Author: R J Adams

At the last Democratic hopefuls’ debate, when asked if he thought prayer could actually produce results, John Edwards was honest enough to say, “No.” He went on to explain that he had prayed before his son, Wade, died in 1996; had also prayed for his wife’s health prior to the news she had cancer. As a result, or perhaps because of the lack of any, he no longer had faith in prayer as a means to an end.

That is a refreshingly honest observation from a politician in America today. It leaves one wondering how the question might be answered by any of the Republican hopefuls.

In sharp contrast to Edward’s forthrightness, Hilary Clinton trotted out the same old political side-steps and tried to show herself as a tough, experienced, campaigner well suited to handling the nation’s primary position. It may be an attitude that is winning her friends among the electorate. But then, the American voter is easily swayed.

After eight years of the Clinton’s in office, and a dozen or so of the Bush dynasty at the helm, the last thing America needs is more of the same.

“Ah,” but I hear the cry, “The Clinton years were good years.”

No, they were not.

In his latest article published recently in the UK’s leading current affair’s magazine, New Statesman, award-winning journalist John Pilger, writes of Bill Clinton:

“In 1993, he pursued George H W Bush’s invasion of Somalia. He invaded Haiti in 1994. He bombed Bosnia in 1995 and Serbia in 1999. In 1998, he bombed Afghanistan; and, at the height of his Monica Lewinsky troubles, he momentarily diverted the headline writers to a major “terrorist target” in Sudan that he ordered destroyed with an onslaught of missiles. It turned out to be sub-Saharan Africa’s largest pharmaceutical plant, the only source of chloroquine, the treatment for malaria, and other drugs that were lifelines to hundreds of thousands. As a result, wrote Jonathan Belke, then of the Near East Foundation, “tens of thousands of people – many of them children – have suffered and died from malaria, tuberculosis and other treatable diseases”.

Long before Shock and Awe, Clinton was destroying and killing in Iraq. Under the lawless pretence of a “no-fly zone”, he oversaw the longest allied aerial bombardment since the Second World War. This was hardly reported. At the same time, he imposed and tightened a Washington-led economic siege estimated to have killed a million civilians. “We think the price is worth it,” said his secretary of state, Madeleine Albright, in an exquisite moment of honesty.”

The pharmaceutical plant quoted by Pilger was al-Shifa in Sudan. Stated “US intelligence”, along with ex-pat opponents of the Sudanese government, suggested the plant was producing nerve gas and was linked to Osama bin Laden. In fact, justification for the incident bore a remarkable similarity to the excuses trotted out by the Bush administration just prior to the invasion of Iraq.

Americans who consider Hilary Clinton an admirable suitor for their vote should bear in mind that her previous experience in the White House is not necessarily a positive asset. In fact, it is quite the opposite.

Pilger again:

“These days, you see Good Ol’ Bill, or the Comeback Kid, as he is variously known, wiggling his head on the TV news, campaigning for his wife, Hillary, among Americans who, terminally naive, still believe the Democratic Party is theirs and that “it’s time to vote a woman into the White House”. Together, the Clintons are known as “Billary” and rightly so. Like Good Ol’ Bill, his wife has no plans to address the divisions of a society that allows 130,000 Americans to claim the wealth of millions of their fellow citizens. Like GOB, she wants to continue Iraq’s torment for perhaps a decade. And she has not “ruled out” attacking Iran.”

What America needs after twenty years of White House lies, evasion, and political subterfuge is a smattering of truth and honesty from its leaders. Sparrow Chat has no political affiliations, and is not subject to any “party loyalty”. Simple observation is sufficient to illuminate the snake-oil salesman facade projected by most prospective candidates for George Bush’s desk, and at this early stage it’s still not possible to select one as a suitable future US president.

Nevertheless, a smattering of honesty and integrity from any politician is as welcome as a warm day in the Arctic, and equally as rare.

Read the complete article by John Pilger HERE.

Filed under: Pick me, pick me

In the English Lake District of the 1920’s it was usual, from atop a high fell or hillside, to view thin plumes of wood smoke drifting languidly up through the trees. The charcoal burners were busy at their trade, slowly and methodically controlling the burn by cutting and laying turves to form a mound, under which the wood smoldered for days or weeks at a time. It was an English Lakeland industry, though always in keeping with the protection and balance of the countryside.

Until recently, there were twelve members of the Rugendo family. Men with rifles came twice. In total they slaughtered six; perhaps, seven – one infant from the family is still missing. A number of other family members were injured, but will recover.

Who committed these atrocities, and how does it pertain to the charcoal burners of the English Lake District?

The slaughter of the Rugendo family members has no relevance to the English charcoal burners, but everything to do with the product they manufactured. The Rugendo family live in Africa, the Virunga National Park; part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are a family of mountain gorillas. Aproximately three hundred and fifty gorillas live in Virunga; it is said, sixty percent of the world population.

Barely a generation ago, we – Homo sapiens – regarded the gorilla as a huge, vicious, beast ready and willing to tear us limb from limb at any opportunity, due, perhaps in part to early Hollywood movies, but most certainly as a result of mid-20th century African explorers. They brought back lurid tales of these creatures based more on imaginings than scientific study.

Thankfully, we now know the truth about the mountain gorilla and the gentleness, intelligence, and tranquility of these animals is well documented, thanks to Jane Goodall and others like her.

One would think the protection of our nearest genetic relative would be assured. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not content with devastating this planet to fuel our greed – a ravagement inevitably leading to our own eventual destruction – we are encroaching on the habitat of other species with bulldozer-like efficiency. The Virunga National Park is supposed to be protected, yet the rangers have not received their government salaries for years. Instead, they are supported by voluntary contributions, but are hopelessly under-funded, under-manned, and out-gunned, constantly in danger from those who would devour Virunga for the purpose of profit.

Charcoal is a $30 million-a-year industry in the DRC, and Virunga is the fuel that fires the fortunes. It’s a simple philosophy. Virunga exists to serve the mountain gorilla. Rid Virunga of the gorillas, and no-one will object when it is burnt to the ground.

Is anyone doing anything to stop it? Are George Bush, Gordon Brown, Sarkozy, Merckel, or any of our “leaders” doing anything to stop it? Are they even aware it is happening?

No, they are doing nothing. In fact, they are neither aware, nor interested. Scientists predict there is a strong possibility many, if not all, ape species may be exterminated within one human generation.

What does that say about us?

The charcoal burners of the English Lake District are long gone, eradicated by a world only concerned with profit margins and factory efficiency. The few who remain are confined to “model farms” or “visitor centers”, to be ogled by tourists. They are no longer free to roam the English hillsides and fells. They are confined. A preserved relic of a bygone age.

The mountain gorilla of Virunga is also about to be eradicated, cast aside by the same demand for profit. Homo sapiens has become primarily a businessman, but unlike good businessmen we gloat over our profits, and deny our losses. Before long, one of those losses will be our closest relative on this planet.

Can the short-term profit really be worth the long-term loss?

Read more on the plight of the mountain gorillas of Virunga:

HERE

HERE

and at Wildlifedirect.org a charity supporting the work of Virunga’s Rangers. A charity desperately in need of your donations.

Filed under: Imminent extinctions

Mention the name Jose Padilla and most people will immediately think, “Dirty Bomber”. It was, after all, the nickname imposed on him by the media after he was arrested at O’Hare Airport in 2002. Padilla was accused by the US government of plotting to blow up an American city with a radioactive “dirty” bomb. No trial ever ensued and Padilla was locked away from everyone in a naval brig for three and a half years.

What happened to him over that time is cause for conjecture, but an article in the Chicago Sun Times from Dec 5th, 2006 states that a Pentagon video shows him:

“……chained hand and foot, wearing headphones and goggles, and being led out of his cell by guards dressed in camouflage and wearing riot helmets and visors.”

Padilla himself claimed he was:

“…….forced to stand in painful stress positions, given LSD or some other drug as a “truth serum,” subjected to loud noises and noxious odors, and forced to endure sleep deprivation, extreme heat and cold, and harsh lights.”

Three and a half years is a long time to be shut away anywhere, even when the treatment is humane. It seems likely that was not the case. Particularly galling then, that after so long, Padilla was never charged with the crime for which he was arrested.

Jose Padilla was eventually tried for “conspiracy to murder and material support of terrorism”. Today he was found guilty, along with two other defendants who seemed to be the real focus of the trial. Padilla was, to use the words of Slate magazine’s legal analyst, Dahlia Lithwick, “…..grafted on to the notion the other two were sending money…. [to fund terrorism].

This seems to be the crux of the Government’s case, that Padilla and his co-defendants were raising money to fund terrorism and by so doing were conspiring to: [Dahlia Lithwick]: “…. murder and maim folks all over the world including Chechnia, Somalia, Afghanistan…..”

Other evidence included an alleged Mujahadeen data form “discovered” by the CIA in 2001, supposedly filled in by Padilla and with his fingerprints all over it, and hours of telephone calls between all three defendants using, according to the CIA, codewords that stood for terrorist activities and used to cover up the true intent of the conversations.

There may be a few Americans unbiased sufficient to question the veracity and honesty of the CIA. Certain papers documenting previous activities that bear out these uncertainties have come to light over the years. Given that Padilla was not the focus of the case for which he gained most notoriety, and was apparently convicted on the backs of two other defendants, it could be theorized that Padilla’s internment for so long in a navy brig allowed the CIA to seek out evidence to support their “dirty bomber” allegations. Unable to find any such evidence because it undoubtedly did not exist, during interrogation of Padilla and when he was in a less than normal state of mind, his interrogators could easily have demanded he fill certain forms, causing his fingerprints to impregnate the documents.

The question must be asked as to how difficult it would be for the CIA to forge a Mujahadeen application form for employment? After all, the CIA supplied them with cash and weapons for years, to fight the Russians in Afghanistan.

The case of Jose Padilla is not over. Sentencing will take place in December. It is to be hoped his defense council will act quickly to arrange an appeal against sentence. Unfortunately, they are up against one of the most powerful forces in the world today; the United States government.

Jose Padilla is a United States citizen. After the way he’s been treated, allowing him to walk away would look bad for a president who strutted his stuff while announcing Padilla’s capture. They’ll go to great lengths to avoid that.

On hearing the outcome of this trial today, Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council at the White House, said:

“”Jose Padilla received a fair trial and a just verdict……we commend the jury for its work in this trial and thank it for upholding a core American principle of impartial justice for all.”

Impartial justice for all?

Perhaps the most frightening aspect of this drawn-out, judicial farce is that Mister Gordon Johndroe will probably sleep well in his bed tonight.

Filed under: Probable despotism