Well here we are the day after.
The day after bodies of "civilian contractors" were beaten, dragged and burnt in Falluja. Just what are "civilian contractors"? Mercenaries. Ex Special Forces operating as paid security. I heard a guy on the news saying that these guys go in and do the stuff that's too dangerous for soldiers. Whatever that means. More likely they do the stuff that the US military can't get away with because of the Code of Military Justice, and international law. Deflects the blame because these guys, although trained by the military, are civilians and want to be there, so if they're killed it's not technically a casualty of the War in Iraq. Moreover, any misdeeds they do cannot be blamed on the US military. The party line seems to be that they were assisting in some humanitarian aid like a food drop or something. Not to sound too conspiracist (is that a word? Oh well, it is now!) but yeah, sure. Why do you need Green Berets or Navy Seals for a food drop? The NY Times has a creepy slideshow (Not for the squeamish. Also, you have to register, but it's free.)
Meanwhile back in the States:
This is also the day after Dubya signed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act into law. Anyone who thinks that the sole purpose of this law was anything other than to weaken Roe v. Wade, stand up. Ok now both of you idiots shut up and sit down so I can tell you why you're wrong.
1. Current abortion law
Abortion law currently is (in an extremely abbreviated version) is governed by Roe v. Wade as interpreted by Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
Roe v. Wade made abortion legal and said that prior to the second trimester the state cannot regulate it. Casey said that the state cannot place an undue burden (also defined as a "substantial obstacle") on a woman's right to abortion, but scrapped the trimester framework.
2. The UVVA
The UVVA creates a new crime in federal jurisdictions for those who in the course of committing another crime (e.g assault or battery) harm a woman's "unborn child"
The law scraps the term fetus and substitutes it with "unborn child" - tell me this was not a political move, I dare you. Here's the scary part though: the law defines "unborn child" as:
"a child in utero, and the term `child in utero' or `child, who is in utero' means a member of the species homo sapiens, at any stage of development, who is carried in the womb."
AT ANY STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT!?
So...an "unborn child" is anything after sperm meets egg? Yikes! Wait - it gets worse. Get a load of this:
"An offense under this section does not require proof that--
`(i) the person engaging in the conduct had knowledge or should have had knowledge that the victim of the underlying offense was pregnant; or
`(ii) the defendant intended to cause the death of, or bodily injury to, the unborn child."
Oh, so the person charged doesn't even have to have any knowledge or intent to have committed the crime. So in other words:
One day at the Cowabunga Indian Casino A is wrongfully informed that her co-worker B is sleeping with her husband. A finds B, walks up to her and slaps her. B reacts by shoving A to the ground. A falls on her butt and begins vaginally bleeding because unbeknownst to her she was pregnant, and the fall has terminated the pregnancy.
So B can now be charged with murdering the "child" even though she had no intent to, and even though A had no idea that she was pregnant.
"But OP", you may say, "what's the big deal, I mean how many federal crimes are going to result in the termination of a pregnancy?"
Exactly - this law doesn't do anything but posture. 29 of the States already have laws protecting the "unborn" and more are coming. The only thing this law does is chip away at Roe v. Wade by expanding the definition of unborn child. It's a big valentine to the religious right.
"But OP, the law specifically exempts abortions". So what? The damage is done. That was just a way to pretend they weren't trying to weaken Roe v. Wade.
The only thing prochoicers can hope is that the law will be overturned by the Supreme Court. HAHAHAHAHAHA! Yeah, sure -like the majority 5 jackbooted thugs there will let that happen. Dream on. This is the beginning of the end. Soon only the rich will be able to get abortions by flying overseas.
Here's the kicker: The law is nicknamed Lacey and Conner's Law after Lacey Peterson and her unborn child. BUT THIS LAW WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE USED AGAINST HER MURDERER. That crime was not a federal crime nor perpetrated on federal land. Talk about milking a tragedy for a political agenda.
Contact the Obsessive Progressive at: defeatthegop@sbcglobal.net
Friday, April 02, 2004
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