APF & Hardin Constitution Violations

A Livingston state representative is questioning whether Hardin officials and American Police Force have violated the Montana constitution.

By Nick Lough

Story Published: Sep 30, 2009 at 7:27 PM MDT

Story Updated: Sep 30, 2009 at 7:45 PM MDT

BILLINGS - A Livingston state representative is questioning whether Hardin officials and American Police Force have violated the Montana constitution.

Representative Robert Ebinger says he became aware of the situation after Cascade and Park County law enforcement officials came to him asking questions about APF.

"Well right now I'm confused," said Ebinger and that confusion led the representative to ask for action Tuesday when the Law and Justice Committee met in Helena.

"My suggestion was for them to come to our December 18th meeting," said Ebinger. The committee decided that wasn't necessary and instead will be sending a letter to Hardin officials looking for answers.

"There are all types of different rumors floating around and it doesn't seem like there's enough answers for the public and the state," said Ebinger. But the lack of information isn't the only thing concerning Ebinger. He says recent APF activity may also have violated article 2 section 33 of the Montana Constitution Titled Importation of Armed Persons.

"No armed person or persons or body of men shall be brought into the state for the presentation of the peace or the suppression of domestic violence unless the application of the legislature or of the governor when the legislature cannot be convened," said Ebinger while reading the constitution word for word.

Ebinger isn't certain APF or the city of Hardin's actions have violated any laws yet but he believes with so much mystery surrounding the situation somebody needs to get involved.

"They talk about people being able to come in at a moments notice to put forces together and I think if we're having statements like that made we should figure out who these people are what the deal is over there in Hardin," said Ebinger.

On Wednesday, the FBI told KULR-8 they are aware of the situation in Hardin, but they have no further comment on whether they're looking into it. They released a statement saying the FBI never confirms or denies investigations.




APF head Hilton has criminal past

Billings Gazette

Posted: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 6:25 pm

CODY, Wyo. - Michael Hilton of American Police Force arrived in Hardin with promises of Mercedes police cars and expertise in operating prisons. He delivered the cars last week, but may have learned about prisons following a 1993 conviction for grand theft.

Public records from police and state and federal courts in California show that Michael Anthony Hilton, using that name and more than a dozen aliases over several years, is cited in multiple criminal, civil and bankruptcy cases, and was sentenced in 1993 to two years in state prison in California.

Hilton pleaded guilty in March 1993 to 14 felonies, including 10 counts of grand theft, one count of attempted grand theft and three counts of diversion of construction funds, according to Orange County court records. He was sentenced to two years in prison, but it is unclear how much time he served.

Court records in that case list his real name as Michael Hilton, but they also include the aliases Midrag Ilia Dokovitch, Midrag Ilia Dokovich and Michael Miodrag.

Hilton, who speaks heavily accented English, has told reporters that he is a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Montenegro, a country bordering Serbia, and once part of the former Republic of Yugoslavia.

Hardin MT: American Police Force hires Billings Gazette reporter

APF's Newest Employee

kulr8.com/news

By Sarah Gravlee

Story Published: Sep 29, 2009 at 7:34 PM MDT

Story Updated: Sep 30, 2009 at 6:52 AM MDT
Multimedia

HARDIN - The California-based security company planning to take over the Hardin jail promises to hire dozens of local employees. Last week they made their first local hire when they signed former Billings Gazette reporter Becky Shay as their director of public relations.

Shay still needs a map to get around the 114,000 square foot facility. With 20 years of reporting under her belt, Shay said she's more comfortable with a pen in her hand and topping her to-do list is purchasing new reporter's notebooks.

"I've got printer's ink in my blood," she said.

On Friday, Shay shocked local media when she handed in her resignation at the Billings Gazette and began working for American Police Force. Less than 24 hours after taking the job Shay held her first press conference.

"It was just surreal to stand in front of people I worked with for 9 year instead of standing shoulder to shoulder with them," she said. Shay's previously reported on the Hardin Jail and American Police Force's involvement with the jail. The last story she filed was Thursday night, after she had already been in negotiations with Capt. Michael with APF. Shay's editor said he had no idea she was in talks with the company. So what did it take for her to join the force?



"My terms were: I don't want the moon and the stars, but I'd like to be able to see them from the patio," Shay said. She is earning $60,000 dollars a year, received a signing bonus, a brand new company car and is getting help making the down payment on a new home.

~more~

Kudos to KURL8 News... G:

UPDATE: American Police Force in Hardin Montana

APF Reveals Little Information

By Nick Lough & Katie Ussin

Story Published: Sep 28, 2009 at 7:53 PM MDT

Story Updated: Sep 29, 2009 at 10:00 AM MDT
Multimedia

BILLINGS - Confusion and secrecy about American Police Force has grown during the last few weeks.

"APF has been here for 10 months but it has never been stealth," said APF spokesperson Becky Shay at a press conference on Saturday morning. The group announced its plans to fill the $27 million dollar detention facility and build a police training center next to the jail. While they gave details for the site, other questions went unanswered.

Where will the prisoners come from? What experience does APF have in prisoners and training police officers? Why was Two Rivers Authority Executive Director Greg Smith placed on administrative leave?

During the press conference APF also refused to release any information on its funding or organization "The decision is the name of the parent company will not be released," said Shay.

When questioned about the decision to show up in Hardin last week in vehicles with "Hardin Police" templates, members were brief in their explanation. "They are to show are intentions are good," said APF leader Captain Michael Hilton. "Why not put an APF logo on it," said Shay. "You know we're getting there." All of the decals were removed from the vehicles two days later.

APF has consistently stated the community has nothing to fear and says its plans will help stimulate the Hardin economy. "This corporation's intention is to buy local and stay local and do local business as much as we can," said Shay.

Residents appear split in their feelings over the company. Some want more information, but others believe it will be a tremendous boost to the area. The company plans to hold a job fair in Hardin the third week of October.

Another development this weekend was the naming of Shay as APF's new public relations director. Shay was a reporter with the Billings Gazette who had covered the detention facility story for last few years. She announced on Friday she was leaving the paper and hosted the APF press conference Saturday morning.


Be sure to check out the comments on this...

~MORE~

Previous article on Geezerpower...G:

The Old Shell Game: Single Payer Health Care off the table

Hmm, so we are supposed to believe that the controversy is about whether we have a public option or not, while the majority of us still want single pay health care, including many doctors and health care workers. The corporate government has decided that we should settle for busine$$ as usual, and in e$$ence will be happy, even with the public option. This is a rigged game folks and we need to call bullsh*te
Public plan debate could pit Democrat vs. Democrat

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR (AP) – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON — Democrats sought to give government the right to sell insurance in competition with private industry Tuesday as the Senate Finance Committee opened a second week of debate over massive health care legislation.

"We need this option because the insurance companies have failed to meet their obligation" to the public, said Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., accusing firms of putting profits over their customers.

He said that without his proposal, consumers would face substantial premium increases once health care legislation takes effect.

Republicans countered that private companies would eventually be forced out of business, and argued that millions would be forced to get their insurance from the government.

"Washington is not the answer," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

Rockfeller's proposal, and a second one drafted by Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., faced uncertain prospects as the committee debated legislation that generally fell along lines outlined by President Barack Obama.

While Democrats hold a majority on the committee, the legislation advanced by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., omitted the so-called public option. Moderate Democrats on and off the committee oppose it, and Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, the Republican seen as most likely to support the bill, has also spoken against it.

Expedition 21: Soyuz rocket is scheduled for launch Sept.30

Russian security officers walk along the railroad tracks as the Soyuz rocket is rolled out to the launch pad Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz is scheduled to launch the crew of Expedition 21 and a spaceflight participant on Sept. 30, 2009.

NASA TV Provides Coverage of Next Soyuz Launch and Landing Events

HOUSTON -- NASA Television will air the launch of the next two residents of the International Space Station, a spaceflight participant and the return of two members of the current station crew. Coverage begins with a broadcast of prelaunch activities Sept. 17 and continues through the landing on Oct. 11.

Soyuz Commander Max Suraev, NASA Flight Engineer Jeff Williams and spaceflight participant Guy Laliberte are scheduled to launch aboard the Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 2:14 a.m. CDT on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Laliberte, a Canadian citizen and founder of Cirque du Soleil, will fly to the station under an agreement with the Russian Federal Space Agency.

After a two-day trip, the Soyuz will dock to the station at 3:36 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 2. Aboard the orbiting laboratory, Williams and Suraev will be greeted by Commander Gennady Padalka, NASA's Mike Barratt and Nicole Stott, the European Space Agency's Frank De Winne, Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko and the Canadian Space Agency's Bob Thirsk. After Padalka and Barratt depart the station, De Winne will become commander of the next station mission, designated Expedition 21.

Padalka, Barratt and Laliberte will return to Earth at approximately 11:29 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, in the Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft docked to the station. Padalka and Barratt have been aboard the orbiting laboratory since March 2009.

NASA TV

NASA television on Youtube

Meanwhile...

Reports: Iran Fires Missiles In 'War Games'

SkyNews © Sky News 2009

Iran has tested new missiles as its armed forces began several days of war games, reports said.

The country's Revolutionary Guards fired two short-range missiles and a multiple missile launcher, the Reuters news agency quoted state television as saying.

The force said "the drill aims to maintain and boost the country's armed forces deterrent capabilities".

Commander of the Guards, Hossein Salami, was quoted as saying they would "test the long-range Shahab missile" on Monday.

The tests came just a hours after Hilary Clinton welcomed Iran's decision to allow international inspectors into its new nuclear weapons facility.

Who is General Stanley A. McChrystal and why is he recommending 30 to 40 thousand more troops in Afghanistan?

Click to enlarge

Everyone should take a close look at this mug

Army Maj. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal briefs reporters on the overnight progress of Operation Iraqi Freedom during an April 2, 2003, Pentagon press conference. McChrystal and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Victoria Clarke brought reporters up-to-date on Operation Iraqi Freedom, which is the multinational coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. McChrystal is the vice director for Operations, J-3, the Joint Staff. DoD photo by Helene C. Stikkel.


Stan McChrystal: The New U.S. Commander in Afghanistan

TIME

By M.J. Stephey Tuesday, May. 12, 2009

U.S. Army General Stanley A. McChrystal

MANNY CENETA / AFP / Getty

With violence and anti-American sentiment on the rise, it's plain to see that military operations in Afghanistan are not going well. But if Defense Secretary Robert Gates is right, three-star Army Lieut. General Stan McChrystal is just the guy to turn things around. On May 11, Gates announced plans to install the former Green Beret as the top U.S. and NATO commander for the troubled nation. Some analysts hailed the surprising overhaul as proof that the U.S. is rethinking its conventional approach to combat, especially given McChrystal's background as commander of the military's clandestine special operations in Iraq.

Quotes About:

"Sometimes you have a situation where you have two very good commanders, but in a critical combat situation one has an edge, and in this case Gen. McChrystal has that edge."
— Anthony Cordesman, of the Washington D.C.–based Center for Strategic and International Studies, on McChrystal's experience in special ops (AP, May 11, 2009).

"The man who ran that operation was promoted by George Bush a few years ago to be in charge of all operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His name is Stan McChrystal. And so since you now have somebody inside the Joint Chiefs of Staff who used to run the program, the idea that these operations aren't known to the military is sort of silly. Of course they are."
— Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative reporter Seymour Hersh, describing McChrystal's role in what he calls an "executive assassination wing" of the military's joint special-operations command that Hersh claims reported directly to former Vice President Cheney's office (NPR, March 30, 2009).

"JSOC is awesome."
— George W. Bush, praising McChrystal for his "collaborative warfare" approach to gathering intelligence in Iraq and hunting down high-profile insurgents (Washington Post, Sept. 8, 2008).

"There is another man who will not be in the room. That is Lieutenant General Stan McChrystal. It should be very clear to everyone, General McChrystal is the head of covert special forces. The so-called dark or black forces. The ones who stay undercover ... Because of his extraordinarily sensitive position with covert special forces, he is not appearing in public. And so he will not be questioned further by the committee in an open hearing."
— Barbara Starr, CNN correspondent, on McChrystal's absence during an August 2007 Congressional hearing over the friendly-fire death of former NFL star Pat Tillman (CNN, Aug. 1, 2007).

At Pentagon's Request, Post Delayed Story on General's Afghanistan Report

By Howard Kurtz

Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 23, 2009

To Bob Woodward, it was the modern-day equivalent of the Pentagon Papers. But to Obama administration officials, the classified assessment of the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, if disclosed by The Washington Post, represented a potential threat to the safety of U.S. troops.

The result was that The Post agreed to a one-day delay in publicizing the report by Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, and that the paper's top editor engaged in a lengthy discussion Sunday with three top Defense Department officials in a meeting at the Pentagon. The Post published the report, which Woodward had obtained, on Monday.

Woodward said in an interview Tuesday that four White House and administration officials strongly objected to the publication of the full report, telling him, Executive Editor Marcus Brauchli and a Post lawyer in a conference call on Saturday that "if we publish it as is, it could endanger the lives of troops."

After the Pentagon meeting Sunday with Brauchli, Woodward and Post reporter Rajiv Chandrasekaran, administration officials "did a wholesale declassification of 98 percent" of the document, Woodward said, while The Post agreed to withhold certain operational details. That, Woodward said, "made it easier" for the newspaper to proceed with publication without risking criticism for disclosing classified information.

Hmm, after looking at some of this crap, I can only wonder who is giving McChrystal advice. It isn't Cheney and I'm sure it isn't Joe Biden, but the rush to war with Iran is now beginning to look like a reality.

It's really scary to think that John McCain has read the report.

LINKS


...zzzZZZ*

...zzzZZZ*

...zzzZZZ*

Obama G20 Summit Speech: Iran Nuclear Facility

Obama Speech - G20 Summit Pittsburgh 2009 - part 1



Obama Speech - G20 Summit Pittsburgh 2009 - part 2



Obama Speech - G20 Summit Pittsburgh 2009 - part 3



September 25, 2009 - Pittsburgh

President Barack Obama directly addressed the G20 Summit, the 20 strongest economies in the world during their Summit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He spoke at length about today's earlier rebuke of Ahmadinejad and Iran's secret nuclear facility. He also said, "We brought the global economy back from the brink. We laid the groundwork today for long term prosperity."
He took questions following his speech.

Thousands march against G20 in Pittsburgh

Thousands march against G20 in Pittsburgh

AFP

By Karin Zeitvogel (AFP) – 17 hours ago

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania — Thousands of people peacefully demonstrated during the G20 summit in Pittsburgh, but police reportedly arrested 40 as they clashed with a smaller group late Friday.

Waving banners and chanting slogans, protesters on Friday flooded into city streets lined with police in full riot gear, still tense after violent anti-G20 protests in the eastern US city late Thursday.

New clashes erupted late Friday on the University of Pittsburgh campus, where police dispersed a crowd of around 400 with pepper spray and a noise device that emits an ear-splitting sound, a local newspaper reported.

Around 40 protesters were arrested, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newspaper.

G20 Pittsburgh Police State Part 1





G20 Pittsburgh Police State Part 2





G20 Pittsburgh Police State Part 3





Pittsburgh Students Face Tear Gas and Rubber Bullets - G20 Pittsburgh



Here is more coverage of the protests with pictures and videos from OpEdNews

Latest G 20 Media Spin

Russian Bilderberger Installs Anti-Photo Shield on Giant Yacht

Notorious Builderburgler, Roman Abramovich, puts Jacques Cousteau to shame with a high tech yacht that is not designed to save the planet, but more of a show boat with the purpose to save his own sad arse.

Wired.com

By Charlie Sorrel
September 21, 2009

Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has a rather curious new addition built in to his latest oversized yacht. The 557-foot boat Eclipse, the price tag of which has almost doubled since original plans were drawn to almost $1.2 billion, set sail this week with a slew of show-off features, from two helipads, two swimming pools and six-foot movie screens in all guest cabins, to a mini-submarine and missile-proof windows to combat piracy.

It might not seem like somebody with such ostentatious tastes would crave privacy, but along with these expensive toys, Ambramovich has installed an anti-paparazzi “shield”. Lasers sweep the surroundings and when they detect a CCD, they fire a bolt of light right at the camera to obliterate any photograph. According to the Times, these don’t run all the time, so friends and guests should still be able to grab snaps. Instead, they will be activated when guards spot the scourge of professional photography, paparazzi, loitering nearby.

We dig it, although the British courts might not be so pleased. UK photo magazine Amateur Photographer asked a London lawyer about the legalities of destroying photos from afar. Here’s what he said: “intermeddling with goods belonging to someone else, or altering their condition, is a trespass to goods and will entitle the photographer to claim compensation without having to prove loss.”

Any sentence containing the word “intermeddling” is of course wonderful. The lawyer spoils it somewhat by (inevitably) mentioning James Bond and mixing up lasers with laser guns: “I would also be worried that lasers cause collateral damage, both to the camera and/or the claimant’s health.”

What in the world is that attacking WTC 2?

There is a white truck in the left center of the video. when it dissappears behind the buildings a linear shadow will appear from above the tall building to the left of WTC2. If you watch closely you can see it's trajectory...best seen on full screen during the slow motion sequence.

Ying Yang News Report

NEWS

Anti Obama Demonstrations

NON NEWS

Anti Zionist Demonstrations

The Magnificent Seven riding herd on Panetta

Ex-CIA directors urge Obama to drop abuse probe

AFP

WASHINGTON — Seven former CIA directors have called on US President Barack Obama to end a probe into claims the agency abused terror suspects, warning it will cause "serious damage" to intelligence operations.

The former intelligence chiefs, appointed by both Democrat and Republican presidents, in a letter to Obama called on him to end the Justice Department inquiry, warning it would make agents more reticent to act for fear of prosecution.

"This approach will seriously damage the willingness of many other intelligence officers to take risks to protect the country," the group stated.

Warning of "endless criminal investigations," the seven said allegations of detainee abuse had already been probed, with the supervision of federal prosecutors.

"Attorney General (Eric) Holder's decision to re-open the criminal investigation creates an atmosphere of continuous jeopardy for those whose cases the Department of Justice had previously declined to prosecute," the letter read.

The signatories warned that the investigation could jeopardize relations with other nations that had co-operated with investigations, on the proviso of secrecy.








Though not a signatory to the letter, current CIA Director Leon Panetta also opposed Holder's investigation.

"I think the reason I felt the way I did is because I don't believe there's a basis there for any kind of additional action," Panetta said.

"My concern is ... that we don't get trapped by the past. My feeling is ultimately, we're going to be able to move on," he told reporters this week after a speech in Michigan.

Is Leon Panetta up to the job?

I think not!

............zzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Rat Bastard News

Joe Lieberman: WMD Attack Likely Within 5 Years; Al Qaeda Controlled by the Taliban



Joe Lieberman Against Meaningful Health Care Reform




If this doesn't make you lose your groceries, check out Michelle Obama's garden

Keep in mind that Monsanto owns Seminis who sells seed to Burpee

Joe Lieberman sponsers bill to prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

S.1649 Title: A bill to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to prepare for attacks using weapons of mass destruction, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT]

Some of the effects of the bill will be:

• Require DHS to designate the most dangerous pathogens which have significant potential to be used effectively in a biological attack.

• Require DHS to set new security standards for labs using the most dangerous pathogens, including risk assessments, personnel reliability programs, and staff training.


•Require a national strategy for dispensing antibiotics and other medicines to the public and expand a pilot program for using the Postal Service to dispense them.


• Require communications plans to convey instructions to the public - including whether to evacuate or shelter-in-place - in the critical moments after an attack.

• Support a National Bioforensics Analysis Center to identify the perpetrator of a WMD attack rapidly.

• Provide personal medical kits to emergency responders in order to enable them to respond quickly to a WMD attack without jeopardizing their own safety.

• Require DHS and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to provide better terrorism threat and risk assessments to the public.

• Promote citizen and community preparedness for WMD attacks, including by authorizing grants to States.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 8, 2009

Contact: Sara Lonardo
Lieberman, Collins Seek to Protect U.S. Against Biological and Other Terrorist WMD Attacks
Legislation Responds To Warnings of a WMD Terrorist Attack By 2013

WASHINGTON - As the nation prepares to mark the eighth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent anthrax attacks, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., and Ranking Member Susan Collins, R-Me., Tuesday introduced legislation to prevent and prepare for terrorist attacks from biological weapons and other weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

The Weapons of Mass Destruction Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2009 responds to a statement by the Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell in December 2008 and the findings of a Congressionally-mandated WMD commission that a WMD terrorist attack is more likely than not to occur by 2013 and that a biological attack is more likely than a nuclear attack.

"The approaching eighth anniversary of the 9/11 and anthrax attacks reminds us that we cannot let our guard down against the constant threat of terrorists intent on doing us harm," Lieberman said. "This legislation provides a comprehensive framework for protecting the United States from weapons of mass destruction and biological attacks, in particular, which the experts say is more likely than a nuclear attack.

"Our bill would strengthen security at labs using the most dangerous pathogens, improve our capabilities to assess the threat of terrorists acquiring WMD, ensure that citizens get critical safety information, and develop a means for quickly delivering life-saving drugs to areas that have been attacked.

"We dare not bury our heads in the sand and ignore the very real risks we face from a terrorist WMD attack. This legislation would help prevent such an attack and better prepare the nation to respond should one occur."

"As the Commission noted in its comprehensive report, terrorists have been active since the attacks of September 11, 2001. America must not become complacent. Terrorists haven't given up; they haven't gone away. Our enemies remain fixed on their avowed goal of committing mass murder," said Collins. "Nuclear proliferation and advances in biotechnology could give terrorists new means to wreak death and destruction around the world. That is why the Commission's report is a call to action. And this legislation answers that call by proposing aggressive, urgent steps that will help safeguard our nation, particularly against the threat of biological attacks."

More of the same



What in the world is Holy Joe doing here? Is this because he has our best interests in mind or is it his idea of Universal Health Care?

Relevant stuff

AIPAC, the Religious Right and American foreign policy

Information Clearing House

By Rodrigue Tremblay

"Most citizens are unaware of the startling fact that for years our U.S. Middle East policy has not been crafted by seasoned experts who are committed to America's basic national interests." --Paul Findley, U.S. Republican Congressman, (1961-83)

“Thank God we have AIPAC, the greatest supporter and friend we have in the whole world,” --Ehud Olmert, Israel’s Prime Minister

"Either I make policy on the Middle East or AIPAC makes policy on the Middle East." --Zbigniew Brzezinski, Carter administration National Security Advisor


Right Wing Nuts



Zionist Wing Nuts



Media Wing Nuts

Israel moves to discredit 'war crimes' report

Times Online

September 16, 2009

Sheera Frenkel in Jerusalem

Israel launched a diplomatic offensive today in an attempt to discredit a damning UN report that accuses it of committing war crimes during the Gaza offensive.

Yigal Palmor, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, said that Israel would “deploy great diplomatic and political efforts on the international stage to block and contain the perverse and noxious effects of the Goldstone Commission report".

He added that the report set a dangerous precedent: “Every time a democracy will want to take measures to defend itself from terror, it will have to take into consideration a wide international legal campaign against its leaders and officials, based on the propaganda of the terrorists.”

Israeli officials have stated that they will not allow an independent inquiry into the military’s conduct in Gaza, so rejecting one of the key recommendations of the report.

~More~


Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch:

"Justice Goldstone's reputation for fairness and integrity is unmatched, and his investigation provides the best opportunity to address alleged violations by both Hamas and Israel. What's at stake is not just finding out the truth about what happened in Gaza, but the future of international efforts to hold those who violate international law accountable."

"American Police Force" to manage Hardin Montana prison

AP ENTERPRISE: Montana jail deal raises questions

The Associated Press

Matthew Brown - ‎Sep 12, 2009‎

BILLINGS, Mont. — The Two Rivers Detention Center was promoted as the largest economic development project in decades in the small town of Hardin when the jail was built two years ago. But it has been vacant ever since.

KULR 8 video

Did I hear correctly? The spokesman for American Police Force said that they were interested in using the facility as a training center? Makes sense I guess, considering the possibility of ties to Darth Chainey and the shadow government.

City officials have searched from Vermont to Alaska for inmate contracts to fill the jail, only to be turned down at every turn and see the bonds that financed its construction fall into default. They even floated the idea of housing prisoners from Guantanamo Bay at the jail.



So when Hardin officials announced this week that they had signed a deal with a California company to fill the empty jail, it was naturally a cause for celebration. Town officials talked about throwing a party to mark the occasion, their dreams of economic salvation a step closer to being realized.

But questions are emerging over the legitimacy of the company, American Police Force.

Government contract databases show no record of the company. Security industry representatives and federal officials said they had never heard of it. On its Web site, the company lists as its headquarters a building in Washington near the White House that holds "virtual offices." A spokeswoman for the building said American Police Force never completed its application to use the address.

And it's unclear where the company will get the inmates for the jail. Montana says it's not sending inmates to the jail, and neither are federal officials in the state.

An attorney for American Police Force, Maziar Mafi, describes the Santa Ana, Calif., company as a fledgling spin-off of a major security firm founded in 1984. But Mafi declined to name the parent firm or provide details on how the company will finance its jail operations.

"It will gradually be more clear as things go along," said Mafi, a personal injury and medical malpractice lawyer in Santa Ana who was only hired by American Police Force a month ago. "The nature of this entity is private security and for security purposes, as well as for the interest of their clientele, that's why they prefer not to be upfront."

On its elaborate Web site and in interviews with company representatives, American Police Force claims to sell assault rifles and other weapons in Afghanistan on behalf of the U.S. military while providing security, investigative work and other services to clients "in all 50 states and most countries."

The company also boasts to have "rapid response units awaiting our orders worldwide" and that it can field a battalion-sized team of special forces soldiers "within 72 hours."

Representatives of American Police Force said the company presently employs at least 16 and as many as 28 people in the United States and 1,600 contractors worldwide.

~More~

joe plugged

Bill Maher on Health Care & Nut Cases

Bill's guests include Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY), comedian Kathy Griffin, comedian, author and veterans advocate, Paul Rieckhoff, journalist Rajiv Chandrasekaran and fmr. counter-terrorism czar.

Full HBO presentation on Youtube in five parts ~Here~

Newt aka "The Grinch" taken to the wood shed by Howard Dean

My humble apologies for the Faux news video, it's all I can do to keep from gaggin, but John Dean and John Podesta do such a good job of decimating the Grinch I figured it might pass muster. I take no responsibility for any ill effects suffered from viewing it, such as Pelosi Syndrome or Hoyer Hump, and with great trepidation present it here with the Grinch, in his own territory, being taken to the wood shed by, non other than, Dr. Dean...G:

ThinkProgress Interview With John Podesta



John Podesta didn't speak truth to power as well as John Dean, but as head of the Obama transition team and the President and CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund is a known advocate for single pay health care. Seen at around 4:10 into the above video.

Victor Wooton playing Amazing Grace

Wishing good times to all on this holiday of the working man/woman & sometimes child.
I you ain't working don't worry about it, the numbers are a lot higher that shown in the main stream media, and celebrate life by canning some food and stashing some firewood. Remember that work is merely a function of horsepower, and can be something that we enjoy. In your spare time at the park, remember to bring your frisbie, cause sometimes it's cool to enjoy sports without digital TV. peace...G:

Joe Lieberman & Public Health Care

Lieberman is the name and double cross is the game, but this should be no surprise to anyone who has, for the last eight years, watched this whiney little rat bastich stand up for the corporate government while disguised as a Democrat. That he is still in office, tells me that the corporate government still rules and that Obama, like any other POTUS, is the leader of this country in name only.

Holy Joe wouldn't give up his government health care for any thing, with the exception of maybe the excellent health care system of Israel, for which he qualifies.

Israel, in fact, has a superior health plan to the US. So here we are suffering the Health Care Lies of Lieberman while Israel is still collecting billions of dollars in aid. It was all put in place before Barack, (a good friend to Israel) Obama was officially in office.

U.S. official: Obama won't cut military aid to Israel

By DPA 11/03/2009

U.S. President Barack Obama will not cut the billions of dollars in military aid promised to Israel, a senior U.S. administration official said Wednesday.

The $30 billion in aid promised to Israel over the next decade will not be harmed by the world financial crisis, the official told Israel Radio. He spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Obama Administration however expects the next government of Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu to continue peace negotiations with the Palestinians, he said.

Public Health in Israel

Increasing life expectancy

Israel has been a pioneer in the contemporary concept and practice of Public Health and as a result has one of the world’s healthiest populations. The country's success in pursuing effective Public Health policies is reflected in the fact that a nation of immigrants, who have arrived during the past 54 years principally from North Africa, the former Soviet Union and Central Europe, has one of the highest average life expectancies in the world.

This has been accomplished despite the fact that Israel has absorbed Holocaust survivors and a large proportion of immigrants suffering from tuberculosis, malnutrition, heart disease and every type of cancer. At present, 25% of all cancer patients in Israel are newcomers from the former Soviet Union including tens of thousands from parts of the Ukraine and Belorussia who were exposed to radiation from the Chernobyl nuclear plant melt-down in 1987.

According to the Ministry of Health yearbook for 2001, the life expectancy for males (76.6) years) was topped only in Japan. Israeli women live longer than men, but do not fare as well in international statistical comparisons

What is public health?

Whereas medicine treats the health needs of an individual, public health (a discipline also known as public medicine or social medicine) deals with the health requirements of society as a whole. In fact, public health was a more popular concept in the 19th century when physicians realized that matters such as sewage amenities, cleanliness and a balanced diet would improve the health of the population . But as sanitary and dietary conditions improved and with such medical. discoveries as penicillin in the 20th century, much less emphaisis was placed on public health.

International community acknowledges importance of public health

Public health returned to the global agenda in 1975 at the WHO meeting in Alma Ata, Kazakhstan, in the former Soviet Union. Leading health officials from every country in the world signed a covenant proclaiming that the health of the people and the provision of medical services must be the responsibility of national governments. Only the United States refused to sign the covenant, insisting that individuals rather than their governments must be responsible for the provision of health services for themselves and their families.

Of course most nations simply do not have the necessary resources to offer their citizens adequate health services. Even in developed and relatively affluent countries like Israel, the essential challenge facing public health policy is effective distribution of limited resources.

Israel emphasizes public health

The Zionist Movement in pre-state Israel, which combined the traditional Jewish concern for all people with an emphasis on societal needs, regarded public health as a top social, political and economic priority. By the time Israel declared its independence in 1948, a national health infrastructure was already in place. Mother-and-child care centers (Tipot Halav) administered the necessary vaccinations to new-born babies and advised parents on proper care of infants. Health insurance funds (Kupot Holim) offered day-to-day consultations with doctors and specialists, and insured members for hospitalization.

The National Health Insurance Law

Despite Israel's commitment to providing health services for all of its citizens, by the early 90's some six percent of Israelis were not insured through one of the four existing health funds - Kupat Holim Clalit, Maccabi, Me'uhedet and Le'umit. In 1994, the National Health Insurance Law was enacted and it was implemented the following year, rectifying this situation. Since then, all citizens have their health insurance paid by a tax on income (up to 4.8%) while their employer's portion is collected by the National Insurance Institute, and passed on to the health insurance fund of the individual's choice.
National expenditure

Israel's national expenditure on health is typical for a western country. In 1999, the country spent 8.3% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on health, down from a peak of 8.8% in 1994; the United States spent13.6% of its GDP on health care, Canada 9.5%, Japan 6.9% and the UK 7.6%. Of the Israeli expenditure, 41% was for hospitals and research, 39% for public clinics and preventive medicine and 9% for dental care. Israel spent $1,555 per capita on medicine.

BILL MOYERS JOURNAL | Single Payer Health Insurance | PBS