Be it extremely emotional, controversial, messed up, or whatever, this entry has been password protected.

If you know it, enter it; or, ask me for it.

Comment! (0) | Recommend!

Be it extremely emotional, controversial, messed up, or whatever, this entry has been password protected.

If you know it, enter it; or, ask me for it.

Comment! (0) | Recommend!

Be it extremely emotional, controversial, messed up, or whatever, this entry has been password protected.

If you know it, enter it; or, ask me for it.

Comment! (0) | Recommend!

Date: Tue, 04 May 2004
From: Peter Schurman, MoveOn.org
Subject: Responding to Torture

Dear MoveOn member,

Recently released photos of American soldiers abusing and torturing Iraqi prisoners have shocked the world, provoking a global backlash against our country. As the Washington Post reports, "U.S. diplomats around the world have sent troubling cables back to Washington... with warnings that the graphic photographs... could seriously affect U.S. standing and broader foreign policy." Now more reports are coming out, and Amnesty International and other groups report that torture and human rights abuses of Iraqi detainees may be occurring routinely.

We all hope that these reports are untrue -- that this was indeed the isolated work of a few depraved individuals. But in the face of an escalating scandal in which our image is being deeply damaged, President Bush and Tony Blair need to demonstrate that they're going to clean house. Narrow military investigations don't cut it -- to the rest of the world, the current response looks like damage control and little more.

If we hope to win the battle for the "hearts and minds" of the citizens of the Middle East, it’s imperative that we respond to these charges head on. Join the call from Amnesty International and other groups for an independent, impartial and public investigation into all allegations of torture, at:

http://www.moveon.org/torture/

According to Amnesty International's website:

"Amnesty International has received frequent reports of torture or other ill-treatment by Coalition Forces during the past year. Detainees have reported being routinely subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment during arrest and detention. Many have told Amnesty International that they were tortured and ill-treated by US and UK troops during interrogation. Methods often reported include prolonged sleep deprivation; beatings; prolonged restraint in painful positions, sometimes combined with... prolonged hooding... Virtually none of the allegations of torture or ill-treatment has been adequately investigated by the authorities."

Although a few U.S. troops already face punishment for the widely reported abuses, "the theory that these horrific acts were committed by a few renegade soldiers has been undercut by charges that the men and women shown in the pictures were actually working at the direction of military intelligence officers," according to the New York Times.

With anti-American violence exploding in Iraq, and a deadline for handing over Iraqi sovereignty less than 2 months away, we need the support of the world community now more than ever. We especially need to regain the trust of the Iraqi people and their Arab neighbors, as quickly as possible.

We've got to support an immediate, independent, impartial and public investigation into all allegations of torture. To be credible, the investigation should be done by an international body, including representatives of Arab nations.

We've got to get to the bottom of this, and we've got to do it now.

Join our call, at:

http://www.moveon.org/torture/

Thank you.

Sincerely,
--Carrie, Joan, Noah, Peter, and Wes
The MoveOn.org Team
Tuesday, May 4th, 2004



Ok. This is me talking now. If you have a strong stomach, and you want to see what this is all about, some of the disgusting/disturbing photos are posted here. Trust me, they are not pretty. You will be shocked. I saw a Bush campaign ad the other day that attacked John Kerry for supporting the removal of foreign military from Iraq. The ad said something like: "Kerry's national security record: scary." Sometimes I wish that Kerry would just get dirty like the rest of them and launch a full-on commercial offensive against Bush for these recent atrocious findings of human rights abuse of Iraqi detainees. But I respect Kerry for his promise of a positive campaign. I bet his campaign organizers are begging him to capitalize on the recently released photos of US occupation of Iraq...the haunting stillframes of prisoners forced to engage in lewd acts while US soldiers stand near them, smiling, holding their thumbs up in jest...it's appalling, horrendous, inexcusable...an absolute outrage and clear violation of international law. This is what Bush supports. Please, for the love of whatever god you recognize or don't recognize, and for the salvation of integrity and decency in the world, VOTE for John Kerry in the presidential election this year. If you need to register to vote, visit rockthevote.org and click 'register to vote.' All you have to do is enter in your information, print out the form and sign it, and mail it to the address they give you for your home state. It's really simple and it's going to make a difference. That's my soapbox speech for the day. Please please please register. Peace.

Comment! (0) | Recommend!

listening to: so impossible by dashboard confessional
mood: happy

http://memegen.deskslave.org/mainpage.pl

Love Life by Asphyxiate
First name
Favorite fruit
Number of computers in your house
Number of lovers you will have in your entire life	44
Number of "true loves"	3
Your future	A rabbit (breeding like mad)
Created with the ORIGINAL MemeGen!

I'm dying to know
do you do you like dreaming of things
so impossible or only the practical
or ever the wild or waiting through all your bad bad days
just to end them with
someone you care about
and do you like making out
and long drives and brown eyes
and guys that just
don't quite fit in
yeah do you like them
So yes, I'll see you there.
D.C.

Comment! (0) | Recommend!

Whats does your personality rate from 1-10? by morning_prayer
Your first full name
Your personality rates a	11
your best quality is	youre talented
your worst quality is	you think life sucks
this is because	you are who you are
Created with the ORIGINAL MemeGen!

Comment! (0) | Recommend!