Salem-News.com Politics articles Page 24

Plumlee`s Thoughts for Today... A friendly note to our elected officials

"We the People of the United States want our country back. We demand changes in the White House."

(LAS CRUCES, NM) - I am sorry to say that the President of the United States and his Administration has demonstrated to the American people, on more than one occasion, that they are incapable of running the affairs of this Nation.

Collectively, they have demonstrated to the American people that they are not leaders. They have shown the people they can’t think on their feet.

The United States` Tragic Role in Iraq

"It is particularly bizarre that some of the very people who supported the illegal and unnecessary invasion of Iraq are now trying to somehow blame Obama for the unfolding fiasco."

(SANTA CRUZ, Calif.) - The dramatic rise of the extremist Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)—which even al-Qaeda deemed too extreme to remain part of its network—is a tragedy by any measure. It would also be tragic if we allowed the very forces that created this mess to explain it away.

Despite claims by the Bush administration and its supporters to the contrary, outside of a few dozen fighters in a remote valley of the Kurdish autonomous region, there was no Al-Qaeda or related Salafi extremist presence in Iraq under the Saddam Hussein regime. But now, thanks to the U.S. invasion and occupation, the extremists control most of the northern and western parts of the country, including Iraq’s second largest city.

Christian MPA Shot Dead in Provisional Capital

Just after a year in office, he has been murdered.

(ISLAMABAD) - Handery Masih, a Christian Member of the Baslochistan Assembly, was shot dead in Quetta on Saturday noon.

According to details, Handery’s personal security guard sprayed bullets on him outside his residence in Quetta. He was immediately shifted to the nearest hospital but unfortunately he could not survive.

Statement Demanding an Immediate Stop to War in Myanmar

Scores of organizations insist that negotiative efforts be sincere.

(U.K. ) - While there is a pretense that the Union Peacemaking Working Committee is conducting meetings on a ceasefire agreement to end the more than sixty-year long civil war between the Government, Military and ethnic armed groups - current clashes in Kachin regions, Ta-ang Palaung regions and Shan State are witness to the military’s serious offensive.

Civil society organizations, networks and people who desire genuine and just peace profoundly demand the respective Government, Hluttaw (parliaments) and the Myanmar military to contemplate the following points to prove their willingness for genuine peace.

Prisoner Swap is an Opportunity to Again Debate the Closing of Guantanamo

It is time to give Guantanamo back to Cuba.

(SAN FRANCISCO) - It is unfortunate that the debate about the prisoner swap -- U.S. Army Sgt. Bergdahl for 5 Taliban officials -- disregards or at least minimizes the fact that prior to the swap, there were 149 still imprisoned at Guantánamo Bay Detention Camp, of which 78 are still imprisoned after being cleared for release and 38 the U.S. has said it lacks evidence to prosecute but claims they are too dangerous to release.

Guantánamo has a reputation as a place of torture and indefinite detention, and is a continued international embarrassment.

Religious Conversion Law Threatens Religious Freedom in Burma/Myanmar

The new law is based on proposals by a Buddhist organization called the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Over 81 organizations from civil society worldwide today call on the Government of Burma/Myanmar to scrap proposed legislation that would unlawfully restrict the right to freely choose a religion. If adopted, this law would violate fundamental human rights and could lead to further violence against Muslims and other religious minorities in the country.

The draft “Religious Conversion Law”, published in state-run media on 27 May 2014, sets out a process for applying for official permission to convert from one religion to another.

Sergeant Bergdahl: The Army`s Blunder

A round peg in a square hole. He told the medical staff, “Do not call me Sergeant”.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - I don’t care if you don’t like my title. Bowe Bergdahl was in the wrong place, wrong time, and in the wrong Army. He should have been in the Navy or Air Force, where his natural abilities could have been used and appreciated. It seems that he was somewhat of an intellectual. The infantry is the wrong place for such a person.

The Appalling Apartheid State of the Rohingyas Must End

"A document as far back as 1799 refers to the Rohingya population here, and an 1826 report estimates that 30 percent of the population of this region was Muslim." -Nicholas Kristof

(PHILADELPHIA) - Nicholas Kristof is a very well-known news reporter and columnist for the New York Times where over the years he has posted many articles that are based on his firsthand account of the subject matter.

Congress Overlooked?

The U.S. Congress’s Oath of Office conflicts with the veteran’s betrayal by the DOD.

(SALEM, Ore.) - As of 2014, the U.S. Congress has yet to make a "Rule" preventing the "Degrading" rape of and injurious, non-consensual experiments on U.S. Military Personnel, i.e., by a Law of the Land NOT by a Dept. of Defense (DOD) disobeyed Sec. of Defense Rule.

"To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces" is the U.S. Congress’s responsibility under the U.S. Constitution, Art. I, Sect. 8, Clause 14 and under the Bill of Rights, Amendment VIII.

The Death of a Hero, Captain Mbaye Diagne

"A terrible loss" is an understatement for the people of Rwanda.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Amadou Deme, Former Captain and Military Intelligence Officer of UNAMIR Force under Commander General Romeo Dallaire in Rwanda1994 before and during the genocide wrote a moving tribute to his friend and colleague, Captain Mbaye Diagne.

Captain Diagne is remembered as a hero during the Rwanda Genocide in 1994 for his selfless act in order to save hundreds of Tutsi who would certainly have met certain death.

Submitted by: Jennifer Fierberg
Written by: Amadou Deme