Russians Mourn the Loss of Free Press

Putin enjoys a "cuppa," while this flattering photo of him is taken by the free press privileges of the BBC. Photo courtesy of the BBC.

In Russia, the people silently mourn the murder of their democracy at the hands of President Vladimir Putin. After the killing of beloved Russian journalist, Anna Politkovskaya in 2006, the International Herald Tribune put it this way:

I am convinced that her killer was, first and foremost, the paucity of freedoms in Russia. The lack of freedom killed freedom - this is where the sad logic of her killing comes from, no matter who is behind it.

Lack of freedom spawns lawlessness: Russia has fostered numerous vindictive, unpunished people indignant that someone dares to point a finger at them and to say that their actions are criminal. At the same time, authoritarian power always fragments into clans, and the accusations of an independent journalist can be a priceless weapon in the battle of clans or for the liquidation of political rivals.

And then this:

Hundreds of people who came to say farewell to Anna looked not only crushed, but also helpless. The mourners were shown their real place, as people without rights, who will be told only what the authorities want them to know.

And this::

...at least twelve journalists have been killed in contract-style slayings. No one has been brought to justice in eleven of the twelve cases.

And another important piece on how unattended freedom is killing freedom in Russia.

For thoughts on Venezuelans fighting in their streets for free press, read: how Danny Glover and Hugo Chavez give a "nose-thumb" to freedom.

This a day to remember just how precious are our freedoms and to fiercely battle back against those who would hastily feed the gators, hoping they will eat him last.

A closing thought on how we make freedom ours:

You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom. You can only be free if I am free. Clarence Darrow

Cross-posted from Maggie's Notebook

Russians Mourn the Loss of Free Press

Putin enjoys a "cuppa," while this flattering photo of him is taken by the free press privileges of the BBC. Photo courtesy of the BBC.

In Russia, the people silently mourn the murder of their democracy at the hands of President Vladimir Putin. After the killing of beloved Russian journalist, Anna Politkovskaya in 2006, the International Herald Tribune put it this way:

I am convinced that her killer was, first and foremost, the paucity of freedoms in Russia. The lack of freedom killed freedom - this is where the sad logic of her killing comes from, no matter who is behind it.

Lack of freedom spawns lawlessness: Russia has fostered numerous vindictive, unpunished people indignant that someone dares to point a finger at them and to say that their actions are criminal. At the same time, authoritarian power always fragments into clans, and the accusations of an independent journalist can be a priceless weapon in the battle of clans or for the liquidation of political rivals.

And then this:

Hundreds of people who came to say farewell to Anna looked not only crushed, but also helpless. The mourners were shown their real place, as people without rights, who will be told only what the authorities want them to know.

And this::

...at least twelve journalists have been killed in contract-style slayings. No one has been brought to justice in eleven of the twelve cases.

And another important piece on how unattended freedom is killing freedom in Russia.

For thoughts on Venezuelans fighting in their streets for free press, read: how Danny Glover and Hugo Chavez give a "nose-thumb" to freedom.

This a day to remember just how precious are our freedoms and to fiercely battle back against those who would hastily feed the gators, hoping they will eat him last.

A closing thought on how we make freedom ours:

You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom. You can only be free if I am free. Clarence Darrow

Cross-posted from Maggie's Notebook

"I thought I was making a movie about a paralysed guy but I realised I was making a film about women."

Says Julian Schabel, accepting the directing award at Cannes, for his film "The Butterfly and the Diving Bell," which is based on a book that I was just recommending here. I had no idea there was a film.

The subject of the film, Jean-Dominque Bauby, was a fast-living playboy, the toast of the Paris fashion world, until he suffered a debilitating stroke at the age of 42.

Schnabel shows him waking up in a seaside hospital after weeks in a coma and suffering from what a neurologist calls "locked-in syndrome" -- he is unable to speak or move any part of his body apart from his left eyelid.

The title refers to Bauby's feeling of being trapped in his body, which has come to resemble the airtight chamber of a diving bell, and his still active mind, still agile as a butterfly.

He writes a beautiful memoir by way of that one eyelid and dies 10 days after it is published. How to make a movie out of that? Schnabel's quote hints.

ADDED: And the Palme d'Or goes to a Romanian film about abortion, "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" by Cristian Mungiu:

"Pitch perfect and brilliantly acted, '4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days' is a stunning achievement, helmed with a purity and honesty that captures not just the illegal abortion story at its core but the constant, unremarked negotiations necessary for survival in the final days of the Soviet bloc," reviewer Jay Weissberg wrote....

Mungiu offers a shocking image of the aborted foetus, but it is the abortionist's graphic description of the process and his chilling exploitation of the women's dilemma that make for particularly excruciating viewing....

"Because of the pressure of the regime, women and families were so much concerned about not being caught for making an illegal abortion that they didn't give one minute of thought about the moral issue," he told reporters.

"It was either you or them getting you for what you did."

He put the foetus on screen to serve as a reminder to audiences. "It makes a point -- people should be aware of the consequences of their decisions," he said.

This sounds as though it will upset those who are both pro- and anti-abortion, which may be a good thing. I support abortion rights but think people should face up to "the consequences of their decisions."

"We believe bottled water has become less about the physical act of hydration and more about being a companion to people."

"They like to walk around with it and hold it."

MSM Protecting the ACLU? Where's the Headlines?

Just when you think the mainstream media cannot be less responsible than already demonstrated, cannot be more liberally biased than already evident, and cannot possibly flaunt their arrogance with any more vigor, another ACLU headline shows up missing.

Here's what I see as irresponsible, liberally biased and completely arrogant:
Charles Rust-Tierney,
** A former Virginia Chapter ACLU Chapter President
** An ACLU Board Member until the day of his arrest
** An employee of the Washington, D.C. Public Defender Service (since 1990) working exclusively with mentally ill clients
** Actively advocated, on behalf of the ACLU, to DISALLOW the use of computer blocking-software to protect children against pornography in Public Libraries.
** An Arlington, VA Youth Coach (President of the Arlington Little League)
** A spouse or ex-spouse of a present ACLU New York attorney, Dian Rust-Tierney
** Expected to plead guilty via a plea agreement on June 1st

...and was investigated by ICE, Homeland Security's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, read it here, arrested and charged for possession of child pornography. Here's what the judge said about Rust-Tierney's charges and the evidence that supported the charges:

U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa C. Buchanan was not swayed, saying the images found on Rust-Tierney's computer were "the most perverted and nauseating and sickening type of child pornography" she has seen in 10 years on the bench. Defense attorneys Peter D. Greenspun and Jonathan Shapiro appealed her detention order and will try again today to win their client's release on bond.

This from The Federal News Radio:

Among the items found on Rust-Tierney's computer was a six-minute video that prosecutors described as "a compilation of some of the worst child torture and rape scenes" that police have seen in their various investigations of child exploitation, all set to music by the rock band Nine Inch Nails.

This from ABCnews.com:

The videos described in the complaint depict graphic forcible intercourse with prepubescent females. One if the girls is described in court documents as being "seen and heard crying", another is described as being "bound by rope."

Back to irresponsible, liberally biased and arrogant: there is miniscule reporting on this. ABC.com, Fox News, The Washington Post, some AP. Everyone seems to be reporting the same few details, except O'Reilly, who went ballistic with the lack of coverage - called it A Journalistic Cover-up.

If the argument for lack of press attention is that Rust-Tierney was no longer an ACLU Chapter President, (served 2002-2005), he was an ACLU board member until the day of his arrest (or some reports say he resigned the day before). He actively represented the ACLU AGAINST protections for our children as they use computers in public libraries. His wife, or ex-wife, is employed by the New York City ACLU office,...and these charges are not just ordinary pornography charges. Homeland Security busted him! If I understand correctly, this was a global effort to round-up perverts doing just what Rust-Tierney is alleged to have done.

This is about children - this man worked with children!

There's more. This is the true arrogance of the MSM. You may have read this at Stop the ACLU, or my reporting here and here (including O'Reilly video) or that of numerous other bloggers, but you haven't seen it in the MSM (at least that any of us can find and we've been looking), other than the NJjournal.com. Inset text - my quick summary:

The present and long-time President of the ACLU, Nadine Strossen (also a Professor at the New York Law School), employs as her Chief Aide a man convicted of Child Endangerment. Steven C. Cunningham (Steven Christie Cunningham, I believe), was permanently disbarred in the State of New Jersey for online chats with a supposed 12 year old boy. He retains his license to practice law in the State of New York. I have called Strossen's office numerous times, as well as her attorney, to confirm that Cunningham is still her Chief Aide. The answer is always a no comment, but I have reason to believe he still holds the position. Read the update and details of my last phone call here.

There's ABSOLUTELY NO PRESS ON THIS.
It is a total blackout.

The missing headlines...I cannot help but contrast the easy, loud and constant headlines written about Abu Ghraib - before charges were filed, when it was just a rumor. Here's just three to jog your memory, and really, I'm sorry to do so, because it has all been "so done" before.

If we can have the following written about our military before a court trial, why do we not have the same beating of drums to inform the public of the despicable charges outlined above - regarding a man well-known in Washington D.C. social circles?

The Washington Post.com printed Sworn statements by Abu Ghraib Detainees and warned that the "statements are by alleged victims of sexual assault." January 2004

The New Yorker: Torture at Aub Ghraib: American soldiers brutalized Iraqis. May 2004

Charges from Seymour Hersh at an ACLU EVENT, "Children Raped at Abu Ghraib July 2004. Here's just a few words from that:

Some of the worst things that happened you don't know about, okay? Videos, um, there are women there. Some of you may have read that they were passing letters out, communications out to their men. This is at Abu Ghraib ... The women were passing messages out saying 'Please come and kill me, because of what's happened'...

Perhaps there were videos, arrests made, charges filed, convictions handed-down on the rape of children. I missed them if so. Didn't miss the news on it though. July 2004

Convictions were reported in September 2005.

It seems that the importance given to the ACLU, the credence afforded them by many, and the wide-reach of ACLU power, would demand at least a statement from ACLU President Nadine Strossen.

Cross-posted at Maggie's Notebook

MSM Protecting the ACLU? Where's the Headlines?

Just when you think the mainstream media cannot be less responsible than already demonstrated, cannot be more liberally biased than already evident, and cannot possibly flaunt their arrogance with any more vigor, another ACLU headline shows up missing.

Here's what I see as irresponsible, liberally biased and completely arrogant:
Charles Rust-Tierney,
** A former Virginia Chapter ACLU Chapter President
** An ACLU Board Member until the day of his arrest
** An employee of the Washington, D.C. Public Defender Service (since 1990) working exclusively with mentally ill clients
** Actively advocated, on behalf of the ACLU, to DISALLOW the use of computer blocking-software to protect children against pornography in Public Libraries.
** An Arlington, VA Youth Coach (President of the Arlington Little League)
** A spouse or ex-spouse of a present ACLU New York attorney, Dian Rust-Tierney
** Expected to plead guilty via a plea agreement on June 1st

...and was investigated by ICE, Homeland Security's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, read it here, arrested and charged for possession of child pornography. Here's what the judge said about Rust-Tierney's charges and the evidence that supported the charges:

U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa C. Buchanan was not swayed, saying the images found on Rust-Tierney's computer were "the most perverted and nauseating and sickening type of child pornography" she has seen in 10 years on the bench. Defense attorneys Peter D. Greenspun and Jonathan Shapiro appealed her detention order and will try again today to win their client's release on bond.

This from The Federal News Radio:

Among the items found on Rust-Tierney's computer was a six-minute video that prosecutors described as "a compilation of some of the worst child torture and rape scenes" that police have seen in their various investigations of child exploitation, all set to music by the rock band Nine Inch Nails.

This from ABCnews.com:

The videos described in the complaint depict graphic forcible intercourse with prepubescent females. One if the girls is described in court documents as being "seen and heard crying", another is described as being "bound by rope."

Back to irresponsible, liberally biased and arrogant: there is miniscule reporting on this. ABC.com, Fox News, The Washington Post, some AP. Everyone seems to be reporting the same few details, except O'Reilly, who went ballistic with the lack of coverage - called it A Journalistic Cover-up.

If the argument for lack of press attention is that Rust-Tierney was no longer an ACLU Chapter President, (served 2002-2005), he was an ACLU board member until the day of his arrest (or some reports say he resigned the day before). He actively represented the ACLU AGAINST protections for our children as they use computers in public libraries. His wife, or ex-wife, is employed by the New York City ACLU office,...and these charges are not just ordinary pornography charges. Homeland Security busted him! If I understand correctly, this was a global effort to round-up perverts doing just what Rust-Tierney is alleged to have done.

This is about children - this man worked with children!

There's more. This is the true arrogance of the MSM. You may have read this at Stop the ACLU, or my reporting here and here (including O'Reilly video) or that of numerous other bloggers, but you haven't seen it in the MSM (at least that any of us can find and we've been looking), other than the NJjournal.com. Inset text - my quick summary:

The present and long-time President of the ACLU, Nadine Strossen (also a Professor at the New York Law School), employs as her Chief Aide a man convicted of Child Endangerment. Steven C. Cunningham (Steven Christie Cunningham, I believe), was permanently disbarred in the State of New Jersey for online chats with a supposed 12 year old boy. He retains his license to practice law in the State of New York. I have called Strossen's office numerous times, as well as her attorney, to confirm that Cunningham is still her Chief Aide. The answer is always a no comment, but I have reason to believe he still holds the position. Read the update and details of my last phone call here.

There's ABSOLUTELY NO PRESS ON THIS.
It is a total blackout.

The missing headlines...I cannot help but contrast the easy, loud and constant headlines written about Abu Ghraib - before charges were filed, when it was just a rumor. Here's just three to jog your memory, and really, I'm sorry to do so, because it has all been "so done" before.

If we can have the following written about our military before a court trial, why do we not have the same beating of drums to inform the public of the despicable charges outlined above - regarding a man well-known in Washington D.C. social circles?

The Washington Post.com printed Sworn statements by Abu Ghraib Detainees and warned that the "statements are by alleged victims of sexual assault." January 2004

The New Yorker: Torture at Aub Ghraib: American soldiers brutalized Iraqis. May 2004

Charges from Seymour Hersh at an ACLU EVENT, "Children Raped at Abu Ghraib July 2004. Here's just a few words from that:

Some of the worst things that happened you don't know about, okay? Videos, um, there are women there. Some of you may have read that they were passing letters out, communications out to their men. This is at Abu Ghraib ... The women were passing messages out saying 'Please come and kill me, because of what's happened'...

Perhaps there were videos, arrests made, charges filed, convictions handed-down on the rape of children. I missed them if so. Didn't miss the news on it though. July 2004

Convictions were reported in September 2005.

It seems that the importance given to the ACLU, the credence afforded them by many, and the wide-reach of ACLU power, would demand at least a statement from ACLU President Nadine Strossen.

Cross-posted at Maggie's Notebook

Good news.

From Iraq. From Afghanistan.

Leaked Information About Iran from ABC

Yesterday we pointed out a piece done on ABC's "The Blotter" where the reporter wrote about leaked information regarding covert operations in Iran.

We also showed you just a tiny taste of the commenters on the Blotter page ripping into ABC for carelessly reporing leaked information that could get our men and women in the service killed.

Today it seems that it is not only the commenters that speaking to this issue.

Now, for the record, this information could have been deliberately leaked by the administration to fuel Iran's fears, or it could have been simply been a case of irresponsibility on the "leaker and ABC's part.

CBS shows that the commenters are not the only ones worried about this type of reporting.

Presidential candidates are also getting in on the anti-ABC action. As "The Blotter" itself notes, Tom Tancredo and Mitt Romney criticized the report, with Romney saying he was "shocked to see the ABC News report regarding covert action in Iran."

More Mitt: "The reporting has the potential of jeopardizing our national security. To put it quite plainly, it has the potential of affecting human life, we may never know."

Even more troubling is that on the heels of this "leaked" story, we now have the IAEA reporting that Iran, despite two sets of sanctions (albeit weak sanctions), is continuing down the path to Nuclear weapons. (Via Wapo)

VIENNA (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday Iran was stepping up its uranium enrichment program as U.S. warships maneuvered off Iran's coast, highlighting concerns over Iranian nuclear ambitions and involvement in Iraq.

Iran's defiance of another 60-day deadline set by the Council when it imposed a second set of sanctions on March 24 will expose Tehran to tougher penalties over its nuclear work, which the West fears is a front for assembling atom bombs.

"Iran has not agreed to any of the required transparency measures, which are essential for the clarification of certain aspects of the scope and nature of its nuclear program," said a confidential International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report obtained by Reuters.

"Iran has not suspended its enrichment-related activities. Iran has continued with the operation of its pilot fuel enrichment plant and with construction of its (planned underground industrial) enrichment plant."

Major powers stand behind U.N. Security Council resolutions demanding Iran suspend all nuclear fuel work in exchange for negotiations on trade incentives, with the threat of escalating sanctions if Tehran keeps refusing.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Iran must decide if it wants to cooperate with the international community or face new sanctions. "I for my part think one should not hesitate to toughen the sanctions," Sarkozy told the German monthly Cicero.

Looks like we may start to see some strength, finally, from France now that Sarkozy has been elected.

That would be good news indeed.

The money quote comes on page #2 of the Wapo story:

"If Iran stops expanding its enrichment capability now, it's no threat. Why keep this dance going until they achieve industrial level enrichment?

That is what we have been saying!!!!!!

Is the international community going to keep imposing sanctions that Iran ignores all the way until they launch their first bomb or is someone going to stop them?

When a madman makes a threat, one should take it seriously, we learned that the hard way with Hitler.

They have threatened Israel and they have stated plainly their next target is the USA.

How much clearer does this little thug from Iran have to get before people start understanding that if this keeps up, Iran will be at the point of no return and THEN will be much harder to deal with.

My personal take on the Wapo article in conjunction with ABC's leaked Covert ops story is this: The President has known what the IAEA report said which is why he signed on to the non-lethal covert operation to avoid having to use a military option and ABC just blew that to hell and back by reporting it.

Whoever leaked it need to be found and ABC needs to be held accountable.

They may have just blown one of our few chances to change regimes without a shot fired, if this proves to be the case, ABC's accountability should rise and whoever leaked it in the first place should be jailed.

Not having all the information, this is just my personal take on the situation.

.

Leaked Information About Iran from ABC

Yesterday we pointed out a piece done on ABC's "The Blotter" where the reporter wrote about leaked information regarding covert operations in Iran.

We also showed you just a tiny taste of the commenters on the Blotter page ripping into ABC for carelessly reporing leaked information that could get our men and women in the service killed.

Today it seems that it is not only the commenters that speaking to this issue.

Now, for the record, this information could have been deliberately leaked by the administration to fuel Iran's fears, or it could have been simply been a case of irresponsibility on the "leaker and ABC's part.

CBS shows that the commenters are not the only ones worried about this type of reporting.

Presidential candidates are also getting in on the anti-ABC action. As "The Blotter" itself notes, Tom Tancredo and Mitt Romney criticized the report, with Romney saying he was "shocked to see the ABC News report regarding covert action in Iran."

More Mitt: "The reporting has the potential of jeopardizing our national security. To put it quite plainly, it has the potential of affecting human life, we may never know."

Even more troubling is that on the heels of this "leaked" story, we now have the IAEA reporting that Iran, despite two sets of sanctions (albeit weak sanctions), is continuing down the path to Nuclear weapons. (Via Wapo)

VIENNA (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday Iran was stepping up its uranium enrichment program as U.S. warships maneuvered off Iran's coast, highlighting concerns over Iranian nuclear ambitions and involvement in Iraq.

Iran's defiance of another 60-day deadline set by the Council when it imposed a second set of sanctions on March 24 will expose Tehran to tougher penalties over its nuclear work, which the West fears is a front for assembling atom bombs.

"Iran has not agreed to any of the required transparency measures, which are essential for the clarification of certain aspects of the scope and nature of its nuclear program," said a confidential International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report obtained by Reuters.

"Iran has not suspended its enrichment-related activities. Iran has continued with the operation of its pilot fuel enrichment plant and with construction of its (planned underground industrial) enrichment plant."

Major powers stand behind U.N. Security Council resolutions demanding Iran suspend all nuclear fuel work in exchange for negotiations on trade incentives, with the threat of escalating sanctions if Tehran keeps refusing.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Iran must decide if it wants to cooperate with the international community or face new sanctions. "I for my part think one should not hesitate to toughen the sanctions," Sarkozy told the German monthly Cicero.

Looks like we may start to see some strength, finally, from France now that Sarkozy has been elected.

That would be good news indeed.

The money quote comes on page #2 of the Wapo story:

"If Iran stops expanding its enrichment capability now, it's no threat. Why keep this dance going until they achieve industrial level enrichment?

That is what we have been saying!!!!!!

Is the international community going to keep imposing sanctions that Iran ignores all the way until they launch their first bomb or is someone going to stop them?

When a madman makes a threat, one should take it seriously, we learned that the hard way with Hitler.

They have threatened Israel and they have stated plainly their next target is the USA.

How much clearer does this little thug from Iran have to get before people start understanding that if this keeps up, Iran will be at the point of no return and THEN will be much harder to deal with.

My personal take on the Wapo article in conjunction with ABC's leaked Covert ops story is this: The President has known what the IAEA report said which is why he signed on to the non-lethal covert operation to avoid having to use a military option and ABC just blew that to hell and back by reporting it.

Whoever leaked it need to be found and ABC needs to be held accountable.

They may have just blown one of our few chances to change regimes without a shot fired, if this proves to be the case, ABC's accountability should rise and whoever leaked it in the first place should be jailed.

Not having all the information, this is just my personal take on the situation.

.

Hillary Clinton NEEDS YOUR HELP

My dear friends.

I know you expect this to be a blog site supporting conservative ideas, conservative values, and conservative candidates.

WE ARE NOT WITHOUT COMPASSION TO THE LIBERALS WHEN THEY ASK FOR HELP.

Hillary Clinton has asked the American people for their help with something.



I think that Wake Up America and it's readers should do our part to help Senator Clinton.

She needs a theme song for her campaign. She's asking for the input of the American people in this to choose one. Bill's theme was "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow." Let's show Hillary Clinton how we feel.

I'm asking you for your opinions, here. Leave us a comment with your suggestions for helping Hillary Clinton with JUST the right song that captures "the essence of Hillary."

I know you'll come up with brilliant song suggestions.

And THANK YOU in advance for being the kind, compassionate people you are.

Oh, what's Hawk's suggestion for the Clinton Presidential Theme Song, you ask? Personally, I'm leaning toward "Liar" by Three Dog Night, "The Bitch is Back" by Elton John, or "Double Life" by Styx...

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man

Hillary Clinton NEEDS YOUR HELP

My dear friends.

I know you expect this to be a blog site supporting conservative ideas, conservative values, and conservative candidates.

WE ARE NOT WITHOUT COMPASSION TO THE LIBERALS WHEN THEY ASK FOR HELP.

Hillary Clinton has asked the American people for their help with something.



I think that Wake Up America and it's readers should do our part to help Senator Clinton.

She needs a theme song for her campaign. She's asking for the input of the American people in this to choose one. Bill's theme was "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow." Let's show Hillary Clinton how we feel.

I'm asking you for your opinions, here. Leave us a comment with your suggestions for helping Hillary Clinton with JUST the right song that captures "the essence of Hillary."

I know you'll come up with brilliant song suggestions.

And THANK YOU in advance for being the kind, compassionate people you are.

Oh, what's Hawk's suggestion for the Clinton Presidential Theme Song, you ask? Personally, I'm leaning toward "Liar" by Three Dog Night, "The Bitch is Back" by Elton John, or "Double Life" by Styx...

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man