From Larry Johnson's blog: Looking for Trouble.

Thanks to ROFTO Radio – Palestine, I recently received a letter from the parents of Rachel Corrie, describing the lawsuit scheduled to begin on Wednesday in Haifa District Court in Israel. Rofto.net describes itself as a “Palestinian guy-owned independent network that promotes constructive dialogue and understanding within the Middle East and All the world.”

Here’s the letter:

Friends,

As many of you know, a civil lawsuit in the case of our daughter Rachel Corrie is scheduled for trial in the Haifa District Court beginning March 10, 2010. A human rights observer and activist,Rachel, 23, tried nonviolently to offer protection for a Palestinian family whose home was threatened with demolition by the Israeli military. On March 16, 2003, she was crushed to death by an Israel Defense Force (IDF) Caterpillar D9R bulldozer in Rafah, Gaza.

The lawsuit is one piece of our family’s seven-year effort to pursue justice for...

From Larry Johnson's blog: Looking for Trouble.

The online magazine “Intercontinental Cry” forwarded a recent article that says Denison Mines, a Canadian company, has started mining uranium on the north rim of the Grand Canyon, “In defiance of legal challenges and a U.S. Government moratorium.”

“Intercontinental Cry” is a free online magazine that provides news, videos, and urgent action alerts centered on indigenous people and their struggles around the world “to reclaim their lands, defend their traditions, enact their rights, and to quite literally survive.”

The article was written by Klee Benally, a collective member of Indigenous Action Media, on the Board of Directors of the Shundahai Network, and is a musician with the group Blackfire.

The article says: “Denison plans on extracting 335 tons of uranium ore per day out of the ‘Arizona 1 Mine,’ which is set to operate four days per week. The hazardous ore will be hauled by truck more...

From Larry Johnson's blog: Looking for Trouble.

A Nepali journalist emailed this morning, saying that these are hard times for news media in Nepal. Deepak Adhikari, a reporter with the Kantipur Daily, said, “The editors and publishers of the publication where I work have been threatened by an unidentified group.” He directed me to an article he just published with Media Helping Media, and organization that “ has been set up to provide training resources and a voice for those involved in the media in transition states, post-conflict countries and areas where freedom of expression and media freedom is under threat.”

In his article Deepak said, “Publishers and editors of Kantipur Publications in Nepal have been told to stop reporting on the circumstances surrounding the murder last week of Nepali media entrepreneur Jamim Shah.

“Shah was assassinated on Sunday 7 February in the capital Kathmandu.

“Kailash Sirohiya, the publisher and Managing Director of Kantipur Publications,...

From Larry Johnson's blog:Looking for Trouble.

This email just in from the BRussells Tribunal : A blogger in Baghdad, Hiba Al-Shamaree, has been arrested by Iraqi security forces.

The email included a post from another blogger, Layla Anwar.

“Following my previous post here (on the tribunal site), I just received fresh information regarding Hiba Al-Shamaree, the fellow Iraqi woman writer/blogger who has been kidnapped/arrested by the Iraqi forces on the 20th of January 2010 in the Sayyediya neighborhood in Baghdad.

“Her sister has just updated her blog with the following.”

“Hiba Al-Shamaree is arrested and detained by Baghdad's security forces on the charges of supporting the Iraqi Resistance (through her writings), she will be presented to the Criminal/Penal Court...

“I am now authorized by Hiba to reveal her true identity to you.

“Her name : Hanan Ali Ahmad Al Mashadani

Age : 33 years old

Profession: Doctor in Ophthalmology

“The charges pressed against her : Inciting to violence and supporting the Resistance and according...

From Larry Johnson's blog: Looking for Trouble.

Aafia Siddiqui, a U.S.-trained Pakistani scientist, was convicted Wednesday of charges that she tried to kill Americans while detained in Afghanistan in 2008. The Associated Press reported that Siddiqui, 37, was convicted on two counts of attempted murder, though the crime was not found by the jury to be premeditated. She was also convicted of armed assault, using and carrying a firearm, and assault of U.S. officers and employees.

The three-week trial made it sound like Siddiqui, who U.S. authorities had previously described as an al-Qaida sympathizer, had suddenly appeared in Afghanistan where she was arrested and then interrogated by Afghan and U.S. officials. (It was during that interrogation that Siddiqui allegedly staged her attack using a rifle a U.S. officer had left unattended in the room.)

The truth is Siddiqui had been “disappeared” in Pakistan by Pakistani intelligence forces in 2003. (She likely was picked up because U.S. intelligence agencies were saying...

From Larry Johnson's blog: Looking for Trouble.

The latest slogan for oil giant Chevron is “We’re in the human energy business.”  And Amazon Watch, representing indigenous people in rainforest communities in Ecuador, is happy to hear that. Atossa Soltani, executive director of Amazon Watch, recently wrote a letter to Chevron CEO John Watson, explaining why.

“I write to you on behalf of Amazon Watch to express our hope that as Chief Executive of Chevron Corporation you will have the fortitude and vision to genuinely address the most painful and immediate challenge facing your company – the Ecuador disaster.

"Our hope is that you will not miss this critical opportunity to resolve the human and environmental tragedy in Ecuador and transform Chevron into the responsible 21st century energy company professed in ‘The Chevron Way’ and in your ‘Human Energy’ advertising campaigns.

"Your company is currently facing a $27.3 billion...

From Larry Johnson's blog: Looking for Trouble.

Non-citizen veterans of Vietnam, both Gulf wars and Afghanistan are being “quietly” deported despite U.S. military promises of citizenship in exchange for fighting for the United States.

Reportedly there are over 3,000 veterans currently incarcerated and under threat of deportation nation wide.

Veterans’ rights activist Jan Ruhman wrote last year on the blog Vetspeak.org:

“American Military veterans who have served our nation in times of war and peace have quietly been deported since 1996 when the Immigration Reform Act (IRA) was passed by the Republican Controlled Congress and “broadly” redefined Aggravated Felony (AG) and took away certain applications for relief. This simple change in the definition of AG in the law has directly affected tens of thousands of veterans who served their nation. Quite simply, they are facing forced deportation or have in fact already been “quietly” and unceremoniously deported over the past 13 years.

“A trail of lies has been uncovered...

From Larry Johnson's blog: Looking for Trouble.

Israel gets a lot of bad press these days, and rightfully so given, among many other things, its refusal to seriously move forward on a negotiated peace settlement with Palestinians. But sometimes we need to be reminded that Israelis, like a lot of us, don’t necessarily agree with their government.

Today, I found a great reminder of that while scrolling through Facebook.

An American grad student posted the following message and video:

“A year ago today, tens of thousands demanded the release of Israel's youngest prisoners of conscience, the Shministim. These 12th graders courageously chose prison time over serving in the occupying Israeli army, and became heroes to us and the entire world.

“Last Chanukah, just one day after Tamar Katz was released from ...solitary confinement, the young Shministim gathered to celebrate and to decide how to thank the 20,000 (and counting) Jewish Voice for Peace members who wrote letters, attended rallies,...

From Larry Johnson's blog: Looking for Trouble.

Seattle Congressman Jim McDermott said today that he is against expanding the war in Afghanistan. This afternoon he sent out a fundraising email that made his position clear.

In the email, McDermott said, “Last week the President outlined the administration's policy about the war in Afghanistan.

“I appreciate the time he took to carefully study all of our country's options and inform our citizens of his plan.

“But at the end of the day, he simply did not convince me that escalating our country's involvement in the War in Afghanistan is in our national interest…

“There is support in Congress to press for a vote on funding for new troops prior to sending them.

“I support the idea of a congressional vote. When that vote happens, I will vote against expanding a needless war and funding more troops.”

McDermott said he couldn’t support Obama’s troop surge because our country faces no immediate threat from Afghanistan...

From Larry Johnson' blog: Looking for Trouble.

Despite mounting public protests across the United States against sending more troops to Afghanistan, there has been little reaction from Congress. Now, there seems to be some rumblings of opposition. Yesterday, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), following a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives, released this statement:

“Today, I will begin circulating two privileged resolutions which will trigger debate and votes on a timely withdrawal of U.S troops from Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States makes it Congress’ responsibility to determine whether or not we go to war or stay at war. Consistent with Article 1, Section 8, the privileged resolutions will invoke the War Powers Resolution of 1973. I ask for your support of these resolutions, which will be introduced in the House in January.

“Yesterday, with the US Secretary of Defense at his side, the President of Afghanistan declared that his country’s security...

From Larry Johnson's blog: Looking for Trouble .

The protests against President Obama’s “surge” in Afghanistan were building even before he announced he would send 30,000 more troops to the war. Now, according to an Institute for Public Accuracy news release, they are in high gear.

World March organized a number of events for today in the United States and elsewhere. Ed Asner and Martin Sheen are among those joining the protests in Los Angeles. Chris Wells, the North America spokesperson for World March, said today:  "We keep going down the same road. It's important to denounce war, but we must build peace – we must change our entire mindset. During the Vietnam War, Martin Luther King Jr. said that the U.S. was the greatest purveyor of violence in the world and that if we didn’t end that military mindset we'd be protesting war in country after country. We'll be participating in a tribute to King at the Lincoln memorial this afternoon."

The March has been endorsed by the presidents of eleven countries,...

From former P-I Foreign Editor Larry Johnson's blog, Looking for Trouble:

Yesterday in the Philippines, Ismael Mangudadatu registered to run for governor of Maguindanao province on the southern island of Mindanao. It doesn’t sound like an unusual event unless you know that on Monday 57 men and women on their way to register Mangudadatu were massacred, execution style.

The group included Mangudadatu’s wife, Genalyn, and other relatives, and 22 Filipino journalists.

Mangudadatu and his supporters had thought it would be safe to send his female relatives to register his candidacy even though he knew that people in the province, primarily the powerful Ampatuan family, were out to prevent him from running. Maguindanao, after all, is predominantly a Muslim province, and women are traditionally safe even from the bitterest enemies. Besides, there were many journalists in the group to help keep them safe.

The attack, according to the TimesOnline of London, “has raised questions about the relationship...

From former P-I foreign editor Larry Johnson's blog, Looking for Trouble:

A coalition of Seattle academic, religious, and peace groups, and individual activists are co-sponsoring a community conference on resolving the Iranian nuclear crisis through negotiations rather than force.

The event, “Iran-Israel-U.S.: Resolving the Nuclear Impasse,” is planned for December 16th at Seattle’s Town Hall. The organizers say that many in the progressive community are deeply concerned that the United States and/or Israel may take military action against Iran. These fears have been exacerbated by the recent House bill that provides for severe sanctions against Iran and by the continued statements from neocons in the United States and Israel declaring military force as the only way to curb Iran’s nuclear efforts.

The organizers of this event, in a recent fundraising letter, say, “This conference will present a comprehensive approach that could resolve major difference through diplomacy and open a new era in relations between these...

From former P-I foreign editor Larry Johnson's blog, Looking for Trouble:

Iraq is planning to execute up to 126 women by the end of this year. At least 9 may be hanged within the next two weeks. Human rights groups say the only crime committed by many of these women was to serve in the government of Saddam Hussein. Others, according to human rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, were convicted of common crimes based on confessions that were the result of torture.

Amnesty reports that at least 1,000 men and women are now on death row in Iraq, a country that has one of the highest rates of execution in the world. Amnesty released the following appeal in late August:

“At least nine women under sentence of death in Iraq are now in imminent danger of execution, as Iraq’s Presidential Council has ratified their death sentences. Three other women have been executed since early June.

The authorities have transferred a number of women to the 5th section of Baghdad's al-Kadhimiya...

From former P-I foreign editor Larry Johnson's blog: Looking for Trouble.

As we in the news media like to say, violence has “abated” in Iraq.  For example, on Monday it was reported that 16 people – including a member of the country's main Sunni political party and several of his relatives – were killed by gunmen. And a parked car bomb exploded in a market in Kirkuk, killing five people and wounding seven others.

It’s sad to say that the death of 21 people is not too bad, but this is a country that, since the U.S. invasion, often saw a daily civilian death toll topping 100.

But there is another, more insidious violence that is on the rise and will likely continue to rise for generations to come.

The Guardian.co.uk reports that doctors in Fallujah are dealing with up to 15 times as many chronic deformities in infants and a spike in early life cancers that may be linked to toxic materials left over from the fighting.

The report said, “Neurologists and obstetricians in the city interviewed by the Guardian say the...

From former P-I foreign editor Larry Johnson's blog, Looking for Trouble.

Malalai Joya, an Afghan politician who the BBC has called “the bravest woman in Afghanistan” for denouncing the warlords in the parliament, was in Western Washington recently. You wouldn’t know it from reading any of the rest of our struggling online or print news media. The only coverage was an interview Wednesday on KUOW’s Weekday program with Steve Scher.

One would think, with President Obama poised to send more troops to Afghanistan, that a book tour by a woman who became the youngest person to be elected to Afghanistan’s new parliament in 2005, would be a big deal for our local news folks. But, it wasn’t. I only found out about it after seeing a mention of it on an Afghan site, and then finding her itinerary on a local activist web page, Peace Action of Washington. The lesson, I guess, is that I should tune in to KUOW more often.

Malalai on Wednesday spoke about her country’s struggle and...

Fromformer P-I foreign editor Larry Johnson's blog: Looking for Trouble.

A reader comment about my blog on American Israel Public Affairs Committee, AIPAC, pointed out that there is new Jewish-American lobby called J Street that “seeks to present a different viewpoint on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that is more cognizant of the rights of the Palestinians.” He’s right. It is very different from AIPAC.

Here is how this new lobby describes itself: 

“J Street is the political arm of the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement.

“J Street was founded to promote meaningful American leadership to end the Arab-Israeli and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts peacefully and diplomatically. We support a new direction for American policy in the Middle East and a broad public and policy debate about the U.S. role in the region.

“J Street represents Americans, primarily but not exclusively Jewish, who support Israel and its desire for security as the Jewish homeland, as well as the right of the Palestinians to a sovereign state of...

Here’s how the powerful, pro-Israel lobby AIPAC describes itself:

“For more than half a century, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee has worked to help make Israel more secure by ensuring that American support remains strong.  From a small pro-Israel public affairs boutique in the 1950s, AIPAC has grown into a 100,000-member national grassroots movement described by The New York Times as ‘the most important organization affecting America's relationship with Israel.’”

Here’s how STOP AIPAC , a group formed by peace and justice activists in the San Francisco Bay Area, describes the lobby:

“AIPAC had played a key role in fomenting support for the U.S. invasion of Iraq.  It is playing an even greater role in supporting a future military strike against the people of Iran…  Only rarely is a critical word uttered among politicians regarding AIPAC and its associates that support unjust and aggressive and disastrous  U.S. policies toward the peoples of the Middle East…  For too long,...

From former P-I foreign editor Larry Johnson's blog: Looking for Trouble.

Italy convicted 23 CIA operatives on Wednesday in a 2003 Milan extraordinary rendition case.

Dan Murphy of the Christian Science Monitor wrote:

“After two years of wrangling to head off a case that centered around the Bush administration’s practice of abducting alleged terrorists abroad and sending them to friendly third states for interrogation, Italian prosecutors won a stunning victory on Wednesday, when 23 US intelligence agents were convicted in absentia by a Milan court for kidnapping.

"The practice of 'extraordinary rendition' became common for the CIA after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the US, with hundreds of alleged militants abducted in Europe and Central Asia and elsewhere, and delivered to states like Algeria, Egypt, and Syria, where torture is often used against presumed enemies of the state. The US says it received assurances that torture would not be used. But the practice has been especially controversial...

From former P-I foreign editor Larry Johnson's blog: Looking for Trouble.

(For the past week, I have been running a guest blog by Gerri Haynes, a former president of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. Gerri, a nurse from Kirkland, Wash., was in Gaza with 11 other people in an effort to help the people there and also to better understand the situation. They are on their way home now, but Gerri passed along this story from a mental health worker in Gaza. She said it was best if his name wasn't used.)

“Father, stay beside me and as soon as you hear the shelling, close my ears.”

“Don’t worry, Husam, just sleep.”

“I can’t sleep, I'm afraid.”

“What are you afraid of?” The child pauses. The two sit listening to the sound of their breath. Husam fears what he may hear. The night seems calm. At this moment no sounds enter the home.

“I am afraid of the Israeli shelling,” Husam replies.

“Don’t worry, it is not shelling. It is just sounds to scare people.”

“Why are they scaring people”? Why would anyone scare a family?...

From former P-I foreign editor  Larry Johnson's blog: Looking for Trouble.

Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. In the Old City, the three Abrahamic faiths come together.

We return today to the U.S. – nine days and eight nights we have been away.  We have listened and watched, discussed, served and learned. We said “good-bye” to our hosts in Gaza – knowing that we will take home with us the pain and courage of the people we met.

We exited Gaza through the Erez checkpoint Friday morning and returned for one last night in Jerusalem. At Erez, our luggage was thoroughly examined. On the Israeli side, the thoughtful and competent Israeli lieutenant who...

 From Larry Johnson's blog: Looking for Trouble .

(For a few more days, I will be running a guest blog by Gerri Haynes, a former president of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility . Gerri, a nurse from Kirkland, Wash., is in Gaza with 11 other people in an effort to help the people there and also to better understand the situation.)

Elliott Adams, a member of Veterans For Peace wrote this:

“Walking near the beaches of Gaza, dangling from the wires, are some sun bleached sticks, the remains of a  kite.  Once it caught the Mediterranean winds and darted across the sky in a streak of color playing in the blue. Then, caught by the wires, held fast, it flipped and flopped with flashes of the same colors, but no longer wild arcs across the sky.  Its color growing weaker, tattered paper flapping, the sun bleaching the color even from the remaining sticks.

So, too, we watch as Gaza, caught by the inaction of the world, hangs on a wire, its color fading.  Its people determined to fly...

(For a few more days, I will be running a guest blog by Gerri Haynes, a former president of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility . Gerri, a nurse from Kirkland, Wash., is in Gaza with 11 other people in an effort to help the people there and also to better understand the situation.)

As our activities of service and learning continue, we become more and more aware of the crippling effects of the brutal siege on Gaza. And we become more and more aware of the incredible fortitude of the people in this land. Children’s services are emphasized – services that will promote the cultural and spiritual development of the next generation.

This afternoon our delegation met with the Prime Minister of Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh. With great care, he spoke of the need for the people of Gaza to be free of occupation and the hope that the American administration will live up to the promises made by President Obama in his speeches in Egypt and Turkey. The Prime Minister spoke of peace and justice and...

From former P-I foreign editor Larry Johnson's blog: Looking for Trouble.

(For the next week or so, I will be running a guest blog by Gerri Haynes, a former president of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. Gerri, a nurse from Kirkland, Wash., is in Gaza with 11 other people in an effort to help the people there and also to better understand the situation.)

Our humanitarian/human rights group met with human rights experts in Gaza this morning, then visited an elegant activity center for children. The director of this center is an inspiring young woman who was educated in and beyond Gaza.  She has chosen to serve the children of her homeland in the most loving way she can imagine – with creativity and safety.

The physicians in our group continue to serve patients in Al Awda Hospital, in clinics and in our hotel. A radio announcement telling of our presence in Gaza resulted in many more patients seeking care.    

The sister of the wonderful man who is organizing our itinerary runs...

From former P-I foreign editor Larry Johnson's blog: Looking for Trouble.

For the next week or so, I will be running a guest blog by Gerri Haynes, a former president of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. Gerri, a nurse from Kirkland, Wash., is in Gaza with 11 other people in an effort to help the people there and also to better understand the situation.

See day one:

  The sun shines brightly – destruction from the attacks this past winter become more apparent.  Bombed shells of buildings await repair –  importing concrete is forbidden.  Some single story buildings are being constructed of mud bricks readily available from the earth of this country. Injured bodies appear in clinics. Injured hearts and minds are universal – everyone has a close experience to the latest war on the people of Gaza.

   The physicians in our group, Bill Dienst, Dave Hall, Laura Hart, Bob Haynes, Don Mellman and Bryan Saario are meeting with colleagues and seeing patients.  Some surgeries...