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PaliLeaks, land swaps and desperate search of peace
The biggest leak of confidential documents in the history of the Middle East conflict began on Sunday, 23th January 2011 by the Al-Jazeera website with Britain's Guardian newspaper. A cache of thousands of pages of confidential Palestinian records covering more than a decade of negotiations with Israel and the US has been obtained by al-Jazeera TV and shared exclusively with the Guardian. The papers provide an extraordinary and vivid insight into the disintegration of the 20-year peace process, which is now regarded as all but dead.
The Palestinian Papers ("PaliLeaks") show that Israel indeed had real partner with whom to negotiate issues such as borders, land swaps, settlements, refugees, Jerusalem and even recognition Israel as Jewish state. The authenticity is accepted by both sides. While the greater Middle-East is now in turmoil due the coup in Tunisia, PaliLeaks are causing shockwawes among Palestinians and in the wider Arab world. The papers are giving also perspective to possibilities for two-state solution and US facilitation, mediation, to reach it.
The Palestine Papers
The Palestine Papers, released in the Al-Jazeera website, cover the negotiating period from 1999, before the Oslo process broke down in Camp David, up to the frozen peace talks in 2010. Al-Jazeera is publishing 275 sets of meeting minutes, 690 internal e-mails, 153 reports and studies, 134 sets of talking points and prep notes for meetings, 64 draft agreements, 54 maps, charts and graphs, and 51 "non-papers" – alltogether at least 1,684 documents. The documents revealed by Al Jazeera seems to be much more important than the documents recently released by WikiLeaks.
Some highlights of PaliLeaks are e.g. following details:
The scale of confidential concessions offered by Palestinian negotiators, including on the highly sensitive issue of the right of return of Palestinian refugees.
The Palestinian Authoroty agreed first that solely10,000 and finally 5,000 Palestinian refugees return to Israel as part of the Palestinian right of return.
Among other documents due to be released is an Israeli offer to transfer Israeli Arabs citizens to the territory of a future Palestinian state.
Recognition of Israel as Jewish state
How Israeli leaders privately asked for some Arab citizens to be transferred to a new Palestinian state while US proposed Palestinian refugees to be deported to Chile and Argentina
The intimate level of covert co-operation between Israeli security forces and the Palestinian Authority.
The central role of British intelligence in drawing up a secret plan to crush Hamas in the Palestinian territories.
How Palestinian Authority (PA) leaders were privately tipped off about Israel's 2008-9 war in Gaza.
PA as Israel ally
When Palestine people gave a winning support to Hamas in relatively democrat elections many EU and US leaders made conclusion that voters made a wrong selection. To spread western values and real democracy some actions were taken. British intelligence – MI6 – had remarkable role in fight against Hamas. The bulk of the British plan has since been carried out by the West Bank-based PA security apparatus which is increasingly criticised for authoritarian rule and human rights abuses, including detention without trial and torture. The documents also highlight the intimate level of military and security cooperation between Palestinian and Israeli forces.
Moreover, Al-Jazeera revealed that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was personally notified by a senior Israeli official that Israel was planning an attack on the Gaza Strip, the night before Operation Cast Lead. Israeli and Palestinian officials reportedly discussed targeted assassinations of Hamas and Islamic Jihad activists in Gaza.
Refugees and their return
Many of the concessions have been considered non-negotiable in the past such as the right of Palestinian refugees to return to Israel. Palestine refugees are the people and their descendants, predominantly Palestinian Arabic-speakers, who fled or were expelled from their homes during and after the 1948 Palestine War, (some 750,000) and after the Six-Day War (1967) (280,000 to 325,000). UNRWA's definition of a Palestinian refugee also covers the descendants of persons who became refugees in 1948. The number of Palestine refugees varies depending on the source. For 1948-49 refugees, for example, the Israeli government suggests a number as low as 520,000 as opposed to 850,000 by their Palestinian counterparts. As of January 2010, UNRWA cites 1,396,368 registered refugees in camps and 3,370,302 registered refugees not in camps.
Former prime minister Ehud Olmert had agreed (2008) to a proposal that would have seen 1,000 Palestinian refugees given the approval to return to Israel over a space of five years. This would have resulted in a total of 5,000 refugees whose entrance into Israel would have been based on certain criteria and humanitarian grounds. By the following year (2009), PA main negotiator Saeb Erekat appeared to have accepted that choice.
Condoleezza Rice, the Bush administration's secretary of state, wanted to settle displaced Palestinians in Argentina and Chile as an alternative to letting them return to former homes in Israel and the occupied territories. Rice made the proposal in a June 2008 meeting with US, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators in Berlin.
Ms Livni, meanwhile, repeatedly suggested a land swap with the Palestinians, so several Jewish settlements in the West Bank would become part of Israel while Israeli Arab were moved out of Israel. Correspondents say while this move would have been on a limited scale, it is the first time Israel has apparently suggested moving populations to either side of future borders, rather than just swapping land.
On 2004 there was a similar idea that Israel compensate the Palestinians with land occupied by Israeli Arabs. The Lieberman Plan, also known in Israel as the "Populated-Area Exchange Plan", was proposed by Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of the Israeli political party Yisrael Beiteinu. The Lieberman Plan only advocates ceding the Triangle Arab communities, the ethnic Druze community, which is pro-Israel, would also remain part of Israel. "Israeli Arabs will not lose anything by joining the Palestinian state. Instead of giving the Palestinians empty land in the Negev, we are offering them land full of residents, who will not have to leave their homes," said Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon in an interview to London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper published in early February 2010.
Where to draw borders
The settlements are a known issue of contention between Israel and the United States; although America has not supported their construction, it has, on some occasions, recognized the realities that have developed over 40 years. Improbability for two-state approach is big without massive withdrawals from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where over 500,000 settlers now live. PaliLeaks are showing serious attemp to find a compromise between total withdrawal to the 1967 border and a redefined border through land swaps.
Latest proposal on 2009 included Israeli annexation of two percent of the West Bank and East Jerusalem adjacent to the 1967 line containing about 350,000 setters in big bloc settlements. In return, Israel would evacuate about 150,000 other settlers and transfer to Palestine two percent of its land, of equal quality, next to the southern West Bank and Gaza. Israel's current leadership (which is dominated by the settler, religious and ideological right) as well as extreme Hamas elements would probably resist this, however leaked documents show that with current PA an agrement might be possible.
As well as the annexation of all East Jerusalem settlements except Har Homa, the Palestine papers show PLO leaders privately suggested swapping part of the flashpoint East Jerusalem Arab neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah for land elsewhere. Erekat told Israeli leaders in 2008: "This is the first time in Palestinian-Israeli history in which such a suggestion is officially made." No such concession had been made at Camp David. But the offer was rejected out of hand by Israel because it did not include a big settlement near the city Ma'ale Adumim as well as Har Homa and several others deeper in the West Bank, including Ariel. the major territorial disputes remain over Ariel, Elkana, Ma'aleh Adumim and the Har Homa suburb of East Jerusalem (which was built after the 1993 Oslo Accords).
Speaking about borders one should note that Israel, in pre-1967 borders covers approximately 19% of British Mandate Palestine (of which 9% is the Negev dessert). The West Bank and Gaza cover approximately 7%, and Jordan covers approximately 74%.
U.S. land swap proposal
By coincidence same day when Al-Jazeera started to publish PaliLeaks, the New York Times published a map of a land-swap proposal prepared by David Makovsky of Washington Institute for Near East Policy , which indicates territory inside the Green Line that Israel would give to the Palestinians in return for the settlement blocs. Makovsky's D.C. office is located near that of Dennis Ross, who serves as a senior adviser to the Obama administration in the peace process.
Now a Washington think tank with close connections to officials in both Israel and the United States has sketched out realistic borders for a new Palestinian state. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy/David Makovsky Strategic report Imagining the Border Options for Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian Territorial Issue includes a series of maps showing detailed options for removing most of the West Bank from Israeli occupation.
According publisher in this new Washington Institute report, David Makovsky analyzes the intersection of demography and geography in the West Bank in order to demystify the territorial dimension of the conflict and facilitate peacemaking. Through detailed maps and in-depth population data, he shows how the parties can use land swaps to meet some of their most important goals, such as minimizing dislocation, ensuring security, and establishing a contiguous Palestinian state in the West Bank.
Two-State could have agreed many times during last 60 years
The Palestinians have been rejecting compromise deals that would have given them an independent Palestinian state (the first ever in history) for more than 60 years. They rejected United Nations resolution 181 in 1947 dividing the land west of the Jordan river into two states, Jewish and Arab. Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, rejected the Clinton proposals in 2000 at Camp David, and then walked away from the Taba negations in 2001 which would have given him virtually everything he had been demanding.
In November 2007, Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the Bush administration convened in Annapolis with the unified goal of solving all outstanding issues. Annapolis provided the framework for direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians toward bringing an end to the conflict and to all claims.
To this day, I cannot understand why the Palestinian leadership did not accept the far-reaching and unprecedented proposal I offered them. My proposal included a solution to all outstanding issues: territorial compromise, security arrangements, Jerusalem and refugees. ( How to Achieve a Lasting Peace: Stop Focusing on the Settlements By Ehud Olmert Israel PM 2006-2009)
Most recently, in the 2008 post-Annapolis negotiations, the Palestinians and Israelis almost finalized an agreement negotiated by the two sides. It was to include a Palestinian state on the about 95% of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and Arab East Jerusalem, with a land bridge connecting Gaza and the WB. There was to be a land swap between Israel proper and the remaining 5% of the WB along the proposed future border where most of the Jewish settlers live. Israel was also to pay compensation to the descendents of Palestinian refugees.
Alternatives for two-state
In their analysis ( Rethinking the Two-State Solution by Giora Eiland ) the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, concludes that two-state approach may be outdated. Instead they propose sc Jordanian option. Their proposal suggests that
rather than establishing another Arab state, the parties could return control over most of the West Bank to Jordan. Until recently, such an idea was rejected completely by everyone, especially the Jordanians themselves. Today, however, more and more Jordanians, Palestinians, and Israelis have come to believe that this is the right solution. If a Palestinian state is established there (WB), many fear that it would be taken over by Hamas. Such a scenario could have far-reaching consequences for Jordan. To be sure, the notion of pursuing alternative solutions is not yet politically correct, and therefore no official Jordanian or Palestinian support could be given to such efforts at the moment. Nevertheless, tacit support for this idea has been expressed in private talks.
For their part, many moderate West Bank Palestinians believe that an independent Palestinian entity in the West Bank and Gaza would not be a viable state. Sooner or later, this unstable situation would facilitate a Hamas takeover, and moderate Palestinians would prefer to live under a Jordanian regime rather than Hamas. It is important to note that most Palestinians never strove for an independent Gaza–West Bank state in the first place. They want to be free of Israeli occupation and pursue a normal life, but they do not much care about the exact form of the political solution.
The other two-state solution by Fred Schlomka
I have made same conclusions and propagated long – instead of dead road maps towards two-state – for "three-state" approach", where Gaza is returned to Egyptian control and the West Bank in some configuration reverts to Jordanian sovereignty. From my point of view this solution could be from administrative point of view stronger as well economically more sustainable. (More e.g. in "The Three-State Option could solve Gaza Conflict" ).
The three-state solution essentially replicates the situation that existed between the 1949 Armistice Agreements and the 1967 Six-Day War. Beginning in 1949, Egypt occupied the Gaza Strip, Jordan occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and no Palestinian Arab state existed. In 1950, Jordan officially annexed the West Bank and granted the Arab residents Jordanian citizenship. One may note that between 1949 and 1967 neither of those countries, nor any other voice in the Arab world or among the Palestinians, believed it was right to establish a Palestinian state in those territories, even as a temporary solution until the land was liberated in its entirety.
Motivation?
"If one day we see bloody riots in the West Bank similar to the ones we saw in Gaza, it would be worthwhile to go back to the latest al-Jazeera project. This is yet another step, and apparently a deliberate one, in weakening the PA, a move that one party stands to benefit from: The Hamas movement. It is for good reason that Hamas already uses the term "popular revolution" in its reports"
(Al-Jazeera helping Hamas by Roee Nahmias)
Why the PaliLeaks took place in overall, why they happened now and by whom? These questions are essential while thinking forward now stagnated Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The identity of the source for the Palestine papers is not proofed. However among PA there is strong suspicion that a former CIA agent (Clayton Swisher) and a former EU official (Clayton Swisher) were responsible for leaking the Palestine Papers. Also former Fatah security commander Muhammad Dahlan, who has been accused of planning to overthrow the PA leadership, is believed to help to lrak the documents to embarrass and discredit Abbas and his top negotiators.
Related to timing some observers think that the revelation of Palestinian negotiators' willingness to compromise would not just offend Palestinian pride but instantly spark a wave of revulsion, leading to a Tunisia-style revolt against the PA. Also Hamas accused the negotiators of betraying the Palestinians. From the other side one can also claim that PaliLeaks are preparing Palestinian public opinion for the painful concessions that peace will, one distant day, require.
The first reaction among The Palestinian Authority was that the documents are "a pack of lies", PA was accusing al-Jazeera of distorting the truth and quoting statements out of context. However after few days, when there were serious evidence that documents are based to facts, the PA (Erekat) said that " the lesson that should be drawn from the documents is that the Palestinians are serious about peace". Indeed, from Israeli perspective the Palestine papers are helping Israel to understand that there is a partner on the Palestinian side.
Follow-ups?
"Today it is also clear that the process did not fail and was not exhausted…A peace agreement that will end the conflict and protect the national and security interests of Israel is possible."
(Tzipi Livni)
"The two-state solution is now dead and buried by Israel and the PLO. Impossible for anyone (even the BBC) to pretend that there can be an independent Palestinian state. Now we know that the capitulation was total, but still the Israeli overlords of the PLO refused to sign a deal and their friends in the press blamed the Palestinians for being too difficult. They wanted Palestine to be crushed before they would agree to underwrite a few moth-eaten protectorates that they would supervise indefinitely. They wanted Hamas destroyed. The PLO agreed. The recent assault on Gaza was carried out with the approval of Abbas and Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, not to mention Washington and its EU. The PLO sold out in a literal sense. They were bought with money and treated like servants."
(Total Capitulation by Tariq Ali)
The details indicate that Annapolis was the most serious attempt so far at reaching an Israeli-Palestinian deal. The Bush team facilitated the removal of 25 Israeli settlements from Gaza and the West Bank in 2005, and pushed for a final-status deal in Annapolis as well post-Annapolis talks. The new round facilitated by Obama team has stagnated, hard line government in Israel is not so eager for compromises and Hamas still has remarkable support among Palestinians being as well the real authority in Gaza strip.
It is claimed that the documents could well destroy the Palestine Liberation Organization, a coalition of parties that includes Fatah, which is led by Palestine Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Can Fatah survive being discredited to this extent, the time will tell. However the papers, especially the leaked maps, will serve as the starting point for future negotiations.
How the peace process will continue is depending first if/how political leadership of Israel and PA is transforming, second ongoing events in Egypt and Lebanon may have their influence, third indirect Israel-Syria peace talks ("giving up the Golan") may help peace in north. The most important outside factor may be if there is any progress with negotiations about Iran's nuclear program.
From my point of view the bottom line is that based on PaliLeaks the peace agreement was more near than ever since 1967 at least with PA. Also two-state solution was and maybe still is realistic – although without Gaza. Despite this in my opinion creating a new Palestinian state in fragmented West Bank is not a viable – or even desired – solution, not economically nor from administrative point of view. A Jordanian option for WB would be more sustainable and three-state solution for WB, Gaza, region and its population.
23 Comments	| BalkanBlog, crisis management	| Tagged: Ari Rusila, Hamas, Israel, Israel-Palestine negotiations, Jordanian option, PA, Palestine, Palestine Papers, Three-State Option, Two-State solution, US foreign policy	| Permalink
Cyber war has became a tool between political and military options
Stuxnet may be the most developed tool for cyber war today, it made more harm to Iran's nuclear development program than all the sanctions and diplomatic negotiations together. Despite its effectiveness it helped to avoid traditional air strike which could cause destruction of military targets as well collateral damage in Iran and new conflicts/terrorist actions outside Iran. Stuxnet is prominent example about cyber war which may be new factor between political and military options.
Stuxnet surfaced in June and, by July, it was known that it is a highly sophisticated computer Malware (worm) – cyber attack – aimed at destroying an industrial process in the physical world. The real target was not Bushehr like earlier speculated but Iran's centrifuge farm at Natanz, which enriches uranium and saw a major accident in early 2009.
The Stuxnet virus that has infected Iran's nuclear installations may have been behind the decommissioning of 1,000 centrifuges at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility last year, according to a new analysis of the malicious software. The New York Times report on 16th January gives light to operation. According NYT Israel tested the Stuxnet virus in Dimona, Israel's nuclear plant. Israel reportedly has centrifuges that are identical to those at the Iranian nuclear site in Natanz, which were used to test the Stuxnet computer worm. In 2008 German company Siemens cooperated with the Idaho National Laboratory, allowing it to identify problems in the company's computer controllers, which are used in Iranian nuclear plants. The laboratory is part of the American Energy Department, which is responsible for nuclear weapons in the US. According to the NYT, Stuxnet was developed by the US and Israel, with help from the Germans and the British, who may not have known the part they played. The vulnerabilities identified in 2008 were used the following year by Stuxnet.
Stuxnet operates following way: First, it spun Iranian nuclear centrifuges out of control. It would also secretly record the daily routine at the nuclear plant and play back the recording of a regular day to operators at the plant. This way, it would seem that the facility was operating correctly, while the centrifuges were being destroyed. The Stuxnet virus enters computers through removable drives or through the internet. It then spreads to other computers and any drives that may be plugged into them. The virus searches for computers with Step 7, software that programs Siemens controllers. After a controller is infected, Stuxnet hides itself. After a few days, the virus speeds and slows motors in such a way that could damage them. At the same time, it sends out the false signals described above. The worm was reportedly only partially successful, delaying Iran's progress but not destroying the nuclear sites. A Washington official told the Times that rather than allow Israel to attack Iran, the US wanted "to put time on the clock…and now, we have a bit more." (Source: Jpost: 'Israel tested Stuxnet virus on Dimona plant' )
Stuxnet as part of campaign
The French weekly Le Canard enchaîné reported, quoting French intelligence sources, that US and UK intelligence services are cooperating with the Mossad to sabotage Teheran's nuclear program in exchange for Israel agreeing not to launch a military strike on Iran. Acts of sabotage carried out in the past year in Iran were conducted by Israel with the help of the CIA and MI6, the sources said.
The sabotage included the introduction of the Stuxnet computer virus into 30,000 computers in Iran's nuclear reactors and explosions in October in which 18 Iranian technicians were killed at a factory in the Zagros mountains that manufactured Shihab missiles. According to the sources, the assassination of five Iranian nuclear scientists were also carried out by the Mossad in cooperation with the American and British intelligence agencies. (Source: JPost/Mossad, US, UK cooperating to sabotage Iran nukes' )
Earlier in my article Saudi-Israeli cooperation for attacking Iran I described one process to prepare military option. The secret Saudi-Israeli meetings on Iran have been taking place for more than a year dealing extensively with clandestine cooperation between the two agencies and plans for attacking Iran. Arab and Western sources reported that they reached an agreement in the course of the year for Israeli fighter-bombers to transit Saudi air space on their way to bombing Iran's nuclear facilities. The Saudis were even willing to build a new landing strip in the desert with refueling facilities for the use of the warplanes en route to their mission.
Some early steps of cyber war
Indeed cyber war is not only recent phenomenon; in 1982, a computer control system stolen from a Canadian company by Soviet spies caused a Soviet gas pipeline to explode. The code for the control system had been modified by the CIA to include a logic bomb which changed the pump speeds to cause the explosion. (A logic bomb is a piece of code intentionally inserted into a software system that will set off a malicious function when specified conditions are met.)
In the late 1990s, a computer specialist from Israel's Shin Bet internal security service hacked into the mainframe of the Pi Glilot fuel depot north of Tel Aviv. It was meant to be a routine test of safeguards at the strategic site. But it also tipped off the Israelis to the potential such hi-tech infiltrations offered for real sabotage. "Once inside the Pi Glilot system, we suddenly realised that, aside from accessing secret data, we could also set off deliberate explosions, just by programming a re-route of the pipelines," said a veteran of the Shin Bet drill. So began a cyber warfare project which, a decade on, is seen by independent experts as the likely knew vanguard of Israel's efforts to foil the nuclear ambitions of its arch-foe Iran. (Source: Reuters)
Cyber war in Tunisia too
Hacked GOT website
A sort of warm-up to the recent cyber war came with the release by WikiLeaks of a number of US diplomatic cables on Tunisia in late November and early December. The cables gave details about "Family-Mafia" lead by Tunisian President. A Lebanese news website that published the cables, Al-Akhbar, was blocked in Tunisia, and attacked by hackers. Political campaign on the internet escalated with Operation Tunisia (an open letter to media, request of help from journalists, bloggers, hackers) in which activists targeted government sites with Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. The hackers also got their Open Letter on the main page in the Government of Tunisia website. (see a screenshot: Open Letter from hackers) During critical days social media have been used to help get people out on the streets.
Latest developments with cyber warfare show that Israel has a formidable offensive cyber-war-fighting capability stuxnet as its best example. This scale of tool can have its role in international geopolitics between diplomacy and traditional warfare. At regional/local level social media like twitter can be a decisive factor by collecting masses to throw out existing regime. WikiLeaks from its part makes official and clandestine diplomacy more public forcing states and companies revise their practices.
A list of cyber attack threat trends (from Wikipedia)
Internet social engineering attacks
Network sniffers
Packet spoofing
Session-hijacking
Cyber-threats & bullying (not illegal in all jurisdictions)
Automated probes and scans
GUI intrusion tools
Automated widespread attacks
Widespread, distributed denial-of-service attacks* Special Activities Division
Industrial espionage
Executable code attacks (against browsers)
Analysis of vulnerabilities in compiled software without source code
Widespread attacks on DNS infrastructure
Widespread attacks using NNTP to distribute attack
"Stealth" and other advanced scanning techniques
Windows-based remote controllable trojans (Back Orifice)
Email propagation of malicious code
Wide-scale trojan distribution
Distributed attack tools
Targeting of specific users
Anti-forensic techniques
Wide-scale use of worms
Sophisticated botnet command and control attacks
16 Comments	| BalkanBlog, crisis management, Middle-East	| Tagged: Ari Rusila, BalkanBlog, cyber war, DDoS, Iran, Iran's nuclear program, Israel, stuxnet, Tunisia, WikiLeaks	| Permalink
Captured Pseudo-State Kosovo
"We Bombed The Wrong Side" (General Lewis Mackenzie)
In my previous articles I have portrayed Kosovo with quite dark colours. I have summarized Kosovo
"as Serbian province, occupied and now international protectorate administrated by UN Kosovo mission; as quasi-independent pseudo-state has good change to become next "failed" or "captured" state; today's Kosovo is already safe-heaven for war criminals, drug traffickers, international money laundry and radical Wahhabists – unfortunately all are also allies of western powers".
This description can naturally be seen as individual biased view without any connection to reality. However the process which began before Xmas may lead similar outcome in western mainstream media too. Investigations conducted by the Swiss diplomat, Dick Marty on behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) have revealed the true picture of Kosovo's prime minister Hashim Thaci. In his report to the PACE's Commission, Thaci is presented as the leader of a criminal gang engaged in the smuggling of weapons, the distribution of illegal drugs throughout Europe and the selling of human organs for unlawful transplantation. The Swiss senator conducted a two-year inquiry into organised crime in Kosovo after the Council of Europe mandated him to investigate claims of organ harvesting by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) after the war with Serbia ended in 1999.
Western intelligence agencies warned that Hashim Thaci ran an organised crime network in the late 1990s, they knew the KLA were criminals running the drug, slave, and weapons rackets throughout Europe, they knew the KLA was supported by Osama bin Laden (with whom Thaci met personally in Tirana in 1998 to plan the jihad in Kosovo. Despite this Western political leaders backed his Kosovo Liberation Army and its members were transformed as "freedom fighters".
The case related to organ trafficking is now in Pristina court, according Swiss sources PM Thaçi has been prohibited from entering Switzerland "for a certain period of time", investigations are called for allegations that sums originating from organ trafficking in Kosovo and Albania had been deposited in Swiss bank accounts. Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey has reportedly decided not to receive an award given by the Kosovo Embassy and members of the Kosovo diaspora, for her contribution to the recognition of Kosovo's independence. The award ceremony was planned to be held on 21. December, 2010 for her contribution to the recognition of Kosovo's independence. (Source: Euractiv )
Organ trafficking case
In April 2008 Madam Carla Del Ponte, the former Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), published a book "La caccia – Io e i criminali di guerra". In the book, almost ten years after the end of the war in Kosovo, there appeared revelations of trafficking in human organs taken from Serb prisoners, reportedly carried out by leading commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). Now the report, "Inhuman treatment of people and illicit trafficking in human organs in Kosovo" , for Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), prepared by Swiss prosecutor-turned-politician Dick Marty, expands on allegations made by Mrs. Del Ponte.
The PACE report claims that civilians – Serbian and non-KLA-supporting Kosovan Albanians detained by the KLA in the 1999 hostilities – were shot in northern Albania and their kidneys extracted and sold on the black market. It names Hashim Thaçi, the former leader of the KLA and Kosovo's prime minister, as the boss of a "mafia-like" group engaged in criminal activity – including heroin trading – since before the 1999 war.
A Council of Europe report into organ trafficking in Kosovo linked the Medicus case to a wider criminal network in the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), which began trading in organs in 1999. A faction within the rebel guerilla army loyal to Thaci has been accused of overseeing a racket involving Serb captives. A "handful" were said, in the report, to have been shot in the head, then had their kidneys extracted. It is believed the kidneys were flown to Istanbul in ischemia bags. Thaci has strongly denied the claims. I also touched on a matter in my article New Cannibalism in Europe too? a couple of years ago.
In November 2008 police raided the property of Medicus clinic in a deprived suburb near the Kosovan capital Pristina. Patients from Canada, Germany, Poland and Israel had received organ transplants at the clinic. Victims were promised up to $20,000, while recipients were required to pay between €80,000 and €100,000 euros. But despite promises of payment the donors had left empty-handed; up to 30 victims lost their kidneys in the clinic in just eight months in 2008. The key player of is Dr. Yusuf Ercin Sonmez from Medicus clinic has been a key player in the unscrupulous organ market for more than 10 years.
A Washington-based intelligence source said the kidneys were sold to Dr. Sonmez, a 53-year-old medic. It was then that the Turkish doctor was said to have struck up a relationship with Kosovan Albanians, who, investigators believe, are implicated in the Medicus clinic case which unfolded in the confirmation hearing case on December in Pristina district court. (Source: The Guardian: The doctor at the heart of Kosovo's organ scandal )
However the present case is limited to Medicus clinic and its links to a wider network of Albanian organised criminals and events a decade ago will hopefully take place in wider trial. EU's EULEX-operation in Kosovo will from its side examine allegations that the country's prime minister is the head of a "mafia-like" criminal network linked to organ trafficking. if there is sufficient evidence against Thaçi or the other senior government figures implicated in the report, they could face prosecution even though most crimes are alleged to have taken place in Albanian territory. (Source e.g: The Guardian: The doctor at the heart of Kosovo's organ scandal )
Whitewashing Organized Crime
War crimes related to organ scandal are only minor by-plot in context of organized crime in Kosovo during last decade. KLA's transformation from OC-/terrorist group to freedom fighters was an amazing media victory which guaranteed the occupation and later capturing of Kosovo.
Neil Clark in his column Kosovo and the myth of liberal intervention – in the Guardian describes very well this hoax:
It was the KLA's campaign of violence against Yugoslav state officials, Serbian and Kosovan civilians in 1998, which led to an escalation of the conflict with the government in Belgrade, with atrocities committed on both sides. The report is a damning indictment not only of the KLA but also of western policy. And it also gives lie to the fiction that Nato's war with Yugoslavia was, in Tony Blair's words, "a battle between good and evil; between civilisation and barbarity; between democracy and dictatorship".
On 1999 the Western media was full of stories of mass graves and brutal rapes. U.S. officials claimed that from 100,000 up to 500,000 Albanians had been massacred. In 78 days the Pentagon dropped 35,000 cluster bombs, used thousands of rounds of radioactive depleted-uranium rounds, along with bunker busters and cruise missiles. Expecting to find bodies everywhere, forensic teams from 17 NATO countries organized by the Hague Tribunal on War Crimes searched occupied Kosovo all summer of 1999 but found a total of only 2,108 bodies, of all nationalities. Some had been killed by NATO bombing and some in the war between the UCK and the Serbian police and military.
Number game as cause of Nato's attack on Serbia
According the Kosovo "Book of the Dead", the equivalent of the Bosnia "Book of the Dead" by London based Bosnian Institute which finally counted the slain, has since the Kosovo war been able to establish a total about 10,000 dead or "permanently missing" (i.e. dead), of which just under 5000 are Albanians, and the rest Serbian, other minorities, or ethnicity not known. So as Albanians made up around 50% off the dead despite making up 85% of the population, they suffered proportionately much less in terms of deaths than any other group.
(Bosnian Institute: Establishing the number of victims in the Yugoslav wars of succession)
I would draw following time axis about some core events with this campaign:
U.S. practising intervention first in the Bosnian War 1992-95 and selecting terrorist/OC-groups to U.S. allies (More e.g. Srebrenica again – Hoax or Massacre? and Krajina – Victory with Ethnic Cleansing )
Racak fabrication and "humanitarian intervention" aka since WWII first ever full scale bombing operation in center of Europe 1999 ( High pressure to fabricate Racak reports and 10th anniversary of Nato's attack on Serbia )
Guaranteeing results with pogroms 1999-2004 creating one of the biggest refugee problem in Europe by complete ethnic cleansing Serbs out of Kosovo ( Forgotten Refugees – WestBalkans and Kosovo March/February 17th: Pogrom with Prize )
Creating a quasi-independent puppet state for safe haven for terrorists and OC ( e.g. Quadruple Helix – Capturing Kosovo and Balkan Route – Business as usual )
Today's outcome a frozen conflict and captured pseudo-state (more e.g. Kosovo: Two years of Pseudo-state );
As side result U.S. created Bondsteel, one of the biggest U.S. military base in center of Europe – completely outside European/international jurisdiction – to serve also as secret torture/detention/investigation center of CIA.
In the bottom line – so far at least temporary – U.S. State Department and their British lapdogs were responsible for orchestrating or facilitating events mentioned above. For background information I recommend a video "General Lewis Mackenzie: We Bombed The Wrong Side", anyway the headline of video is not so far from my point of view.
OC-connection well known
Thaçi and other members of his inner circle, Marty avers, were "commonly identified, and cited in secret intelligence reports," published by the German secret state agency, the Bundesnachrichtendienst or BND "as the most dangerous of the KLA's 'criminal bosses'." Trading on American protection to consolidate political power, thus maintaining control over key narcotics smuggling corridors, the special rapporteur writes that "having succeeded in eliminating, or intimidating into silence, the majority of the potential and actual witnesses against them (both enemies and erstwhile allies), using violence, threats, blackmail, and protection rackets," Thaçi's Drenica Group have "exploit[ed] their position in order to accrue personal wealth totally out of proportion with their declared activities." Indeed, multiple reports prepared by the U.S. DEA, FBI, the BND, Italy's SISMI, Britain's MI6 and the Greek EYP intelligence service have stated that Drenica Group members "are consistently named as 'key players' in intelligence reports on Kosovo's mafia-like structures of organised crime."
Reliable and highly informed sources at the Institute for European Policy based in Germany, in a 2007 report commissioned for the German Armed Forces, indicated that the three leading Kosovo politicians, Ramush Haradinaj, Hashim Thaci and Xhavit Haliti, are "persons protected by the international community although they are deeply involved in all of these affairs."Already in 2000, according to Interpol Kosovo criminals, illicit profits of 2 billion euros were laundered through more than 200 banks. The current data show much higher earnings, and this without considering the investments in the building sector, the purchase of shares and other activities. In relation to the drugs issue, according to the Italian journalist Roberto Saviano, in an interview in 2009, the Albanian mafia in Kosovo chiefs "dream" about turning the province into "a European Colombia."
"In order to achieve this, they wish to genetically engineer a type of coca plant that would grow in Kosovo's climate. In this way, the Albanian mafia would have a monopoly over the cocaine trade. They need 20 years to achieve this," he said, and added that "then, Kosovo will without a doubt become the new Colombia."
More about link between organized crime and Kosovo political leaders one can find e.g. from "Albanian Terrorism and Oraganized Crime in Kosovo and Metohija (K&M)" , which also can be found from my document library. Related background information can be found also from "leaked" German Intelligence reports BND report 2005 and BND-IEP report Kosovo 2007 which can be found from my document library under Kosovo headline.
Note: An extract from Correspondence between BND and Wikileaks
As of up today you still provide the option of downloading a classified report of the BND under the following address:
http://www.wikileaks.com/wiki/BND_Kosovo_intelligence-report,_22_Feb_2005.
We kindly ask you again to remove the file immediately and all other files or reports related to the BND as well. Otherwise we will press for immediate criminal prosecution.
AR: As links are whole time cracked I have saved report to my computer and downloaded it to document library of my blog for public use.
International community unwilling to rock of the boat
"Two years ago a joke was being circulated on the Runet that a heroin producer has recognized its distributor's independence. It was about Afghanistan, which was to the first to recognize the independence of the Serbian province of Kosovo which had illegally separated from Yugoslavia." (GRTV)
International community has worked over ten years with capacity building of Kosovo administration; EU launched few years ago its huge EULEX operation for rule and law in protectorate. Still it was needed outside institutions to bring both individual case – organ trafficking/war crime – and a system error – OC/political link – to public knowledge. Why so?
An other report gives one answer. Extract from recent the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Rapporteur Jean-Charles Gardetto's report entitled The protection of witnesses as a cornerstone for justice and reconciliation in the Balkans (The document should be adopted by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) on coming January 26.)
Moreover, when a witness does come forward, there is a real threat of retaliation. This may not necessarily put them in direct danger, losing their job for example, but there are also examples of key witnesses being murdered. The trial of Ramush Haradinaj, the former leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army, well illustrates this. Mr. Haradinaj was indicted by the ICTY for crimes committed during the war in Kosovo but was subsequently acquitted. In its judgment, the Tribunal highlighted the difficulties that it had had in obtaining evidence from the 100 prosecution witnesses. Thirty-four of them were granted protection measures and 18 had to be issued with summonses. A number of witnesses who were going to give evidence at the trial were murdered. These included Sadik and Vesel Muriqi, both of whom had been placed under a protection program by the ICTY.
The five countries – U.S., Britain, Germany, France and Italy – had access to information, resources and a long history of work with the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), former U.S. diplomat and UN Regional Representative in northern Kosovo Gerard Gallucci told Belgrade's Politika newspaper in an interview. "Regardless of the claims about organ trafficking, everyone knows about the involvement of some of the top Kosovo leaders in transnational crime and corruption. International officials ignored these problems so as not to provoke the ethnic Albanians and prevent them from creating even bigger problems," Gallucci stated, according to the newspaper.
Conclusion/Possible reflections?
"I am very proud of my past and the past of my people who, along with NATO, arrived at the goal" (Hashim Thaci, Crime Minister of Kosovo)
New talks between Belgrade and Pristina are planned to start soon for resolving frozen Kosovo conflict. Serbs and Albanians have been in negotiations and talks half a dozen times over the past two decades – from the tentative efforts of the 1990s to the doomed talks in Rambouillet, France, in 1999 and the later "status" talks between 2005 (Ahtisaari's pseudo-talks) and 2007 ("Troika" led talks). None of these has led to tangible results and left outsiders imposing an outcome, be it NATO intervention or proposing the Ahtisaari plan.
Few month ago it looked like now it would be possible to have real talks first time between local relevant authorities; the events on December have put this optimism in question. The PACE report gives new (for western powers, mainstream media and public) view to justification of the Nato's attack on Serbia, it products evidence and argumentation for suspected joint venture of organized crime and political elite in Kosovo before "humanitarian intervention, after that and now: the report casts a shadow to western political leadership as their own intelligence services had all relevant information at their disposal.
In my earlier article Will Negotiation Slot for Kosovo be used? I remarked, that
"EU in my opinion should start to distance itself from U.S. cowboy policy. Now many Europeans realize they were hoodwinked into recognizing Kosovo's independence on the pretence it would resolve problems and bring peace – it didn't happen; a new approach is needed."
I would like to point out that now after PACE report the West can not any more escape reality, facts can not be ignored any longer. The report could be start for reassessment of Kosovo status and operations/presence of international community there.
Comments Off on Captured Pseudo-State Kosovo	| BalkanBlog, Balkans	| Tagged: Ari Rusila, BalkanBlog, Balkans, conflicts, EULEX, KLA, Kosovo, Kosovo status talks, mafia clans, Nato, Organ harvesting, Organ trafficking, Organized crime, PACE, Serbia, War crimes	| Permalink
A Washington-based intelligence source said the kidneys were sold to Dr. Sonmez, a 53-year-old medic. It was then that the Turkish doctor was said to have struck up a relationship with Kosovan Albanians, who, investigators believe, are implicated in the Medicus clinic case which unfolded in the confirmation hearing case on December in Pristina district court. (Source: The Guardian:The doctor at the heart of Kosovo's organ scandal )
Number game as cause of Nato's attack on SerbiaAccording the Kosovo "Book of the Dead", the equivalent of the Bosnia "Book of the Dead" by London based Bosnian Institute which finally counted the slain, has since the Kosovo war been able to establish a total about 10,000 dead or "permanently missing" (i.e. dead), of which just under 5000 are Albanians, and the rest Serbian, other minorities, or ethnicity not known. So as Albanians made up around 50% off the dead despite making up 85% of the population, they suffered proportionately much less in terms of deaths than any other group.
Note: An extract from Correspondence between BND and WikileaksAs of up today you still provide the option of downloading a classified report of the BND under the following address:
AR: As links are whole time cracked I have saved reportto my computer and downloaded it to document library of my blog for public use.
Number game as cause of Nato's attack on SerbiaAccording the Kosovo "Book of the Dead", the equivalent of the Bosnia "Book of the Dead" by London based Bosnian Institute which finally counted the slain, has since the Kosovo war been able to establish a total about 10,000 dead or "permanently missing" (i.e. dead), of which just under 5000 are Albanians, and the rest Serbian, other minorities, or ethnicity not known. So as Albanians made up around 50% off the dead despite making up 85% of the population, they suffered proportionately much less in terms of deaths than any other group. (Bosnian Institute: Establishing the number of victims in the Yugoslav wars of succession)
Note: An extract from Correspondence between BND and WikileaksAs of up today you still provide the option of downloading a classified report of the BND under the following address:http://www.wikileaks.com/wiki/BND_Kosovo_intelligence-report,_22_Feb_2005.
15 Comments	| BalkanBlog, Balkans	| Tagged: Ari Rusila, BalkanBlog, Balkans, conflicts, EULEX, KLA, Kosovo, Kosovo status talks, mafia clans, Nato, Organ harvesting, Organ trafficking, Organized crime, PACE, Quadruple Helix model, Serbia, War crimes	| Permalink
You are currently browsing the Conflicts by Ari Rusila blog archives for January, 2011.


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NewsPublished April 23, 2020
COVID-19 & Food (April 2020): New York City Initiatives, Resources, and Funding Opportunities
886 words4.4 min read
COVID-19 & NYC School Food Survey. Community Food Advocates and the Lunch for Learning Coalition is looking for feedback from parents and students regarding their experience with school food pick-ups and the impact of school closures on food access. The brief survey can be completed here.
Free Lyft Rides for Seniors to Select Supermarkets. The National Supermarket Association (NSA) has partnered with Lyft to provide access to transportation for seniors in New York City. Using the code NSARELIEF in the Lyft app, seniors will have access to $25 for rides to and from designated National Supermarket Association-affiliated supermarkets in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Upper Manhattan. List of participation supermarkets is available here
Food Education Fund COVID-19 Food Hub NYC: The Food Education Fund has compiled COVID-19 Food Hub NYC, a list of resources for those seeking more information on what's available to assist New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
NYC COVID-19 Food Assistance Resources. The City has developed a diverse suite of tools and resources to help New Yorkers access food during the COVID-19 public health crisis. Among these are FoodHelp NYC which offers a map of free food resources such as food pantries and Grab & Go meals at NYC Schools, available for all children or adults in need; the NYC Food Delivery Assistance for low income home-bound New Yorkers; ACCESS HRA which allows people to sign up for SNAP benefits or cash assistance from home; and HelpNowNYC which offers a list of different opportunities to help New Yorkers in need by donating food, cash, or supplies. Visit the City's resource page here.
Neighborhood Food Resource Guide. Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center has compiled a food resource guide for each NYC neighborhood (59 in total). Each guide contains information on local food pantries/soup kitchens (contact information/hours of operation), where students and seniors can find meals, and which supermarkets/grocers are offering special senior hours and/or delivery services, among other topics. Find your neighborhood guide here.
City Harvest Food Map. City Harvest is maintaining a map showing locations throughout the five boroughs that are currently distributing food free of charge. Locations include soup kitchens, food pantries, Department of Education School Sites that are distributing grab-and-go meals, some restaurants that are offering free food distribution, and City Harvest sites (Emergency Food Distribution Sites and Mobile Markets).
SNAP Application Assistance. Benefits specialists at Hunger Free America are available to assist potential clients with understanding whether they qualify for SNAP benefits and to help with the application process. Assistance available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. The Visit their website for more information and their national hotline.
COVID-19 Support and Relief Efforts for Hospitality Industry. The NYC Hospitality Alliance has collated a list of offers they have received around employment opportunities, financial aid, consulting, and miscellaneous business tools to support operators and employees in the hospitality industry.
Database of Available (non-Government) Funding for COVID-19 Response (NY and NYC). Drive Change — a nonprofit organization whose innovative Hospitality for Social Justice training offers a paid opportunity for returning citizens invested in their professional development in the food industry and beyond — has created a database with available funding opportunities from non-Government sources for COVID-19 Response. Check the database here
The NYC COVID-19 Response & Impact Fund by The New York Community Trust. The Fund was created to aid nonprofit service providers struggling with the health and economic effects of the coronavirus. Priority will be given to nonprofits addressing essential healthcare and food insecurity as well as arts and culture. As of April 16, 2020, the Fund has raised more than $95 million and 276 New York City-based nonprofits affected by the coronavirus public health crisis have already received $44 million of support. Read more about the fund here
Robin Hood COVID-19 Relief Fund. Grants are available only for 501(c)(3) organizations in New York City that are well-positioned to serve low-income communities. The initial grants, expected to last 3 months in duration, will average $45,000. The purpose of these grants is to provide resources to support nonprofits that are on the front lines of this work and can move swiftly to serve affected communities. Read more about the fund and submit application here
COVID-19 Community Fund by United Way of New York City. Established at the end of March 2020, the fund will provide resources to UWNYC partner agencies and community-based organizations that work with communities who are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus and the economic consequences of the outbreak. UWNYC are now accepting applications from non-profit organizations. For any questions about application, please e-mail: Sandra Maskell, smaskell@uwnyc.org. Read more about the fund and how to apply here
Northern Manhattan Emergency Recovery Fund by New York-Presbyterian Hospital, managed by Hispanic Federation. The New York-Presbyterian Hospital have committed to providing $10 million over the next two years to help communities in Northern Manhattan recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible organizations must be nonprofits, serving or located within the Washington Heights, Inwood and Hamilton Heights communities, with maximum 100 employees, and able to demonstrate that COVID-19 outbreak caused at least a 25% decrease in revenue. The first $2 million, which organizations can access with the application currently available, is designated for immediate emergency assistance. The second round of $8 million is designated for long-term community sustainability. Learn more about the fund and application here

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Archives & Special Collections Guides
Advocacy collections
Collections relating to local and statewide advocacy. Advocacy takes many different forms. The following list is only a partial listing of materials in the Archives that relate to a few specific advocacy topics.
Quick tip!
You may be able to find additional resources on this topic by searching the guides to all of our collections on our website, or using the search box below.
1964 Alaska earthquake collections
1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill collections
African American history in Alaska collections
Alaska before 1900
Alaska Constitutional Convention and statehood collections
Alaska Highway construction collections
Alaska Native collections
Alaska state legislators and legislation collections
Anchorage charter commissions collections
Anchorage history collections
Anchorage winter Olympics bids
ANCSA, ANILCA, and D-2 collections
Anthropology collections
Archives in Alaska
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge collections
Arctic research collections
Aviation collections
Businesses, clubs, and organizations
Canol Pipeline collections
Cold War era (1945-1992) collections
Creative writing collections
Education collections
Engineering collections
Fine arts collections
Fishing, fisheries, and canneries collections
Fur Rendezvous related collections
Fur trading, trapping, and farming
Gardening and botany collections
Geography and environmental studies collections
Geology related collections
Gold rush collections
Governors of Alaska
Greenspace collections
Hatcher Pass area collections
Hope and Sunrise, Alaska related collections
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race related collections
Journalism and broadcasting
Labor collections
Law related collections
LGBT related collections
Mapping and surveying collections
Matanuska Colony collections
Medicine and health collections
Miners and mining collections
Non-English language collections
Nursing collections
Performing arts collections
Permanent Fund Dividend
Petroleum and natural gas related collections
Senior Citizen Issues and Advocacy
Seward, Alaska related collections
Skiing and mountaineering collections
Steamship related collections
Student newspapers, Anchorage Community College and University of Alaska Anchorage
Tourism in Alaska
United States. Coast Guard related collections
Women's organizations and women's issues collections
World War II in Alaska collections
The 1930s collections
Advocacy takes many different forms. The following list is only a partial listing of materials in the Archives that relate to a few specific advocacy topics. Be sure to use the search mechanism on the site to search other topics.
Alaska Adult Education Association and Northwest Adult Education Association records; 1977-circa 2000.
HMC-1123. The Alaska Adult Education Association (AAEA) was formed in 1977 to developed effective program delivery for Alaskan adult education; enhance professional development of its practitioners; promote cooperation between practitioners, citizens, institutions, and government agencies; and advocate recognition of the field. The Northwest Adult Education Association (NAEA) was formed in 1966 to provide opportunities for connection and cooperation between adult education practitioners in Alaska. This collection includes records from both the AAEA and NAEA.
Alaska Black Caucus, Inc. records; 1975-1993.
HMC-0003. This collection consists of records of an organization dedicated to advancing the well-being of the African-Americans in Alaska.
Alaska Center for the Environment records; 1909-1992.
HMC-0005. Alaska Center for the Environment (ACE) is a non-profit organization that lobbies for environmental issues such as public lands conservation, clean air and water, subsistence, and land use. The collection consists of records relating to the operation, management, and activities of the organization.
Alaska Health Project records; 1979-1994.
HMC-0419. The Alaska Health Project is a private non-profit organization founded in 1980 to address issues of hazardous materials in the workplace and in the community. The collection consists of the organization's records and activities.
Alaska Native Health Careers Program records; 1971-1985.
UAA-0094. Alaska Native Health Careers Program provided support and outreach to Alaska Native high school and college students interested in the health field.
Alliance for Options in Education records; 1973-1978.
HMC-0042. The records of a citizens' organization that supported the introduction of a flexible public school system that would offer diverse methods of education delivery at elementary and secondary levels.
Anchorage Waterways Council records; 1979-1991.
HMC-0393. A nonprofit organization created to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands, and associated uplands of Anchorage. The organization advocated for water quality and runs the volunteer Citizens Environment Program, Creeks as Classrooms, and Adopt a Stream programs. The collection consists of their organizational records, as well as other related materials concerning waterways in Anchorage.
Atwood Family papers; 1906-2003.
HMC-0989. This collection contains business, professional, civic, and personal papers of Bob, Evangeline, Elaine, and Marilyn Atwood, including their ownership and management of the Anchorage Times newspaper. Bob Atwood chaired the Alaska Statehood Committee. Evangeline Atwood was a community activist, being a major supporter of the arts and education, and a founder of the Alaska World Affairs Council. Elaine Atwood was also an active civic and community leader, becoming the first female president of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce.
Neil Risser Bassett papers; 1940-1991.
HMC-0377. Neil Risser Bassett joined the Bureau of Land Management in 1959 and worked as Chief of the Lands Branch (1967-1970) and later as Chief of the Branch of Lands and Minerals (1972-1985) in the Resources Division. One of his major responsibilities was coordinator for the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. The collection includes BLM Subject Files, which concern a variety of land management issues and functions, the most prominent of which include easements, land exchanges, minerals, oil and gas leasing, mining, native allotments, navigability, rights-of-way, selections of land, and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. The ANCSA Files include reference materials, activity reports, meeting minutes, newsletters, annual reports, reviews, studies, and evaluations.
Jay K. Brause and Gene Dugan papers, 1975-2006.
HMC-1216. Papers of Alaskan civil rights activists. The collection includes materials related to Out North Playhouse, Identity Inc., gay rights, same sex marriage, and Alaska theatre and arts groups.
Alice E. Brown papers; 1965-1973.
HMC-1060. Alice E. Brown was a member of the Alaska Federation of Natives' Board of Directors and advocate for the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. A majority of the collection pertains to the organizations of which she was a member.
Lanie Fleischer papers; 1970-2012.
HMC-1326. Papers of a woman who was involved in the creation of the Anchorage trail system, as well as other civic and environmental issues.
Hans and Margaret Hafemeister papers; 1943-1995.
HMC-0126. Hans Hafemeister was a machinist and heavy mechanic and served on the Seward City Council. Margaret was a social worker in Alaska. Although much of the collection focuses on the couple's personal life, there is an autobiographical account by Margaret which recollects her activities as a social worker in the state.
Walter J. Hickel papers; 1950-2010.
HMC-0660. Walter Hickel was elected Governor of Alaska in 1966 and 1990. He was appointed Secretary of the Interior by Richard Nixon in 1969, until he was fired by Nixon in 1970. The largest portions of the collection consist of his Secretary of the Interior records, and campaign, speech and correspondence files. He was a strong advocate for the development of Alaska.
David M. Hickok papers; 1923-1992.
HMC-0408. David M. Hickok was an Alaska natural resources officer. A majority of the papers in the collection relate to land use in the Arctic and include speeches, articles, and reference files related to research and policy in the Arctic. There are also records related to the establishment of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge and the 1973 lawsuit of Edwardsen v. Morton, regarding pre-ANCSA Alaska Native land rights in the Arctic.
Identity, Inc. records; 1977-2009.
HMC-1143. The collection contains the records of a non-profit organization that provides programs supporting equality for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender community and its allies.
Neil C. Johannsen Alaska State Parks history collection; 1970-1995.
HMC-1046. This collection primarily contains materials related to the development of the Alaska state park system and preserves much of the first 25 years of history of the Alaska State Park System. Many of the records detail the establishment of nearly 50 state parks, marine parks, recreation areas and historical sites established during the nearly 13 years Mr. Johannsen was director of the State Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation.
Dove Kull papers; 1915-1991.
HMC-0385. Dove Kull was an Alaskan woman active in social work and child welfare. The collection consists of papers relating to Dove Kull's life, her activities in the field of social work and child welfare, her activities on behalf of senior citizen and women's issues, and her travels.
Home And Landowners Organization, Inc. (HALO) records; 1973-2012.
HMC-1125. This collection consists of documents relating to HALO, a non-profit organization focused on land use issues in Southeast Anchorage. Records include HALO's articles of incorporation, bylaws, candidate forums records, correspondence, land use planning issues records (ex. Hillside District Plan), lawsuits, minutes, digital photographs, and newsletters.
Charles Konigsberg papers; circa 1947-1995.
HMC-0794. Charles Konigsberg taught political science at Alaska Methodist University (now Alaska Pacific University). He later worked as a research analyst for the Arctic Environmental Information and Data Center (AEIDC). He was also an advocate for environmental issues in Alaska, especially the D-2 clause of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, and he founded the Alaska Center for the Environment in 1971. This collection does include his work for AEIDC. as well as related papers regarding environment issues in Alaska.
Janie Leask papers; 1983-1991.
HMC-1147. Janie Leask was the president of the Alaska Federation of Natives. The collection contains subject files regarding the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), clippings of her regular column in the Anchorage Times, subject files on the Alaska Federation of Natives, and the texts of speeches she delivered.
March for Science documents; 2017 April.
HMC-1254. Signs collected from a march in support of the sciences in Anchorage.
Fletcher Miller papers; 1928-2002.
HMC-1000. Fletcher Miller was a lifelong beekeeper. The collection consists primarily of materials related to beekeeping efforts, though it also includes a small amount of biographical and personal papers.
Ruth Moulton and Town Square Park papers; 1965, 1980-2019.
HMC-1345. Papers of an activist in Anchorage Alaska, primarily relating to the creation of Town Square Park.
Older Persons Action Group records; 1963-2006.
HMC-0193. OPAG serves as an advocate for senior citizens in Anchorage and in Alaska in matters relating to housing, health and welfare, and legislation affecting the elderly. The collection consists of records concerning the administration, finances, programs, and services of the organization.
People's Vote Must Count Committee records; 1981.
HMC-0198. The committee was organized in 1981 to oppose the construction of a Convention Center on Block 42 in downtown Anchorage and to uphold the 1965 Anchorage initiative which dedicated that block to becoming a park. The collection consists of correspondence, legal documents, speech notes, petitions, meeting notices, newspaper ads and clippings concerning Proposition 10, the Anchorage Assembly, and Block 42.
Maxine Reed papers; 1900-1994.
HMC-0443. Maxine Reed was a prominent member of the Anchorage community and a member of the Greater Anchorage Area Borough (GAAB) Consumers Commission. The records in this collection primarily relate to the GAAP Consumers Commission. There are meeting minutes and agendas, correspondence and memos, as well as assembly testimonies regarding consumer protection.
Ruth Arcand Park Project papers; 1968-1985.
HMC-0217. Ruth Arcand served for four years on the first borough parks and recreation board, and has also served as a board member to the Anchorage Ski Club, Hilltop Youth Inc., and the Huffman-O'Malley Community Council. The collection consists of correspondence, letters of testimony, legal documents, newspaper clippings, newsletters, and other materials concerning Section 16, Ruth Arcand, and her efforts to get Section 16 declared park land.
Fred and Lidia Selkregg papers; circa 1950-2000.
HMC-0631. Both long time civic activists, Fred served on the Alaska Human Rights Commission and the State Mental Health Board. Lidia worked as a geologist, wrote a series of regional atlases profiling Alaska communities, served on the Anchorage Assembly, and served as Anchorage Planning Commissioner. A majority of the papers include the couple's civic involvement, Lidia's geological matters, land use, and her time on the Anchorage Assembly.
Lorena Showers papers; 1939-2000.
HMC-0221. Lorena Showers was an active member of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE) Union. She also served on the Employment Security Commission Advisory Council and was an advocate for senior citizen issues and rights, and was an active member of the Older Persons Action Group (OPAG). The collection contains papers and publications related to her life and activities.
Soroptimists of Anchorage records; circa 1940-2004.
HMC-0818. Soroptimists is a civic organization dedicated to helping women succeed. The collection includes board minutes, history files, photographs and scrapbooks, event and program records, membership records, and other materials documenting the history and activities of the organization.
Arliss Sturgulewski papers; 1974-1997.
HMC-0467. Arliss Sturgulewski was an Alaskan senator, gubernatorial candidate, and was involved in many civic activities. The collection primarily contains records related to her political career and community involvement.
Virginia Terrill papers; 1940-1992.
HMC-0432. Virginia Terrill worked for the Public Health Service and the Alaska Native Medical Service. She was active in local community groups including the Libertarian Party and served as secretary of the Anchorage Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). The collection includes personal papers and photographs, however there is ASPCA correspondence and articles as well as Libertarian Party news clippings and publications.
Una Tuck papers; circa 1965-1999.
HMC-1057. The collection consists of materials created and collected by Una Tuck. There are documents related to the development and community efforts to explore optional education schools in Anchorage. Most materials relate directly to the creation of Chugach Optional School.
Jim Wanamaker papers; 1969-2009.
HMC-1108. Jim Wanamaker served as an assistant District Attorney and District Attorney for the 3rd District Court in Anchorage in the 1960s. The majority of the collection consists of records relating to the Citizen's Committee to Save Chester Creek Greenbelt Park and other transportation issues. It includes court pleadings, correspondence, clippings, and position papers.
Women's March documents; 2017, 2018.
HMC-1250. Photographs, signs, and video from marches in Anchorage and Palmer advocating for women's rights.
Esther Wunnicke papers; 1955-2013.
HMC-1170. Esther Wunnicke was director for Alaska's off shore oil and gas development at U.S. Minerals Management Services. In 1982, she was appointed the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources and also served as chair of Alaska Oil and Gas Policy Council, the Human Rights Commission, Federal Field Committee, Pollution Advisory and Prevention Board, Alaska Rural Governance and Empowerment Committee, Transportation Committee, Alaska Highway Natural Gas Policy Council, and the League of Women Voters.The collection includes speeches on subjects relating to Alaska Native land rights, women's rights, and Alaska's natural resources.
Staff Archives and Special Collections
3211 Providence Drive
Anchorage AK 99508
https://archives.consortiumlibrary.org/
URL: https://libguides.consortiumlibrary.org/ASCadvocacy


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Listen to what people have to say about this event.
Get There or Be Square!


text:
My Take On The Kennedy Appearance
on August 26, 2008 at 9:03 am
I debated whether I should comment on last night's appearance of Ted Kennedy at the Democratic National Convention. While I have zero respect for the senior Senator from Massachusetts, I figured it might be in the best taste to leave him alone, considering his ailing health. Then, after thinking about it, I realized that Kennedy voluntarily put himself out there in a visible light. Therefore, he's fair game as far as I am concerned.
As a registered democrat, I cannot understand the publics infatuation with the Kennedy family. In particular, I fail to comprehend the respect many have for a Edward (Ted) Kennedy. After all, he's the same drunken creature that left a woman to die after he wrecked his car on a Chappaquiddick Island bridge back in 1969. The people of Massachusetts should be ashamed they continue to elect such a despicable person. In turn, the democrats should be embarrassed by the shameless way they allow this guy to become an acceptable face of the party. What kind of message does that send to swing voters?
Barack Obama continues to campaign on a message of change. Then, two days after Obama tapped career politician Joe Biden, the democrats rolled out their most controversial character in Ted Kennedy. It's hard to envision that democrats can bring about needed reform when they endorse the biggest part of problem.
Ted Kennedy will not mend any political fences. Instead, he'll actually alienate independent minded voters. These same people will decide whether Barack Obama or John McCain become our next president. Personally, I am remain undecided about who I'll support in November. My track record says I tend to vote republican for the office of President. Certainly, these last two days haven't swayed me to break that trend.
Trending: Red Maryland Candidate Survey: Dalbin Osorio for Montgomery County Board of Education
Thank You Senator ("Uncle Teddy") Kennedy...
First Democratic Convention Night Ups and Downs – Some Rhetorical Criticism


Trey's solo featured a theme similar to All Things Reconsidered.
 A foul-up near the end when Fish attempted to end the song too early; and Charlie Chan and Simpsons signals during the final rave-up.
Trey teased Possum before the second set opener. Trey's solo in Magilla featured a theme similar to All Things Reconsidered. Love You featured band introductions. Antelope included a Dixie tease from Trey, a foul-up near the end when Fish attempted to end the song too early, and Charlie Chan and Simpsons signals during the final rave-up. BBFCFM contained a Brady Bunch theme tease from Mike. Memories was performed without microphones.
Brother features a jam that alternates between the usual rhythm and a swing waltz, which they would do again at the 11/16 Bayou show. Love this mid-first-set Harry Hood, Trey's tone is "buttery" as described. Nice Fee outro jam > Foam, and a throwback Magilla is a nice treat deep in the 2nd set.
As I've mentioned in other reviews, the band seems to have been significantly inspired by playing gigs with Col. Bruce and the ARU at this time. To my ears, the shows starting with 11/7 Tipitina's are both more confident and more ambitious than the October shows. Phish was serious about their profession and developing their fan base outside of the northeast, and their dedication paid off in multiple encores, increased revenues from gigs and merchandise sales, and a growing legion of "gawzers", e.g. "You gawz were so hawt tonaht!", Joey Arkenstat, etc.
11/16/91 Washington, D.C. is still the must-hear show from the Fall '91 tour, but this Georgia Theater show is a fun listen.


Whether it is your first visit or you are a long-time subscriber, everyone at La Jolla Playhouse is committed to making sure your experience is memorable and engaging. Expect to be greeted with a smile, immersed in the world of a new play or musical and to have a great conversation on the car ride home.
Here's a nifty list of things you should know. If we missed anything you are curious about give us a ring at (858) 550-1010 and we'll be happy to help.
No need to bust out the full-length gown and tux. It's Southern California, so a casual chic or business casual look is perfect. We recommend being comfortable and bringing a light jacket or sweater as gets chilly in the evenings by the Coast.
Please plan on arriving at least 30-40 minutes prior to your show start time. This will allow time to park, grab a drink, pick up your tickets and/or use the restroom prior to the performance.
In our humble opinion, theatre is best enjoyed in a relaxed state of mind, so give yourself plenty of time to settle in.
We get it. Sometimes you do everything right and traffic is a mess or the sitter is late. If you arrive after the show has started, please ask for a house manager in the lobby. It may be possible to walk you in to the theatre, but you may need to stand or sit in a seat that isn't the one you purchased.
However, in other cases it is not possible to walk people in to the theatre after the show has started.
Our best advice is to allot more time than you think you'll need to ensure you arrive on time.
The Playhouse has a large parking lot directly across the street from our theatre district. Parking is free on Sat and Sun and $2 on Mon – Fri (full parking info here). There will be a friendly audience concierge located at the parking lot pay stations to answer any questions you have.
Side note – Subscribers get complimentary parking passes as part of their subscription package.
How do I find the theatre my show is playing in?
There are 3 main theatres in the Theatre District: the Weiss, the Potiker and the Forum. When you walk up to the theatres from the parking lot, the Forum is on your left, the Potiker is in center and the Weiss is to your right.
Don't worry – if you look confused, those friendly audience concierges and our Patron Services staff will be on hand to direct you to your theatre.
If you arrive more than one hour before your performance start time, go to the Potiker Theatre Box Office (the one in the center) to get your tickets from Will Call.
If you arrive one hour or less before your performance start time, go to the theatre in which your show is playing.
Are there dining options on site?
Yes! James' Place is an on-site restaurant featuring a full bar, Prime and Angus cuts of beef, locally and sustainably harvested seafood, along with seasonal dishes. If you'd like to sit down for a leisurely dinner, book your reservation ahead of time here. Or saddle up to the gorgeous bar for a pre-show cocktail.
If you are attending on Friday, beginning at 6:30 pm you can enjoy delicious eats at Foodie Friday when the Playhouse hosts one of San Diego's local food trucks pre-show. Learn more here.
Can I bring drinks or food in the theatre?
You may bring drinks purchased from the theatre concessions inside the theatre. Please remember to pop the lid provided by the bar on your beverage first.
We ask that any snacks (including the glorious cookies on offer) be enjoyed before you enter the theatre space.
Can I take pictures or video inside the theatre?
Photos and videos are not allowed during a performance. If you give it a try, a friendly usher will ask you to stop. Trust us, it's awkward.
Photo credit: Ariana DeBose (center) with the cast of SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical; photo by Kevin Berne.


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My day job involves trying to break my coworker's work in various different ways . . . and sometimes I print out the errors so that I can reference them as I try to find exactly at what point the server will break. What you see above is a printout of the database errors I prompted on the the site we're working on right now, which I crashed after hitting it with too many concurrent users trying to register at once. It's funny to think that my job is to break my coworkers' products, isn't it?
While waiting for responses and monitoring my tests, I often knit on a mindless project. Right now the project that lives at my desk is the plain stockinette sock in Malabrigo Sock that I started back on March 24th. It's been slow going because I only work on it for a few seconds at a time while waiting for something to come back with a response. That's ok though because the weather's finally turned warm, so I won't need these for a few months at least!
Speaking of the weather, I'm really looking forward to my new CSA starting up, can't wait to start cooking fresh ingredients again after a long winter. My new apartment also happens to be in front of a community garden . . . with any luck I'll make friends with someone who has a plot and be able to help them grow food too!


Penns Woods Painters (PWP) is the local chapter of the Society of Decorative Painters for South Central Pennsylvania.
Paint-Ins are one-day seminars taught by talented PWP members. Members vote for the three best projects submitted at the November meeting. For additional information about Paint Ins, whether you are interested in attending, or perhaps leading a class, please contact Melissa Crowther at Lucreziaart1022@yahoo.com.


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Country Now Awards: Favorite Breakup Song
Pour yourself something strong and take off your cowboy boots because Country now celebrates the dedicated artists who made an influential impact on Music City and across the country music genre in 2021 with the inaugural Country Now Awards.
For the very first time, Country now recognizes signed and independent musicians who have achieved high chart rankings, released hit hits, put on epic performances and even country newcomers who have put their name on the map since January 1, 2021.
Music fans have the option to enter the 2021 Country Now Awards, as they now have the option to scroll through 14 categories and choose their favorite artists, songs and albums.
Fans can start voicing their opinion with unlimited votes starting Monday, November 15 at 9:00 a.m. CT. The polling stations will close on Tuesday, November 30 at 11:45 p.m. sharp.
To support your favorite artist, visit countrynow.com/vote.
This award is given to an artist whose song has released or reached the top of the charts in 2021.
Nothing fuels the fire of a singer-songwriter more than being heartbroken or helping someone through a messy breakup. Throughout history, some of our favorite musicians in country music have managed to cover everything from cheating to divorce to blocking your cheating ex. However, thanks to the power of storytelling – they all deliver their message in a graceful and shocking way, some even encourage their fans to look inside and recognize their self-worth.
So whether you are facing a difficult breakup, trying to muster the courage to leave an unhealthy relationship, or are finally in a strong frame of mind ready to return to the dating scene – we encourage you to browse through the hits below and vote for the best breaking ballad that makes you feel kind of a way.
"ABBY" – Travis Denning
Written by: Ashley Gorley, Matt Jenkins and Chase McGill
Let Travis Denning carefully create a breaking ballad that will make music fans laugh. The newcomer cleverly kisses his future ex goodbye as he explains everything to her. The star begins the song "Abby" by breaking the bad news to her loved one. However, once she understands what he's trying to say, she casually asks if there is anyone else in the photo. His witty response was simply: "Her name is Abby / It's Any Body Butt You. "The Not Too Serious Anthem marks Denning's third single from his 2020 six-track debut collection, Beer is better cold.
"Ruptures" – Seaforth
Written by: Liz Rose, Cameron Bedell, Tom Jordan and Mitch Thompson
Australian idols Mitch Thompson and Tom Jordan left their souls on the writing table while writing their emotional song "Breakups" alongside Liz Rose and Cameron Bedell. The Relatable Trail tells the story of someone ending a romantic relationship with their best friend. The vulnerable ballad that served as Seaforth's first release in 2021 features their tender side, their growth as singers, and the opposite of what fans have heard in previous songs "Close Enough" and "Talk About". "We both sacrificed a lot by moving to Nashville, leaving families behind and leaving the people we love and [leaving] relationships [too]. I had just broken up with my three year old long distance girlfriend just before I wrote this song, "Jordan shared with Country now. "So it was centered on that, but it was like therapy for both of us for different reasons."
"Just About You" – Priscilla Block
Written by: Priscilla Block, Sarah Jones and Emily Kroll
Up-and-coming Nashville artist Priscilla Block never fails to amaze us with her uplifting hymns. Therefore, when she released the breakup ballad "Just About Over You", we couldn't help but recommend the song to friends who are trying to get over a toxic relationship and an ex. The track highlights its vocal range and the harsh reality of moving forward after a messy breakup. As an honest storyteller, she also pointed out the dreadful feeling of seeing the ex post-split – in the hopes that her fans will feel less alone. After releasing the track independently in 2020, its loyal fan base pushed it to No.1 on iTunes. Soon after, the social media sensation turned country-pop singer signed a recording deal with UMG.
"Memory I'm not kidding with" Lee Brice
Written by: Lee Brice, Billy Montana and Brian Davis
Award-winning artist Lee Brice wrote the heartbreaking single "Memory I Don't Mess With" alongside Billy Montana and Brian Davis. Throughout the trail, he shared the terrible feeling of meeting an ex-girlfriend and seeing their beautiful memories flash before his eyes. He fears that if they get too close, he might feel the grief again. The nostalgic anthem arrived in October 2020 and inspiration was drawn from real life experiences. After the release, the hit climbed the Billboard Country Airplay chart and reached number 1.
"New Truck" – Dylan Scott
Written by: Hardy, Ashley Gorley, Hunter Phelps and Ben Johnson
After the # 1 hit "Nobody", Dylan Scott released his emotionally charged single "New Truck". The heartwarming melody is having something that is constantly reminiscent of your ex. In the fan favorite track, Scott tells a story about his truck and how he starts to think about his ex-partner every time he gets behind the driver's seat. Therefore, he needs a "new truck" to stop the flashbacks and get on with his life.
"Should have known better" – Jessie James Decker
Written by: Tom Barnes, Peter Kelleher, Ben Kohn and Madi Yanofsky
The fierce mother-of-three could be in a healthy relationship with former NFL wide receiver husband Eric Decker. However, she had her fair share of toxic men who crossed paths with her at the time. Therefore, she has released a powerful breakup hymn that highlights the beauty of coming out of a relationship. For example, you may come out of it upset or feel empowered. "I've been heartbroken before – we've all done it, at some point in our lives," Jessie James Decker said in a statement. "It doesn't matter if it's from an end of a relationship or from people trying to tear you down. This song is about letting that pain break you down and coming out of it on the other side strong and confident. Anyone who has broken your heart will regret it the most when your SHINE! "
"It's not me anymore" – Matt Stell
Written by: Hunter Phelps, Jake Mitchell, Hardy, Nick Donley and Smith Ahnquist
Matt Stell got the ball rolling in the country music scene, as he surprised fans with a new breakout song on Bobby's bones Spectacle in February, just before Valentine's Day. Throughout the single, fans hear Stell reflect on his past relationship and share how he's changed as a man. The beautiful ballad that shows his personal growth was written by HARDY, Hunter Phelps, Jack Mitchell, Nick Donley and Smith Ahnquist.
"The Truth About You" – Mitchell Tenpenny
Written by: Mitchell Tenpenny, Matt Alderman and Thomas Archer
River House / Columbia Nashville artist Mitchell Tenpenny received his biggest streaming debut of his career with "Truth About You". The Breaking Ballad has taken off on TikTok, totaling over 2.5 million views and over one million on YouTube. The artist recently said the hit was about his ex at Country taste. Before spilling the tea, fans believed these were the experiences her friends had in their relationships. Throughout Emotional Success, he shares that there are always two sides to the story. [breakup]: one is a lie, and the other is the truth. "It was just one of those songs. When I heard the title… I was like, I know how to write this song. I lived this song. And it just kind of fell, "he shared with the post.
"Naughty" – Lily Rose
Written by: Lily Rose, Kyle Clark and Mackenzie Carpenter
The aspiring country music singer received her big luck in 2020 on the powerful social media platform, TikTok. With the release of her first single "Villain", she gathered a loyal fan base on the platform and even signed a recording deal. The grim, but relatable single, is about getting painted as the villain after a messy breakup. Lily Rose was a year away from a sudden breakup when she brought the song's strong title to Kyle Clark and Mackenzie Carpenter. The Rugged Anthem is now on its first draft, Stronger than me.
"What he didn't do" – Carly Pearce
Written by: Carly Pearce, Emily Shackelton and Ashley Gorley
CMA Singer of the Year, Carly Pearce has had a tough few months after her public divorce. However, like a real singer / songwriter, the multi-platinum artist put pen to paper to express her roller coaster emotions. During this period of grief and despair, she created "What He Didn't Do", a break-up ballad that makes an appearance on his stellar album, 29: written in stone. The song stood out among the project and continues to be one of the most aired songs on the project.
Are you ready to vote for your favorite breakup song? If so, go to countrynow.com/vote and pick your favorite track to play on your next night out. Country now readers have until November 30 to make their choice.
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