Thursday, May 27, 2010

Gates congratulates a graduate


Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates congratulates a graduate of Blue Valley Northwest High School during her graduation ceremony at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo., May 23, 2010. Gates was selected to deliver the commencement address during the graduation as part of the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge, which invited public high schools around the country to show how they are challenging their students to excel in academics, take personal responsibility for their education and graduate high school ready for college and career. The top five runners up were selected to have a Cabinet secretary or senior administration official deliver the commencement address. (DoD photo by Master Sgt. Jerry Morrison, U.S. Air Force/Released)

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Take Action Now--Amnesty International


Amnesty International USA: TAKE ACTION NOW!
Torturers are given a free pass while those who investigate torture are restricted from asking all the right questions.
Get your free Torture Awareness Month Action Pack and help us sound the alarm in your community on June 26th.

Dear Rector,

Just when you thought U.S. policies on torture couldn't get any more outrageous, the Pentagon and Congress decide to take aim at the only people able to deeply investigate these crimes!

A disturbing sleight-of-hand trick is being played while our government continues to sweep crimes of torture underneath the rug.

And as long as officials can deflect attention away from the real problem – that high-level officials were allowed to get away with the criminal offense of torture – then they never have to identify real solutions and bring these individuals to justice.

Each June, in honor of Torture Awareness Month, Amnesty supporters take to the streets in efforts to expose this festering injustice. This is a critical election year, brimming with partisan politics, and we are up against some very powerful officials whose desire to silence our calls for accountability is getting stronger.

Please say that you'll organize a film screening, vigil or awareness-raising event in June to help bring accountability for torture.
Do not let them get away with it.

Last week, a House committee approved legislation requiring the Pentagon's Inspector General to investigate whether the attorneys for Guantanamo detainees violated the law by gathering information about CIA officers suspected of participating in interrogations1. Before that, the Pentagon banned reporters from covering military commission hearings, charging that they published the name of an Interrogator whose identity was supposed to remain classified. However, the reporters point to evidence that this Interrogator's identity was made public by the Pentagon years ago2.

These events prove exactly what we were afraid of. Without an independent investigation into torture and transparency at all levels of justice, we cannot expect rules to be followed or rights to be upheld.

That's why on June 26th we really need you to stand with us, as you've done so amazingly in the past, and organize events that will remind everyone – including your friends, neighbors, classmates, and elected officials – how the U.S. has allowed one of the worst human rights violations to take place and has done nearly nothing to put it right.

Tell us how you plan to sound the alarm during your Torture Awareness Month event.

Thank you for your support. I look forward to sounding the alarm with you all throughout June!

Njambi Good
Campaign Director, Counter Terror with Justice
Amnesty International USA

P.S. When you join us on June 26th, we'll send you a free Torture Awareness Month Action Packfilled with a DVD of The Response (a docudrama about Guantanamo), a campaign T-Shirt and all the materials you'll need to organize a successful vigil, film screening or other local event.


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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

The field exercise

An MV-22B Osprey aircraft exits Landing Zone Condor in North Carolina May 18, 2010, after conducting a helicopter support team external lift with Logistic Officers Course 10-03, as part of a field exercise known as Operation Blue Devil. The field exercise is designed to give familiarity training to student logistics officers in real world logistics operations. The five-day exercise consists of day and night convoys, an external helicopter support team lift and rappelling assaults against small attack forces. (DoD photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew L. Hebert, U.S. Marine Corps/Released)

Conducting a triage assessment of simulated casualties

 U.S. Airmen of the 177th Fighter Wing Medical Squadron, New Jersey Air National Guard conduct a triage assessment of simulated casualties during a major accident response exercise at the Atlantic City International Airport in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., May 15, 2010. (DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew J. Merlock Jr., U.S. Air Force/Released)

Schoolchildren look on counter terrorism team maneuvers

Schoolchildren look on as a Senegalese counter terrorism team maneuvers through an area while performing patrolling rehearsals in Theis, Senegal, May 14, 2010, as part of exercise Flintlock 2010. The military training engagement, which was led by U.S. Marines from U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, focused on unit patrols, urban terrain scenarios and counterterrorism operations. 














(DoD photo by Master Sgt. Jeremiah Erickson, U.S. Air Force/Released)

Delivering the oath of office

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates delivers the oath of office to U.S. Army Gen. Keith Alexander as his wife Deborah looks on during the activation ceremony of U.S. Cyber Command on Fort Meade, Md., May 21, 2010. During the ceremony, Alexander was promoted to the rank of general. (DoD photo by Cherie Cullen/Released)

Monday, May 24, 2010

Patient's blood pressure

U.S. Navy Hospitalman David T. Thurlkill, with Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Medical Battalion, takes a patient's blood pressure in the triage area of Kampong Chhnang Friendship Clinic during the Cambodia Interoperability Program in Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia, May 10, 2010. CIP is an annual joint medical and dental capabilities exercise between the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and U.S. military intended to promote international cooperation and community relations through humanitarian missions. (DoD photo by Lance Cpl. Alejandro Peña, U.S. Marine Corps/Released)

Gates escorts Bahrain's Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, right, escorts Bahrain's Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa through a cordon of honor guards and into the Pentagon May 20, 2010. Shaikh al-Khalifa, who is the commander-in-chief of the defense forces of Bahrain, will meet with Gates to discuss several security issues of mutual interest to both nations. (DoD photo by R. D. Ward/Released)

Obstacle course and ruck march event

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacinto Nunez, of the 902nd Security Forces Squadron, flips over a reverse high wall while participating in an obstacle course and ruck march event at Camp Bullis, Texas, May 12, 2010, being held for National Police Week. Nunez and his team placed third in the event. 
















(DoD photo by Steve Thurow, U.S. Air Force/Released)

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Graduation ceremonies

President Barack Obama and Army Lt. Gen. Franklin L. "Buster" Hagenbeck, West Point superintendent, render honors as the West Point Band plays "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the U.S. Military Academy Class of 2010 graduation ceremonies in Michie Stadium at West Point, N.Y., May 22, 2010. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan 
President Barack Obama congratulates Army 2nd Lt. Elizabeth Betterbed, top cadet in the U.S. Military Academy Class of 2010, on a job well done during graduation ceremonies in the academy's Michie Stadium in West Point, N.Y., May 22, 2010. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan 


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During a sports day

U.S. Sailors and Royal Thai marines dance as members of the Royal Thai Marine Corps Band perform during a sports day and barbeque as part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand 2010 in Sattahip, Thailand, May 17, 2010. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and to enhance force readiness. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David A. Brandenburg, U.S. Navy/Released)

Vaccinates a cow

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Brian Losey, the commander of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, vaccinates a cow during a veterinary civic action project on Pemba Island, Tanzania, May 12, 2010. More than 4,000 livestock were treated during the two-week program. 












(DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Tyler J. Wilson, U.S. Navy/Released)

Deepwater Horizon oil spil

From foreground, the mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) Development Driller II prepares to drill a relief well at the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill May 18, 2010, as the MODU Q4000 holds position directly over a damaged blowout preventer and the drillship Discover Enterprise continues to capture oil from the ruptured riser. (DoD photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Kelley, U.S. Coast Guard/Released)

Before the Senate

From right, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee regarding the U.S.-Russian Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., May 18, 2010. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley, U.S. Navy/Released)

Securing an area

Service members on a joint Afghan, International Security Assistance Force mission secure an area while in pursuit of insurgents north of the village of Mian in the Kandahar district of Afghanistan on May 13, 2010. DoD photo by Spc. Joseph Wilson, U.S. Army. (Released)