Military

On The Hill: War Survivors Group Condemns Russia's Use Of Munitions

Posted by mediaman

A Washington-based group that says it represents survivors of armed conflicts is condemning Russia's use of banned munitions in its war with neighboring Georgia.

Russia dropped cluster bombs on two towns in Georgia, killing at least 11 civilians and injuring dozens more, according to the group, known as Survivor Corps. More than 100 countries agreed to a ban on cluster munitions earlier this year because of the unacceptable harm they cause to civilians, the organization notes in an email.

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Iraq Contracts Have Cost Taxpayers At Least $85 Billion Since Invasion

Posted by Jeff from Huffington Post

Military contracts in the Iraq theater have cost taxpayers at least $85 billion, and when it comes to providing security, they might not be any cheaper than using military personnel, according to a report released Tuesday.

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Ransom claim in Ingrid Betancourt release | World news | guardian.co.uk

Posted by okami from Guardian UK

Ingrid Betancourt arrived in France today after being held captive for six years in the Colombian jungle, amid claims that a ransom was paid to free her.

The Colombian government said that she was freed in an audacious operation after the military tricked Farc into handing the French-Colombian politician over without a shot being fired.

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U.S. deserter wins appeal in battle for refugee status

Posted by Jenzaka from Canada

OTTAWA - A Canadian court has sided for the first time with a military deserter who fled to Canada seeking refugee status, ruling Friday that the U.S. soldier witnessed enough human rights abuses during a stint in Iraq that he could qualify for asylum.

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t r u t h o u t | US General Accuses Bush Administration of War Crimes

Posted by okami from Truth Out

Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (now retired) served as the deputy commanding general for support for the Third Army for ten months in Kuwait during the early days of the Iraq occupation. In a statement released today, he bluntly accuses the Bush administration of war crimes and lays down a challenge for prosecution.

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Mr. Bush v. the Bill of Rights - Editorial - NYTimes.com

Posted by okami from New York Times

In the waning months of his tenure, President Bush and his allies are once again trying to scare Congress into expanding the president's powers to spy on Americans without a court order.

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Easing of laws that led to detainee abuse hatched in secret

Posted by theangryindian from Mcclatchydc

WASHINGTON - The framework under which detainees were imprisoned for years without charges at Guantanamo and in many cases abused in Afghanistan wasn't the product of American military policy or the fault of a few rogue soldiers.

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