Source: U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center Report: Mass Attacks in Public Spaces 2018 (15-pg PDF)
Showing posts with label Justice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Justice. Show all posts
Sunday, August 11, 2019
Sunday, January 20, 2019
Random charts - active shooters
Source: A Study of the Pre-Attack Behaviors of Active Shooters in the United States Between 2000 and 2013 (29-pg FBI PDF)
"Key Findings of the Phase II Study
1. The 63 active shooters examined in this study did not appear to be uniform in any way such that they could be readily identified prior to attacking based on demographics alone.
2. Active shooters take time to plan and prepare for the attack, with 77% of the subjects spending a week or longer planning their attack and 46% spending a week or longer actually preparing (procuring the means) for the attack.
3. A majority of active shooters obtained their firearms legally, with only very small percentages obtaining a firearm illegally.
4. The FBI could only verify that 25% of active shooters in the study had ever been diagnosed with a mental illness. Of those diagnosed, only three had been diagnosed with a psychotic disorder.
5. Active shooters were typically experiencing multiple stressors (an average of 3.6 separate stressors) in the year before they attacked.
6. On average, each active shooter displayed 4 to 5 concerning behaviors over time that were observable to others around the shooter. The most frequently occurring concerning behaviors were related to the active shooter’s mental health, problematic interpersonal interactions, and leakage of violent intent.
7. For active shooters under age 18, school peers and teachers were more likely to observe concerning behaviors than family members. For active shooters 18 years old and over, spouses/domestic partners were the most likely to observe concerning behaviors.
8. When concerning behavior was observed by others, the most common response was to communicate directly to the active shooter (83%) or do nothing (54%). In 41% of the cases the concerning behavior was reported to law enforcement. Therefore, just because concerning behavior was recognized does not necessarily mean that it was reported to law enforcement.
9. In those cases where the active shooter’s primary grievance could be identified, the most common grievances were related to an adverse interpersonal or employment action against the shooter (49%).
10. In the majority of cases (64%) at least one of the victims was specifically targeted by the active shooter."
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Random chart - SCOTUS decisions
Source: CRS: The Death of Justice Scalia: Procedural Issues Arising on an Eight-Member Supreme Court. Table of potential 4-4 decisions...
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Friday, October 10, 2014
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Great quote- discrimination
“From Nigeria to Russia to Iran, indeed in some 80 countries the world
over, LGBT communities face discriminatory laws and practices that
attack their basic human dignity and undermine their safety,”
- Secretary of State John Kerry, while releasing the annual State Department report on human rights...
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Random charts - child health
Source: Time to Act: Investing in the Health of Our Children and Communities. Recommendations From the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America (120-pg PDF)
"In 2008, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) convened the Commission to Build a Healthier Americato help us find better ways to improve the health of our nation. In their search for solutions, the Commissioners found that there is much more to health than health care and that where we live, learn, work, and play profoundly influence our health..."
Their recommendations?
"Recommendation 1:
Make investing in America’s youngest children a high priority. This will require a significant shift in spending priorities and major new initiatives to ensure that families and communities build a strong foundation in the early years for a lifetime of good health.
Recommendation 2:
Fundamentally change how we revitalize neighborhoods, fully integrating health into community development.
Recommendation 3:
The nation must take a much more health-focused approach to health care financing and delivery. Broaden the mindset, mission, and incentives for health professionals and health care institutions beyond treating illness to helping people lead healthy lives."
Friday, October 18, 2013
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Great quotes - ASSK
"I'm not sure they are Burmese."
Suu Kyi received the Rafto Prize and the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. In 1992 she was awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding by the government of India and the International Simón BolÃvar Prize from the government of Venezuela. In 2007, the Government of Canada made her an honorary citizen of that country, the fourth person ever to receive the honour. In 2011, she was awarded the Wallenberg Medal. On 19 September 2012, Aung San Suu Kyi was also presented with the Congressional Gold Medal, which is, along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the United States."
What a humanitarian! Except for keeping silent on Rohingya persecution, but apparently they may not be Burmese... so persecution and discrimination is OK...
Sunday, June 16, 2013
What a shock!
Someone discovers that the pernicious blight on Indian society, caste, is still present even if somewhat 'out of fashion' to acknowledge- see Caste Is Not Past.
Some previous blog entries related to caste:
Caste update - May 15th, 2011
Misc update (caste) - Mar 26th, 2011Misc update (caste) - Jan 20th, 2011
Education emancipates? - Jun 26th, 2010
Misc update (caste) - Aug 29, 2009
Updates - #3 - Aug 25th, 2008
Frame of Reference - June 27th 2008
Caste - May 26th 2008
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Caste update
Some previous blog entries related to caste:
Misc update (caste) - Mar 26th, 2011
Misc update (caste) - Jan 20th, 2011
Education emancipates? - Jun 26th, 2010
Misc update (caste) - Aug 29, 2009
Updates - #3 - Aug 25th, 2008
Frame of Reference - June 27th 2008
Caste - May 26th 2008
Recently the Indian Supreme Court came out very strongly against the caste system, denouncing it as a "scourge on the nation."
Misc update (caste) - Mar 26th, 2011
Misc update (caste) - Jan 20th, 2011
Education emancipates? - Jun 26th, 2010
Misc update (caste) - Aug 29, 2009
Updates - #3 - Aug 25th, 2008
Frame of Reference - June 27th 2008
Caste - May 26th 2008
Recently the Indian Supreme Court came out very strongly against the caste system, denouncing it as a "scourge on the nation."
"La plus haute cour de justice indienne vient d’interdire les “khap panchâyats“. Elle veut “éradiquer“ ces conseils de castes qui font la loi dans les zones rurales, condamnant parfois à mort les époux de mariages jugés impropres.
La Cour suprême est partie en guerre contre le système de caste qui prévaut toujours dans la société indienne malgré son interdiction. Les mots sont hardis et virulents. “Le système de caste est un fléau pour la nation, plus tôt on le détruira mieux ce sera.“
Bastions de cette hiérarchie héréditaire qui structure le pays, les khap panchâyats sont inconstitutionnels depuis mardi 19 avril. Ces conseils de castes ultraconservateurs, présents essentiellement dans le nord de l’Inde, régissent la société rurale. Défenseurs de l’ordre moral ils imposent à leur communauté des règles archaïques et patriarchales, livrant à l’opprobre général tout membre qui s’y opposerait.
Des meurtres commis sur ordre des khap panchâyats
Les khap panchâyats ne reconnaissant notamment pas l’Hindu Marriage Act qui autorise les unions libres en Inde. Dans leur tradition les mariages inter-castes comme les mariages dits incestueux, c’est-à -dire entre deux personnes d’un même village (gothra), sont passibles de lynchages, de meurtres ou d’exils forcés.
De nombreux cas de condamnation à mort pour crime d’honneurs ont ainsi fait l’actualité ces dernières années. Dimanche 17 avril, deux veuves ont été tabassées à mort dans un village de l’Haryana par un homme, le neveu d’une des victimes, qui les accusait d’être lesbiennes. Personne n’est intervenu pour venir en aide aux deux femmes.
Les États appelés à mener la lutte contre les crimes d’honneur
Dans son jugement la Cour suprême a rappelé que la démocratie indienne autorise tout citoyen “à se marier avec qui il le souhaite“. La plus haute juridiction indienne a même encouragé les mariages inter-castes, affirmant qu’ils servaient “l’intérêt national, dans la mesure où ils participent à mettre fin au système de caste“.
Les juges Markandeya Katju et Gyan Sudha Mishra ont dénoncé les crimes d’honneurs comme étant “des meurtres barbares et honteux“. Pour mettre fin à ces pratiques, la cour a exhorté les gouvernements des États à suspendre les magistrats et les officiers de polices qui ne prendraient pas promptement des mesures contre les khap panchâyats."
Or:
The highest court in India just banned "Khap Panchayats'. It wants to "eradicate" these caste councils which make the law in rural areas, sometimes condemning to death spouses in marriages that are deemed unfit.
The Supreme Court has gone to war against the caste system, which is still prevalent in Indian society despite its prohibition. Their words are bold and vocal: "The caste system is a curse on the nation, and the sooner that it is destroyed the better."
Bastions of the hierarchy hereditary structure in the country, khap panchayats have been deemed unconstitutional since Tuesday, April 19. These ultraconservative caste councils, present mainly in northern India, govern much of rural society. Defenders of the moral order they impose on their community patriarchal and archaic rules, subjecting to general opprobrium any member who would attempt to oppose them.
Murders committed on the order of khap panchayats
Notably the khap panchayats do not recognize the Hindu Marriage Act, which authorizes free unions in India. In their tradition, inter-caste marriages just like incestuous marriages (that is to say between two persons of the same village, gothra) are subject to lynchings, murders or forced exile.
Many cases of death sentence for the crime of honor killings have made the news in recent years. On Sunday, April 17, two widows were beaten to death in a village in Haryana by a man, the nephew of one of the victims, accused of being lesbians. Nobody intervened to help the two women.
States called to lead the fight against honor crimes
In its ruling the Supreme Court reiterated that India's democracy allows any citizen "to marry whomever they want." The highest court of India even encouraged inter-caste marriages, saying they served the "national interest, insofar as they contribute to end the caste system."
Judges Markandeya Katju Gyan Sudha Mishra condemned honor killings as "barbaric and shameful murder." To end these practices, the court urged state governments to suspend judges and police officers who would not take prompt action against khap panchayats.
La Cour suprême est partie en guerre contre le système de caste qui prévaut toujours dans la société indienne malgré son interdiction. Les mots sont hardis et virulents. “Le système de caste est un fléau pour la nation, plus tôt on le détruira mieux ce sera.“
Bastions de cette hiérarchie héréditaire qui structure le pays, les khap panchâyats sont inconstitutionnels depuis mardi 19 avril. Ces conseils de castes ultraconservateurs, présents essentiellement dans le nord de l’Inde, régissent la société rurale. Défenseurs de l’ordre moral ils imposent à leur communauté des règles archaïques et patriarchales, livrant à l’opprobre général tout membre qui s’y opposerait.
Des meurtres commis sur ordre des khap panchâyats
Les khap panchâyats ne reconnaissant notamment pas l’Hindu Marriage Act qui autorise les unions libres en Inde. Dans leur tradition les mariages inter-castes comme les mariages dits incestueux, c’est-à -dire entre deux personnes d’un même village (gothra), sont passibles de lynchages, de meurtres ou d’exils forcés.
De nombreux cas de condamnation à mort pour crime d’honneurs ont ainsi fait l’actualité ces dernières années. Dimanche 17 avril, deux veuves ont été tabassées à mort dans un village de l’Haryana par un homme, le neveu d’une des victimes, qui les accusait d’être lesbiennes. Personne n’est intervenu pour venir en aide aux deux femmes.
Les États appelés à mener la lutte contre les crimes d’honneur
Dans son jugement la Cour suprême a rappelé que la démocratie indienne autorise tout citoyen “à se marier avec qui il le souhaite“. La plus haute juridiction indienne a même encouragé les mariages inter-castes, affirmant qu’ils servaient “l’intérêt national, dans la mesure où ils participent à mettre fin au système de caste“.
Les juges Markandeya Katju et Gyan Sudha Mishra ont dénoncé les crimes d’honneurs comme étant “des meurtres barbares et honteux“. Pour mettre fin à ces pratiques, la cour a exhorté les gouvernements des États à suspendre les magistrats et les officiers de polices qui ne prendraient pas promptement des mesures contre les khap panchâyats."
Or:
The highest court in India just banned "Khap Panchayats'. It wants to "eradicate" these caste councils which make the law in rural areas, sometimes condemning to death spouses in marriages that are deemed unfit.
The Supreme Court has gone to war against the caste system, which is still prevalent in Indian society despite its prohibition. Their words are bold and vocal: "The caste system is a curse on the nation, and the sooner that it is destroyed the better."
Bastions of the hierarchy hereditary structure in the country, khap panchayats have been deemed unconstitutional since Tuesday, April 19. These ultraconservative caste councils, present mainly in northern India, govern much of rural society. Defenders of the moral order they impose on their community patriarchal and archaic rules, subjecting to general opprobrium any member who would attempt to oppose them.
Murders committed on the order of khap panchayats
Notably the khap panchayats do not recognize the Hindu Marriage Act, which authorizes free unions in India. In their tradition, inter-caste marriages just like incestuous marriages (that is to say between two persons of the same village, gothra) are subject to lynchings, murders or forced exile.
Many cases of death sentence for the crime of honor killings have made the news in recent years. On Sunday, April 17, two widows were beaten to death in a village in Haryana by a man, the nephew of one of the victims, accused of being lesbians. Nobody intervened to help the two women.
States called to lead the fight against honor crimes
In its ruling the Supreme Court reiterated that India's democracy allows any citizen "to marry whomever they want." The highest court of India even encouraged inter-caste marriages, saying they served the "national interest, insofar as they contribute to end the caste system."
Judges Markandeya Katju Gyan Sudha Mishra condemned honor killings as "barbaric and shameful murder." To end these practices, the court urged state governments to suspend judges and police officers who would not take prompt action against khap panchayats.
A recent letter writing campaign by the Asian Human Rights Council focused attention on a recent example of caste-based discrimination. 'Caste-based discrimination and corruption pushing 83 families to death in Orissa' detailed the sorry story:
"... On August 28, 2010, the upper caste priest of a local Hindu temple and one Mr. Karunakar Bhoi, who is also from the upper caste, denied three women from the Bauri community of Ranapada village from entering the temple. When Karunakar saw the three women trying to enter the temple, he abused them by referring to their caste and suggesting their 'low origin' and said: "who gives you this right to enter the temple?." The women asked back: "Why are you behaving like this, are we not human beings or Hindus?" The priest and the other upper caste, who were at the temple, refused the women entry to the temple, and charged a penalty of Rs. 50,000 (USD 1,110) on the women.
The women were forced to admit that they would pay the penalty, under threat. The following day, the women filed a complaint regarding the incident at the local police station. The complaint was registered as a case, with no. 160(36) against Karunakar Bhoi for offenses punishable under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 under Sections 294, 323, 341 and 806 of the Code. On September 8, non-Dalit villagers, mostly from the upper caste, from 54 neighboring villages held a meeting near the temple where the women were denied entry and went to the Ranapada village with the plan for attack the Dalits. They shouted at the Dalit villagers and threatened to kill them. Mr. Dwijaraj Pradhan allegedly threatened in the public that: "Today we will beat up all the Dalits. All Dalits should come out of the houses, we will kill you otherwise." ..."
See the rest of the story here. A tale that, sadly, is all too common an occurrence...
"... On August 28, 2010, the upper caste priest of a local Hindu temple and one Mr. Karunakar Bhoi, who is also from the upper caste, denied three women from the Bauri community of Ranapada village from entering the temple. When Karunakar saw the three women trying to enter the temple, he abused them by referring to their caste and suggesting their 'low origin' and said: "who gives you this right to enter the temple?." The women asked back: "Why are you behaving like this, are we not human beings or Hindus?" The priest and the other upper caste, who were at the temple, refused the women entry to the temple, and charged a penalty of Rs. 50,000 (USD 1,110) on the women.
The women were forced to admit that they would pay the penalty, under threat. The following day, the women filed a complaint regarding the incident at the local police station. The complaint was registered as a case, with no. 160(36) against Karunakar Bhoi for offenses punishable under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 under Sections 294, 323, 341 and 806 of the Code. On September 8, non-Dalit villagers, mostly from the upper caste, from 54 neighboring villages held a meeting near the temple where the women were denied entry and went to the Ranapada village with the plan for attack the Dalits. They shouted at the Dalit villagers and threatened to kill them. Mr. Dwijaraj Pradhan allegedly threatened in the public that: "Today we will beat up all the Dalits. All Dalits should come out of the houses, we will kill you otherwise." ..."
See the rest of the story here. A tale that, sadly, is all too common an occurrence...
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Coming to a head?
Tick, tock. Tick, tock... The days and months continue to roll by since the assassination of Rafik Hariri (February 14th, 2005), and the official investigation plods on... Recently, Canadian broadcaster CBC published a 4-part "investigation", "Who Killed Lebanon's Rafik Hariri?" (subtitled "Getting Away with Murder.") The bottom line? Hezbollah, albeit with help...OK, so let's stipulate that all of this could be true, although there is a fair amount of skepticism out there... For example, the Qifa Nabki web site takes issue with the CBC "investigation's" central thesis that the UNIIIC ignored telecom information for the first several years (note: his criticism provides copious references to and excerpts from UNIIIC reports by Mehlis and Brammertz which reference telecommunications analysis work that the commission had done).
This blogger finds the very first two sentences of the CBC article simply astounding! Quote, "It wasn't until late 2007 that the awkwardly titled UN International Independent Investigation Commission actually got around to some serious investigating. By then three years had passed since the spectacular murder of Lebanon's former prime minister Rafik Hariri." Huh? Is this actually possible? No real investigating for the first three years? While the evidence was "fresh"? While suspects were actually incarcerated and in jail (e.g. "the four generals" - head of general security Maj. Gen. Jamil al Sayyed, Ali al-Hajj, the former police director general, army intelligence chief Brig. Gen. Raymond Azar and the head of the Presidential Guard Brigade, Brig. Gen. Mustafa Hamdan)? Wouldn't this be in contravention of the "guiding principles" of the STL e.g. "to take account of the most stringent requirements for the protection of human rights"(see here), and wouldn't this be a case of providing ammunition to those already looking for opportunities to criticize the UNIIIC and to call for its disbanding?
To this blogger if the CBC contention is accurate then the very premise and existence of the UNIIIC is problematic, while if the CBC contention is inaccurate it does not augur well for the reliability of the rest of the "investigation."
Next, the entire "Captain Wissam Eid had figured it all out but the UNIIIC lost/misplaced his findings" story and the associated time line are also rather bizarre... So, the narrative is that in 2005/2006 Eid had figured out the "red network" and the "networks behind the networks"... He had even received a confirmation direct from Hezbollah, before filing his report with the UNIIIC "in the first months of 2006." Subsequently his boss was targeted "as if to underscore" that he should back off (curiously enough that was in September 2006... one would think that Hezbollah would have done this before he turned in the incriminating report and not after "he had moved on!"). Then Hezbollah waited for a year and a half, and after Eid's work was "found" and he met with UNIIIC investigators, then they kill him too... Again, wouldn't it have been better to kill him a. before he turned in his report, or failing that, b. after he turned in his report, along with having report expunged by one of their operatives (since Hezbollah is supposed to have "infiltrated the commission.")
And actually, what exactly is the relevance of the entire Wissam Eid story to the subject of proving Hezbollah's responsibility (or not) for the Hariri murder, other than from a "human interest" angle? After all, if the specialists from FTS have analyzed all the telecommunications data and have mapped out all the connections, it does seem rather moot...
Additionally, some of the connections are not exactly clear... How exactly did the networks connect "elliptically" with Hezbollah's Great Prophet Hospital, and how did the networks communicate "indirectly" with the pink phones?
Oh yeah, and there appears to be very little in this CBC "investigation" that is new, much of this information was published by Der Spiegel back in May of 2009, see 'Breakthrough in Tribunal Investigation: New Evidence Points to Hezbollah in Hariri Murder'
The bottom line? We'll have to wait for the STL's indictments to know more, and even so those are sure not to be the last word!!
CBC Investigation: Who killed Lebanon's Rafik Hariri?
STL response: Hariri Investigation will not be Deterred by Recent Criticism
Lebanon tense as fingers point over Hariri killing
Trials and tribulations for Mr. Bellemare
Some previous blog entries referencing Lebanon:
Great quotes - Oct 10th, 2010
Random charts - Sep 23rd, 2010
Random picture - Aug 4th, 2010
Great quotes - Jan 10th, 2010
Great quotes - Jul 29th, 2010
Such concern - Jul 24th, 2009
Lebanese elections II - Jun 9th, 2009
Lebanese elections - Jun 8th, 2009
Four years on... - February 16th, 2009
Quotes - Jan 21st, 2009
UNIIIC progress (?!) - December 18th, 2008
Great quotes... - December 10th, 2008
Damned if you do... - November 18th, 2008
Lebanon - good grief - November 11th, 2008
Taking it back - October 28th, 2008
Profile - Oct 20th, 2008
Litmus test quiz - September 2nd, 2008
Everything takes more time... - August 12th, 2008
At Last (Lebanon)! - July 11th, 2008
Self-examination - profound & shallow - July 7th, 2008
Some poll indicators - June 21st, 2008
Make that President Sleiman - May 25th, 2008
Le Sursis - May 21st, 2008
Lebanon - Doha noise - May 20th, 2008
Bad omen... good omen... - May 11th, 2008
Needed in Lebanon III - May 6th, 2008
Headed back down the toilet? - May 6th, 2008
Needed in Lebanon II - May 2nd, 2008
Needed in Lebanon - April 16th, 2008
Misc updates #3 - April 4th, 2008
Rogue's Gallery II - March 26th, 2008
A Rogue's Gallery - March 2nd, 2008
Benazir Bhutto follow-up... - Feb 9th, 2008
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Held to account?
"Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has proposed the establishment of a bipartisan commission to investigate torture and other abuses committed by the Bush Administration." Physicians for Human Rights encourages you to go and sign a petition...However, it bears repeating, but this blogger (while in favor of the proposition that those responsible be held to account) insists that this only be done if everyone responsible is looked at. The petition in question points the finger at "the Bush administration" and "some mental health professionals and physicians" but somehow seems to have an exemption for the legislative branch. Were politicians not in the loop? Did the "leaders" of certain Senate committees (e.g. intelligence, etc.) not receive briefings? Should they not be held accountable for their roles, even if it was only to pusillanimously keep quiet and look away? This blogger answers "yes."
All the more so because they have, thus far, mostly managed to escape any responsibility for the current economic crisis. Although equally culpable in causing the crisis, they have not been called to account by dint of keeping the 'beam' of public outrage focused on bankers, etc.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Toto... in New York
Emmanuel "Toto" Constant, one-time (some-time) CIA asset, founded the "Front pour l'Avancement et le Progrès Haitien" (FRAPH, or the Front for the Advancement and Progress of Haïti) a Haitian death squad accused of carrying out many rapes and murders of supporters of Jean Bertrand Aristide. After fleeing Haiti "Toto" was convicted in absentia and sentenced to life in prison. Having made his way to the U.S. "Toto" was arrested in 1995. A deportation order was set against him; however the Clinton administration ordered his release in 1996. The deportation was canceled ostensibly because "Toto" faced assassination if returned to Haiti, though some felt it was to prevent evidence of his CIA ties from being exposed.
So, "Toto" eventually got a job as a branch manager (in New York) working for New Jersey-based D&M Financial. In 2006 he was arrested and charged with mortgage fraud. He was convicted of mortgage fraud in July 2008. Sentencing will take place in September, and "Toto" faces the possibility of 5 to 15 years in prison...
Emmanuel Constant - Wikipedia
Former Haitian Strongman Found Guilty of Fraud
Haitian paramilitary leader Emmanuel Constant convicted of fraud
Return documents to Haiti; Deport death squad leader
So, "Toto" eventually got a job as a branch manager (in New York) working for New Jersey-based D&M Financial. In 2006 he was arrested and charged with mortgage fraud. He was convicted of mortgage fraud in July 2008. Sentencing will take place in September, and "Toto" faces the possibility of 5 to 15 years in prison...
Emmanuel Constant - Wikipedia
Former Haitian Strongman Found Guilty of Fraud
Haitian paramilitary leader Emmanuel Constant convicted of fraud
Return documents to Haiti; Deport death squad leader
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