PATRIOT ACT, NATIONAL ID CARD, DRESS CODE?

The Patriot Act wasn't offensive enough, congress keeps adding more intrusive provisions, legalizing torture for instance, or the National ID card.

There have been numerous incidences of people arrested or thrown out thrown out of Bush rallies because they wore stickers or tee shirts that didn't imply complete adulation of George Bush.

The latest incidence was three teachers who attended a rally wearing tee shirts that said "Protect Our Civil Liberties."

Ooh, that spells t-r-o-u-b-l-e! Maybe the Pentagon should watch them.

Apparently there is no problem with these women being tossed out and being threatened with arrest of a rally that is funded with their taxpayer dollars.

The problem,we learn, is they didn't follow the dress code. Jackson County Republican Chairman Bryan Platt defends the latest incident.

"

I wish (the women) would have just dressed in a way that was without that kind of intent to incite any kind of incident."

How long will it be before this president and his criminal congress legislate this, too?

BEN AND JERRY'S ACTION ALERT FOR MONTANAN'S

MMMM.

True Majority was kind enough to put this list together, and I am greatful because it is really hard for us Montana Progressives to hook up and get our hardworking voices represented.

The email reads:

Join Others in MT to Help Get Out the Vote

With all the talk in the media about swing states, you'd think the rest of the country doesn't really matter. But no matter where you live, there's a lot you can do to help make sure our democracy stays strong. Whether it's calling potential voters or helping monitor the polls on Election Day, there is plenty for all of us to do.

We've checked around and at the end of this email are the things going on in MT that we think will have a big impact. If you want to make a difference on Election Day, these folks have ways you can help. Check them out. Remember, if you can travel, there are opportunities in many states across the country, listed here: www.electionprotectionvolunteer.org, and make sure you vote before you go!

Thanks for pitching in,

Darcy Scott Martin
TrueMajority

Here is what is going on:

# Montana Women Vote, a coalition of nine organizations sharing a common goal of educating and mobilizing low-income women, many of whom have never voted, to participate in the democratic process, would like volunteers to help with GOTV efforts, 127 N Higgins Suite 307, Missoula, (406) 543-3550, takendrick@hotmail.com, Terry Kendrick
# Indian People’s Action Indian Vote Project includes voter identification, education, registration, and GOTV work. Some of the activities that the Indian Vote Project will have include: holding events (5 Indian Taco Feeds held simultaneously on the weekend before election day, house parties, etc.), doorknocking. Staff will also conducting small training sessions on the new HAVA laws. GOTV activities include phone banking, rides to the polls, and poll watching, 208 East Main Missoula, 406-728-5297
# Northern Plains Tribal Voter Education Project, Rural Ethnic Institute/Carol Juneau, 406-338-5689, efforts to increase Native American turnout by 10 percent regionally through personal contact

Remember to vote for Tracy Velasquez!

IT'S NOT ABOUT MARY

IT'S NOT ABOUT KERRY.

Oh look! Easter Bunny!

We were taken for a ride on the validity of the 60 Minutes documents. We may never know if those papers were forged or not, but the controversy was enough to Make Dan Rather back off and put an end to further discovery.

A perfectly valid discussion was diverted and abandoned because we got mired down in the details. We failed to See The Forest For The Trees.

We need to learn not to take our focus off the big picture quite as fast as we do. Damn straight that Lynne Cheney is a hippocritical bitch, but she is giving Karl Rove a run for his money.

It is not about Mary or Kerry, it is about George Bush being caught in a great big irrefutable lie.

The exchange:

KERRY: Yes. When the president had an opportunity to capture or kill Osama bin Laden, he took his focus off of them, outsourced the job to Afghan warlords, and Osama bin Laden escaped.

KERRY: Six months after he said Osama bin Laden must be caught dead or alive, this president was asked, "Where is Osama bin Laden?" He said, "I don't know. I don't really think about him very much. I'm not that concerned."

SCHIEFFER: Mr. President?

BUSH: Gosh, I just don't think I ever said I'm not worried about Osama bin Laden. It's kind of one of those exaggerations.

Here is proof of the lie on the Whitehouse's own website:

Q Mr. President, in your speeches now you rarely talk or mention Osama bin Laden. Why is that? Also, can you tell the American people if you have any more information, if you know if he is dead or alive? Final part -- deep in your heart, don't you truly believe that until you find out if he is dead or alive, you won't really eliminate the threat of --

THE PRESIDENT: Deep in my heart I know the man is on the run, if he's alive at all. Who knows if he's hiding in some cave or not; we haven't heard from him in a long time. And the idea of focusing on one person is -- really indicates to me people don't understand the scope of the mission.

Terror is bigger than one person. And he's just -- he's a person who's now been marginalized. His network, his host government has been destroyed. He's the ultimate parasite who found weakness, exploited it, and met his match. He is -- as I mentioned in my speech, I do mention the fact that this is a fellow who is willing to commit youngsters to their death and he, himself, tries to hide -- if, in fact, he's hiding at all.

So I don't know where he is. You know, I just don't spend that much time on him, Kelly, to be honest with you. I'm more worried about making sure that our soldiers are well-supplied; that the strategy is clear; that the coalition is strong; that when we find enemy bunched up like we did in Shahikot Mountains, that the military has all the support it needs to go in and do the job, which they did.

And there will be other battles in Afghanistan. There's going to be other struggles like Shahikot, and I'm just as confident about the outcome of those future battles as I was about Shahikot, where our soldiers are performing brilliantly. We're tough, we're strong, they're well-equipped. We have a good strategy. We are showing the world we know how to fight a guerrilla war with conventional means.

Q But don't you believe that the threat that bin Laden posed won't truly be eliminated until he is found either dead or alive?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, as I say, we haven't heard much from him. And I wouldn't necessarily say he's at the center of any command structure. And, again, I don't know where he is. I -- I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him. I know he is on the run. I was concerned about him, when he had taken over a country. I was concerned about the fact that he was basically running Afghanistan and calling the shots for the Taliban.

But once we set out the policy and started executing the plan, he became -- we shoved him out more and more on the margins. He has no place to train his al Qaeda killers anymore. And if we -- excuse me for a minute -- and if we find a training camp, we'll take care of it. Either we will or our friends will. That's one of the things -- part of the new phase that's becoming apparent to the American people is that we're working closely with other governments to deny sanctuary, or training, or a place to hide, or a place to raise money.

And we've got more work to do. See, that's the thing the American people have got to understand, that we've only been at this six months. This is going to be a long struggle. I keep saying that; I don't know whether you all believe me or not. But time will show you that it's going to take a long time to achieve this objective. And I can assure you, I am not going to blink. And I'm not going to get tired. Because I know what is at stake. And history has called us to action, and I am going to seize this moment for the good of the world, for peace in the world and for freedom.

" I -- I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him." GWB 03/13/2002

FREEWAYBLOGGER kicks butt! KRUGMAN turns up the heat.

Kevin points out that " They knew the truth But they went ahead and told their lies anyway."

I am still waiting for the news shows recast of George denying that he said he wasn't that concerned about Bin Laden and the interview that shows him saying exactly that.

Meanwhile maybe someone would explain why any country that would involuntary confine (in lockdown, no less) an entire Brigade a month before they ship out to Iraq, AND ARRESTS AN ENTIRE PLATOON FOR REFUSING A SUICIDE MISSION while they are in Iraq would even hesitate to draft it's children into conscription?

Did Junior have a stroke? His mouth is hanging pretty low. It would explan his wildly erratic mood swings too.

Guidance counselors in Wisconsin are ramping up to help their students document their beliefs, ethics and morals about war. Who knew that the Selective Service doesn't recognize the conscientious objector status?

SWIFTBOATS ON NIGHTLINE ...O'Neal caught in a lie

I don't know what they are getting at yet, but They have a crew in Viet Nam. John O'Neil is on, but there hasn't been any mention of his hounding John Kerry during the Nixon administration.



SWIFTBOAT SMEAR IS THOROUGHLY DISCREDITED!

Nightline has affirmed that John Kerry really did earn his silver star! The man he killed was not a wounded teenager in a loincloth but a big strong man.

John O'Neil is talking really fast (but not as fast as Karen Hughes-it did not seem like I was watching a badly translated foreign film) and not answering a single question. O'Neil is blabbering on about how he is a more credible witness than the peasants who lived closeby including the man's widow. He accused the peasants of playing politics.

If only he could see how incredibly stupid he looks.

Now he is snivelling that he needs Ted to give him some more free air time. What a farce.

John O'Neil is a bitter pathetic hack with a vendetta; he needs to get a life and get over it. Loser. Whiner. The next time he gets on teevee there better be a clip of him and Kerry on the Dick Cavett show.

STOP THE DRAFT

Yesterday I mentioned Ed Gillespie's move to quash any reasoned discussion about the draft. Here is what Representative Tim Ryan (D) Ohio said on the floor on October 5, 2004:

"It is the same people who told us that Saddam Hussein had something to do with 9/11; the same people who told us Saddam Hussein had something to do with weapons of mass destruction; the same people who told us we would be able to use the oil for reconstruction money; the same people who told us we would be greeted as liberators, not occupiers; the same people, the same President who told us the Taliban is gone; the same President who told us that Poland is our ally 2 days before they pull out; the same President who tells us Iraq is going just great; the same President who tells us the economy is going just great; the same people who told us the tax cuts were going to create millions of jobs; the same people who told us that the Medicare program only cost $400 billion when it really cost $540 billion."

— Rep. Tim Ryan, October 5, 2004

Exactly what is the president's word worth anyway?

This action alert is from an email sent out by Howard Dean:

Last week 60,000 of us demanded honesty about the draft—and people took notice. Cable news channels and major newspapers have been buzzing about the draft ever since.

Other organizations also heard. MoveOn and a group called Win Back Respect produced a TV ad about this issue. Over a million young people will see it on The Daily Show, MTV, and ESPN.

You can add to this momentum even more—sign the petition demanding honesty about our military commitments:

www.democracyforamerica.com/nodraft

We still need to get the message out. The mainstream media coverage has focused on unsubstantiated rumors of some "secret plan" for a draft. They are missing the point.

It's not about a secret plan—we should be concerned about a draft because, when it comes to meeting all of the military commitments he has made, George Bush has no plan.

He says he will "stay the course". But if we stay the course with this president, he will face a choice: drastically reduce our commitments or reinstate the draft. Add your voice to the growing numbers asking which one he will choose:

www.democracyforamerica.com/nodraft

He failed to bring meaningful allied help into Iraq. He allowed al Qaeda, North Korea, and Iran to become more dangerous. And he has left our homeland unprotected by sending the National Guard to Iraq. George Bush says he has no plans to reinstate the draft—but his reckless decisions may leave no choice.

A quiet draft has already begun—and it is no secret. Active duty soldiers who finish their commitments are being forced to stay on. We have begun calling up forces like the Individual Ready Reserves, consisting of older reservists who have not been on active duty and have not trained for some time. And there's no end in sight.

Americans need the facts. Join us in demanding the honesty we deserve.

Thank you,

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

P.S. Here's what some of the over 60,000 people who signed the petition are saying about the draft:

"As a young American who cares deeply about my country, I deserve to know if a draft will be put into effect. If not, how do you plan to fill the troop commitments necessary for success?"
—Ajay N.

"I have heard so many things over the years from politicians that have not been true that I no longer take anything for granted. I don't see how the country can continue under the present commitments of our armed forces with a complete volunteer military. If the intention is to bring back the draft I would like to know now and not after the presidential election. An informed voter is an intelligent voter."
—Charles M.

"Staying the course means we're going to need more troops in our go-it-alone strategy. How will we get them?"
—Carl T.

"A feasible, realistic plan needs to developed, shared with the American public and put in place to bring peace in Iraq and end American occupation of the territory. Can this be done without instituting a military draft? The American people want to know before the 2004 presidential election."
—Sharon S.

"Our forces are stretched thin and the situation in Iraq is getting worse. We will no doubt be there a long time and other troubles lurk on the horizon. Be honest with America and tell us how we are going to do this without the draft."
—Phil S.

"My wife and I have deep concerns about this issue. We've been through the Vietnam years and saw how the draft split this country in half. We don't want to have to relive our worst nightmares, not with our sons."
—Lance K.

"A straight and clear answer, please."
—Janice M.

Add your voice: www.democracyforamerica.com/nodraft

We really can't afford to take George W. Bush's word on anything, so take action today!

AND THE WINNER IS...

Lambert gives the best post debate wrap-up so far.

And Kerry is still presidential.

'Night Lambert
'Night Josh
'Night Dave
'Night Melanie
'Night Susan
'Night Digby
'Night Kos
'Night Buzz

Giliani thinks we are Pathetic

Rudy Guliani thinks that the American Public is so pathetic that we want to elect a friend, presumably he thinks we can't make them if we don't pay them.

NOT THAT CONCERNED ABOUT HIM

Liar. Liar.

I can run
I can hide
-Osama

GOT WOOD?

I can run.
I can hide.
- Osama

DRAFT UPDATE!

Ed Gillespie (of the Republican National Committee) made some big scary motions towards ROCK THE VOTE!

"...urban myth has been thoroughly debunked by no less than the president of the United States..."

What is his word worth these days?

George W. Bush, furiously saying one thing and doing another.

Damn right there will be a draft if he says there won't

TANTRUM COUNTDOWN

Two-and-a-half-hours from now the boy child will struggle to remember his name and not to WHINE and stomp his tiny feet. What are the odds that he can do both of these things at once?

HIDDEN FLAGS

1082 and counting.

RNC DROWNING DEMOCRACY

When you can't win on merits, you make the best stand you can. or you LIE, CHEAT, and STEAL.

Yes, folks, this is the Republican National Committee. A once great party reduced to thuggery and thievery.

What is conservative about that anyway?

DRAFT!

Combat draft, medical draft, skills draft. Who knew there would be so many ways to draft the population into even more unnecessary wars?

Here is a copy of an email that doesn't cover the half of it:

Mandatory draft for boys and girls (ages 18-26)
>starting June 15, 2005, is something that everyone should know about.
>This literally effects everyone since we all have or know children
>that will have to go if this bill passes.
> There is pending legislation in the house and
>senate (companion bills: S89 and HR 163) which will time the
>program's initiation so the draft can begin as early as spring, 2005,
>just after the 2004 presidential election. The administration is
>quietly trying to get these bills passed now, while the public's
>attention is on the elections, so our action on this is needed
>immediately. Details and links follow.
> This plan, among other things, eliminates higher
>education as a shelter and includes women in the draft. Also,
>crossing into Canada has already been made very difficult.
>
> Actions:
>
> Please send this on to all the parents and teachers
>you know, and all the aunts and uncles, grandparents, godparents. . .
>And let your children know - - it's their future, and they can be a
>powerful voice for change!
>
> This legislation is called HR 163 and can be found
>in detail at this website:
>
> http://thomas.loc.gov/
> Just enter in "HR 163" and click search and will
>bring up the bill for you to read. It is less than two pages long.
>
> If this bill passes, it will include all men and
>ALL WOMEN from ages 18 - 26 in a draft for military action. In
>addition, college will no longer be an option for avoiding the draft
>and they will be signing an agreement with the Canada which will no
>longer permit anyone attempting to dodge the draft to stay within
>it's borders. This bill also includes the extention of military
>service for all those that are currently active. If you go to the
>selcet service web site and read their 2004 FYI Goals you will see
>that the reasoning for this is to increase the size of the military
>in case of terrorism. This is a critical piece of legislation, this
>will effect our undergradates, our children and our grandchildren.
>Please take the time to write your congressman and let them know how
>you feel about this legislation.
> www.house.gov www.senate.gov
>
> Please also write to your representatives and ask
>them why they aren't telling their constituents about these bills and
>write to newspapers and other media outlets to ask them why they're
>not covering this important story.
>
> The draft $28 million has been added to the 2004
>selective service system budget to prepare for a military draft that
>could start as early as June 15, 2005. Selective service must report
>to Bush on March 31, 2005 that the system, which has lain dormant for
>decades, is ready for activation.
> Please see www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html
> to view
>the Selective Service System annual performance plan, fiscal year
>2004.
> The pentagon has quietly begun a public campaign to
>fill all 10,350 draft board positions and 11,070 appeals board slots
>nationwide. Though this is an unpopular election year topic, military
>experts and influential members of congress are suggesting that if
>Rumsfeld's prediction of a "long, hard slog" in Iraq and Afghanistan
>(and permanent state of war on terrorism) proves accurate, the U.S.
>may have no choice but to draft.
>
>www.hslda.org/legislation/national/2003/s89/default.asp
> entitled
>the
>Universal National service Act of 2003, "to provide for the common
>defense by requiring that all young persons (age 18-26) in the United
>States, including women, perform a period of military service or a
>period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and
>homeland security, and for other purposes." These active bills
>currently sit in the committee on armed services. Dodging the draft
>will be more difficult than those from the Vietnam era. College and
>Canada will not be options. In December, 200 1, Canada and the U.S.
>signed a "smart border declaration," which could be used to keep
>would-be draft dodgers in. Signed by Canada's minister of foreign
>affairs, John Manley, and U.S. Homeland Security director, Tom Ridge,
>the declaration involves a 30 point plan which implements, among
>other things, a "pre-clearance agreement" of people entering and
>departing each country. Reforms aimed at making the draft more
>equitable along gender and class lines also eliminates higher
>education as a shelter. Underclassmen would only be able to postpone
>service until the end of their current semester. Seniors would have
>until the end of the academic year.
>
> What to do: Tell your friends, Contact your
>legislators and ask them to oppose these bills
>
> Just type "congress" into the aol search engine
>and input your zip code. A list of your reps will pop up with a way
>to email them directly. We can't just sit and pretend that by
>ignoring it, it will go away. We must voice our concerns and create
>the world we want to live in for our children and grandchildren.

CHARGE!

GWB is always saying that John Kerry is the most liberal member of the Senate. Wrong. John Kerry is the 11th most liberal senate member and John Edwards is the 27th most liberal senate member.

GWB accuses Kerry of being a tax-and-spend liberal. Oh My. While that is blatantly untrue, I would choose a tax-and-spend(pay-as-you-go) liberal over a charge and spend radical any day.

Won't someone please ask George why we are paying more and more for less quantity and lower quality services than we did a few short years ago?

KAJ (OUR LOCAL TEVEE STATION)

Imagine my surprise when they covered the nasty campaign ads that are comming out of the Governor's race this year. The Republican Governor's Association has been running a smear campaign for weeks without media comment. Yesterday the Democrats broke even with an ad that accused Bob Brown of passing legislation favorable to Columbia Falls Aluminum Company and then becomming a lobbyist for them.

I don't have a clue if it was balance or bias, but KAJ 8/18 led with the story yesterday. Reporter Jill Valley said that the Schweitzer campaign claimed that the Republican Governors ad was false, and that the Brown campaign said that the president of the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company said that Brown didn't do anything wrong.

How is that for hard hitting journalism at "The News Station"? He said and he said. How difficult could it be for "The News Station" to find out if Schweitzer really has filed his financials or if Bob Brown passed legislation favorable to Columbia Falls Aluminum Company then became a lobbyist for them?

Lazy journalism in my very own backyard, thanks Kaj Teevee.

CLARITY

If you have to lie to yourself to justify your support, it's time to think again.

I can honestly say that I don't know a single Bush supporter who isn't working really hard to avoid facing all the lies.

GOVERNMENT SPONSORED HEALTHCARE

What would be wrong with that? It is good enough for the president and congress, it should be good enough for us. Plus you get free plastic surgery like Tom Delay!

CENSORSHIP AMERICAN STYLE

Project Censored has released the top 25 censored stories in America in 2003-2004.

#1 Wealth Inequity in 21st Century Threatens Economy and Democracy.

#2 Ashcroft vs. the Human Rights Law that Holds Corporations Accountable.

#3 Bush Administration Manipulates Science and Censors Scientists.

# 4 High Uranium Levels Found in Troops and Civilians.

#5 The Wholesale Giveaway of Our Natural Resources.

#6 The Sale of Electoral Politics.

#7 Conservative Organization Drives Judicial Appointments.

#8 Secrets of Cheney's Energy Task Force Come to Light.

#9 Widow Brings RICO Case Against US Government for 9/11.

#10 New Nuke Plants: Taxpayers Support, Industry Profits.

#11 Media Can Legally Lie.

#12 The Destabilization of Haiti.

#13 Schwarzenegger Met with Enron's Ken Lay Before the California Recall.

#14 New Bill Threatens Intellectual Freedom.

#15 US Develops Lethal New Bio-weapon Viruses.

# 16 Law Enforcement Agencies Spy on Innocent Citizens.

#17 US Government Represses Labor Unions in Iraq in Quest for Business Privatization.

#18 Media and Government Ignore Dwindling Oil Supplies.

#19 Global Food Cartel Fast Becoming the World's Supermarket.

#20 Extreme Weather Prompts New Warning from UN.

#21 Forcing a World Market for GMOs.

#22 Exporting Censorship to Iraq.

#23 Brazil Opposes US-style FTAA agreements, But Provides Little Comfort for the Poor of South America.

#24 Reinstating the Draft.

#25 Wal-Mart Brings Inequity and Low Prices to the World.

Update: edited to add the year 2003-2004 and to poat the top 25 censored stories of 2002-2003.Move along now, nothing to see here...

Censored 2004: The Top 25 Censored
Media Stories of 2002-2003


#1: The Neoconservative Plan for Global Dominance

#2: Homeland Security Threatens Civil Liberty

#3: US Illegally Removes Pages from Iraq U.N. Report

#4: Rumsfeld's Plan to Provoke Terrorists

#5: The Effort to Make Unions Disappear

#6: Closing Access to Information Technology

#7: Treaty Busting by the United States

#8: US/British Forces Continue Use of Depleted Uranium Weapons Despite Massive Evidence of Negative Health Effects
#9: In Afghanistan: Poverty, Women's Rights,
and Civil Disruption Worse than Ever

#10: Africa Faces Threat of New Colonialism

#11: U.S. Implicated in Taliban Massacre

#12: Bush Administration Behind Failed Military Coup in Venezuela

#13: Corporate Personhood Challenged

#14: Unwanted Refugees a Global Problem

#15: U.S. Military's War on the Earth

#16: Plan Puebla-Panama and the FTAA

#17: Clear Channel Monopoly Draws Criticism

#18: Charter Forest Proposal Threatens Access to Public Lands

#19: U.S. Dollar vs. the Euro: Another Reason for the Invasion of Iraq

#20: Pentagon Increases Private Military Contracts

#21: Third World Austerity Policies: Coming Soon to a City Near You

#22: Welfare Reform Up For Reauthorization, but Still No Safety Net

#23: Argentina Crisis Sparks Cooperative Growth

#24: Aid to Israel Fuels Repressive Occupation in Palestine

#25: Convicted Corporations Receive Perks Instead of Punishment

GUINEA PIG SOLDIERS

Experimental anthrax vaccine is suspected of making soldiers ill.

A former Dover Air Force Base commander says military officials used his troops as guinea pigs in illegal medical experiments under the government's controversial anthrax vaccination program.

After some of his troops in their 20s and 30s began developing arthritis, neurological problems, memory loss and incapacitating migraine headaches, Col. Felix Grieder took a drastic step. In 1999, he halted the vaccination program in Dover, a move he said ended his military career. The decorated Air Force colonel has spent the past five years trying to discover the truth about the vaccine program in Dover, where he commanded 4,000 troops.

"In my opinion, there was illegal medical experimentation going on," says Grieder, who lives in Texas.

[...]

Lt. Richard Rovet worked at Dover's Flight Medicine Clinic, where his duties included nursing, case management and patient advocacy.

Rovet described to the subcommittee the adverse reactions to the vaccine he had seen inpatients at the clinic.

The symptoms included memory impairment, dizziness, ringing in the ears, joint pain, muscle pain, numbness in various parts of the body, miscarriage, cardiac problems, swollen testicles, hypothyroidism, chills, fever, rashes, photosensitivity and constant fatigue.

"We have been told time after time that the vaccine is entirely safe, yet there is a disparity between what we are told and what we are seeing," Rovet said.

The military's anthrax Web site claims the vaccine is safe, because "The Food and Drug Administration individually approves each lot before release."

But FDA documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that the FDA no longer tests the lots for squalene.

Grabenstein said testing for squalene is not necessary.

[...]

The Uniform Code of Military Justice specifies that military personnel have no right to refuse a lawful order. Military judges have ruled that the order requiring service members to take the anthrax vaccine is lawful.

Phil Cave, a Virginia-based defense attorney, has represented three service members who have refused to take the anthrax vaccine.

"The issue of whether the Defense Department can do this is pretty well resolved by the courts," Cave said. "I have to tell them the law considers it a lawful order. If they refuse, they risk prosecution, discharge and jail."

Cave was successful at lessening the punishment in his three cases. Two received minor admonishments. One lost rank and pay.

Other personnel haven't been as lucky. Several anthrax refusers have received dishonorable discharges coupled with several months of confinement.

Many of the military personnel interviewed for this story said they were forced to choose between their health and their career. Cave said the likelihood of military punishment is significant for those who refuse vaccination. "I have to advise them it's in their best interests to take it."

This is a very long article and deserves a full read, especially since we are looking so closely at the return of the military draft.

PEOPLE SHOULDN'T OVERANALYZE THIS

"These folks are getting settled and deserve some time on the job."

What does the American public deserve?

Porter Goss is doing his darndest to staff the intelligence with inexperienced partisans and petty thieves. Dick, Donnie and George are very pleased.

Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity were railing against politicization of intelligence and the the Iraq war long before the first bombs on Baghdad. They were angry that the "money changers were let into the temple". Dick Cheney made eleven "unprecidented" trips to their headquarters to persuade them to give him the intelligence he wanted and ignore the stuff that didn't fit into his worldview. Now they are trying to defend themselves and trying to defend America by comming out with the honest truth about a few things Americans deserve to know before we are plunged into the chasm of unending war that Bush/Cheney so desire.

When our entire government has been transformed into a Bush/Cheney election committee some people are angry that the CIA won't do that.

Why should an agency that was manipulated and ignored before 9/11 and manipulated and coerced before the Iraq war be politicized now?