Greg Mitchell's Blog, page 292

Getting the Kinks Out for Earth Day

Couldn't be more pleased that the Rain Forest Alliance with star-studded video of folks singing to 1960s classic from my old fave group The Kinks (yes, I interviewed Ray a couple of times at length), "The Village Green Preservation Society."  Donald Duck can go, however.

Brokaw Links U.S. Drone War to Terror Attacks Here

My new post at The Nation:  Old marbles-in-mouth, Tom Brokaw,  asks media to cover U.S. drone warfare as factor in Boston and other terror attacks. 

Steubenville Football Coach--Remember Him?--Gets New Contract

Yes, Reno gets a two-year extension.  Salon reports here.

The day after Trent Mays and Ma’lik Richmond raped an unconscious teenage girl, Mays texted a friend: “I got Reno. He took care of it and shit ain’t gonna happen, even if they did take it to court. Like he was joking about it so I’m not worried,” according to an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation who testified in the case. In addition to the text message, Soccocia was criticized for failing to discipline players involved in circulating the photos of the unconscious victim until eight games into a 10-game season.

The Atlantic Wire has confirmed the appointment. 

Full Complaint Against Bomb Suspect

UPDATE:  And now we have transcript of his court proceeding today, with reading of Miranda rights, and his nods.  And does say "no."

Earlier:  Here's link to the the complaint against the surviving bomb suspect.  In latest, Obama says he will be tried in civilian court--and  already appeared before a magistrate, who came to the hospital.   Charged with using a "weapon of mass destruction."   Also, his wounds appear more extensive than previously described.

Fresh details on the carjacking:  Driver told by older brother right away that he was dealing with the bomber.  But younger brother NOT with him at time.  Driver forced to go pick him up, and then stuff loaded in trunk. Driver NOT set free but escaped at gas station.  No mention at all of attack on MIT cop--perhaps just local matter.

Worst Opening Night Ever

Kid's first night anchoring local news in North Dakota doesn't go so well.  His first words, as shows opens and he's about to be introduced: "Fuckin' shit."  He had just admitted on Twitter that he was nervous, and later noted things didn't too well.  A little while ago he was suspended by the NBC affiliate.  Deadspin has video and update.  Or watch below.   Station went on air and apologized.   But already there's a Reinstate Him page on Facebook.   UPDATE  A.J. Clemente just tweeted, "Unfortunately KFYR-TV has decided to let me go. Thank you to them and everyone in ND for the opportunity and everyone for the support."  Adds:  "Rookie mistake. I'm a free agent.Cant help but laugh at myself and stay positive. Wish i didnt trip over my 'Freaking Shoes' out of the gate."

Boston Suspects Mom on Tamerlan Laying Down the 'Law'

ABC coming up with fresh interview with Boston suspects' mom.   Kirit Radia in Moscow talked to her and   has been tweeting highlights, which are, as he writes:

--"What Tamerlan said was law for Dzhokhar. That’s how I raised them."

--She urged Tamerlan to embrace Islam in 2008, concerned abt his drinking smoking & girls. He started reading more on web

--Tamerlan "was a person of strong will. He was a leader" who could influence people, says US gov was afraid of him

--FBI has visited relatives in the US after Friday's shootout, confiscated cell phones and computers

 --Tamerlan called last time during shootout, said Dhzokhar was w him. She screamed & cried, line dropped. Sister told her he died

Boston Suspects Had No Permits for Guns

We've been noting here for three days that a largely-overlooked angle in the coverage of the Boston bombers in recent days is:  Where did they get their guns, used to fire on (and kill) police?  Still don't know--though now we know they were "illegal"--but here's part of an AP piece:

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts police official say the brothers suspected of bombing the Boston Marathon before having shootouts with authorities didn’t have gun permits.  Cambridge Police Commissioner Robert Haas tells The Associated Press in an interview Sunday that neither Tamerlan Tsarnaev nor his brother Dzhokhar had permission to carry firearms.

He says it’s unclear whether either ever applied and the applications aren’t considered public records.  But he says the 19-year-old Dzhokhar (joh-KHAR') would have been denied a permit because of his age. Only people 21 or older are allowed gun licenses in Massachusetts.

He Went Down In the Ship

Mass. State Police finally release video from helicopter from last night re: captures of second suspect.  Shows cover of boat being partly torn off; images of suspect on floor; flash bang grenades going off.  Plus, just posted, at NY Daily News, photos from inside the suspects' apartment, with uneaten meal on table.  Probably found out they were all over TV on Thursday evening,  and rushed to pack bombs in car and fled. Apartment in disarray--but you can imagine the police searches.   One presumes computers were seized right away.

Incident at the Mosque

L.A. Times with report tonight that older Boston bombing suspect got kicked out of his mosque just three months ago for shouting at the Imam--for the sin of praising Martin Luther King Jr. as someone to emulate.  Tamerlan complained that MLK Jr. was not even Muslim.  As per other stories, sources described brother as chill but Tamerlan as troublemaker.  Too many punches to the head, or something.  But what was that something?

In the Hands of the Tsarnaeva's Mom

I know this may sound funny, if I simply say--article by woman who got facials from the alleged Boston bombers' mother.  But it is a revealing up-close look at the family--with regular visits to their apartment--that's hard to top, if legit.  My guess is that it is, there's so much detail and no reason to write this for fun.  See it here.  (Huff Post has now talked to author.)  She had many interactions with the younger brother--she even gave him her keys to move her car--but not much with older bro or the father.

She adds a little detail added on mystery of my family had to flee and got asylum in U.S.   Juan Cole suggests in great piece it's because dad was on wrong side of conflict--working for the Russians in security.  He then theorizes that the two sons were humiliated by their father's past of working against the Chechen rebellion and carried out the bombing partly in rebellion against him.  Yes, he mentions Turgenev's "Fathers and Sons."

Greg Mitchell’s “So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits--and the President--Failed on Iraq” has just been published in an updated e-book edition.  He is the former editor of Editor & Publisher.