Bush Seeks Immunity for Violating War Crimes Act

by Elizabeth Holtzman

Thirty-two years ago, President Gerald Ford created a political firestorm by pardoning former President Richard Nixon of all crimes he may have committed in Watergate — and lost his election as a result. Now, President Bush, to avoid a similar public outcry, is quietly trying to pardon himself of any crimes connected with the torture and mistreatment of U.S. detainees.

The ”pardon” is buried in Bush’s proposed legislation to create a new kind of military tribunal for cases involving top al-Qaida operatives. The ”pardon” provision has nothing to do with the tribunals. Instead, it guts the War Crimes Act of 1996, a federal law that makes it a crime, in some cases punishable by death, to mistreat detainees in violation of the Geneva Conventions and makes the new, weaker terms of the War Crimes Act retroactive to 9/11.

Dubai Ports World

Apparently Dubai Ports World is still operating American ports. They were supposed to sell to an American entity. Where does it stand now? Did they get a six week extension to sell? When was the vote and who voted for it? Oversight, anyone? I wonder if anybody cares about this. Have not heard much about it lately. Not even on Lou Dobbs.

pumpkins

pumpkins, originally uploaded by suzi_vt.

 

Feds sue to block Vermont phone inquiry

Source: The Rutland Herald

MONTPELIER — The federal government has sued the state’s utility regulators to stop an investigation into whether the National Security Agency gained improper access to Vermonters’ phone records.

But state officials have vowed to continue their quest for answers, despite the lawsuit and the request for an injunction it contains.

The matter, and several other similar cases around the country, may prove to be a testing ground for questions of how to balance personal rights and national security as well as federal versus state authority, experts and officials said Tuesday.

The Public Service Board began the investigation earlier this year at the request of the Public Service Department, phone company customers and the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont. The federal government declined to become a party in the board investigation, instead filing its lawsuit in federal court Monday to stop the inquiry.

Love’s Philosophy by Percy Bysshe Shelley

The fountains mingle with the river,

And the rivers with the ocean;

The winds of heaven mix forever,

With a sweet emotion;

Nothing in the world is single;

All things by a law divine

In one another’s being single;

Why not I with thine.

See! The mountains kiss high heaven

And the waves clasp one another;

No sister flower would be forgiven

If it disdained its brother,

And the sunlight clasps the earth

And the moonbeams kiss the sea;

What are all these kisses worth

If thou kiss not me?

Hastert and Foley

I heard Hastert say on TV this afternoon that the family got what they wanted. What do you think he means by that?

Charlie Crist is running for governor of Florida. He and Foley apparently were roommates back when.

Flower of the Month: Calendula

originally uploaded by singingpixel.

 

 

The Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach FL

originally uploaded by Steve Scher.

 

The new building housing the Marinelife Center is opening by the end of 2006.

 

 website: www.marinelife.org

 

 

 

 

A Toast to Vermont: Poem by J. Howard Flower

In beauteous lands that earth can boast,

When men propose their proudest toast

To each; when, lonely at my post,

     I stand to make my vault,

My memory like a homesick ghost

Still haunts the scenes it counts the most

Resplendent of the handsome host:

            Give me Vermont!

 

Here first I heard faint roosters crow

From distant hills and vales below,

Across young springtide’s melting snow;

     In its high pasture haunt,

Responding from bare woods, the crow

Cried how life’s early seasons go,

Both blithe and loathe to cease – and so

            Give me Vermont.

 

‘T was here I woke to loved one’s looks

And all the wondrous world of books,

Hung on stringed music’s tenterhooks,

      And found all wealth we want

In homeland’s autumn fields of stooks,

Green-garlanded midsummer nooks,

And her incomparable brooks-

            Give me Vermont.

 

Young basking summers used to seem-

Indeed, all seasons – endless dream;

I quafft of spring and bathed in stream,

     Pure Nature’s racy font.

Life later never lost the gleam,

But lifts it over death supreme,

Aspiring toward Art’s loftiest theme.

            Give me Vermont.

 

Above her, keenest heavens are,

Night bright with many a tingling star;

Here, up Green Mountain ledges scar,

      I’ve climbed to peaks more gaunt

And seen New England spread afar –

Bright prospects no dark clouds can mar,

But make more richly changeful – ah,

            Give me Vermont!

 

Since paper deeds cannot consign

More than what fences can confine,

While beauties of the lake and pine

      Are theirs whose souls are wont

To love the landscape: be it mine

When states are parceled out by line,

To claim my realm by right divine –

            Give me Vermont!

Here sister, friend and brother grew

Beside me; here my parents too,

Inspired me to be great and true –

     A vision naught can daunt.

Yes, tho they vanish, here I view

United life we shall renew

Beyond these skies of upward blue –

            Your skies,Vermont!

By J. Howard Flower

From the Magazine “Hill Trails”,

            Jan – Feb 1936

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