Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Students Week of Accion

Join CAMEO for a national week of campus action against the war in Iraq. From September 17 - 22, universities, colleges, and high schools across the US will be demonstrating against war and racism and demanding Troops Out Now!

Austin events include:

Monday, Sept. 17, 8:00 PM
Robert Jensen on Academic Freedom and Norman Finkelstein
This past June, scholar and activist Norman Finkelstein, known for his criticism of the Israeli occupation of Palestine, was denied tenure at DePaul University. Then, at the end of August, students were informed that Finkelstein's classes had been cancelled. What went into these decisions? And what have students and professors been doing about it? UT Professor Robert Jensen will lead a discussion of the events and the broader question of academic freedom.

At Monkey Wrench Books, 110 E. North Loop Blvd.

Co-sponsored by Palestine Solidarity Committee


Tuesday, Sept. 18, 7:00 PM
A People’s History of Iraq

Presentation and discussion by Ali Issa, addressing the following questions: How has imperialism shaped Iraq? Has there always been sectarian conflict there? Are U.S. troops needed to keep stability? Find out what Iraq’s history can tell us about possibilities for Iraq’s future.

UT Campus, Parlin 303


Wednesday, Sept. 19, 7:00 PM
UT’s Role in the War in Iraq
Presentation and Discussion by Robert McDonald. Find out the not-so-hidden relationship between the University and war. Learn how our tuition and research go towards supporting the war in Iraq and discuss what antiwar students can do.

UT Campus, Parlin 308


Thursday, Sept. 20, 1:45 PM

College Not Combat!

At 1:45, join us at the South Mall fountain on 21st Street. At 2:00, we will move to the Dobie Mall recruitment center to protest the military’s dishonest and illegal recruitment tactics.


Saturday, Sept. 22
Fundraiser Party TBA
Help CAMEO raise badly-needed funds to send delegates to the Campus Antiwar Network’s national conference in Madison, WI, in October.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Map to Parlin:

http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/par.html


Sponsored by Campus Antiwar Movement to End Occupations.
Join CAMEO every Wednesday at 7:00 PM in Parlin 308.
Email antiwarcampus@yahoo.com.

CAMEO is a member of the Campus Antiwar Network (www.campusantiwar.net)

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

4th of July- Declare Real Independence

Join Campus Antiwar Movement to End the Occupations {CAMEO}
on the 4th of July






On Wednesday, July 4 @ Zilker Park Peace Grove

5:30 pm until dusk

This Independence Day, CAMEO will be at the Zilker Park Peace Grove calling for real independence: Independence for the occupied countries of Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan, and Independence from the broken two parties of America who continue to wage war in the Middle East.

During the bombing campaigns of Iraq and Afghanistan, the US government promised it was bringing peace and democracy. American bombs and military bases have brought only more violence to these occupied countries. More Americans oppose the war in Iraq than ever before, and yet our elected officials refuse to implement concrete steps to end the occupation.

On this patriotic holiday, join CAMEO in expressing the sentiments of the majority of Americans: End the War in Iraq! Bring the Troops Home!

The picnic will feature speakers from the community, interactive displays for children, food and refreshments, and information tables from antiwar groups. Please contact us if you would like to speak or table.

Food provided by Dewberry Farm, Phoenicia Bakery, and Wheatsville Co-op.

*** The Peace Grove is on the left just after the entrance to the Zilker Park Soccer Fields on Barton Springs Road; look for posted in signs.***

Monday, April 30, 2007

Days of Defiance Update

In light of the arrests and the comments made by Dobie Management, and other factors, CAMEO has decided to change a couple dates in our Days of Defiance. We have decided to go back to Dobie on Monday May 7th. We will be requesting that our first amendment rights are recognized.
If the Dobie Mall Management wants to house federally funded institutions then they should be willing to recognize the founding principles for which this nation is supposedely founded on.
The Thursday May 3rd action at the Riverside offices will be postponed for the time being with a new date to be decided upon later.
The movie screening of The Ground Truth will still be in Parlin 1 at 7pm Monday April 30th and Iraq Veterans Against War members Hart Viges & Carl Webb will be present. We still invite people to join us for a discussion about future actions on Wednesday May 2nd at 7pm in Parlin 208;
The main thing to note is the change in counter recruitment dates. We will be postponing the May 3rd Riverside action and instead will go back to Dobie on Monday May 7th.
We will meet at Dobie at noon. The reason why we will return is best expressed by Dobie's on-site manager, Todd Engstrom:

"I'm not anti-First Amendment or against free speech. Just take the message somewhere else," Engstrom said. - Daily Texan, Wednesday April 25th
Dobie and their accountants oblige themselves to federal funds; it is imperative that they also become responsible for the side-effects of such. If not, we have a fundamental break down in the relation of the state and the people's ability to confront the state directly. If such a seperation can continually be perpetuated by badges and force...
it will be allowed for each of us to draw our own ironic lady liberty being corralled into her free speech zones.

Schedule of Events:

Monday April 30th
Film screening and discussion; The Ground Truth
Time, 7pm @ Parlin 1
Speaker Hart Viges & Carl Webb (VFP/IVAW)

Wednesday April 2nd
Final planning meeting to discuss first counter-recruitment rally and to plan more fully for the counter-recruitment rally the following day.

Monday May 7th
Dobie Mall @ noon, Demand Dobie recognize First Amendment rights.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

10 DAYS OF DEFIANCE

Campus Antiwar Movement to End the Occupations {CAMEO} calls for:


10 Days of Defiance--

CAMEO is calling for two counter-recruitment rallies (1 at Dobie Mall and 1 at the Riverside recruitment offices). On Tuesday April 24th we will gather at the East Mall near the MLK statue* at noon. We will have an hour or so of open mic speak-outs featuring members CAMEO, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans For Peace, Palestine Solidarity Committee, and others. We will begin marching to the Dobie offices around1pm. Bring your signs and outdoor voices as we will occupy their offices to express our anger at their manipulative recruitment practices.
On Wednesday May 2nd, CAMEO invites everyone to join us in Parlin 208** @ 7pm as we will discuss what went well from the Dobie action as well as making final plans for the Recruitment offices on Riverside the next day.
That second Counter-recruitment rally will be at the Riverside offices on Thursday May 3rd. We will take the message of education and opportunity to the offices that so heavily feed off the Economic Draft. Join us at noon on the East Side of the HEB at Riverside & Pleasant Valley***. We will gather before marching to their offices, and once again bring your signs and outdoor voices.
These are direct action events intended to share with the military; even if to a limited extent, what it feels like to be over-run and to have their space invaded. For those that are interested in CD actions, make sure to arrive extra early so that we can get you connected to on site legal observers.

We will also be intermingling some education into the mix. On Wednesday May 25th, we will defy the popular perception that Iraq is hopelessly divided as we present a brief history of some of the labor, artist, and musical movements of the mid-twentieth century. There will also be a presentation on how Saddam worked to divide the people and help create and exacerbate some of the rifts that we see manifesting themselves today. The location of this will be Parlin 208** and it will begin at 7pm.
Then on Monday May 30th we will have a screening of the movie "The Ground Truth". A movie that highlights the Iraq war and the US soldiers fighting it. The movie discusses the reality of what is happening on the ground as opposed the media presentation of this war. Speakers will again feature members of Iraq Veterans Against the War. War resister and conscientious objector, Carl Webb and Hart Viges respectively. The screening will take place in Parlin 1** (room one is in the basement of Parlin) at 7pm.
Q & A sessions as well as discussions to follow both the historical presentation on the 25th as well as the movie screening on the 30th. Below is an full schedule broken-down and below that you will maps to each of the rally locations and meetings. Just line up the asterisks.


Tuesday April 24th
Rally on East Mall @ MLK statue
time, high noon
rally and open mic speak out
Speakers; Carl Webb (VFP/IVAW)
1:00 begin March to Recruiting Office
Find post up spot by 1:15pm

Wednesday April 25th
Discussion on history of Iraq
Time, 7pm @ Parlin 208
Presenter, Ali Issa, Robert McDonald {CAMEO}

Monday April 30th
Film screening and discussion; The Ground Truth
Time, 7pm @ Parlin 1
Speaker Hart Viges & Carl Webb (VFP/IVAW)

Wednesday April 2nd
Final planning meeting to discuss first counter-recruitment rally and to plan more fully for the counter-recruitment rally the following day.

Thursday May 3rd
Meet on East side of HEB @ corner of Riverside & Pleasant Valley
Time, high noon
12:30 march across parking lot to Recruiters offices
Find post up spot by 12:35-45

* East Mall; MLK statue, Tuesday May 30th @ noon:
http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/areas/eastmall.html

** Parlin Hall; Iraq History presentation & planning meeting before Riverside offices
http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/par.html

*** Rally Location for Counter Recruitment Rally Thur, May 3rd; Riverside & Pleasant Valley
http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=heb+locations&near=Austin,+TX&radius=0.0&cid=30266944,-97742778,5869895782694483659&li=lmd&z=14&t=m

Monday, March 26, 2007

Hey Hey CIA- How many democracies did you overthrow today?

** UPDATE POSTED TUESDAY NIGHT**
**CIA CANCELS RECRUITING VISIT**


** UPDATE POSTED TUESDAY NIGHT**
**CIA CANCELS RECRUITING VISIT**

Integrity?
Operation Ajax- Overthrow of Iranian PM Mohammad Mosadegh
Intellect?
Arming Saddam Hussein through the 80s
Common Sense?
Funding Afghan Mujahideen/Al-Qaida against USSR
Patriotism?
Drug Trafficking

Courage?
Assassination of Chilean President Salvador Allende


Protest CIA Recruiters at UT!

On Wednesday, March 28, UT will host a recruitment session for the Central Intelligence Agency, entitled “An Evening of Espionage”. Join CAMEO and other groups to tell the CIA that it’s not welcome at our University!

The meeting will feature a presentation with a Q&A session that is open only to US citizens. Our protest, however, will not discriminate based on one’s national origin. As a matter of fact, we encourage those of non-US decent to come out and maybe share a couple stories about how the CIA helps other countries. CAMEO is calling for a protest outside the meeting room with information on what the CIA is really about: toppling democratically-elected governments, aiding dictatorships, economic enslavement, drug trafficking, as well as the torture & murder of activists & innocent civilians across the world, just to name a few.

We will be sending a contingent into the recruitment meeting shortly before it begins. The purpose will be to present a concerned and informed citizen perspective-- and to ask the *real* questions about the CIA. Dress to impress as gatekeepers are anticipated; but by shaping the discussion and by maintaining a persistently provocative environment that doesn't allow them to freely spew propaganda, we can actually affect them on the long term. And imagine if enough of us showed up that instead of the CIA finding potential recruits, they instead spent their night answering actual questions and being harassed by the truth...

Spread this far and wide, as they have in the past canceled their events if they have heard that there would be lots of opposition, and that would certainly be a victory. Let's put the trackers on those servers to the test; just to see if they are working. A copy of the actual CIA invite is included below the map.

Join the CAMEO protest at 5:30 at the ROTC/RAS building. The meeting begins at 6:00 in RAS 213. The ROTC building is located near the East Mall area.

Map to RAS: http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/ras.html

_________________________________________________________________
**“An Evening of Espionage,” Reception & Information Session**

The National Clandestine Service of the Central Intelligence Agency invites you to
"An Evening of Espionage"
Reception and Information Session to be held on Wednesday, March 28, at 6:00 pm. in RAS 213. Refreshments provided. U.S. citizenship required.
Be part of a mission that's larger than everyone. National Clandestine Service careers offer fastpaced, varied work environments that will challenge you to find innovative solutions to complex problems, to travel internationally and to use existing or new cultural and language skills in ways that will make a positive difference to you, your family, and your country. This is more than a job. It is a way of life for professionals who demand the highest personal satisfaction from their work. For your skills, desire, and integrity, employees are given every opportunity to succeed and excel, with all the benefits of a federal government career.

Friday, March 02, 2007

The Antiwar Politician Myth

There is a popular misconception that by simply talking strong a politician can suddenly be considered against the war in Iraq- but sometimes talking just makes a person a hypocrite, not an individual of conscience.
Barack Obama (on the national level) and Lloyd Doggett (on the local level) are two examples of this phenomena. It would seem as though the evidence can speak for itself.
PS- there is a little "where's Waldo" game included concerning whether legislation has been previously passed that regulates whether 'Emergency Supplemental Funding' should even be an issue- see if you can find "Waldo"...

Obama's actual voting record:
6/22/06- Defense Dept SFY 2007 Appropriations
5/04/06- Emergency Supplemental Appropriats Act, 06
This act dedicates $67 billion for war, $30 billion for Hurricane Katrina relief, and also prohibits aid to the Palestine Authority.
10/7/05- Defense Dept FY 2006 Appropiations Act
7/14/05- Homeland Security Dept FY 2006;
This bill provides funding for a 1000 new border agents as well asadding 2200 new beds to detention centers for the holding of 'undocumented workers'
5/10/05- Emergency Supplemental Appropiations Act, 05; This act provides funding to military, and also removes environmental standards for the construction of the border wall along the Mexico/US/California border.
10/31/06- Secure Fence Act of 06;
Authorizes construction of the border fence and oks an increase in border security {voted against double-layered fence amendment but voted for the Triple-layered fence amendment}
3/2/05- USA Patriot & Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Expands the FBI's power and ability to conduct roving wiretapsas as well as making permanent 14 different provisions from the Patriot Act
He also voted to approve Robert Gates as new Secratary of Defense, approved Condolezza Rice as Secretary of State, approved Michael Chertoff to head of Homeland Security as well as approving John Negroponte to National Intelligence Director.
This is a link to the VoteSmart website that will get you more info on these bills and more on Obama's actual voting record:
http://www.vote-smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=BS030017

Lloyd Doggett's actual voting record
{Doggett's record is longer and bills' highlights are listed}:

Appropiations Bills:
9/29/06- Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 07;
Highlights:
- $8.04 billion for customs and border protection, including $1.19 billion for border security fencing, infrastructure, and technology
- $362.5 million for the U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Technology project
- $8.04 billion for the operations of the U.S. Coast Guard
- $973 million for science and technology research and development
- Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to implement a plan specifying the document(s) a person must carry in order to travel into the U.S. (Sec. 546)
- Prohibits any person from funding, creating, or traveling through an illegal tunnel between the U.S. and another country and creates punishments (Sec. 554)
- Requires the appointee for the Administrator of FEMA to be appointed by the President with the approval from the Senate and have knowledge of emergency management, homeland security, and at least 5 years of executive leadership experience (Sec. 503)

9/26/06- Department of Defense Appropriations Act, FY 07;
Highlights:
-$119.05 billion for operation and maintenance of the Department of Defense
- $86.35 billion for military personnel, including...
$25.91 billion for the Army, $20.29 billion for the Air Force,
$19.05 million for the Navy, and $7.93 billion for the Marine Corps
- $80.59 billion for the procurement of aircraft, weapons and ammunition for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force
- $70 billion for ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan
- $75.44 million for research, development, test and evaluation

6/20/06- Defense Department, FY 07 Appropriations Bill;
Highlights:
- $120.55 billion for operation and maintenance of the Department of Defense
- $84.91 billion for military personnel, including...
$25.26 billion for the Army, $19.68 billion for the Air Force,
$19.05 billion for the Navy and $7.93 billion for the Marine Corps
- $81.78 billion for the procurement of aircraft, weapons and ammunition for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force
- $75.34 billion for research, development, test and evaluation
- $50 billion for ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan

6/13/06- Emergencey Supplemental Appropiations Act, 06;
Highlights:
$70.58 billion for "Global War on Terrorism", including: (Title I)
- $65.91 billion for the Department of Defense, including: (Title I, Chapter 2)
- $37.9 billion for operation and maintenance
- $15.03 billion for procurement of aircraft, missiles, weapons, combat vehicles, and ammunition
- $10.28 billion for military personnel
- $1.69 billion for Economic Support Fund (I, 3)
- $1.38 billion for diplomatic and consular affairs of the Administration of Foreign Affairs (I, 6)
Other provisions:
- Directs the Commodity Credit Corporation to provide $332.4 million for agriculture, farming, and environmental assistance (Title III)
- $2.3 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services to prepare for and respond to the pandemic flu (Title IV)
- $1.9 billion for border patrol and security (Title V)
- Prohibits funds to aid the Palestinian Authority or other Palestinian political entities until such entities show a commitment to nonviolent principles, recognize Israel, and accept previous agreements (Sec 1304)

6/6/6- Department of Homeland Security Appropiations Act, 07;
Highlights:
- $7.85 billion for the operations of the United States Coast Guard
- $6.44 billion for customs and border protection, including $115 million for the Secure Border Initiative
- $4.70 billion for aviation security
- $4.39 billion for immigrant and customs enforcement
- $1.46 billion for science and technology research and development
- $954.40 million for the protection, administration, and training of the United States Secret Service
- $699.29 million for the Federal Air Marshals
- $362.46 million for the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Technology project

3/17/06- Emergency Supplemental Appropriations, 06;
Highlights:
$67.56 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, including: (Title I, Chapter 2)
- $32.11 billion for operations and maintenance
- $17.68 billion for procurement of aircraft, missiles, weapons, combat vehicles, and ammunition
- $9.93 billion for military personnel
- $3.01 billion for the Iraq Security Forces Fund
- $1.85 billion for the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund
Other provisions:
- Prohibits Dubai Ports World from obtaining any leases, contracts or rights to any U.S. controlled port (Sec. 3011)
- Prohibits funds to the Palestinian Authority or other Palestinian political entities until they show a commitment to nonviolent principles, recognize Israel, and accept previous agreements (Sec. 3012)
- $2.15 billion for bilateral economic assistance (Title I, Chapter 3)
- $1.7 billion for the Department of Justice (Title I, Chapter 6)

6/20/05- Defense Department FY06 Appropriations bill;
Highlights:
- $116.09 billion for operation and maintenance, including $7.63 billion for ballistic missile defense
- $84.13 billion for military personnel
- $76.81 billion for procurement
- $71.66 billion for research, development, test and evaluation
- $45.25 billion for continued funding of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan available on October 1, 2005. The fund is designed to cover 6 months worth of contingency operations costs in the global war on terrorism.
- $2.75 billion for revolving and management funds
- $2.47 billion for other Department of Defense programs
- Includes a section entitled "Sense of Congress and Report Concerning Religious Freedom and Tolerance at United States Air Force Academy" to increase the sensitivity to all religions (H Amdt 327- Agreed to by Voice Vote)

5/25/05- Defense Department FY06 Authorization Bill;
Highlights:
- Increase spending on the Navy's CVN-21 next-generation aircraft carrier by $86.7 million
- Requires the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress on any proposed military policy changes regarding women being allowed or prohibited to serve in a category of unit or position
- $124 billion for operations and maintenance
- $109 billion for payroll for all active and inactive military personnel
- $78 billion for weapons and combat vehicles
- $49.1 billion for supplemental spending to fund military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq
- $47 billion for research and development
- $20 billion for military healthcare programs
- $1.8 billion for granting access to the military's Tricare (healthcare) program for all reserve-component personnel
- $1.4 billion for chemical agents and munitions destruction and defense
- $896 million for drug interdiction and counter-drug activities
- $174 million for the defense inspector general
- $58 million for the military's retirement home trust fund

5/17/05- Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 05

5/5/05- Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 05;
Highlights:
Immigration;
- Requires states to follow specific procedures and enhance security standards when issuing driver's licenses and identification cards
- Bars known terrorists from abusing U.S. asylum laws
- Requires the Department of Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security to create a pilot program that would strengthen U.S. border security by using ground surveillance technology
- Waives environmental laws in order to complete the 14-mile border fence between the US and Mexico near San Diego
- Exempts returning seasonal farm workers from Immigration Department's cap of 66,000 visas specifically issued for seasonal workers by revising certain requirements for H-2B employers and requiring submission of information regarding H-2B non-immigrants
Defense;
-*** Expresses the sense of the Senate that all future requests for military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq appear in the proper appropriation bills, not in emergency supplemental bills***
- Increases the military's total death benefits from $250,000 to $400,000
- Increases the death gratuity from $12,000 to $100,000 for all those military personnel killed in combat and applies the increase retroactively beginning with those killed since October 2001
- Extends insurance payouts for seriously injured troops from $25,000 to $100,000 retroactive for those injured since Oct. 2001
- Requires the Navy to maintain 12 aircraft carriers
- $37.10 billion for military operations and maintenance
- $17.45 billion for military personnel
- $17.38 billion for procurement of aircraft, combat vehicles, missiles, weapons, and ammunition
- $1.29 billion for Afghanistan Security Forces
- $1.18 billion for military construction through September 2007
- $552.32 million for military research, development, test and evaluation
- $308 million for Army procurement of Up-Armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (UAHMMWVs)
- $242 million for drug interdiction and counter-drug activities
- $211 million for Defense personnel medical and health programs
- $60 million available for the rapid deployment of Warlock systems and other field jamming devices
Foreign Aid;
- $150 million for Pakistan and $100 million for Jordan to develop military training centers for the purpose of responding to current and future security threats in the Middle East
War on Terrorism;
- $1.2 billion for domestic appropriations for the War on Terror, including $748.5 million for diplomatic and consular programs and $592 million for embassy security, construction, and maintenance
- $161 million additional funding for the new National Intelligence Office
3/16/5- Emergency Supplemental Appropiations Act, 05

7/22/04- Defense Department FY05 Appropriations bill; **
Highlights:
- $25 billion for emergency defense spending for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan
- $104.2 billion for military personnel
- $120.6 billion for military operations and equipement maintenance
- $77.4 billion for the procurement of new weapons

6/22/04- Defense Department FY05 Appropriations Bill; **

6/18/04- Homeland Security Department FY05 Appropiations Bill

9/24/03- Terrorism Information Awareness bill; *
Highlights:
-$115.9 billion for operations and maintenance
-$98.5 billion for military personnel
-$74.7 billion for procurement
-$65.2 billion for research and development
-$15.7 billion for defense health programs
-$11.5 billion for shipbuilding programs
-$9.1 billion for ballistic missile defense
-$4.5 billion for special operations forces

9/24/03- Homeland Security Appropiations, FY04 bill

7/8/03- Terrorism Information Awareness bill; same as above *

6/24/03- Homeland Security Appropiations, FY04 bill



Defense Bills:
12/19/05- Defense Department FY06 Authorization Bill;
Highlights:
- Requires the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress on any proposed military policy changes regarding women being allowed or prohibited to serve in a category of unit or position
- Requires the President to report on U.S. policy and military operations in Iraq every three months until "all combat brigades have been redeployed from Iraq"
- Prohibits cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment of any individual in custody or physical control of the U.S government, regardless of geographic location (As adopted by Sen. McCain [AZ] Amendment)
- Stipulates that only the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia can hear an appeal to determine if a non-U.S. citizen has been detained properly as an enemy combatant at Guantanamo Bay
- Increases basic pay for members of the uniformed services by 3.1 percent
- Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress concerning efforts to prepare for pandemic flu, including the avian flu
- $125.72 billion for operations and maintenance of the Department of Defense
- $108.94 billion for military personnel
- $76.91 billion for procurement
- $70.2 billion for research, development, test and evaluation
- $50 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan
- $19.89 billion for the Defense Health Program
- $16.38 billion for defense activities of the Department of Energy
- $11.07 billion for military construction
- $40 million for humanitarian assistance to the victims of the earthquake in Pakistan

5/20/04- Defense Department FY05 Authorization Bill
Highlights:
- Appropriates funding for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding, conversion, and other supplies
- Requires the Secretary to guarantee that the distribution of supplies acquired using funds authorized under this title to operational units involved in Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom be made without regard to the status of the units as active, Guard, or reserve components
- Includes Force Protection Initiatives and the increasing of military manpower
- Specifically, allocates appropriations for improved pay, benefits, living and working facilities

11/07/03- Defense Department FY04 Authorization bill;
Highlights:
- The Air Force was approved to lease 20 Boeing refueling tankers, and purchase 80 more
- Increases Tricare health coverage to National Guard members as well as reservists and their families when they are called to active duty
- Allows disabled, retired military personnel to receive retirement and disabled pay simultaneously

4/3/03- Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 03;
Highlights:
- $62 billion would be made available for military operations in Iraq
- $3.2 billion would aid airline companies with their security expenses
- $8 billion would go towards foreign assistance
- $4.2 billion would be distributed for homeland security
- $4.82 billion in aid to reconstruct Iraq, aid Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, and Afghanistan
- $2.2 billion would go towards grants for first responders



Certainly that is a lot money and a lot of supporting votes from people that present themselves as not being supportive of Bush and his violent agenda.
If someone were to add up all those billions, I wonder how many immunizations, vaccinations, educations, rehabilitations, and how much cooperation for positive purposes could have been done?

Support the troops?
Then Support the Truth

For those that talk about supporting the troops, yet continually send them into harms way so that an elite few can profit-
if you support the war then why don't you sign up and let a soldier who wants to come home do so. Now that is what I call supporting the troops.

Some facts about veterans not normally shared:

An estimated at least 400,000 veterans spend some time during the year homeless with nearly 100,000 each day but with a national homeless population near 3.5 million and 25% of those being vets, actual numbers would be closer to 850,000 homeless vets.

Male homeless vets make up a full 1/3 of the total male homeless population.
67% served more than 3 years and 90% received honorable discharges.
75% have substance abuse issues and nearly half are 45 years old or older.
-National Coalition for Homeless Vets

Vets are 3 times more likely to be unemployed (15% for current war vets).
- military.com

Vets are 2 ½ times more likely to not have a high school diploma, 10% less likely to graduate from college (34% for non-vet and 26% for vets) and are nearly 3 times more likely to experience living in poverty in any annual period (5% to 12.3%). Statistics also don’t reflect populations living in institutions, group homes, or without homes.
- US census, 2005

From Iraq to the WWI and the Bonus Army, veterans have always been tossed to the side by the economic benefactors of wartime once they were of no more use.

what would you do?

For those who are so apt to pick up a weapon and travel half way around the world to fight- if you were to walk a mile in the shoes of those you attack, what would you do if this was what your hometown looked like?

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Campus Antiwar Movement to End the Occupations- CAMEO

Campus Antiwar Movement to End the Occupations, better known as CAMEO, is a student based organization (but not limited to just students) that is dedicated to ending the US military's imperialistic presence in the Middle East. CAMEO is the University of Texas chapter of the national organization, Campus Antiwar Network (campusantiwar.net). This chapter has been active for several years. Our meetings are Wednesdays at 7pm in Parlin 303 on the UT campus.

It is the feeling that there are multiple occupations and if peace in the middle east can ever happen, we must end all of those occupations. We must see how the past has contributed to today; see how the actions of the past have helped to create today's current environment. Whether it is the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, or our occupation of Palestine through our proxy force, Israel. CAMEO recognizes that there are multiple reasons (some viable ones at that) for "why they hate us" and think that the question requires deeper thought than the simple 'they hate our freedoms' 10 second media clip.
In the boogey man's words themselves, "contrary to Bush's claim that we hate freedom. If so, then let him explain to us why we don't strike for example - Sweden"- Osama bin Laden.