Tuesday, 26 April 2011
David Hicks Fights Back Against Gitmo Lies in New Wikileaks Release
The file released on the Wikileaks website only confirms the inaccuracy of information that has been released by the former U.S. administration to the public in relation to David Hicks. The incompetence of the interrogators to obtain reliable and factual information is clear – they failed get Mr Hicks’ name correct, where he was captured, or the name of their own Navy ship – even when utilising interrogation techniques tantamount to torture. Much of the inaccuracies in the file have been addressed in Mr Hicks’ book, however, following is a list for your convenience.
➢ David Hicks’ middle name is Matthew, not Michael
➢ Jama’at Al Tablighi is a peaceful Islamic organisation – this has long been confirmed
➢ Mr Hicks has at no time flown to East Timor – to engage in hostilities, or otherwise
➢ LeT ["the Pakistan-based Kashmiri separatist group Lashkar-e-Tayyiba"] was not listed as a terrorist organisation until 2002, long after Mr Hicks had been detained. The report confirms that no member of LeT had engaged in a terrorist act- they allege an intention, which there is no evidence of. As Mr Hicks explains in his book, LeT dissolved after 2001. The group that calls themselves LeT now is not the same group as it was over a decade ago as it is made up of different people.
➢ Allegations of meeting senior al-Qaeda leadership – Mr Hicks explains in his book that did not hear the word al-Qaeda until he reached Guantanamo Bay – and this was from the mouth of an interrogator. Mr Hicks has not met any people by the names of Abu-Hufs or Mohammed Atef, and the U.S. has not provided any evidence of this.
➢ Mr Hicks did not go to Bagram at all – Mr Hicks was captured by the Northern Alliance at a Taxi stand in Baglan on his way back to Australia. He was then sold to the U.S. for approximately US$5000.
➢ There is no such ship as the Pettiloo – Mr Hicks was transferred to two U.S. Navy ships, the U.S.S. Bataan and the U.S.S Peleliu- what they failed to mention in this report was the 10 hour beatings inflicted on Mr Hicks and the other detainees, and the photos depicting Hicks naked with a bleeding wound on his head due to having his head rammed into the tarmac several times.
➢ As for the report stating that Mr Hicks ‘admitted’ to being a member of al-Qaeda – Any and all statements were obtained under torture, this is why he was not taken through a regularly constituted court. In the final Military Commissions hearing, David’s legal team submitted what is called the Alford Plea. This is a US based plea in which an accused person can agree to plead guilty whilst maintaining innocence. David has always maintained his innocence and strongly denies that he was involved with any terrorist organisations- he did what he had to do to come home.
➢ The report alleges that Mr Hicks led in prayer and was held in high regard by other Guantanamo detainees – Mr Hicks cannot speak Arabic, and his knowledge of the religion would not qualify him to lead prayer. Some detainees thought that Mr Hicks was a spy, so any allegation that he was a leader is simply outrageous.
➢ Any allegation that Mr Hicks was unruly or created disturbances is simply untrue. Former Guantanamo bay guard, Brandon Neely who was on the ground with Mr Hicks has confirmed this recently (link below).
➢ As documents have revealed, detainees were forced to take medication and David was injected in the spine (see link)
➢ All charges that they quote in the document and the Military Commissions process were ruled as unconstitutional and illegal by the U.S. Supreme Court. Even the final Military Commissions Act of 2006 has been replaced by President Obama due to the unfairness of the system, and the fact that it did not establish a legitimate legal framework.
➢ The report alleges that if Mr Hicks is released, he would be a threat to the U.S. and its allies – Mr Hicks has been a free member of society for over three years, and has proven this to be completely false.
Mr Hicks has never been accused of hurting anyone, participating in, supporting, preparing for or knowing of a terrorist act. The final charge in the Military Commissions hearing was one count under the material support for terrorism charge- which was foreign to Australian and international law- that did not accuse him of personally supporting terrorism, rather, it was alleged that he supported an organisation that supported terrorism. Of note is the fact that it has never been proven that the camps he attended were in fact al-Qaeda. Mr Hicks has never gone through a fair trial process.
This document shows that even back in 2004, Mr Hicks was not suspected and/or accused of hurting any person, or involved in any terrorist acts. The Australian government has always maintained that Mr Hicks has not broken any Australian Law.
MORE
Rob Da Bank – 2011-04-23 – Grandmaster Flash Special (BBC Radio1)
The O Jays – You Got To Give The People [Philadelphia International]
Falco – Rock Me Amadeus [A&M Records]
Ac/Dc – Back in Black [Columbia]
Billy Squier – Hear That Sound [Capitol]
Bob James – Take Me To The Mardi Gras [Columbia]
James Brown – Funky Drummer [King]
GRANDMASTER FLASH MIX 2
Nu Shooz – I Can’t Wait [Atlantic]
Tom Tom Club – Genius of Love [Sire]
Queen – Another One Bites The Dust [EMI]
Chic – Good Times [Atlantic]
David Bowie – Let’s Dance [virgin]
GRANDMASTER FLASH MIX 3
dead prez – Hip Hop [Loud]
Luniz – I Got 5 On It [Noo Trybe]
2Pac – Kepp Your Heads Up [Interscope]
Coolio – Gangsta Paradise [Tommy Boy]
Jay-Z – Whats My Name [Roc-A-Fella]
Dr. Dre – Forget About Dre [Interscope]
Digable Planets – Rebirth of Slick (Like Dat) [Elektra Records]
Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Shimmy Shimmy Ya [Elektra]
KRS-One – Sound of The Police [Conscious]
The Notorious B.I.G. – Juicy [Bad Boy Entertainment]
Arrested Development – Everyday People [Chrysalis]
LL Cool J – Rock The Bells [Def Jam]
Cypress Hill – Insane In The Brain [Ruffhouse Records]
Naughty by Nature – Hip Hop Hooray [Big Life]
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – The Message [Sugar Hill Records]
The Sugarhill Gang – Rappers delight [Sugar Hill Records]
Snap! – The Power [Logic Records]
GRANDMASTER FLASH MIX 4
Junior Reid – One Blood [Big Life]
Beenie Man – Ole Dawg Like Wi [Island Jamaica]
Beenie Man – Who Am I [Island Jamaica]
Elephant Man – Nuh Linga [Bad Boy]
Beenie Man – Memories [Island Jamaica]
Mavado – So Special [VP Records]
Tanto Metro & Devonte – Everyone Falls In Love [Relentless Records]
Beenie Man – World Dance [Island Jamaica]
Spragga Benz – We Nuh Like [VP Records]
GRANDMASTER FLASH MIX 5
Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child of Mine (Dubstep remix) [Geffen]
Dizzee Rascal – Bonkers (Doorly Dubstep Remix) [Dirtee Stank Recordings]
Doctor P – Sweetshop [Circus Recordings]
TC – Where’s My Money (Caspa Mix) [White]
Caspa – Back For The First Time [Sub Soldiers]
Lupe Fiasco – Kick Push (Heist DnB Mix) [Atlantic]
Unknown Artist – Unknown Track [White]
Unknown Artist – Unknown Track [White]
Ini Kamoze – Out In The Streets They Call It Murder (Stantons Mix) [Columbia]
Nerd – Everyone Nose [Dn B Mix]
Mark Ronson & The Business Intl – Bang Bang Bang (Mix) [Sony]
Unknown Artist – Unknown Track [White]
Unknown Artist – Unknown Track [White]
Unknown Artist – Unknown Track [White]
DOWNLOAD
HERE
Monday, 25 April 2011
ggreenwald Glenn Greenwald
WikiLeaks has generated more newsworthy scoops over the last year than all media outlets combined
ggreenwald Glenn Greenwald
If Bradley Manning did what's accused, he imposed more transparency on the world's powerful factions than any person in our lifetime: by far
Bullion - Canterbury Mix (For Stan!)
Tracklist:
01. Hatfield & The North - Aigrette / "Intellectual Exercise" Intro
02. Hatfield & The North - Shaving Is Boring
03. Hatfield & The North - The Other Stubbs Effect / "Captain Spillage" Interlude (Daevid Allen)
04. Steve Hillage - Octave Doctors
05. Lady June - Everythingsnothing
06. Caravan - Be All Right
07. Caravan - Memory Lain, Hugh
08. Matching Mole - Instant Pussy
09. Robert Wyatt - Gharbzadegi
10. Gong - Radio Gnome Prediction (Intro) / And You Tried So Hard
11. Gong - Flying Teapot
12. Gong - Pot Head Pixies
13. Robert Wyatt - Age Of Self
14. Fred Frith - Carnival On Wall St / "Being Defined" Interlude (Fred Frith)
15. John Greaves - Salt
16. Gong - Shamal
17. Robert Wyatt - Stalin Wasn't Stallin'
18. Caravan - No Back Stage Pass
19. Robert Wyatt - To Carla Marsha And Caroline / "Jolly Clever" Interlude (Robert Wyatt, Mike Ratledge)
20. The Soft Machine - Have You Ever Bean Green? / Pataphysical Introduction PT.1
21. Kevin Ayers - Goodnight Goodnight
02. Hatfield & The North - Shaving Is Boring
03. Hatfield & The North - The Other Stubbs Effect / "Captain Spillage" Interlude (Daevid Allen)
04. Steve Hillage - Octave Doctors
05. Lady June - Everythingsnothing
06. Caravan - Be All Right
07. Caravan - Memory Lain, Hugh
08. Matching Mole - Instant Pussy
09. Robert Wyatt - Gharbzadegi
10. Gong - Radio Gnome Prediction (Intro) / And You Tried So Hard
11. Gong - Flying Teapot
12. Gong - Pot Head Pixies
13. Robert Wyatt - Age Of Self
14. Fred Frith - Carnival On Wall St / "Being Defined" Interlude (Fred Frith)
15. John Greaves - Salt
16. Gong - Shamal
17. Robert Wyatt - Stalin Wasn't Stallin'
18. Caravan - No Back Stage Pass
19. Robert Wyatt - To Carla Marsha And Caroline / "Jolly Clever" Interlude (Robert Wyatt, Mike Ratledge)
20. The Soft Machine - Have You Ever Bean Green? / Pataphysical Introduction PT.1
21. Kevin Ayers - Goodnight Goodnight
Rolling Through The Bay
Scott Weaver's amazing piece, made with over 100,000 toothpicks over the course of 35 years, is a depiction of San Francisco, with multiple ball runs that allow you to go on "tours" of different parts of the city. It will be on display in the Tinkering Studio until the end of June!
Via
Guantánamo Bay files: Casio wristwatch 'the sign of al-Qaida'
The Casio F-91W wristwatch, regarded by Guantánamo Bay interrogators as a sign of al-Qaida involvement.
It is cheap, basic and widely available around the world. Yet the Casio F-91W digital watch was declared to be "the sign of al-Qaida" and a contributing factor to continued detention of prisoners by the analysts stationed at Guantánamo Bay.
Briefing documents used to train staff in assessing the threat level of new detainees advise that possession of the F-91W – available online for as little as £4 – suggests the wearer has been trained in bomb making by al-Qaida in Afghanistan.
The report states: "The Casio was known to be given to the students at al-Qaida bomb-making training courses in Afghanistan at which the students received instruction in the preparation of timing devices using the watch.
"Approximately one-third of the JTF-GTMO detainees that were captured with these models of watches have known connections to explosives, either having attended explosives training, having association with a facility where IEDs were made or where explosives training was given, or having association with a person identified as an explosives expert."
More than 50 detainee reports refer to the Casio timepieces. The records of 32 detainees refer to the black Casio F-91W, while a further 20 make reference to the silver version, the A-159W.
James Ball @'The Guardian'
Briefing documents used to train staff in assessing the threat level of new detainees advise that possession of the F-91W – available online for as little as £4 – suggests the wearer has been trained in bomb making by al-Qaida in Afghanistan.
The report states: "The Casio was known to be given to the students at al-Qaida bomb-making training courses in Afghanistan at which the students received instruction in the preparation of timing devices using the watch.
"Approximately one-third of the JTF-GTMO detainees that were captured with these models of watches have known connections to explosives, either having attended explosives training, having association with a facility where IEDs were made or where explosives training was given, or having association with a person identified as an explosives expert."
More than 50 detainee reports refer to the Casio timepieces. The records of 32 detainees refer to the black Casio F-91W, while a further 20 make reference to the silver version, the A-159W.
James Ball @'The Guardian'
Berlusconi's senators try to bring fascism back to Italian politics
A group of Italian senators is pressing for a decades-old ban on Benito Mussolini's Fascist party to be lifted in a move that has provoked fierce condemnation from political opponents and Jewish leaders.
The five members of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's ruling People of Liberty (Pdl) party, led by Senator Cristano De Eccher, presented a bill to the Italian senate arguing that a constitutional rule that prohibits the "reorganisation in any form [of the dissolved Fascist party]", is outdated and should be scrapped.
Mussolini rose to power after the end of the First World War and by the mid-1920s established a fascist dictatorship. His National Fascist Party ruled the country until 1943 and was a key ally of Nazi Germany. The party's reformation has been explicitly banned since the 1950s, when Italy's post-war constitution also outlawed Fascist symbols.
Senate Speaker Renato Schifani, also of the Pdl, was said to be "aghast" at the attempt to lift the ban, says a report by the news agency Ansa.
Emanuele Fiano, the Democratic Party's home affairs spokesman, told The Independent: "A founding basis of this Italian republic is its opposition to fascism. The laws banning the reformation of the Fascist party or apologising for it should remain untouchable."
Roberto Pacifici, leader of the Jewish Community of Rome, said: "It's an extremely worrying proposal." James Walston, a politics professor at the American University in Rome, said: "This is another manifestation of the long-term rehabilitation of fascism in Italy. It might not happen soon, it might never happen, but it's been under way since 1994. People are setting out to revise Italian history." In 1994, during Mr Berlusconi's first term as Prime Minister, direct heirs to Mussolini's Fascist party were given jobs in government for the first time since the party was banned.
One neo-Fascist was Mirko Tremaglia, the Minister for Italians Abroad, who as a young man defended Mussolini's Salo' Italian Social Republic, as recently as 2002 lamented the Second World War pivotal defeat of the Italians and the Afrika Korps at El Alamein. A senior figure in Mr Berlusconi's present cabinet, Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa, is also often accused of being a neo-Fascist. He was part of the old National Alliance party, which had its roots in the neo-Fascist Italian Social Movement formed by Mussolini supporters in 1946.
The present Speaker of the lower house, Gianfranco Fini, was head of the National Alliance, until it merged with Mr Berlusconi's Forza Italia two years ago. But over a period of several years he has renounced his former neo-Fascist sympathies and appears to have made a remarkable transition to a modern-right politician.
His description in 2003 of the "absolute evil" of the fascist era, prompted Mussolini's granddaughter, Alessandra, to quit the party to form her own Social Action grouping with other disgruntled right-wingers.
Press reports suggest that a senator from Mr Fini's own small centre-right Fli (Future and Freedom) party signed the proposal but was immediately threatened with expulsion from the party unless he rescinded his support for the initiative.
Michael Day @'The Independent'
The Guantanamo Files
David Michael Hicks
Considering that they have David Matthew Hick's name wrong, it doesn't really bode well for the rest of the info...
Hundreds escape by tunnel from Kandahar prison
More than 470 inmates at an Afghan jail have escaped through a tunnel hundreds of metres long.
Officials at the jail in Kandahar city said the tunnel had been dug from the outside and many of those who escaped were Taliban insurgents.The Kandahar provincial governor's office said some escapees had since been recaptured but gave no details.
A spokesman for the Taliban said it had dug the 320m (1,050ft) tunnel and that it had taken five months to construct.
Zabiullah Mujahid said about 100 of those who escaped were Taliban commanders, and most of the others were fighters with the insurgency.
The jailbreak is the second major escape from the prison in three years.
In June 2008, a suicide bomber blew open the Kandahar prison gates and destroyed a nearby checkpoint, freeing about 900 prisoners, many of them suspected insurgents.
The prison holds about 1,200 inmates.
"A tunnel hundreds of metres long was dug from the south of the prison into the prison and 476 political prisoners escaped last night," said prison director General Ghulam Dastageer Mayar.
The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said it was ready to provide assistance if requested by Afghan officials.
@'BBC'
wikileaks WikiLeaks
You can bet the Murdoch press and the Pentagon will do its tired old routine about redactions tomorrow. Don't be fooled.
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