US fines Human Shields
- Started
- Last post
- 39 Responses
- Fanco
In this week's Maclean's , a Canadian weekly magazine, there is an atricle by a young record store owner from Milwaukee, Wis.
Ryan Clancy, 26, went to Iraq for three weeks as a human shield. he did this because of his believes about the war. on his return he was called by the Treasury Department, saying that he owed them $10,000 with no appeal, no due process and that they would start seizing assets if he didn't pay.
"I asked them to put all that in writin and they refused. All they gave me was my case number. They won't put anything on paper because they don't want me to give it to the media"here is the link:
http://www.macleans.ca/switchboa…
what do you guys think of this?
- JazX0
uhhhhhhhhhmmm not such a good idea to become a human shield I don't think, whether you think it's right or wrong man.
- save0
sorry,couldn't be bothered reading it!
- Fanco0
yeah i know its not a good idea. your life is in danger.
but to the point that your government is hassling you just because you have different believes? its going a bit too far in my opinion
- JazX0
yeah I think he is NUTZ to out it simply.
- jevad0
bastards
- JazX0
ouch
- lowimpakt0
its a very very bad sign for so called 'democracy'. Will they start giving fines to the NGO's and charities who are woking to lessen the suffering of the Iraqi people.
If it gets followed through its opening up dangerous precedents for the removal of many civil liberties such as the right to protest and the right to so called free speech. Its especially odd the way they wont produce their claim in writing. Let me know who this develops and I will help in making a fuss about this over here and wherever possible. Im talking about writing letters to embassies etc. using many of the independant media channels to get the word out.
the lines between democracy and fascism are being blurred and if people dont realise it they will wake up in 5 years time and wonder where their civil liberties have gone. p.s. this makes me v.angry
- fusion410
Governments are evil whether they are run by someone named Hussien or Bush.
- nosaj0
Without addressing whether the war was right or wrong, this is treason. If you're going to switch over to the other side during war time, then don't expect to come back without repercussions. It could and should have been a much worse...
That said, I do think it was a brave thing they did. More people should stand up for what they believe in.
- MX_OnD0
"Land of the Free".......
- Nairn0
"sorry,couldn't be bothered reading it!"
But you bothered to state you didn't? Why?
Despite not particularily agreeing with the Human Shield idea at the time, I think it's shameful and disgustingly narrow minded for the American state to react to that.
'Land of the free'.
- jevad0
"this is treason"
haha - Bullshit!
hahahah
- thosethat0
do what we want you to do or we'll fine you/jail you/shoot you/bomb you...
in the name of freedom...
- JazX0
fusion41, you couldn't be more right!
- MX_OnD0
nosaj, treason would have been fighting for the other side.....
considering that the "war" wasn't alleged to have been on Iraq but on Saddam I don't see your point as being valid.
Sorry m'n
- lowimpakt0
acting as a human shield to protect civilians isnt joining the 'other side' and its certainly not treason. such right-wing bullshit..
Many of the human shields were positioned in hospitals and schools and other civic buildings. they were probably trying to lessen the damage that the bombing has been causing continually for the last ten years.
- unknown0
im afraid thats the way western governments are going.
I went to protest about human rights when the chinese premier came to London, and to stop the the premier or the tv cameras seeing us they parked vans in front of us, and refused to let us move.
fact is if you disagree with the government, you name and numbers will be noted.
In america its even worse as bush has a handle on the media too through FOX (is that right)?
this week in London we had an international arms fair, and the protestors were all arrested using the anti terror law passed after 9.11.
what the fuck is that about. right to freedom of speech my arse.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/engla…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/engla…
cunts the lot of them
- JazX0
yep that's a better reason even. Human Rights violations.
- balb0a0
so i just checked the "official" definition of "treason" in the dictionary...
Trea"son, n.
1. The offense of attempting to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance, or of betraying the state into the hands of a foreign power; disloyalty; treachery.
"In monarchies, the killing of the sovereign, or an attempt to take his life, is treason. In England, to imagine or compass the death of the king, or of the queen consort, or of the heir apparent to the crown, is high treason, as are many other offenses created by statute."
"In the United States, treason is confined to the actual levying of war against the United States, or to an adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort."
...that last bit (giving them aid and comfort) is an eye-opener, and kind of unsettling. It is basically saying that you can protest a war on your own turf, but if you go to an enemies' land to peacefully try to prevent casualties, or even help people, then you're committing treason.
yikes. so much for a good deed...
- unknown0
and no thats not treason. treason would be taking up arms against america if you were american.
or if you killed a swan in england.