number 46 04.09. 06
spread of the red
UN Torture Investigator Accuses US of Hiding Detainees
The United Nations special investigator
on torture recently expressed his
frustration with the United States for
shielding prisoners in what have come to
be referred to as ‘black site’ prisons that
the investigator alleges are located in
both Europe and throughout Asia and
Africa. Manfred Nowak said that he had
proof that the United States, in
cooperation with various governments,
was holding captives in secret locations
beyond the scrutiny of of international
relief organizations such as the Red
Cross as well as United Nations torture
investigators. "I am 100 percent sure. I
have evidence," Nowak said in an
interview with The Associated Press.
None of these prisoners received due
on torture recently expressed his
frustration with the United States for
shielding prisoners in what have come to
be referred to as ‘black site’ prisons that
the investigator alleges are located in
both Europe and throughout Asia and
Africa. Manfred Nowak said that he had
proof that the United States, in
cooperation with various governments,
was holding captives in secret locations
beyond the scrutiny of of international
relief organizations such as the Red
Cross as well as United Nations torture
investigators. "I am 100 percent sure. I
have evidence," Nowak said in an
interview with The Associated Press.
None of these prisoners received due
process and some of them are being held
by governments that are alleged by the
United States to regularly engage in the
systematic torture of prisoners.
Nowak, an Australian professor of law
who is tasked with investigating reports of
torture that are filed with the UN said
that the practice of secret detention is
antithetical to the concept of open and
democratic societies and violates both UN
treaties and international law. "This is not
only unacceptable in Europe”, Nowak told
reporters, “it is unacceptable anywhere in
the world."
Amnesty International recently released a
report that chronicles the departure
by governments that are alleged by the
United States to regularly engage in the
systematic torture of prisoners.
Nowak, an Australian professor of law
who is tasked with investigating reports of
torture that are filed with the UN said
that the practice of secret detention is
antithetical to the concept of open and
democratic societies and violates both UN
treaties and international law. "This is not
only unacceptable in Europe”, Nowak told
reporters, “it is unacceptable anywhere in
the world."
Amnesty International recently released a
report that chronicles the departure
locations and destinations of over
1000 CIA so called ‘renditions’.
As reported previously in
redstateupdate.net, rendition is
the practice where kidnapped
suspects are sedated with spiked
anal suppositories, clothed in
adult diapers, shackled and
delivered to disparate and secret
locations. Amnesty reports that
prisoners who have been
rendered and then released from
US custody have described being
subjected to inhumane treatment
and torture. The CIA flights have
delivered detainees to dozens of
locations including Uzbekistan,
Israel and Saudi Arabia. it's all true
1000 CIA so called ‘renditions’.
As reported previously in
redstateupdate.net, rendition is
the practice where kidnapped
suspects are sedated with spiked
anal suppositories, clothed in
adult diapers, shackled and
delivered to disparate and secret
locations. Amnesty reports that
prisoners who have been
rendered and then released from
US custody have described being
subjected to inhumane treatment
and torture. The CIA flights have
delivered detainees to dozens of
locations including Uzbekistan,
Israel and Saudi Arabia. it's all true
| interpreting the constitution crowd control spread of the red one nation, under surveillance fun d' mental in bed with the red red state rebate verbatim |
fun d' mental
in bed with the red
Scalia Shows
Temperament
in Flip Flap
Temperament
in Flip Flap
Machine Makers Elect to Boycott Democratic Process in Florida County
In fulfillment of the 2002 Help America
Vote Act states and counties nationwide
have been procuring electronic voting
machines with grants from the federal
government. The legal requirement to
use the electronic voting machines is in
spite of a recent report by the
Government Accountability Office that
found security and reliability problems
with the machines.
More than 30 million Americans will use
such machines this spring in primary
elections that are manufactured by three
companies, Diebold, Electronic Systems
and Software and Sequoia.
Vote Act states and counties nationwide
have been procuring electronic voting
machines with grants from the federal
government. The legal requirement to
use the electronic voting machines is in
spite of a recent report by the
Government Accountability Office that
found security and reliability problems
with the machines.
More than 30 million Americans will use
such machines this spring in primary
elections that are manufactured by three
companies, Diebold, Electronic Systems
and Software and Sequoia.
The elections supervisor in Florida Leon
County, Ion Sancho, who has been
unable to buy machines from any of the
companies, claims that the businesses
have refused to sell to the county. Last
year Sancho allowed a computer scientist
to test Leon County's Diebold voting
machines.
The tests revealed that the Diebold
machines were vulnerable to hacking and
vote manipulation that cannot be
detected. The ATM style machines do
not give paper receipts. Diebold is also a
supplier of many of the nation’s ATM’s
all of which produce written receipts.
County, Ion Sancho, who has been
unable to buy machines from any of the
companies, claims that the businesses
have refused to sell to the county. Last
year Sancho allowed a computer scientist
to test Leon County's Diebold voting
machines.
The tests revealed that the Diebold
machines were vulnerable to hacking and
vote manipulation that cannot be
detected. The ATM style machines do
not give paper receipts. Diebold is also a
supplier of many of the nation’s ATM’s
all of which produce written receipts.
Sancho said he had "embarrassed the
current companies for the way they
do business. And now I believe I'm
being singled out for punishment by
the vendors.” As the state of Florida
has approved only machines made by
the three companies, Leon County
was forced to return a $564,000
federal grant.
The dispute in Florida is only one of
many nationwide involving the
electronic equipment. Primary
elections in Illinois, Texas and North
Carolina were marred by
irregularities. it's all true
current companies for the way they
do business. And now I believe I'm
being singled out for punishment by
the vendors.” As the state of Florida
has approved only machines made by
the three companies, Leon County
was forced to return a $564,000
federal grant.
The dispute in Florida is only one of
many nationwide involving the
electronic equipment. Primary
elections in Illinois, Texas and North
Carolina were marred by
irregularities. it's all true
When Justice Antonin Scalia, a
fervent Catholic, was asked by a
writer for the Boston Herald if he
faces questions about his
impartiality when it comes to
court matters involving religion he
responded by throwing a
common obsecene gesture at the
reporter and saying that is what
he has to say to such critics
adding that the gesture is
“Sicilian”. A photographer from
the press apparatus of the Boston
Catholic Archdiocese captured
Scalia’s lewd gesture. The high
court justice ordered the
photographer, “don’t publish
that”.
The Boston Herald later
published the photograph of the
gesture. When the photograph
was made public, the
photographer was fired by the
Boston Catholic organization.
The photographer, Peter Smith,
who had worked for the
archdiocese for ten years and
who is also an assistant professor
of photojournalism at Boston
University, said that the Catholic
Archdiocese had told him that
they would not publish the
picture and that he could not sell
the print to any other media
outlet.
Smith feels that, even though he
was fired by the religious
organization, he did the “ethical
thing” by offering the print for
publication to the Herald as it
clearly shows Scalia making the
lewd gesture. it's all true
fervent Catholic, was asked by a
writer for the Boston Herald if he
faces questions about his
impartiality when it comes to
court matters involving religion he
responded by throwing a
common obsecene gesture at the
reporter and saying that is what
he has to say to such critics
adding that the gesture is
“Sicilian”. A photographer from
the press apparatus of the Boston
Catholic Archdiocese captured
Scalia’s lewd gesture. The high
court justice ordered the
photographer, “don’t publish
that”.
The Boston Herald later
published the photograph of the
gesture. When the photograph
was made public, the
photographer was fired by the
Boston Catholic organization.
The photographer, Peter Smith,
who had worked for the
archdiocese for ten years and
who is also an assistant professor
of photojournalism at Boston
University, said that the Catholic
Archdiocese had told him that
they would not publish the
picture and that he could not sell
the print to any other media
outlet.
Smith feels that, even though he
was fired by the religious
organization, he did the “ethical
thing” by offering the print for
publication to the Herald as it
clearly shows Scalia making the
lewd gesture. it's all true
Traffic
| redstat |
BellSouth Takes Building and Goes Home
When the mayor of New Orleans
recently called for expanding free
wireless internet service to all of its
residents, BellSouth the city’s largest
phone service provider, responded by
rescinding a contribution it had made to
the New Orleans Police Department
after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city.
When the storm had passed, the
headquarters for the New Orleans
Police Department was devastated and
Bell South donated one of its buildings
to the city that had sustained only a
small amount of damage. Within hours
of the mayor’s announcement that he
planned to offer free high-speed wireless
Internet service, the phone company
withdrew the donation.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the
city of New Orleans created a citywide
municipal wireless network for use by
both law enforcement and citizens. The
free wireless network encompasses the
central business district and the French
recently called for expanding free
wireless internet service to all of its
residents, BellSouth the city’s largest
phone service provider, responded by
rescinding a contribution it had made to
the New Orleans Police Department
after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city.
When the storm had passed, the
headquarters for the New Orleans
Police Department was devastated and
Bell South donated one of its buildings
to the city that had sustained only a
small amount of damage. Within hours
of the mayor’s announcement that he
planned to offer free high-speed wireless
Internet service, the phone company
withdrew the donation.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the
city of New Orleans created a citywide
municipal wireless network for use by
both law enforcement and citizens. The
free wireless network encompasses the
central business district and the French
Quarter. The city’s mayor instituted the
network as an emergency measure
because a Louisiana law prohibits the
provision of free high-speed Internet
services by cities and municipalities in the
state. The measure was intended to
assist city agencies in recovery efforts
and entice businesses to rebuild and re-
open. Because half of the city’s phone
system is still inoperative, 15,000
residents currently use the system.
Greg Meffert, Chief Information Officer
of New Orleans said that he intends to
keep the network running. "If I have to
go to jail, I guess I will. We simply
cannot turn off these few lifelines we
have to our city and businesses," Meffert
recently told reporters. BellSouth
recently announced plans to merge with
AT&T. When the $67 billion deal is
completed, AT&T will become the
USA's biggest telecom with more than
$120 billion in annual revenue.
it's all true
network as an emergency measure
because a Louisiana law prohibits the
provision of free high-speed Internet
services by cities and municipalities in the
state. The measure was intended to
assist city agencies in recovery efforts
and entice businesses to rebuild and re-
open. Because half of the city’s phone
system is still inoperative, 15,000
residents currently use the system.
Greg Meffert, Chief Information Officer
of New Orleans said that he intends to
keep the network running. "If I have to
go to jail, I guess I will. We simply
cannot turn off these few lifelines we
have to our city and businesses," Meffert
recently told reporters. BellSouth
recently announced plans to merge with
AT&T. When the $67 billion deal is
completed, AT&T will become the
USA's biggest telecom with more than
$120 billion in annual revenue.
it's all true
US Personal savings - in billions
250
200
150
100
50
0
100
50
150
3-04 / 4-04 / 1-05 / 2-05 / 3-05 /4-05
source: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Sports : Play Ball
Damaged Credibility a Side Effect
As Steroids Scandal Gains Strength
As Steroids Scandal Gains Strength
Aaron.
Mitchell, the former Senate Majority
Leader, is also a former federal
prosecutor and federal judge, and has
headed commissions on the conflicts
in Northern Ireland and the Middle
East. He will be assisted in the
investigation by former US Attorney
Jeffrey G. Collins, and former
assistant US Attorney Thomas F.
Carlucci. Some critics of Major
League Baseball have pointed out
possible conflict of interest concerns
for Mitchell, who is a director of the
Boston Red Sox, and a former
director of the Florida Marlins.
Mitchell is also the chairman of the
Walt Disney Company, which owns
television sports network ESPN.
Baseball instituted its first steroid
testing program in 2003 and has
amended it several times since then.
Lesser offensive numbers and
a number of serious injuries in 2004
and 2005 may be indications that
use of the drugs is on the
decline. it's all true
Mitchell, the former Senate Majority
Leader, is also a former federal
prosecutor and federal judge, and has
headed commissions on the conflicts
in Northern Ireland and the Middle
East. He will be assisted in the
investigation by former US Attorney
Jeffrey G. Collins, and former
assistant US Attorney Thomas F.
Carlucci. Some critics of Major
League Baseball have pointed out
possible conflict of interest concerns
for Mitchell, who is a director of the
Boston Red Sox, and a former
director of the Florida Marlins.
Mitchell is also the chairman of the
Walt Disney Company, which owns
television sports network ESPN.
Baseball instituted its first steroid
testing program in 2003 and has
amended it several times since then.
Lesser offensive numbers and
a number of serious injuries in 2004
and 2005 may be indications that
use of the drugs is on the
decline. it's all true
Commissioner of Major League Baseball
Bud Selig has launched an investigation
into the use of steroids by players, a
scandal which has recently intensified
amid a spate of high profile allegations.
The probe will look at both active and
retired players in an effort to determine
the scope of the problem in both the
major and minor leagues, according to
MLB officials. Selig has appointed former
US Senator George Mitchell to lead the
investigation.
The issue of steroid use has been the
focus of increased media attention since
the federal investigation of San Francisco’
s Bay Area Laboratories Cooperative
produced testimony implicating several
major league players, among them big
names like Barry Bonds, Gary Sheffield,
and Jason Giambi. A recent book by San
Francisco Chronicle reporters focuses
on Bonds, a controversial superstar who
holds the major league records for home
runs in a season and most valuable player
awards, and who this season will pursue
two of the game’s most important
milestones: the career home run totals
of legends Babe Ruth and Hank
Bud Selig has launched an investigation
into the use of steroids by players, a
scandal which has recently intensified
amid a spate of high profile allegations.
The probe will look at both active and
retired players in an effort to determine
the scope of the problem in both the
major and minor leagues, according to
MLB officials. Selig has appointed former
US Senator George Mitchell to lead the
investigation.
The issue of steroid use has been the
focus of increased media attention since
the federal investigation of San Francisco’
s Bay Area Laboratories Cooperative
produced testimony implicating several
major league players, among them big
names like Barry Bonds, Gary Sheffield,
and Jason Giambi. A recent book by San
Francisco Chronicle reporters focuses
on Bonds, a controversial superstar who
holds the major league records for home
runs in a season and most valuable player
awards, and who this season will pursue
two of the game’s most important
milestones: the career home run totals
of legends Babe Ruth and Hank
Mets' Delgado No Longer a Free Agent
New York Mets first baseman
Carlos Delgado will join his new
teammates on the field for the
singing of “God Bless America”
this year, ending the silent antiwar
protest he had maintained
throughout the 2004 and 2005
seasons. Delgado has said that he
is curtailing the protest at the
request of Mets ownership, and
out of respect for team rules.
Delgado began the protest as a
member of the Toronto Blue Jays
in 2004, to signal his opposition
to the invasion of Iraq, and
continued it last season after
Carlos Delgado will join his new
teammates on the field for the
singing of “God Bless America”
this year, ending the silent antiwar
protest he had maintained
throughout the 2004 and 2005
seasons. Delgado has said that he
is curtailing the protest at the
request of Mets ownership, and
out of respect for team rules.
Delgado began the protest as a
member of the Toronto Blue Jays
in 2004, to signal his opposition
to the invasion of Iraq, and
continued it last season after
moving to the Florida Marlins as a free
agent. Former teammates say that while
many disagreed with Delgado on the
war, they were impressed by the
dignified manner of his protest. The
Mets’ request to stop the protest comes
at a time when polls show increasing
majorities opposing the invasion and
continued occupation of Iraq.
Delgado was a key off season acquisition
for the Mets, who are expected to
contend in the National League East.
Delgado has batted .284 for his career,
averaging 28 home runs and 90 RBI’s per
season. His 369 career home runs ranks
14th among active players. it's all true
agent. Former teammates say that while
many disagreed with Delgado on the
war, they were impressed by the
dignified manner of his protest. The
Mets’ request to stop the protest comes
at a time when polls show increasing
majorities opposing the invasion and
continued occupation of Iraq.
Delgado was a key off season acquisition
for the Mets, who are expected to
contend in the National League East.
Delgado has batted .284 for his career,
averaging 28 home runs and 90 RBI’s per
season. His 369 career home runs ranks
14th among active players. it's all true
Cuba Beats US Treasury En Route to WBC Final
Despite attempts by the US
Treasury Department to bar
them from the tournament, the
Cuban baseball team made it to
the World Baseball Classic and
almost won it all, falling in the
championship game to Japan,
10-6. On the way to the final in
San Diego, the Cubans beat
Puerto Rican and Dominican
teams filled with major league
stars.
Treasury Department to bar
them from the tournament, the
Cuban baseball team made it to
the World Baseball Classic and
almost won it all, falling in the
championship game to Japan,
10-6. On the way to the final in
San Diego, the Cubans beat
Puerto Rican and Dominican
teams filled with major league
stars.
The US had tried to block Cuban
participation in the WBC, but pressure
from both the international community
and major league baseball led to a
compromise whereby the Cuban team
could play if Cuba did not receive any
revenues from the tournament. Entering
the final, Cuba had won 22 of 24 games
in international competition, but a 4-run
first inning by Japan proved too much of
a deficit to overcome. it's all true
participation in the WBC, but pressure
from both the international community
and major league baseball led to a
compromise whereby the Cuban team
could play if Cuba did not receive any
revenues from the tournament. Entering
the final, Cuba had won 22 of 24 games
in international competition, but a 4-run
first inning by Japan proved too much of
a deficit to overcome. it's all true
redstat
50 or more home runs
| In major league history, the feat of hitting 50 or more home runs in a season has been accomplished 37 times by a total of 23 different players. |
1920-1989:
70 seasons,
17 times
70 seasons,
17 times
1990-2005:
16 seasons,
20 times
16 seasons,
20 times
source: major league baseball
spread of the red
red state rebate
Labor Department
Turns to Former Foe
Turns to Former Foe
Exxon Pays Less Than .0001% of Quarterly Profits
For Internal Revenue Service Audit of Critics
For Internal Revenue Service Audit of Critics
The President’s nominee to head the
Department of Labor’s Wage and
Hour Division is a prominent private
practice attorney who has made a
career of helping corporations fight
against workers rights and federal
regulations. Paul DeCamp has been a
highly successful Labor and
Employment Law specialist for the
Washington law firm of Gibson,
Dunn, and Crutcher.
DeCamp represented retail giant Wal-
Mart in its attempt to defend the
largest class action suit ever certified,
involving over a million women who
sued over discrimination in pay and
promotions. He acted as a consultant
to employers “regarding the full
range of employment law issues,
including wage and hour law
compliance,” according to the
Gibson, Dunn website.
The Wage and Hour Division
monitors compliance with federal
standards in the workplace. In
November, redstateupdate.net
reported on a controversial
settlement by the Division in a case
involving Wal-Mart. it's all true
Department of Labor’s Wage and
Hour Division is a prominent private
practice attorney who has made a
career of helping corporations fight
against workers rights and federal
regulations. Paul DeCamp has been a
highly successful Labor and
Employment Law specialist for the
Washington law firm of Gibson,
Dunn, and Crutcher.
DeCamp represented retail giant Wal-
Mart in its attempt to defend the
largest class action suit ever certified,
involving over a million women who
sued over discrimination in pay and
promotions. He acted as a consultant
to employers “regarding the full
range of employment law issues,
including wage and hour law
compliance,” according to the
Gibson, Dunn website.
The Wage and Hour Division
monitors compliance with federal
standards in the workplace. In
November, redstateupdate.net
reported on a controversial
settlement by the Division in a case
involving Wal-Mart. it's all true
An Internal Revenue Service audit of the
environmental organization Greenpeace
was apparently the result of lobbying by
a largely unknown public interest
watchdog group that was funded by oil
corporation ExxonMobil. An
investigation by the Wall Street
Journal found that Public Interest
Watch, which asked the IRS to look into
possible illegalities at Greenpeace,
received some 95% of its funding from
the petroleum giant. Greenpeace was
recently cleared after a lengthy audit of
its nonprofit status.
In 2003, Public Interest Watch
completed an “in depth investigation” of
the US branch of the internationally
known environmental activist group,
forwarding its report to the IRS and
urging the agency to investigate alleged
money laundering and other illegal
activities. Public Interest Watch, which
says it tracks the “growing misuse of
charitable funds by nonprofit
organizations,” accused Greenpeace of
the diversion of $24 million in tax
deductible contributions to related
entities, in a move which PIW argued
violated its federal tax-exempt status.
environmental organization Greenpeace
was apparently the result of lobbying by
a largely unknown public interest
watchdog group that was funded by oil
corporation ExxonMobil. An
investigation by the Wall Street
Journal found that Public Interest
Watch, which asked the IRS to look into
possible illegalities at Greenpeace,
received some 95% of its funding from
the petroleum giant. Greenpeace was
recently cleared after a lengthy audit of
its nonprofit status.
In 2003, Public Interest Watch
completed an “in depth investigation” of
the US branch of the internationally
known environmental activist group,
forwarding its report to the IRS and
urging the agency to investigate alleged
money laundering and other illegal
activities. Public Interest Watch, which
says it tracks the “growing misuse of
charitable funds by nonprofit
organizations,” accused Greenpeace of
the diversion of $24 million in tax
deductible contributions to related
entities, in a move which PIW argued
violated its federal tax-exempt status.
IRS auditors began their review of the
environmental organization in September
2005, and conducted their final
interviews with Greenpeace officials in
December. In March the group received
two letters from the IRS stating that
their nonprofit status was reconfirmed.
During the course of the investigation,
according to Greenpeace officials, IRS
personnel said that the PIW campaign
against Greenpeace had led to the audit.
IRS spokesmen declined to comment on
the causes of the review.
Public Interest Watch was founded in
2002 by Washington lobbyist Michael J.
Hardiman, who has represented the
American Conservative Union as well as
various business groups. PIW declines to
reveal its sources of funding except to
say that it receives contributions from
“business organizations,” but the
Journal reported that for the period
from August 2003 to July 2004, more
than 95% of its revenues came directly
from ExxonMobil. Hardiman told the
newspaper that he left Public Interest
Watch in 2004 to work as a civilian
contractor for the Pentagon in Iraq.
it's all true
environmental organization in September
2005, and conducted their final
interviews with Greenpeace officials in
December. In March the group received
two letters from the IRS stating that
their nonprofit status was reconfirmed.
During the course of the investigation,
according to Greenpeace officials, IRS
personnel said that the PIW campaign
against Greenpeace had led to the audit.
IRS spokesmen declined to comment on
the causes of the review.
Public Interest Watch was founded in
2002 by Washington lobbyist Michael J.
Hardiman, who has represented the
American Conservative Union as well as
various business groups. PIW declines to
reveal its sources of funding except to
say that it receives contributions from
“business organizations,” but the
Journal reported that for the period
from August 2003 to July 2004, more
than 95% of its revenues came directly
from ExxonMobil. Hardiman told the
newspaper that he left Public Interest
Watch in 2004 to work as a civilian
contractor for the Pentagon in Iraq.
it's all true
redstateupdate.net
verbatim number 9.2
"We support the
election process, we
support democracy…
election process, we
support democracy…
…but that doesn't mean
we have to support
governments that get
elected as a result of
democracy."
Washington DC 03.29.06
we have to support
governments that get
elected as a result of
democracy."
Washington DC 03.29.06
"Rafael Palmeiro is a
friend. He's the kind of
person that's going to
stand up in front of the
klieg lights and say he
didn't use steroids, and
I believe him."
Washington DC 07.01.05
friend. He's the kind of
person that's going to
stand up in front of the
klieg lights and say he
didn't use steroids, and
I believe him."
Washington DC 07.01.05
verbatim 9.3
