here's another angle they are currently investigating as well. This is
gonna be long but, it's the whole tillman story...

New panel to investigate all the lies, foul play, deaths and cover ups
surrounding the Tillman and Lynch cases may be another whitewash

A U.S. House committee has announced it will hold hearings to
investigate misleading military statements that followed the friendly
fire death of Pat Tillman in Afghanistan and the rescue of Pfc. Jessica
Lynch in Iraq.

As reported by the Associated Press , the House Committee on Oversight
and Government Reform said an April 24 hearing will be part of its
investigation into whether there was a strategy to mislead the public.

It will “examine why inaccurate accounts of these two incidents were
disseminated, the sources and motivations for the accounts, and whether
the appropriate administration officials have been held accountable,”
the panel said on its Web site.

The House Armed Services Committee also is considering Tillman hearings,
a spokeswoman for that panel said Monday.

The Tillman and Lynch cases are two clear and blatant examples of how
the government has consistently lied to the public about events during
both the wars in Afghanistan and in Iraq, often spinning situations and
distorting reality in order to put the US military occupations in a
better light.

We have covered both cases extensively and exposed the propaganda and
the cover ups that have followed, now it seems, rather encouragingly,
that some within the House are taking an interest in uncovering the
truth and exposing the lies perpetrated by the Neocon White House war
machine.

The Lynch case is well documented. In 2003 facing flack and extreme
criticism the Bush administration orchestrated a clear piece of war
propaganda in an effort to rally the people behind the troops and the
Invasion of Iraq.

In April 2003 the US Army’s 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company took a
wrong turning near Nassiriya and was ambushed by Iraqi soldiers. Nine of
Lynch’s US comrades were killed. The Iraqis took Lynch to the local
hospital, where she was kept for eight days.

The Iraqi soldiers fled the hospital days before Lynch’s rescuers
stormed it. The doctors there, having already tried and failed to return
Lynch to the Americans after they fired upon an ambulance which she was
being transported in, described the “rescue” as a Hollywood show , as
special forces stormed in with cameras rolling.

“It was like a Hollywood film. They cried, ‘Go, go, go’, with guns and
blanks and the sound of explosions. They made a show - an action movie
like Sylvester Stallone or Jackie Chan, with jumping and shouting,
breaking down doors.” one doctor later recounted.

First, a U.S. military spokesman in Iraq was ordered by CENTCOM to tell
journalists that soldiers exchanged fire during the Rambo like rescue,
without adding that Iraqi soldiers had already abandoned the hospital,
then the military released a green-tinted night-vision film of the
mission, adding to the drama.

Releasing its five-minute film to the networks, the Pentagon then
claimed that Lynch had stab and bullet wounds, and that she had been
slapped about on her hospital bed, interrogated and possibly even raped.

Then news organizations began repeating reports that Lynch had
heroically resisted capture, emptying her gun as she fired at her
attackers.

But subsequent disclosures have proved all those details to be complete
fabrications. Lynch was badly injured by the crash of her vehicle, her
weapon jammed before she could fire, the Iraqi doctors made friends with
her and treated her kindly, and the hospital was already in friendly
hands when her rescuers arrived.

Asked by the ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer after the event if the
military’s portrayal of the rescue bothered her, Lynch said: “Yeah, it
does. It does that they used me as a way to symbolize all this stuff.
Yeah, it’s wrong,”.

Lynch went on the record quickly and has since gone on to denounce the
whole debacle as outright propaganda. This was perhaps wise given that
four of Lynch’s rescuers and colleagues have coincidentally died since.

Petty Officer First Class David M. Tapper died of wounds received in
Afghanistan. He took part in the rescue.

Lance Cpl. Sok Khak Ung was killed in a drive-by shooting. He was also
part of the rescue team.

Spc Josh Daniel Speer died when his car crashed into some trees for no
apparent reason. He was part of the rescue team.

Kyle Edward Williams, who worked in the same company as Lynch, died of
“suicide”.

Will the House committee be investigating these deaths as part of the
hearings?



We have previously reported on how Pat Tillman’s tragic death was also
seized upon and used as a cheap propaganda tool by the government for
the war on terror and the invasion of Iraq. His death may have even been
a criminal plot manufactured to this end, a suspicion that both military
investigators and Tillman’s family have repeated.

After his death it was announced that Tillman, the All American poster
boy, the former sporting hero who had traded in his football boots for
army boots after witnessing the 9/11 attacks, had been tragically gunned
down by evil Taliban terrorists whilst he was charging up a hill side to
attack, bellowing orders to fellow Rangers.

A nationally televised memorial service and a Silver Star commendation
cemented Tillman’s place as the nation’s first war hero since the story
of Jessica Lynch’s capture and phony details of her rescue were foisted
on the public in 2003.

The truth was that Tillman’s death was being exploited for public
relations purposes by the U.S. military and the administration.

Weeks later, the Army acknowledged that Tillman had been a victim of
friendly fire whilst on a routine patrol.

Tillman’s platoon of the Second Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, began
the day that he died dealing with a minor annoyance in the southeastern
part of Afghanistan where the soldiers were conducting sweeps, the Army
records show, one of their vehicles would not start.

Against their own policy and after the overruling of some objections,
the platoon split into two parts so that half the team, including
Tillman, could go on to the next town for sweeps while the second half
could tow the disabled vehicle to a drop-off spot.

But both groups ended up in the same twisting canyon, along the same
road, without radio communication. And after the sounds of an enemy
ambush, three Rangers in the second group wound up firing at members of
the first group — at an Afghan soldier who was fighting alongside
Tillman, and then at Tillman himself.

The Afghan was killed. According to testimony, Tillman, who along with
others on the hill waved his arms and yelled “cease fire,” set off a
smoke grenade to identify his group as fellow soldiers. There was a
momentary lull in the firing, and he and the soldier next to him,
thinking themselves safe, relaxed, stood up and started talking. But the
shooting resumed. Tillman was hit in the wrist with shrapnel and in his
body armor with numerous bullets.

The soldier next to him testified: “I could hear the pain in his voice
as he called out, ‘Cease fire, friendlies, I am Pat f—ing Tillman,
dammit.” He said this over and over until he stopped,” having been hit
by three bullets in the forehead, killing him.

It was also admitted that soldiers destroyed evidence — Tillman’s
uniform and flak vest — after the shooting, claiming that they were a
“biohazard”. However another soldier involved offered a contradictory
take, saying “the uniform and equipment had blood on them and it would
stir emotion” that needed to be suppressed until the Rangers finished
their work overseas.

An initial investigation by then-Capt. Richard Scott, interviewed all
four shooters, their driver, and many others who were there. He
concluded within a week that while some of the gunmen demonstrated
“gross negligence” others demonstrated “criminal intent” and recommended
further investigation to push for the harshest possible criminal
sentencing.

But Scott’s report disappeared after circulating briefly among a small
corps of high-ranking officers. Some of Tillman’s relatives think the
Army buried the report because its findings indicated foul play. Army
officials refused to provide a copy to the media, saying no materials
related to the investigation could be released. A second investigation
was then commenced by a higher ranking officer which called for less
severe punishment.

Richard Scott later gave testimony alleging that Army officials allowed
witnesses to change key details in their sworn statements so his
findings could be softened.

Scott stated “watching some of these guys getting off, what I thought …
was a lesser of a punishment than what they should’ve received. And I
will tell you, over a period of time … the stories have changed. They
have changed to, I think, help some individuals.”

The document containing Scott’s testimony was reviewed by the San
Francisco Chronicle . In a published story in September 2005 the
Chronicle highlighted the following passage from Scott:

“They had the entire chain of command (inaudible) that were involved,
the [deleted], all sticking up for [deleted] … And the reason the
[deleted] called me in … because the [deleted] … changed their story in
how things occurred and the timing and the distance in an attempt to
stick up for their counterpart, implied, insinuated that the report
wasn’t as accurate as I submitted it …”

In another section of his testimony, he said witnesses changed details
regarding “the distance, the time, the location, the lighting conditions
and the positioning” in Tillman’s killing.

There are many other examples of conflicting testimony in the Tillman
case including the fact that he may not have been killed immediately and
was certainly given CPR hours after being shot in the head three times.

At least one Army officer, the records show, changed his sworn
statements about which supervisor had actually ordered the split of the
platoon and what conversations had occurred before the order was given.

A further review of the case by the Pentagon’s inspector general,Gen.
Gary M. Jones found that Army officers told soldiers to remain quiet
about the circumstances of Tillman’s death for fear of negative news
coverage.

One or more members of the Tillman family will testify in the new
hearings, in addition to Jessica Lynch herself.

The Tillman family have been very reluctantly outspoken since the tragic
Death of Pat Tillman, “All I asked for is what happened to my son, and
it has been lie after lie after lie,” Tillman’s father told the New York
Times , explaining that he believed the matter should remain “between me
and the military” but that he had grown too troubled to keep silent.

Quoted elsewhere Mr Tillman has stated “The administration clearly was
using this case for its own political reasons… This cover-up started
within minutes of Pat’s death, and it started at high levels. This is
not something that (lower-ranking) people in the field do,” he said.

“After it happened, all the people in positions of authority went out of
their way to script this,” Mr Tillman has said. “They purposely
interfered with the investigation …. I think they thought they could
control it, and they realized that their recruiting efforts were going
to go to hell in a handbasket if the truth about his death got out.”

Mr Tillman is certain that a cover up has been perpetrated and believes
his son’s death may not even have been an accident.

“There is so much nonstandard conduct, both before and after Pat was
killed, that you have to start to wonder,” Mr. Tillman said. “How much
effort would you put into hiding an accident? Why do you need to hide an
accident?”

Kevin Tillman, Pat’s brother (pictured above) has also been very
outspoken and recently slammed the Bush administration and the war in
Iraq in a lengthy article . Kevin Tillman wrote:

Somehow those afraid to fight an illegal invasion decades ago are
allowed to send soldiers to die for an illegal invasion they started.
Somehow faking character, virtue and strength is tolerated. Somehow
profiting from tragedy and horror is tolerated. Somehow the death of
tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people is tolerated. Somehow
subversion of the Bill of Rights and The Constitution is tolerated.
Somehow suspension of Habeas Corpus is supposed to keep this country
safe. Somehow torture is tolerated. Somehow lying is tolerated.Indeed,
it has been revealed since his death that Pat Tillman was himself highly
critical of the war in Iraq where he also served a tour of duty. Fellow
soldiers have described the well spoken, well educated Tillman as having
strong views, often openly stating “this war is so f— illegal.” and
describing Tillman as “totally against Bush.”

Moved in part by the 9/11 attacks, Tillman decided to give up his
career, saying he wanted to fight al Qaeda and help find Osama bin
Laden. He spurned an offer of a three year, $3.6 million NFL contract
extension with Arizona Cardinals and joined the Army in June 2002.

Instead of going to Afghanistan, as Tillman expected, their Ranger
battalion was sent to participate in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in
March 2003.

Word of the new hearings comes three years after Tillman was killed and
two weeks after the Pentagon released the latest findings of its own
investigations into Pat Tillman’s death. The latest report once again
faults as many as nine officers as responsible for mistakes and
irregularities during the investigation into Tillman’s death, but also
dismisses the notion of a cover up, much the same as a previous report
did in 2005.

In all, the Army and Defense Department have conducted five
investigations into Tillman’s April 22, 2004 death, with the most recent
one pointing toward high-ranking military officers knowing the
circumstances of his death long before Tillman’s family.

As reported by the AP, a memo sent to a four-star general a week after
Tillman’s death revealed that then-Maj. Gen. Stanley McChrystal warned
that it was “highly possible” the Army Ranger was killed by friendly
fire. McChrystal made it clear his warning should be conveyed to the
president.

The memo was provided to the AP by a government official who requested
anonymity because the document was not released as part of the
Pentagon’s official report into the way the Army brass withheld the
truth. McChrystal was, and still is, commander of the Joint Special
Operations Command, head of “black ops” forces and was the
highest-ranking officer accused of wrongdoing in the report.

Tillman’s parents have since stated that they believe the memo backs the
cover up theory. “He knew it was friendly fire in the very beginning,
and he never intervened to help, and he essentially has covered up a
crime in order to promote the war,” Mary Tillman said in a telephone
interview. “All of this was done for PR purposes.”

As the AP commented, The memo reinforces suspicions that the Pentagon
was more concerned with sparing officials from embarrassment than with
leveling with Tillman’s family.

Although it is encouraging that the high profile Tillman and Lynch cases
are being investigated, it seems there are countless others that should
be deserving of the same treatment. One such example is the case of Jess
Buryj , a soldier from Canton, Ohio, who (it turns out) died in a
friendly fire incident – shot in the back.

When his parents were told by the U.S. military that Polish soldiers
were responsible for his death, a soldier who served with Buryi could
not bear for the truth to be buried and so told Buryi’s parents that an
American G.I. was actually at fault. Buryj’s father was so shaken by the
alleged cover-up that he came to question whether the body they buried
was even their son’s.

Again and again, the press, the public, parents and spouses have been
lied to about how young Americans in the military have died. The lies
and the propaganda are endemic, just as the Bush government cannot
afford to allow Americans to see flag draped coffins coming home, nor
can they allow the truth of the war machine to be exposed and jeopardize
their international killing spree.

ehheheheehehhahahahahah nannanana What's Up Doc?????? Where's me carrots

By Sarah Olson Tuesday 24 April 2007
Jeff Slocum is a 41-year-old chief master sergeant in the United
States Air Force. He's spent the last 21 years in the military and has
been stationed in Europe, Korea, Honduras and the Middle East. He's now
an engineer at Pope Air Force Base near Fayetteville, North Carolina. He
loves his work, has enormous faith in the military and believes in
serving his country. Until recently, he planned to spend his entire life
in military service. But the events in Iraq have forced Slocum to
question the viability of that plan and ultimately to change his life
course.

"First and foremost, we should never have gone into Iraq," says
Slocum, sitting in a cafe in Fayetteville, a town filled with
unbelievably picturesque fountains and a central square that, before it
housed restaurants and a coffee shop with wireless internet access, was
home to the area's slave auction. "I felt betrayed by the commanders who
said they'd find a way to make this war work, when they knew it wasn't
practical. This was a betrayal of the men and women who are fighting in
Iraq."

Slocum says he used to rely on Fox News and Rush Limbaugh for
information. He thought President Bush was "folksy and sincere" and
voted for him in 2004. But even when Slocum was stationed at a NATO
office in Europe during the build-up to the Iraq war, he says he could
feel a palpable shift in attitudes towards the US after the invasion of
Iraq. He says he felt his country was betraying the trust and good will
of the rest of the world. After seeing such scorn in the eyes of his
colleagues, he began to question the US decision to invade Iraq.

It wasn't until he started talking to his Aunt Peg that he began to
make sense of these observations. Peg encouraged him to see Michael
Moore's "Fahrenheit 911," a movie Slocum found so shocking that he
watched it twice. She was also willing to discuss its ideas afterwards,
and pointed him towards alternative news outlets. Now Slocum cites
people like US Army 1st Lt. Ehren Watada - the first commissioned
officer to refuse orders to deploy to Iraq - as military role models.

"I was going to be in the Air Force for 30 years," says Slocum, who
just filed his retirement paperwork and expects to be released by
October 1, 2007. "This is about fundamentally changing what I'm doing
with my life. It's about getting out of the Air Force so I can advocate
more strongly for peace and an end to the Iraq conflict."

Chief Master Sergeant Slocum signed the Appeal for Redress back in
February. The Appeal is a petition asking Congressional representatives
to remove US troops and bases from Iraq promptly. Correspondence with
political representatives is explicitly protected by military law. The
Appeal provides a safe and legal way for active duty members of the
military to voice their frustrations with the ongoing war. Nearly 2,000
active duty members of the military have signed the Appeal for Redress
thus far.

"The Appeal for Redress is very specific," Slocum says. "It says
that we're in a losing situation in Iraq, and we're not doing a good job
taking care of those who have been grievously harmed in Iraq and who
will need care for the rest of their lives."

As Chief Master Sergeant Slocum soon found out, speaking against the
war is infectious: once you start, it's hard to stop. The electronic
signature on the Appeal for Redress became the first of many actions
Slocum would take to voice his personal opposition to the Iraq war.

Slocum joined a growing number of ordinary citizens who loved their
country and believed in their leaders, and who are now making
extraordinary shifts in their relationship to the democratic process.
Many have taken action beyond the protected communication of the
petition. Signers of the Appeal have marched in demonstrations against
the war. They've held press conferences, and their protests have been
covered in every major media outlet in the country. In signing the
Appeal, many know their lives will no longer be the same, and, like
Slocum, many have found that their ethics compel them to make radical
shifts in their life's direction.

Opposing military policy while still enlisted isn't easy. "I've
gotten some considerably negative feedback. Many people of my rank
believe what I'm doing is totally contrary to effective leadership,"
says Slocum, adding that some have told him he should have been hanged
along with Saddam Hussein. As a chief master sergeant, Slocum holds the
highest-ranking noncommissioned position available in the Air Force, and
he believes he must live up to this position by showing leadership.

"You can protect the institution of the military through silence,"
he says. "To protect the men and women fighting this war, you have to
speak up. There is no courage or honor in silence." Preserving speech
rights for members of the military is one of Slocum's goals.

"People are told that we volunteered, and therefore we have a duty
to blindly follow orders. But that's not true," Slocum explains. While
military personnel agree to certain limited restrictions on speech, the
Uniform Code of Military Justice permits GIs to express most personal
views, as long as they're off base, off duty and out of uniform. But
while this looks good on paper, Slocum believes members of the military
are routinely silenced.

"From the very founding of this nation, patriotism was going against
the grain for the greater good of the country," says Slocum. "A true
patriot is not afraid to look out for the best interests of the nation
and its citizens. Today, we are using patriotism to subdue people, to
convince them to not exercise their rights. Are we really serving the
citizens well by being in Iraq? I think the truth is no, we're not."

How can an institution based on ideals such as integrity and service
continue to support a mission that may not be in the public's best
interests? This is a moral and ethical conundrum Chief Master Sergeant
Slocum never expected to face.

"A lot of people are numb or just not willing to accept that we are
in a situation not unlike Vietnam. How could our government take
advantage of us like this again?" asks Slocum, who says the honor,
dedication and loyalty of military service members is being abused by
continuation of the Iraq war.

Roughly 2.1 million members of the military have served in some
phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Even when you include military
families, only about four or five percent of the US public has been
personally touched by the Iraq war. Slocum believes the public is
disengaged from the war in large part because no one they know is
fighting it. In addition, Slocum says, the American public has been
encouraged to avoid thinking critically about the conflict or the troops
fighting it. "This administration says that when times are tough, we
should all go shopping."

But with increasing numbers of American and Iraqi casualties, a
burgeoning civil war, an exhausted military serving for longer and more
frequent tours of duty with few resources, Slocum believes this is
precisely the time when Americans must be most engaged.

"There's story upon story from people who say, 'I can't believe I'm
going back for my third or fourth tour,'" Slocum says. "They are all
saying they have the same problems, on the same streets, as they had
when they left."

When Slocum retires in October of 2007, he will do so with regret.
"I love the Air Force, and I believe in what I do. If I didn't care, I
wouldn't be speaking out," he says.

"I was frustrated that so many people in significant leadership
positions remained silent about the war," Slocum explains. "I began to
ask: How can I most significantly contribute to the welfare of the
people I work with? People are dying. Families have been torn apart.
This war is sucking the life out of our military. I cannot stay silent.
I need to say that I am concerned enough to put my reputation at risk to
point out that this war is wrong."

Slocum is joining the ranks of a growing number of patriotic
Americans who entered the military to serve their country, and who have
come to believe they have an obligation to speak out against the ongoing
war in Iraq. It's easy enough for city-dwelling hipsters to speak
against the Iraq war, but for Chief Master Sergeant Slocum and thousands
like him around the country, an earnest objection to the war has caused
him to leave everything he has known for the past 21 years and to
re-envision the scope of his entire life

The Air Force's top general expressed frustration on Tuesday with the
reassignment of troops under his command to ground jobs for which they
were not trained, ranging from guarding prisoners to driving trucks and
typing.

Gen. Michael Moseley, the Air Force chief of staff, said that over
20,000 airmen have been assigned worldwide into roles outside their
specialties.

With President Bush and Congress in a standoff over Iraq spending,
the Pentagon is shifting money among services and accounts, including
drawing down funds earmarked for other later purposes.

"Somebody's going to have to pay us back," Moseley said. "I don't
have to want to have concerns about getting that money back."

In a breakfast session with a group of reporters, Moseley said he
was trying to be realistic. "We live in a joint world. We live in a
military that's at war. And we live in a situation where, if we can
contribute, then sign me up for it."

Still, the Air Force general added, "I'm less supportive of things
outside our competency."

He said people were being assigned to jobs they weren't trained for.
He cited Air Force airmen being used to guard prisoners and to serve as
drivers and cited one instance in which an Air Force surgeon was
assigned typing chores after three days at her new post.

"We got her back," Moseley said.

Others are being assigned to help the Army provide security in Iraq
and Afghanistan.

Moseley said he didn't mind the use of airmen as drivers as much as
some of the other new duties usually performed by the Army, such as
guarding prisoners.

"Not only do we not have a prison, but very rarely do we have
anybody in prison," he joked.

"So, to take our people and train them to be a detainee-guarding
entity requires `x' amount of time away from their normal job," said
Moseley.

"Those are the things that are very frustrating," he said.

He said the swap-outs come at a time when the Air Force's budget is
burdened, when there is little money for new aircraft and when
maintaining an aging fleet of older planes, some of them going back to
the 1950s and 1960s, is getting increasingly expensive.

"Operational and maintenance costs have gone up 180 percent over the
past 10 years, operating these old aircraft," he said.

As part of Bush's troop buildup in order to try to secure Baghdad
and nearby hot spots, there are currently about 146,000 U.S. troops in
Iraq.

Of these, about 9,500 are Air Force. An additional 1,100 airmen are
in Afghanistan, according to the Air Force. Roughly 24,100 Air Force
personnel are stationed throughout the broader region.

With much of the action in Iraq now focused on
neighborhood-to-neighborhood efforts to contain violence, there has been
less attention on the roles of the Air Force and the Navy.

Moseley said the Air Force still has vital responsibilities in Iraq,
including striking targets, surveillance and search and rescue missions.

The Pentagon says it has enough money to pay for the Iraq war
through June. The Army is taking "prudent measures" aimed at ensuring
that delays in the bill financing the war do not harm troop readiness,
such as moving money from other accounts, according to instructions sent
to Army commanders and budget officials April 14.

The Defense Department also said it plans to ask Congress to approve
the temporary reprogramming of $1.6 billion from Navy and Air Force pay
accounts to the Army's operating account.

The $70 billion that Congress provided in September for military
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan has mostly run out, and the Army has
told department officials to slow the purchase of nonessential repair
parts and other supplies, restrict the use of government charge cards
and limit travel.

On another subject, Moseley said he had ordered a review of
vulnerabilities of U.S. military satellites, partially in response to
China's anti-missile test in January, in which it used a missile to
destroy one of its own old weather satellites. He said he found China's
move alarming.

China's motives remain unclear, but demonstrating that it can shoot
down one of its own satellites also suggests it could knock another
nation's satellites out of the sky if it chose, which Moseley said would
be widely seen as an act of war.

Yara Bayoumy
Reuters

Wednesday 25 April 2007

Baghdad - The United Nations accused Iraq on Wednesday of
withholding sensitive civilian casualty figures because it fears they
would be used to paint a "very grim" picture of a worsening humanitarian
crisis.

Violence continued as a suicide attacker walked into a police
station in volatile Diyala province and detonated a bomb, killing nine
and wounding 16, police said.

Iraq's military also said it was altering a U.S. plan to enclose a
Sunni enclave in Baghdad with high concrete walls, after criticism that
it would fan sectarian tension. Some residents had likened the project
to Israel's West Bank barrier.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) said Prime
Minister Nuri al-Maliki's government would not release data on civilian
deaths amid spiraling sectarian violence between majority Shi'ites and
once dominant Sunni Arabs.

"UNAMI emphasizes again the utmost need for the Iraqi government to
operate in a transparent manner," the mission said in its latest report
on human rights in Iraq.

U.N. officials said they were given no official reason why their
requests for specific official data had been turned down. Only broad
percentages were available.

"We were told that the government was becoming increasingly
concerned about the figures being used to portray the situation as very
grim," United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) human rights
officer Ivana Vuco told a news conference.

Maliki, whose administration has previously accused UNAMI of
exaggerating civilian deaths, rejected the report as unbalanced.

"The Iraqi government announces its deep reservation on the report,
which lacks accuracy in the information presented, lacks credibility in
many of its points and lacks balance in its presentation of the human
rights situation in Iraq," a statement from his office said.

Humanitarian Crisis

In January, UNAMI said 34,452 Iraqi civilians were killed and more
than 36,000 wounded in 2006, figures that were much higher than any
statistics issued by the government.

On Wednesday it said Iraq faced "immense security challenges" and a
"rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis".

The U.N. report expressed concern at the treatment of thousands of
suspects detained under a major security crackdown in Baghdad, and about
reports of collusion between Iraqi forces and some militias.

It also said academics, journalists, doctors and members of
religious and ethnic minorities were increasingly being killed,
intimidated or kidnapped by armed groups.

Iraqi officials say the civilian casualty toll has declined in the
capital since the launch of the Baghdad security plan nine weeks ago.
U.S. military commanders say a surge in car bombings, however, has
pushed up the overall toll countrywide.

Under the crackdown, U.S. and Iraqi troops are sweeping through
Baghdad neighborhoods, setting up checkpoints and combat outposts and
walling off some flashpoint areas with concrete barriers.

But work began to alter a 5-km (3.5 mile) concrete wall around the
Sunni enclave of Adhamiya after Maliki ordered a halt to construction at
the weekend following sharp public outcry.

"We have sought other substitutes such as barbed wire, sand walls
and small concrete barriers," said Brigadier-General Qassim Moussawi,
Iraqi military spokesman for the U.S.-backed security plan in the city.

Both Bush and Maliki are under pressure to show progress in the
crackdown after four years of war that has killed tens of thousands of
Iraqis and more than 3,300 U.S. troops.

The U.S. Congress will vote this week on a funding bill that sets
March 31, 2008, as a goal for pulling out most troops but Bush has
repeatedly threatened to use his presidential veto.

By Mark Tran
The Guardian UK

Wednesday 25 April 2007

A human rights group today attacked a US decision to file murder
charges against a Canadian national and alleged Taliban fighter who was
captured in Afghanistan when he was 15.

Omar Khadr was wounded by US soldiers during a battle near Khost,
Afghanistan, and taken into US custody in July 2002. He has spent most
of the past five years in the US military prison at Guantánamo Bay.

During his capture he was shot three times and is nearly blind in
one eye as a result of his injuries. The US military says Mr Khadr threw
a grenade that killed a US Green Beret sergeant, Christopher Speer, and
wounded another sergeant, Layne Morris.

Mr Khadr's Pentagon-appointed lawyer, Marine lieutenant colonel
Colby Vokey, said the US would become the first country in modern
history to try a war crimes suspect who was a child at the time of the
alleged violations if a trial went ahead.

Mr Khadr has been charged with murder, attempted murder, providing
support to terrorism, conspiracy and spying under rules for military
trials adopted last year. The conspiracy charge is based on acts
allegedly committed before Mr Khadr was 10, according to his defence
team.

Amnesty International strongly criticised the decision to subject Mr
Khadr to a military tribunal.

"To have held a 15-year-old boy in the harsh and lawless conditions
of Guantánamo for five years has already been a travesty of justice -
and to put him before an unfair 'military commission' trial simply adds
to a disgraceful record in his case," said the Amnesty International UK
director Kate Allen.

Ms Allen said the US authorities should transfer his case to a
civilian federal court on the US mainland.

Toronto-born Mr Khadr faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The Pentagon said Mr Khadr must be held accountable.

"The defence department will continue to uphold the law and bring
unlawful enemy combatants to justice through the military commissions
process," it said.

Mr Speer's widow and Mr Morris filed a civil lawsuit against Mr
Khadr and his father. In February, a judge awarded them $102.6m (£51m).

Dennis Edney, a Canadian lawyer for Mr Khadr's family, said the new
tribunal system, which allows coerced and hearsay evidence, "provides Mr
Khadr with almost no chance of proving his innocence.

"The aim is to provide a showcase to justify the US administration
decision to arrest Mr. Khadr and other men like him in the first place,"
Mr Edney told the Associated Press.

Mr Khadr's attorneys urged Canada and the US to negotiate a
"political resolution" of the case to spare Mr Khadr a guaranteed
conviction by "one of the greatest show trials on earth".

Several of Mr Khadr's family members have been accused of ties to
Islamist extremists. His Egyptian-born father, Ahmad Said al-Khadr, was
killed in Pakistan in 2003 alongside senior al-Qaida operatives and
Canada is holding Mr Khadr's brother Abdullah on a US extradition
warrant accusing him of supplying weapons to al-Qaida.

Mr Khadr will be the second prisoner to face terror charges under
new military tribunals after the US supreme court in June struck down
the previous military tribunal system at Guantánamo as unconstitutional.
Congress then passed a law establishing a new system, which is also
being challenged.

In March, the military tribunal at Guantánamo sentenced an
Australian, David Hicks, to nine months in prison after he pleaded
guilty to supporting terrorism - the first conviction at a US war crimes
trial since the second world war.

Under an agreement with the court, he will serve his sentence in an
Australian prison, but must remain silent about any alleged abuse while
in US custody. Prosecutors say they plan to charge as many as 80 of the
370 men held at Guantánamo on suspicion of links to al-Qaida or the
Taliban.

"We are increasingly concerned that with 80% of Guantánamo detainees
now held in solitary confinement, there is mounting evidence that some
are dangerously close to full-blown mental and physical breakdown,"
Amnesty said.

Don't cha know I like you Adventures Begin and i wanted to see you in a
double take....

Lynch, Tillman's Brother: US Military Lied
CNN News

Tuesday 24 April 2007

Washington - The last soldier to see Army Ranger Pat Tillman alive,
Spc. Bryan O'Neal, told lawmakers that he was warned by superiors not to
divulge - especially to the Tillman family - that a fellow soldier
killed Tillman.

O'Neal particularly wanted to tell fellow soldier Kevin Tillman, who
was in the convoy traveling behind his brother at the time of the 2004
incident in Afghanistan.

"I wanted right off the bat to let the family know what had
happened, especially Kevin, because I worked with him in a platoon and I
knew that he and the family all needed to know what had happened,"
O'Neal testified. "I was quite appalled that when I was actually able to
speak with Kevin, I was ordered not to tell him."

Asked who gave him the order, O'Neal replied that it came from his
battalion commander, then-Lt. Col. Jeff Bailey.

"He basically just said ..., 'Do not let Kevin know, that he's
probably in a bad place knowing his brother's dead,'" O'Neal told House
Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman. "And he
made it known I would get in trouble, sir, if I spoke with Kevin on it
being fratricide."

The military instead released a "manufactured narrative" detailing
how Pat Tillman died leading a courageous counterattack in an Afghan
mountain pass, Kevin Tillman told the committee.

Kevin Tillman said the military tried to spin his brother's death to
deflect attention from emerging failings in the Afghanistan war.

Also Tuesday, former Pfc. Jessica Lynch told the House panel that
the military lied about her capture.

Lynch testified that after her vehicle was attacked in Iraq in March
2003, she suffered a mangled spinal column, broken arm, crushed foot,
shattered femur and even a sexual assault.

But it only added insult to injury, literally, when she returned to
her parents' home in West Virginia, which "was under siege by media all
repeating the story of the little girl 'Rambo' from the hills of West
Virginia who went down fighting," Lynch said.

"It was not true," she said before gently chiding the military. "The
truth is always more heroic than the hype."

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform invited the
two to testify on how the Pentagon spread false stories about Tillman
and Lynch. Waxman, D-California, went as far as to say that the military
"invented" tales.

"The bare minimum we owe our soldiers and their families is the
truth," Waxman said. "That didn't happen for two of the most famous
soldiers in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars."

Brother Calls Tale "Calculated Lies"

As the tide was turning in the U.S. battle against Afghan insurgents
- and as media outlets prepared to release reports on detainee abuse at
Abu Ghraib in Iraq - the military saw Pat Tillman's death as an
"opportunity," Kevin Tillman told the panel.

Even after it became clear the report was bogus, the military clung
to the "utter fiction" that Pat Tillman was killed by a member of his
platoon who was following the rules of engagement, the brother said.

"They never felt threatened and they still shot up the village
unprovoked," Kevin Tillman said. "This was not some fog of war; they
simply lost control."

Tillman bristled at the military claim that the initial report was
merely misleading.

Clearly resentful, he told the panel that writing a field report
stating his brother had been "transferred to an intensive care unit for
continued CPR after most of his head had been taken off by multiple .556
rounds is not misleading."

"These are deliberate and calculated lies," he said.

Pat Tillman, who became a national hero after he gave up a lucrative
contract with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals to join the Army's elite
Rangers force, was awarded the Silver Star, the military's third-highest
combat decoration, after the Army said he was killed leading a
counterattack.

The Army later acknowledged not only that Tillman was killed by his
fellow soldiers, but that officers in Tillman's chain of command knew
the counterattack story was bogus.

Though the military blamed the erroneous report on an inadequate
initial investigation, Mary Tillman told ESPN Radio last month that
everyone involved in the shooting knew immediately that her son had been
shot three times in the head by a member of his platoon.

"The Tillman family was kept in the dark for more than a month,"
Waxman said. "Evidence was destroyed. Witness statements were doctored.
The Tillman family wants to know how all of this could've happened."

Lynch: Truth "Not Always Easy"

Lynch's testimony began with a recollection of the March 23, 2003,
attack and her purported rescue nine days later.

As she and her fellow 11 soldiers drove through Nassiriya, Iraq,
they noticed armed men standing in the streets and on rooftops. Three
soldiers were quickly killed when a rocket-propelled grenade slammed
into their vehicle, Lynch said.

The other eight died in the ensuing fighting or from injuries
incurred during the fighting, she said. Lynch later woke up at Saddam
Hussein General Hospital.

"When I awoke, I did not know where I was. I could not move. I could
not call for help. I could not fight," she said, explaining she had a
six-inch gash in her head and numerous broken bones. "The nurses at the
hospital tried to soothe me, and they even tried unsuccessfully at one
point to return me to Americans."

On April 1, U.S. troops came for her.

"A soldier came into the room. He tore the American flag from his
uniform, and he handed it to me in my hand and he told me, 'We're
American soldiers, and we're here to take you home.' And I looked at him
and I said, 'Yes, I'm an American soldier, too,'" she recalled.

She was distraught to come home and find herself billed as a hero
when two of her fellow soldiers had fought bravely until the firefight's
end and another had died after picking up soldiers and removing them
from harm's way.

"The American people are capable of determining their own ideals for
heroes, and they don't need to be told elaborate lies," she said. "I had
the good fortune to come home and to tell the truth. Many soldiers, like
Pat Tillman, did not have that opportunity."

"The truth of war is not always easy. The truth is always more
heroic than the hype," she said.

Lynch became a celebrity after U.S. troops filmed what they said was
a daring raid on the hospital. Lynch, the Army claimed, was shot and
stabbed during a fierce gun battle with Iraqi troops that left 11 of her
comrades dead.

Hospital staffers, however, said there were no Iraqi troops at the
hospital when the purported rescue took place.

It was later learned that Lynch never fired a shot during the
firefight because her gun was jammed with sand.

Ranger Alleges Cover-Up in Tillman Case
By Scott Lindlaw and Eric Werner
The Associated Press

Tuesday 24 April 2007

Washington - An Army Ranger who was with Pat Tillman when he died by
friendly fire said Tuesday he was told by a higher-up to conceal that
information from Tillman's family.

"I was ordered not to tell them," U.S. Army Specialist Bryan O'Neal
told the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

He said he was given the order by then-Lt. Col. Jeff Bailey, the
battalion commander who oversaw Tillman's platoon.

Pat Tillman's brother Kevin was in a convoy behind his brother when
the incident happened, but didn't see it. O'Neal said Bailey told him
specifically not to tell Kevin Tillman that the death was friendly fire
rather than heroic engagement with the enemy.

"He basically just said, 'Do not let Kevin know, he's probably in a
bad place knowing that his brother's dead,'" O'Neal said. He added that
Bailey made clear he would "get in trouble" if he told.

Kevin Tillman was not in the hearing room when O'Neal spoke.

In earlier testimony, Kevin Tillman accused the military of
"intentional falsehoods" and "deliberate and careful misrepresentations"
in portraying Pat Tillman's death in Afghanistan as the result of heroic
engagement with the enemy instead of friendly fire.

"We believe this narrative was intended to deceive the family but
more importantly the American public," Kevin Tillman told a House
Government Reform and Oversight Committee hearing. "Pat's death was
clearly the result of fratricide," he said, contending that the
military's misstatements amounted to "fraud."

"Revealing that Pat's death was a fratricide would have been yet
another political disaster in a month of political disasters ... so the
truth needed to be suppressed," Tillman said.

The committee's chairman, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., accused the
government of inventing "sensational details and stories" about Pat
Tillman's death and the 2003 rescue of Jessica Lynch, perhaps the most
famous victims of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

"The government violated its most basic responsibility," said
Waxman.

Lynch, then an Army private, was badly injured when her convoy was
ambushed in Iraq. She was subsequently rescued by American troops from
an Iraqi hospital but the tale of her ambush was changed into a story of
heroism on her part.

Still hampered by her injuries, Lynch walked slowly to the witness
table and took a seat alongside Tillman's family members.

"The bottom line is the American people are capable of determining
their own ideals of heroes and they don't need to be told elaborate
tales," Lynch said.

Kevin Tillman said his family has sought for years to get at the
truth, and have now concluded that they were "being actively thwarted by
powers that are more interested in protecting a narrative than getting
at the truth and seeing justice is served."

Lawmakers questioned how high up the chain of command the
information about Tillman's friendly fire death went, and whether anyone
in the White House knew before Tillman's family.

"How high up did this go?" asked Waxman.

Pat Tillman's mother, Mary Tillman, said she believed former Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld must have known. "The fact that he would have
died by friendly fire and no one told Rumsfeld is ludicrous," she said.

Tillman was killed on April 22, 2004, after his Army Ranger comrades
were ambushed in eastern Afghanistan. Rangers in a convoy trailing
Tillman's group had just emerged from a canyon where they had been fired
upon. They saw Tillman and mistakenly fired on him.

Though dozens of soldiers knew quickly that Tillman had been killed
by his fellow troops, the Army said initially that he was killed by
enemy gunfire when he led his team to help another group of ambushed
soldiers. The family was not told what really happened until May 29,
2004, a delay the Army blamed on procedural mistakes.

In questioning what the White House knew, Rep. Elijah Cummings,
D-Md., cited a memo written by a top general seven days after Tillman's
death warning it was "highly possible" the Army Ranger was killed by
friendly fire and making clear his warning should be conveyed to the
president. President Bush made no reference to the way Tillman died in a
speech delivered two days after the memo was written.

A White House spokesman has said there's no indication Bush received
the warning in the memo written April 29, 2004 by then-Maj. Gen. Stanley
McChrystal to Gen. John Abizaid, head of Central Command.

"It's a little disingenuous to think the administration didn't
know," Kevin Tillman told the committee. "That's kind of what we hoped
you guys would get involved with and take a look," he said.

Mary Tillman told the committee that family members were "absolutely
appalled" upon realizing the extent to which they were misled.

"We've all been betrayed ... We never thought they would use him the
way they did," she said.

The Tillman family has made similar accusations against the
administration and the military before, but has generally shied away
from news media attention. The family had never previously appeared
together and summarized their criticism and questions in such a public,
comprehensive way.

"We shouldn't be allowed to have smoke screens thrown in our face,"
Mary Tillman said. "You're diminishing their true heroism to write these
glorious tales. It's really a disservice to the nation."

"Our family will never be satisfied. We'll never have Pat back," she
said. "Something really awful happened. It's your job to find out what
happened to him. That's really important."

Last month the military concluded in a pair of reports that nine
high-ranking Army officers, including four generals, made critical
errors in reporting Tillman's death but that there was no criminal
wrongdoing in his shooting.

Tillman's death received worldwide attention because he had walked
away from a huge contract with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals to enlist in
the Army after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Print This Story E-mail This Story





Bush Blames the Troops
By Robert Scheer
Truthdig

Tuesday 24 April 2007

Blame it on the military but make it look like you're supporting the
troops. That's been the convenient gambit of failed emperors throughout
history as they witnessed their empires decline. Not surprisingly then,
it's become the standard rhetorical trick employed by President Bush in
shirking responsibility for the Iraq debacle of his making.

Ignoring the fact that we have a system of civilian control over the
military, which is why he, the elected president, is designated the
commander in chief, Bush hides behind the fiction that the officers in
the field are calling the shots when in fact he has put them in an
unwinnable situation and refuses to even consider a timetable for
getting them out.

He did it again Monday, responding to the prospect that both houses
of Congress seem in agreement on setting guidelines for the "progress"
that the president continually proclaims is at hand. "I will strongly
reject an artificial timetable [for] withdrawal and/or Washington
politicians trying to tell those who wear the uniform how to do their
job." This is disingenuous in the extreme, because Bush is the
Washington politician who plotted this unnecessary war from the moment
the 9/11 attack provided him with an excuse for regime change in a
country that had nothing to do with the terrorist attack.

It was Bush who sent the troops to invade Iraq with the mission of
ridding it of weapons of mass destruction, which he should have known
Iraq did not have, and to end ties with al-Qaida that, the record shows,
he knew never existed. And it was the Bush administration that
micro-managed every aspect of the occupation to disastrous consequences
ranging from the de-Baathification that isolated the Sunnis to premature
elections that put Shiite theocrats in power. The economic
reconstruction of Iraq has been a failure for everyone except the U.S.
corporations that have ripped off U.S. taxpayers to the tune of many
billions of dollars. It is only now, when all of those policies for the
economic and political reconstruction of Iraq have come a cropper, that
a military surge has been ordered to provide a social order for Iraq
that this president's policies have destroyed.

This president has been denied nothing by Congress in the way of
financial underwriting for this boondoggle, yet he seeks to cast even
the mildest attempt to hold him accountable for the results as
unpatriotic. That is all that the Democratic congressional leadership
has proposed with its timetable - marks to measure progress on the
ground in a war that, as Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye pointed out, has
lasted longer than World War II. It is a very limited, nonbinding
attempt to hold the president accountable, for it does not ban him from
using any portion of the whopping $124 billion in new funds; it requires
only that he publicly and specifically defend his claims of progress.

It's a claim of progress that, until now, has not been met with any
congressional review, even though it is the obligation of Congress to
judge the effectiveness of programs paid for with the funds that
Congress alone can appropriate. If the proposed timetable were in place,
then it would be more difficult for the president to claim success for
his surge, as he did Friday, insisting that "So far, the operation is
meeting expectations" and then confusing his audience by conceding that
recently "We have seen some of the highest casualty levels of the war."

It's gobbledygook, and the Democratic leaders of Congress have
finally decided to call the president on it. "The longer we continue
down the president's path, the further we will be from responsibly
ending this war," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. Not
content any longer to take Bush at his word, the leaders in both the
House and Senate finally posted some specific benchmarks of progress,
accompanied by a nonbinding suggestion of an end to U.S. troop
involvement in this quagmire within a year's time if genuine progress is
not made. Even that minimum restraint on the president's ambition was
accompanied with the caveat that sufficient troops would remain in Iraq
to protect U.S. installations, train the Iraqi army and fight
terrorists.

The proposal was the softest the Democrats could offer without
totally repudiating the will of the voters who brought them to power in
the last election. If the president vetoes this authorization bill, then
the onus is on him for delaying funding for the troops and showing
contempt for the judgment of the voters, who will have another chance in
less than two years to hold the president's party responsible. But that
will not restore life to the 85 U.S. soldiers killed so far in April
alone, or prevent even greater sacrifices to Bush's folly.

Print This Story E-mail This Story





Bush Blames the Troops
By Robert Scheer
Truthdig

Tuesday 24 April 2007

Blame it on the military but make it look like you're supporting the
troops. That's been the convenient gambit of failed emperors throughout
history as they witnessed their empires decline. Not surprisingly then,
it's become the standard rhetorical trick employed by President Bush in
shirking responsibility for the Iraq debacle of his making.

Ignoring the fact that we have a system of civilian control over the
military, which is why he, the elected president, is designated the
commander in chief, Bush hides behind the fiction that the officers in
the field are calling the shots when in fact he has put them in an
unwinnable situation and refuses to even consider a timetable for
getting them out.

He did it again Monday, responding to the prospect that both houses
of Congress seem in agreement on setting guidelines for the "progress"
that the president continually proclaims is at hand. "I will strongly
reject an artificial timetable [for] withdrawal and/or Washington
politicians trying to tell those who wear the uniform how to do their
job." This is disingenuous in the extreme, because Bush is the
Washington politician who plotted this unnecessary war from the moment
the 9/11 attack provided him with an excuse for regime change in a
country that had nothing to do with the terrorist attack.

It was Bush who sent the troops to invade Iraq with the mission of
ridding it of weapons of mass destruction, which he should have known
Iraq did not have, and to end ties with al-Qaida that, the record shows,
he knew never existed. And it was the Bush administration that
micro-managed every aspect of the occupation to disastrous consequences
ranging from the de-Baathification that isolated the Sunnis to premature
elections that put Shiite theocrats in power. The economic
reconstruction of Iraq has been a failure for everyone except the U.S.
corporations that have ripped off U.S. taxpayers to the tune of many
billions of dollars. It is only now, when all of those policies for the
economic and political reconstruction of Iraq have come a cropper, that
a military surge has been ordered to provide a social order for Iraq
that this president's policies have destroyed.

This president has been denied nothing by Congress in the way of
financial underwriting for this boondoggle, yet he seeks to cast even
the mildest attempt to hold him accountable for the results as
unpatriotic. That is all that the Democratic congressional leadership
has proposed with its timetable - marks to measure progress on the
ground in a war that, as Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye pointed out, has
lasted longer than World War II. It is a very limited, nonbinding
attempt to hold the president accountable, for it does not ban him from
using any portion of the whopping $124 billion in new funds; it requires
only that he publicly and specifically defend his claims of progress.

It's a claim of progress that, until now, has not been met with any
congressional review, even though it is the obligation of Congress to
judge the effectiveness of programs paid for with the funds that
Congress alone can appropriate. If the proposed timetable were in place,
then it would be more difficult for the president to claim success for
his surge, as he did Friday, insisting that "So far, the operation is
meeting expectations" and then confusing his audience by conceding that
recently "We have seen some of the highest casualty levels of the war."

It's gobbledygook, and the Democratic leaders of Congress have
finally decided to call the president on it. "The longer we continue
down the president's path, the further we will be from responsibly
ending this war," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. Not
content any longer to take Bush at his word, the leaders in both the
House and Senate finally posted some specific benchmarks of progress,
accompanied by a nonbinding suggestion of an end to U.S. troop
involvement in this quagmire within a year's time if genuine progress is
not made. Even that minimum restraint on the president's ambition was
accompanied with the caveat that sufficient troops would remain in Iraq
to protect U.S. installations, train the Iraqi army and fight
terrorists.

The proposal was the softest the Democrats could offer without
totally repudiating the will of the voters who brought them to power in
the last election. If the president vetoes this authorization bill, then
the onus is on him for delaying funding for the troops and showing
contempt for the judgment of the voters, who will have another chance in
less than two years to hold the president's party responsible. But that
will not restore life to the 85 U.S. soldiers killed so far in April
alone, or prevent even greater sacrifices to Bush's folly.

Casualities of War was it worth it?

31-Mar-2007 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Unknown ( thought to be American) IED
- roadside bomb Diwaniya Security Contractor Erinys
31-Mar-2007 Cumming, Robert British (Scotish) IED - roadside bomb
Diwaniya Security Expert Erinys
27-Mar-2007 Edwards, Carolyn American Rocket fire Baghdad (International
Zone) Unknown KBR
07-Mar-2007 Neil, Donald American Ordnance explosion Baghdad (outside
of) Tetra Tech
15-Feb-2007 Joyce, Glen South African Mortar Fire Baghdad - Baghdad
Hotel Security Contractor DynCorp
05-Feb-2007 Tolfree, Donald American Friendly fire Camp Anaconda (near
Balad) Truck Driver KBR
23-Jan-2007 Johnson, Ronald American helicopter crash/shot Baghdad
Security Contractor Blackwater USA
23-Jan-2007 Laguna, Art American helicopter crash/shot Baghdad Security
Contractor (?) Blackwater USA
23-Jan-2007 Casavant, Casey American helicopter crash Baghdad Security
Contractor Blackwater USA
23-Jan-2007 Gernet, Steve American helicopter crash/shot Baghdad
Security Contractor (?) Blackwater USA
23-Jan-2007 Stanfield, Shane American helicopter crash/shot Baghdad
Security Contractor (?) Blackwater USA
17-Jan-2007 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Croatian Ambush Baghdad Security
contractor Unity Resources Group
17-Jan-2007 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Hungarian Ambush Baghdad Security
contractor Unity Resources Group
13-Jan-2007 Patiño, Hector C. American Friendly fire Baghdad (Australian
Embassy) Truck Driver KBR
28-Dec-2006 Thompson, Anthony Lowell "Tony" American IED - roadside bomb
Tikrit Construction Contractor The Sandi Group
21-Dec-2006 Shavarsh-Vanoohe, Highg American - Iraqi Emigrant Indirect
Fire Baghdad Translator L-3 Communications
16-Dec-2006 Gilchrist, Steve New Zealander Roadside Bomb Iraq (location
unknown) Security Contractor Armor-Group
24-Nov-2006 Vine, David British IED - roadside bomb Basra Security
Contractor ArmorGroup
18-Nov-2006 Emmett, Gavin British Roadside ambush Basra (near) Security
Contractor Blue Hackle
18-Nov-2006 Mohammed, Hussein Abid Pakistani Small Arms Fire Iraq
(details unknown) Driver Armor Group
17-Nov-2006 Hall, Simon British Small Arms Fire Al Zubayr (south west of
Basra) Security Contractor Securiforce International
15-Nov-2006 Raiwale, Misaele Matawalu Fijian unknown Iraq (details
unknown) Security specialist Armor Group
13-Nov-2006 Zaid, Sami American - Egyptian Emigrant Indirect Fire
Baghdad (International Zone) ECCI
31-Oct-2006 McNiel, Michael Brian American Explosion at a military base
Tikrit Truck Driver KBR
30-Oct-2006 Pieters, Morné South African Hostile fire Basra Unknown
Unknown
23-Oct-2006 Brian, Brian M. American IED - roadside bomb Rustamiyah
Police liaison officer DynCorp International
20-Oct-2006 Unknown Ukrainian IED - roadside bomb between Hilla and Al
Kut Security Contractor Erinys
19-Oct-2006 Burnett, Fraser British IED - roadside bomb between Hilla
and Al Kut Security Contractor Erinys
19-Oct-2006 Stephenson, Noah British IED - roadside bomb between Hilla
and Al Kut Security Contractor Erinys
19-Oct-2006 Ledden, Carl Robert British IED - roadside bomb between
Hilla and Al Kut Medic Erinys
11-Oct-2006 McDonald, Merrick British IED between the cities of Karbala
and Najaf Security Contractor Aegis Defence Services
11-Oct-2006 Butcher, Christopher British IED between the cities of
Karbala and Najaf Security guard Aegis Defence Services
11-Oct-2006 Lambert, Gerald American Roadside bomb Tikrit (outside of)
Security specialist Special Operations Consulting-Security Management
Inc.
09-Oct-2006 Johnson, Craig American Roadside Bomb Balad (north of) Truck
driver Kellogg, Brown & Root
08-Oct-2006 Sedgley, Richard British Hostile - details unknown Iraq
Security Contractor The Olive Group
04-Oct-2006 Richardson, Rod "K2" American IED - roadside bomb Baghdad
(near) Security Contractor Unknown
04-Oct-2006 Barattieri, Guy Richard American IED - roadside bomb Iraq
Security Contractor Falcon Security
28-Sep-2006 Bull, Darren British Small Arms Fire Falluja Security
Contractor AEGIS DEFENCE SERVICES
24-Sep-2006 Amos, Chad American Heart failure Tikrit Foreman and
mechanic Lear Siegler Inc
22-Sep-2006 Garcia, Julio American Rocket Attack Basra Unknown U.S.
State Department
17-Sep-2006 Wetherbee, Darrell American Small Arms Fire Hawijah Security
Contractor DynCorp
29-Aug-2006 Georges, Saher American (Iraqi emigrant) Suicide car bomber
Iraq (details unknown) Interpreter L-3 Communications
28-Aug-2006 Robinson, Carey American Roadside bomb Bayji (near, on ASR
Hershey) Munitions disposal EOD Technology
19-Aug-2006 Bruwer, Edmund South African Roadside Bomb Iraq Security
Contractor Cochise Cunsultancy
18-Aug-2006 Gray, Brenton Thomas American Roadside Bomb Iraq Security
Contractor Cochise Cunsultancy
17-Aug-2006 Rhodes, Richard Todd American IED - roadside bomb Iraq
Munitions disposal Cochise Cunsultancy
13-Aug-2006 Hadaway, Jon Australian IED - Roadside bomb Germany Security
Contractor ArmorGroup
13-Aug-2006 Rogelio Saraida Filipino IED - roadside bomb Unknown
Security Specialist AIM Group
08-Aug-2006 Ngamata, Te Ina Marokura New Zealander IED - roadside bomb
Bahgdad Security specialist Armourgroup
02-Aug-2006 Kerns, Donna Marie American Traffic Accident Jordan Security
Consultant MPRI
02-Jul-2006 Cook, Gordy American Small Arms Fire Baghdad (Sadr City)
Security Contractor Unknown
19-Jun-2006 Cunahan, Edward American Non Hostile - work-related accident
Iraq - details unknown Ammunition handler Tetra Tech (Army Corps of
Engineers)
17-Jun-2006 Khan, Rasheed Shahid Pakistani Small Arms Fire Nasria Truck
Driver KBR
17-Jun-2006 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Swedish Bomb Baghad Security Guard
Genric
11-Jun-2006 Clarke, Kenneth British IED - roadside bomb Tikrit (near)
Security guard Unknown
08-Jun-2006 Penaia Vakaotia Fijian IED - Roadside bomb Baghdad (north
of) Security Guard ArmourGroup
08-Jun-2006 Guana, Vilisoni Fijian IED - Roadside bomb Baghdad (north
of) Security Guard ArmourGroup
08-Jun-2006 Schulz, Wayne Australian IED - Roadside bomb Baghdad (north
of) Security Guard ArmourGroup
08-Jun-2006 Banidawa, Mikaele Fijian IED - Roadside bomb Baghdad (north
of) Security Guard ArmourGroup
08-May-2006 Rudy Mesa American IED - Roadside bomb Rustamiyah Security
Consultant DynCorp International
08-May-2006 Kolver, Richard South African Roadside bomb Baghdad Security
Guard Unknown American Company
03-May-2006 Palinsky, Jerry American IED Nassiriya (close to) security
contractor Cochise Consultancy Inc.
02-May-2006 NAME NOT KNOWN Unknown details unknown Bayji (Near) Security
Contractor ArmorGroup
01-May-2006 Kora, Sibi Indian IED Unknown Truck driver unknown
30-Apr-2006 Seniyasi, Josaia Taka Fijian IED - Roadside bomb Baghdad
(outside of) security guard Armor Group
30-Apr-2006 Cereilagi, Alifereti Fijian IED - Roadside bomb Baghdad
(outside of) security guard Armor Group
30-Apr-2006 Nawaduadua, Sevuloni Fijian IED - Roadside bomb Baghdad
(outside of) security guard Armor Group
18-Apr-2006 Manasa Navakaro Fijian Shot Kirkuk security guard Unknown
18-Apr-2006 Iosefo Cagi Fijian shot Kirkuk security guard unknown
18-Apr-2006 Malakai Sekibureta Fijian shot Kirkuk security guard unknown
18-Apr-2006 Kelemedi Dreuvakabalawa Fijian Shot Kirkuk security guard
unknown
17-Apr-2006 Sinanovic, Juso Bosnian Heart Attack Iraq (details not
known) Carpenter Kellogg, Brown & Root
01-Apr-2006 NAME NOT KNOWN Turkish Unknown Baghdad (just outside) Driver
Unknown
20-Mar-2006 Jeffrey L. Heard American Convoy ambush Iraq (details not
known) communications specialist SOC-SMG
14-Mar-2006 Crawford, Chaz Benjamin American Suicide bomber Nothern
Iraq Security Contractor Aegis Defence Services
06-Mar-2006 Pieterse, Morne South African IED - roadside bomb (week of
03/11/2006) Basra Security Contractor Hart Security Company
11-Feb-2006 Fannin, Kenneth "Lugnut" American IED Baghdad (western part)
Truck driver KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
20-Jan-2006 Stephen Enright British IED Unknown Unknown Armor Group of
London
18-Jan-2006 Rick Hickman American IED Basra International Police Liaison
Officer DynCorp International
18-Jan-2006 Roland Carroll Barvels American IED Basra International
Police Liaison Officer DynCorp International
16-Jan-2006 Samuel E. Parlin, Jr. American IED Baghdad International
Police Liaison Officer DynCorp International
07-Jan-2006 Domingo, Arsenio American Helicopter crash Tall Afar (12 km.
E of) International Police Liaison Officer DynCorp International
07-Jan-2006 Charles S. "Gadget" Allen American Helicopter crash Tall
Afar (12 km. E of) electronics technician Torres International
07-Jan-2006 Robert Timmann American Helicopter crash Tall Afar (12 km.
E of) International Police Liaison Officer DynCorp International
01-Jan-2006 NAME NOT RELEASED YET American Vehicle accident Al Asad Air
Base, Anbar Prov.
01-Jan-2006 NAME NOT RELEASED YET American Vehicle accident Al Asad Air
Base, Anbar Prov.
01-Jan-2006 NAME NOT RELEASED YET American Vehicle accident Al Asad Air
Base, Anbar Prov.
01-Jan-2006 Williams, Michael American Vehicle accident Al Asad Air
Base, Anbar Prov. Unknown
28-Dec-2005 McMillan, John American IED Route Michigan between Taqqadum
and Fallujah Security Guard Danubia Global Incorporated
28-Dec-2005 Darren Birch British Vehicle accident Baghdad (near)
Security Contractor Aegis Defence Services
22-Dec-2005 Strauss, Jan South African Roadside bomb Baghdad Security
Contractor Unknown
22-Dec-2005 Kaszynski, Kyle M. American Roadside bomb Unknown Security
Contractor Kroll Incorporated (subcontractor for DynCorp)
19-Dec-2005 Schulz, Ronald American Shot in back of head (assumed dead)
Unknown industrial electrician Unknown
15-Dec-2005 Asif, Muhammad Pakistani IED Iraq (details not known) Truck
driver Unknown
15-Dec-2005 NAME NOT KNOWN Pakistani IED Iraq (details not known) Truck
driver Unknown
10-Dec-2005 al-Hilali, Mohammed Ibrahim Egyptian Shot Dead Tikrit
Unknown Unknown
07-Dec-2005 Gregory R. Wright, Jr American IED Nothern Iraq Unknown MVM
Inc.
23-Nov-2005 Bammert, Patrick R. American Vehicle accident Kuwait Truck
driver KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
21-Nov-2005 Adnan, Nidhal Lebanese Body found Dujail (north of Baghdad)
Unknown Unknown
18-Nov-2005 Ilocto, Alexander Mesa Filipino Road accident between Iraq
and Kuwait Unknown Unknown
17-Nov-2005 Thomas, Thomas M. American Roadside bomb Iraq (details not
known) Security specialist Cochise Consultancy, Inc
14-Nov-2005 Du Preez, Ignatius South African Suicide bomber Baghdad
Security Contractor DynCorp International
14-Nov-2005 Potgieter, Johannes South African Suicide bomber Baghdad
Security Contractor DynCorp International
14-Nov-2005 Tablai, Miguel South African Suicide bomber Baghdad
Security Contractor DynCorp International
11-Nov-2005 Loque, Ponciano Filipino Car Bomb Baghdad (eastern) Unknown
Unknown
11-Nov-2005 Carreon, Benjie Filipino Car Bomb Baghdad (eastern) Unknown
Unknown
11-Nov-2005 Jurn, Daniel S. American IED Balad Truck driver KBR
(subsidiary of Halliburton)
27-Oct-2005 Smith, Joe American Roadside bomb Iraq (details not known)
Munitions disposal Cochise Consultancy
27-Oct-2005 Ali, Kaled Jordanian Roadside bomb Iraq (details not known)
Munitions disposal Cochise Consultancy
25-Oct-2005 NAME NOT KNOWN Unknown Roadside bomb Ramadi Believed to be
U.S. security staff unknown
25-Oct-2005 NAME NOT KNOWN Unknown Roadside bomb Ramadi Believed to be
U.S. security staff unknown
25-Oct-2005 NAME NOT KNOWN Unknown Roadside bomb Ramadi Believed to be
U.S. security staff unknown
25-Oct-2005 NAME NOT KNOWN Unknown Roadside bomb Ramadi Believed to be
U.S. security staff unknown
28-Sep-2005 Chamoon, Mounir Lebanese Missile attack (date is
approximate) Ramadi (near) Interpreter unknown
20-Sep-2005 Dagit, Keven American Convoy attack Iraq (details not known)
Truck driver Halliburton
20-Sep-2005 Lem, Christopher American Convoy attack (died from
injuries) Iraq (details not known) Truck driver Halliburton
20-Sep-2005 Grenner-Case, Sascha American Convoy attack Iraq (details
not known) Truck driver Halliburton
19-Sep-2005 Webb, Kenneth American Suicide car bomber Mosul Security
Contractor Blackwater USA
19-Sep-2005 Tocci, Peter J, American Suicide car bomber Mosul Security
Contractor Blackwater USA
19-Sep-2005 Shephard, David Robert American Suicide car bomber Mosul
Security Contractor Blackwater USA
09-Sep-2005 Carnes, Marlin "Mo" Robert American IED Iraq (details not
known) Convoy Commander Halliburton
07-Sep-2005 Pole, Robert American Roadside bomb Basra Security
Consultant Triple Canopy, Inc.
07-Sep-2005 McCoy, Robert American Roadside bomb Basra Security
Consultant Triple Canopy, Inc.
07-Sep-2005 Hyatt, Ronald American Roadside bomb Basra Security
Consultant Triple Canopy, Inc.
07-Sep-2005 Young, Ryan American Roadside bomb Basra Security Consultant
Triple Canopy, Inc.
05-Sep-2005 Husey in Ozturk Turkish Missile attack Belet (near)
Truckdriver Unknown
02-Sep-2005 Kimbrell, Vince American Roadside bomb Baghdad
International Police Liaison Officer DynCorp International
25-Aug-2005 Federico Samson Filipino IED Kirkuk engineer Lucent
Technologies Inc
24-Aug-2005 Mike Dawes American suicide bombing Baqubah International
Police Liaison Officer DynCorp International
20-Aug-2005 Carroll, Carl American Roadside bomb Baghdad (north of)
Military contractor Titan Corp
12-Aug-2005 Stilwell, Larry "Crop Duster" American IED between Camp
Anaconda and Camp TQ Truck driver KPR
09-Aug-2005 Cabelutu, Solomone Fijian conflicting reports: Road
accident/ambushed Nazaria Security guard GRS Security
30-Jul-2005 Holloway, Andrew British Roadside bomb Basra (SW edge)
Security contractor Control Risks Group
30-Jul-2005 Hull, Ken British Roadside bomb Basra (SW edge) Security
contractor Control Risks Group
06-Jul-2005 Hodges, Benjamin K. "Ben" American Hit in the head with
shrapnel Baghdad Ordinance Specialist USA Environmental Inc.
01-Jul-2005 NAME NOT KNOWN Turkish Small Arms Fire Baiji (Near) Truck
Driver Unknown
27-Jun-2005 Klecker, Deborah Dawn American Roadside bomb Baghdad (East
of) International Police Liaison Officer DynCorp International
21-Jun-2005 NAME NOT KNOWN Turkish Shot Dead Balad (east of) Truckdriver
Unknown
15-Jun-2005 Aleksic, Ljubisa Bosnian Convoy attack Baghdad (60
kilometres south) Security Guard Lloyd-Owen International
09-Jun-2005 Akar, Yusuf Turkish Convoy attack Ramadi Truck Driver
Unknown
07-Jun-2005 Laver, Séan Ronald South African IED Habbaniya Security
Consultant Hart Security
02-Jun-2005 NAME NOT KNOWN Turkish Shot Dead Baiji Truckdriver Unknown
28-May-2005 Name not known Lebanese Drive-by shooting Baghdad
Interpreter Unknown
28-May-2005 Saito, Akihiko Japanese Convoy ambush near Al Asad base
Security Contractor Hart Security Ltd.
22-May-2005 Al-Sanie Jordanian Shot Dead Unknown Truckdriver Unknown
12-May-2005 Miller, Reuben Ray American IED Not reported Truck driver
KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
10-May-2005 Jaichner, Thomas W. American Sniper Fire Ramadi Security
Contractor Blackwater USA
07-May-2005 Venette, Todd American Car Bomb Baghdad Security Contractor
CTU Consulting
07-May-2005 Thomas, Brandon American Car Bomb Baghdad Security
Contractor CTU Consulting
05-May-2005 Salih Gulbol Turkish Armed attack Baghdad (near) Truckdriver
Kuwaiti company
03-May-2005 Oosthuize, Jacques "Oosie" South African Small arms fire
attack -Ambushed Route between Tikrit and Mosul Security Guard Erinys
Iraq
01-May-2005 NAME NOT KNOWN Turkish Small arms fire Baghdad (north of)
Truckdriver
21-Apr-2005 Kostov, Lyubomir Bulgarian Helicopter crash (missile
attack) Baghdad (north of) Unknown Unknown
21-Apr-2005 Naydenov, Georgi Bulgarian Helicopter crash (missile attack)
Baghdad (north of) Unknown Unknown
21-Apr-2005 Anchev, Stoyan Bulgarian Helicopter crash (missile attack)
Baghdad (north of) Unknown Unknown
21-Apr-2005 Jim Atalifo Fijian Helicopter crash (missile attack)
Baghdad (north of) Security Guard Unknown
21-Apr-2005 Timoci Lalaqila Fijian Helicopter crash (missile attack)
Baghdad (north of) Security Guard Unknown
21-Apr-2005 Obert, Jason American Helicopter crash (missile attack)
Baghdad (north of) Security contractor Blackwater Security Consultants
21-Apr-2005 Parkin, Alan English VBIED Suicide Bomber Baghdad (Road to
Airport) Security contractor Aegis defence services ltd.
21-Apr-2005 McGovern, Stephen Matthew American Helicopter crash
(missile attack) Baghdad (north of) Security contractor Blackwater
Security Consultants
21-Apr-2005 Gore, Robert Jason American Helicopter crash (missile
attack) Baghdad (north of) Security contractor Blackwater Security
Consultants
21-Apr-2005 Petrik, Luke Adam American Helicopter crash (missile attack)
Baghdad (north of) Security contractor Blackwater Security Consultants
21-Apr-2005 Smith, Eric American Helicopter crash (missile attack)
Baghdad (north of) Security contractor Blackwater Security Consultants
21-Apr-2005 Hundley, Curtis American IED Ramadi (Near) Security
contractor Blackwater Security Consultants
21-Apr-2005 Patterson, David American Helicopter crash (missile attack)
Baghdad (north of) Security contractor Blackwater Security Consultants
20-Apr-2005 NAME NOT KNOWN Turkish Roadside Bomb Baghdad Truckdriver
Unknown
20-Apr-2005 Ahmelman, Chris Australian Small arms fire Baghdad Airport
Security Contractor Edinburgh Risk Inc
20-Apr-2005 Surette, Stefan Canadian Small Arms Fire Baghdad Airport
Security contractor Edinburgh Risk Inc.
20-Apr-2005 Hunt, James American Small Arms Fire Baghdad Airport
Security contractor Edinburgh Risk Inc.
18-Apr-2005 Torres, Rey Filipino Shooting incident Baghdad Driver and
security guard Qatar International Trading Compan
16-Apr-2005 NAME NOT KNOWN Turkish Roadside Bomb Mosul (South of)
Truckdriver Unknown
11-Apr-2005 NAME NOT KNOWN Turkish Roadside Bomb Baiji Truck Driver
Unknown
01-Apr-2005 Habelman, Alfred American Convoy ambush Unknown Security
Contractor California-based construction
25-Mar-2005 Hyatt, Eugene American non-hostile accident Iraq (details
not known) Carpenter Foreman KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
20-Mar-2005 NAME NOT KNOWN Turkish Shot Dead Beyci (north of)
Truckdriver Unknown
12-Mar-2005 Bruce Durr American Roadside bomb Hillah, south of Baghdad
Security Consultant Blackwater Security Consultants
12-Mar-2005 Cantrell, Jim American Roadside bomb Hillah, south of
Baghdad Security Consultant Blackwater Security Consultants
12-Mar-2005 NAME NOT KNOWN Turkish Bomb attack on a convoy Baiji (near)
Truckdriver Unknown
03-Mar-2005 Riddle, Jimmy A. American IED Ashraf Security Guard Special
Operations Consulting-Security Management Group Inc
03-Mar-2005 Wagoner, Brian J. American IED Ashraf Security Guard Special
Operations Consulting-Security Management Group Inc
08-Feb-2005 Pavčević, Ivan Croatian ambush Tikrit (Near) Truck Driver
Unknown
19-Jan-2005 Whyte, Andrew British Convoy attack Bayji (south of)
Security contractor Janusian Security Risk Mgmt.
16-Jan-2005 NAME NOT KNOWN Unknown Convoy attack Baghdad (30 mi. north)
Security contractor Steele Foundation
16-Jan-2005 Ismail, Ibrahim Mohammed Egyptian body found dumped in a
street Ramadi Truckdriver Unknown
03-Jan-2005 Pears, Nick British Suicide car bomb Baghdad (nr. Green
Zone) Security contractor Kroll Associates
03-Jan-2005 Dolman, John British Suicide car bomb Baghdad (nr. Green
Zone) Security contractor Kroll Associates
03-Jan-2005 Hushin, Tracy American Suicide car bomb Baghdad (nr. Green
Zone) Financial manager BearingPoint, Inc.
03-Jan-2005 NAME NOT RELEASED YET British Suicide car bomb Baghdad (nr.
Green Zone) Not known yet BearingPoint, Inc.
21-Dec-2004 Davis, Leslie W. American Suicide bomber FOB Marez, Mosul
Construction, QC KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
21-Dec-2004 Smith, Allen American Suicide bomber FOB Marez, Mosul
Constr. labor foreman KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
21-Dec-2004 Stramiello Jr., Anthony M. American Suicide bomber FOB
Marez, Mosul Constr. carpenter foreman KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
21-Dec-2004 Hunter, Brett A. American Suicide bomber FOB Marez, Mosul
Lab technician KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
20-Dec-2004 Ozsagir, Saban Turkish Highway ambush Mosul (near)
Truckdriver
08-Dec-2004 Wemple, Joseph American Shot and killed outside Baghdad
Baghdad(outside) Engineering-construction contractor CLI USA
08-Dec-2004 Stoffel, Dale American Shot and killed outside Baghdad
Baghdad(outside) Executive vice president for CLI Corp CLI USA
30-Nov-2004 Puerto, José Mauricio Mena Honduran Attack (specifics
unknown) Iraq (specifics unknown) paramédico DynCorp
25-Nov-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN Nepali attack in Baghdads Green Zone Baghdad
Security Consultants Global Risk Strategies
25-Nov-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN Nepali attack in Baghdads Green Zone Baghdad
Security Consultant Global Risk Strategies
25-Nov-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN Nepali attack in Baghdads Green Zone Baghdad
Security Consultant Global Risk Strategies
25-Nov-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN Nepali attack in Baghdads Green Zone Baghdad
Security Consultant Global Risk Strategies
16-Nov-2004 Myeong-nam, Jung South Korean Accident (paint can exploded)
Irbil Taehwa Electrict Co
15-Nov-2004 Terry, Johan South African Bomb Basra (Zubayr) Security
Consultants Olive Security
15-Nov-2004 Husband, Shaun British Bomb Basra (Zubayr) Security
Consultants Olive Security
14-Nov-2004 Weis, Wolf American Ambush Near Mosul Contractor Unknown
12-Nov-2004 Tatar, Mike American friendly small arms fire Unknown
International Police Liaison Officer DynCorp International
11-Nov-2004 Wilshire, James American Attack Between Latafiya to Baghdad
Security Consultant Erinys International
10-Nov-2004 Thomas, Douglas S. American Roadside Bomb Between Ballad and
Tikrit International Police Liaison Officer DynCorp International
09-Nov-2004 Iversen, Aaron American RPG Fallujah (Beween Baghdad and
Fallujah) security contractor EOD Technology Inc.
09-Nov-2004 Randolph, David American RPG Fallujah (Beween Baghdad and
Fallujah) Weapons Disposal EOD Technology
07-Nov-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN Turkish Shot Dead Samarra Truckdriver Unknown
05-Nov-2004 Gurung, Tikaram Nepali Ambush Mid-east Iraq (unspecified)
Security guard Gorkha Manpower Company
03-Nov-2004 Barker, John British Suicide car bomb Baghdad Airport
Security contractor Global Risk Strategies
03-Nov-2004 Serrett, Jeffery American Small arms fire Baghdad Abu
Ghraib Medic Halliburton
27-Oct-2004 Schnoor, Travis American Hostile - hostile fire - IED
attack Baghdad (west of) Security contractor Custer Battle
23-Oct-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN Turkish Small arms fire Baiji Truckdriver
23-Oct-2004 Burazović, Dalibor Croatian See Link Mosul (near)
Truckdriver Eurodelta d.o.o
19-Oct-2004 Lugo III, Felipe E. American Mortar attack Baghdad (US
military base near) Labor Foreman Halliburton
14-Oct-2004 Pinsonneault, John American Suicide Bomb Baghdad Security
Guard DynCorp
14-Oct-2004 Osborne, Steve American Suicide Bomb Baghdad Security Guard
DynCorp
14-Oct-2004 Miner, Eric American Suicide Bomb Baghdad Security Guard
DynCorp
14-Oct-2004 Elbu, Ramazan Turkish beheading Unknown Truck Driver Unknown
14-Oct-2004 Ibabao, Ferdinand Gaum Suicide Bomb Baghdad Security
Contractor DynCorp
12-Oct-2004 Botha, Johan South African Convoy attack Baghdad (south of)
Security contractor Omega Risk Solutions
12-Oct-2004 Campher, Louis South African Convoy attack Baghdad (south
of) Security contractor Omega Risk Solutions
11-Oct-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN British Sniper fire Kirkuk (near) Security
contractor ArmorGroup
11-Oct-2004 Kemal, Maher Turkish beheading Unknown Unknown Unknown
11-Oct-2004 Chadwick, Paul British Sot himself in the head (accident ?)
Kirkuk Security contractor ArmorGroup
07-Oct-2004 Bigley, Kenneth British Execution, beheading Baghdad (?)
Engineer
30-Sep-2004 Wimpenny, Alan British Bomb attack on a convoy Sammara
(near) Security Contractor Unknown
29-Sep-2004 Hunter, Iain British vehicle collided with an Iraqi vehicle.
Tikrit Security Contractor ArmorGroup
28-Sep-2004 Moffett, Roger American Roadside bombing Iraq Convoy
commander Halliburton
21-Sep-2004 Hensley, Jack American Execution, beheading Baghdad (?)
Civil engineer Gulf Services Co.
21-Sep-2004 Besir, Akar Turkish Body found Unknown Truck Driver Unknown
20-Sep-2004 Armstrong, Eugene American Execution, beheading Baghdad (?)
Civil engineer Gulf Services Co.
14-Sep-2004 Engstrom, Todd American Convoy attack (RPG) Balad (near)
Security contractor EOD Technologies
14-Sep-2004 Shmakov, Andrew Canadian Car bombing Baghdad
14-Sep-2004 Toma, Munir Canadian Car bombing Baghdad
10-Sep-2004 Bowers, William Earl American Vehicle attack Baghdad (near)
Vice president/engineer SEI Group, Inc.
04-Sep-2004 Mallery, John N. American Vehicle attack Taji (N. of
Baghdad) Project manager MayDay Supply (dining facility supplyhouse)
04-Sep-2004 Salama (Juma?), Nasser Egyptian Execution, gunshot Bayji
(near) Not reported
30-Aug-2004 Limbu, Mangal Bahadur Nepali Execution Unknown Cook/cleaner
Morning Star Co. [Jordanian services firm]
30-Aug-2004 Shrestha, Gyanendra Nepali Execution Unknown Cook/cleaner
Morning Star Co. [Jordanian services firm]
30-Aug-2004 Thakur, Manoj Kumar Nepali Execution Unknown Cook/cleaner
Morning Star Co. [Jordanian services firm]
30-Aug-2004 Thapa, Bishnu Hari Nepali Execution Unknown Cook/cleaner
Morning Star Co. [Jordanian services firm]
30-Aug-2004 Thakur, Sanjay Kumar Nepali Execution Unknown Cook/cleaner
Morning Star Co. [Jordanian services firm]
30-Aug-2004 Magar, Jit Bahadur Thapa Nepali Execution Unknown
Cook/cleaner Morning Star Co. [Jordanian services firm]
30-Aug-2004 Adhikari, Prakash Nepali Execution Unknown Cook/cleaner
Morning Star Co. [Jordanian services firm]
30-Aug-2004 Sudi, Bodhan Kumar Sah Nepali Execution Unknown Cook/cleaner
Morning Star Co. (Jordanian services firm]
30-Aug-2004 Thapa, Bhekh Bahadur Nepali Execution Unknown Cook/cleaner
Morning Star Co. [Jordanian services firm]
30-Aug-2004 Khadka, Ramesh Nepali Execution Unknown Cook/cleaner Morning
Star Co. [Jordanian services firm]
30-Aug-2004 Shrestha, Rajendra Kumar Nepali Execution Unknown
Cook/cleaner Morning Star Co. [Jordanian services firm]
30-Aug-2004 Koiri, Lalan Singh Nepali Execution Unknown Cook/cleaner
Morning Star Co. [Jordanian services firm]
30-Aug-2004 Sadr, Yahya Turkish Execution, gunshot Samarra (near)
Truckdriver
30-Aug-2004 al-Gilami, Majid Mehmet Turkish Execution, gunshot Samarra
(near) Truckdriver
30-Aug-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN Turkish Execution, gunshot Samarra (near)
Truckdriver
27-Aug-2004 Baker, Jawdee Egyptian Hostile death Bayji Not reported
24-Aug-2004 Salman, Jamal Tewfik American? Execution, beheading Not
known Guide/translator
23-Aug-2004 Ahmed, Beshir Jordanian Car hijacking? On road btwn. Tikrit
& Bayji Businessman
23-Aug-2004 Naskovski, Zoran Macedonian See Link Baghdad? Construction
worker Soufan Engineering (U.S. firm)
23-Aug-2004 Lazarevski, Dalibor Macedonian See Link Baghdad?
Construction worker Soufan Engineering (U.S. firm)
23-Aug-2004 Markovikj, Dragan Macedonian See Link Baghdad? Construction
worker Soufan Engineering (U.S. firm)
22-Aug-2004 Ahmad, Fahmi Indonesian Convoy attack Mosul
Telecommunications engineer Subcontractor to Siemens (German firm)
22-Aug-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN Turkish Convoy attack On road btwn. Tikrit &
Kirkuk Construction worker Tikrit bridge repair firm
16-Aug-2004 Pretorius, Herman "Harry" South African Convoy attack Mosul
Security contractor DynCorp International
12-Aug-2004 Abraham, Eldho Indian Explosion Baghdad Electrical engineer
British construction company
11-Aug-2004 Rader, Kevin American Convoy attack Not reported Truckdriver
KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
10-Aug-2004 Abdel Aal (Mutwalli), Mohammed Egyptian Execution,
beheading Not reported Car mechanic
04-Aug-2004 Alisan, Osman Turkish Convoy attack Mosul (near) Truckdriver
Ulasli Oil Company
02-Aug-2004 Nural, Ferit Turkish Convoy attack Baghdad (near)
Truckdriver
01-Aug-2004 Yuce, Murat Turkish Execution, gunshot Unknown Cleaner for
catering firm Bilintur (Turkish catering firm)
01-Aug-2004 Wagner, Robert American IED attack Not reported Security
contractor Custer Battles
28-Jul-2004 Naeem, Sajad Pakistani Execution, beheading Unknown Driver
Al Tamimi group (Kuwait-based constr. co.)
28-Jul-2004 Azad, Raja Pakistani Execution, beheading Unknown
Maintenance engineer Al Tamimi group (Kuwait-based constr. co.)
25-Jul-2004 Al Rusan, Marwan Zuheir Jordanian Not known Mosul
Businessman
22-Jul-2004 Kepov, Ivaylo Bulgarian Execution, beheading Body found near
Bayji Truckdriver Bulgarian trucking company
20-Jul-2004 Korenkov, Anatoly Russian Convoy attack Moscow hospital (?)
Power plant technician InterEnergoServis (Russian company)
19-Jul-2004 Copley, Mike American Rocket attack Samarra (FOB McKenzie)
Bradley maintenance technician United Defense Industries
17-Jul-2004 Nassir, Ayid Jordanian Convoy attack Ramadi Truckdriver
17-Jul-2004 Bayik, Abdulcelil Turkish Convoy attack Mosul (near)
Truckdriver Unknown
13-Jul-2004 Lazov, Georgi Bulgarian Execution, beheading Mosul (in or
near) Truckdriver Bulgarian trucking company
12-Jul-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN Turkish IED attack Bayji (near) Truckdriver
09-Jul-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN Turkish Convoy attack Samarra (near)
Truckdriver Unknown
09-Jul-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN Turkish Convoy attack Samarra (near)
Truckdriver Unknown
02-Jul-2004 Richerson, Vern O'Neal American Mortar attack Landstuhl
Reg. Med. Ctr., Germany Construction foreman KBR (subsidiary of
Halliburton)
27-Jun-2004 Arguelles, Joseph American Transport plane over Baghdad
Transport plane over Baghdad Electric power specialist Readiness Mgmt.
Svcs. (subsid. of Johnson Controls)
22-Jun-2004 Davies, Julian British Convoy Attack Mosul Security
contractor Global Risk Strategies Limited
22-Jun-2004 Kim Sun-il South Korean Execution, beheading Not known
Supplier Gana General Trading Co.
19-Jun-2004 Carlos, Roberto Portuguese IED attack Basra (3 km. south of)
Telecommunications worker Al-Atheer (telecommunications co.)
17-Jun-2004 Demir, Faysal Turkish Friendly fire Baghdad Truckdriver
Turkish mftr. of prefab housing
17-Jun-2004 Zbryski, Walter J. American IED attack Not reported
Truckdriver KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
14-Jun-2004 Flores, Raul Filipino Car Bomb Baghdad (Al Tahriri Square)
power industry engineer Granite Services, Inc. (subsidiary of General
Electric)
14-Jun-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN French Car Bomb Baghdad (Al Tahriri Square)
Power industry technician Granite Services, Inc. (subsidiary of General
Electric)
14-Jun-2004 Poole, John British Car Bomb Baghdad (Al Tahriri Square)
Security contractor Olive Security
14-Jun-2004 Butler, Keith British Car Bomb Baghdad (Al Tahriri Square)
Security contractor Olive Security
14-Jun-2004 Hoke II, Bill American Car Bomb Baghdad (Al Tahriri Square)
Power industry worker Granite Services, Inc. (subsidiary of General
Electric)
14-Jun-2004 Sprague III, Rex G. American Convoy attack Baghdad (road to
Int'l Airport) Security contractor Titan National Security Solutions
13-Jun-2004 Fyfe, Shaun American Natural causes Iraq Construction
worker Environmental Chemical Corp. Int'l
11-Jun-2004 Alyan, Hussein Ali Lebanese Kidnap/murder Iraq Construction
worker Not known
05-Jun-2004 Neidrich, Chris American Convoy attack Baghdad(road To
Intl Airport) Security Contractor Blackwater Security Consultants
05-Jun-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN Polish Convoy attack Baghdad(road To Intl
Airport) Security Contractor Blackwater Security Consultants
05-Jun-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN Polish Convoy attack Baghdad(road To Intl
Airport) Security Contractor Blackwater Security Consultants
05-Jun-2004 Wingate, James Gregory American IED attack Haditha (Near)
Truckdriver KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
05-Jun-2004 Little, Jarrod American Convoy attack Baghdad(road To
Intl Airport) Security Contractor Blackwater Security Consultants
05-Jun-2004 ****ens, Craig British Convoy Attack shot three times in the
head Mosul (near) Security Contractor ArmorGroup (British security
firm)
02-Jun-2004 Bruce, Richard American Vehicle accident Not reported
Security Contractor Blackwater Security Consultants
30-May-2004 Tow, Bruce American Ambush Baghdad International Police
Liaison Officer DynCorp International
25-May-2004 Ovsyannikov, Vyacheslav Russian Convoy attack Baghdad (south
of) Power plant technician (?) InterEnergoServis (Russian company)
25-May-2004 Dynkin, Viktor Russian Convoy attack Baghdad (south of)
Power plant technician (?) InterEnergoServis (Russian company)
24-May-2004 Carman, Mark British IED attack Baghdad (nr. CPA Hdqrs.)
Security contractor Control Risks Group
24-May-2004 Morgan, Bob British (Welsh) IED attack Baghdad (nr. CPA
Hdqrs.) Petroleum consultant British Foreign Office
18-May-2004 Harries, Andrew British Convoy attack Mosul (btwn. Mosul and
Irbil) Security contractor ArmorGroup (British security firm)
14-May-2004 Tilley, Brian British Small arms fire attack Security
contractor Egyptian communications project
13-May-2004 Gentry, Jesse American Vehicle accident Tikrit (near)
Security contractor DynCorp International
13-May-2004 Doll, Henry "Hank" American Vehicle accident Tikrit (near)
Security contractor DynCorp International
12-May-2004 Kaplanli, Suayip Turkish Small arms fire attack Mosul
Construction manager? Yuksel Construction (Turkish company)
12-May-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN Turkish Small arms fire attack Mosul Driver
Yuksel Construction (Turkish company)
11-May-2004 Konorev, Alexei Russian Small arms fire attack Musayyib
(south of Baghdad) Construction worker InterEnergoServis (Russian
company)
11-May-2004 Natividad, Raymundo Filipino Mortar attack (Iraqi) Camp
Anaconda (near Balad) Warehouseman Prime Projects International (Dubai)
10-May-2004 Berg, Nick American Execution, beheading Baghdad (?)
Businessman
10-May-2004 Tyrrell, John Robert New Zealander Small arms fire attack
Kirkuk Engineer Iraqi construction company
10-May-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN South African Small arms fire attack Kirkuk
Construction worker? Iraqi construction company
07-May-2004 Parker, Daniel American IED attack Baghdad (near Int'l
Airport) Security contractor KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
02-May-2004 Qaranivalu, Kelepi Fijian Convoy attack Mosul Security
contractor Global Risk Strategies Limited
02-May-2004 Vunibokoi, Emori Fijian Convoy attack Mosul Security
contractor Global Risk Strategies Limited
01-May-2004 Kilpatrick, Christian F. American Rocket-propelled grenade
Tikrit (Near) Security Contractor DynCorp International
01-May-2004 Ugar, Cemal Turkish Convoy attack ? Baghdad (near)
Truckdriver
30-Apr-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN South African Stepped on land mine Fallujah
Security contractor British security company
30-Apr-2004 Price, Mike American IED attack Bayji (near) Security
Contractor Cochise Constultancy
29-Apr-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN South African Drive-by shooting Basra
Construction consultant Construction company
28-Apr-2004 Reyes, Rodrigo Filipino Convoy attack Abdali (near Kuwait
border) Truckdriver KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
25-Apr-2004 Foster, Vincent American IED attack Bayji (near) Security
contractor Cochise Consultancy, Inc.
25-Apr-2004 Carter, Thomas American IED attack Bayji (near) Security
contractor Cochise Consultancy, Inc.
22-Apr-2004 de Beer, Francois South African Gunfire Baghdad (Al
Adhamiyah Dist.) Security contractor Meteoric Tactical Solutions (S.A.
sec. co.)
14-Apr-2004 Quattrocchi, Fabrizio Italian Execution, gunshot Security
contractor
12-Apr-2004 Visagie, Hendrik "Vis" South African RPG attack U.S.
military hospital Security contractor Erinys International
11-Apr-2004 Alexandru, Aron Romanian Convoy attack Baghdad (near)
Security contractor Bidepa (Romanian security firm)
11-Apr-2004 Frandsen, Henrik Danish Hostile circumstances Baghdad (?)
Businessman
09-Apr-2004 Hulett, Stephen American Convoy attack Baghdad (Abu Ghuraib)
Truckdriver KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
09-Apr-2004 Montague, Jack American Convoy attack Baghdad (Abu Ghuraib)
Truckdriver KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
09-Apr-2004 Parker, Jeffery American Convoy attack Baghdad (Abu Ghuraib)
Truckdriver KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
09-Apr-2004 Johnson, Tony Duane American Convoy attack Baghdad (Abu
Ghuraib) Truckdriver KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
09-Apr-2004 Fisher, Steven Scott American Convoy attack Baghdad (Abu
Ghuraib) Truckdriver KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
09-Apr-2004 Bradley, William American Convoy attack Baghdad (near Abu
Ghuraib Prison) Truckdriver KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
09-Apr-2004 Ram Bahadur Gurung Nepali Vehicle hit landmine Northern Iraq
Security contractor Global Risk Strategies Limited
09-Apr-2004 Shiva Prasad Lawati Nepali Vehicle hit landmine Northern
Iraq Security contractor Global Risk Strategies Limited
08-Apr-2004 Bloss, Michael John British Small arms fire attack Hit
(near) Security contractor Custer Battles
08-Apr-2004 Smith, Tim American Convoy attack? Unknown Truckdriver KBR
(subsidiary of Halliburton)
06-Apr-2004 Manchev, Mario Bulgarian Convoy attack An Nasiriyah (south
of) Truckdriver SOMAT (Bulgarian trucking company)
06-Apr-2004 Branfield, Gray South African Small arms fire attack Kut
Security contractor Hart Security [The Hart Group]
03-Apr-2004 Mikha, Emad American Hostile circumstances Muqdadiyah
Translator Titan National Security Solutions
01-Apr-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN Czech Accidental gas explosion Refinery in S.
Iraq Petrochemical expert Chemoprojekt
31-Mar-2004 Teague, Michael American Small arms fire Fallujah Security
contractor Blackwater Security Consultants
31-Mar-2004 Helvenston, Scott American Small arms fire Fallujah Security
contractor Blackwater Security Consultants
31-Mar-2004 Zovko, Jerko "Jerry" American Small arms fire Fallujah
Security contractor Blackwater Security Consultants
31-Mar-2004 Batalona, Wesley American Small arms fire Fallujah Security
contractor Blackwater Security Consultants
28-Mar-2004 McDonald, Christopher British Convoy attack Mosul (east
side) Security contractor Olive Security
28-Mar-2004 Bradsell, Andy Canadian Convoy attack Mosul (east side)
Security contractor Olive Security
22-Mar-2004 Haapanen, Seppo Finnish Sniper fire Baghdad (west of)
Businessman Ensto Utility Networks
22-Mar-2004 Toronen, Jorma Finnish Sniper fire Baghdad (west of)
Businessman Air-Ix
18-Mar-2004 Mounce, Scott British Suicide car bomb Baghdad (Mt. Lebanon
Hotel) Telecommunications engineer Italian communications company
16-Mar-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN German Small arms fire attack Hillah (near)
Water project engineer
16-Mar-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN Dutch Small arms fire attack Hillah (near)
Water project engineer
29-Feb-2004 Whitman, Travis B. American Unknown Baghdad Unknown Unknown
23-Feb-2004 Cayton, Albert Luther "Al" American IED attack Not reported
Truckdriver supervisor KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
16-Feb-2004 Parks, Ray American Ambushed Baghdad Contractor American
Services Center
08-Feb-2004 Ramatau, Tomasi Fijian Mortar Attack Baghdad (International
Airport) Security contractor Global Risk Strategies
31-Jan-2004 Strydom, Francois South African Suicide car bomb Baghdad
(Shahine Hotel) Security contractor SAS International [sub to Erinys
Int'l]
26-Jan-2004 Linderman Jr., Arthur American Convoy attack nr. Tikrit
Christiana Hospital, Newark, DE Truckdriver KBR (subsidiary of
Halliburton)
25-Jan-2004 Rehman, Habibur Pakistani Convoy attack Unknown Truckdriver
Saudi Arabian firm (name not known)
21-Jan-2004 Deatherage, Jody American Vehicle accident Iraq Truckdriver
KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
14-Jan-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN Unknown Convoy attack Tikrit (near) Driver
KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
14-Jan-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN Unknown Convoy attack Tikrit (near) Driver
KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
06-Jan-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN French Small arms fire attack Falluja
Contactor Unknown US company
06-Jan-2004 NAME NOT KNOWN French Small arms fire attack Falluja
Contactor Unknown US company
05-Jan-2004 Flynn, Richard Canadian IED attack Security contractor
U.S. company
13-Dec-2003 Manelick, Ryan American Small arms fire attack Company
officer Ultra Services.Irex Corp.
30-Nov-2003 Kim, Man-Soo South Korean Convoy attack Tikrit (south of)
Electrician Omu Electric Co. (sub to Washington Gp.)
30-Nov-2003 Kwak, Kyung-Hae South Korean Convoy attack Tikrit (south of)
Electrician Omu Electric Co. (sub to Washington Gp.)
29-Nov-2003 Duque, Jorge Arias Colombian Small arms fire attack Balad (2
km from the south entrance to Camp Anaconda) Security Contractor KBR
(subsidiary of Halliburton)
23-Nov-2003 Drobnick, Todd American Vehicle accident Mosul (btwn. Mosul
and Dohuk) Translator team manager Titan National Security Solutions
23-Nov-2003 Sinclair, Gordon American Vehicle accident Mosul (btwn.
Mosul and Dohuk) Translator operations director Titan National Security
Solutions
17-Nov-2003 McJennett, Brent American Land mine Tikrit Communications
contractor Proactive Communications Inc
17-Nov-2003 Varga-Balázs, Péter Hungarian Friendly Fire Ramadi (near)
Contractor - Driver ToiFor Kft
13-Nov-2003 Snare, Forrest American Small arms fire attack Balad (west
of) IAP Worldwide Services
02-Nov-2003 Buckmaster, Roy American IED attack Fallujah Bomb disposal
expert EOD Technology, Inc.
02-Nov-2003 Dyess, David American IED attack Fallujah Bomb disposal
expert EOD Technology, Inc.
04-Sep-2003 Rimell, Ian British Small arms fire attack Mosul (near) Bomb
disposal expert Mines Advisory Group (Brit. charity)
03-Sep-2003 Gaston, Vernon American Small arms fire attack Baghdad
Truckdriver KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
20-Aug-2003 NAME NOT KNOWN American Small arms fire attack Tikrit
Translator U.S. Army
05-Aug-2003 Bryant Jr., Fred American IED attack Tikrit (near)
Truckdriver KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
21-Jul-2003 Rudorf, Peter British Illness while on dive Umm Qasr (near)
Diver Sub-Surface Eng'g (sub to Bechtel)
10-Jul-2003 NAME NOT KNOWN Unknown Vehicle accident Basra (near) Unknown
KBR (subsidiary of Halliburton)
10-Apr-2003 Grimm, Robert American Vehicle accident Kuwait, nr. Iraq
border

The war in Iraq has caused one of the most severe refugee crises in
history, and no one seems to be paying attention.

Since the shock-and-awe invasion of Iraq began in March 2003, that
country's explosive unraveling has never left the news or long been off
the front page. Yet the fallout beyond its borders from the destruction,
disintegration, and ethnic mayhem in Iraq has almost avoided notice. And
yet with -- according to United Nations estimates -- approximately
50,000 Iraqis fleeing their country each month (and untold numbers of
others being displaced internally), Iraq is producing one of the -- if
not the -- most severe refugee crisis on the planet, a crisis without a
name and without significant attention.

For the last two weeks, I've been in Syria, visiting refugee centers and
camps, the offices and employees of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR), and poor neighborhoods in Damascus that are
filling up with desperate, almost penniless Iraqi refugees, sometimes
living 15 to a room. In statistical and human terms, these few days
offered a small window into the magnitude of a catastrophe that is still
unfolding and shows no sign of abating in any immediately imaginable
future.





Let's start with the numbers, inadequate as they are. The latest UN
figures concerning the refugee crisis in Iraq indicate that between
1-1.2 million Iraqis have fled across the border into Syria; about
750,000 have crossed into Jordan (increasing its modest population of
5.5 million by 14%); at least another 150,000 have made it to Lebanon;
over 150,000 have emigrated to Egypt; and -- these figures are the
trickiest of all -- over 1.9 million are now estimated to have been
internally displaced by civil war and sectarian cleansing within Iraq.

These numbers are staggering in a population estimated in the
pre-invasion years at only 26 million. At a bare minimum, in other
words, at least one out of every seven Iraqis has had to flee his or her
home due to the violence and chaos set off by the Bush administration's
invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Yet, as even the UN officials on the scene admit, these are undoubtedly
low-end estimates. "We rely heavily on the official numbers given to us
by the Syrian government concerning the Iraqi refugees coming here,"
Sybella Wilkes, the regional public information officer for the UNHCR
told me, while we talked recently at the main refugee processing center
in Douma, a city on the outskirts of the Syrian capital. Even the
high-end UNHCR estimate of 1.2 million Iraqi refugees in Syria (a
country of only 17 million people) was, she told me, probably too low.

According to Wilkes, the Syrian government, using tallies taken from its
southern border posts, privately estimates the number to be closer to
1.4-1.5 million Iraqis in Syria. The UNHCR operation here, desperately
under-funded and short of staff, does not have people on the border
tallying numbers and has no way to check on the real magnitude of the
disaster underway.

Yet, in their work, they can feel its oppressive weight daily. Erdogan
Kalkan, a 35-year-old Turkish UNHCR employee of 15 years, told me that
the overworked staff has already scheduled a total of 35,000
appointments with refugees seeking aid in Syria; only 25,000 of those
have actually had their cases addressed -- and that barely scratches the
surface of the problem. "We have been increasing our processing capacity
from the beginning," he said, while puffing on a cigarette. We were
speaking in a newly converted warehouse where Iraqi families now can
meet with UNHCR workers in cramped white cubicles and be interviewed
about why they left Iraq and what their most immediate needs are.

UNHCR's budget for Iraqis in Syria in 2006 was a bare $700,000, less
than one dollar per refugee crossing the border. UNHCR needs far greater
financial resources even to begin to help the mass of Iraqi refugees in
the country, as well as food, medicine, and aid from other UN agencies.
At the moment, it is essentially the only UN agency assisting Iraqis in
Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. UNICEF and other UN agencies have voiced
interest, but as yet have provided little support in Syria, according to
Kalkan.

Adham Mardini, the public information assistant for UNHCR in Damascus,
told me their budget in Syria has risen precipitously to $16 million for
2007, although that, too, remains far below what would be necessary
simply to fulfill the most basic needs of the most desperate of the
refugees. It adds up to a little over $13 per Iraqi refugee per year --
if you don't include the refugees in Syria from Somalia, Palestine,
Afghanistan, and other war-torn areas for whom UNHCR is also responsible
(along with UNHCR overhead). Iraqi refugees receive food supplements
from UNICEF, but only in the most severe cases of need, and cash is
simply unavailable for distribution.

Back in late 2006, UNHCR in Damascus started out as the most modest of
operations -- with two processing clerks, each seeing between five and
seven cases daily. Now, there are 25 clerks processing more than 200
cases daily, not to mention guards, drivers, new computers, a Red
Crescent aid station at the center, a new bathroom, and plans for adding
a child center, psychological counseling services, and a community
center before the Secretary General of the UN visits later this month.

Yet all of this is still nowhere near enough to keep up with the
implacable flood of Iraqis entering Syria every month. Iraqis, who now
comprise a little over 8% of the population of this small country, tell
stories about why they left their land and what they are dealing with
today, which these numbers, staggering as they are, do not.

More Than Numbers

"I left everything behind," Salim Hamad, a former railroad worker from
Baghdad, told me. "My house was empty when I left, and I have no idea
what became of it." We met in a small tea shop in the sprawling Yarmouk
refugee camp in Damascus. It is perhaps not inappropriate that Yarmouk
is primarily a Palestinian refugee camp, since the Iraqi diaspora
represents the largest exodus of refugees in the Middle East since the
state of Israel was created in 1948. The camp is an uninspiring mass of
high, grey apartment buildings through which snake crowded roads.
According to locals, tens of thousands of Iraqis have already joined
their ranks, with the numbers increasing daily, and Salim Hamad is not
atypical of the new arrivals.

Five months ago, Salim had to sell his car, his furniture, and most of
his other belongings simply to raise enough money to bring his wife and
three children to Syria. They had grown tired and fearful, he told me,
of seeing corpses in their streets every day.

Because Jordan's pro-U.S. King Abdullah had long since clamped down on
Iraqi entry to his country, for Salim and countless others, Syria has
been the only available destination. Yarmouk, with electricity and
running water, is, in fact, one of the better areas for refugees. The
two other main refugee camps into which Iraqis are now flooding,
Jaramana and Sayada Zainab, present far grimmer living conditions,
including more than 10 people sleeping in rooms without beds, lacking
potable drinking water and in some cases heat, and with intermittent
electricity.

Other Iraqis are living in poorer city neighborhoods, eating up their
savings, sometimes relying on the goodwill of Syrian friends or
relatives. Given visa restrictions, which prohibit Iraqis from working
here (except, of course, in the black market economy), when often meager
savings run out, the crisis is sure to worsen exponentially.

UNHCR recently offered the following staggering projection: According to
its best estimates about 12% of Iraq's population, now assumed to be
about 24 million people, will be displaced by the end of 2007. We're
talking about nearly 3 million ever more destitute Salim Hamads by the
New Year. (Add to that Iraq's growing population of internal refugees
and its spiraling civilian death tolls and you have the kind of
decimation of a nation rarely seen -- with, undoubtedly, more to come.)

A report released March 22 by the NGO Refugees International calls the
flight of Iraqis from war-torn Iraq "the world's fastest growing
displacement crisis."

"The situation now is pushing Syria and Jordan to the maximum," the
UNCHR's Wilkes told me. "Syria's 'open door' policy is extraordinary,
but economically and socially we wonder how long it can be maintained.
We're very aware of the impact on these governments this crisis is
having. We're hoping the international community will help share the
burden."

The primary trigger for this crisis was the 2003 invasion and occupation
of Iraq, and yet President Bush and his top officials have taken no
significant steps whatsoever to share in the resulting refugee burden.
To date, the administration has issued only 466 visas to Iraqis. Under
recent pressure from the UN, it has said that it would offer an
additional 7,000 visas -- but without either announcing the criteria for
accepting such refugees or even when the visas might be issued. Upon
hearing this paltry number, an Iraqi refugee said to me in disbelief:
"Seven thousand out of over four million Iraqis who have either fled
their country or are internally displaced?... I don't know if he could
insult us more if he tried."

"I ask all nations, particularly the United States, to do all that they
can to help us," was the way Qasim Jubouri, a banker who fled Baghdad
with his family in order to keep them alive, put the matter to me.
"Since the U.S. government caused all of this, shouldn't they also be
responsible for helping us now?"

Like Salim, he too left for Syria with nothing more than some clothing
and his meager savings. Now, the money he brought is running out and he
has no idea how he will feed his family when it's gone.

Thirty-two year-old Ali Ahmed has a similar tale to tell. "I was a
financial manager of seven companies in Baghdad, but I had to leave my
house, my car, and just about everything." After militiamen fired on his
car in the once upscale Mansoor district of Baghdad, Ali fled to Jordan.
He returned to Iraq to try again, but once more faced death in an attack
in which six employees from his management firm were killed.

And even that wasn't the end of it. "We had 11 engineers from one
company detained by the Mehdi Army [the militia of Shia cleric Muqtada
al-Sadr]. We never heard from them again. I knew then that I had to drop
everything and run for my life."

Ali does not see himself returning soon. "I don't expect to go back for
at least 15-20 years. I have left everything behind, and now I have
nothing but a small food store I run here. But it is not enough. Not the
UN, nor any government, least of all the Iraqi government, is doing
enough to help us." (The Syrian government, thus far, maintains a policy
of looking the other way when it comes to modest or menial jobs Iraqis
find which don't put Syrians out of work.)

Another Iraqi refugee told me of being detained by Mehdi Army militia
members and having a rod forced down his throat as part of his
"interrogation." He was lucky to come out of the experience alive. Many,
on either side of the worsening sectarian struggle, do not. The
slaughter of Sunnis by the Medhi Army and the slaughter of Shiites by
Sunni extremist groups have become commonplace.

Despite the fact that Sadr recently ordered his militia to focus all its
attacks on occupation forces, scores of dead bodies turning up on
Baghdad's streets each day prove otherwise.

Iraqis who worked with, or have been in any way associated with, the
American military or occupation authorities are faring at least as
badly, if not worse. Everyone collaborating in any way with U.S. forces
in Iraq is now targeted -- along with their families.

"I used to work with the Americans near Kut," Sa'ad Hussein, a
34-year-old electrical engineer told me, "I worked for Kellogg, Brown,
and Root [then a subsidiary of oil-services giant Halliburton] to
construct an Iraqi base there until I got my death threat on a piece of
paper slipped under my door on my return to Baghdad. I had no choice but
to flee."

"Things are getting so much worse in Iraq," was the way Salim Hamad, who
fled five months ago, summed up life in his former homeland as our
interview was ending. "There is a big difference between those who left
four years ago and those who left four days ago. Everything in Iraq is
based on sectarianism now and there is no protection -- neither from the
Americans, nor the Iraqi government."

Fleeing "Freedom and Democracy"

Sa'ad Hussein, who arrived in Damascus only three months ago, described
the Baghdad he left as a "city of ghosts" where the black banners of
death announcements hang on most streets. There is, he claimed (and this
was verified by others we spoke to among the more recent refugees),
normally only one hour of electricity a day and no jobs to be found.

"I was an ex-captain in the Iraqi Army, and I think that's why I was
threatened, in addition to working with the occupation authorities," he
explained. When asked how many of his former Sunni army colleagues had
also received death threats, he replied, "All of them." It was not safe,
he told me, for him to go back to the now largely Shi'ite Iraqi Army
because, "I may be killed. This is the new freedom and democracy we
have."

On all measurable levels, life in Baghdad, now well into the fifth year
of U.S. occupation, has become hellish for Iraqis who have attempted to
remain, which, of course, only adds to the burgeoning numbers who daily
become part of the exodus to neighboring lands. It is generally agreed
that the delivery of security, electricity, potable water, health care,
and jobs -- that is, the essentials of modern urban life -- are all
significantly worse than during the last years of the reign of Saddam
Hussein.

"The Americans are detaining so many people," Ali Hassan, a 41-year-old
from the Hay Jihad area of Baghdad said as we spoke in front of the
central UNHCR office in downtown Damascus. "And my brother was killed by
Shi'ite militiamen after he refused to give them the keys to empty Sunni
houses we were looking after."

As scores of other refugees crowded around photographer Jeff Pflueger
and me, wanting to tell their stories, Hassan, a Shi'ite who also fled
Baghdad just three months ago, added, "Now I can't go back. I am a
refugee and I still don't feel secure because I still fear the Mehdi
Army."

"So many Iraqis never leave their homes now because they are too afraid
to go out due to the militias," Abdul Abdulla, a 68-year-old who fled
Baghdad with his family insisted, having literally grabbed the
microphone I was using to tape my interview with Hassan.

From the volatile Yarmouk area of Baghdad, Abdulla, a Sunni, said Shia
militia members waited on the outskirts of his neighborhood in order to
detain anyone trying to leave. "We stayed in our homes, but even then
some people were being detained from their own houses. These death
squads started coming after [former U.S. ambassador John] Negroponte
arrived. And the Iraqi Government is definitely involved because they
depend on [the militias]."

While talking with Abdulla, I noticed a woman in a black abaya or gown
covering her entire body, one of her arms in a cast, standing nearby.

When I approached Eman Abdul Rahid, a 46-year-old mother from Baghdad,
she willingly told me her sad story, all too typical of civilian life in
the Iraqi capital today. "I was injured," she said, "because I was near
a car bomb, which killed my daughter... There is killing, and threats of
more killing, and explosions daily in Baghdad."

"America is the reason why Iraq was invaded, so we would like the
American administration to give aid to us refugees," she added, "I would
like people to read this and tell Bush to help us."

Six Months and Counting

Sundays and Mondays at the UNHCR refugee processing center in Douma are
mob scenes. Refugees, some of whom have been waiting several months for
their first interview at the center, an event crucial to finding aid,
arrive in taxis, minibuses, on foot, or on buses specially hired by
UNHCR. They line up outside a freshly painted white and blue gate,
manned by security guards, and slowly trickle into the converted
warehouse to wait eagerly for their names and numbers to be called.

On one of my Monday visits, as my friend Jeff and I approached the
warehouse-turned-processing center there were more than 1,000 Iraqis
crowded around the entrance hoping to get in. Taxis honked their way
through the gathering crowds of refugees, each of whom held a number
representing his or her place in line, along with passports and other
required papers.

As we were being escorted inside the center by UNHCR public information
assistant Adham Mardini, he told us that the previous day between 6,000
and 7,000 Iraqi refugees had descended on the place. On that day alone,
2,179 future appointments had been scheduled, each representing an
average of 3.6 people, since many of them are set by the heads of
families.

"Sundays and Mondays are always crazy here because these are the days we
set their appointments," he commented. "And these people now have to
wait up to six months just for their interview."

Some Iraqis showing up are, however, in need of emergency care. Refugees
often arrive without medicines, and with serious heart problems, kidney
failure, sizeable burns across their bodies, or ill-healed wounds -- and
that's not even to speak of the psychological problems they face from
violence seen or experienced or from lives completely uprooted. All of
this, the minimalist UNHCR center must try to face. A surprising number
of arrivals are simply put in ambulances to be taken either to local
hospitals or treated by the Syrian Red Crescent.

Under a makeshift roof outside the warehouse but inside the outer gate,
families lucky enough to have their numbers come up on this day are
filling out forms. Men stand writing on sheets of paper pressed against
walls; women hold crying babies amid the cacophony and chaos.
Periodically, a UNHCR volunteer appears at the door of the building with
a bullhorn to announce the names of those who should prepare to be
interviewed. Most of them have been waiting at least four months for
this day.

Iraqis continue to crowd through the door from the road as I talk with
Mardini. "As you can see, the Baghdad security plan is working very
well," he says with a wry smile. From hundreds of miles away, it's his
organization which is providing what "security" is available and it
can't hope to keep up with the steadily increasing numbers of desperate
Iraqis.

To make matters worse, UNHCR officials have been noticing an increase in
Kurdish refugees from the previously more peaceable northern regions of
Iraq. "Over 50% of all newcomers in the last two weeks are Kurds,"
Kalkan, the UNHCR veteran of 15 years whom I'd spoken with before, says
as he joins Mardini and me at the door. The two of them express a modest
mix of frustration and discouragement, given the circumstances. After
all, just as UNHCR in Damascus begins to ramp up to accommodate the
massive numbers of refugees they have to deal with, the flow increases
confoundingly.

Perhaps an hour later, when we make our way back to the street, the
hoard of refugees has miraculously dwindled to only a few dozen forlorn
Iraqis outside the now-closed door. We can't understand what made them
all disappear so quickly.

"I came here three times to get this appointment because it was so
crowded," an Iraqi doctor tells me, as he holds number 525, showing his
place in line. "I arrived today at five AM with my family of eleven for
this appointment and now they have postponed it!"

He had been one away in line when the door was closed for the day. Due
to the burgeoning number of refugees, half the UNHCR interviewers had to
be shifted to the task of scheduling future appointments for newcomers.
Thus, half of the interviews for this day had been cancelled.

"Now I have to wait another two months," the doctor told me, as I stared
into his tired eyes. He's still holding his number in his hand as a
small crowd begins to build around us and others start to pour out
similar stories of frustration and despair. As voices rise in
frustration, Jeff flashes me a look of concern and we decide to thank
them for their time and move on. Other than writing their collective
tale of woe and taking their photos to show the world the faces of this
growing crisis, there is little else we can do.

Abu Talat

Abu Talat, a 58-year-old father of four, was my primary interpreter
during my eight months in Iraq. Six months ago he finally gave up hope
of remaining in his home in Baghdad, took his family, and like hundreds
of thousands of other Iraqis fled to Syria. One of the luckier refugees,
he had enough savings to rent a humble two-room apartment in Damascus.

He has always been, and remains, a proud man. Having served in the Iraqi
Army until 1990, he holds military traits like dignity, honesty, and
honor in the highest regard. While I've always offered to help him in
any way I could as his life disintegrated, only once did he ever accept
a meager sum of money from me.

Upon my arrival in Syria, he invited me to his home to share dinner with
his family. After the meal, while we were drinking strong tea, he asked
his daughter to show me the certificate from the UNHCR which proves that
they are officially refugees. He handed me the paper and watched me as I
read it.

The document lists him as the head of the family. A black-and-white
photo of him is at the top of the page, and the names and ages of his
family members at the bottom. Just above them is the following text:

"This is to certify that the above named person has been recognized as a
refugee by the United Nations by the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees pursuant to its extended mandate. As a refugee, (he/she) is
a person of concern to the office of the United High Commissioner for
Refugees, and should, in particular, be protected from forcible return
to a country where (he/she) would face threats to his or her life or
freedom. Any assistance accorded to above/named individual would be most
appreciated."

I glanced at him, not knowing what to say, then handed the paper back.
He looked it over himself, as if in disbelief, then let his gaze focus
on nothing in particular, while his chest heaved as he visibly struggled
to master the urge to weep. Finally, he said to no one in particular, "I
am now a refugee."

you have to hang Waco, Blackhawk Down (Les Aspin, afterall, did not want
an overwhelming force), McVeigh, WTC 93, the Cole, and 2 Embassy
bombings on Clinton/Gore/Reno.

Ok, fine--hang that on them. Now let's see what Bush has been up to in
the last 5 years:

1. Failing to stop Sept. 11: ~3000 American lives lost.

2. Invading Iraq for no reason: ~2500 American lives lost and rising
daily.

3. The pointless slaughter of over 100,000 Iraqis--the vast majority of
which had never tried to hurt us.

4. Failing to rescue people in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina:
countless lives lost due to Bush administration cronyism and
incompetence.

5, 6, 7...

Yes, bad things happened during the 8 years that Clinton led this
country, but he reacted to them with intelligence and grace and managed
to minimize the damage.

Bush has not only screwed up by allowing our citizens to be killed left
and right... he has *actively* invaded a country that did not attack us,
killing tens of thousands of their civilians and losing thousands of our
brave men and women in uniform!

The fact that you still try to defend such a failur as Bush is clear
evidence of mental disease.

See a doctor.

hate to say part of this topic is true.. april 22,2007

Kawthar Nofal told PNN that Israeli intelligence has taken to arresting
the mothers and wivers of Palestinian political prisoners in order to
extract confessions.

Nofal, known as Umm Said for her eldest son, said that the idea is to
threaten the prisoners by harming their loved ones. Israeli intelligence
wants information, and will take what they can get, real or fabricated,
the northwestern West Bank woman said candidly on Saturday.

“They arrested me from inside my house after the arrest of others in my
family, and immediately took me to Jalama Prison so that my captive son,
Said, could see that they had me.”

Now out of prison, Umm Said, continued, “I was subjected to two hours of
interrogation tied to a chair with my feet and hands bound in chains
without mercy or compassion.”

The woman said, “Intelligence officers told me that that I would be kept
in prison and so would the men in my family. But I answered with
confidence and pride. I said, 'Jail is not only inhabited by men and I
do not fear for my children.'”

She described further assaults on her family. “My husband is sick and in
need of care. And they bring a patient to the prison.”

Umm Said said that the threat was for the future as well. “They said
that I would not be able to visit my children in the prisons and if I
did I would be watched and monitored, subjected to other things.”

The Qaliqilia mother described the conditions of Jalama Prison built on
Jenin lands in the northern West Bank. “The cell was so narrow. After
two days one came and asked me if was still alive. I told him that I
live with the Lord and pray to God while in the cell. 'I am not alone as
you think,' I told him. He was angered and walked away.”

Umm Said described the moments before she was released from the Israeli
prison. “Hours before the release I fainted, lost consciousness fully.
And I woke up in the prison infirmary after my blood pressure fell due
to the poor conditions in the cell and during the times of
interrogation. After I was released they continued to pressure my family
who have lived harsh weeks in the cells of Jalama.”

Poet got a point on the food issue. In truth and reality if the United
Ststes Government wasn't such a capitalist pig. There is enough food
that the so called shortage or starvation would be a thing of the past.
There is enough food to feed everyone in the world. If total world food
supplies were divided equally - all food grown divided in equal portions
- there would be plenty for everyone, with some to spare; in fact, today
the world produces 10 percent more food than is needed to feed everyone.

The basic food of the world is grain (sometimes called cereal): wheat,
rice, maize and other grains. World cereal stocks represent a safeguard
against possible future production shortage, it is important to remember
that they are, for the most part, held in major cereal-exporting
countries, including the United States, Canada and the EEC nations - and
not where food shortages are most likely to occur. In addition, a large
portion of these stocks are actually maize or other feed grains, which
are not always accepted as human food.

Even if the world’s population rises by half during the rest of this
century, food production - if it continues at the present rate - should
more than keep pace. There would still be enough food for all in the
year 2000.

However, in Africa increased food production does not keep pace with
population increases, so that the average African now has 10 percent
less domestically grown food to eat than ten years ago. But even in
countries facing constant and widespread food scarcity, there are people
who eat well and in sufficient quantities.

Hunger, then, is not simply a matter of the quantity of food available.
It is also one of distribution and imbalances brought about by
international trade, which affect developing countries. Food tends to go
to the countries that derive profits from trading and, in turn, to the
people who have the most money

It was the most keenly fought election in American history and one that
went truly global. Whether it's George W. Bush or John Kerry, it's going
to land the winner with managing a difficult legacy of anti-Americanism,
says SHELLEY WALIA.





AFP/REUTERS

THE tightest election in the American history with a statistical dead
heat began last Tuesday. Everyone was on pins and needles to see if the
elections went off smoothly and fierce legal battles could be avoided.
The two candidates campaigned till the bitter end.

Plethora of issues


A plethora of issues, both important as well as trivial, have had an
effect on the public opinion. The people in Iraq remain concerned about
hunger and the rising death toll brought to their country by America.
Europe's disaffection for Bush is clear from the opinion polls in
Germany, France and Britain. Surprisingly, Tony Blair who has had a long
honeymoon with Bush will be happy to see Kerry in the White House since
Bush has virtually been his albatross. Europe undoubtedly will support
the French speaking senator, although his victory will bring only some
cosmetic changes in its wake in areas such as foreign policy and taxes,
the removal of conservative judges, pharmaceuticals and energy. Wall
Street would like to retain Bush as he is better in these areas, though
paradoxically Wall Street has always prospered under a Democrat
President. Black votes will matter for Kerry's victory, but as the polls
show, he is not doing too well on this front. And as regards female
votes, Kerry is getting six per cent more than Bush. The score is much
below what the previous winners have obtained. As late deciders have
always voted for change, the polls might all prove wrong. Let us see who
wins in Ohio. No Republican has ever won without Ohio; Bush on the very
last day of campaigning made a concerted effort to begin his last day
sprint across the nation from here. One wonders if the loss of 1,50,000
jobs in Ohio during his tenure might cost him the state. On the other
hand, Kerry's superstitious carrying of the buck eye in his pocket might
just see him through.

The House of Representation and the Senate continue to be in the control
of the Republicans. In the crucial states of Ohio and Florida, the
projections say that Bush is leading. Even if Kerry wins Ohio, Bush
still has the chance to take the Midwest states of Michigan and
Wisconsin. When results last came in, Bush was ahead by two million
votes, but the electoral votes could very well go to Kerry. The public
stands highly polarised owing to a cultural and political civil war on
various domestic and international issues. It is a cliff-hanger with
Bush having the superior hand. Whatever the outcome, the elections
signify the rebirth of American democracy in the 120 million turnout of
voters. Finally one could say that the two aspirants have played their
game and the media has enacted its role.

Power of the new media


It was Nixon who discovered the political power of the new media in his
September 23, 1971, Checkers' speech which created a new complex and
symbiotic relationship between the presidency and the American TV. After
him, Presidents from Ronald Reagan to George Bush became synonymous with
the screen, bringing a strong visual presence along with the vast
outpouring of lies and deception with the sole purpose of manufacturing
consent. This revolutionised the unquestioned role of the nexus between
the media and the state. A time had come when suddenly our intellectual
activities were shaken and traditional rationales which underpin our
daily practices stood discredited. The self-reflectiveness in the public
domain indicated one thing: we are surrounded by symptoms that all is
not well. Our subjectivities found themselves suddenly locked into the
structures of technological dominance, military violence and ideological
legitimation. And more than anything, it was the question of American
imperialism that has been topmost in the minds of people inside and
outside the U.S. Emancipatory politics had come to an end; ideology and
history were undergoing a slow process towards an inevitable demise.
Liberal humanism had let us down. The power of the state and the media
had succeeded in persuading the public to collude with the policies of
the government. The hour had come to oppose all such excessive
oppression of the individual.

This propaganda, full of deceit and misrepresentation, is integral to
the working and the subterranean strategies of the Western state
systems. As Tariq Ali writes, "See no truth, hear no truth, and speak no
truth." The White House propaganda assault on its own people in the form
of the Patriot Act reveals how war is used to bring about an idea of
peace with the aim to cast a hypnosis on the people making them believe
more in fear than in the reality of contemporary international relations
that aim towards geo-political control as well as sucking the natural
resources wherever there are client regimes looking up to you.

This seems to be the essential account of the times that we live in. The
presidential debates that took place over the last few weeks might have
influenced some people in deciding who should rule them. The victory of
the Democrat, it was felt, would mean a victory for the Islamic world
which, in all probability, saw to it that through innumerable terrorist
acts and violence in Iraq and elsewhere, it would crystallise public
opinion in favour of the defeat of George Bush who is single-handedly
responsible for alienating most of the world.

A `global' election



The world keenly watched how the elections in the U.S. would unfold.
This was an election that truly went global especially owing to the
overwhelming popularity of foreign websites, chiefly the British. The
debates on the TV left the people of America all the more perplexed.
Should they back the doctrine of pre-emption, the war on terrorism, or
take serious note of incidents at Abu Gharib and Guantanamo? For the
educated aware citizen, the war on Iraq was a wrong move, taking the
attention and focus away from the real protagonists of 9-11. The U.S.,
therefore has for many become an anti-thesis of freedom and justice. For
the middle-class American, the concern has been the fear under which
they live daily because of the enemy out there and the need to go all
out and wage a war on terrorism. The distinction between war on Iraq and
war on terrorism stands conflated in the eyes of the latter, and thus
their mounting support for George Bush.

The core issue of the elections therefore was the war on Iraq/terrorism.
Foreign policy overtook domestic and social issues. And we saw Kerry
accusing the incumbent of clumsy handling of the war on Iraq as well as
his incompetence in winning international support and goodwill. It was a
foregone conclusion that if Bush was re-elected, the war in Iraq would
continue, which means more instability for the Middle East.

Iraq undoubtedly became a central issue in the U.S. presidential
campaign, with Kerry pointing to the mounting violence as evidence of
bad decisions and Bush accusing Kerry of inconsistency in his views.
Whether it is Bush or Kerry in the White House, the American policies in
the Middle East and the entire Muslim world will not change in
substance. The neo-conservative agenda for the support of greater Israel
would have also remained the political dictum of Kerry's Democrats.

Implications for India


And for the Indian Government, Bush was always the favourite in view of
the deepening strategic partnership with India and access to U.S.
technology and sharing information on terrorism. Whether the U.S.
supports Musharraf or remains reluctant to support us in our bid to get
a seat in the Security Council has been conveniently swept under the
carpet. But, interestingly people in India were as bewildered about
their preference as the Americans.

As a political analyst remarked, "Bush can shoot but cannot aim whereas
Kerry can aim but cannot shoot". The ideological confidence trick by
both the presidential candidates led to nothing but public confusion and
thus a neck and neck fight. It is the age-old affiliations with the
Democrats and their inclination towards putting pressure on countries
like Pakistan to return to democracy and to show some respect for the
UNO that were among the reasons that found favour with many Indians. On
the other hand, Kerry's emphasis on the Human Rights programme being
applied in Kashmir and the nuclear programme in India kept under full
surveillance was seen by many India leaders as a reason for not backing
him. Outsourcing was another area that Kerry opposed and will oppose in
the days to come if he enters the White House. Keeping in view the
rising stature of India in the field of commerce, it really does not
matter who wins; both Bush and Kerry will be inclined fully to support
India in making its contribution to stability, both economic and
political in South Asia. There will be no change in substance, only a
change in style.

The last few months have shown that the American society had come to a
juncture where it was adrift with lack of self-knowledge and memory.
Liberal democracy, the end of cultural relativism, the overwhelming
predominance of globalisation has ushered in an era of homogenisation.
In the new techno-scientific world the absence of the human has led to
the demise of dissent. Paradoxically, the two candidates have debated in
an era of endism when the death of opposing ideologies and thereby of
debate has ushered in the victory of unilateralism and American
triumphalism. Mass unemployment, homelessness, violence, inequality,
famine, economic oppression were conspicuous areas where a battle can be
waged against the failed ideals of liberal democracy. Fundamentalist
Christian Right has to be countered with opposition and Kerry was
certainly not a very stout alternative although, at this juncture, he
seemed the only choice Americans had, considering that he has always
robustly assumed that he had the makings of a successful president
capable of effectively fighting the right-wing conspiracies.

With Bush discredited for a needless war in Iraq as well as the
misrepresentation and infringement of human rights by his state
machinery in the wake of the Iraq crisis, the public deeply felt that
the Democrats could now be given a chance to replace a President whose
rule provoked world-wide recrimination for America. But public memory is
rather transitory. It gets easily forgotten that Bush or Kerry or
Clinton have always stood for a strapping internationalism to maintain
global U.S. pre-eminence. Like the identical political complexion of the
Tory and Labour Parties in Britain, the Democrats are not too dissimilar
from their right-wing adversaries. The international security order has
always been reinvented to remain in line with American interests. More
than the Republicans, the Democrats' Progressive Policy Institute has
often emphasised and reiterated these objectives to warrant more
full-proof safety for the American nation. It is clearly known that all
democrats, including Clinton and Kerry, supported the war in Iraq.
Congress members say that American elections will not affect the drive
for peace in Iraq.

John Pilger, in a recent article is of the view that the "American
Democratic Party comes from a tradition of liberalism that has built and
defended empires as `moral' enterprises. That the Democratic Party has
left a larger trail of blood, theft and subjugation than the Republicans
is heresy to the liberal crusaders, whose murderous history always
required, it seems a noble mantle." He continues to argue that the
Democrats have been as much of "crypto-fascists" as George Bush: under
Clinton we saw the biggest war budget being passed in the history of the
U.S.; the Star Wars II programme took off during his regime. It is well
known that Clinton's government rejected any global move towards the
verification of biological weapons or the world-wide ban on landmines.
Haiti and Afghanistan were invaded, the illegal blockade of Cuba was
reinforced and the blockade of Iraq led to the deaths of more than a
million people.

Thus, whatever case the Democrats put forward or whatever account the
Republicans preach about "democracy building" or a policy of
"humanitarian intervention", the world knows that these are ways of
gaining international backing for the so-called motives of peace, or in
other words, strategies of camouflaging lies to hide the inherent
American obsession with imperialistic adventures through the last couple
of centuries. Destabilising governments or labour unions and all else
that comes in opposition to American interests is met with a harsh set
of American values and American power which is a psychological
justification of a nation in the throes of fear. It is the fear of
vulnerability that has led to a nation asserting its invulnerability
constantly.

A gladiatorial fight


The whole country has been pumped up during the last few days of the
elections. And most certainly, the elections have been exceptionally a
referendum on George Bush. Do people want Bush? That is the question.
The battle is to unseat an incumbent in wartime which is not an easy
task. Both candidates on the last day before the elections galvanised
the activists. The TV debates had brought out a gladiatorial fight to
the end leaving the public clear on at least one issue. If Bush wins,
America goes on accumulating the hatred that has been rising through the
post 9/11 years. If Kerry wins, the people around the world will at
least heave a sigh of relief and delude themselves that it is the end of
aggressive unilateralism. A handful of swing states like Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and Florida will make all the difference. Selling the idea
of hope and change might help Kerry. The recent threat by Osama bin
Laden can work both ways: it can help Bush who has given the impression
that he can fight terrorism and that Kerry is not decisive enough. Or it
can help Kerry, as it shows the threat of bin Laden and terrorism
looming larger than ever which is symbolic of Bush's failure.

By the time this article appears, the people of America would have made
their choice. The success or failure of one over the other cannot be
predicted at the moment. But the only thing that can be predicted is
that if state institutions do not try to eliminate the tyranny of
systems, the economic injustice, the questions of race, and the foreign
policy of intervention and war, nothing good will come out of any
presidential election.

The future



Whether George Bush wins or John Kerry, it is going to land the winner
with a difficult legacy of anti-Americanism, proliferation of conflict
zones particularly the old rivals like China and Japan, the question of
global warming, international law and trade. It was an inescapable
conclusion that nothing was going to make much difference to the idea of
free markets and the status of democracies around the world. In spite of
the American obsessions with human rights and international peace,
nothing concrete has been achieved to counter the ethnic violence
especially after the ushering in of free-market democracies.
Disproportionate wealth in the hands of an ethnic minority has led to
nothing but resentment. The springing up of these "market dominant
minorities" in the erstwhile Yugoslavia, among the Chinese in South East
Asia, and the Indians in East Africa, has all led to bloodshed.
Democracy only helps to unleash the taking over of land, of propagation
of revenge, and provocation of the impoverished masses. As long as the
disturbing negative aspects of globalisation are not checked, it does
not matter who wins. What remains clear is that the key tenets of
American political faith have resulted in a backlash against not only
markets but also against faith in the reality of liberalism and freedom
under the American system that has bred nothing but global instability
and ethnic hatred.

A narrative with jarring notes of lies and deception as well as of
action-filled overdose of perpetual war is not what the world wants. The
tragedy of the last few years of blood and violence has shown no signs
of a peaceful ending. Hamlet's Denmark is as unstable and unhinged as
ever.

senior bush had connection to the bin laden ffamily before and after
9/11 association with the enemy

The issue is that Bin laden had a price on his head before 9/11 and bush
senior had connection to the Senior George Bush

(CBS) The price of rebuilding Iraq is rising and two companies with
strong political ties are being paid even more money by the government
for their roles in Iraq's reconstruction than previously thought.

Halliburton Corp., the oil services firm once headed by Vice President
**** Cheney, has won contracts worth more than $1.7 billion from the
U.S. government for its work in Iraq, and it could make hundreds of
millions more from a no-bid contract it was awarded by the Army Corps of
Engineers, the Washington Post reports.

Meanwhile, engineering and construction giant Bechtel, whose executives
have included former Secretary of State George Shultz and ex-Defense
Secretary Caspar Weinberger, is also getting a big raise in its contract
in Iraq, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Halliburton is the biggest single government contractor in Iraq. The
Houston-based company, through its subsidiary Brown and Root, is
involved in a wide range of activities in Iraq, including building and
maintaining military bases, delivering mail, producing hot mails and
providing logistical support for U.S. intelligence officials searching
for weapons of mass destruction.

The Post reports Halliburton employees have become an integral part of
Army life in Iraq, often dressing in Army fatigues with civilian patches
on the shoulders.

California-based Bechtel is also getting a boost in its Iraq contracts.
The Wall Street Journal reports that escalating costs and continued
instability have prompted U.S. officials to increase the value of a deal
with Bechtel by $350 million, or more than 50 percent.

Bechtel was originally awarded an 18-month, $680 million contract for
reconstruction work on airports, water, power, schools, roads and
government buildings.

The new money for the engineering and construction firm is part of at
least $1 billion the U.S. hopes to pour into Iraqi power generation
alone over the next year.

The Journal says U.S. officials and Bechtel assessment teams now
estimate Iraqi reconstruction will cost at least $16 billion and likely
much more. L. Paul Bremer, the top U.S. civilian official in Iraq, has
said that the costs of rebuilding that nation and revitalizing its
economy could top $100 billion.

Both companies have taken advantage of a growing trend by the government
to use private contractors for military support operations overseas.

The Post reports that the practice of turning to private contractors for
a broad range of military logistics operations dates to a study
commissioned by then-Defense Secretary **** Cheney after the 1991
Persian Gulf War. The Pentagon chose Brown and Root to conduct the study
and then hired the company to implement its own plan.

Cheney became chief executive of Halliburton, Brown and Root's parent
company, in 1995 and remained there until 2000, when he left to run for
the vice presidency.

The government says it's had to turn more and more to the private sector
because of military budget cuts since the end of the Cold War that have
placed enormous strain on the armed forces – particularly after the
terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

But critics have charged that the Iraq war and occupation have provided
a handful of politically connected companies – especially Halliburton –
with unprecedented moneymaking opportunities.

"The amount of money [Halliburton has earned] is quite staggering, far
more than we were originally led to believe," said Rep. Henry Waxman,
D-Calif. "This is clearly a trend under this administration, and it
concerns me because often the privatization of government services ends
up costing the taxpayers more rather than less."

Waxman has been critical of Halliburton since an Army Corps of Engineers
report in March said the company had been given a no-bid contract, with
a $7 billion cap, for putting out oil fires in Iraq. The Corps explained
the absence of competitive bidding on the grounds that the operation was
part of a classified war plan and the Army did not have the time to wade
through numerous bids.

Waxman, the ranking Democrat on the House Government Reform Committee,
has asked the General Accounting Office to look into the decision to
give Halliburton the contract without bidding.

A Halliburton spokeswoman, Wendy Hall, would not discuss details of the
firm's operations in Iraq, but said suggestions of war profiteering were
"an affront to all hard-working, honorable Halliburton employees