Free Republic

HILO -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has wrapped up its investigation of depleted uranium at Pohakuloa Training Area and Schofield Barracks by issuing a "Notice of Violation." The notice, issued Monday, states a Security Level III violation occurred, for which the base civil penalty is $3,500. But the regulatory agency gave the Army credit because neither Schofield Barracks nor Pohakuloa has previously been the subject of "escalated enforcement action" and the Army identified the contamination and notified the NRC, the notice said. "The NRC has concluded that the Army has provided adequate information regarding the reason for the violation, the...

Today the U.S. wages war against Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya and Yemen. In truth, these are imperial wars of domination for control of resources, and strategic regions of the world, but disguised as noble causes. What about Hawaii? According to a RAND report released on June 1, 2011 military spending in Hawaii totals more than $6.5 billion annually; $12.2 billion in cumulative effect; 101,533 jobs. Not a word about the COSTS of military occupation of Hawaii, the poisoning of the land, water, etc. The big news: Governor Abercrombie wants to to move tens of thousands of Marines from Okinawa to...

General Wiercinski’s Big Lie! Lt. General Francis J. Wiercinski, Commanding General U.S. Army Pacific, was quoted in an Associated Press news story on June 19, 2011 as saying: “… I don’t think anybody does it better than us when it comes to protecting the environment and being cognizant and protective of cultural sites.” Adolf Hitler coined the phrase “The Big Lie” in 1925 for a lie so “colossal” that no one would believe that someone “could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously.” Sixteen years later, on Jan. 12, 1941 Hitler’s propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, wrote: “When one...

Honolulu residents, Ret. Army Colonel and State Dept. diplomat, Ann Wright, and Carol Murry, a public health doctor, will be part of the upcoming 2nd Freedom Flotilla, due to sail in late June for Gaza on the U.S. flagged ship –The Audacity of Hope.

“Love your enemies!” Don’t execute anyone!

Targeted assassinations violate well-established principles of international law. Also called political assassinations, they are extrajudicial executions. These are unlawful and deliberate killings carried out by order of, or with the acquiescence of, a government, outside any judicial framework. Extrajudicial executions are unlawful, even in armed conflict. In a 1998 report, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions noted that “extrajudicial executions can never be justified under any circumstances, not even in time of war.” The U.N. General Assembly and Human Rights Commission, as well as Amnesty International, have all condemned extrajudicial executions. End All the Wars!...

On the announced killing of Osama bin Laden “I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” — Martin Luther King, Jr. It Was Vengeance, Not Justice Shot In Cold Blood Bin Laden ‘Was Not Armed and Did Not Use Wife as Human Shield’ Read on , there's more !

Malu ‘Aina calls for an immediate end to the U.S. illegal wars of occupation, and major cuts in military spending and increased spending to meet human needs. Locally, we call for an end to all live-fire and activities at PTA that create dust. Comprehensive independent monitoring and clean up of DU, unexploded ordnance, and other military toxins should be done at military expenses. The entire process needs to be transparent and have the confidence of the community, which to date is sorely lacking. Political candidates and citizens alike — where are our voices on these important issues? Contact: Malu `Aina...

Malu ‘Aina condemns Israel’s attack on the Gaza Freedom Aid Flotilla that reportedly has killed more than a dozen people and wounded dozens more. According to Jim Albertini, spokesperson for Malu ‘Aina, “Hawaii resident, retired Army Col. and State Dept. Diplomat, Ann Wright, was on board one of the six Freedom Flotilla boats reportedly attacked in international waters by the Israeli military. Ann recently spoke at a Malu ‘Aina sponsored event on Hawaii Island about Freedom for Palestine. Malu ‘Aina condemns Israel’s attack on the Gaza Freedom Aid Flotilla that reportedly has killed more than a dozen people and wounded...

Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Albertini was arrested for public intoxication Thursday night in Knoxville, sheriff’s officials said. According to a corporal at the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Detention Facility, Albertini was booked into the jail at 1:07 a.m. He was released at 6:04 a.m. today after his arraignment, and the charges were dismissed. It was not immediately clear where Albertini was arrested or the actions that led up to the arrest. A message left with the Albertini campaign was not immediately returned this morning. State Republican Party officials and the sheriff’s department also didn’t immediately return calls from The Associated...