Egypt's new vice president ~ expert on rendition and torture

Stephen Soldz of Dissident Voice has the goods on the former intelligence chief and newly crowned vice president, Omar Suleiman. Here is a passage from Stephen's piece.

Shortly after 9/11, Australian citizen, Mamdouh Habib, was captured by Pakistani security forces and, under US pressure, tortured by Pakistanis. He was then rendered (with an Australian diplomats watching) by CIA operatives to Egypt, a not uncommon practice. In Egypt, Habib merited Suleiman’s personal attention. As related by Richard Neville, based on Habib’s memoir:

Habib was interrogated by the country’s Intelligence Director, General Omar Suleiman…. Suleiman took a personal interest in anyone suspected of links with Al Qaeda. As Habib had visited Afghanistan shortly before 9/11, he was under suspicion. Habib was repeatedly zapped with high-voltage electricity, immersed in water up to his nostrils, beaten, his fingers were broken and he was hung from metal hooks.

That treatment wasn’t enough for Suleiman, so:

To loosen Habib’s tongue, Suleiman ordered a guard to murder a gruesomely shackled Turkistan prisoner in front of Habib – and he did, with a vicious karate kick.

It'll be interesting to see which of Israel's Egypt's allies welcome him, and which {if any} join the citizenry in their demand for wholesale change. As the article points out, the Obama administration, at least two high ranking members that I have heard, have come out and criticized Mubarak for re shuffling the deck. But if I had to predict what the U.S administration ends up doing regarding Suleiman, I'd say they back off their previous position and accept that "orderly transition" to democracy crap I keep hearing about.

Read More»

Mubarak begins implementing democratic reform by shutting down Al Jazeera

updated below

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, you consider Hosni Mubarak a family friend. Perhaps you could tell him he's doing it wrong! You also said you looked forward to seeing more of him in the United States. Invite the dictator over for an extended stay. Convince him he would have a blast hanging out with Mr.Clinton.

Network's licenses cancelled and accreditation of staff in Cairo withdrawn by order of information minister.

The Egyptian authorities are revoking the Al Jazeera Network's licence to broadcast from the country, and will be shutting down its bureau office in Cairo, state television has said.

"The information minister [Anas al-Fikki] ordered ... suspension of operations of Al Jazeera, cancelling of its licences and withdrawing accreditation to all its staff as of today," a statement on the official Mena news agency said on Sunday.

In a statement, Al Jazeera said it strongly denounces and condemns the closure of its bureau in Cairo by the Egyptian government. The network received notification from the Egyptian authorities on Sunday morning.

"Al Jazeera has received widespread global acclaim for their coverage on the ground across the length and breadth of Egypt," the statement said.

An Al Jazeera spokesman said that the company would continue its strong coverage regardless.

Looks like Mubarak is happy to ride this out, hoping the people of Egypt tire themselves out and settle for a new version of the old guard.
May they remain resolute.


update ~ recent developments

per Al Jazeera

• - Reports that Mubarak has given the Army permission to open fire on protesters

• - Military leader tells protesters the Army refuses to do so

• - Prisoners released - allegedly to intimidate protesters

• - Fighter jets make low altitude passes over crowds

• - S.o.S Hillary Clinton calls for an "orderly transition" to democracy, whatever that means

• - Member of ruling party appears on Al Jazeera and claims a majority of Egyptians want Mubarak to retain power.
  Asked how he knows this, he responds he lives in Egypt.

• - Looters discovered to be plain clothes police officers.

update 2

Al Jazeera undeterred

Due to the repressive Egyptian government's attempt at silencing the citizenry, Al Jazeera is offering other means for those who wish to pass along any information, or simply stay abreast of real time news in Egypt.

To further enhance its coverage of the unfolding events in Egypt, Al Jazeera has made available to bloggers, activists, and citizen journalists the following ways to send their images and stories to Al Jazeera:

• Arabic content can be submitted to: sharek.aljazeera.net
• English content can be submitted to: yourmedia.aljazeera.net
• On phone to +974-4489-6190 or +974-4489-6192

Our Arabic sister channels are now broadcasting on the following new frequencies:

1) New frequency for AJA & AJM on Nilesat 7W:
10949 vertical (new)
SR: 27.500 Msps
FEC: 3/4

2) New frequency for AJA & AJM on Arabsat 26E:
11585 vertical (new)
SR: 27.500 Msps
FEC: 3/4

3) Arabic and Mubasher on Hotbird:
12111 MHz Vertical (Old)
SR: 27.500 Msps
FEC: 3/4

4) Arabic and Mubasher on Arabsat Badr4 (Old):
12034 MHz Horizontal
SR: 27.500
FEC: 3/4

5) Arabic and Mubasher on Arabsat Badr4 (Old):
11996 MHz Horizontal
SR: 27.500
FEC: 3/4

update ~ 31/1/11

Six Al Jazeera journalists briefly arrested, released without camera equipment, rendering them unable to broadcast.

Read More»

2004: stephen harper immoral ~ 2011: stephen harper still immoral ~update

updated below

Look at it this way, Iggy. He could have accused you of supporting child pornography.I know, I know, give it time. But as stephen harper's latest false attack ads make their rounds targeting ignorant voters, a.k.a - his base, I wonder just how desperate he'll become as the threat of an election becomes a reality. How vicious will stephen harper become? Is there a line of decency this fascist won't cross? I don't believe such a line exists. stephen harper has shown how immoral he really is on multiple occasions, however, for those who may not have been following closely back then, let's flashback to the 2004 federal election campaign.

stephen harper uses rape and murder of 10 year old girl; accuses Paul Martin and N.D.P of supporting child pornography.

On June 18, 2004, as the federal election campaign wound down, and the conservatives leading in the polls mind you, stephen harper and his band of "warriors" sent out a press release titled "Paul Martin Supports Child Pornography?".

The date of the release is relevant, and here is why. About thirteen months earlier, a little girl in Toronto was raped and murdered by a sicko. One day before stephen harper's despicable attack, the suspect at the time, pleaded guilty and told the court that child pornography was to blame for his actions. Seizing on raw emotion from a heart wrenching tragedy, stephen harper and his crew jumped on the opportunity to insinuate Mr.Martin was a pedophile. I'm surprised it took them that long.

What was behind stephen harper's reprehensible attack? Paul Martin didn't agree with some measures the right wing harper supported. And as we know, if you disagree with stephen harper on anything, you hate Canada. Don't agree with torture? You hate the troops and coddle terrorists! Don't think someone should be locked up for having some marijuana? You my friend are soft on crime! and on and on....

It was a fiasco for the harpercons. Retracting the initial release, releasing a second inflammatory memo: "Today, Martin says he's against child pornography. But his voting record proves otherwise,", retracting that one seconds later. The cons were spinning, realizing they had in fact gone too far. Of course harper never apologized, cause that would take integrity. And because he is never wrong. So the writing was on the wall regarding stephen harper's character.

The lesson here is stephen harper will accuse, insinuate, outright lie, smear, cheat and do whatever it takes to gain and or retain power. Including using a tragedy like the one mentioned above. And that is immoral. stephen harper, a man with no honour. He never did retract the one asking if "The NDP Caucus Supports Child Pornography?". Such a role model. Such an a adult.

Here is a link describing some of what happened that day.

update: harper cons pull misleading ads

This is rich. After taking criticism from all sides of the political spectrum for their dishonest attack ads, harper's crew have taken down the two videos, claiming they were only intended as a one day special web posting. Sort a like a sale at Best Buy. Or something. I'm sure it had nothing to do with being ridiculed.

The federal Conservatives have abruptly yanked two controversial attack ads just a day after unleashing them.

The ads, featuring an out-of-context video clip of Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, prompted a torrent of criticism — even from some conservative commentators.

A party official said the ads were always intended to be "a one-day web posting" and there were never any plans to pay to air them on television.

Read More»

today's hero: Justice Elliott Allen finds cops guilty of assault

updated below

This restores a little bit of hope. Edward Ing and John Cruz were found guilty of assault causing bodily harm while making an unwarranted arrest on a disabled man, Richard Moore. Naturally, the two thugs justification for beating up Mr.Moore, was that they were only looking out for his own good. Oh, and Mr.Moore berated them.

Edward Ing and John Cruz were stone-faced and had no comment on after Justice Elliott Allen gave his verdict in Brampton court Tuesday morning.

“His injuries are consistent with being struck constantly,” the judge said, adding that he accepted the officers’ testimony that Moore was verbally abusive towards them.

“The preponderance of evidence suggests he was making venomous remarks upon his arrest,” the judge said.

The officers had testified that they were attempting to take Moore into custody on a charge of being drunk in public for his own safety, fearing that he might wander into traffic.

The judge said the officers did not have grounds for an arrest.

He noted that Moore had no trace of alcohol in his system when he was taken to hospital and that the charge of being drunk in a public place was later thrown out of court.

Assholes!


updated~Jan 26 2011

‘Rare’ guilty verdict for cops in police brutality case

“It’s very, very rare,” said lawyer Barry Swadron, referring to the verdict. Swadron represented Richard Moore. He's been practicing for nearly 50 years. But let's not just take his word for it. Paul Bailey, former president of the York Regional Police Association chimes in.

The outcome is notable because such accusations rarely hold up in court, said Paul Bailey, former president of the York Regional Police Association.

He estimated that 95 per cent of accusations of assault against on-duty police officers do not end in guilty verdicts.

“The vast majority of officers are either found not guilty or the charges are stayed or withdrawn,” said Bailey, a past administrator with the Police Association of Ontario.

Read More»

is harper stooge John Baird insane?

Seriously, is he? Firstly for aiding a fascist, but secondly, coming out with this nonsense. Conservatives scold opposition parties for polishing their election campaigns, especially the day after imbecile harper stages yet another propaganderrific commercial. Most likely on our dime.

The NDP is taking media through its newly renovated, very orange, war room near Parliament Hill, showing off its information technology and research capacity.

And as the Liberals kick off their winter caucus meetings, they're bringing in all their election candidates for a training day today, as well as putting up their leader Michael Ignatieff for photos in campaign literature.

The Tories have sent out House leader John Baird to scold the opposition for playing games with the electorate while work in reviving the post-recession economy needs to be done.

John, you self loathing asshole! You and your party have been campaigning for the last five years! Go fuck yourself.

Read More»

listen to howard stern blast sarah palin: 'you effer, you c~word, you effin crybaby!'

While I've never been a Howard Stern fan, I give him props for this. He has many followers, and if he has made even one of them reconsider their support for this shallow, anti~american screecher rethink their values, well, he did some good.

Read More»

wishing all a safe, happy and Harperless 2011

And in the spirit of the day, some live U2 goodness.




As it should be, interpretation is in the ear of the beholder. For me personally, I lost the most influential person of my life on New Year's day, many many moons ago. Since that day, January first has always represented the anniversary of that tragedy. Not only for me, but most of my family as well.

Reflecting on it now, that might be part of why I never bought into New Year's resolutions. I mean, why not start in June, September or November? Sure, I get the 'but New Year's Day represents a new beginning!' philosophy. I just don't subscribe to it. If one believes changes are in order, why not start then? At the time of realization.

Anyway, when I was younger, {and less jaded, perhaps} I liked to imagine {as the line in the song suggests} that maybe one day we {this person and I} would be together again. Unfortunately...

All the best in 2011!

Read More»