Category: International

Animals, International, Media

Rush Limbaugh and Some Other Heartless Americans Make Light of the Plight of Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami Victims

Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger

In recent days, Rush Limbaugh was heard making fun of Japanese earthquake and tsunami victims living in a refugee camp on his radio program. Rush seemed to think it was funny that the refugees had already organized a recycling effort at the camp.

RUSH: Did I really hear this? Did I really hear — Diane Sawyer is in a refugee camp in Japan. Play this again. This is almost like a kindergarten teacher talking to the 4 year olds. That is how old you are in kindergarten, right? Five? Five? Four? All right. This is — some of these people here for days, and look, look, it’s recycling — organized for recycling.

You can read more excerpts from Rush’s disturbing conversation with a caller at the Media Matters post Limbaugh Laughs in the Face of Human Suffering.

Limbaugh wasn’t the only American who made inappropriate comments about the Japanese in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that have devastated the island nation of Japan.

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Constitutional Law, Criminal law, International, Society

Minnesota Court Rules Against Ex-Nurse in Assisted Suicide Case

A judge in Minnesota has handed down a controversial verdict of guilty in the case of former nurse, William Melchert-Dinkel, 48, who encouraged people to commit suicide online. Civil libertarians and right-to-die advocates have criticized the prosecution as an assault on free speech. I share those concerns and believe that there is a strong basis for appeal in this case.

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International, Military, Politics

Afghan President Begs U.S. To Halt All Operations in His Country — Obama Administration Refuses To End Operations

I have often used these pages to complain about the billions of dollars and countless lives that we continue to lose in Afghanistan and Iraq – while our states and schools shutdown vital programs for lack of funds. This is particularly annoying with a president of Afghanistan who has repeatedly stated that he wished he had gone with the Taliban and views the United States as an equal threat to his country. Now, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has actually begged the United States to halt all further operations on its soil. One would have thought that U.S. officials would have expressed relief and ordered a rapid pullout. Instead, we are saying that the desire of the Afghan people to have us stop operations is of no import — we will continue to protect them whether they want protection or not.
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International, Military, Politics, Society

Iran Reportedly Recruits Children To Beat Protesters in Tehran

Even those people used to the unhinged diatribes of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were left in stunned silence when he denounced the use of force against demonstrators in Libya as “grotesque” — adding “it is unimaginable that there is someone who kills and bombards his own people.” Now, in addition to Iran’s shooting and killing protesters, the International Campaign for Human Rights says that the Iranian government is trucking in children between 14 and 16 to beat protesters in violation of international law.
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Courts, International, Justice

Spanish Judges Rule That U.S. Torture Case Can Proceed

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

We have previously discussed the Obama administration’s attempt to derail a Spanish judicial investigation into torture, here. Spanish law recognizes the principle of universal jurisdiction. Universal jurisdiction (UJ) is a doctrine of international law that holds that certain crimes are so terrible that the duty to prosecute them transcends all borders.

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Bizarre, International, Military, Politics

Israel To Seek $20 Billion More in U.S. Aid

As cities and states shutdown basic programs and sell off parks and lands due to a lack of money, Israel will ask the U.S. for $20 billion in additional military aid. This is being supported by various members of Congress and the Administration, who continue to spend wildly abroad while demanding cuts in education, the environment, and other programs at home.
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Bizarre, International, Military, Politics, Society

Obama Moves Toward Intervention in Libya

Barack Obama has indicated that the United States is considering military intervention in Libya. While this may be an effort to convince Gaddafi (Qadaffi) to leave, the very thought of another military campaign by the United States is alarming. We are continuing to gush billions in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan despite rising anti-American sentiments. In the meantime, our cities and states are near bankruptcy for lack of funds.

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Criminal law, International

Carry Out Luggage: Man Uses Plane Bathroom To Rob Brink’s of Almost $240,000

Now this is a daring crime. A passenger on a flight on Air Antilles to Guadeloupe reportedly complained that he was having stomach issues and stayed in the bathroom for almost the entire flight. After the plane landed, a Brink’s security employee discovered that the $238,000 left with luggage in the hold had been taken.
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International, Torts

Virgin Blue Fires Flight Attendant For Putting 17-Month-Old Son In Overhead Compartment

Virgin Blue has fired a male flight attendant after a mother, Natalie Williamson, complained that her 17-month-old son, Riley, was put in an overhead compartment on a flight from Fij to Sydney. There is more, however, to this story than the headline.
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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, International, Politics, Religion

Saudi Interior Ministry: Free Speech Is Offense Against God

We have seen how Sharia law has been used to justify child rape, stonings, and a wide array of abuses. Now the Interior Ministry of Saudi Arabia has issued a statement that protests for greater freedom and democratic reforms is also an offense against God.
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Bizarre, International, Society

Westminster (London) Moves To Ban Lying Down in Public and Giving Away Food

A new law in Westminster (London), England would make it illegal to lie down in a public place and to give away food. It is another example of cities criminalizing or banning conduct that includes routine behavior. It is an invitation for arbitrary enforcement since I doubt the police will be arresting folks resting in the parks outside of their offices. The law can be used as an easily available justification for stopping and potentially arresting individuals.
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