KILL LISTS AND SUCH

 

• An elementary school teacher in Maine had to go to the doctor one day recently so a substitute teacher was brought in to run the class.  The kids went wild.  One of the 3rd grade children was found holding a "Kill list" with several names on it.  The child was suspended from school.  Not sure if professional counseling is being offered for the boy and his reportedly dysfunctional family.  Sadly many such counseling programs in the state are being defunded.  Where did the child learn about kill lists?
• Before he leaves office Obama's Secretary of War Leon Panetta is out pumping up the jam for NATO expansion into the Asia-Pacific. "In particular, I strongly believe that Europe should join the US in increasing and deepening our defense engagement with the Asia-Pacific region," Panetta said while recently in London. The U.S. "pivot" to Asia has caused concern in Europe, he acknowledged. "But today those concerns should be put to rest," Panetta said. "Global security is not a zero-sum game, but neither are the security commitments of the US. More importantly, Europe’s economic and security future is -- much like the United States' -- increasingly tied to Asia. Panetta said after spending the week in Southern Europe, and continuing to deal with budget uncertainty at home, "I am very clear-eyed about the fiscal pressures nations are facing." NATO nations are facing a crisis, Panetta said. "But we must never allow any crisis to undermine our collective resolve."
• There will be a Rally, March, and Die-In Against Drone Wars in Washington, D.C., next Monday, on inauguration day.  The theme is "I have a drone" on a take-off of MLK's "I have a dream" speech.  The schedule includes: 9-10 a.m. Rally with prominent speakers and music at Meridian Hill Park (lower level) at Florida Avenue and 16th Street NW, Washington DC.  At 10 a.m. parade forms and marches down 16th Street NW to K Street NW. Contact 202-422-6275. See more here
•  At our Maine VFP meeting the other night Tom Whitney passed around an action alert about Colombian political prisoner David Ravelo. Colombia's prison population has increased by 30% during the current presidency of Juan Manuel Santos. David Ravelo is one of 10,000 political prisoners and is a leading human rights activist. The internal state of siege within which Ravelo is a victim is largely directed at clearing rural areas for exploitation of natural resources and industrial-scale agriculture, projects funded by foreign investment. Tom invited us to add our names to a letter in support of Ravelo's release from prison. Contact Tom directly to add your name atwhit@roadrunner.com