Iraqi Olympians Going to Beijing

It is unfortunate that the Olympic Games is so marred by politics. For some of the Iraqi athletes, permission to participate was granted just on the last day of July:

“BEIJING — It ought to be welcome news that the International Olympic Committee has revoked a ban on Iraq’s participation in the 2008 Summer Games and allowed some few Iraqi athletes to compete in Beijing.”

link: Iraqi athletes again Beijing-bound

For Iraqi sprinter, Dana Hussain, these Olympic Games is an opportunity of a lifetime - in both a literal and figurative sense. She places the whole participation in the forthcoming Beijing Games into perspective: “”In this horrible situation,” she said, “who can say I’ll even be alive in 2012?”“. This is their moment, as athletes - and not as representatives of political regimes.

Catherine Forsythe

Proposal to Save Tax Dollars by Releasing Prisoners

In sociological text books, there are discussions and community comparisons about how cultures can save money by increasing education and preventing crime. Housing citizens in prisons is a costly social protection. There are arguments that the costs of prevention means a saving over maintaining a multitude of prisons.

Politicians have taken this preventative / saving notion and presented it with a slight variation:

“PROVIDENCE (AP) — Lawmakers from California to Kentucky are trying to save money with a drastic and potentially dangerous budget-cutting proposal: releasing tens of thousands of convicts from prison, including drug addicts, thieves and even violent criminals.

Officials acknowledge that the idea carries risks, but they say they have no choice because of huge budget gaps brought on by the slumping economy.”

link: Millions saved if inmates freed

The social risks would be astronomical. - Perhaps these lawmakers would consider a gradual community release program. There could be gradual release / community work programs established in Baghdad, Iraq. Assistance is required in reconstruction and road works projects. It would be a way for these prisoners to make a social contribution. Of course, extended stays would be encouraged.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster

Half of Iraq Deaths Preventable

There are some news items that every American should read. This is one of them:

“(CNN) — Casualties could have been reduced by half among Marines in Iraq if specially armored vehicles had been deployed more quickly in some cases, a report to the Pentagon says.”

link: Marines want probe into armored vehicle program delays

The number of deaths and injuries to the military personnel number in the thousands. These are neighbors - friends - family… men and women asked to fight in a foreign war without the proper equipment. It wasn’t that the technology was not available. It was that the military did not have the necessary protection.

It is unconscionable. It is obscene. It should be criminal. And in the tradition of governmental obfuscation and ducking responsibility, there are demands for a investigation. A probe. Perhaps there will be another report. May there be a special place in hell for people who do not protect those men and women who stand and serve their country.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster