Thursday, December 28, 2006

Half way through, both leave and deployment

That is not exactly true, I am halfway through Leave, and really just about half way through my deployment time in Afghanistan, but I have been away from home since late February, so well over half by time away from home standards.

It is almost surreal to come home and find things mostly the same way they were when I left. It is like I was away on a month long training for business the way it feels. However that is because I everyone here is still here, doing pretty much what they were doing when I left. I love that, it means that that is what I should find when I get home.

I don't miss Afghanistan at all. I know people who love being deployed, who relish in the adventure. I enjoy the adventure, but would trade it in a second for home. As much as I know that we are doing a good thing in Afghanistan, creating a time buffer for the Afghans to figure out how they are going to govern themselves, and create an infrastructure that allows democracy to florish, I still wonder how much progress is being made while we are there. I know any one persons contribution is not the point, that the sum whole is greater that the sum of the parts, but I am still basically left with blind faith and hope that we are indeed doing a good thing.

Christmas was great with my family, and while I am not sure how I got so lucky, I am sure happy that I was home. Everyone I have seen here has been great, I am truly a lucky guy to have so many people who care about me here.

I just went to a basketball game and our team won the game, that was nice, I have learned to enjoy watching high high school ball, and while I won't get enough games under my belt this year, I have next year to look forward to.

Prior to leaving I have to repair/replace a water bib that cracked and flooded the front yard with water again. Let me say the design by FEBCO may be great in some places in the world, but it truly sucks here, 2nd year in a row that I know of that it broke with minimal freezing in the area. Yes I have insulated it, yes it is a crappy design, and yes this summer I will be replacing it, I just don't have the time or knowledge right now to be mr. plumber handyman.

Also necessary to get my kids car fixed so he can stop driving my truck. Pretty annoying, unavoidable, and of course required.

Hmmmmm My Birthday is coming up soon, people all over the world or at least in all the bars in Oregon will be celebrating with me, as I have decided to hold my birthday on the 31st again this year.

Okay, that is really all that is going on right now, so I am through sharing.

Have a Happy New Year, be safe, sanity is a judgment call anyway, so attempt to avoid doing things that get you visited by guys with guns, or people with bandaids.

Keith

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Too Much Fun In PDX

Okay, well, I left Bagram on the 17th. Arrived in Kuwait that day. Customs coming into the United States is conducted there. Threat brief, don't have this or we will arrest you. (Truth is stranger than fiction.) If you were guilty of possessing a Playboy Magazine going through customs according to the Customs lady, you would be arrested by the Military. This is primarily because we have been in Muslim countries and apparently they don't look at nude women. Having spent a week or so in a Muslim country I can tell you that while that may be correct, it is far from the entire story. However we will leave that for someone else.

Our European stop was fogged in, so ended up staying at a nice hotel in Budapest, Hungary. I recommend a trip to that location to anyone lucky enough to be able to get there. Very pretty city. Lots to do. Van Gogh Museum was located there just south of one of the most palacial castles I have ever seen.

Ireland, Bangor Maine, Dallas in a day. By hook or crook I made it out the next day and home to Portland. Much thanks to the folks at American Airlines in Denver and United Airlines in Seattle. Quite an adventure.

Home, last night I got to see about 6 or 8 people I haven't seen in quite a while, and we were fortunate to be out where Bree was headed, thanks to her brother, so I have caught up quite a bit, if not all the way with my Milwaukie friends. Who knew listening to Kareoke and drinking coffee with a nudge could be so much fun.

I missed talking to my folks in Virginia today, but I am sure that they are going to have a great Christmas together with family in Washington DC, so Merry Christmas to the famdamly, from coast to coast, and Merry Christmas to everyone else as well.

All my best

Keith

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Live From Bagram... It's Sunday Night

What happens to people who test the ice on lakes by walking into the middle if it gives way???

It is cold here in Bagram, I have been here for 3 nights now, and I have a routine, I am waiting for a plane in a couple of days, so I read a bit, eat a meal, go to the gym, walk to the PX, take a nap, watch a movie or three, and start over then next day. Eventful it ain't. But I am looking forward to getting home for Chrismas, and that is a very good thing.

Chris is turning 17 tomorrow. Wow, Happy Birthday Chris.

Yesterday I watched a guy walk out to the center of a large room sized mud puddle a foot or so deep, testing it for strength. When it failed he of course got his foot soaked. I had to laugh, I am not sure if he did that for my amusement or not, but I was amused anyway. And of course it does lead to, how many people in really cold country, find themselves taking a cold dip, and if that happens what happens to them next I wonder.

Ish, Not earth shaking just thought I would say hello and Merry Christmas to all you all. That is southern pluralese for youuns.

Have a good day

Keith

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

6 December 2006, whatta way to run a war

It is interesting that I have heard this is no longer a war, and that we are not in a combat zone, however, I go everywhere with lots of bullets and my bullet launchers, which I don't normally travel with in a peaceful zone, like say Portland, and I am acquainted with people who have either been shot, or shot at, or otherwise have had it demonstrated that they are unpopular.........

Okay, for the last couple of days I have been involved in an operation south of here. The Italians, Spanish and Afghans planned and executed an operation designed to ferret out the guys who keep shooting at our convoys going over a particular stretch of road. It went as well as you can expect, which means in the prose of the information officers, "We established a presence in the area, and demonstrated that we can deal with people in this area. " What it meant to my eyes was that we spent a lot of peoples time, accepting half way terms as whole, and no bad guys were hurt in the filming of the operation. (My Dad might say we half assed it, but I am not.)

I am truly at a loss to say how much of a lost opportunity that that was, I did however see a goat being born on the last day, which is humorous if you believe that the operation was much like what it took to conceive the goat.

Now on Saturday the day prior to leaving we had a guy driven to us after having survived a gunshot wound to the head. I think he might be okay by now, but haven't heard. We had advanced warning, so we called the medevac folks to let them know to be prepared, about an hour and a half prior to his arrival at our location. He arrived, and they decided after a half hour that they would come and get him. (He was an Afghan National, not a coalition soldier, so their was some question if they would come and get him at all.) While we waited our Doc Yeager, evaluated him, cleaned him, and generally kept him from going into shock. The gunshot wound entered the skin at the right temple, and exited behind the right ear, I don't think it penetrated his skull. After American radio men relayed the medevac request, Italian Officers coordinated with Spanish Officers to effect a launch of the medevac. I guess this takes approximately 1/2 hour even with ample warning. Anyway, they launch, and get to our location, and decide for some reason, to land 150 meters south of our landing pad that was marked appropriately. They land in a puddle of mud, and won't get out until I come and demonstrate that they won't sink in it. After we get them to the patient, they do what they do, and he is airborne to Herat by 9 pm. I really believe that he should have been there an hour earlier. Given American standards with American pilots that is how it would have happened. (Maybe)

Anyway, the next thing I know when I return from the mission is that the helicopter pilots are irritated about the landing. They landed the bird in a puddle, when dry concrete was clearly visible adjacent to the puddle, (I can't make this stuff up). I am sure the language barrier contributed, but I don't know what else might have. This all demonstrates why the principles of war exist and why when you violate them the costs may (probably will be) in human lives. Unity of command is a principle of war. It allows rapid execution of ordinary actions. A medevac may not seem ordinary to you, but to the pilots, it ought to be. The language barrier between English speakers and Spanish speakers is enough to cause a pilot to misjudge what is otherwise a clearly marked LZ.

Anyway, that is the update for the last couple of days, I have some pictures, and might manage to get them posted sometime, prior to Christmas.

Also, my niece is on the lookout for the gingerbread man, who apparently has escaped from her school, if anyone sees him, please direct him to Keizer Oregon. Or just let me know and I will tell her.

Additionally I did find out that I will get to enjoy my family for Christmas, and I hope that you do the same

All my best

Keith

Friday, December 01, 2006

2 December 2006

Hmmm this month is not going to see a bunch of entries I have a feeling. So I am going to cover a lot of strange ground all at one time, and see where that leads me....

Happy Birthday Lori Green, (Of course Green is her maiden name, and I don't think I have seen her in I really don't remember when, but, 2 December is her Birthday, and I hope she is having a happy one, I think she is somewhere west of Portland. ( I grew up with her and her brother from about age 5).

Happy Birthday to Chris, who is turning 17, he is a great guy I am proud to be his step dad, I hope you enjoy your birthday, and don't get to crazy with your friends.

I am sure I am going to miss at least one or two people I should remember but like I said to begin with, I am trying to cover some ground here too.

Happy Birthday to both my cousin Chris and to Barbara, both of whom turn a day older on the 27th of the month. Ironic isn't it.

On the 7th of the month I will find out what the next 10 days or so will be like, however I may not be anywhere near a computer at that point. If all goes as I would like it to, I will take some time to travel to Bagram, and then to home, and depending upon how that goes, I may actually see my family for Christmas, which would be fantastic. If not, then I guess the new year will do. In either case it takes a long time to get there, spend some time there, and come back here. So... I may not have much to share during the month. Of course, I could be wrong as well.

The weather here is dipping down into the low 30's and gets up to about 50 during the day. Clear skys so far, although the rain we had a couple of weeks ago sure did trash much of the surrounding area. There is no root network to hold the soil in place so, a big rain causes quite a bit of movement.

Hmmm I have run out of things to say or share, so will let this be the end for today. Hope this finds you well, and I hope that the rest of your holiday season is great.

Keith

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Hats, Mittens, and a long couple of days

Today is Thursday the 30th, I haven't put anything down for about 6 days, which is not because we haven't done anything, but because I have to find both the time, energy and correct mood all at the same time to write about what has gone on in the last couple of days, and that is not always as easy as it sounds. It really does seem to be an intermittent combination of events. (That was a nice way of putting it, don't you think?)

Anyway... I have some pictures from the Kuchis again. They truly are the poorest folks I have seen as a group anywhere. I don't mean that as a pitying comment, they just get by on less material goods than anyone else I have seen. Their culture has been essentially the same for hundreds if not thousands of years, and if you took this particular group and moved them back 500 years in time, other than the fact that they are not carrying weapons in obvious ways, I would imagine that their life would be very similar to the way it is now.

The Hats and Mittens were sewn up by my Aunt Eleanor and her daughter as well as some friends of theirs, the colors are wild, and the cloth is pile, which I have to say is some of the warmest stuff when it is dry. I am not sure if the kids really knew what to do with all this when they first got it, but they figured it out pretty quickly. A lot of work went into those mittens and hats, and I appreciate it. In addition to Hats and Mittens we passed out coats, shirts, boots, shoes and some sandles, as well as jeans that Charlie and Joyce sent. Overall, I think the whole thing was a success, many of the kids were there without shoes when we got there, and most of the kids really will benefit from the hats particularly. The Jeans are very foriegn to the Kuchis, so it remains to be seen if they will use them, I think future pants will have to go to more city type kids.

This structure is a meat rack. I am not sure what sheep is currently drying in the wind, but I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't Jake the Sheep from an earlier picture / blog entry. They cut and cure the meat with plenty of salt, and then when the weather doesn't allow for easy transportation they cut it into soup for food for the family. According to John my Interpreter the meat is very good.







My heart goes out to these kids when I see them. They are beyond cute, and live in what are fairly harsh circumstances. One thing is certain, they do not lack for love and attention, although I am not sure if it is the same type of attention our children get, it does allow them to continue to live this lifestyle. We are planning a medical mission out to this village in the future. I am sure that they will appreciate that as well. It is interesting to watch them with our Medic Doc Yeager. He is treated with great respect by the people in the area.

This man is possibly the grandfather, and also possibly the father of the child he is holding. The coat he is wearing is a thick camel wool coat, and if you enlarge the picture it sure presents the story of their life as we get to see it.

The women really aren't allowed anywhere near our location, they actually tried to come out, and were admonished and directed back by the village elder. I can only imagine my sister or mother's reaction to what I witnessed. Lightening might actually strike.



In this trip, we brought them mittens, hats, pants, coats, boots, shoes, 165 lbs of rice a couple of gallons of cooking oil, and a small case of Oreo cookies, just like folks all around the world, somehow everyone likes Oreos.

When we distribute this kind of thing, we have the ANA hand it out, so that it gets into the right hands, it isn't hoarded, and we don't overstep our bounds and offend someone. I think that they enjoy it, maybe not as much as I do, but close.

I was able to give a school teacher some of the packets of papers and pencils that I received fromPat, as well as some of the school supplies I received from Charlie and Joyce. Leo had sent some reading glasses that I also provided him after showing him how to see what would work for his students. He has 40 students, and while I don't have pictures to share of that I am sure that the supplies are being well used.

I am just listening to the cats argue outside my building now, it is about 1900 hours military, 7:00 pm civilian time, here. Right now my wife is probably waking up at 6:30 in Oregon, wondering if it is true that she really has to get out of bed, cause it is so warm there. Since the dog Hannibal left, the cats have come back out of hiding. Hannibal must have weighed over a hundred pounds, and for some reason the cats didn't like being chased by him. He is just a puppy really, but he is a tad bigger than them. With the arrival of the cats, my mouse problem has finally disappeared. It could all be coincidence, or there may be some causal relationship there, who knows.

Chris is playing basketball for his high school, I have gotten to watch him every year for the last 8 years, and I am missing his junior year. That is one of those things you never get back. I am really hope that he will play again next year, his senior year as he has always been gifted that way. He has athletic awareness of his surroundings, and what is happening, and where he needs to be, and he is genuinely a nice guy, even I can tell that.

Steph has been helping her mom shop. Steph has a talent for cutting through all the indecision that other people bring to shopping, and helping you get to the point. I really wish I was home to help with this season as well.

The last day and a half was spent largely up and down the road, quite annoying but we had difficulties that required us to make the trip more than one time. Then we had more issues upon arrival. Weird.

Today an IED went off in the city adjacent to our post. I think it was targeting the Afghan National Police. That is the 5th IED or VBIED in 5 weeks, it is truly getting old. The political situation here seems to constrain the ANA from going out and getting the people who emplace, or make, or direct these IED's. The people who emplace them may be hardened anti government forces, or they may just be some guy who is willing to get 20 bucks by risking his life, it runs the gamut. In any case if we don't spend the time and energy to find and destroy the enemy’s capability to put these in place we will continue to find them one or two at a time. There really is no easy answer for this problem that is for sure.

Okay, I am going to stop now,

I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Keith

Friday, November 24, 2006

The second day after Thanksgiving

Hello All,

I will make this a quick one. Woke up today, the 9th day away from my stuff, was only going to be 4 days, but that is the way it works here, I still have toothpaste, so I am good.

Really good in fact, as I am in Shindand for a while yet. It was about 35 degrees this morning, just enough to make the black top slick, if we had blacktop. I am wondering how people will do driving on ring road here. Of course it has one advantage that american roads don't have, and that is that there is almost no merging traffic. No cloverleaves, and you can see for miles in front of you or behind.

Anyway. I had a request for my address and realized I hadn't posted it out here.

I am going to work hard giving what I have received for the next couple of weeks, as I hope to possibly be home over or proximate to the holiday. We will see. Anyhow, here it is.

Keith McNeilly
207th RCAG West
Herat, Afghanistan
APO AE 09354.

That gets the mail to Herat, they have a list of where everyone is there, and will send it down when we come up to get it.

You need to use a return address to get it delivered.

Please use the following return address,

Your initials
C/O 141 BSB
10000 NE 33rd Drive
Portland, Oregon 97211

That allows the mail to be delivered, and returned if necesssary, without publishing your address here in this country. Please enclose a note, and I will respond accordingly

Thanks again

Keith

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Thanksgiving 2006 Afghanistan

Today I woke up feeling pretty good, a condition that lasted approximately 30 minutes. Three of our ANA Soldiers were on their way to relieve the guards at a checkpoint. On the way up to that location they tripped an IED that was emplaced the night previously in the loose dirt. The IED destroyed the truck, and wounded all three soldiers. The soldier in the back of the truck lived long enough to get back to the battalion aide station, but had suffered too much internal damage, along with lacerations from the blast to survive. We ended up following the ambulance up to Herat which is a fair distance by car. As of the last information the second soldier was being operated on for lacerations to his liver or kidney. The driver has a strained tendon in his hand. The truck is on the scrap heap.

Fortunately I don't actually know the soldiers who were in the truck, to the best of my knowledge right now. It wasn't my company that was hit, and I feel like it would be inappropriate to go look at the guys as they are being treated, to satisfy my own curiosity. They deserve more respect than that.

The day in Herat was well spent, we picked up the things we needed to pick up, and as luck would have it, the 10,000 lbs of mail finally broke loose from Bagram and I received mail along with the rest of my team, for the first time in a month.

It has been getting down into the mid 30's at night here, and today it never truly warmed up, although in the sun it actually felt like it might have for a little while around 2 pm this afternoon.

I found out today that a couple of people I used to know fairly well decided to try suicide as an option. Fortunately neither was successful. It causes me to reflect though; both ladies were so completely captivating to me when I was in my early twenties, full of life, and humor and kindness. They were also very attractive to me, and to be fair 90 percent of the male population who shared the sense of sight. I wonder how a person gets that far down. Then of course I realize that I just have no clue as to how their life is now or really how it ever has been. We all have an image that we construct for the viewing public, for those of us who are lucky our self image and our construct is close to the same thing. For others, it may be vastly different.

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving for us in the United States of America, I am going to say that I am truly thankful for my family, and my friends, many of whom read this. It means a lot to me to be able to communicate with you, some of you send things for the Afghans, some send me emails telling me that you care, some of you have no idea how much I admire you. This experience has taken me away from my lovely wife and children whom I love tons and tons, and feel a great responsibility for both their physical and mental well being. At the same time, it has given me experiences here I would never have had, and actually brought me closer to many in my family who have primarily been names to me. It is quite interesting to me that the distinct branches of my family truly run to type. It goes beyond looks and into how brothers and sisters, most of who are my parents or aunts and uncles share a sense of humor and or a common view of the world.

In addition to my extended family I have received correspondence from people all over the United States. Not hundreds, but getting there. That helps me to continue to work here in an even handed way.

Okay, I have gone on long enough, suffice it to say: thank you for your love and concern, thoughts and prayers. I know that no matter what my circumstances, I am blessed beyond words in many ways, and if I avoid looking for something to complain about I can concentrate on what I have, and appreciate my life with you all for what it is.

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving, and a terrific Christmas and New Year.

Keith

Sunday, November 19, 2006

November 20 2006

Today, we discussed what makes an ETT team successful. It was about a three page paper, I will touch on a couple of things, briefly.

This isn't the American Army; don't think it will run the same way as ours does. If you get your panties in a bunch about that, you have a year to be sore. It won't change.

Take small victories. Lead by example still works. Be prepared to get in a fight, you might, I am sure you will have to react to an emergency of one variety or another.

Subsidize the American Army and bring a camera. Yes I know it is good for operational reasons, and I know that the Army ought to supply at least a 1 megabyte camera for those reasons, but they don't, so go ahead, buy a decent one, and use it, it is after all your life that is on the line, and good intelligence is critical for mission success.

GPS: Get one, not the cheapest, not the most expensive. Know how to use it. Again the Army doesn't think it can issue a civilian GPS to every soldier who needs one. It isn't an everyday need. You can get along with out it, soldiers have done with out them for thousands of years, but now you don't have to.

You really don't need a machete, but a good pocket knife is nice.

A thermos is a good idea. As is stainless steel silver ware and a stainless steel cup is also good. If you like coffee the Italian espresso pots are great.

Learn to drink tea. Don't be stupid, learn to drink tea. Also learn to smile.

Other observations from here:

I haven't received mail in quite a while, not because people haven't been sending it, but because our airfield apparently has a hole in it. About 10,000 lbs of mail is stacked up for our region. That breaks down to between 60 and 120 lbs of mail per soldier out here. The last Box I receive came from Pat and Charlie and Joyce, and they were mailed on 3 October 2006. Hope there are no bread products, or they will be covered with mold. Hmmm if it is 10,000 lbs for my group, and there are two that are supplied by air like that with the same problems..... If a north bound train is moving at 55 KPH, and a South bound train is moving at 55 MPH, both headed to Chicago, which one will get there first.....

Rain is very bad for Adobe Construction techniques. The city of Konati (SP) pretty much was in flood stage after our huge storm the other day. The second story walls fell off of rooms and buildings, because the first story support washed down the street.

Municipal government is non existent here, and you can all appreciate the little things that governments provide, you know, clean water, sewer, clearing out water ways so that flood stage doesn't invade your homes, (Unless of course you bought in the flood plain, like they built on in Keizer.)

Electricity: I love electricity, and some of our soldiers are lucky to have things made with electricity on their FOBs, so I won't bitch a lot, however, when you wire circuit breakers, here is a thought, Go ahead and include the entire building on one breaker, don't split a building between two breakers, novel freaking concept I know.

Shows: The New Battle Star Galactica is fantastic. Don't send it to me, I keep using other people’s files and down load the new ones off the internet, but, fantastic, much better than say Desperate Housewives for example.

The Family guy, little kid with football shaped head and British accent; I have passed it by a dozen times. Take the time to watch it, if it doesn't make you laugh, then I think you need to watch it again, damn smart funny show.

Hmmmm Okay that is the top of consciousness ramble for today, hope you enjoyed.

All my best,

Keith

Prolific day..... Read on

“The Constitution exists precisely so that opinions and judgments, including esthetic and moral judgments about art and literature, can be formed, tested, and expressed. What the Constitution says is that these judgments are for the individual to make, not for the Government to decree, even with the mandate or approval of a majority. Technology expands the capacity to choose; and it denies the potential of this revolution if we assume the Government is best positioned to make these choices for us.” U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy

The First Amendment is often inconvenient. But that is beside the point. Inconvenience does not absolve the government of its obligation to tolerate speech." U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy

First Amendment freedoms are most in danger when the government seeks to control thought or to justify its laws for that impermissible end. The right to think is the beginning of freedom, and speech must be protected from the government because speech is the beginning of thought.” U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy


Okay, it has taken me a while to get to the point that I can write about the things I wanted to today, because I had so much that I needed to get down before I forgot it, or it became untimely.

So... Go to FCCFU.com and enjoy the theme song. Particularly listen to Carlos Mencia's little rant about Parental duties.


href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15772356/?GT1=8717">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15772356/?GT1=8717

This little article is good as well, got to love it. I don't know if the artist is saying that it is the food company’s fault that Americans eat crappy food and are obese as a result, or rather trying to get the point across that those who eat crappy food are truly harming themselves. The thing is, he is utilizing a legitimate means of expressing his point, and the director of the Museum has decided to remove the exhibit, because he is afraid of offending the community. We have gone so far that people who ought to clearly be guardians of freedom of speech and expression cave in to worries caused by their perceptions. What hogwash. The director should take a sabbatical and come to a country where freedom of speech is unheard of, and then he can consider his actions again. If all you were ever exposed to was what you already knew and felt comfortable with, I would not be typing on a keyboard one day, and you reading it in the same day on a different continent.

Back to Mencia because I just love him, his little public service announcement goes something like this: Parents, do your job, utilize the choices available to you to restrict what your kids watch or don't watch. Don't try to restrict what is available to the rest of the population, just actually decide what it is that is okay your kids watch, and then enforce that. If you can't be bothered to do your job effectively, don't complain about it. (I took out a lot of colorful language, that really I think is pretty well employed, but that is the jist of the message.)

If the fires of freedom and civil liberties burn low in other lands, they must be made brighter in our own. If in other lands the press and books and literature of all kinds are censored, we must redouble our efforts here to keep them free. If in other lands the eternal truths of the past are threatened by intolerance, we must provide a safe place for their perpetuation.” Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1938

You know this writing burns hot and cold sometimes, I could write (not logically perhaps) all day today, but there was a week or two when it was impossible to come up with anything to add to the discussion.

This week was rough on my family. Our dog Sam, who has been with our family since the day she was born in Colorado had to be put to sleep the other day. She had cancer, it was advanced. She was a 13 year old golden retriever looking mutt, she was a sweet heart, and while I knew it was coming, the worst thing about it on my end is that my wife had to be the one to see her on her way. It was the worst part because it was my job to do, and because it hurt my wife so much to have to do it. We all are born, live for a while and then die. It is a certainty. I like the email I have received a time or two, your head stone says born 1964-- died???? The years and the words aren't important; the dash in-between is what is important. Sam had a good dash.

I would also like to thank my friends and family for being so good to my wife and kids while I am gone. It means a lot to me as well I am sure to them.

Peace out LOL

The first 10 (The Bill of Rights) and the next 17

Again with the political stuff..... Here are my thoughts on it though, while there are many arguments about which right might be most important, I would say they are interdependent, and need to be taken as a whole. Also notice that the ones that last are ones that protect peoples rights, those that limit rights don't appear to last. In case you are wondering, I am putting these down as a bit of reference and ground work for future thoughts that I will probably write about.

Hope you read them if you haven't, and refresh yourself with them if you have but it has been a while.

Keith

http://www.archives.gov/
November 19, 2006
The Bill of Rights: A Transcription

Note: The following text is a transcription of the first ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form. These amendments were ratified December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the "Bill of Rights."

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Amendment VII
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.



http://www.archives.gov/
November 19, 2006
The Constitution: Amendments 11-27
Constitutional Amendments 1-10 make up what is known as The Bill of Rights.Amendments 11-27 are listed below.

AMENDMENT XI
Passed by Congress March 4, 1794. Ratified February 7, 1795.
Note: Article III, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by amendment 11.
The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.

AMENDMENT XII
Passed by Congress December 9, 1803. Ratified June 15, 1804.
Note: A portion of Article II, section 1 of the Constitution was superseded by the 12th amendment.
The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate; -- the President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted; -- The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. [And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President. --]* The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.
*Superseded by section 3 of the 20th amendment.

AMENDMENT XIII
Passed by Congress January 31, 1865. Ratified December 6, 1865.
Note: A portion of Article IV, section 2, of the Constitution was superseded by the 13th amendment.
Section 1.Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Section 2.Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XIV
Passed by Congress June 13, 1866. Ratified July 9, 1868.
Note: Article I, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of the 14th amendment.
Section 1.All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Section 2.Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age,* and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.
Section 3.No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Section 4.The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.
Section 5.The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
*Changed by section 1 of the 26th amendment.

AMENDMENT XV
Passed by Congress February 26, 1869. Ratified February 3, 1870.
Section 1.The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude--
Section 2.The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XVI
Passed by Congress July 2, 1909. Ratified February 3, 1913.
Note: Article I, section 9, of the Constitution was modified by amendment 16.
The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

AMENDMENT XVII
Passed by Congress May 13, 1912. Ratified April 8, 1913.
Note: Article I, section 3, of the Constitution was modified by the 17th amendment.
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.
When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.
This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

AMENDMENT XVIII
Passed by Congress December 18, 1917. Ratified January 16, 1919. Repealed by amendment 21.
Section 1.After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.
Section 2.The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section 3.This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.

AMENDMENT XIX
Passed by Congress June 4, 1919. Ratified August 18, 1920.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XX
Passed by Congress March 2, 1932. Ratified January 23, 1933.
Note: Article I, section 4, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of this amendment. In addition, a portion of the 12th amendment was superseded by section 3.
Section 1.The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
Section 2.The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.
Section 3.If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.
Section 4.The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.
Section 5.Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.
Section 6.This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission.

AMENDMENT XXI
Passed by Congress February 20, 1933. Ratified December 5, 1933.
Section 1.The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.
Section 2.The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or Possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.
Section 3.This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.

AMENDMENT XXII
Passed by Congress March 21, 1947. Ratified February 27, 1951.
Section 1.No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.
Section 2.This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.

AMENDMENT XXIII
Passed by Congress June 16, 1960. Ratified March 29, 1961.
Section 1.The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as Congress may direct:
A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.
Section 2.The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XXIV
Passed by Congress August 27, 1962. Ratified January 23, 1964.
Section 1.The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay poll tax or other tax.
Section 2.The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XXV
Passed by Congress July 6, 1965. Ratified February 10, 1967.
Note: Article II, section 1, of the Constitution was affected by the 25th amendment.
Section 1.In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.
Section 2.Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
Section 3.Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.
Section 4.Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.

AMENDMENT XXVI
Passed by Congress March 23, 1971. Ratified July 1, 1971.
Note: Amendment 14, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 1 of the 26th amendment.
Section 1.The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.
Section 2.The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XXVII
Originally proposed Sept. 25, 1789. Ratified May 7, 1992.
No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of representatives shall have intervened.

The Constitution of the United States of America

Below you will find the Constitution as cut and pasted from the US National Archives and Records easily found at the website Archives.gov. Every one ought to get a chance to read this from time to time.

Keith


The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription

Note: The following text is a transcription of the Constitution in its original form. Items that are hyperlinked have since been amended or superseded.


We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Article. I.
Section. 1.
All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Section. 2.
The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.
No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.
When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
Section. 3.
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.
Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.
No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.
The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.
Section. 4.
The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.
Section. 5.
Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.
Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.
Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.
Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
Section. 6.
The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.
No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.
Section. 7.
All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States: If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.
Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
Section. 8.
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Section. 9.
The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.
No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.
No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another; nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.
No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
Section. 10.
No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress.
No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.
Article. II.
Section. 1.
The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows:
Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.
The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State having one Vote; A quorum for this purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice President.
The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.
No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.
In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.
Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Section. 2.
The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.
Section. 3.
He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.
Section. 4.
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Article III.
Section. 1.
The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.
Section. 2.
The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;--to Controversies between two or more States;-- between a State and Citizens of another State;--between Citizens of different States;--between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.
In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.
The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.
Section. 3.
Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.
Article. IV.
Section. 1.
Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.
Section. 2.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.
No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.
Section. 3.
New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.
The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.
Section. 4.
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened), against domestic Violence.
Article. V.
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
Article. VI.
All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.
Article. VII.
The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.
The Word, "the," being interlined between the seventh and eighth Lines of the first Page, the Word "Thirty" being partly written on an Erazure in the fifteenth Line of the first Page, The Words "is tried" being interlined between the thirty second and thirty third Lines of the first Page and the Word "the" being interlined between the forty third and forty fourth Lines of the second Page.
Attest William Jackson Secretary
Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,
G°. WashingtonPresidt and deputy from Virginia
DelawareGeo: ReadGunning Bedford junJohn DickinsonRichard BassettJaco: Broom
MarylandJames McHenryDan of St Thos. JeniferDanl. Carroll
VirginiaJohn BlairJames Madison Jr.
North CarolinaWm. BlountRichd. Dobbs SpaightHu Williamson
South CarolinaJ. RutledgeCharles Cotesworth PinckneyCharles PinckneyPierce Butler
GeorgiaWilliam FewAbr Baldwin
New HampshireJohn LangdonNicholas Gilman
MassachusettsNathaniel GorhamRufus King
ConnecticutWm. Saml. JohnsonRoger Sherman
New YorkAlexander Hamilton
New JerseyWil: LivingstonDavid BrearleyWm. PatersonJona: Dayton
PennsylvaniaB FranklinThomas MifflinRobt. MorrisGeo. ClymerThos. FitzSimonsJared IngersollJames WilsonGouv Morris

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Suicide bomber and Kuchis part deux, the pictures.

Wow, this has been a difficult blog to get out, four attempts in two days, this makes five. We will see if I am successful or not.

To begin with the Pakistan Tribune at http://paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?159995 has published an article about the suicide bomber in our area, it is very interesting because of its inaccuracies, and because it was supplied by what I would think was a knowledgeable Taliban agent. (Agent provocateur?) I am going to cover some of the pictures I took good and bad in this posting, and since this is the way my mind works you will get a bit more of the news I have seen posted on line, because oddly enough, I think it has been a decent week for messages.

This is the view from the crater itself, 300 meters in every direction there are parts of parts of the car. Nothing much larger than a loaf of bread, most about the size of match box cars.


This guy had help, which is why the Paktribune was able to report on it.







Crater, about 6' in diameter, about 6 inches deep at its deepest point. Brand new road, helpfully destroyed by the Taliban in an effort to help the people, what BS.










Okay, In no particular order here is the Kuchi tribe tents and people.

The gal on the left is maybe twenty or so, she is definitely the mom of one or two of these kids.. The fire is just brush, but all the heat stays inside, so it is a quick heat, enough to get the chill off.

Her hands were large and bony, she needs food, but I will bet she gives most of her share to her children as they are all relatively well fed. We will be doing a medical analysis of this tribe to see how we can help.

Tents are about 30 feet long, and about 15 feet wide. Lots of room in them for a group with no real personal stuff. Eat, Sleep, and Shelter in the tents, all else is outside.

The dog is a mix between a pony and an afghan wolfhound, or at least he is about that big, I have read that the Kuchi dogs have a lot of Mastiff in them, and you can believe it when you see them. Huge strong jaws, very protective.




The Men of the village with the kids. They built the village away from any real source of water, which puzzles me, but I am thinking that since they have done this all of their lives, maybe they have some idea of why they did that.

The little girl there is just beautiful, I don't have a picture that does her justice, but she has a happy smile, and very nice features, I am not sure if she is the daughter of the lady above, or a relative or how that works.



We brought rice and oil, although we need to take more back to them. Some of you should recognize the toys, stuffed animals, barbie dolls, race cars.

I really need to say thank you again for my guys and myself, it is very nice to be able to bring a smile to kids faces, and with out your help, that wouldn't happen as often.






There were 14 tents, with close to 200 villagers in this nomadic village. The children are easiest and most satisfying to give to. The pictures are priceless, as kids are kids all over the world.









The second picture of the Kuchis tent, they make carpets as ground cloths / mattresses. They truly are beautiful, this one is about 5 by 8 feet, maybe somewhat less. The stuff behind it is bedding. You can see the contradictions in this society. It is very protective of its women, but it doesn't have any privacy for husband and wife, I am sure that has to lead to a lot of "run out side and play" directions.

Okay before I go into what else happened this week I will end this post, so it isn't too completely disjointed.

I hope you enjoy it.

Keith