I have found so many great Latino/a blogs out there and I'd like to share them all with you.However, it's hard to keep up with so many of them since there are so many all over the place, it can be overwhelming and too much time taking for the regular navigator.Thus, I stumbled upon a great site which can capture all the Latin blogs out there, all interconnected at the reach of your fingertips with one single click— wouldn't that be sweet?Where you can identify and comment the blogs you like and keep up with the Latin Blogosphere in real time.Well, I'm presenting you the Latino Blogosphere made up of a real community of Latino/as blogging on all sorts of topics of interest in the U.S. Latino community.Real Latino/as blogging their brains out about their experiences.
If you want your blog to be included in the Latino Blogosphere, please email me at latinosylatinasonlineblogera@gmail.com with your blog's Feed-URL.You need to send your Latino blog feed URL to be able to include your blog and attract audience to your site.Remember; Only RSS 2.O feeds are acceptable.Unfortunately, that's the nature of this technology at this moment.If you have an Atom or other type of feed, you can easily burn your blog URL and select RSS, go to:
BOGOTA, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Colombia is poised to sign a deal to allow the U.S. military more access to its bases to enhance counter-drug operations after Washington lost access to a base at Manta, Ecuador it used for surveillance flights.
The proposal in Colombia has triggered ire among its Andean neighbors, especially Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a fierce U.S. critic, who says the plan could trigger war in South America. Other leaders called it worrisome.
U.S. officials say the plan is just an extension of existing cooperation with Colombia. [ID:nN14262229]
Here are details of current U.S. military operations at local installations in Latin America and the Caribbean:
COLOMBIA
U.S. military personnel: Approximately 268. A key operation in the region, the U.S. military in Colombia is involved mainly in training, logistical support and some intelligence backup for the Colombian armed forces to enhance their fight against cocaine traffickers and leftist FARC guerrillas. The United States has provided more than $5 billion in aid to Colombia since 2000. The current accord caps staff at 800 military and 600 civilian contractors.
GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA
U.S. military personnel: Approximately 1,900. The largest operation in Latin America is the joint task force at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel are involved in detention operations on the island.
HONDURAS
U.S. military personnel: Approximately 650. Joint task force Bravo at the Soto Cano Air Base, involving Army and Air Force, mainly to support disaster relief operations, humanitarian assistance and counter-drug operations.
EL SALVADOR
U.S. military personnel: Approximately 150. A Forward Operating Location, or FOL, at local Comalapa Air Base installation. Navy officials and air crews are involved in drug surveillance missions in the eastern Pacific from the Central American country.
ARUBA-CURACAO
U.S. military personnel: Approximately 250. Another FOL in the Netherlands Antilles islands. Air Force crew and ground and support staff involved in counter-narcotics surveillance operations in an area that includes Colombia's Guajira Peninsula and the Venezuelan frontier region.
MANTA, ECUADOR
U.S. military personnel at time of full operation: Approximately 250, but currently less than 100 as the mission wraps up. U.S. FOL operation on Ecuador's Pacific coast was once a key piece in its counter-narcotics surveillance operations. Before leftist President Rafael Correa decided not to renew the deal, the base carried out more than 5,000 drug surveillance flights.
* Information from U.S. military's Southern Command, U.S. State Department, Reuters. (Reporting by Patrick Markey in Bogota; Editing by Will Dunham)
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Education for Liberation! Venceremos Unidos! We Will Win United!
LEWSIBURG, Pa. – There's a digital clock on the official Leonard Peltier Web site marking the time the American Indian Movement activist has been in prison.
On a recent visit to www.leonardpeltier.net the clock read "12241 days, 12 hours, 17 minutes, and 43 seconds of ILLEGAL IMPRISONMENT," then "12241 days, 12 hours, 17 minutes, and 44 seconds of ILLEGAL IMPRISONMENT," "12241 days, 12 hours, 17 minutes, and 45 seconds of ILLEGAL IMPRISONMENT" and so on – a constant countdown that will either end within several days or continue for an unknown period of time, perhaps years, possibly until Peltier's life ends.
The Federal Parole Board is expected to render a decision on whether Peltier will be released from prison after serving 33 years on two murder charges by Aug. 21.
Peltier was granted his second parole hearing since 1993 July 28, and appeared before the board to plead his case. The board has 21 days to decide whether to release Peltier or deny parole and keep him in prison indefinitely.
Peltier was convicted in 1977 and given two consecutive life sentences for the murder of FBI Special Agents Jack R. Coler and Ronald A. Williams, who were killed during a shootout on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota June 26, 1975.
The 64-year-old man has maintained his innocence, but controversy over whether he committed the murders, and over the fairness of his trial persist.
Those convinced of his guilt say he shot the two agents in cold blood and deserves to stay in prison for the rest of his life.
Peltier's supporters, which include a huge international component, say he is America's most famous and longest serving political prisoner.
But Peltier's attorney, Eric Seitz, said the only issue pertinent is the law and that Peltier is eligible for parole.
The events of June 26, 1975 took place against a backdrop of terror that had developed on Pine Ridge. The reservation was under internal siege at the hands of then Chairman Dick Wilson and his "GOON Squad" – the so-called Guardians of the Oglala Nation, who were supported by and collaborated with the FBI and BIA police.
The conflict has been characterized as a battle between Wilson's secular group and traditional elders and others who were working for election reform on the reservation. More than 60 people from the traditional group had been killed in the two years before the 1975 shootout. None of those killings were investigated by local, state or federal law enforcement agencies.
By 1975 things were so bad that some of the tribe's elders called AIM for help. A group of AIM activists, Peltier among them, responded and set up a camp on the reservation. On June 26, 1975, two FBI agents in unmarked cars came onto the reservation apparently to serve a warrant to a boy who had stolen some boots. Soon after their arrival, shots were heard and the shoot-out began.
During the battle, the FBI agents and an Indian man named Joe Stuntz were shot to death. The activists fled, anticipating that the reservation would be overrun by FBI and other law enforcement people, which was exactly what happened. In the siege that followed, elders were beaten, houses were burned, people were terrorized and a lot of gun shots were fired.
Peltier escaped to Canada where he was later captured, extradited and brought to trial. Four of the AIM activists were indicted on murder charges, but only Peltier was convicted.
Over the years and through numerous appeals, dozens of allegations and inconsistencies have come to light regarding the FBI and the prosecution's handling of the case, including witnesses recanting testimony against Peltier and accusing the FBI of coercing and threatening them into testifying; the FBI tampering with evidence and withholding crucial evidence from the jury, including the results of a ballistics report saying the bullet casing from the crime scene did not match Peltier's gun, and the prosecutor himself conceding during an appellate hearing that, "We do not know who shot the agents."
There are those who believe Peltier did not shoot them, but that the AIM members had the right to defend themselves under the circumstances.
"The AIM members didn't go there looking for a fight or seeking confrontation. They were there to protect those who were there. When our people need help our warriors are supposed to respond and help. These warriors stood up and responded. We have the right to self defense," said Wanbli, Dakota, national spokesman for the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee.
Others, like News from Indian Country editor Paul DeMain, said, "It simply took a delegation of people who were tired of all the deceptions, lies and dangers to step forward and tell me the truth. 'Peltier was responsible for the close range execution of the agents,' and that was the end of that. I have no reason to doubt the group of people, and others I have since conversed with, that they are telling the truth."
While the debate continues over Peltier's guilt or innocence, his attorney said the parole board's decision must be based on the law. He has served the mandatory amount of time and is eligible for parole, Seitz said.
The criteria for parole include a prisoner's record in prison, the likelihood of returning to prison if released, post-prison plans, and whether parole would diminish the seriousness of the offense.
"The last one is really the only issue and some people think he shouldn't be paroled because the offense was too serious, but that basically means you could never be paroled, and that's not the law," Seitz said.
Peltier's plan, if released, is to return home where his tribe has arranged a place for him to live and a job teaching art. He would be surrounded by people who can support his transition to life outside of prison, Seitz said.
"Leonard is feeling very apprehensive. He's hopeful that he gets out. His health (he's diabetic) is not very good, so he's concerned about that and his ability to maintain himself in an environment where he doesn't get timely or very aggressive medical care so we hope all these things will be taken into account when they make their decision."
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Education for Liberation! Venceremos Unidos! We Will Win United!
