Jeremy Scahill in San Diego May 1 - 2

TomDispatch reports on Jeremy Scahill's article Who Will Stop the U.S. Shadow Army in Iraq? and the giant loophole in the in the withdrawl "timetable" in the Iraq Appropriations bill that Bush is going to veto this week. This is precisely why I can't get behind this effort on the Iraq bill. It may be a step in the right direction, but it's an incredibly timid and spineless step. Not to mention potentially dangerous. Are we going to withdraw troops and leave Blackwater there? What a spectacularly bad idea that would be.

And on the subject of Scahill, he'll be speaking in San Diego on May 1 and 2, 2007 at 7pm.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007, 7 p. m. Unitarian Church, 4190 Front Street, San Diego (in Hillcrest opposite the UCSD Medical Center) $5-10 donation requested (no one will be turned away); proceeds will be used to fight Blackwater USA's plans for "Blackwater West" training facility in Potrero, San Diego County Info: 619-263-9301 or info@prcsd.org Sponsored by the Peace Resource Center of San Diego and the Peace & Democracy aciton Group of the First Unitarian Universalist Church

Wednesday, May 2, 2007, 7 p. m. La Mesa Community Center 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa (7-9pm; 6:30 refreshments) Info: 619-464-0369 Co-Sponsored by La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club and East County Democratic Club

Jeremy will speak about Blackwater, a firm that has proposed an 824-acre military-style training camp near Potrero, San Diego county. Proposed location borders on the Cleveland National Forest, and is a sensitive habitat for eagles and other wildlife, and is an important watershed. Now, even our military is being outsourced to corporations who will sell military might to the highest bidder. . For more information about the proposed "Blackwater West" and what you can do to help stop it, please go to www.sdcpj.org.

Jeremy Scahill will also sign his book at these events, and books will be available for sale.