Rise in Fratricide Seen in the War on Terror [04/30/10] "“Fratricide” — the unintended killing or injury of friendly forces — “is a harsh reality during combat operations,” the study states. “Over the course of 2004-2007, the number of fratricide incidents increased, and experts speculate this is due to the high operational tempo and the reliance on technology during the current war.” ..."
attacks last month. Now, some legal experts are taking turns to punch holes in Koh’s argument. It’s part of an ongoing legal debate about the CIA and U.S. military’s lethal drone operations, which have escalated in recent months — and which have received some technological upgrades. Critics of the program, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have argued that the campaign amounts to a program of targeted killing that may violate the laws of war. In a hearing Wednesday before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s national security and foreign affairs panel, several professors of national security law seemed open to that argument. But there are still plenty of caveats, and the risks to U.S. drone operators are at this point theoretical: Unless a judge in, say, Pakistan, wanted to issue a warrant, it doesn’t seem likely. But that’s just one of the possible legal hazards of robotic warfare. Loyola Law School professor David Glazier, a former Navy surface warfare officer, said the pilots operating the drones from afar could — in theory — be hauled into court in the countries where the attacks occur. That’s because the CIA’s drone pilots aren’t combatants in a legal sense. “It is my opinion, as well as that of most other law-of-war scholars I know, that those who participate in hostilities without the combatant’s privilege do not violate the law of war by doing so, they simply gain no immunity from domestic laws,” he said. “Under this view CIA drone pilots are liable to prosecution under the law of any jurisdiction where attacks occur for any injuries, deaths or property damage they cause,” Glazier continued. “But under the legal theories adopted by our government in prosecuting Guantánamo detainees, these CIA officers as well as any higher-level government officials who have authorized or directed their attacks are committing war crimes.” ..."
[8:20] "Originally aired on 4/14/10 on FoxNews.com "Freedom Watch." Robert Higgs, Senior Fellow at the Independent Institute, discusses the extent to which the federal governments policies inhibit freedom. ..."
Note: Judge Napolitano hosts
"The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider reinstating a $625,000 judgment against Ohio prison officials who were accused of doing nothing to prevent a guard from sexually assaulting a female inmate, and then putting the inmate in solitary confinement for complaining. ..."
Video clip [6:19] "Controversial ads made by the Israel project have shown the comparison of Israel being rocketed by its close Arab neighbors and Washington DC being attacked by Baltimore. The ad was played repeatedly during the Nuclear Security Summit, urging leaders to take action against Iran. The ads main purpose is to make people aware of the serious threat Iran poses to Israel and the United States. ..."
The signs are in a series of four digital billboards ranging in price from $2,500 to $3,500 a month. They offer pre-packaged messages like "Stop Obama Socialism," or one that can be seen at Spaghetti Junction saying "Now it's personal." ..."
The solution to this problem, both in Massachusetts and in ObamaCare, was the individual mandate: Force everyone to pay in, bringing balance to the insurance pool and keeping prices down. Of course, that only works if everyone is actually compelled to purchase insurance. And a report by the Joint Committee on Taxation last week seems to indicate that, as written, the individual mandate may not have any teeth. Here's the relevant passage: ..."