THE HEADLINES

U.S. SEEKS DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY FOR A CLANDESTINE CIA AGENT WHO COMMITTED BROAD DAYLIGHT MURDERS OF PAKISTANI CIVILIANS.

(Counterpunch)

Mike Whitney comments on the case of Raymond Davis, who committed these acts in pursuit of his role of gaining intelligence to help the CIA prosecute its drone attacks in Pakistan, as part of the broader U.S. attack on the stability of the Pakistani government. Why this charade of treating a clandestine agent as a “diplomat” who would be plucked out of the hands of local authorities? Whitney believes the U.S. action is designed to cover up the “dirty secret” that Davis was apparently collaborating with agents of al Qaeda in the terrorist organization’s own interest in bringing down the Pakistani government.

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CAN ANY SENSE BE MADE OF SEEMINGLY INCONSISTENT U.S. RESPONSES TO PROTESTS IN DIFFERENT ARAB COUNTRIES?

(New York Times)

Two New York Times columnists take a stab at this, suggesting that U.S. diplomatic practice abroad is much like the political behavior of leaders and voters at home: they try to “pick the winners” before they decide whom to support. This handicapping mentality has lead to most serious U.S. condemnation of President-led countries like Egypt and expressions of support for the Kings of countries like Saudi Arabia. The thinking seems to be that, in monarchies, Kings will retain the loyalty of their royal subjects and stand above the fray of popular protest as they fire their Presidents.

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NEW IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION BEING CONSIDERED IN ARIZONA WOULD MAKE TATTERS OF U.S. CONSTITUTION.

(In These Times)

Proponents of anti-immigrant legislation are trying, by the device of an “omnibus” immigration bill, to achieve new restrictions on the rights of children of undocumented children that they have been unable to pass in stand alone legislation. One passenger on this omnibus is a measure which would deny citizenship to persons born to the undocumented. Another would add a new layer of obstacles in the everyday lives of already-born children, subjecting them to restrictions in everything from college enrollments to medical care. The equal protection of the laws under the 14th amendment would seemingly go out the window for all people who were unfortunate enough to be born of undocumented immigrants.

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WITH EASTER BREAK LOOMING, WOULD ANY RESPONSIBLE PARENT WANT A HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE CHILD TO GO TO MEXICO ON BREAK?

(Dissident Voice)

That’s seemingly a no-brainer question, but Patrick Osio gives pause to the answer in noting that in fact, according to recently-released data comparing acts of violence in other countries, Mexico actually rates as a safer countries in some respects than does the U.S. Mexico gains most of its reputation as a “violent” place for the gang murders that are common there but the victims of this violence are almost entirely other Mexican people, and there is little likelihood that a high school kid from Des Moines or a college one from Iowa City is going to be murdered on an Easter break at Acapulco.

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IF A WORKER FOR A FLORIDA EMPLOYER GETS HURT WHILE WORKING TEMPORARILY IN ANOTHER STATE, SHOULD THE EMPLOYER GET STUCK WITH THE BILL IF THE EMPLOYEE FILES SUCCESSFUL WORKER COMP SUIT IN THAT STATE?

(Florida Times-Union)

This is the issue behind a bill filed in Florida legislature that would relieve Florida firms of liability in such cases. The “celebrity” aspect of the matter is highlighted by numerous Jacksonville Jaguar and Miami Dolphins football players who have been injured while playing games in California, which has much more generous workmen’s compensation laws that does Florida. If passed, the new law would have implications for every other company that sends its workers to other states for any kind of job-related assignment (like a banking conference in Las Vegas?)

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Quote of the day…

Wisconsin is not Illinois, it has a reputation for being a squeaky clean state and lesser scandals have brought down political officials. Governor Walker likes to complain of “outside agitators.” Hard to imagine an agitator with more influence and money than the Kochmfamily.

Mary Bottari of Center for Media and Democracy on the “fake” call to Governor Scott Walker in which Walker displayed approval for plans to use questionable tactics in dealing with protesters.

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