By Brian P. Moore, May 2, 2011

The killing of Osama Bin Laden by U.S. military forces, and the disposing of his body in the sea, did not serve the higher cause of justice, despite President Obama’s sanctimonious words. 

America’s act of killing Mr. Bin Laden, without capturing him, and not holding anyone accountable for the 9/11 crimes, nor allow for a publicly open trial of the individual accused of masterminding the 9/11criminal attacks on America, has caused the nation to lose a chance to demonstrate its sense of fairness and protection of individual democratic rights.

The United States has a long history of not acting fairly in the Middle East, or elsewhere in the world, for that matter.  Once again our country has demonstrated arrogance by giving an order to the military to “not capture the fugitive, but to kill him.” Furthermore, the United States’ administration and military chose to bury Osama Bin Laden at sea, raising doubts once again as to the veracity of America’s actions.  The CIA and Bush Administration lied to Congress regarding weapons of mass destruction, and now the Obama Administration expects the American public to buy its “proof” of Osama’s demise with DNA records and photos only.

The dumping of Bin Laden’s body at sea was a callous and cowardly act by our country, which only demonstrates our fear of a Middle East reaction, and our being frightened of the Arabic world making Osama Ben Laden into a popular hero, with shrines, popular burial processions and of having a prominent martyr’s tomb. 

The United States has a long history of allowing Middle East tyrants and dictators to be propped up by US money and support.  And we have propped dictators up ourselves, making them our puppets and errand boys for America’s self interest and profits.  America’s desire for control, domination, corporate oil and imperialistic ownership continues with this latest action, under the guise of “killing the enemy, and bringing more security to America.”

Thomas C. Veatch wrote in 2003, “The greatest crime ever perpetrated in the name of America is the US government’s long-established practice of installing and supporting so many murderous dictatorships, primarily after the end of colonialism and during the Cold War, with the all-justifying excuse of anti-communism. “  Such examples include Suharto of Indonesia, Augusto Pinochet of Chile, General Videla of Argentina, multiple Guatemalan presidents, the Shah of Iran, Somoza of Nicaragua, Bautista of Cuba, Papa Doc of Haiti, Trujillo of the Dominican Republic and a handful from Eastern Europe as well.

The thirty odd acts of sabotage against Castro’s Cuba, including the Cubana airliner over Barbados in 1976, killing 24 national  Cuban fencing team members, by recently deceased anti-Castro Cuban terrorist Orlando Bosch, and by his errand-boy compatriot, Luis Posades Carrilles, reflect  the double standard policy of the United States concerning terrorism.  President W. H. Bush pardoned Bosch through the intervention of our own former Florida  governor, the president’s son, Jeb Bush; while the American court system recently declared Mr. Posades innocent and free, despite overwhelming evidence and eye-witness testimony to his participation in the Cubana airliner bombing.

President Obama’s act of killing of Osama Bin Laden, and the military’s highly questionable act of disposing of Osama Bin Laden’s body, will only lead to the continued emergence and furtherance of more hateful criminal acts against America, not less.  New attacks will be lead by the likes of more charismatic alienated Osama Bin Laden’s, who also have been adversely affected by America’s destructive policies and actions of greed and self-interest.

Bin Laden’s killing by America, only adds fuel to the fire; plus, jeopardizes America’s safety and standing in the world.

Brian P. Moore, Spring Hill, Florida

Filed under: Category Main | Tags: by Brian
No Comments »

Peace Groups to Continue

Labor Support & Protest Veto

of Florida Speed Train

Saturday

Will Join Teacher Rallies Mar. 4th

(Hernando) & 8th

Coalition Contacts Sheriff Dept. and

Cong. Office Re. Highway

Demonstrations and Meeting w/

Congressman Nugent Re. Issues

Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011, Weeki Wachee/Spring Hill, Florida (Hernando County): 

The NatureCoast Coalition for Peace and Justice and the Florida Peace Action Network will demonstrate this Saturday, Feb. 26th, 10 AM, at the Weeki Wachee intersection (SR 50 & US Hwy 19) to support government unions in Wisconsin and Florida; and will also protest Florida Governor Rick Scott’s recent veto of Florida high-speed train funding.

The two peace groups will also join the teachers union’s planned rally in Hernando County on Friday, March 4^th, as well as a larger metro area demonstration on Tuesday, March 8^th.

The NatureCoast Coalition for Peace and Justice e-mailed Hernando Sheriff Nienhuis asking for confirmation of the department’s policy that highway protestors remain on the side of roads.  Last Saturday, a counter-protest group, against public unions, occupied the medium on U.S. Highway 19, thereby causing confusion as to the county Sheriff’s policy.  Captain Beetz informed Coalition Chair Brian Moore by phone that the policy still holds and all citizens would have to adhere to the same policy.

Moore also contacted U.S. Congressman Richard Nugent’s office in Spring Hill and Washington, DC, on behalf of the NatureCoast peace coalition, to request a group meeting between peace group members and the newly elected federal representative, former Hernando Sheriff Richard Nugent, to address the issues of the federal budget, the speed train, public unions and healthcare, among other issues.

The chair also inquired with Nugent’s office if the peace group would still have to conduct demonstrations outside Nugent’s Spring Hill congressional office, located on a narrow patch of road, on Spring Hill Drive.  

This difficult arrangement was due to the plaza office’s parking lot restrictions against public demonstrations.  When congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite occupied then her new offices at the Brooksville airport plaza, she refused to allow demonstrators in the parking lot in front of her office.  The demonstrators were relegated to a dangerous spot on the side of the highway, with cars passing by traveling 50 to 50 miles an hour.

At that time, then Hernando County Sheriff Richard Nugent had his staff make arrangements to warn oncoming traffic of the peace group’s presence with an electronic road sign.  Moore asked Captain Beetz of the Hernando Sheriff’s Department if he could obtain a ruling on that upcoming situation as well.

Last Saturday, 15 members of the NatureCoast Coalition, and the Florida Peace Action Network, demonstrated on a variety of issues, from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, to the pro-democracy movement in Egypt to the recent liberation in Tunisia to equal rights in Gaza for Palestinians.   The protestors also indicated the groups’ overwhelming support for public workers and their struggles for collective bargaining in the state of Wisconsin.

The two peace groups also had signs protesting Governor Rick Scott’s rejection of $2.4 billion federal funding of a speed train beginning in the Tampa-Orlando corridor.

The demonstrators held flags of Egypt and Tunisia, and an upside down American flag in criticism of the United States’ support of a number of dictators in the Middle East at the expense of people’s rights and freedoms, subjecting its citizens to abject poverty as well.  

[photos of the Feb. 19^th event to follow in separate e-mails]      

 —END—

Filed under: Category Main | Tags: by Brian
No Comments »

Filed under: Category Main | Tags: by Brian
No Comments »

Mr. Liam McClay, Office of the Governor

State of Florida, Appointments Board Coordinator

The Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida

Re:  Hernando County Sheriff Appointment

 Dear Mr. McClay:

This is a follow-up to the two St. Petersburg Times newspaper articles e-mailed to your office yesterday, December 27, 2010, regarding the high incidents of homicides and serious crime in Hernando County which occurred in 2010.  Please include in my file and make available to the Governor and his Board.  Thank you. 

I have decided to not just be critical, but also to follow up with some positive programs and recommended actions on how, as the new Hernando County Sheriff, to combat such mayhem (newspaper’s use of word in its title) that Hernando County experienced this past year.  I have also attached one of my letters-to-the-editor (below) that was published April 25, 2010, addressing the need for citizen and government responsibility in domestic abuse cases.

Many of the homicides in Hernando County in 2010 alone were family-related, due to a variety of pressures and tensions in our community.  Causes stemmed from domestic abuse, marital/couple discord, sibling rivalry, drugs and alcohol, depression, homelessness, unemployment to mental disabilities.

Hernando County suffers from a lack of adequate social services involving mental health providers, suicide and general counseling/hotlines, homeless shelters, food kitchens, drug rehabilitation, halfway houses, methadone clinics and vocational training centers; amongst other needs. 

In contrast, state, county and city government revenues have fallen.

To sustain and increase the needed social services and community safety, new revenues will have to be acquired, not from taxes, but from a variety of creative and innovative actions, which a sheriff can only indirectly promote by lobbying federal, state, county government leaders and the state legislature. 

I will be an advocate, and use the bully pulpit of the sheriff position, by calling for government-owned banks and annexing city with county government, or for urging the combining of Pasco County government with Hernando and/or Citrus county government(s).  These systemic changes will free up access to new revenues and would reduce duplication and unnecessary waste, if not in all government services, at least in the fire and law enforcement departments. 

Furthermore, combining or annexing governments will also head off any city or county bankruptcies, which are realistic to expect in this difficult economic climate.  This probability is reinforced because of the state’s deficit problem, and a new governor-elect whose solutions only seem to be to reduce and eliminate social services and needed government personnel and programs. 

As Sheriff, I will be a strong voice in the law enforcement community for more social services, systemic economic changes and more consolidated governments, without the traditional losses of both government personnel and programs, entailed in the solutions offered by more conservative politicians and legislatures.

Furthermore, in addition to combating community violence and homicides, I will also work creatively in combating the increased number of vehicular accidents and deaths Hernando County has been experiencing over the last few years.  Hernando County needs to lobby the political leaders to lower the speed limits on U.S. Highway 19 and State Road 50, and on other access boulevards.  Plus, the sheriff department needs to utilize its deputies in providing aid and assistance to vehicular breakdowns and to stranded motorists, which are now neglected due to errant policies.

We will need a more humanitarian approach to community incidents which the typical “law and order” approach does not emphasize enough.  We need to establish alternative methods to the traditional punitive measures with the use of civilian and neighborhood courts, citizen review boards, and a stronger emphasis on officer respect and protecting citizen rights.  All of these ideas and approaches will reduce the financial and manpower burdens on our overtaxed government agencies and courts, while at the same time, offer a more humane approach to law enforcement in our community. 

Finally, and just as importantly, social upheaval and increased tensions are expected to occur because of the deteriorating economic conditions and expected draconian measures that political and business leaders traditionally demand in response to such social upheavals.  It is important that we have a moderate sheriff who will withstand such self-destructive pressures, while simultaneously respecting and protecting the rights and freedoms of our citizens

This is the type of “peace officer” that can “keep the peace,” while simultaneously lowering the crime and death rates, across the board, for Hernando County. 

Sincerely,  Brian P. Moore, Spring Hill, Florida 34606 

Florida Community Fails to Act on

 Domestic Violence / Depression

Why didn’t those in the know react responsibly?

Letter-to-Editor:  Tampa Tribune Newspaper, Hernando Today edition

Sunday, April 25, 2010, Spring Hill, Florida

The recent news of the Florida Highway Patrol trooper involved in a murder-suicide in Citrus County, involving himself and his wife, smacks of similar conditions surrounding the recent deaths of Dr. Robert Blackburn and his wife, Sarah, in Spring Hill.

Both couples represented law-abiding citizens, well known and respected in the community.

However, in the case of Dr. Blackburn, domestic abuse toward his wife was well known and over an extensive period of time, by, of all people, the wives of both the Hernando County Sheriff and the fire chief, who were close friends.

In the case of Florida State Trooper Eddie Silcox and his wife, Sandra, of Floral City, it must have been known that they had recently separated after 30 years of marriage and that he had moved out of their home one week prior to the incident. Plus, 911 reports indicated he said he was depressed, apparently over the separation from his longtime marriage. The circumstances had to be known, at least to either family members or close friends, in this case as well.

Where were these citizens if they knew about such conditions, especially regarding the illegal domestic violence that was going on over a long period of time with the Blackburns? In fact, one of the wife friends of Sarah Blackburn urged Mrs. Blackburn to delay informing her husband of her recent actions to file for divorce, for fear by both women of the doctor’s probable violent reaction.

Should not authorities been advised; or at the least, the wife should have left on her own or been removed from the situation immediately, in light of their full knowledge of the dangers involved?

Where were these so-called pillars of our society, who knew firsthand from their own husbands or immediate families of the risks and dangers involved in both situations? The signs were obviously there, but no action was taken.

Are people so concerned about appearances or public reaction that they hesitate, delay or postpone any responsible action indefinitely until it is too late? They decide to not get involved because of the public pressures of “appearing all is well” when it really is not; or of “not getting involved” when we really should, if they value their friendship, and more importantly, their well-being. We now have a tragedy of losing four precious lives, and their teenage children being orphaned and scarred for life.

Where was the community that knew of such dangerous conditions, and why did they not act?

Brian P. Moore, Spring Hill, Florida

Filed under: Category Main | Tags: by Brian
No Comments »

Filed under: Category Main | Tags: by Brian
No Comments »

Filed under: Category Main | Tags: by Brian
No Comments »

Michael Arth, Independent candidate for Florida Governor, made this comment about Brian Moore’s effective campaign in the Democratic primary (comment # 1 of 26) in response to writer Kyle Munzenrieder’s article in the Miami New Times Blog, Riptide 2.0, on Thursday, November 4, 2010.

Filed under: Category Main | Tags: by Brian
No Comments »

Scott’s Job Plans Cannot Be

Gained, Won’t Solve Florida’s

Economic Woes, Rewards Few

Monday, November 1, 2010, Spring  Hill, Florida:  Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brian P. Moore harshly criticized Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott’s economic plan for creating 700,000 new jobs over seven years, as “Unachievable, insufficient and wrong-headed” and will do little to alleviate Florida’s looming fiscal crisis.  Florida faces a $3 billion budget shortfall next year. 

Moore, speaking earlier today from his residence in Spring Hill, said Scott’s 7-7-7 plan, if achieved, would only address a small fraction of the almost two million Floridians who are out-of-work now, and the growing numbers will probably be “much higher in the coming years,” thus making Scott’s best projections at “meeting his target, by only one-fourth of the jobs needed.”  Moore further added that the type of jobs Scott is projecting are “mostly in the professional and higher income sectors” and will provide few economic opportunities for Florida’s struggling working poor and middle-class families.

According to reporter Jim Stratton of the Orlando Sentinel, January 23, 2010, “Florida’s official unemployment rate in January, 2010 was at 11.8 percent, which is “the highest level in almost 35 years…up 4.2 percentage points from last year and…almost 2 points higher than the national average of 10%.” 

Stratton wrote that this [11.8%] represents about “1 million unemployed out of a work force of 9.2 million,” but “does not include individuals who have stopped looking for a job, those who have been forced into part-time work and those who have accepted jobs far below their skill levels.” 

Writer Stratton concluded “When those people are added, the percentage of workers who are unemployed or underemployed exceeds 19.5 percent.”

Those numbers are reflected in the current U-6 rates. 

Moore calculates there are really about 1.7 million Floridians currently unemployed, a figure that is likely to increase to 2.2 million jobless workers within the Sunshine State in the next four years.  “Scott’s figures, at best,” says Moore, ”are highly questionable, and would only provide one-third of the solution, over seven long years, by end of 2017.”    

The recession has hurt everybody, says Moore. 

Moore wrote that state representative Marti Coley, a Marianna Republican, said that ”she cannot see how another 5% of state job cuts can be elimininated after doing so in the past few years.”  Mr. Scott’s calculation of cutting another 5% of state jobs, after eliminating a similar number during the past years, is just “unrealistic and unwise,” Moore stated. 

Despite his equally harsh criticism of Democrat gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink during the campaign, Moore said that “at least Ms. Sink is unwilling to take such drastic action with state employees.”

Moore also criticized Scott’s proposal to add a 6% matching pension contribution for state employees, saying that while it’s a standard practice in the private sector, it’s still “a draconian measure” and will further harm state workers, many of whom haven’t experienced a pay raise for several years.  

A staunch advocate of labor unions and workers sharing in the profits, the self-described democratic socialist believes the state banking concept, advocated by Independent candidate Farid Khavari, if enacted, will “enable the state to cover the pension costs comfortably.”

Scott’s call to tighten welfare payments by requiring drug screening and imposing more stringent work requirements on welfare recipients ”is preposterous and outrageous,” Moore stated.  “It smacks of fascism,” said Moore, the Socialist Party’s candidate for President in 2008.

Moore also blasted Scott for “turning a blind eye to corporate welfare, and the Republican candidate’s call for phasing out the 5.5% corporate income tax.  Moore says “they are bleeding the Florida taxpayers now, and Florida is one of the worst states in the union for treating corporations too leniently in meeting tax obligations.”

Scott’s economic program, he said, is more “Robin Hood-in-reverse.”

Scott’s call for regulatory reform, further corporate tax cuts, and slashing property taxes, without any demonstration of having new revenues to accomplish it, is “wishful thinking,” on Scott’s part, said Moore.  His decision to follow the old-school mentality of trickle-down corporate economics, which apparently, is embraced by Democrat Sink as well, will not lift the state out of its current economic abyss.

Both major candidates, concluded Moore, also support the extension and continuation of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, a reckless fiscal policy that has done nothing for job creation while robbing the federal treasury of between $3 and $4 billion, making the United States increasingly dependent on China and wealthy Middle Eastern countries to meet its obligations.

                                              —END—

Filed under: Category Main | Tags: by Brian
No Comments »

http://stpeteforpeace.org/

Filed under: Category Main | Tags: by Brian
No Comments »

Filed under: Category Main | Tags: by Brian
No Comments »