White House protests Pussy Riot's two-year prison sentence

(thehill.com) The White House on Friday protested the conviction and “disproportionate” two-year sentence handed down against three members of the punk band Pussy Riot, whose trial in Moscow for “hooliganism” has sparked an international outcry.

Josh Earnest, a spokesman for President Obama, said the United States was “disappointed” by the guilty verdict against musicians Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich.
“The United States is disappointed by the verdict, including the disproportionate sentences that were granted,” Earnest told reporters.
“While we understand the group’s behavior was offensive to some, we have serious concerns about the way these young women — about the way that these young women have been treated by the Russian judicial system.”
Victoria Nuland, a department spokeswoman, said in a statement the United States fears the chilling impact the case could have on individual freedoms.
“The United States is concerned about both the verdict and the disproportionate sentences handed down by a Moscow court in the case against the members of the band Pussy Riot and the negative impact on freedom of expression in Russia,” Nuland said. “We urge Russian authorities to review this case and ensure that the right to freedom of expression is upheld.”
The sharp response came after a Russian court founded the band members guilty of “hooliganism driven by religious hatred” for an unscheduled performance held at a Moscow cathedral in March. The Pussy Riot musicians were protesting Vladimir Putin during his bid to regain the Russian presidency. The band called on the Virgin Mary to save them from Putin, according to reports.
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what is politically motivated here? these ladies desecrated a house of worship. Why the bias? The Democratic party really doesn't play even handed in international politics. They wouldn't say anything if this happened in a Muslim country. I'm disgusted... like usual

Moral behavior and Jewish rights

(Fresno)if Israel begins negotiating from the position that it is occupying someone else’s land, then the only thing there is to negotiate is the timetable for withdrawal. This is precisely the Palestinian position, and it is also reflected in the Arab League Peace Initiative.

The recent Levy Commission report — perhaps many years late — tries to reestablish these legitimate rights under international law:

“According to international law, Israelis have a legal right to settle all of Judea and Samaria, at the very least the lands that Israel controls under agreements with the Palestinian Authority,” Levy stated. “Therefore, the establishment of Jewish settlements [in Judea and Samaria] is, in itself, not illegal.” …The committee issued its report on [July 10, 2012], which was subsequently handed over to Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein. In the report, Levy wrote that “upon completing the committee’s tasks, and considering the testimonies heard, the basic conclusion is that from an international law perspective, the laws of ‘occupation’ do not apply to the unique historic and legal circumstances surrounding Israel’s decades-long presence in Judea and Samaria.”
“Likewise,” the report said, “the Fourth Geneva Convention [relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War] on the transfer of populations does not apply, and wasn’t intended to apply to communities such as those established by Israel in Judea and Samaria.” (MORE)

Empires state Building and bankrupt U.S. Postal celebrate Eid al-Fitr.

Empires state Building and bankrupt U.S. Postal celebrate Eid al-Fitr.It’s nice to see that the Empire State Building has again honored Eid with the green lighting, and the US Postal Service has released a new version of the classic Eid stamp, this time in Red.Full schedule of the Empire state tower lights here.

via mfs-theothernews.com

sickening

A former translator for Osama Bin Laden thinks LeBron should apologize to Cleveland

(AP) Muhammed Rahim is a detainee at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, ad a former translator for the formerly alive Osama Bin Laden. He had his lawyer whip up a letter to the Washington Post, and in it, he asked for a cat for company, since other prisoners have them. Oh, yes, and he delightfully decided to share his feelings on The Decision from back in 2010. Yup. Kittens and LeBron, from Bin Laden’s translator:

In addition to sharing the news of Khan’s cat, Rahim had another thought to share with his lawyer, who, we should note, is from Akron, Ohio.
“Dear Mr. Warner!” he wrote in a separate freshly declassified letter. “Lebron James is very bad man. He should apologize to the city of Cleveland.”
Warner says Rahim’s sentiment about the NBA star who left the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat reflects his client’s tribal values, in which loyalty is paramount and “betrayals are not tolerated or forgiven, although an honest apology from an offending peer is valued.”

via In the Loop: A kitty for bin Laden’s translator – The Washington Post.

via probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com

yeah