BEHIND HEALTH CARE REFORM: WHO ARE THE LOBBYISTS?; “Gang of 6,” Remember My-Lai

August 23rd, 2009 - by: danny

PAUL KRUGMAN, NY Times, On The Public Option

Howard Kurtz, Wapo, Few Americans Seem to Hear Health Care Facts

Ben Buchwalter and Nikki Gloudeman, MJ: BEHIND THE HEALTH CARE PROTESTS: NAMING THE GROUPS – A Who’s Who of the corporate-organized fight against healthcare reform.

THE GANG OF SIX

Robert Reich: Why the Gang of Six is Deciding Health Care for Three Hundred Million of Us

Last night, the so-called “gang of six” — three Republican and three Democratic senators on the Senate Finance Committee — met by conference call and, according to Senator Max Baucus, the committee’s chair, reaffirmed their commitment “toward a bipartisan health-care reform bill” (read: less coverage and no public insurance option). The Washington Post reports that the senators shared tales from their home states, where some have been besieged by protesters angry about a potential government takeover of the nation’s health care system.

Truthout: Dying for Affordable Health Care – the Uninsured Speak

Ed Pilkington, The Guardian UK: “In the furious debate gripping America over the future of its health system, one voice has been lost amid the shouting. It is that of a distinguished gynaecologist, aged 67, called Dr Joseph Manley. For 35 years Manley had a thriving health clinic in Kansas. He lived in the most affluent neighbourhood of Kansas City and treated himself to a new Porsche every year. But this is not a story about doctors’ remuneration and their lavish lifestyles.”

IS IT PROSECUTION TIME? The NY Times reports todat, ” The Justice Department has recommended reversing the Bush administration and reopening nearly a dozen prisoner-abuse cases, potentially exposing C.I.A. employees to prosecution.

Washtington Post: President Obama has approved the creation of an elite team of interrogators to question key terrorism suspects, part of a broader effort to revamp U.S. policy on detention and interrogation, senior administration officials said Sunday

CALLEY: I AM SORRY FOR MASSACRE 40 YEARS LATER

William Calley apologizes for My Lai massacre By Dick McMichael – Special to the Ledger-Enquirer

William Calley, the former Army lieutenant convicted on 22 counts of murder in the infamous My Lai Massacre in Vietnam, publicly apologized for the first time this week while speaking in Columbus.

“There is not a day that goes by that I do not feel remorse for what happened that day in My Lai,” Calley told members of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Columbus on Wednesday. His voice started to break when he added, “I feel remorse for the Vietnamese who were killed, for their families, for the American soldiers involved and their families. I am very sorry.”

In March 1968, U.S. soldiers gunned down hundreds of civilians in the Vietnamese hamlet of My Lai. The Army at first denied, then downplayed the event, saying most of the dead were Vietcong. But in November 1969, journalist Seymour Hersh revealed what really happened and Calley was court martialed and convicted of murder.

MORE ON THE MASSACRE INCLUDING NEW REPORTING BY NICK TURSE

A My Lai a Month: How the US Fought the Vietnam War
By Nick Turse [archived with color pics]

A My Lai a Month
By Nick Turse – The Nation

Nick Turse, A Truth-teller for Our Times
By Tom Engelhardt – tomdispatch

The My Lai Massacre: Seymour Hersh’s Complete and Unabridged ...

“At My Lai as at Haditha, the killings were planned, deliberate and
executed with leisurly cold-bloodedness. At My Lai as at Haditha,
revenge was the motive. At My Lai as at Haditha, the military had the
evidence early on, lied about it, covered it up, and, in the My Lai
case, may have been involved in murdering a helicopter pilot who
threatened to go public with the story.”

ICH: Jerusalem Post– Fact Or Fiction? Did Mossad Hijack Russian Ship to Stop Iran Arms Shipment?

The mystery surrounding the hijacking of a Russian freighter in July has taken a new twist with reports claiming the pirates were acting in league with the Israeli Mossad secret service in order to halt a shipment of modern weapon systems hidden on board and destined for Iran.

LETTERS

Diego Hernandez writes

I just wanted to say thanks for the article entitled “Searching for the Crisis & Finding It. I live in San Francisco and am one of the many across this corporate-owned nation of ours who was recently laid off. I’ve probably sent out close to 100 resumes in 2 months and I’ve only had 1 interview. Anyways, thank you for the well written article. I hope to read more from you in the future.

IN DEBT WE TRUST–Tal Ekron writes From Israel

My name is Tal Ekroni, and I’m 20 years old social entrepreneur from Israel.

For the last 5 years I’m establishing educational projects for educating financial education and wise consumerism children, youth and discharged soldier who are about to begin their civil life in Israel.

I watched your amazing film “In Debt We Trust” by Danny Schechter on Israel’s Science Channel, and I was thrilled to see that there are such strong facts that support the consumerism I’m trying to teach for so long.

I would like to ask your permission to use short parts from this astonishing movie to help transmit the message for the thing we’re all trying to educate to — using credit as a sane, reasonable tool for getting our life easier and not getting us into huge debts.

AE Stutor writes:

As if there is not enough going on to raise the blood pressure, I received this piece of so-called reporting…I am angry and disturbed by the content, and even more so because the woman is supposed to represent black America.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNCILi1odyw

Thanks a lot.”

MAIL AND GUARDIAN (SOUTH AFRICA) OUTRAGE OVER SEMENYA

SA lashes out at ‘racist’ world athletics body

South African unions and political organisations have criticised the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) following controversy around athlete Caster Semenya’s gender verification test.

Semenya’s presence at the World Athletics Championship resulted in a request for a gender verification test by the IAAF. The scrutiny increased after she won the women’s 800m on Wednesday.

IAAF general secretary Pierre Weiss said an investigation into Semenya’s gender was under way in both South Africa and Berlin.

He said the IAAF gave the 18 year old the benefit of the doubt and allowed her to compete but if the investigation proved she was not female the result of the race would be withdrawn.

The African National Congress on Thursday leapt to the defence of Semenya, saying she was the country’s “golden girl” and a role model for young athletes.

“We condemn the motives of those who have made it their business to question her gender due to her physique and running style. Such comments can only serve to portray women as being weak,” the ANC said in a statement.

“Caster is not the only woman athlete with a masculine build and the International Association of Athletics Federation should know better.”

“This smacks of racism of the highest order. It represents a mentality of conforming feminine outlook within the white race,” the Young Communist League said in a statement on Thursday.

“The [Venus and Serena] Williams sisters were never subjected to such public humiliation as is done by the international athletic body. Is it because they are of American descent?” read the statement.

The controversy also drew an angry reaction from the ANC Youth League, which said all South Africans were behind Semenya.

Her improved performance this year raised alarms with athletic officials. But the South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) saw ulterior motives.

“Why does IAAF only choose Semenya out of all the ladies at the Championships? It shows that these imperialist countries can’t afford to accept the talent that Africa as a continent has,” it said, adding that some states were pushing “their racist agenda” against South Africa.

“Who can blame her? She is on top of the world right now,” said a Radkio 702 host. A reporter from the station said she had spoken to Semenya, describing her as really upbeat and quoted her as saying her critics can “go to hell”. — Sapa, Reuters

Another week is here. I hope you will spend some of it with us. Your comments are welcome. What do you think of the new look of Mediachannel.org? I know, grumble, grumble–smile.

Comments to dissector@mediachannel.org

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