New details on Tillman's death

There has been speculation that Pat Tillman was murdered -- either because of his high-profile and his dissatisfaction with the U.S. mission in Afghanistan and Iraq, or because his fellow soldiers disliked him enough to commit fratricide. The Pentagon hasn't done much to put down those rumors, and in fact its stonewalling and coverup have only fed suspicions.

For those not entirely familiar with the saga, wikipedia has a balanced summary.

Recall, too, that Tillman had scheduled a meeting with Noam Chomsky after he was to return from Afghanistan, and that he was urging soldiers in his platoon to vote for John Kerry. Hmmm. Not quite the team player the Bush cultists hoped for, eh?

This latest story adds more fuel to the fire:

The documents show that a doctor who autopsied Tillman's body was suspicious of the three gunshot wounds to the forehead. The doctor said he took the unusual step of calling the Army's Human Resources Command and was rebuffed. He then asked an official at the Army's Criminal Investigation Division if the CID would consider opening a criminal case.

"He said he talked to his higher headquarters and they had said no," the doctor testified.

Also according to the documents, investigators pressed officers and soldiers on a question Mrs. Tillman has been asking all along.

"Have you, at any time since this incident occurred back on April 22, 2004, have you ever received any information even rumor that Cpl. Tillman was killed by anybody within his own unit intentionally?" an investigator asked then-Capt. Richard Scott.

Scott, and others who were asked, said they were certain the shooting was accidental.

Put yourself in the shoes of the hawks in the Pentagon. What would you do if one of your poster-boys for the war turned against the mission, became openly and vocally critical of the war and its architects, and started arranging for a meeting with one of the most visible and respected critics of the war and American imperialism?

Would setting up a "friendly fire" incident really be unthinkable?

Norwegian UFO-mystery solved?

I can't quite say this comment explains anything:

According to the scientists, it is now clear that the phenomen is not UFO-related, but are luminous balls containing some form of energy.

But it's a fascinating story nonetheless. Thanks to Jeff Wells for catching it.

Norwegian scientists now believe they are nearing a solution to the Hessdalen UFO-mystery which has puzzled experts for more than 25 years.

The so-called Hessdalen lights have been seen ever since the 1940's and have since 1984 been monitored by volunteers.

Hessdalen is a small valley in the central part of Norway. At the end of 1981 through 1984, residents of the Valley became concerned and alarmed about strange, unexplained lights that appeared at many locations throughout the Valley. Hundreds of lights were observed. At the peak of activity there were about 20 reports a week.

Project Hessdalen was established in the summer of 1983. A field investigation was carried out between 21st of January and 26th of February 1984. Fifty-three light observations were made during the field investigation.

An automatic measurement station was put up in Hessdalen in August 1998.

According to the scientists, it is now clear that the phenomen is not UFO-related, but are luminous balls containing some form of energy.

- We have pictures which show the optical spectre, and can therefore determine which elements they are made of, says researcher Erling Strand of the Oestfold College.

However, he says much work remains before he is ready to give the final answer.

Chertoff Press Conference -- Subliminal Nazi Fear-Mongering?

Check out this clip from my local news station, in which Michal Chertoff ludicrously trumpets his "gut feeling" about an impending Al-Qaida strike:


Chertoff Has "Gut Feeling" Al-Qaida Will Strike

A perceptive friend of mine pointed out the spine of one of the books on the shelf behind Chertoff. He paused the video and I took some shots with my phone.



And a closeup:



Some subliminal Nazi fear-mongering, or just a coincidence?

Suppression of Dissent: The White House Manual

I've been stuffed into several "designated protest zones" in the past few years.

Now you, too, can read the effin manual for stifling dissent at presiduncial appearances. Go ahead. Download the heavily-redacted PDF.

Here are some interesting tidbits:

The formation of "rally squads" is a common way to prepare for demonstrators by countering their message. . . .

The squads should be instructed always to look for demonstrators. The rally squad's task is to use their signs and banners as shields between the demonstrators and the main press platform. If the demonstrators are yelling, rally squads can begin and lead supportive chants to drown out teh protestors (USA!, USA!, USA!). As a last resort security should remove the demonstrators from the event site. The rally squads can include, but are not limited to, college/young republican organizations, local athletic teams, and fraternities/sororities.

Hmmm... roaming bands of jocks looking for sly, undercover protesters? How do they recognize them? Unruly hair? Wrinkled clothing? Hairy legs? Gaydar? A mad twinkle in the eye? Maybe an obvious disgust at the sight of people cheering for the criminal leader of an atavistic, blood-drenched death cult?