NTM 1269 | NewTrendMag.org

NewTrendMag.org News # 1269 [ Click on NEWS for back issues ][ OUR BOOKS ]

Dr Kaukab Siddique | Editor-in-Chief

Rabi' al-Awwal 10,1430/ March 8, 2009, # 13

What happened to a Black U.S woman in Iraq: Imagine what they are doing to Muslim Iraqi women. Scroll down to end.

Correction: The Hijri date on the previous issue of New Trend should have been Safar 30. Please see www.islamicmoon.com

Pakistan's Dilemma: Why is violence spilling over into the major cities. FIRST look at our report on General Kayani and then read our analysis of Pakistan's dilemma. Scroll down please. This might help you.

Jamaat al-Muslimeen Press Release: Imam Badi Ali says Moves Against President al-Bashir of Sudan have no Legal or Islamic Basis.
ICC is Attempting Regime Change, not Justice

March 6, 2009: National Islamic Shoora leader of Jamaat al-Muslimeen, Imam Badi Ali, [Noth Carolina, has this analysis of the arrest warrant issued by the so-called International Criminal Court [ICC] against President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan:

The ICC has no Islamic representation and credibility. Its move is one sided and entirely arbitrary.
The leadeship of ICC is steeped in western norms and culture and lacks understanding of or sympathy with Islamic nations.
The ICC's move is political and is part of the Euro-American strategy to encircle the holy cities of Islam and to bifurcate the Muslim world.
If the ICC were at all interested in finding and stopping leaders steeped in the blood of humanity, it would have looked at Israel in Gaza, the U.S. in Iraq and Afghanistan and India in Kashmir as well as the tyranny of Hosni Mubarak, King Abdullah of Jordan, etc.
Sudan has oil wealth and the game of intevention is aimed at depriving Sudan [and all of Africa] of its resources.
Darfur and any other opposition groups should be working within Sudan for peace and stability. Opposition does not legitimize invitation to anti-Islamic forces to intervene.
The "evidence" from Darfur is heavily tainted because it comes from relief organizations which are fed information by rebel groups. The relief groups don't know the language and accept atrocity stories as facts. African countries do not accept the "evidence."
We urge Africa and the Muslim world to unite against Euro-American intervention whether it comes in the form of U.S. sanctions [already imposed on Sudan] or moves by the ICC to bring about regime change.
We urge the Sudanese opposition groups to realize that the enemies of Africa want to destroy Sudan. Don't let your differences with the al-Bashir regime blind you to the greater reality. Once the enemies of Sudan achieve their goals, you will be forgotten.

Jamaat al-Muslimeen Urges Muslims to Support Sudan against Euro-American-Zionist Intervention

March 6, 2009: After a Juma prayer gathering at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Dr. Kaukab Siddique urged Muslims to rally at the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, DC., on March 11 to support the call by well-known peace activist Br. Hodari Abdul-Ali. See next item.

"HANDS OFF SUDAN" RALLY! March 11, 2009 in Washington, DC

A rally and press conference to denounce the International Criminal Court arrest warrant of Sudan's President Omar Al-Bashir will take place, inshallah, Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 1:00 pm in front of the Embassy of Sudan, 2210 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 2008.

The African Union, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement all stand in solidarity with the Sudanese government against this immoral western attempt at regime change that does nothing to help the peace process in Darfur. Concerned citizens of the U.S. plan to show their support for Sudan as well.

For more information contact Hodari Abdul-Ali of the Give Peace A Chance Coalition [GPAC] at 301-728-8949 or Akbar Muhammad of the Youth4Africa Foundation at 314-422-4338. Other participants in the "Hands Off Sudan" coalition include Hashim El-Tinay of the SalamSudan Foundation; Dr. Kaukab Siddique of Jamaat Al-Muslimeen; and Lawrence Freeman of the Executive Intelligence Review magazine, Africa desk.

Our America: Obama Day 45.[March 6] One Step Backwards for Human Rights: The Ali al-Marri Case: 8 years of inhumanity.

WASHINGTON - The US Supreme Court Friday dismissed a constitutional challenge brought by Ali al-Marri's attorney as to whether "enemy combatants" can be held indefinitely on US soil.
Marri had been the only "enemy combatant" held on US soil without charge.
The Supreme Court agreed in December to consider a petition by Marri's lawyers challenging former president George W. Bush's authority to indefinitely hold US residents and citizens without charge or trial.
But President Barack Obama's administration sought to block the challenge, urging in papers filed before the court Wednesday that the case be dismissed, because Marri has now been charged in the federal system.
Marri, a dual Qatari-Saudi national, was arrested in late 2001. He has been held in a military brig in South Carolina since 2003 when Bush declared him an "enemy combatant."

Obama Day 43 [March 4] Obama Administration Supports anti-Sudan move by Zionists

"The United States supports the ICC's actions to hold accountable those responsible for the heinous crimes in Darfur. We remain determined in our pusuit of both peace and justice in Sudan." [Susan Rice, Obama's recently appointed ambassador to the United Nations.]

"The ICC has issued an indictment based on a very long investigation and it is now in a judicial system, properly so." [Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.]

[Ed. note: On February 23 George Clooney visited the White House to make sure the Zionists had Obama's support for the Darfur propaganda.]

Obama Day Day 38: [February 27]

U.S. Troops will Stay in Iraq: Partial Withdrawals by August 2010 and Dec. 2011: War Will Continue [From President Obama's Speech on Iraq at Camp LeJeune, Feb. 27.]

"Let me say this as plainly as I can: by August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end.
As we carry out this drawdown, my highest priority will be the safety and security of our troops and civilians in Iraq. We will proceed carefully, and I will consult closely with my military commanders on the ground and with the Iraqi government. There will surely be difficult periods and tactical adjustments. But our enemies should be left with no doubt: this plan gives our military the forces and the flexibility they need to support our Iraqi partners, and to succeed.
After we remove our combat brigades, our mission will change from combat to supporting the Iraqi government and its Security Forces as they take the absolute lead in securing their country. As I have long said, we will retain a transitional force to carry out three distinct functions: training, equipping, and advising Iraqi Security Forces as long as they remain non-sectarian; conducting targeted counter-terrorism missions; and protecting our ongoing civilian and military efforts within Iraq. Initially, this force will likely be made up of 35-50,000 U.S. troops.
Through this period of transition, we will carry out further redeployments. And under the Status of Forces Agreement with the Iraqi government, I intend to remove all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011. We will complete this transition to Iraqi responsibility, and we will bring our troops home with the honor that they have earned."

Jamaat al-Muslimeen [News] [2 items only]
P.O. Box 10881
Baltimore, MD 21234

Jamaat al-Muslimeen Urges Authentic Unity of U.S. Muslims
[Points based on previous Shoora meetings of the Jamaat.]

Unity has to be based on the Qur'an and the authentic Hadith, not on race, nationality, gender or language.
Equality of Muslim men and women based on the Qur'an 9:71.
Merit is based in Islam on TAQWA, not gender or race. [Sura al-Hujurat]
Obedience is to Allah, not to any human authority, be it the husband or the regime.
Use peaceful means for da'wa as the Prophet Muhammad, pbuh, did in Makka.
Peaceful means do not imply compromise with kuffar, tawaghit or munafiqeen.
Decentralization for local activities.
Cooperation in good works with groups which are not involved in cooperation with the power structure.
No cooperation with Zionists, be they Jewish Zionists, Christian Zionists or "Muslim" Zionists.
Free Imam Jamil! Free Shaikh Omar! Free Dr. Ali Timimi! Free Ahmed 'Abdel Sattar! Free all Political Prisoners!
We are non-sectarian. We look at behavior, rather than sect. We are against al-Maliki, Jaafari, Mahmoud Abbas, Zardari, Gilani, Karzai, Hosni Mubarak etc owing to their behavior, not because of their sects.
We encourage prayer, fasting, zakat, tazkiya, tanzeem, tehreek and fear of Allah alone.
Support Africa, particularly the people of Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Algeria and Egypt.
We hail the people of Mexico, Haiti, El Salvador, Guatemala and South America who are trying to make a living or a home in the U.S. This land belongs to Allah, not to any one race or nationality.
We stand with the poor, the oppressed, the downtrodden, the mustadafeen fil ard [sura 4]

Our call:
Liberate Palestine,
U.S. out of Afghanistan & Iraq,
India out of Kashmir,
Russia out of Chechnya
Stop intervention in Somalia and Sudan.
Zionism is Racism: Down with Zionism.

Jamaat's National Islamic Shoora to Convene on April 11, 2009
Corrected List: Confirmed Jamaat al-Muslimeen delegates from:

Mexico
Texas
California
Louisiana
Tennessee
North Carolina
Maryland
Pennsylvania
New York

Jamaat al-Muslimeen is an interracial Islamic organization seeking inspiration from the Qur'an and the authentic Hadith.
If you would like to join the Jamaat or would like the Shoora to discuss or examine an issue, go to our web page:
JamaatAlMuslimeenInternational.org

Pakistan's Tragedy: Army Chief Hooked up to the Worst Enemies of Islam and Pakistan

New Trend's Pakistan observer says: Pakistani politicians live in an unreal world of illusions and self-deceptions. They don't realize that the reality has to do with the American power structure's attempts to destroy the Islamic basis of Pakistan and make it into an American colony where Islam will be a crime. Pakistanis don't seem to realize that for America's power structure [in which International Jewry plays a key role] ANY Muslim who practices Islam, prays and fasts, has a beard if a male or wears hijab if female, is a FUNDAMENTALIST to be seen as an enemy of America. If a Muslim, in addition to prayng and fasting also demonstrates and protests against American intervention in Muslim lands, then he or she is an EXTREMIST. Worst of all, if a Muslim wants to fight back or helps those who are in the resistance, then he or she is a TERRORIST. [Labels projected by the Rand corporation.] Hence Hamas, Hizbullah, Taliban, al-Qaida, Jamat ad-Dawa, al-Shabab, Kashmiri, Chechen and Uzbek resistance are all TERRORISTS as far as the U.S. power structure is concerned.

This following factual news item was published in a Pakistani newspaper and is confirmed from American sources, yet Pakistanis still did not wake up.

Updated at: 1240 PST, Tuesday, February 24, 2009

WASHINGTON: The visiting Pakistan Army Chief, General Ashfaque Pervaiz Kayani held several key-meetings with the chiefs of US Intelligence, Special Forces and CIA here. ISPR said that General Ashfaque Pervaiz Kayani called on CIA Director, Leon E. Panetta, National Intelligence Agency, Director, Admiral Dennis Blair and Special Operation Command Chief, Admiral Eric T. Olson. General Kayani exchanged views with the US officials on matters of mutual interests and cooperation. He also visited National Defence University here and spoke on South Asia strategic stability.

From New Trend's Think Tank: Edited by Kaukab Siddique
Pakistan's Dilemma: How to Understand Acts of Violence which are Spreading to the Major Cities

In India acts of violence by "non-state actors" are attributed to Pakistani Intelligence [ISI]. Indians seldom pause to think of internal causes, such as the mass suppression of Sikhs who want Khalistan [an indepndent state], or Kashmir [under the occupation of 700,000 Indian troops], or Nagaland, or the Naxalites in Bengal, or the possibility that India's terrified Muslim minority may be resorting to acts of resistance for Babri masjid and Gujarat.

In Bangladesh, the central officers' cadre of the army has just been wiped out by the Bangladesh border security forces. India's constant infringement on the border may have aggravated the border guards but it's still an internal issue.

In Pakistan, any attacks in the major cities are immediately attributed to India's secret service known as RAW. Pakistan went to the extent of claiming that Indian agents were instigating the movement in Swat but the claim sounded hollow and had to be dropped once the Islamic forces were victorious in Swat. Pakistani and Indian rulers are working together to suppress Islamic resistance and in turn support the policies of the U.S. and Israel.

Now we have the attack in Lahore on the police squad guarding the Sri Lanka cricket team. The police unit was wiped out in a 15 minute gun battle with militants and the cricketers barely survived. Following that there has been a bombing of the tomb of the revered Pushto language poet Rahman Baba in Peshawar. It appears, from reading the pro-western media in Pakistani, mostly in the English language, that civilization is falling apart and Pakistan's enemies are not being dealt with harshly enough.

From the information New Trend has about Pakistan, there can be little doubt that Pakistani elites in the major cities have been living in a world of illusions which has nothing to do with the "war next door." Here are the facts which cannot be controverted:

Pakistan's rulers allowed the U.S. to bomb Afghanistan and gave the U.S. assault [in 2001] logistical and intelligence support. Tens of thousands of Afghans were slaughtered in the U.S. bombing campaign. The bombing continued during Ramadan. General Musharraf was aghast at this sacrilege but did not raise his voice.
Several thousand poorly armed or unarmed Pakistanis [led by Sufi Muhammad, now in Swat] entered Afghanistan to show moral support to the Taliban but were massacred by the U.S. air force. Pakistan not only kept quiet but handed over the Taliban ambassador and hundreds of alleged al-Qaida supporters to the U.S.
Pakistan was opened up to the FBI and the CIA. They could enter any Pakistani home and arrest people as became evident in the search for Daniel Pearl.
Thus the assault on Afghanistan was traumatic for the masses of Pakistanis who see themselves as Islamic but it left the majority of Pakistani elites quite satisfied with General Musharraf as if nothing serious had happened. Almost 80,000 Pakistani troops tried to seal the border with Afghanistan and killed more than 2500 Pakistani "militants" and Islamic refugees from various countries. Nearly a thousand Pakistani troops were also killed. Again Pakistani elites behaved as if the war was going on in some other country.
Then came the PIVOTAL TRAGEDY in the history of Pakistan: The Red Mosque and the Islamic women's seminary [Jamia Hafsa] located right in the capital of Pakistan, ironically called "Islamabad," were stormed in broad daylight by elite commando units of the Pakistan army. Heavy weapons and phosphorous shells were used against the poorly armed defenders of the mosque. Among the thousands of Islamic youths who were killed were several hundred young women from the tribal areas and Kashmir. The mother of the martyr Abdur Rasheed Ghazi was burned alive by the phosphorous shells of the Pakistani army.
The Islamic communities from which the young women had come rose in revolt and attacked Pakistani security forces. Hundreds of young men carried out martryrdom operations against Pakistani police and miltary units. Thousands joined the Pakistani version of the Taliban. They were poorly armed and not battle trained.
The Pakistani army launched a series of offensives in the tribal areas killing hundreds of "militants" [poorly armed Muslims who were no match for the army]. The result was unexpected. THOUSANDS MORE JOINED the TALIBAN.
In these operations, the army, often workng in tandem with U.S. intelligence, hit Islamic schools [medressas], homes of Islamic scholars and preachers, and mosques. More than 500,000 people were made homeless in Swat, 400,000 in Bajaur, and countless others in Darra Adam Khel and Waziristan. Often the army would cut off food supplies to entire populations for weeks. [The army announced in early March 2009 that it killed more than ONE THOUSAND "militants" in Bajaur last year.]
Again, this had the opposite effect. Thousands more joined the Pakistani Taliban and fought the army with all they had. The result was the Islamic victory in Swat and the takeover of most of South Waziristan and North Waziristan by the banners of Islam.
Within that context, the attacks against the Pakistani establishment have started occurring in the major cities. Attempts seem to be underway to stop Pakistani elites from carrying on business as usual. The attack on the Sri Lanka team in Lahore hurts Pakistan, along with the death of 7 of its policemen, but it is minor within the Islamic context as compared to ongoing U.S. and Pakistani attacks on medressas and mosques. [Eighty young Islamic students were killed in ONE U.S. air attack in Bajaur on a medressa [Islamic school] ostensibly with Pakistani intelligence's help.]
The Taliban's counterattack is often inept. A man who wants to sacrifice his own life might not always reach the exact target. This gives the zionist media much material to use as propaganda. By contrast, the U.S. air force, like that of Israel, has the ability to hit Muslims with great accuracy. The Americans have killed huge numbers of civilians. These are not mistakes but attempts to terrorize populations which support Islam. By contrast, when the Taliban miss their target, it is owing to their lack of accurate weaponry.
The emerging Islamic forces also see tombs and saint worship as a clear violation of the Qur'an and the Hadith. The cults of Sufiism have come from men of religion who taught real, dynamic Islam but with time and the decay of conventional religion, these tombs and saints have become centers for the desensitization of the masses. These cults seem to prove the marxian dictum that religion is the opium of the people. Can anyone be more important than the Prophet Muhammad, pbuh, and his Companions, r.a.? Yet these cults misdirect many millions to believe that homage to the saints can save them from hellfire. Hinduism was defeated by Islam but Hindu concepts of subservience took the shape of sufi cults in many cases. The most corrupt politicians in Pakistan pay homage to the saints but ignore the fact that Muhammad, pbuh, taught Jihad and spent most of his life in Madinah on the battlefield.
As the crusading armies of NATO and America flood into Afghanistan and Pakistan, as Obama has promised,the resistance will come from the words of the Qur'an and from the example of the leader of Jihad, Muhammad Mustafa, pbuh.

Fundraiser
Imam Musa to Speak on De-Israelization of the Islamic movement in North America

"Reaching Our Goals, Building the Dream"
A Fundraiser for Masjid Al-Islam's Building & Renovation Projects

Sunday, March 15, 2009
1:00 - 3:15 pm

Speaker:
Imam Abdul Alim Musa

Topics of Discussion:
- Shaping & Herding
- De-Israelization of the Islamic movement in North America

MASJID AL-ISLAM
4603 Benning Road SE
Washington, DC 20019

For further information, call: 202.904.1152

***
Masjid Al-Islam is a functional, independent Muslim community in the heart of Washington, DC. We are a community with big dreams and aspirations. For several years, we have maintained our principles of self-determination, moral and spiritual development, establishment of healthy family life, and uncompromising outspokenness against the injustices perpetrated locally and globally by Zionists and imperialistic governments. As a result, we have encountered several forms of opposition, including agent provocateurs, community destroyers, focus-diverters, energy-consumers, etc. These have proven to be an invaluable asset, as we have been trained—through these experiences—to overcome any and all obstacles to our progress.

Due to its stubborn loyalty to a historical pattern of injustice, the U.S. power structure has officially destroyed itself. Just as communism destroyed communism, now capitalism has destroyed capitalism. At this critical juncture, our mission is to help the American people (the American government is not our concern, and never has been):

"Who is better in speech than one who calls (men) to Allah, works righteousness, and says, 'I am of those who bow in Islam'? Nor can Goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: Then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate!" (Fussilat, 41:33-34)

The era of wholesale oppression has come to an end. We believe that Islam must now play its proper constructive role in a newly emerging world order—one that is based on humanitarian, earth-friendly, and life-friendly values.

On a local level, our part during this time is to consolidate our efforts in building a dynamic model Islamic community in the heart of DC, based on the institutional cornerstones of: 1) masjid, 2) full-time Islamic school, 3) businesses, and 4) geographical integrity (living close together). Over the years, by the grace and mercy of Allah (swt), we have made outstanding progress. We presently own and operate nearly $10 million in land and property, including a building which houses the largest musalla in all of Washington, DC. We have also established the best Islamic group home-schooling effort in the area, providing a top-notch education to the Muslim children of Southeast DC. Now, it is our goal is to strengthen our geographical integrity via renovation and building of new residential space for Muslim families. Any contributions to this cause would be highly appreciated. Please send your check or money order to: Masjid Al-Islam Building & Renovation Project / 4603 Benning Road SE / Washington, DC 20019.

The U.S. government, along with local officials, has constantly interrupted our Islamic efforts with infiltrators, infor mers, agent provocateurs, saboteurs, destabilizers, rumor-spreaders, etc.; yet we have survived and thrived. We have stayed focused and on target. Recently, a group of saboteurs pretending to be well-meaning Muslims who share in our ideas of community development moved into our property on 5021 A Street SE and thoroughly destroyed it, causing thousands of dollars' worth of damage. In spite of such tactics, we continue to move forward with a spirit of positivity and loving disposition toward our people.

We have survived against overwhelming opposition from local Muslim leaders and organizations as well, who have blacklisted us on behalf of American Zionism. Throughout the years, we have opened our doors and extended invitations to all of these leaders to speak on our platform. In spite of this, we have remained unwelcome on their platforms. We are loved and respected by nearly all members of the Muslim community, yet we are absolutely despised by their local and national leadership.
A word to Muslim leaders: Where is your Islam? Why have you spoken on our platform, yet we are unwelcome at yours? For those of you who deal with the Zionist-controlled FBI, we sincerely advise that you make the following demands from your "friends":

You cannot scare, jail, spy on, and confiscate the property of fellow Muslims, yet feel free to cooperate with me (meaning you).
We refuse to be on friendly terms with you until: 1) you release all of our unjustly imprisoned brothers and sisters, and 2) you apologize to us for your criminal and illegal behavior.

Letter: ISNA Man Claims ISNA does not support Bridges TV!

You wrote: "The atrocity committed by an ISNA-related TV tycoon against his wife has nothing to do with Islam or Sharia [Islamic Law]."

Believe me this is not accurate reporting. He did rent booths at the Convention but in fact once his booth was removed when it was found that he was merely showing Indian movies.
He called for cooperation but I did go out of my way but only gave a short news item that a TV station had started. I told him on his face that I don't trust those who are scared on their Muslim names. He called himself "Mo".
Indeed he misled many people

[The writer is within ISNA. His name is withheld at his request.]

Ed. Note: The ISNA man is forgetting that ISNA honored both the murdered womn and the alleged murderer. Here is how "imam" Magid of ISNA describes the murder. Notice that he pretends to ignore the alleged murderer.:

"By Imam Mohamed Hagmagid Ali
Executive Director, ADAMS Center
Vice-President, The Islamic Society of North America

"The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) is saddened and shocked by the news of the loss of one of our respected sisters, Aasiya Hassan whose life was taken violently. To God we belong and to Him we return (Qur'an 2:156). We pray that she find peace in God's infinite Mercy, and our prayers and sympathies are with sister Aasiya's family."

Here is a photo of the alleged murderer of Aasiya Hassan, left, being honored by the [then] president of CAIR. Notice the CAIR plaque These people have no shame and never apologize for their terrible blunders.

Letter: Siraj Wahhaj's Militia in Action [Siraj Wahhaj is a long time central committee member of FBI-related group known as ISNA]

You might find interesting this video of Siraj Wahhaj's group not allowing Muslims to preach on public property.
[These Muslims wanted to publicize the teachings of Shaikh Faisal and Syed Qutb that those who do not Judge by Allah's Law are kuffar [The Qur'an.] Siraj's group would not allow it, so a police permit had to be obtained. Even then, the Siraj thugs tried to beat up the Muslims right in front of the police, ignoring the permit.
In the second video, the camera is upside down, perhaps pushed down by the Siraj thugs, but the message is clear.]

http://www.revolutionmuslim.com/streetdawah/119-siraj-wahhajs-para-military-khawarij-militia-at-the-muslim-day-parade

Very very interesting brother!
Yusuf

Ed. Note: Shaikh Faisal is a West Indian Islamic scholar who was imprisoned by the British government for several years after 9.11. He supported the teachings of the "Blind Shaikh" Dr. Omar 'Abdel Rahman against Saudi-salafi attacks which tried to label hm as one of the Khwarij.

With thanks to Sis. Hamdiyya [Charlotte, North Carolina]
LaVena Johnson: Raped and Murdered on a Military Base in Iraq
By David A. Love, The Black Commentator. Posted March 3, 2009.

Military authorities claimed she committed suicide in her tent in Iraq, but autopsies revealed she had been brutally attacked and raped.

Have you heard the story about LaVena Johnson?
LaVena Johnson , a high school honor student, decided to enlist in the Army to pay for college. On July 19, 2005, after serving eight weeks in Iraq, she was killed, eight days short of her 20th birthday.
Pvt. Johnson -- she was posthumously promoted to private first class -- was found dead on a military base in Balad, Iraq, in a tent belonging to military contractor KBR, a spinoff and former subsidiary of Halliburton, Dick Cheney's company. She was the first woman from Missouri to be killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.
The U.S. Army officially ruled her death a suicide, saying she shot herself in the head, case closed. But this is where the story begins.
Johnson's family knew something was wrong. They had talked to her on the phone a few days earlier, and she was in a great mood as usual, and was planning to come home for the holidays, earlier than expected.
Questions were raised when Johnson's family viewed her body. There were suspicious bruises, and while the military claimed that this right-handed soldier had shot herself in the head with an M-16 rifle, the gunshot wound was on the left side of her head.
But the truth began to make itself known when the family received the autopsy report and photos they had requested under the Freedom of Information Act:
The 5-foot tall, 100-pound woman had been struck in the face with a blunt instrument, probably a weapon. Her nose had been broken, and her teeth knocked back. There were bruises, teeth marks and scratches on the upper part of her body. Her back and right hand had been doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire. Her genital area was bruised and lacerated, and lye had been poured into her vagina. The debris found on her suggested her body had been dragged.
And despite all this mutilation, she was fully clothed when her body was found in the tent, with a blood trail leading to the tent.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, the Army has refused to investigate. Through an online petition, ColorofChange.org demanded an investigation by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Johnson's story is really several stories in one, and is about more than an individual Black woman who was raped and killed by her fellow soldiers. African Americans have fought in every war since the Revolutionary War, and often their country has been a far more formidable foe to them than the so-called enemy they were told to fight.
Often, youth of color, lacking opportunities at home and in need of money, look to the military as a career option and a way to pay for school. But in light of all the death and destruction of the unjust and immoral war in Iraq, fewer of them took the bait this time, and opposition to the war among Black youth has posed a challenge for Army recruiters.
Perhaps these young people were channeling war resisters of a prior generation, such as Muhammad Ali, who once said, "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. ... They never called me nigger." That war was devastating to poor communities of all races, and the black community in particular, as their young men came home in the thousands in body bags, or maimed, traumatized, as dope fiends or completely insane.
It was this "cruel manipulation of the poor," as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. called it, one that united people of different races "in brutal solidarity burning the huts of a poor village, but we realize that they would never live on the same block in Detroit."
Forty years later, we find ourselves in another unjust and senseless war. This "home invasion" of Iraq, as Philadelphia veteran journalist Reggie Bryant aptly characterized it. And Johnson is a symbol of this war, as a casualty who risks being swept under the rug.
We may never know how many crimes have been hidden in Iraq. War is good for that sort of thing and little else, concealing the rapes, murders, shooting of children, bombing and pillaging of homes, the money stealing, and other crimes that are committed -- including the crime that is war itself. People are taught to kill like animals, to dehumanize and humiliate others.
But the case of Johnson raises yet another issue: Violence against women is a problem in the U.S. military, and other slayings and suspicious deaths similar to Johnson's are being classified as suicides. And Johnson is not the only woman to die a suspicious death on the Balad military base.
Retired Army Reserve Col. Ann Wright said 1 in 3 women who join the military will be raped or sexually assaulted by servicemen. Of the 94 military women who died in Iraq or during Operation Iraqi Freedom, 36 died from injuries unrelated to combat. While a number of them were ruled as suicides and homicides, 15 deaths remain that smell suspicious. For example, eight women from Fort Hood, Texas, died of "non-combat-related injuries" at Camp Taji, three of whom were raped before their deaths. Camp Taji is an Army base about 10 miles northwest of Baghdad.
Also, a number of female employees of Halliburton/KBR have been sexually harassed, assaulted and gang raped in Iraq. Their employment contract calls for such cases to be decided through arbitration rather than in a court of law. Halliburton and KBR, these war profiteers awash with money, even wanted one alleged rape victim to pay for their costs to defend themselves in arbitration. Lord have mercy.

2009-03-08 Sun 19:30:45 cst
NewTrendMag.org