Mental health problems among thousands of US Iraq vets ignored by Bush admin November 8, 2007
Posted by dave128 in Bush Administration, Human Rights, Invasion of Afghanistan, Invasion of Iraq, Politics.add a comment
Here is the video I promised yesterday. It’s very informative and emotional, it left me with tears in my eyes. Kudos to the great Dateline team, who always do great stuff.
Tens of thousands of US soldiers are returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan, suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.
They say they’ve been abandoned by the Bush Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs, claiming that government officials are actively trying to cover up the extent of America’s traumatised soldiers.
For many vets, this means not enough help is being offered and their lives are plagued by anxiety and mental health issues. But for some, the results are even more tragic.
Dateline video journalist Nick Lazaredes meets the widow of an Afghanistan veteran who was severely depressed by his recall to fight in Iraq.
He was killed in a police shootout on Christmas Day, his death dubbed ‘police-assisted suicide’.
As Dateline reveals, his story is not an isolated one.
Reporter/Camera.
NICK LAZAREDESAdditional Filming.
STEVE HARPERResearchers.
YAARA BOU-MELHEM
TARA LIBERTEditors.
WAYNE LOVE
NICK O’BRIENProducer.
AARON THOMAS
MoveOn, nothing to see here September 23, 2007
Posted by dave128 in Politics.Tags: General Betray US, MoveOn.org, US Senate
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Firstly, how ridiculous that the US Senate voted on condemning an advertisement in a newspaper. What next? US Senate vote: How cool is the iPhone television commercial?!!? What is your favourite colour? Who cares about Iraq or health care or impeaching a criminal President*; the major issue of the day: Boxers or Briefs??!
Secondly, I saw Eli Pariser from MoveOn.org on Friday’s NBC Today show and I thought he was really cute. 
Daily Update – Wednesday April 25 April 24, 2007
Posted by dave128 in Bush Administration, Human Rights, Invasion of Afghanistan, Media, Oil, Politics.add a comment
I’m finding it hard to write longish posts, the main reason being it’s too depressing. So, in order to keep what’s left of my sanity I’ll be trying “daily updates”. I won’t be updating everyday, but rather they will be a collection of news worthy/interesting things I’ve come across over a particular day. So, on with it…
The US Government has been positively pwned* over the Pat Tillman cover-up: Ranger alleges cover-up in Tillman case
Via Boing Boing: Fascist America, in 10 easy steps
The independence of Afghanistan’s media could be eroded if a new law is passed: Media at risk under new Afghan law
Indiginous American women are “2.5 times more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than women in the United States in general” says Amnesty International: Native American women suffering shocking rates of rape: Amnesty
Another racism controversy from US radio DJs: US radio DJs in fresh racism row
In the six-minute prank broadcast, the caller says he wants to see one of the female employees of the restaurant naked and calls a part of her body “hot, Asian, spicy”.
[snip]
The two suspended DJs had been vocal supporters on air of Don Imus.
What a huge surprise.
I thought I’d end on something positive, Dave Raggett’s Introduction to HTML. A really handy guide, if like me, HTML scares the bejesus out of you.
Another positive, I watched the excellent documentary Crude Impact last night. It examines that huge issue oil, from its damage to indigenous communities and the environment, to the extent certain countries will go to in order to satiate their lust for oil (*cough* invasion of Iraq *cough*). And on this subject, I wonder just how much oil China and Russia get from Iran? Like this post, the film was mostly depressing, but ended with hope (okay, so HTML for beginners isn’t as snazzy as saving the planet, but meh!). I haven’t felt this energised by a documentary since The Corporation. Please visit their website, and try to view the doco if you can.
The YouTube Skeleton October 20, 2006
Posted by dave128 in Art, Music, Politics.add a comment
Allen Ginsberg & Paul McCartney – Ballad of the Skeletons
Woah, it’s a YouTube video that isn’t someone making a Mentos and Coke rocket.
R.I.P Allen Ginsberg
George’s moral boundary July 21, 2006
Posted by dave128 in Bush Administration, Human Rights, Politics.1 comment so far
This week George W. Bush uttered the sentence, “It crosses a moral boundary that our decent society needs to respect.” What was he referring to?
A – Stolen Elections
Vote rigging to ensure a Republican “victory”, especially ironic in a country that trumpets freedom and democratic values.
B – The Invasion and occupation of Iraq
The conservative death toll is a staggering 40,000, with much infrastructure destroyed, it set off a bloody sectarian battle, not to mention the kidnappings and murders and over 2,000 US soldiers have died.
C – Abu Ghraib
The torture and killing of prisoners by US military continued the sorry legacy of the infamous prison.
D – Guantánamo Bay
The detention, sometimes for many years, of terror suspects without charge or basic legal rights. There has also been numerous allegations of torture and inhumane conditions.
E – The response to Hurricane Katrina
FEMA’s response was insufficient and negligent. Bush appointed an idiot that had no real experience. Contrast that to the FEMA glory years under Clinton, who appointed the brilliant James Lee Witt.
F – Support for Israel’s bombing of Lebanon
While Israel says its campaign is against the vicious Hezbollah organisation, the vast majority of deaths have been civilian. Infrastructure such as roads, bridges, the airport at Beirut, and petrol stations have all been targeted, with no obvious link to the militant group. The civilian population is suffering, and will continue to suffer, as will innocent Israelis, yet Bush won’t condemn it.
G – Embryonic stem-cell research
The investigation into finding possible cures to many diseases from stem-cells.
Hmmm… I’m sure there’s many who would consider most of those to be crossing a moral boundary. But Dubya only sees one. Which is it?
G of course! If only the innocent people in Lebanon and Gaza and Israel and Iraq were stem-cells.
Hillary Clinton on Ellen July 4, 2006
Posted by dave128 in Gay Rights, Media, Politics, Television.add a comment
Wow. I can’t believe what I’ve just seen. Hillary Clinton interviewed on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. The studio audience were total fuckheads, giving Hillary a standing ovation. And Ellen was drooling all over her “special guest” (special as in mentally challenged). I’ve been a big fan of Ellen DeGeneres for ten years. I have almost every episode of her sitcom Ellen on tape, I’ve bought her books and CDs and enjoyed her HBO specials.
Well, now I’ve lost a whole lot of respect for her. To not only have that cunty warmonger on her program, but to treat her with such dignity is horrifying. It only becomes even more idiotic when you consider that Ellen is a pioneering lesbian in the US entertainment industry. How she could be so nice to such a homophobic bitch is totally beyond me.
I feel so disappointed. Ellen DeGeneres, you should be ashamed of yourself.
