By Steve Clemens, Alliant Action
December 10, 2004

A jury of six women returned a verdict of “not guilty” in the trial of 4 Christian peacemakers in Minneapolis today. John and Marie Braun, Carol Masters, and Steve Clemens were charged with criminal trespass on July 21, 2004 when they attempted to enter the corporate headquarters of Alliant TechSystems in Edina, MN. The four were attempting to deliver a letter and documents to corporate officers concerning “Employee Liabilities of Weapons Manufacturers Under International Law.” After requesting to meet with one of four corporate officers, the four were arrested after they refused to leave the premises without at least an appointment to meet with them at a future date.

If convicted, the defendants could have faced up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. They chose to request a jury trial instead of accepting an offer to plead guilty in exchange for “community service”. Speaking to a jury, they felt, can help spread the word about International Law and the realities of these weapons.

By Christian Peacemaker Teams
December 14, 2004

Trauma to Soldiers Underreported

The Pentagon deliberately downplays the trauma that the Iraq war causes to soldiers and their families. Although, in late November 2004, the U.S. military’s Stars and Stripes newspaper reported that nearly 21,000 U.S. soldiers had been treated at Landstuhl Regional Medical Centre in Germany, the Pentagon’s official count listed only 9,300 U.S. troops wounded in action. This number is nearly 11,500 less than the Stars and Stripes report, because the Pentagon only lists combat-related injuries. In November the Department of Defense sent CBS News a statement reading: “More than 15,000 troops with so-called ‘non-battle’ injuries and diseases have been evacuated from Iraq.”

Dahr Jamail

11 Dec.
“My list is now 32,” says Salam as he arrives at the hotel, “Now 32 of my friends have been killed.”

He still has tears in his eyes, even though he’s being stoic. Another of his friends has been shot and killed.

“You know I feel like shit every time I add someone to my list. Sometimes it feels like it is every day,” he says.

Welcome to Iraq. Where the news gets better with each passing day.