4/25: Con. Protests New Blackwater Development Near Cal-Mex Border (tags)
“Residents of San Diego County rejected Blackwater’s proposed mercenary training facility in Potrero, and I cannot imagine that San Diegans will feel any differently about Otay Mesa,” said Congressman Filner. “The use of civilian-defense contractors is irresponsible, and should be stopped immediately. Not only are they unaccountable to the Military, the State Department and Congress; they are civilians serving in combat and combat-training. Many have been wounded or have wounded others, and yet, they are not veterans; there is no safety net when they come home. It is criminal to ask civilian men and women to perform the role of the military when they lack the support necessary to return to their civilian lives. The paramilitary-style training conducted at these facilities has no place in our backyards!”
A Congressman of the People: Parren J. Mitchell (RIP) (tags)
Rep. Parren J. Mitchell, age 85, died on May 28, 2007. He served the people of Baltimore, MD, for eight terms in the U.S. Congress (1971-87). He was fighter for Civil Rights, who opposed the Vietnam War and pushed for the impeachment of Richard M. Nixon. Today, by contrast, Maryland is stuck with U.S. Sen., Barbara A. Mikulski. She supports funding for the Iraqi War, with no conditions, and condones the wrongdoings of President George W. Bush.
King Would be Proud of Rep. Barbara Lee! (tags)
On April 27, 2006, a Forum was held on Capitol Hill by the House of Representatives’ “Out of Iraq Caucus,” whose purpose is to end the Iraqi War and bring all the troops home. A leading Caucus members, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), also testified. She said there were no WMD in Iraq and that Osama bin Laden had no connections to 9/11, Iraq or Saddam Hussein. Lee said the Bush-Cheney Gang must answer to the people: “Why did [they] do it?”