Terrorism: a False Threat
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Extreme Prejudice, by Susan Lindauer
Extreme Prejudice, by Susan Lindauer A review, and important substantive selections Dick Atlee, 30 May 2013 (http://dickatlee.com/issues/911/lindauer_extreme_prejudice.html) (Lindauer site/blog -- http://extremeprejudiceusa.wordpress.com/) "Extreme Prejudice" as a military/intelligence term refers to a person marked for destruction, a usage not inappropriate here. Susan Lindauer, the second cousin -- and eventual victim -- of George W. Bush's chief-of-staff Andrew Card (and others), is an anti-war and anti-Iraq-sanctions activist. Bur she was also the "backdoor" intelligence Asset for the U.S. government, under handlers from the CIA and Defense Intelligence Agency, for communication with the Libyan government regarding the Lockerbie plane bombing (they didn't do it), and with the Iraqi government in the year prior to 9/11 and in the lead-up to the Iraq War. She had come to the intelligence community's attention for having earlier passed on a warning -- unheeded -- about the 1993 WTC bombing. Throughout 2001 she personally communicated to the Bush administration a series of increasingly specific and frantic intelligence warnings about an impending attack in NYC involving hijacked airplanes and the World Trade Center. She was also the backdoor negotiator with the Iraqi regime over "WMDs," and had managed to obtain Iraq agreement with all U.S. demands, only to have that agreement ignored and suppressed by an administration intent on war. Angered by the administration's and Republican leadership's subsequent attempts to blame 9/11 and the eventual Iraq quagmire on the failure of the intelligence community to provide adequate intelligence, she went to Congress to lay out what she knew, and was promptly arrested, accused of being an Iraqi spy, and eventually sent to prison for "psychiatric evaluation" and an attempt at stereotypically Stalinist forced drugging. -
Ethics and Evolution
ETHICS AND EVOLUTION John Scales Avery December 1, 2017 Introduction In October, 2017, one of the Danish state television channels, DR2, broad- cast two programs about current religious opposition to Darwin’s theory of evolution1. Much of this opposition originated in the United States, and was aimed at preventing the teaching of evolution in schools. The attacks on Darwin’s theory (by now, not a theory but a well-established scientific fact) were twofold. First the claim that it is not true, and secondly, pointing out that historically, Social Darwinism has led to horrible consequences. One of the arguments against the truth of Darwinian evolution is that it violates the second law of thermodynamics, according to which the disorder of the universe always increases with time. How then can life on earth, with its amazing order, be possible? The answer is that the earth is not a closed system. A flood of information- containing free energy reaches the earth’s biosphere in the form of sunlight. Passing through the metabolic pathways of living organisms, this informa- tion keeps the organisms far away from thermodynamic equilibrium, which is death. As the thermodynamic information flows through the biosphere, much of it is degraded to heat, but part is converted into cybernetic infor- mation and preserved in the intricate structures which are characteristic of life. The principle of natural selection ensures that when this happens, the configurations of matter in living organisms constantly increase in complex- ity, refinement and statistical improbability. This is the process which we call evolution, or in the case of human society, progress2. -
ARCO CARIBBEAN, December 23, 2019, Vol 7, No 6 Page 2
CCaribbeanARIBBEAN THE ONLY CARIBBEAN MAGAZINE IN FOUR LANGUAGES Bonaire, December 23, 2019, Vol. 7, no 6 BRIGHT FUTURE NEDERLANDS WavBES Misdaad, blz. 4 ENGLISH Last Convulsions of Nationalism, pg. 9 ESPAÑOL La Historia del Hombre, el Burro y el Camión (3), pg. 7 PAPIAMENTU Katibu di Sueldo, pg. 6 Het Beloofde Eiland The Promised Island Zal de droom uitkomen? Wel, jazeker, mits er Gelijkheid en Recht komt. Het oude droeve Will the dream come true? Well, yes it will, provided there be Bonaire huilt. Het verdrinkt in hevige golven Equality and Justice. The old and sorrowful Bonaire is crying. Great van verandering. Is dan alles verloren? waves of change are drowning it. Hij die leeft in het verleden, leeft niet. Het Is all lost? oude Bonaire leeft voort in cultuur, verhalen en ons volkskarakter. Alleen verandering is He who lives in the past, does not live. The old Bonaire will always permanent. Doe mee, wees geen Zoutpilaar. live in culture, stories and the character of its people. Only change is De Hemel opende en regende druppels van permanent. Engage and embrace, don’t be a Pillar of Salt. goud. De Onzichtbare Hand weeft een Nieuwe The Heavens opened and poured down golden drops, wherewith an Toekomst. Droog je tranen. Denk liefde, het Invisible Hand is weaving a New Tomorrow. Dry your tears and verleden komt niet weer. Ziet het Kruis over replace with love, the past will not come back. See the Cross over our ons Eiland. Het beschermt iedereen, ongeacht Island protecting all, no matter where they are from. -
Post-War Iraq: a Table and Chronology of Foreign Contributions
Order Code RL32105 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web Post-War Iraq: A Table and Chronology of Foreign Contributions Updated November 5, 2004 Jeremy M. Sharp Middle East Policy Analyst Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress Post-War Iraq: A Table and Chronology of Foreign Contributions Summary Securing foreign contributions to the reconstruction and stabilization of Iraq has been a major issue for U.S. policymakers since the launch of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003. This report tracks important changes in financial and personnel pledges from foreign governments since the August 19, 2003 bombing of the U.N. Headquarters in Baghdad and major events since the fall of Baghdad on April 9, 2003. According to the latest estimates, foreign donors have pledged $13 billion in grants and loans for Iraq reconstruction, but have only disbursed around $1 billion to the United Nations and World Bank trust funds for Iraq. The largest non- American pledges of grants have come from Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. The World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Japan, and Saudi Arabia have pledged the most loans and export credits. The March 11, 2004, Madrid bombings and the subsequent pledge by Spanish Prime Minister-elect José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq has raised some concern over foreign support for Iraqi reconstruction and stabilization. Although other coalition members have reaffirmed their commitment to providing security in Iraq since the Madrid bombings, continued violence and terrorist attacks both inside and outside Iraq may affect political will in troop- contributing countries to sustain their force presence. -
U.S. Military Engagement in the Broader Middle East
U.S. MILITARY ENGAGEMENT IN THE BROADER MIDDLE EAST JAMES F. JEFFREY MICHAEL EISENSTADT U.S. MILITARY ENGAGEMENT IN THE BROADER MIDDLE EAST JAMES F. JEFFREY MICHAEL EISENSTADT THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY WWW.WASHINGTONINSTITUTE.ORG The opinions expressed in this Policy Focus are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Washington Institute, its Board of Trustees, or its Board of Advisors. Policy Focus 143, April 2016 All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publica- tion may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing fromthe publisher. ©2016 by The Washington Institute for Near East Policy The Washington Institute for Near East Policy 1111 19th Street NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20036 Design: 1000colors Photo: An F-16 from the Egyptian Air Force prepares to make contact with a KC-135 from the 336th ARS during in-flight refueling training. (USAF photo by Staff Sgt. Amy Abbott) Contents Acknowledgments V I. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF U.S. MILITARY OPERATIONS 1 James F. Jeffrey 1. Introduction to Part I 3 2. Basic Principles 5 3. U.S. Strategy in the Middle East 8 4. U.S. Military Engagement 19 5. Conclusion 37 Notes, Part I 39 II. RETHINKING U.S. MILITARY STRATEGY 47 Michael Eisenstadt 6. Introduction to Part II 49 7. American Sisyphus: Impact of the Middle Eastern Operational Environment 52 8. Disjointed Strategy: Aligning Ways, Means, and Ends 58 9. -
State Formation and Civil War in Iraq 2003-2016: a Question of Sect Or Structure?
STATE FORMATION AND CIVIL WAR IN IRAQ 2003-2016: A QUESTION OF SECT OR STRUCTURE? A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of Georgetown University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts and Arab Studies by Ana Nikonorow Washington, DC 15 October 2016 Copyright 2016 by Ana Nikonorow All Rights Reserved ii STATE FORMATION AND CIVIL WAR IN IRAQ 2003-2016: A QUESTION OF SECT OR STRUCTURE Ana Nikonorow, B.S. Thesis Advisor: Joseph Sassoon, Ph.D. ABSTRACT Ethno-sectarian diversity is often cited as a strong indicator, if not a cause, for higher likelihood of civil war. Ethno-sectarian dominance is even more so. Iraq is a case not only of ethno- sectarian diversity. It is a case of ethno-sectarian dominance, par excellence. This begs the question: to what extent was communal diversity to blame for Iraq’s descent into civil war after 2003? To what extent were other structural drivers equally or more explanatory? This thesis argues that Iraq’s decent into civil war was primarily caused by a highly-flawed process of structural transition. Some structural flaws that led to a poor transition pre-date 2003. Others were imported after 2003. All of the key drivers toward civil war were distinctly modern. This study examines four elements of transition: socio-cultural factors (communal identity) and changes to security, economic, and political structures. Chapter 3 provides background information about expressions of communal identity in Iraq during the 20th century and after 2003. This background included aggressive, even militant expressions of communal identity. -
A Tale of Two Cities the Use of Explosive Weapons in Basra and Fallujah, Iraq, 2003-4 Report by Jenna Corderoy and Robert Perkins
December 2014 A TALE OF TWO CITIES The use of explosive weapons in Basra and Fallujah, Iraq, 2003-4 Report by Jenna Corderoy and Robert Perkins Editor Iain Overton With thanks to Henry Dodd, Jane Hunter, Steve Smith and Iraq Body Count Copyright © Action on Armed Violence (December 2014) Cover Illustration A US Marine Corps M1A1 Abrams tank fires its main gun into a building in Fallujah during Operation Al Fajr/Phantom Fury, 10 December 2004, Lance Corporal James J. Vooris (UMSC) Infographic Sarah Leo Design and Printing Matt Bellamy Clarifications or corrections from interested parties are welcome Research and publications funded by the Government of Norway, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A tale of two cities | 1 CONTENTS FOREWORD 2 IRAQ: A TIMELINE 3 INTRODUCTION: IRAQ AND EXPLOSIVE WEAPONS 4 INTERnatiONAL HumanitaRIAN LAW 6 AND RulES OF ENGAGEMENT BASRA, 2003 8 Rattling the Cage 8 Air strikes: Munition selection 11 FALLUJAH, 2004 14 Firepower for manpower 14 Counting the cost 17 THE AFTERmath AND LESSONS LEARNED 20 CONCLUSION 22 RECOMMENDatiONS 23 2 | Action on Armed Violence FOREWORD Sound military tactics employed in the pursuit of strategic objectives tend to restrict the use of explosive force in populated areas “ [... There are] ample examples from other international military operations that indicate that the excessive use of explosive force in populated areas can undermine both tactical and strategic objectives.” Bård Glad Pedersen, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, 17 June 20141 The language of conflict has changed enormously. their government is not the governing authority. Today engagements are often fought and justified Three case studies in three places most heavily- through a public mandate to protect civilians. -
Nuclear Weapons: an Absolute Evil
NUCLEAR WEAPONS: AN ABSOLUTE EVIL John Scales Avery November 19, 2017 Introduction The threat of nuclear war is very high today This book is a collection of articles and book chapters that I have written advocating the abolition of nuclear weapons. Some new material has also been added, for example a discussion of the Nuclear Weapons Convention which has recently been adopted by an overwhelming majority vote at the United Nations General Assembly. Today, because of the possibility that U.S. President Donald Trump will initiate a nuclear war against Iran or North Korea, or even Russia, the issue of nuclear weapons is at the center of the global stage. I strongly believe that the time has come for all countries to take a united stance on this issue. Most of the world’s nations live in nuclear weapon free zones. This does not give them any real protection, since the catastrophic environmental effects of nuclear war would be global, not sparing any nation. However, by supporting the Nuclear Weapons Convention and by becoming members of NWFZ’s, nations can state that they consider nuclear weapons to be morally unacceptable, a view that must soon become worldwide if human civilization is to survive. We must take a stand, and state clearly that nuclear weapons are an absolute evil; that their possession does not increase anyone’s security; that their continued existence is a threat to the life of every person on the planet; and that these genocidal and potentially omnicidal weapons have no place in a civilized society. Nuclear warfare as genocide On December 9, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a con- vention prohibiting genocide. -
Lives in Physics
LIVES IN PHYSICS John Scales Avery July 28, 2019 2 Contents 1 THE ATOMISTS 9 1.1 Leucippus, Democritus and the concept of atoms . .9 1.2 Opposition from Plato and Aristotle . 11 1.3 Epicurus and Lucretius . 11 2 ARCHIMEDES 15 2.1 Heiron's crown . 15 2.2 Invention of differential and integral calculus . 17 2.3 Statics and hydrostatics . 20 2.4 Don't disturb my circles! . 21 3 GALILEO 25 3.1 Experimental physics . 25 3.2 The telescope . 29 3.3 Still it moves! . 33 4 NEWTON 37 4.1 Descartes . 37 4.2 Newton . 39 4.3 Huygens and Leibniz . 46 4.4 The Bernoullis and Euler . 51 4.5 Political philosophy of the Enlightenment . 52 5 GALVANI AND VOLTA 57 5.1 Benjamin Franklin's kite experiment . 57 5.2 Galvani's argument with Volta . 60 5.3 Ørsted, Amp`ereand Faraday . 63 6 FARADAY AND MAXWELL 65 6.1 Maxwell and Hertz . 69 6.2 History of the electrical telegraph . 72 6.3 The transatlantic cable . 75 6.4 Marconi . 78 3 4 CONTENTS 6.5 Alexander Graham Bell . 79 6.6 A revolution in communication . 82 7 EINSTEIN 83 7.1 Family background . 83 7.2 Special relativity theory . 85 7.3 General relativity . 87 7.4 Einstein's letter to Freud: Why war? . 88 7.5 The fateful letter to Roosevelt . 90 7.6 The Russell-Einstein Manifesto . 94 8 THE CURIES 99 8.1 X-rays . 99 8.2 Radioctivity . 101 8.3 Marie and Pierre Curie . 102 9 THOMS0N 109 9.1 Sir William Crookes . -
How to Find a Word, Words, Or a Sentence in This Pdf's
How to find a word, words, or a sentence in this Pdf’s First you need to download the Pdf or the Pdf’s on your computer. Ones you have clicked on a Pdf title, after a while, you will see the Pdf opening. Download-speed depends on your internet speed and your computer. If the Pdf is downloaded and you see it open, save it on your computer in a new folder that you made for it. You can download as many Pdf’s as you want and save them in that folder. If you downloaded all of them in one folder, then you can also look for a word or more in all that Pdf’s at once. To start a search, you have two possibilities: 1. Searching in one Pdf. Open the Pdf, on the top you have a menu, click on “Edit” and select “Find” for a word in this Pdf. Click on next to see the next place in that Pdf. 2. Searching in one or more Pdf’s. Open one Pdf, click on “Edit”, go to “Advanced search” A window will open. Make your choice “current document” or “All Pdf documents in” If you made the choice “All documents in”, click on the arrow right on the bar below it. There you can look for the place on your computer where you have the Pdf-Folder. If you don’t see the folder click on “Browse for location” and find the folder on your computer, then click on it once. This is the place where the search will be done. -
Training Guidebook for Civil Society Organizations in Iraq on Transitional
FOUNDATIONS OF TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE AND REPARATIONS A Training for Civil Society Organiza5ons in Iraq and KRI Training Guidebook March 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................................1 MODULE 1: OVERVIEW OF TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE ...................................................2 MODULE 2: CRIMINAL JUSTICE ...........................................................................................6 MODULE 3: TRUTH-SEEKING ..............................................................................................13 MODULE 4: INSTITUTIONAL REFORM .............................................................................20 MODULE 5: REPARATIONS ...................................................................................................28 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................28 GENDER JUSTICE AND REPARATIONS .............................................................................41 DESIGNING REPARATION PROGRAMS .............................................................................54 MODULE 6: TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL SOCIETY .......................................64 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................64 VICTIM PARTICIPATION AND REPARATIONS ..................................................................71 CIVIL SOCIETY -
The Law of Mental Illness
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LAW THE LAW OF MENTAL ILLNESS “[D]oing time in prison is particularly difficult for prisoners with men- tal illness that impairs their thinking, emotional responses, and ability to cope. They have unique needs for special programs, facilities, and extensive and varied health services. Compared to other prisoners, moreover, prisoners with mental illness also are more likely to be ex- ploited and victimized by other inmates.” HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, ILL-EQUIPPED: U.S. PRISONS AND OFFENDERS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS 2 (2003), available at http://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/usa1003/usa1003.pdf. “[I]ndividuals with disabilities are a discrete and insular minority who have been faced with restrictions and limitations, subjected to a history of purposeful unequal treatment, and relegated to a position of political powerlessness in our society, based on characteristics that are beyond the control of such individuals and resulting from stereotypic assumptions not truly indicative of the individual ability of such indi- viduals to participate in, and contribute to, society . .” Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-336, § 2(a)(7), 104 Stat. 327, 329 (codified at 42 U.S.C. § 12101 (2000)). “We as a Nation have long neglected the mentally ill . .” Remarks [of President John F. Kennedy] on Proposed Measures To Combat Mental Illness and Mental Retardation, PUB. PAPERS 137, 138 (Feb. 5, 1963). “[H]umans are composed of more than flesh and bone . [M]ental health, just as much as physical health, is a mainstay of life.” Madrid v. Gomez, 889 F. Supp. 1146, 1261 (N.D. Cal.