Calling All Brave Bloggers; Help Us To Help Craig Murray ...

In the interests of getting today's blog published as quickly as possible, please excuse what may appear to be less than a perfect layout.

What is important here, is content.

What follows from beneath the line, is a raw email received by Richard & This Old Brit today. It should be self explanatory. It's BIG. It's important. It needs YOUR help in gaining as wide distribution as is possible.

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Dear All,

It's not the al-Jazeera Memo, but these are some more documents that the UK Government are trying to suppress with the threat of prosecution under the Official Secrets Act.

They detail our use of intelligence extracted by torture, and legal advice the Foreign Office received on the subject, and we need to get them out there as soon as possible before the government act.

If you could post them on your website, ASAP, it would be very much appreciated.

I attach our latest post on the subject. http://www.blairwatch.co.uk/node/716

Thanks very much for your help, if you are outside the UK, then you are not threatened by the use of the Official Secrets Act.

UK bloggers should be aware that there is the potential that we might get threatened, but as the documents are already appearing all over the internet, we think it unlikely at this stage.

CheersDan [ringverse] http://www.blairwatch.co.uk ---------------------------------------------------------_

*Calling All Bloggers: These Documents need publishing *_

*Background:*The UK government has been quick to deny that we practice, or tolerate the practice of Torture. So it is perhaps not surprising that they are determined that you should not see the following

documents: http://users.pandora.be/quarsan/craig/telegrams.pdf

http://users.pandora.be/quarsan/craig/npaper.jpg

Craig Murray was the UK ambassador to Uzbekistan, until his complaints and protest at the use of intelligence gained by torture got too much for Jack Straw and the Foreign Office, who set about attempting to unsuccessfully smear him, and to successfully remove him from office.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3750370.stm

http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2005/04/timeline_of_cra.html

The Foreign Office has had the draft of Craig's book for clearance for over 3 months now, and they are doing everything they can to try and prevent him from publishing his side of the story.

Their latest attempt to cover their own backs was to inform him, the night before Christmas Eve, that these two documents cannot be published, and that he was to return or destroy all copies immediately.

*What are these documents?

*The first document is a series of Telegrams that Craig sent to the Foreign Office, outlining his growing concern and disgust at our use of intelligence passed to the UK by the Uzbek security services.

The second document is a copy of legal advice the Foreign Office sought, to see if they were operating within the Law in accepting torture intelligence, and according to Michael Wood the FCO legal adviser; it is fine, as long as it is not used as evidence.

Faced with this heavy handed censorship by the FCO, in an attempt to cover up our use of and complicity in torture, Craig has decided to fight back, and has asked us all to publish this information, so it cannot be suppressed.

I am in discussion with the FCO over what I am and am not allowed to publish in my book. The FCO is seeking to gut the book of all evidence of complicity with the Uzbek regime.

With Bliar cornered on extraordinary rendition, they are particularly anxious to suppress all evidence of our complicity in obtaining intelligence from Uzbek torture. In particular, they have demanded I do not publish the attached documents, and that I hand over all copies of them.

The obvious answer to this is to post these documents as widely on the web as possible. This is also potentially very valuable in establishing that I am not attempting to make money from these documents - you don't have to buy my book to see them, they are freely available. If you buy the book, you are only paying for the added value of my thoughts.

This will only work if we can get the [documents] very widely posted, including on sites in the US and elsewhere outside the UK … there is a chance that those who … post this stuff will get threatened under the Official Secrets Act.

In March 2003 I was summoned back to London from Tashkent specifically for a meeting at which I was told to stop protesting. I was told specifically that it was perfectly legal for us to obtain and to use intelligence from the Uzbek torture chambers.

After this meeting Sir Michael Wood, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's legal adviser, wrote to confirm this position. This minute from Michael Wood is perhaps the most important document that has become public about extraordinary rendition.

It is irrefutable evidence of the government's use of torture material, and that I was attempting to stop it. It is no wonder that the government is trying to suppress this. Craig/Compare and Contrast the government's public position on Torture, with the information they werreceivingng at the time from their own Ambassador, and the legal advice they were seeking.We have archived a selection of government spin and lies on the use of torture in these 4 pages:

http://www.blairwatch.co.uk/node/708
http://www.blairwatch.co.uk/node/709
http://www.blairwatch.co.uk/node/710
http://www.blairwatch.co.uk/node/711

... and you can listen to Jack Straw and Tony Blair deny what you read in these hitherto 'secret' documents here.
http://www.blairwatch.co.uk/down/strawhust.mp3 http://www.blairwatch.co.uk/down/blairrend.mp3

*What you can do:

*We have published the documents in full here, and ask that anyone who can will do the same.

http://www.blairwatch.co.uk/node/715
http://www.blairwatch.co.uk/node/714

If you could publish, host and link to these documents on your own webspace, then it will be harder for anybody to be prosecuted here in the UK, and ensure that they get maximum coverage.

Craig Murray stood up for what many of us believe, and it cost him his Job, his health, and his professional reputation. The least we can do his stand by him as he defies the UK government's attempts at censorship, and possible prosecution.

Craig's own post on the subject can be found here: http://www.craigmurray.co.uk/archives/2005/12/damning_documen.html

Thanks for your help.

STOP PRESS .

Craig's site has gone [been taken ?] down. However, here's a mirror from the archives showing the actual documentary evidence.

http://www.craigmurray.co.uk/archives/2005/12/damning_documen.html

22 Euro-wide Arrest Warrants Issued Against American CIA Agents

Once upon a time, one would have thought that news of the simultaneous issuing of 22 Europe-wide arrest warrants warranted world-wide, mainstream media headlines -- on a massive scale.

Especially since all 22 suspects cited in said warrants were actually American CIA agents. And particularly in view of the fact that the wide ranging warrants allow for said suspects apprehension and detention - absolutely anywhere across the entire European Union's 25 seperate, member nations.

Well, we did say 'once upon a time,' didn't we?

Because here's an example of today's BBC's boldest efforts to bring out big news, in the current crazy days of these Bush-Blair-Berlusconi, post 9/11 times.

EU-wide warrant over 'CIA kidnap'

Abu Omar was allegedly kidnapped from a Milan streetAn Italian court has issued Europe-wide arrest warrants for 22 suspected CIA agents accused of helping to kidnap a Muslim cleric in Milan in 2003.

The news report in question continued:

The suspects are accused of abducting Osama Mustafa Hassan, also known as Abu Omar, without Italian permission, and flying him to Egypt for interrogation.

Then there was this:

The new warrants allow for the suspects' detention anywhere in the 25-nation EU, a prosecutor said.

The authorities had already issued arrest orders within Italy.

Sad to say though, as nowadays seems all too often to be the case, the individual most actively involved in attempting to activate full investigations - and perhaps help highlight further the increasingly, all pervading political hypocrisy of our appointed premiers, presidents, etc - is summarily 'sidelined' by his seniors.

But to say 'sidelined' - is probably to put it far too politely. We Brits have a better word for this sort of personal sniping - albeit it Anglo-Saxon slang - we call it 'slagged'.

Some may use even stronger language, and choose to say 'shit upon'.

Read the rest of this 'arrest warrant' report, and see for yourself how such significant stories are swiftly spun into insignificant ones, by the vested interests' parties.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4555660.stm

Iraq Elections' Objections Abound ...

Traveling to and from hospital every day for five days takes up a lot of time. It's terribly tiring too. And it's taken it's toll on This Old Brit, this week. So, TFI Friday tomorrow; the fifth and final day of a series of ongoing tests, he's been having to undergo.

Hence the less frequent than usual number of blog posts. But normal service should soon be resumed --- whether you like it or not, me darling old dearies.

And while his semi-regular writing activities have - self confessedly - suffered somewhat, his rapacious readings most certainly haven't. The fact is, that they've actually increased. And boy, what a bloody lot there's been to keep up and cope with -- on either side of the Atlantic.

So when This Old Brit finally found some time [and energy] to start to do some posting again -- subject-wise, he was spoilt for choice.

However, he settled on saying something about the recent Iraq elections. Maybe more accurately, he settled on seeking to spread some news stories regarding said aforementioned subject. News that comes from much 'closer to home' - ie: nearer the actual country concerned in the latest elections-question.

Surprisingly - or perhaps not - depending upon how unquestioningly one accepts the [expected] Anglo American spun-stuff, things definitely do not seem to be as straightforward as the western mainstream media are appearing to make out they are. Far from it, in fact.

Claims that the whole election spectacle wasn't anything more than one bloody big fiddle, have been made by no less than 35 different political groups in Iraq.

Yep. You read that right; 35 different ones.

Such seems the strength of feelings, that talk of large scale legislative boycots are already, absolutely abounding.

Here's the latest pertinent piece from - the so far still unbombed, unbowed and intact - alJazeera.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A65EB454-334F-4D1B-86D6-72D539C69D0F.htm

Blair's "No" To Public Enquiry, On 7/7 London Tube Train Bombing

Being bombed, by as bad a bunch of barmy, brainwashed bigots as the majority of the British public is ever likely to come across, can only be classed correctly as one of the most terrible personal traumas/tragedies imaginable.

But in the league table of terrible tragedies, how close behind such outrages comes the sheer bombasticidity of a British Prime Minister, apparently perfectly prepared to pile even more pain upon surviving victims of savage, terrorist attacks ?

That those still suffering so much [ in various ways ], from the London tube bombing horror which was recently heaped upon them - should, so to speak - have the proverbial salt rubbed right into their wounds -- by their own government -- surely should be construed as completely unthinkable, obviously unbearable, patently unacceptable and totally unforgivable.

Yet that's precisely what Premier Blair's deliberate & coldly calculated decision to dismiss calls for a public enquiry -- with damned near despicable disdain -- amounts to.

"Tough!" He seems to be saying, " Get over it. You shut up and get on with it, while we go on doing what we want to."

Well, there's at least one particular London tube bombing survivor - Rachel from North London - who is definitely not going to shut up.

No, Prime Minister.

Never. Ever.

And furthermore -- nor will many more.

Rachel's been writing a regular blog relating to our capital city's 7/7, underground rail system's shocking bombing story - and more.

It's a 'must-read' - and you'd better believe it. Has This Old Brit or Richard ever lied here before ?

And from this day on they are both are right behind Rachel, et al -- as is a veritable bevy, of great British bloggers.

So, be sure to spend some time scrolling your away around Rachel's blog. There's a helluva lot to look at - including contributions from fellow survivors' -- and many sincerely concerned kindred spirits. Along with loads & loads of links.

Additionally, there's a two page spread written by Rachel for today's Sunday Times. So be sure to read that too.

And now of course there's the online, public petition for a public enquiry.

This Old Brit says we should all sign it; to prove to all our politicians - from all the political parties - that we, the British public are NOT a pushover. And that we will not be pushed around. Not by any terrorist - nor by any politician.

British parliamentarians/politicians are expressly elected to 'serve' the British public. So they should be shown, by all available legal means, that the British public will never under any circumstances, simply submit to subservience.

Politicians prevail and/or prosper, mainly, courtesy of public apathy. They thrive on the individual's indifference.

And that's not right. That's not how life in 21st century Britain should be. Not for any of us.

Regardless of our personal, political party preferences.

Air Marshal Law In America ?

What ? Marshal Law being enforced in the USA ?

Well, read the rest of this, then you tell me.

Since no sooner have we learned of American Air Marshals acting as accusers, prosecutors, judges, jurists and executioners of a mentally ill man in Miami -- than we now learn this.

Air marshals test patrols on land

The TSA is trying to expand the role of air marshalsUS air marshals are expanding their work to bus and train stations, ferries and other mass transit facilities under a three-day test programme.

What ? You mean you hadn't heard ?

No sweat. Don't feel duped -- again. Nor too dumb either.

When Richard spoke today to an US friend of his who's an American radio broadcaster - and as smart & savvy as it's possible to be - she hadn't heard anything about it either. She said this immensely important info, unfortunately hadn't "reached the colonies yet".

But surely everyone should have heard by now -- because the BBC broadcast this loud & clear enough -- as long ago as yesterday.

The TSA is trying to expand the role of air marshals to bolster home security ....

See ?

Okay, now look again;there's more.

Undercover marshals and uniformed officers will be conducting anti-terror surveillance, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said.

But where?

You may well ask. Try the following, for starters.

Amtrak's North-east Corridor and Los Angeles rail lines; ferries in Washington state; bus stations in Houston; and mass transit systems in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore.

Eh ? So how many of these armed marshals are mingling amongst us?

Sorry, it's a US state secret. See here for yourself.

The exact number of air marshals working across the US is classified.

But the new name of this new force isn't a secret at all. It seems there's even a certain amount of smugness involved, as far as the title bestowed on this latest lot of gun-slinging, bunch of big brothers are concerned

" Visible Intermodal Protection and Response " teams -- or "VIPER" teams ....

What another absolutely, bloody brilliant brainwave by some sick Bushista barmpot, eh?

I mean, ask yourself the question. How could just the police, National Guard, FBI, CIA, spooks, SWATs, covert-ops, black helicopters, Army, Navy and Airforce ever hope to continue to cope - all alone - without these fine fellows?

Don't worry. We don't expect an answer. That's just another of Richard's regular rhetorical questions. But you already realised that. Erm, didn't you?

But bear this in mind -- if from now on you're ever approached aggressively, by a bunch of bellowing armed bruisers -- you'd better beware.

Do NOT run for your life.

Definitely. Don't do it!

Since the odds are you may stand a much better chance of survival if you simply stop in your tracks, then hang round to see if they're merely regular terrorists, run of the mill homegrown thugs, completely crazy crack-heads or maybe nothing more menacing that the friendly, neighbourhood thieves.

A couple of chaps chatting over coffee in Rick & the old Brit's local cafe today, were clearly heard to say in conversation, words to the effect that these privateer-type law enforcers would be more correctly called -- if they were working only overseas -- 'contractors'.

Hmmmm. While we won't yet call in the jury on that one, we will wonder aloud whether the once fairly thin edge of a certain American authoritarian wedge hasn't grown much thicker, far, far too quickly for comfort.

And incidentally, in the not too distant past, Richard wrote on this blog how close it appeared that the US and UK were to becoming police states. And from certain quarters, Richard received in reply rather a lot of ridicule. So right here and now Richard unreservedly retracts those remarks.

Police state? Naw. Not really. Never. It's now even worse than that in America.

So, get set finish by feasting your unbelieving eyes on the full BBC piece at the link below. Then prepare to defend and to fend for - yourselves, your families and your friends.

And Richard and This Old Brit ?

We think we've seen, heard and said quite enough. For one day anyway.

So good night, and good luck America.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4529208.stm

Cindy Sheehan Comes Calling, To This Old Brit's UK ...

Shown above is Cindy Sheehan; sharing the spotlight and positively beaming personally, right alongside Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London.

But boy, oh boy! There were so many more she met too - including George Galloway and Brian Haw -- and pleasingly -- plenty of those genuine, good old fashioned, best-of-British type bobbies. Remember them?

But one man she didn't meet, even though she took the time and trouble to turn up, on a freezing winter morning, right there at his famous front door - was UK New Labour Prime Minister and Honorary US Presidential poodle, Tony - the liar - Blair.

Since, surprise-surprise -- Tone, she was told, was all tied up -- elsewhere.

(And it wasn't at the raging-oil-inferno that is Hemel Hempsted).

But there were many, many things that Cindy did manage to do, and to see and to say.

So much so, that rather than needlessly repeat what an absolutely, excellent British website has already done -- and made a damn good job of doing -- today This Old Brit simply sends you to where you'll [maybe] mistakenly believe you're in some sort of Cindy Sheehan, seventh heaven.

Brilliant, brand spanking new Cindy Sheehan in the UK, stories ? Super speeches, related reports, packs of pictures ? Lots of lovely links? You'd better believe it. Sheesh! You'll be spoilt for choice.

So stop wasting further fascinating reading time. Hit the link to get thee gone.

Enjoy. Then please pass on.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/5535

Pentagon Hides Details Of 20,000 Hospitalized U.S.Troops ...

It's now some time since Professor Mark Crispin Miller of New York University, publicly posed a perfectly proper question referencing the Pentagon's apparently downright deliberate suppression of the terrible truth regarding 20,000 US troops' hospitalization, after the administration of anthrax vaccinations.

But This Old Brit's here to tell you that as of today, the learned - and truly patriotic - professor doesn't appear to have been exactly inundated with either answers or ideas.

First, here's the header from Mark C. Miller's own, "News From Underground" blog.

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

UPDATE:

20,000 Troops Hospitalized After Anthrax Vaccinations

And here's his seemingly simple & straightforward enough question.

Why is this not a national story ?

Next, please peruse this portion of the piece Professor Miller cites in his own blog, as per a dailypress.com article dated December 4th.

First of four parts

An Incomplete Picture

Despite promises that hospitalizations after anthrax vaccinations would be reported, the Pentagon withheld data on more than 20,000 cases.

BY BOB EVANS 247-4758

December 4, 2005

The Pentagon never told Congress about more than 20,000 hospitalizations involving troops who'd taken the anthrax vaccine, despite repeated promises that such cases would be publicly disclosed.

Instead, a parade of generals and Defense Department officials told Congress and the public that fewer than 100 people were hospitalized or became seriously ill after receiving the shot from 1998 through 2000.

They also showed Congress written policies that required public reports to be filed for hospitalizations, serious illnesses and cases where someone missed 24 hours or more of duty.

But only a sliver of those cases were reported, while the rest were withheld from Congress and the public, records obtained by the Daily Press show.

As neither an American politician, law maker nor law enforcer - nor even a US citizen - there's not a lot more that This Old Brit can do about such a stinking state of affairs as this -- other than try to help get this news out in the open and hopefully, spread far & wide. And the sooner the better.

But all right minded, proper thinking and genuinely patriotic Americans could -- and should -- actually call their congress critters' offices and demand some answers - and/or actions - right this minute.

Personal apathy permitting of course. As always.

Imagine: This Old Brit And John Lennon ...

It must have been a long, long time ago when This Old Brit was first told that time flies faster as one gets older, since he can't remember who he first heard say so.

But he can remember as though it were only yesterday, that dismal day one full quarter of a century ago - this coming Thursday 8th - when John Lennon was murdered, by a madman in New York.

Lennon was local lad. By which is meant that the [then young] Old Brit and John Lennon were both scousers - or for the benefit of our foreign friends - were both, born & bred Liverpudlian lads.

It wouldn't exactly be true to say that This Old Brit 'knew' John, but he did meet, mingle and mix with Lennon and his musical mates, several times. Naturally, that was before John and the other boys in the band made the big time as The Beatles, and when they were playing regularly at the [yet to become] famous, original Cavern Club in Matthew Street.

Of course the only real thing This Old Brit had in common with Lennon and the other fab-fellahs, was trying to put their best chat-up-line talents to the test, on some of the lovely, local Liverpool lasses. And there's no need to tell you who turned out to be best at that. Huh; bet you can easily guess.

Well ...... y'see, This Old Brit hadn't yet gotten round to growing his hair that long, nor to combing it in that - what was at the time - real weirdo way. Nor did This Old Brit ever wear any way out, studded & buckled black leather gear. Leather cost a lot of lucre, way back then.

But This Old Brit comes here today to remember John Lennon rather than to praise him. Since to be completely honest, although he eventually had to admit to admiring Lennon's soon to become self evident, super-special talents - he viewed the aspiring scouse artiste as not much more than just another young local yokel. And, the Brit's bound to tell, a bit of a big-headed bugger, to boot.

However, as This Old Brit's always believed in being one of the first to give all credit where it's due, and has never been one to speak ill of the dead, this seems a good point to pack up the personal reminiscences - and let it be.

Though he won't - nay, can't - ever forget those famous words which follow, further down. Since to most folk, they must surely have been seen as Lennon's finest hour. Because like it or not, this wonderful piece of work definitely did help change the, even then, war torn & weary world --- particularly from an American perspective.

What a pity that change didn't prove to be as permanent as so many millions of us all across the globe, had hoped.

Imagine.

Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
living for today...

Imagine there's no countries,
It isn't hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...

Imagine no possessions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer,
but I'm not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

Well, whether you just want to learn a little more about the late John Lennon or rather to remember him -- along with his wonderful works and times at the top, This Old Brit really recommends reading these two web pages.

[And by the way, there's a fascinating video clip well worth viewing at the B.B.C. link].

1./ B.B.C. "On This Day" John Lennon Link. including video.

2./ Martin Lewis remembers Lennon in a particularly personal piece, at The Huffington Post.

" Bomb al Jazeera," Downing Street Memo: Brave Bloggers Take On Blair And Bush ...

..... along with more than 200 other bloggers with the balls to stand up [and be counted] to the blood-brothers, Blair and Bush.

Call it putting one's money where one's mouth is. Call it publishing and being damned. Call it what you will. But remember -- a rose by other any name.

For the benefit of any readers who may have recently been incarcerated in a covert CIA camp somewhere in Europe, or unfortunate enough to have been comatose, or have been suffering any similarly severe sort of involuntary incapacitation -- here's the bones of the brave bloggers' beef.

Another block busting briefing from Downing Street has, just lately, been leaked to the British press -- wherein written records of another rabid, Bush 'brainwave' were revealed.

G.W.B. wanted to send USAF bombers into the airspace of one of his sovereign state allies [Qatar], to blast to bits the building housing the mainstream Arab, al-Jazeera media -- along with any number of innocent journalist employees who happened to be there at the time. Yep, really. You know, an assortment of no account working class 'expendables' -- just like you and me.

But apparently Tony Blair managed, for once, to talk some sense into him and talk him out of actioning his appalling plan.

The two true-Brits brave enough to break this shocking story are currently charged with breaking the 'Official Secrets Act' and threatened with possible imprisonment -- in spite of Tony Blair simultaneously insisting that the incident in question is a merely a conspiracy theory. Eh?

But, erm, excuse us -- at the risk of being branded bloody barmy, couldn't that kind of crap quite rightly be categorized as a complete contradiction in terms? Well, you go figure for yourself.

Take a look at what today's London Times newspaper took the time and trouble to tell -- to the whole wide world.

Britain --- " The Times " --- December 03, 2005

The week on the web - By Rhys Blakely

Bloggers take on Blair over Bush's 'al-jazeera memo'

NEARLY 200 British bloggers say that they are ready to break the Official Secrets Act and go to jail to publish a memo that allegedly proves that President Bush wanted to bomb al-Jazeera in Qatar.

"We’re finding it hard to keep track of those wanting to join us. We appreciate the support and you look like a fine bunch of potential cell mates," the BlairWatch website at the centre of the campaign said.

The bloggers' strategy could complicate the position of Lord Goldsmith, the Attorney- General, who warned the media not to publish the document.

Being seen to send hundreds of ordinary people to prison over the matter could prove politically suicidal for the Government.

Read the rest here, then check out the lengthening list of bloggers prepared to publish right here.

** And, ahem -- scroll down the list a bit and see especially -- signee # 76.

So lets close with a couple of clear cut challenges, shall we?

1./ Any more bloggers out there care to come and join us ?

2./ Premier Blair and President Bush, we bloggers are ready when you are. So what are you waiying for ?

Bring it on !

Iraq, America And Ghosts Of Christmas Past, Present And Future ...

As the occasional cowboy from Crawford and claimed Commander-in-Chief, continues spouting lies & crap to his young military captive audiences, dark December dawns again. And another awful year of G.W.B's abominable auspices is almost over. But before it's finally finished, first there's Christmas to come and the accompanying cruel cold of winter.

And those forgotten armies of ex US military, disabled and/or homeless vets won't be much looking forward to the worsening weather on it's way -- nor indeed to the candy coated, hypocritical Christmas cant of the counterfeit Christians currently conning an awful lot of unquestioning Americans.

Bush never mentions in any of his abysmal addresses to his young uniformed audiences, what always awaits so many of them once they've served their purpose. Nor does he ever endeavour to show he gives a shit for any existing vet victims -- so many of them still suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune on a daily basis -- so long after arriving again, in the country they confidently but mistakenly, counted on to care for them.

Thankfully, there are still plenty of people in America who still have hearts -- and souls and consciences. Sadly, such fine folk mostly never make big news -- or to put it more precisely, hardly ever make any news at all.

Take for example 'Enigma4Ever' -- a regular reader of Richard & This Old Brit's blog. This lovely lady blogs too - at 'Watergate Summer'. Here's a quick cut & paste of her latest post.

GIFTS FROM IRAQ :ROAD KILL AND THE WALKING WOUNDED

We have seen a lot of the King giving speeches and posing coquetteishly for the Camera these past few weeks, always with the Militarized Backdrop in full effect. ( I don't think I have ever seen him pose with any wounded yet- at least not recently).And as more die and are wounded, and more Real Veterans demand a Timetable, and to bring the troops home, there are some issues that have been left unacknowledged.

I am talking about the Gifts of War- this War, the Walking Wounded and the Road Kill that are invisible to the King.

This post covers several issues: Homeless Vets, PTSD, and Medical Care for our Reservists. It is about the Abandonment of these issues and people, and the hidden heartache that stretches across Our Country. Again it is indeed a post told as a true story, about the real people that are effected. So it is dedicated to Jarrad and Robert and Iris, my neighbors, just three of my Homeless neighbors, and dedicated to what they have silently Endured. And Robert's story is shared below.

I think he would want people to know that sometimes things are not as they appear, and that No One should be Invisible in America .

I saw King George's Delusional Speech Today , yet another pissed petulent tirade, and I listened to him pontificate His Victory Plans and Schemes . I don't think he knows about the VETS, and I know he doesn't know Robert and the 74,000 PTSD Sufferers, and the Ticket to Hell he has given them.

This is Robert's Story, his Reality ............

So here's hoping we've hooked you and you're rearing to read the rest.

Hit the link and hop on over to tell her that you care, too. http://watergatesummer.blogspot.com/