Injustice In Iraq

Recent footage from prison camps in Baghdad uncovered harsh living conditions for those detained there. The prison camps consisted of outdoor tents made of wire mesh and covered with plastic sheets. Some of the prisoners were not even fully clothed and fervently protested their innocence, claiming that they had been in prison for years without even having been seen in a court room or by a judge. According to Iraqi Vice President Tareq al- Hashemi, these tented camps now hold 2,779 prisoners who were removed from over-crowded Iraqi prisons. Although the camps are said to have air-conditioning and 24 hour electricity, no official seems willing to take the responsibility in getting court dates for the prisoners. A General at the prison stated, "The prisoners arrived just a month ago. It is not our fault that some have been held for a year or two years without going before a judge." The situation seems slightly more hopeful in light of the fact that Hashemi visited the prison camps in an attempt to form some semblance of order and that his office gave footage of the injustices at the camps to a global television agency to be broadcast. But when will the situation be rectified? And why does it happen in the first place? If a large-scale public imprisonment occurred in the U.S. on these same terms it would be corrected immediately, or so I would like to think; at the very least people would be up in arms about the injustice happening around them. Why, then, are things so different in a country like Iraq- and will they ever change? Is this injustice proof that a new government is not enough to change the social ills in a society, or is Iraq actually on a slow progression toward a better system?

Who is Kenneth Foster, JR, and why should he die?

Arrested in 1996 for "driving a gettaway car". Sentenced to die. Should he be put to death?

Peace vs. Justice? The LRA and Uganda

The LRA, the Lord's Resistance Army has waged a "holy" war against the people of Northern Uganda for over 20 years. Joseph Kony, the leader of the LRA has offered to lead Uganda under the 10 commandments -- forgetting, of course -- that one of those commandments is "thou shalt not kill"! Thousands have died and over 2 million have been displaced.
The Ugandan government has taken the LRA to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and now there are a dozen indictments against Joseph Kony and other top brass LRA commanders. But this has resulted in a delay of peace -- or so say the LRA -- they will never submit to peace if the LRA is to be tried at The Hague.
So now, there is talk of a "home-grown tribunal" -- along the likes of the Gacca Courts in Rwanda. Will this work? Should this be presented as an option? Is peace contingent on a betrayal of justice? Or can a South African style Truth and Reconciliation Commission work?
Unless Joseph Kony and the top commanders of the LRA are held accountable for their atrocities, there will be no justice in Uganda or in the world. These crimes against humanity are crimes not only against the Ugandan people, but all of humanity. Joseph Kony and his cronies must be tried at the ICC. Justice must be served!

Was Padilla Tortured?

Jose Padilla-- a suspected Al Qaeda operative -- AND a United States citizen was held without charge as an enemy combatant in a U.S military prison for 3 years and 7 months. Was this torture? Did it infringe on the U.S. constitution? Was this the right thing to do?

Immigration Judges

So, it seems that the truth is finally coming out --Immigration judges hired on the basis of their political affiliations. Is this new?
According to the Washington Post article above, yes. In fact, according to the article, "at least one-third of the immigration judges appointed by the Justice Department since 2004 have had Republican connections or have been administration insiders, and half lacked experience in immigration law, Justice Department, immigration court and other records show."
So what should be done?

Let's Hope this Trial Goes better than the Milosevic Trial!

Charles Taylor -- the ex-Liberian ruler is finally on trial for "crimes against humanity" for the Sierra Leone Special Court. I'm pleased to see that the presiding justice is Ugandan fireball Justice Julia Sebutinde. However, I'm hoping that Taylor doesn't pull the same stunts as Milosevic and use the court to grandstand. We need real justice for the people of Sierra Leone and Africa -- warlords like Taylor should not be allowed to make the court or the world look like a circus.

Honor killing in Iraq

The above linked CNN video of the stoning to death of a young Iraqi woman because she wanted to marry a man from another tribe is a chilling reminder of the lack of human rights -- especially for women -- that persist throughout the world.

Bangladeshi asylum seeker faces death

Interesting story about a former Bangladeshi diplomat seeking asylum in the U.S. He was charged and tried -- found guilty of complicity in a coup d'etat that resulted in the murder of a former Bangladeshi President and his family.
The U.S. asylum seeker claims that he wasn't involved in the killing of the President or his family - just in manning the road block to his house.
The asylum seeker's family is trying to get Canada to accept him as a third country alternative to being sent back to Bangladesh and his certain death by hanging.
Interesting dilemma. According to asylum law, an asylum seeker cannot avoid prosecution as opposed to persecution. However, he will most certainly face the death sentence. Canada is opposed to the death sentence, and hence there is a possibility that Canada could accept "Ahmed".
The other element is the REAL ID Act -- which will not give refuge to anyone who is a "terrorist" or who has provided material support to a terrorist organization -- which the U.S. 9th circuit court states is the case.
So what do you think should be done with Ahmed?

H1-B Visa ceiling: What's the big deal?!

The Washington Post article linked above discusses some of the debate surrounding the proposal to increase the number of H1-B visas for "highly-skilled foreign workers".
Organizations like the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) are suggesting that this would somehow hurt U.S. born highly-skilled workers.
What's the deal? There is an obvious need for highly-skilled workers -- especially in the technology field. If it is an issue of those workers not being "highly-skilled enough", then maybe there needs to be more stringent standards of determining that. But get real! Canada, for example, has been utilizing the "point system" for many years in its immigration system. You get a certain # of points for being a skilled or unskilled laborer depending on what the Canadian economy is in need of. You also get points for having immediate family members living in the U.S. This is the 21st Century! If America doesn't keep up with technology at home -- i.e., educating American youth in science and technology -- then in order to stay compettive, we're going to have to get it from outside!

Immigration Reform in America: Will This One Work?

I've pasted below the main elements of the new immigration bill, called: Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 from the Christian Science Monitor linked above.

What do you think? Will this bill work?

WHAT'S IN THE IMMIGRATION BILL?

Illegal immigrants who arrived in US before 2007 (some 12 million):

•can immediately receive a probationary card, which allows them to legally live and work in the US

•are eligible for a renewable Z visa, offering a path to permanent legal residency status

•are required to pay $5,000 fine, pass a criminal background check, and be employed

•and are heads of household are required to return to their home countries within eight years

For immigrants seeking future entry:

•shifts from system weighted toward family ties toward one with preference for people with advanced degrees, skills

•gives points based on immigrant's education, work experience, English proficiency, and family connections

•allows spouses and children under 21 to reunite with their families

•seeks to clear a backlog in visas for family reunification that will help some 4 million families in the first eight years

•initially distributes about 1.1 million family-based (89 percent) and 140,000 merit-based (11 percent) green cards

•after eight years, allocates 550,000 family-based (60 percent) and 380,000 merit-based (40 percent) green cards

Temporary guest-worker program:

•would admit between 400,000 and 600,000 temporary workers per year

•would allow immigrants to work in the US for two years, then require them to return home

•can renew guest-worker visas twice, but workers must leave for a year in between

Enforcement, security provisions:

•activates temporary guest-worker and Z visa programs only after implementing specific security "triggers"

•"triggers" include: 18,000 border patrol agents, 370 miles of additional border fencing, 70 radar and camera towers along the US southern border, and an electronic employee-verification system for the workplace

Sources: Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Reform Act of 2007; Senate staff briefings