COMMENTARY: Kill them all!
“It was straight out of the movies. It was like: Let’s kill them all.” --A former CIA intelligence officer commenting about building military teams of Special Forces commandos to kill al Qaeda members. On July 22, 1208, and after Pope Innocent III launched the Albigensian Crusade against Catharism, the army reached the walls of Beziers, a small town in southern France. The soldiers consisted of religious fanatics and opportunists who believed their divine mission was to kill all Cathars. Catharism, which was thought to be a dangerous heresy, denied the divinity of Christ, was anti-authoritarian, and resisted the corruption and worldliness of the Church of Rome
Obama: Families in urgent need of health reform
Families are in desperate need of health reform, President Obama said in remarks at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, July 20. In his statement, after meeting with the hospital's administrators, doctors and nurses, the president also warned against Republican obstructionism on health reform.
Roger Rader: 1929-2009
TACOMA, Washington – Roger Rader’s family and friends gathered in the front yard of the family house here July 18 to remember his irascible personality but also his unwavering, lifelong fight for trade union rights, civil rights and socialism.
Obama takes lead on health reform
Pushing back against Republican opposition to health reform, President Obama this week launched a national campaign for urgent passage of health reform proposals in Congress.
Cost of health reform becomes new battleground
Opponents of real health care reform are now zeroing in on how it will be financed. They are arguing that universal health coverage, especially a public plan, is too expensive or, if they can’t block a public option, that it should be paid for by working class Americans through a tax on their existing health coverage. In other words, anything but the plan approved by two House committees, which would tax the rich.
Fight for the Cuban Five goes on
The dust has settled following the announcement June 15 that the U.S. Supreme Court had refused to review the case of the imprisoned Cuban Five. A storm of outrage exploded, followed by expressions of international solidarity. The question looms as to what remains for Gerardo, René, Tony, Ramón and Fernando.
LA workers vote to protect them from layoffs, furloughs
Some 22,000 city workers are voting on a labor deal that would protect them from layoffs and furloughs but keep them from receiving pay raises until 2011, to help the city reduce its $530 million budget deficit. Members of the Coalition of L.A. City Unions began casting ballots last week. The results will be announced Wednesday.
Womens concerns often missing in health care debate
Soaring health care costs and eroding benefits are seriously impeding Americans’ ability to get needed health care, with women particularly affected, a recent Commonwealth Fund study found.
VIDEO Walter Cronkite on 9/11
Walter Cronkite interviewed on David Letterman days after Sept. 11, 2001. Cronkite is prophetic, a thoughtful American.
Homelessness increases among families
The number of homeless families who spend some time in a shelter increased by 9 percent from 2007 to 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) annual report on homelessness. The report, released last week, also showed significant increases in homelessness in suburban and rural areas.
