Friday, May 25, 2012

Why the silence on the Russian bikers? Maybe because of what they saw

There is no news of any release yet of the four Russian bikers who were grabbed in central Iraq by Nouri's security forces, imprisoned and beaten.  At present, Oleg Kapkayev of Saint Petersburg, Alexander Vardanyants  and Maxim Ignatyev of Vladimir and Oleg Maximov of Tula remain prisoners and the news is the same as it was yesterday as the Russian Embassy is working to free them with one exception: Russian Legal Information Agency reports that the wife Oleg Maximo has spoken to her husband and he told her they were being moved to another location.  The Moscow Times notes, "State Duma Deputy Igor Igoshin also appealed to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to intervene, and President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the Foreign Ministry would do all it could to secure the bikers' release.  Putin has been forging good relations with the biker community in the past two years, riding motorcycles and attending biker events."

A few e-mails have wondered why the US media is ignoring this story and many specifically ask why the Associated Press is ignoring it?  If I had to guess, I'd say they're ignoring it to cover for Barack Obama who can't stop prattling on about US forces out of Iraq as he attempts to fundraise.  See, there's a detail consistent in all the reports yesterday and today.  Ekaterina Saviba (Gazeta) reports  it today:

They came to Iraq on May 17 and were detained by the Iraqi military on May 20. "Our attempt to go towards Baghdad failed because of Yanks in Hummers – they didn't let us in. Our guys decided to go round the American checkpoints and pass north of them," report motorcyclists' friends on the Russian motorcycling forum Ruriders.ru. "They managed to ride several dozen kilometers a day, while having long heartfelt conversations with local authorities, all while the outside temperature was 42 Celsius."

Again, that was also in yesterday's reports.  The Russian bikers, en route to Baghdad, were unable to enter it and had to go around due to Americans blocking them in Hummers, due to American checkpoints.  The 20th was Sunday and the US may have activated some branch still in Iraq (there are many) to put up checkpoints in advance of the meet-up in Baghdad.  They may have pulled the units stationed outside of Iraq -- in Kuwait for example -- back in to set up those checkpoints.

But the Russian bikers have been clear in their texts and phone conversations that the US military prevented their entry.

If I had to guess why the Associated Press and others have ignored the story, that would be my guess.


Aimee Burch (Iowa State Daily) reports on Barack's campaign rally last night, "The president touted the accomplishments of his first term, saying that this is the first time in nine years there are no Americans in Iraq and that Osama bin Laden is no longer a threat to this country. Obama declared that, if elected to another term, the war in Afghanistan would end by 2014. He again called out Romney for saying it was 'tragic' to end the Iraq War and for being unwilling to set a timetable for troops to get out of Afghanistan."

pinocchioobama

From March 4, 2008, above is Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Pinocchio Obama."

Not only are US troops still in Iraq -- remember US Ambassador to Iraq James Jeffrey confirmed that Special Ops remain  and also remember that Marines guard the US diplomatic staff -- but Barack wants a second term so he pull some troops out of Afghanistan.  We have to say "some" because we learned from the liar, didn't we?  Or are we all still playing stupid?  In 2008, people thought he was saying all US troops out.  But he's a weasel with weasel words.

And the reality is that the Bush-brokered Status of Forces Agreement -- which Barack tried to break -- is what got (most) US troops out of Iraq.  So he's had four years and he can't even get troops out of Afghanistan?  But give him four more and, with four under his belt, he should be able to do something in two years.  What a load of crap and shame on the Tom Haydens of this world.  During Vietnam, they did not accept that kind of crap from politicians.  Before George McGovern even began his 1972 presidential campaign, he had several years under his belt (beginning in 1969) in publicly calling for an immediate cease-fire and all US troops out of Iraq within 12 months.  That's when he was in the US Senate that he started that call.  And now washed up, washed out, tired whores like Tom Hayden want to spew more worthless crap insisting that Barack's moving in the right direction.

Really?

How many Afghans have to die?

If it were you there and your brother died six months from now, would you think, "I sure am glad that by the end of 2014 Barack says he's pulling out troops?" 

Or would you be the mature adult who grasped that when a war is wrong and you know it, you work to end it.  Not off in the distant future but immediately.

Part of the reason the press is so feckless is because the reflect the whores on either side.  The Republicans have their set, the Democrats as well.  They aren't about honesty, they aren't about ethics, they're little whores who will lie and justify anything while wanting to be seen as "opinion leaders." They're nothing but slutty cheerleaders.


The following community sites -- plus Adam Kokesh, CSPAN, Susan's On The Edge and Anitwar.com -- updated last night and this morning:



In the US, Senator Patty Murray is the Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.  Her office notes:




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 24, 2012 
CONTACT:

Murray (202) 224-2834
Collins (202) 224-2523
Michaud (202) 225-6306



VETERANS: Murray, Collins, Michaud Applaud Veterans Homes Fix in Military Construction Spending Bill

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), members of the Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee, along with U.S. Representative Mike Michaud (D-ME), Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, applauded the inclusion of an amendment in the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill which would modify the way State Veterans’ Homes are reimbursed for nursing home care provided to veterans. The Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the bill on Tuesday by a vote of 30-0. The amendment, authored by Senator Murray, would result in more flexibility in determining reimbursement rates by requiring VA and the State Veterans’ Homes to collaborate in setting rates that accurately reflect the level of care provided. Washington and Maine are home to State Veterans’ Homes which require a high level of skilled nursing due to requirements by Medicare and Medicaid. However, currently the VA payments do not cover this level of care.
“This amendment is a critical step to ensuring Washington State Veterans’ Homes will not lose out on millions of dollars they need to keep operating,” said Senator Murray. “Thankfully we were finally able to move forward to provide this flexibility -- preventing staff layoffs which would have dramatically reduced the number of Washington veterans they serve. I am grateful to Senator Collins and Representative Michaud for their leadership on this issue.”
"By granting the Department of Veterans Affairs increased flexibility in reimbursement rates, our goal is to recognize the high-quality of care State Veterans' Homes provide disabled veterans and ensure they never have to turn away any of our veterans because of inadequate reimbursement from the VA," said Senator Collins. "The men and women cared for by State Veterans' Homes defended our freedom, many of them in combat. We must defend their right to the care they deserve."
“Our severely disabled and elderly veterans deserve access to the best possible care and Congress cannot wait any longer to address the shortfalls our State Veterans’ Homes are facing,” said Representative Michaud. “I am grateful for Sen. Patty Murray’s collaboration and leadership on this issue and I look forward to continuing to work with her to ensure that this issue is resolved before the end of the year.”
###


Meghan Roh
Deputy Press Secretary | Social Media Director
Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray
@PattyMurray
202-224-2834
Get Updates from Senator Murray



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