Monthly Archives: May 2004

Iraqi Prisoner Abuse: New Photos and Video

Politics

IRAQI-ABUSE

Now that the television network upfronts are complete, VanRamblings resumes regular posting.
From the Washington Post, this morning, the backstory to the release of new photos, and a disturbing new video of Iraqi prisoner abuse.
The latest allegations are contained in statements taken from 13 detainees shortly after a soldier reported the incidents to military investigators in mid-January. The detainees said they were beaten and repeatedly sexually humiliated by American soldiers working on the night shift at Tier 1A in Abu Ghraib during the holy month of Ramadan, according to copies of the statements obtained by The Washington Post.

Some of the detainees described being abused as punishment or discipline after they were caught fighting … Many provided graphic details of how they were sexually humiliated and assaulted, threatened with rape, and forced to masturbate in front of female soldiers … “After that, they took us to our cells, took the mattresses out and dropped water on the floor and they made us sleep on our stomachs on the floor with the bags on our head and they took pictures of everything.”

U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, said there’d be more photos, and video, of Iraqi prisoner abuse. Obviously, he’s known of the existence of these images for months, and had done nothing to prevent the continued breach, by the U.S., of the provisions of the Geneva Convention.

Fox TV Fall Schedule: Take Notes. There May Be A Test

Television


Click on the graphic above for more info on FOX TV’s 2004-05 programming schedule.

Talk about confusing. In announcing their fall TV schedule this morning, Fox TV jettisoned the whole “gee shucks, here are the great programmes we’ve lined up for you this fall” mantra, in favour of offering three different, and dare we say confusing, programming schedules — June til October, November to January, and January to June — all of which you’ll find here.
And, yes, there will be a test — so study Fox’s programming schedule well.
Daniel Fienberg, at Zap2it.com, tries to make some sense of Fox’s schedule for all seasons, as does David Bauder at Associated Press.
The Futon Critic weighs in, as does a beleaguered Gary Levin at USA Today.
The Mini Network: UPN’s Fall Programming Schedule

Click on the graphic above for more info on UPN’s fall programming schedule.

Update, at 6:30 pm.: The mini American network, UPN (owned by Viacom / CBS) released its none-too-thrilling fall schedule today. Zap2it.com offers network info here, as well as a link to UPN’s fall programming schedule.
The Futon Critic offers insight, while USA Today’s Gary Levin is excited. Well, not really.
For the remaining fall television schedules for the major U.S. networks, click on the following direct VanRamblings’ links: ABC, NBC, the WB, and CBS.

A Day To Rejoice: The NDP Has A 7-Point Lead On The B.C. Liberals

BC Politics

NOTCROOKS

According to an Ipsos-Reid poll released today, “44% of decided British Columbians say they would support the New Democratic Party if an election were held tomorrow, while only 37% would support the B.C. Liberals.” Support for the Green Party is also waning, having dropped 9 points to 11%, from a May 2002 high of 20%.
The results are the continuation of a downward trend for the provincial Liberals, who have been slipping in the polls since September 2003 when they had 45 per cent support and the NDP was at 31 per cent, said Kyle Braid, an Ipsos-Reid spokesman.
Norman Ruff, a University of Victoria political scientist, told Canadian Press, “In my book, 45 per cent is the magic number. Forty-five per cent means a majority government.” Traditionally in B.C., the political party that receives 45 per cent of the vote wins 50 per cent of the available seats, he said.
The numbers reflect voter anger with the Campbell government’s attack on working British Columbians, and also indicates a desire by voters to support a positive alternative, said Carole James, leader of the NDP.
Want your say? Take a minute to ‘vote’ in the informal poll below …

If a provincial election was held in British Columbia today, which party would you vote for?
New Democrats
Liberal
Green
BC Unity
Reform BC

View the results
Hosted by WebEnalysis