{"id":18818,"date":"2016-01-08T04:23:03","date_gmt":"2016-01-08T12:23:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=18818"},"modified":"2016-01-08T04:23:03","modified_gmt":"2016-01-08T12:23:03","slug":"squatchs-open-thread-07012016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2016\/01\/08\/squatchs-open-thread-07012016\/","title":{"rendered":"Squatch’s Open Thread 07\/01\/2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

No earth shattering events today.  Tomorrow will be busy, and next week unbelievably busy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Short Takes<\/strong><\/span> <\/p>\n

Huffington Post<\/strong><\/span><\/a> — A widely circulated post on social media alleging Syrian refugees receive more money for food than Canadians on welfare is not true, say federal and provincial officials who also debunk other widely circulated claims.<\/p>\n

The Facebook post, which also appears on Instagram, began circulating on Dec.18, and government officials say it is the latest in a series of false claims on social media.  …<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Federal and provincial officials told CBC News that the figures are simply "not correct," and federal monthly support for Syrian refugees is based on provincial and territorial welfare rates.<\/p>\n

The haters are at it again!  Unfortunately, there will always be people who will hate, who cannot see justice except for themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Nation<\/strong><\/span><\/a> — <\/span>From the look of the presidential campaign, war crimes are back on the American agenda. We really shouldn’t be surprised, because American officials got away with it last time—and, in the case of the drone wars, continue<\/a> to get away with it today. Still, there’s nothing like the heady combination of a “populist” Republican race for the presidency and national hysteria over terrorism to make Americans want to reach for those “enhanced interrogation techniques.” That, as critics have long argued, is what usually happens if war crimes aren’t prosecuted.  …<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The recent history of US torture, he [Obama] said, “needs to be understood and accepted. We have to as a country take responsibility for that so hopefully we don’t do it again in the future<\/span><\/strong><\/em>.” <\/p>\n

So what is this "we"?  The average American had no say in the use of torture and other war crimes (ie carpet bombing).  I suppose some might argue that "we the people" elected the leaders, but why?  Surely it wasn't to commit war crimes.  Now the Republican presidential aspirants openly advocate policies to use methods of war classified as war crimes.  The article mentions a report, <\/span>“<\/span>No More Excuses<\/span><\/a>”, <\/span><\/strong>released 01\/12\/2015<\/span> which makes the following recommendations:<\/span><\/p>\n

To US Authorities<\/p>\n