Ex-Soldier in Nude Photos Criticized

This year thousands of private soldiers will be deployed in conflicts worldwide. These individuals, known as private security contractors, are changing the face of modern warfare. But to those at home, their world and influence remains a mystery.Who are these security contractors?What do they do?Why do they do it?Shadow Company, by Nick Bicanic and Jason Bourque, is the groundbreaking feature-length documentary that reveals the origins and destinations of these modern-day mercenaries.In the late 20th Century the distinction between soldier and mercenary became blurred. The recent use of private military companies (PMC) in Iraq has been more extensive (and more high profile) than at any time in modern history. The issues raised by the brutal killing of four PMC staff in Fallujah in April 2004 and the subsequent reaction of the general public and the US Army make it clear that these “contractors” are not merely workers in a foreign land. James Ashcroft, a 28 year-old employee of a large PMC currently under contract in Iraq, is our guide to this world. James’s job differs little from his colleagues in the Coalition Forces -- there are many similarities in loyalty, honor, code of ethics, chain of command and opera- tional conduct—but James’s salary, for one thing, tops that of a US soldier three times over. Through letters, photos and personal video, James provides an intimate introduction into his life as a modern day “soldier for hire”.To counterpoint James’ personal views – directors Nick Bicanic and Jason Bourque traveled the globe, interviewing PMC staff, owners and lobbyists, former mercenaries, academics, jour- nalists and top authors. They complimented these interviews with pop culture representations of mercenaries culled from TV shows, video games and, of course, action adventure films. As a result, Shadow Company contextualizes, at both a personal and a global level, the role of private soldiers and PMCs in modern day conflicts. The film explores the moral and ethical is- sues “private military” solutions create for Western governments and the United Nations and addresses the risks of allowing profit-motivated corporations into the business of war.Interviewees include: * Alan Bell, president of Globe Risk Holdings and a global authority on security related matters * Phil Lancaster, ex-Canadian Army and a UN forces leader in Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Afghanistan * Cobus Claassens, a veteran of the South African military and current Security Contractor * Peter Singer of the Brookings Institute, author of Corporate Warriors * Madelaine Drohan, author of Making a Killing – How and Why Corporations use Armed Force to do Business * Robert Young Pelton, author of World’s Most Dangerous Places, adventurer and acquaintance of many a miscreant/warlord/mercenary.

From 1984's The Warrior's self-tittle smash-hit "The Warrior" by Scandal feat. Patty Smyth.Review Band.- Scandal was a rock band from the 1980s fronted by Patty Smyth. Formed in 1982, the band's two biggest hits were "Goodbye to You" (1982 - #65 U.S.) and "The Warrior" (1984 - #7 U.S.)Guitarist Zack Smith formed the mainstream pop/rock band Scandal after playing in various groups, including ones that featured Dee Murray and Davey Johnson of the Elton John band. Scandal's lineup was secured in 1982, with the addition of vocalist Patty Smyth; the rest of the band included bassist Ivan Elias, guitarist Keith Mack, keyboardist Benji King, and drummer Frankie La Rocka. After opening for acts like the Kinks and Hall & Oates, the band released their debut single, "Goodbye to You," in 1982; their self-titled debut album followed soon afterward. "The Warrior" was released two years later. The title track was a Top Ten hit and the album went platinum. However, Smyth left for a solo career the following year, causing the band to break up. Review Patty Smyth.- Patty Smyth (born June 26, 1957 in New York City, New York, USA) first enjoyed mainstream success in 1982 as vocalist and lead singer of the band Scandal. That band's self-titled debut release became Columbia Records' biggest selling EP ever, and was followed by a further hit in 1984, "The Warrior" reached number seven on US Pop charts.In the mid-'80s, Smyth became friends with Valerie Bertinelli and her then-husband, Eddie Van Halen. When David Lee Roth left the band Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen invited Smyth to replace Roth as the band's lead singer. Smyth declined the offer.Smyth dated punk musician Richard Hell for two years; their daughter, Ruby, was born in 1985. In April 1997, Smyth married John McEnroe; the couple have two daughters, Anna and Ava.Following two solo albums in 1987 and 1992, she secured a further hit record via a duet with Don Henley of The Eagles; "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" peaked at number 2 in the US charts and went gold. Its parent album, Patty Smyth, also went gold and featured an additional Top-40 hit with "No Mistakes", as well as "I Should Be Laughing", a minor hit. She had previously recorded with Henley as a backing vocalist on several songs on his albums Building The Perfect Beast and The End of the Innocence.She subsequently co-wrote the 1994 song "Look What Love Has Done", nominated for a Grammy and an Academy Award after its inclusion on the soundtrack to Junior. Further soundtrack commissions resulted in her penning the theme tune, "Wish I Were You", to the 1998 hit movie Armageddon.As a result of her renewed popularity, Columbia issued a retrospective album, Greatest Hits -- Featuring Scandal. Two new songs were included, including "Carnival Lights". The song, co-written with Bob Thiele Jr., concerned her mother's, Betty Smyth, years as a trapeze artist. Smyth set out to promote the album on an acoustic tour, employing ex-Bullet Lavolta guitarist Duke Roth as her sideman.Note: Patty Smyth is sometimes confused with Patti Smith, the early punk musician.

Dedicated U.S. Park Ranger Russell Varon (series star EDDIE CIBRIAN) is a divorced father of two kids--Jesse (series star EVAN PETERS) and Rose (series star ARIEL GADE)--and is expecting a third child with his new wife, local television reporter Larkin Groves (series star LISA SHERIDAN). For Russell, who works with fellow Ranger Mona Gomez (series star AISHA HINDS), a devastating hurricane and its mysterious aftermath prove to be merely the beginning of a long journey into the unknown. Always skeptical about the paranoid conspiracy theories of his wayward brother-in-law, Dave (series star TYLER LABINE), Russell may have to revise his thinking when a number of bizarre occurrences start taking place in his community. Although young Rose claims to have seen hundreds of lights floating towards the water during the storm, Russell initially dismisses her claim--until he begins to suspect that something is very wrong with his ex-wife, Dr. Mariel Underlay (series star KARI MATCHETT), Rose and Jesse's mother. The morning after the storm, Mariel is found naked in the water--with no memory of what transpired the night before. As the tiny Everglades town of Homestead, Florida, struggles to rebuild itself, Sheriff Tom Underlay (series star WILLIAM FICHTNER)--a former widower who is now married to Mariel and raising his daughter, Kira (series star ALEXIS DZIENA)--suspiciously orders the entire area quarantined. Russell begins to investigate the strange goings on and unwittingly begins a fight for the survival of his family, his community, and what might ultimately be the human race. Cast: Eddie Cibrian, Alexis Dziena, William Fichtner, Ariel Gade, Aisha Hinds, Tyler Labine, Kari Matchett, Evan Peters, Lisa Sheridan

On July 11, 2007, the House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee held a public hearing in the Rayburn Building, on Capitol Hill. The hearing was chaired by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI). It dealt with, inter alia, the recent controversial commutation by President George W. Bush of the 30 month federal prison sentence of the convicted felon, Lewis “Scooter” Libby, an ex-top aide to V.P. Dick Cheney. Libby was recently convicted on four counts of perjury and obstruction of justice charges by a federal jury. He is suspected of covering up for Cheney in a scheme to smear the Iraqi War critic, ex-U.S. Ambassador Joe Wilson. For background see: http://baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display/15293/index.php. Testifying and/or making comments in opposition to Libby’s commutation from differing perspectives, in order of their appearances on this video, were: Ambassador Joe Wilson, Assistant Federal Public Defender Tom Cochran, Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), Professor Douglas A. Berman and Rep. William Delahunt (D-MA).

April 27: A man is accused of distributing nude photos of his ex-wives around an Indiana neighborhood. WFIE's Marianne Lyles reports.

Psychotic Air Force General unleashes ingenious foolproof and irrevocable scheme sending bombers toattack Russia. U.S. President works with Soviet premier in a desperate effort to save the world.

Psychotic Air Force General unleashes ingenious foolproof and irrevocable scheme sending bombers toattack Russia. U.S. President works with Soviet premier in a desperate effort to save the world.

Saddam Hussein's Baath Party & Baathists return to Government BBC NEWS World Middle East Bush praises Iraqi Baathist law US President George W Bush backs an Iraqi law to allow Saddam Hussein s Baath party to return to public life ews bbc co uk hi world middle east stm BBC News Online World Middle East Bush praises Iraqi Bush praises Iraqi Baathist law Soldiers in Iraqi army US President George W Bush has praised a new law in Iraq that will allow former members of Saddam news bbc co uk nolpda ukfs news hi newsid stm More results from news bbc co uk New Baath law an important step Bush ABC News (Australian US President George W Bush has praised a new law in Iraq that will allow former members of Saddam Hussein s Baath Party to return to public life abc net au news stories Australia Network News New Baath law an important step Bush Australia Network News New Baath law an important step Bush australianetwork news stories asiapacific stories NPR Bush Prods Maliki to Let Baathists Back In As part of his new Iraq strategy President Bush is asking Iraqi government to review and amend de Baathification law that ousted thousands of npr org templates story story php storyId Iraq reaches out to Baathists with law overturning Bush's 'biggest A law banning tens of thousands of Baath Party members from holding government and military jobs is to be revised this week allowing them to return to timesonline co uk tol news world iraq article ece Iraq eases curb on ex officials of Baath party International Iraq eases curb on ex officials of Baath party President George W Bush traveling in Kuwait and Bahrain on Saturday praised vote calling it "an iht articles africa iraq php DefenseLink News Article Bush Says Terrorists Baathist Loyalists President Bush told world in his radio address to nation today that terrorists and Saddam Hussein s Baathist loyalists will not weaken defenselink mil news newsarticle aspx id Bush praises Iraqi Baathist law News photos topics and quotes Bush praises Iraqi Baathist law related articles blog posts photos quotes and links to related topics daylife story NLfcJ Lm sw lead article WhirledView Iraq s Baath Party Revival to Follow Bush Model Baath is a red flag We must call ourselves Republican Party of Iraq and display pictures of Bush where we used to hang photos of Sadaam whirledview typepad whirledview baatha party re html Iraq Eases Curb on Ex Officials of Baath Party New York Times Iraq Eases Curb on Ex Officials of Baath Party Shawn Thew European Pressphoto Agency President Bush after visiting Kuwait with King Hamad bin Isa nytimes world middleeast iraq html ref middleeast Iraq Eases Curb for Former Officials of Hussein's Party New York A measure to allow former officials from Baath Party to apply for government Since then Bush administration has urged Iraqi government to nytimes world middleeast iraq html More results from nytimes Bush appoints a Terrorist as US Ambassador to Iraq Bush administration has appointed US Permanent Representative to United While Administration s policy with regard to Baathist party globalresearch ca articles CHO E html Bush praises Iraqi Baathist law NewsAlerts Bush praises Iraqi Baathist law BBC US President George W Bush has praised a new law in Iraq that will allow former members of Saddam Hu ssein s Baath newsalerts full e bush praises iraqi baathist law html h news Bush praises Iraqi Baathist law Bush praises Iraqi Baathist law posted by hnews hnews net News Bush praises Iraqi Baathist law html Iraq lets Baathists go back to work Yahoo! News NEWS ALERTS Get an alert when there are new stories about President George W Bush Nuri al Maliki Baath Party Baath party Barham Salih More alerts news yahoo s nm ts nm iraq dc Bush praises Iraqi Baathist law Bush praises Iraqi Baathist law published less than hour ago US President George W Bush backs an Iraqi law to allow Saddam Hussein s Baath party to newsonfeeds article Bush praises Iraqi Baathist law Iraqi Parliament to Let Some Ex Baath Officials Return Bush administration had urged Iraqi government to pass such a who had worked against early US efforts to ease Baathists back into government redorbit news international iraqi parliament to let some exbaath officials return index html Bush praises Iraqi Baathist law Presscue Bush praises Iraqi Baathist law Sun BBC News US President George W Bush backs an Iraqi law to allow Saddam Hussein s Baath party to presscue node Iraq to reinstate ex Baathists NEWS au Baghdad Iraq to reinstate ex Baathists Bahrain Bush gets warm welcome from Gulf ally Pakistan Troops kill militants in border region news au story html

Scientology Faces Criminal Charges Wednesday September 5, 2007 3:46 AM By CONSTANT BRAND Associated Press Writer BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - A Belgian prosecutor on Tuesday recommended that the U.S.-based Church of Scientology stand trial for fraud and extortion, following a 10-year investigation that concluded the group should be labeled a criminal organization. Scientology said it would fight the criminal charges recommended by investigating prosecutor Jean-Claude Van Espen, who said that up to 12 unidentified people should face charges. Van Espen's probe also concluded that Scientology's Brussels-based Europe office and its Belgian missions conducted unlawful practices in medicine, violated privacy laws and used illegal business contracts, said Lieve Pellens, a spokeswoman at the Federal Prosecutors Office. ``They also face charges of being ... a criminal organization,'' Pellens said in a telephone interview. An administrative court will decide whether to press charges against the Scientologists. In a statement, Scientology's Europe office accused the prosecutor of hounding the organization and said it would contest the charges. ``For the last 10 years, the prosecutor has been using the media, trying to damage the reputation of the Church of Scientology and not being able to put a case in court,'' Scientology said. ``As a consequence, this created a climate of intolerance and discrimination'' in Belgium. It added that the prosecutor's recommendations suggested Scientology was guilty even before a court could hear the charges, making it ``difficult for the Church of Scientology to recover and properly defend (itself) before the court.'' Scientology has been active in Belgium for nearly three decades. In 2003, it opened an international office near the headquarters of the European Union to lobby for its right to be recognized as an official religious group, a status it does not enjoy in Belgium. A Belgian parliamentary committee report in 1997 labeled Scientology a sect and investigations were launched into the group's finances and practices, such as the personality tests conducted on new members. Investigators have spent the past decade trying to determine how far Scientology went in recruiting converts after numerous complaints were filed with police by ex-members alleging they'd been the victims of intimidation and extortion. Justice officials seized financial records, correspondence, bank statements and other papers in their decade-long probe to track the flow of money to Scientology. Police also raided the offices of several consultancy firms linked to the Church of Scientology. Pellens said that prosecutors expect Scientology to mount a strong legal challenge to the charges at a court hearing, which could come in the next two to three months. She acknowledged that could delay the case for years. Belgium, Germany and other European countries have been criticized by the State Department for labeling Scientology as a cult or sect and enacting laws to restrict its operations. The German government considers Scientology a commercial enterprise that takes advantage of vulnerable people. In Washington, the State Department said that if Belgian authorities ``have evidence that individuals violated Belgian law, they should take appropriate legal steps consistent with Belgium's international obligations to protect freedom of thought, conscience and religion.'' ``We would, however, oppose any effort to stigmatize an entire group based solely upon reglious beliefs and would be concerned over infringement of any individual's rights because of religious affiliation,'' the State Department spokesman's office said. The Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology, which is seeking to expand in Europe and be recognized as a legitimate religion, teaches that technology can expand the mind and help solve problems. The church, founded in 1954, counts actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its 10 million members NOTE the cult "claims" 10 million members but would you trust any group who had tom cruise as a member?

A Belgian prosecutor recommended that the U.S.-based Church of Scientology stand trial for fraud and extortion, following a 10-year investigation that concluded the group should be labeled a criminal organization. Scientology said it would fight the criminal charges recommended by investigating prosecutor Jean-Claude Van Espen, who said that up to 12 unidentified people should face charges. Van Espen's probe also concluded that Scientology's Brussels-based Europe office and its Belgian missions conducted unlawful practices in medicine, violated privacy laws and used illegal business contracts, said Lieve Pellens, a spokeswoman at the Federal Prosecutors Office. ``They also face charges of being ... a criminal organization,'' Pellens said in a telephone interview. An administrative court will decide whether to press charges against the Scientologists. In a statement, Scientology's Europe office accused the prosecutor of hounding the organization and said it would contest the charges. ``For the last 10 years, the prosecutor has been using the media, trying to damage the reputation of the Church of Scientology and not being able to put a case in court,'' Scientology said. ``As a consequence, this created a climate of intolerance and discrimination'' in Belgium. It added that the prosecutor's recommendations suggested Scientology was guilty even before a court could hear the charges, making it ``difficult for the Church of Scientology to recover and properly defend (itself) before the court.'' Scientology has been active in Belgium for nearly three decades. In 2003, it opened an international office near the headquarters of the European Union to lobby for its right to be recognized as an official religious group, a status it does not enjoy in Belgium. A Belgian parliamentary committee report in 1997 labeled Scientology a sect and investigations were launched into the group's finances and practices, such as the personality tests conducted on new members. Investigators have spent the past decade trying to determine how far Scientology went in recruiting converts after numerous complaints were filed with police by ex-members alleging they'd been the victims of intimidation and extortion. Justice officials seized financial records, correspondence, bank statements and other papers in their decade-long probe to track the flow of money to Scientology. Police also raided the offices of several consultancy firms linked to the Church of Scientology. Pellens said that prosecutors expect Scientology to mount a strong legal challenge to the charges at a court hearing, which could come in the next two to three months. She acknowledged that could delay the case for years. Belgium, Germany and other European countries have been criticized by the State Department for labeling Scientology as a cult or sect and enacting laws to restrict its operations. The German government considers Scientology a commercial enterprise that takes advantage of vulnerable people. In Washington, the State Department said that if Belgian authorities ``have evidence that individuals violated Belgian law, they should take appropriate legal steps consistent with Belgium's international obligations to protect freedom of thought, conscience and religion.``We would, however, oppose any effort to stigmatize an entire group based solely upon reglious beliefs and would be concerned over infringement of any individual's rights because of religious affiliation'', the State Department spokesman's office said. The Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology, which is seeking to expand in Europe and be recognized as a legitimate religion, teaches that technology can expand the mind and help solve problems. The church, founded in 1954, counts actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its 10 million members NOTE the cult "claims" 10 million members but would you trust any group who had tom cruise as a member?