From: pdla-bounces@svpal.org [mailto:pdla-bounces@svpal.org] On Behalf Of Welcome Pdla!
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 5:17 PM
To: pdla@svpal.org
Subject: [PDLA] The 51st State? A Message from Lila Garrett on Military Plans to Convert
A message from PDLA's Lila Garrett ....
Friends: To understand how seriously the military-industrial complex plans to make our war economy permanent, note that the Pentagon and military contractors are in the midst of taking over 94,000 square miles ( 60,160,000 acres) of Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico to create the largest area for the development & production of “robotic weapons” in the world. We’re talking about, among other things, drones the size of bugs with unlimited potential to blow up who knows? Any city? Any country? Think of it as the creation of our 51st State. The
Next Monday, Aug. 22, CONNECT THE DOTS will cover this issue.
In the meantime, if you'd like to learn more or donate to stop the
51st state, log on to: not1moreacre.net
Lila Garrett (Host of CONNECT THE DOTS)
KPFK 90.7 FM in LA; 98.7
99.5
Airs Mondays from 7AM to 8AM.
To pod cast or download the broadcast use this link:
Each show is on line for three months.
* * *
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/08/15-0
The World Should Be Watching
by Joel Federman
Common Dreams: 8/15/2011
Global media coverage of news from
[ Joel Federman)]
(photo: Joel Federman)
The trial of Hosni Mubarak, who oversaw his government's killing of more than 1,000 Egyptians, whose only crime was peacefully protesting for basic human rights and dignity, is an important step toward establishing the rule of law in
It has also been a genuine community, with Egyptians sharing food, music, living space, culture, and ideas.
Dr. Pakinam El Sharkawy, Director of Cairo University's Center for Civilization Studies and Dialogue of Cultures, describes the experience of Tahrir Square during the early revolutionary days as "magnificient....It was something really spiritual. There were gates in Tahrir, and when you entered the gates, you feel the spirit: people sitting together, caring for each other, loving each other. The most secure place in
[ Wikipedia.]
source: Wikipedia.
SCAF tactics since the initial closing of the square have only escalated in violence. After the square was cleared on Monday, August 1, the following Friday evening, August 5, a few hundred peaceful protesters gathered to break their Ramadan fast and briefly demonstrate. The protesters made it clear they weren't attempting to re-occupy the Square. But, unprovoked, the military violently attacked the protesters. I was a witness to this attack.
The protesters were on an island of the square that was open earlier in the day, not the center area that has been cordoned off by the police since Monday. They shared food with each other. Then, they demonstrated, with speeches, chants, and songs.
The army gathered across the street, but it seemed from their formations that they were just there to stop protesters from blocking traffic or reoccupying the central island of the square. Then, without any provocation, the army charged the island. This was not a standard police-style block formation to clear protesters out of a public space. This was a brutal attack by the military on completely unarmed, 100% peaceful protesters, whose protest was largely completed.
The soliders beat dozens of protesters
indiscriminately, most of whom were simply trying to escape. I repeatedly saw groups of five to ten soldiers chase down boys who couldn't be any older than ten years old and beat them with yard-long sticks. The soldiers chased protesters many blocks from
Many dozens of bullets were fired as the soldiers chased the protesters through the streets, presumably into the air. Though there haven't been reports of anyone being shot, though many protesters were hospitalized from their beating injuries.
Clearly, the purpose of the attack was not just to clear that little island of the square. The level of brutality suggests that its true purpose was to strike fear in the hearts of anyone who wants to make public political expression in the main town
In terms of world media attention, the Egyptian regime is getting away with tremendous brutality, possibly because the brutality in
Federman)
When asked about the importance of
Despite the brutality, the democratic movement in
In the wake of the events of last Friday, a broad coalition of organizations organized a new protest in
Joel Federman teaches at
No comments:
Post a Comment