Amnesty for pickpockets?

The current Iraqi government, even though pretty much handpicked by the U.S., did manage to come up with a plan for reconciliation by offering amnesty to those who had fought patriotically for their country. This would have included individuals who had fought against (and presumbly killed) American troops as well as Iraqis. It also called for a timeline for American troops to withdraw.

Shortly after Bush's sneak five hour visit to Bagdad the Iraqi proposal was modified. Guess how. No timeline was to be included and no amnesty for individuals who had fought against the occupation. The result of this is pretty clear. Any Iraqi who might have been offered meaningful amnesty and therefore changed from a previous combatant into a regular Iraqi citizen will not request amnesty (why should they). The only people left who might qualify are pickpockets and other petty criminals. Brilliant. The absence of a timeline leaves us where we were in the first place - nowhere. If anyone actually believed the Iraqi government was not a puppet whose strings are controlled by Washington this should certainly make it clear. It also makes clear, as near as I can see, that Bush/Cheney have no intention of ever withdrawing American troops from that unfortunate country.

There is a battle going on between the State Department and the Defense Department over whether or not to eliminate the phrase "humiliating and degrading treatment" in the new manual. Guess who doesn't want it eliminate. The Department of Cheney/Rumsfeld (aka Dept. of Defense), of course. I guess once you authorize something like torture it's hard to give it up. The word "sadists" come easily to mind.

The Israelis continue to colonize Palestinian territory by force of arms. There is no hope of peace in Israel or Palestine until the illegal occupation is abandoned. And there seems to be no hope, even after all these years, that the Israelis will change course. They want Palestinian land and water, and they obviously want this more than they want peace. As long as they have overwhelming military force, they can continue down the road of apartheid (with the help of the U.S., of course).

How sad it is there is so much hatred and killing going on around the world. Doesn't bother Republicans sitting in their air conditioned offices, giving themselves raises, and discussing the more important issues facing us, like flag burning, gay marriage, and abortion. Now they have started in again on the words "under god."

If there really was a god he/she/it would have disowned these evil bastards long ago.