could only offer 283 words on Iraq last week. In two-and-a-half hours, FSRN offered actual reports on Iraq.



In fact, just three of them -- Friday's report on journalists protesting in Iraq, Wednesday's report on the War Time Commission's hearings on contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan (click here for a transcript of that report) resulted in over 1,000 words. That wasn't all FSRN offered.

Africa Jones reported Friday on Iraq and Afghanistan veterans fighting in court for mental health care. And there was also Monday's report about the assault on Camp Ashraf, Tanya Snyder's report is over 950 words. (Transcribed this edition here.)



It's really amazing how damn little Amy Goodman had to 'spare' for Iraq. And when you put it into context, it becomes shameful.

FSRN covers Camp Ashraf

The assault on Camp Ashraf has received very little attention. Monday, Tanya Snyer reported on it for Free Speech Radio News (click here for her segment) and below is a transcript of her report for those who can't stream or, due to hearing issues, streaming won't help.

Manuel Rueda: Hunger strikers in several countries are concerned for the safety of a group of Iranian exiles in Iraq. They say Iraqi security forces attacked people at a refugee camp. But these refugees are considered terrorists by the US government. Tanya Snyder reports.

Tanya Snyder: On July 28th, Iraqi security security forces went into a refugee camp known as Camp Ashraf, north of Baghdad, home to about 35000 Iranian refugees. The Iraqi government says they were attempting to establish a police station. The security forces were met with resistance from the residents who claim they were unarmed. The Iraqi government says some of them had stones and knives. No international press or human rights groups were allowed in to verify the reports. At least seven people were killed and hundreds injured in the ensuing conflict. Videos of the show Iraqi forces using batons and water cannons against the protesters. Francois Serres is the executive director of the International Committee of Jurists in Defense of Ashraf.

Francois Serres: Our immediate concerns are the situations of the 36 people who are now taken from the camp in the hand of the Iraqi police in Hallis, a town which is close to Baghdad. We have no news from them, we do not know their whereabouts apparently they are supposed to be tried for I don't know what kind of offense, and we have no access to our clients.

Tanya Snyder: The Iraqi government took control of the camp earlier this year when the Status Of Forces Agreement went into effect transferring power from the United States to Iraq. Many Iranian exiles warned before the transfer or power that the Iraqi government was too friendly with the government in Iran. They said Iraq should not be left in charge of the Iranian refugees and they say the events of July 28th confirm that they were right. Organizers say Iranians in a hundred cities around the world are on hunger strikes some for as long as 12 days. Mehran Ebrahimi says he was on his way to Disney world with his grand kids when he heard the news of the attack. He has a sister and several good friends in the camp. He started his hunger strike the next day.

Mehran Ebrahimi: My tax dollars are at work those Humvees are US Humvees training came from the American soldiers

Tanya Snyder: US soldiers were at the camp on the day of the attack but in a video of the event reviewed by FSRN they appeared to do nothing to stop the violence. US hunger strikers like Ibrahimi says the US has a special obligation to intervene. Attorney Steven Schneebaum is working with the US committee for Camp Ashraf residents. He says the Geneva conventions insist that when power is transferred the old authority has to ensure that the new authority provides necessary protections for the refugees And Iraq signed an agreement with the US promising they would.

Steven Schneebaum: A promise was made by the government of Iraq to the government of the United States and that promise has been violated. And violation of that promise ought to evoke the severe concerns of the United States.

Tanya Snyder: He says in order to uphold the Geneva Conventions the United States must be do one of the following.

Steven M. Schneebaum: take effective measures to correct the situation or shall request the return of the protected persons that is a matter of law. That convention is binding on the United States as it is also binding on Iraq.

Tanya Snyder: But the people at camp Ashraf aren't just any refugees Camp Ashraf refuse to be an operating base inside Iraq for the Mujahideen-e-Khalq Organisation or the People's Mujahedin of Iran. The PMOI was an armed dissident group committing acts of violence against the Iranian government for decades. They were supported by Saddam Hussein's government during the Iran-Iraq War and allowed to stay in Iraq after the War after Saddam Huseein left power the PMOI surrendered their weapons and their base was converted into a refugee camp.

Samer Muscati researches Iraq for Human Rights Watch.

Samer Muscati: It started off as a base and as the tide turned in Iraq and as Saddam lost power I think the position of the group changed as well and they realized that having a base was no longer an option and with no where else to go it became a defacto refugee camp.

Tanya Snyder: Since 2003 coalition forces have designated the men, women and children of the PMOI at Camp Ashraf protected persons under the Geneva Conventions but they're still on the US State Department's list of terrorist organizations. Some countries have lifted the group's terrorist designation because they no longer carry out terrorist activities in Iran. Steve Schneba says the US only keeps them on the list as a diplomatic gesture towards the government of Iran. The International committee of the Red Cross has helped about 250 refugees who have asked to repatriate to Iran return to the their country but the vast majority do not want to return and international human rights organizations agree that the refugees should not be repatriated against their will. Bernard Barrett of the ICRC.

Bernard Barrett: In particular concern is the whole principle of nonrefulment which basically means that a person cannot be forced to go back to a country where they have grounded or serious fears of persecution or ill treatment because of the ethnicity or political beliefs or religion or whatever.

Tanya Snyder: State Dept officials say Iraq is the sovereign power over camp Ashraf and the US shouldn't get involved but the 32 members of Congress have sent Secretary of State Hillary Clinton a letter asking her to ensure the protection of the refugees at Camp Ashraf. Hunger strikers protested outside the White House Monday asking Obama to take a stand. Tanya Snyder, FSRN.

Klibur Solidaridade Timor-Leste

From ETAN:


Klibur Solidaridade Timor-Leste | Timor-Leste Solidarity Group

timorsolidarity@gmail.com +670-331-3323

www.laohamutuk.org/solidarity/index.htm

For immediate release

For further information:

Charles Scheiner charlie@laohamutuk.org +670-734-0965
Xisto dos Santos lanarra.del@gmail.com +670-726-6564


Solidarity Movements to Celebrate Tenth Anniversary of Timor Referendum
Timorese and International Activists will gather in Dili to reflect on the past and plan for the future

On 30 August, 1999, hundreds of thousands of Timorese voters braved an Indonesian-directed terror campaign to cast ballots for independence in a U.N.-organized referendum. This event, which ended Indonesia’s 24-year illegal, brutal military occupation, led to the creation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste as the first new nation of the millennium. The vote was the culmination of decades of struggle by Timorese people, supported by solidarity activists around the world.

Ten years later, Timorese campaigners and their international colleagues will gather in a peaceful, independent Dili to celebrate that success and rededicate themselves to work to ensure that all the people of Timor-Leste enjoy the benefits of independence and justice.

Among the events planned are:

Ø An exhibition describing solidarity activities over the years to help the new generation of Timorese youth to learn about campaigns around the world which helped them and their predecessors achieve independence. The exhibition will be in Fundação Oriente, Dili, from 24 August through 5 September.

Ø Visits to rural communities by international activists to expand their understanding of people’s daily lives and how they are cooperating for mutual benefit.

Ø A three-day conference to explore current global movements and issues, as well as reflecting on the past and developing shared campaigns to complete the struggle for self-determination, with a focus on ending impunity and achieving social justice. The conference will be held from 27-29 August in Salão João Paulo II, Comoro, Dili, and will be attended by international supporters, Timorese leaders and youth, and a wide range of grassroots and civil society people. The conference will re-energize activism in Timor-Leste and around the globe.

Participants are expected from, among other places, Australia, England, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Portugal, Scotland, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, the United States and Zimbabwe. They will also join in official observations organized by the Timor-Leste government and the United Nations, as well as the National Congress of Victims’ Families in early September.

More details and updated information are available at www.laohamutuk.org/solidarity/index.htm or by emailing timorsolidarity@gmail.com.

- end -

Member groups include Asosiasaun HAK (TL), Dewan Solidaritas Mahasiswa (TL), East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN/USA), East Timor Ireland Solidarity Campaign, Estudante Universitarius Timor-Leste (TL), Fortilos (Indonesia), Free East Timor Foundation (Netherlands), Free East Timor Japan Coalition, GFFTL (TL), Haburas (TL), Institutu Edukasaun Popular (TL), International Federation for East Timor (IFET), KSI (TL), La'o Hamutuk (TL), PARCIC (Japan), Peace center (TL), Timor-Leste Media Development Center (TL). List in formation.



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John M. Miller, National Coordinator
East Timor & Indonesia Action Network (ETAN)
PO Box 21873, Brooklyn, NY 11202-1873 USA
Phone: (718)596-7668 Mobile phone: (917)690-4391
Email john@etan.org; Mobile phone: (917)690-4391 Skype: john.m.miller

Web site: http://www.etan.org
Twitter: http://twitter.com/etan009
Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/134122?recruiter_id=10193810

Send a blank e-mail message to info@etan.org to find out
how to learn more about East Timor on the Internet

Winners: John Rumbiak Human Rights Defender Award for 2009

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ETAN to Gather in Timor-Leste

From ETAN:


ETAN to Gather in Timor-Leste for Anniversary of Historic Independence Vote
Contact: John M. Miller +1-917-690-4391 (New York, before August 14);
+670-746-7636 (Dili, from August 17) john@etan.org

August 12 - Members of the U.S.-based East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) will gather in Timor-Leste later this month to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the country's historic vote for independence.

"In Dili we will demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Timorese people," said John M. Miller, ETAN's National Coordinator. "We will join with Timorese and international activists to look back at the East Timorese struggle for independence and to evaluate the new nation's course since those momentous events. We will explore with our Timorese friends how we can best support Timor-Leste in the future."

"We will also strongly reaffirm our commitment to justice and accountability for the years of crimes against humanity committed by Indonesia with U.S. government backing," he added.

"Our goal is to return home with a deeper understanding of today's Timor and a strengthened commitment and concrete plans for ongoing ties with the people of the still struggling nation," added Pam Sexton a member of ETAN's Executive Committee who has been living in Timor-Leste during the past year.

"The anniversary should not serve only as platform for self-congratulatory speeches by the international community and politicians" said Charles Scheiner, an ETAN co-founder.

"The United Nations and its members need to clearly understand the impact of their failure to help the Timorese people from Indonesian's invasion in 1975 through 1998. International support since then needs to be made more effective and responsive to Timorese needs," added Scheiner works with La'o Hamutuk, a local organization founded soon after the independence vote to monitor international institutions and foster grassroots participation in decision-making.

Contact ETAN to arrange interviews from Timor-Leste.

Background

Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and illegally occupied the territory until October 1999, with backing from the United States and other powers. On August 30, 1999, the East Timorese people voted overwhelmingly for independence in a UN-organized referendum. Following the vote, Indonesian security forces and their militia laid waste to the territory, capping nearly two and half decades of brutal occupation with the destruction of 75% of the buildings and infrastructure. Timor-Leste's Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation (CAVR) estimates that up to 184,000 Timorese people were killed as a result of the occupation. Timor-Leste became independent in May 2002.

ETAN was a major participant in the International Federation for East Timor's Observer Project, one of the largest international observer missions for the vote in 1999. ETAN members also served as observers with church and parliamentary delegations.

ETAN was formed in 1991 to advocate for self-determination for the occupied country. The U.S.-based organization continues to advocate for democracy, justice and human rights for Timor-Leste and Indonesia. ETAN recently won the John Rumbiak Human Rights Defenders Award. For more information, see ETAN's web site: http://www.etan.org .


etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan

John M. Miller, National Coordinator
East Timor & Indonesia Action Network (ETAN)
PO Box 21873, Brooklyn, NY 11202-1873 USA
Phone: (718)596-7668 Mobile phone: (917)690-4391
Email john@etan.org; Mobile phone: (917)690-4391 Skype: john.m.miller

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Nourish yourself

There was only one Cass Elliot. And she lives on in her work, still touching so many lives. At the end of this month, The Mama Cass Television Program is released for the first time ever on DVD. Her guests on the TV special include Joni Mitchell, John Sebastian and Mary Travers (of Peter, Paul and Mary). Jeffrey Kauffman (DVD Talk) observes, "Cass is perfectly at ease (in fact, perhaps a bit too much so -- she fluffs a few lines here and there and isn't really 'formal' in the sense that most television variety show hosts and hostesses were back in the day) and makes a very appealing central figure. . . . I couldn't help but feel a little sad watching this special, and not just because of the weird writing of the skits. Mama Cass was a distinctive, warm hearted performer with a lush voice who left us far, far too early. At least we have her recordings (several of which have been surfacing on Lost), as well as her film and television performances to remind us that, as she states to [Buddy] Hackett at the top of this special, true beauty comes from within."


But that's not all for Cass. This month also sees a CD release, Cass Elliott and The Road Is No Place For A Lady. Both albums on one CD. The project was a labor of love for Owen Elliot-Kugell, Cass' daughter. And one of the few living music superstars has an album due out as well.

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Pre-Order 'Love Is The Answer' If you haven't had a chance to Pre-Order Barbra's first new studio collection since 2005, featuring intimate jazz settings by Diana Krall & arrangements by Johnny Mandel, then head over to the Barbrastreisand.com official store now. Don't forget that upon completing your order, you can enter for a chance to win tickets to her first intimate club show at New York’s Village Vanguard since she opened for Miles Davis in 1961. Barbra Talks About 'Love Is The Answer' Visit Amazon.com now to view an exclusive video of Barbra Streisand talking about Love Is The Answer. The exclusive video features sample audio clips from the album, as well as in-studio stills from her sessions with Diana Krall. Amazon.com is also running a sweepstakes for a chance to win tickets to the Village Vanguard performance. No purchase necessary, visit the entry page here for more info. Watch Now » Can't get enough Barbra Streisand? Visit the official pages: Facebook Myspace iTunes Amazon Official Site

Highlights

This piece is written by Rebecca of Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude, Cedric of Cedric's Big Mix, Kat of Kat's Korner, Betty of Thomas Friedman is a Great Man, Mike of Mikey Likes It!, Elaine of Like Maria Said Paz, Ruth of Ruth's Report (with us in spirit), Marcia of SICKOFITRADLZ, Stan of Oh Boy It Never Ends and Wally of The Daily Jot. Unless otherwise noted, we picked all highlights.

"I Hate The War" -- most requested highlight was C.I.'s where it's underscored how little attention Iraq has received from the press.

Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Telemarketer in Chief" -- Isaiah's brilliant comic. Now, listen, Isaiah's supposed to have tonight off. He worked all night on this edition and he flies back this afternoon. C.I.'s told him "No comic." Whether Isaiah sticks to that or not, we'll see. (He should stick to it.)

"Barbra Streisand," "Thoughts on Barbra Streisand," "Bob & Barbra," "barbra & hillary," "Her name is . . . Barbra," "100 lucky people will get to see Barbra perform live," "The hatred," "Love Is The Answer," "jeffrey gentlemen has 1 and 1/2 solid inches, ladies," "Iraqi Christians and Barbra" and "Iraq and music" -- Barbra Streisand releases a new album, in case you haven't heard. Rebecca and Marcia are huge Barbra fans and Rebecca went to work getting community sites to note Barbra's upcoming album.

"Cheeky bastard" & "THIS JUST IN! INGLORIOUS BASTARD!" -- Cedric and Wally speak the obvious but unspoken. Unspoken? Jim tried to get it up here a year ago but C.I. and Ava were uncomfortable with the b-word and couldn't participate in an article that used it (uncomfortable due to the stigma of the word that really no longer exists the way it once did). That said, neither had a problem with this joint-post by Cedric and Wally. And Cedric wants this put in, "'Streetlights' is amazing." We're listening to music as we wrap up and Elaine pulled down some of C.I.'s Bonnie Raitt CDs. We're listening to Streetlights right now and Cedric's "in love with Bonnie's vocal on this song."

"Bob Somerby makes some sense but . . .," "Can Swans Commentary shut down? Please," "The Idiot and Elitist Barbara Erhenreich," "Tim Wise, zip it and sit it," "Melissa Harris Lacewell: Stupid and a bad liar," "NYT not in the news business," "Some people shouldn't write letters,"

"Amy Goodman, more impossible to watch each day" and "Bob on those who call wolf"-- media critisicm from the community.

"Faded star power" & "THIS JUST IN! CELEBRITY FADE!" -- Barry O, what goes up, must come down. Didn't you listen to no Blood, Sweat & Tears when you were a kid?

"Chicken Sop for the Soul," "Barbra Streisand," "Hillary in Africa," "Carly Simon and 'It's not like him'" and "Telemarketer Barack" -- Ann's posts for the week.

"And it was Joni singing . . ." & "40 years later" -- Trina and Kat address music.

"The Proposal" and "Kenneth J. Theisen, Sandra Bullock, animal rights" -- Stan and Mike on The Proposal. (Continuing the discussion from here last week.)

"Pasta Bake in the Kitchen" -- The economy post you need to read. It will explain what's coming in October.