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July 2007 Issue of Works In Progress

Click here for the print edition as a pdf file

by Phan Nguyen

The case of the "Oly 22" port protesters ended in a dismissal on June 12 after Thurston County District Judge Susan Dubuisson faulted the government for "gross negligence" in failing to provide the final 16 defendants with important discovery material in a timely manner before a second trial.

This concluded an extraordinary year of court proceedings that confronted issues of destroyed police evidence, the rare granting and revoking of the necessity defense, a prosecutor suffering an emotional breakdown during trial, a mistrial, and revelations of multiple government agencies spying on the defendants.

The preceding chart lists known deaths of the 3rd and 4th Stryker Brigades during their most recent deployments, to the extent documented by the US Dept. of Defense. The 3rd Stryker Brigade is currently serving its second tour in Iraq. Its Stryker vehicles and related equipment were shipped from the Port of Olympia in late May 2006, a month before the actual soldiers were sent to the Middle East. The original mission of the 3rd Brigade was to secure "enduring" (a.k.a. permanent) military bases in Mosul. However, upon arrival, almost half of the brigade was routed to Baghdad. The Mosul contingent eventually rejoined the Baghdad contingent in Dec. 2006. The 3rd Brigade was also supposed to replace the 172nd Stryker Brigade. However, the 172nd Brigade's tour was extended by four months.

by Rochelle Gause

For three days in early June, the leaders from the USA, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Italy, Russia, Japan and Germany gathered for the 33rd G8 Summit in Heilingendamm, a small German resort town on the Baltic Sea.

The G8 was created in 1974 to protect the interests of the world's most wealthy and powerful countries in the face of the oil crises and recession of that time. In the last decade the annual G8 summit has become subject to an increasing number of demonstrations. These protests are a rejection not only of the highly undemocratic nature of the 8 wealthy leaders (who represent only 13% of the total population) making decisions for all but also of their capitalist policies, which are spreading inequality and injustice worldwide. In response to the growing protest the G8 has attempted to put on a friendlier face, claiming their primary goal today is "how to shape globalization so that everyone stands a chance" and adding issues like aid to Africa and global warming to their agenda. Yet one does not have to look far to see through this rhetoric as the agreements they continue to make do little more than treat the symptoms of the problems while working hard to maintain western dominance. The growing resistance to the G8 and the current world order is helping to make this reality clear.

by Brendan Funtek

Out of all the grim remnants remaining from the Cold War era, the trade blockade and travel ban imposed on Cuba casts the longest shadow from the US. This shadow's stretch doesn't have to extend far since Cuba is a mere 90 miles from Florida, but it's been the most historically persistent. In fact, when broached on the subject, I've found people often aren't aware there's still an "embargo" and are somewhat aware of the travel ban but confused as to its origin. This makes discussion of Cuba complex.

by Drew Hendricks

On June 6, Intercity Transit's board (known as the IT Authority) took the decision to spend $667,500 to buy closed circuit television cameras to monitor their buses. The system will be purchased from a company called Verint Systems Inc, which is a US intelligence industry contractor.

The video system will include between four and six cameras on each bus, covering both the inside and outside of the vehicle. A microphone will pick up conversations at the fare box as well. All of the video and audio will be stored on hard drives installed on the buses, until it is downloaded back at the bus maintenance yard. A wireless capability is built into the system to facilitate downloading video from the buses remotely.

by Pat Tassoni

As we pass the anniversary of when a dozen Nazis came to demonstrate at the state Capitol building on July 3, 2006 and because the Washington State Patrol by their own insistence provided 'security' for the event with 275 troopers, we have an opportunity to look at the myth of police effectiveness. I'm not going to address the estimated $50,000 wasted in staff time and fencing the grounds to keep hundreds of peaceful protesters from interacting with the nazis, but rather the change in collision statistics as the troopers abandoned their normal patrol activities for that day. Troopers were pulled off their regular assignments of driving the state's highways, leaving the roads to anarchy. Well, WSP did most likely replace less experienced troopers on some of the abandoned routes as the regular trooper was suited up in riot gear to stand in the sun for hours in front of the Nazis.

by Marco Rosaire Rossi

When the Democrats were swept into power last November, Americans were hoping they would clean up the havoc waged by the Bush Administration. One of the things on that list was the closing down of the gulag at Guantanamo Bay. An online poll from www.about.com showed that almost 60% of those polled wanted the detention center shut down. As of June, the Democrats still haven't done their job -- even though reports are coming in that the situation for the prisoners there is getting worse.

by Rob Whitlock

I went to the Tacoma Convention Center on June 6th to witness the Special Operations West 2007 Weapons Exposition. The marketing exposition showcased the latest in high-tech weapons and the specialized tools of killing, compliance, surveillance and reconnaissance that are available only to elite military forces and law enforcement. But my reason for going was not to get the lowdown on the latest implements and efficiencies in the dealing of death, you see; I oppose killing. I wanted to witness the human side of the weapons marketing equation and to represent all of the people who were unable to express their own opposition to death dealing. I went to find a deeper understanding of the people who market, sell, distribute and consume weapons of violence and death. But mostly I went to bear vigilant and conscious witness to the event.

by Daisy Ouye

The purpose of a free press should be to create a well-informed public. Today so-called "mainstream" journalism has become far removed from that concept. Instead these publications often choose to print sensationally written stories that greedily grab attention however possible, pushing them into tabloid territory.

Local citizens saw an example of this tactic twice this month as the Daily "O" further distanced itself from a responsibility to the public. Recent coverage of a Lacey City Official who died by suicide was handled without consideration of the impact such coverage could have on the community. Studies have shown that reporting on suicide rates, advancements in treatment, and even a report covering an individual death can decrease suicide rates, if done properly. However, it must be done carefully or the results can be the opposite.

Cuba caravan celebration and presentation.

Traditions Cafe, Tuesday, July 3rd, 7 p.m.

This is your annual opportunity to learn about Cuba and give aid to an organization dedicated to defying the illegal blockade imposed by the United States. Attendees of the Pastors for Peace caravan headed to Havana will be there to answer any questions you have and explain why they defy the travel ban and deferred licensing process. The event is free and there will be a movie presentation and possible live band. Any amount of donation is accepted and tax-deductible too!