WESTERN & CENTRAL PACIFIC NETWORK
Monitoring Transparency and Efficiency In Ocean Resource Management
Honolulu, Hawai`i
wcpnetwork@hawaii.rr.com

MEDIA RELEASE

CONTACT: SCOTT FOSTER
Director of Communications
808-988-1708 ~ wcpnetwork@hawaii.rr.com

WESTERN & CENTRAL PACIFIC NETWORK
Honolulu, Hawai`i

MEDIA RELEASE

CONTACT: SCOTT FOSTER
Director of Communications
808-988-1708 ~ wcpnetwork@hawaii.rr.com

GLARING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST BY WESPAC COUNCIL MEMBERS REVEALED DURING REDO OF NULLIFIED GUAM-CNMI MEETING
With Two Confirmed Federal Investigation In The Works, Industry Control of Federal Fishing Regulatory Agency Has Become Obvious To All Concerned

HONOLULU: APRIL 14, 2008 -- Because the dysfunctional Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council's (Wespac) March 17-18, 2008, meeting in Guam, Saipan and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands was not given proper public notice, all business conducted there had to be revisited during a "do-over" meeting which took place on Monday, April 14, at Wespac’s Honolulu office and via teleconference. The nullified meeting was held at an estimated cost of $50-$60,000, not including the unknown cost of the second meeting. Unfortunately, Wespac failed to supply many of the documents being discussed to the teleconferenced voting Council members and to the general public -- and the Council’s notorious dysfunction did not end there.

WESTERN & CENTRAL PACIFIC NETWORK
Monitoring Transparency and Efficiency In Ocean Resource Management
Honolulu, Hawai`i

MEDIA RELEASE

CONTACT: SCOTT FOSTER
Director of Communications
808-988-1708 ~ wcpnetwork@hawaii.rr.com

On October 2nd, Wes Clark started a campaign to have Rush Limbaugh taken off Armed Forces Radio - essentially, getting him fired.  The link to this petition reads (and you can click it to sign the petition - PLEASE!):

Click here to hold Rush Limbaugh accountable for his offensive and outrageous comments -- tell your members of Congress to take Rush off Armed Forces Radio today!

I happen to agree with him.  Yeah, I know, BIG surprise there, but what can I say?  When he does something, or says something I disagree with, I'll tell you, promise! (we actually have disagreed once or twice)

Anyway...Over the past week or so, I've run into a number of people very upset about Wes' campaign to get Rush Limbaugh dumped from Armed Forces Radio. Most are Clark supporters, and most are upset enough about this to consider no longer supporting Wes because of it.

Why we need to talk about Iran.

Before I break cyber-ground here with my first ever diary on Kos I want to acknowledge how impressed I am with the DailyKos community. I’m incredibly grateful for everything they have done to highlight our organization (www.votevets.org) in our fight to hold politicians accountable for flawed military strategies and blatant disregard for veterans’ issues.

We owe the success of our Body Armor ad to the amazing response it received on the blogs.

What I really want to focus on today, with this initial blog, is the launch of a joint initiative between VoteVets.org and Ret. General Clark’s WesPAC: StopIranWar.com. We’ve produced a series of Video Blogs that examine how a war with Iran will affect U.S. Security, our troops in Iraq, and the overall stability of the Middle East.

It probably came as no surprise to the audience of approximately 150 that Marine Lt. Col. Andrew Horne was extremely knowledgeable in the area of national security, and indeed Horne answered every question with great precision and depth.  Some attendees were, however, surprised at the depth of Horne's conviction, eloquence, and emotion on the subject of War and Peace.  During one memorable response Horne made it clear that war is not an "academic issue" for him:  

"I was with many of you at the remembrance on Hurstborne and Taylorsville, where thousands of T-shirts dangled from lines, representing the American soldiers we have lost in Iraq.  I was at the memorial where hundreds of empty combat boots were lined up, representing the American dead.  But where many of you saw T-shirts and boots, I saw faces.  I saw wives and children who will never see their loved ones again.  War is not an academic issue for me."

The Horne for Congress campaign is in full swing and we thought we'd share some of our recent exciting news.  We hardly know where to begin ...

I could spend all day writing about how fantastic the general is--his intellect, knowledge, message and genuine depth of feeling are all outstanding--but I wanted to share with you one brief story from the fundraiser that shows just how good the General is, and why he needs our support.

The New America Foundation American Strategy Program

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The Real State of the Union 2006:
A No-Nonsense Assessment of U.S. Foreign Policy and Call to Action

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Featuring Special Keynote Speaker

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK
Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander

During thirty-four years of service in the United States Army Wesley K. Clark rose to the rank of four-star general as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, Europe.   In his final military command, General Clark commanded Operation Allied Force, NATO's first major combat action, which saved 1.5 million Albanians from ethnic cleansing in Kosovo.  General Clark was also responsible for directing the peacekeeping operation in Bosnia.  General Clark was also a Democratic presidential primary candidate in the 2004 elections. ...

[UPDATE: "...which saved 1.5 million Albanians from ethnic cleansing in Kosovo,...without a single loss of an American life". ;)]

Please contact C-Span: Events@c-span.org!!!!

President Bush and the neocons are engaged in a new spin campaign to shift blame from their own failures in conducting the war in Iraq and in failing to protect our troops!  President Bush must address these concerns and must be held accountable!

Please sign Wesley Clark's petition, as detailed below.  

WesPAC | Securing America

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Eric Massa (NY-29th) is among Congressional candidates who are members of the "Fighting Dems" and "Veterans for  Americas' Future."

This transcript was taken from my own recordings amid a very enthusiastic, energetic and cheering crowd of New Yawkers who support Eric Massa.... (so, it was loud,.. and that's my disclaimer ;)

I was fortunate to attend the event with others who posted here. I wish you were there, so below, I hope you can read and see Massa's natural ability to articulate and communicate the issues; and why many, including myself, have discovered why Massa is the best candidate and person who'll serve our country in Congress with distinction.  He is genuine and passionate in his beliefs, in his resolve to protect Constitution and in his call to service, again! He'll be a great leader in Congress.

General Wesley Clark was in Los Angeles yesterday (Friday) for a WesPAC fundraiser at a private residence in Cheviot Hills.  The event was supposed to start at 7:00, but Michael Webber of SoCalGrassroots prevailed on the General to meet with some bloggers as a preamble.  So there we were, in a private room  at a roundtable with the general.  The bloggers in question included myself, John Amato of Crooks and Liars, Mark Kleiman, MS_in_LA of Who's Counting, and Steve and Pam of SteveAudio.  So essentially, seven bloggers, together with Wesley Clark and his wife Gert, all just having a conversation.  Arianna Huffington was supposed to show up, but she had other obligations.  Quite a forum, and a singular occurrence.  I should be getting a picture soon from WesPAC--when I see it there I'll post it here.

More below.

All I know is that I really dislike the military and all those who are gung-ho about it. And don't tell me Clark isn't gung-ho about it, because he's a freaking four-star general. You have to do a lot of push-ups to make it that far, and I personally reject the whole philosophy (or lack thereof) behind our cruel and hierarchical military.

Perhaps this is just going back to a male vs. female perspective. This is a man's world, and men like fighting, etc. all that BS that the media is constantly forcing down our throats, but I feel like we need to step away from the idea that sometimes fighting is the only answer. It is NEVER the only answer, and rarely is it the best answer.

Where are all my fellow sappy romantics out there?