Lunch with Dr. Mengele

The global community of nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have not done enough to stop the illegal and unethical mistreatment of hostages held at the USA's Gitmo concentration camp (Guantanamo Bay).

Some of these people have been held for over ten years without charge. Some have been cleared for release, but remain imprisoned. This is systematic, unjust torture. Trials for those accused of crimes are long overdue. For others, probably angry at unjust incarceration, new arrangements must be devised.

Now some of the inmates are on hunger strike, and the US government force-feeds them under military medic supervision, although the American Medical Association (AMA) reportedly states "force-feeding mentally competent adults is an ethical violation."

Care and humane treatment are legal burdens for those keeping prisoners. Forced intubation is a highly questionable procedure, made worse if conducted unsupervised and against the advice of trained medical professionals.

Medical & military personnel of other nations should take note, and beware of  immoral and improper fraternizing or collaboration with those rudely violating international law & ethical standards. The torturer may seem congenial, and a delightful conversationalist, but must be shunned.

The American Medical Association and its President Jeremy Lazarus must do more to stop medical abuse of detained prisoners. If not, the AMA should be expelled from the World Medical Association. Former AMA President Cecil B. Wilson is now WMA President - embarrassing? Or a chance to use global leverage to fix the horrible situation at Gitmo.

Thanks 20 (CERN W3)

Twenty years ago today, 1993-04-30, CERN signed documents opening the World Wide Web as public domain, to use without hindrance or payment of royalties.

Only 20 years ago!

We're now linked as never before, with hugely growing access to information, the potential in real time to collaborate around the globe, and the ability to supplement the energies of others -- adding incrementally to knowledge & understanding. What a wonderful development.

Thank you CERN.
Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire
European Council for Nuclear Research

Bravo !

Korean Stew

Production has stalled in Korea's Kaesong Industrial Complex. At least in the short-term, renewed confrontation & militarism is bad for business.

The BBC quotes the following figures on the 10-year old Kaesong Industrial Complex collaboration:  123 firms and 53,448 North Korean workers producing US$470m worth of goods in 2012; "the biggest contributor to inter-Korean trade."

Unwilling to fall quick victim to frictions, South Korean industry is surely pressuring their government and new President Park Geun-hye. President Park had pledged a renewed firmness in relations, to be "more decisive" - and now two months in office, she's successfully made her mark.

Commentators have variously labeled her & her new government:
"conservative"  (Heritage Foundation)
"hawkish" (Daily Beast)
"secrecy fetish"  (Chosun Ilbo)
"aggressive"   (Global Post)
"battle-ready"  (New York Times)
 
The Washington Post notes President Park's pledge to concentrate on denuclearization. But they don't explain enough. Making (DPRK unilateral) denuclearization prerequisite to progress may be bluntly saying nothing will be done. The paradox is that doing nothing is not an option; South Korea's hurry-hurry (빨리빨리) society expects growth & progress - not stagnation or backwards steps. 

To fully analyze this complex set of issues is sensitive & risky, and sniping from the sidelines is easier than sitting in the hot seat. Confrontation with North Korea is very costly and dangerous. Throughout Park's first 60 days in office, repeated frightening threats have been exchanged over divided Korea. External perceptions of Korea's attractiveness for investment, as a hub for regional business, and as a fully reliable business partner have suffered. Seoul will lose the war of words, because Seoul & Pyongyang are too close for comfort.

Seoul must compete with other regional locations outside Pyongyang's quick reach. North Korea is often cited as being strongly nationalistic and chauvinistic, with its juche ideology of self-reliance, but South Korea also can be dangerously xenophobic. As regards attitude of population to foreign visitors, the World Economic Forum asked "How welcome are foreign visitors in your country?" - South Korea ranks 129th of 140 nations, just behind Saudi Arabia  (Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013, Data Table 12.02). Arbitrary bureaucratic interference adds risk, and the Lone Star fiasco (link) displayed South Korea's resentment to foreign investment. Notwithstanding many positive steps and huge progress, Korea still has many risky shortcomings.

Many people around the world, myself included, deeply & sincerely wish President Park's government great success. But she's a polarizing figure, and her mandate is narrow. Her father's authoritarian rule was firmly backed by the USA, which still bases 28,000+ troops throughout South Korea. Park has a good working relationship with America. But the appearance of more Yankee influence could easily alarm & ignite dangerous nationalism, with tragic blowback.

Is Boston Bomber in Custody?

There are many photos and videos of the Boston Marathon bomb attack. Substantive evidence was also recovered from the bombs.

We were shown a black backpack, reportedly shredded by the pressure cooker bomb planted inside. Was this the same backpack worn by the elder brother? Some unofficial commentators bluntly say "No way, Jose." And the younger brother had a smaller gray backpack... How much were others involved?

The bombing was horrible. The violent aftermath leaves much unexplained. The stories on this event are creepy.

Beyond belief?

Trained Slaves

"Free enterprise" sounds fresh, clean & good -- but too easily and too often, freedom is subverted corruptly for private profit.

This is not to say private profit is bad. Corrupt business practices are bad.

The good worker should be allowed to go into business independently.

But the 'haves' protect their domains. Bosses keep their workers in check. Too many free citizens are shunted to conditions of bare survival, subordinate lives that grow more rigid. Our masters have leverage and good reason to lean on the banks, to press them to deny loans, to keep finance away from workers with aspirations. Violence & arson are also used as weapons to cripple new ventures.

We might say workers need to stand up for themselves. If employers take advantage, that's part of capitalism. Not all laborers want to be business owners. What one person sees as a good secure job, another condemns as exploitation.

Workers who care for their work and bring positive passion to their jobs find themselves ensnared. Dispassionate work is more survivable, though it threatens the entire edifice. Work requires more than trading time for money. Thus is the system broken. Workers eventually get staked in the heart at their workplace; they're fully disposable. Making workers true stakeholders involves profit sharing, or in the case of public sector jobs, community esteem for social service.

But the real tragedy is in our school systems. We force the children to attend, and train them to be obedient. Slavish conformity is too often demanded by our school systems. Clever, eager, creative children are shaped to become trained slaves & dancing monkeys. A conniving 1% exploits the community, and tries to hobble future generations to continue to serve them.

  

Boston Strong

How could people be so callous & cynical to doubt the terrorist threat exploding in Boston last week?

OK, last week's trademark filings for "Boston Strong" immediately after the bombings may seem calculating, scarred by unsympathetic mercantilism. And the BS commemorative merchandise and BS tchotchkes suddenly being peddled about town can be annoying (Do those without a Boston Strong teeshirt side with terror? It's probably the disguise-of-choice for a terrorist!). But many Boston Strong product dealers pledge some percent of profits to a victims fund...

One Boston girl (link) blogs of repeatedly visiting the home of Zubeidat Tsarnaeva (the alleged bombers' mother) for intimate services


Other critics question the wider significance of this Boston massacre.

Here is criticism by Alex Jones (link) arguing the bombs were a staged false flag event with "patsy" suspects.

Paul Craig Roberts sees the Boston lockdown as disproportionate and a threat to liberty. Watch this clip (link) - judge for yourself.

Here's an argument for the suspect's innocence, from his Mom
(via RT of Russia)

It seems true that if the elder brother were under FBI surveillance, of concern enough to deny him citizenship, he should be on the Boston-area short list of potential scoundrels. Could law enforcement truly be so clueless? Even with poor photos, the elder brother should have quickly been tagged a suspect.

Boston's FBI office has yet to recover from their alliance with infamous local criminal Whitey Bulger. The Boston Globe noted just three weeks ago: "Because of Bulger’s evil alliance with law enforcement agents, the Boston office has a bad reputation when it comes to truth-telling. For decades, Boston agents protected Bulger, a notorious gangster who is charged with a trail of gruesome murders. The Boston office tipped him off so he could escape indictment, and he managed to evade capture for years." Whitey Bulger was given 16½ years of freedom on the run while his powerful younger brother was President of the Massachusetts Senate and later U.Mass.President. Boston's very familiar with brotherhood.

Boston, nicknamed Beantown or Bulgerville, is now Boston Strong

Sandy Hook Remembered

The Boston Massacre diverted attention from the Sandy Hook Elementary School Massacre and butchery by Bushmaster. New regulations were discussed & rejected last week in the US Congress. Weren't non-politicized countermeasures possible? By requiring 60 supporting votes (of 100 Senators), this was clear political posturing. A simple majority could have made law.

There is a deeper problem: many American's don't trust their government, they don't trust their neighbors. Too many people feel exposed, vulnerable and under attack.

America's political leaders show most concern for their own jobs. This translates to "you're on your own" for normal people. It's no wonder guns are considered a necessity. But too many people are killed needlessly and foolishly - especially kids.

Cruel Crime: Boston & Elsewhere

Last Monday's bombings at the Boston Marathon (15 April) were an outrage, focusing world attention on America's tragedy and subsequent manhunt. Greater Boston is still in shock, yet there's been a huge outpouring of community support & compassion for the innocent victims and their families, and especially for the three persons suddenly & cruelly killed.

The Wall Street Journal (16 April 2013, page A9 - link) does professionally note others were suffering elsewhere that day: "More than 25 bombings across Iraq left at least 61 people dead on Monday, adding uncertainty and instability ahead of the first elections since U.S. troops left the country in December 2011."  At least 14 candidates for this Iraqi election were assassinated prior to last Saturday's voting. 

If not for the Boston massacre, there may have been more concern in the USA for Iraqi suffering. Perhaps some Americans would have contemplated the huge costs of the unpopular US war, remembering the many thousands of American lives lost before & after Pres. George W. Bush declared "Mission Accomplished" ten years ago... How could the democracy we brought to Iraq, at the expense of some US$6 trillion (link) avoid the spotlight last week?

Some people surely would reflect on being manipulated by their government.

Last week's outrage overwhelmed such discussions.
All of us, together, are sudden tragic victims.
The world watches.  Many pray with us.  Boston Strong !
Evil smog?  Wag the dog.   USA USA

Bush kriminull

The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum opens April 25, 2013

George W. Bush

kriminull

Yew don't need lie berry

Better bean prison

yew ara reelscum