June 12, 2016


News and Views


I woke up this morning to the mass chaos in Orlando. The shooter’s name is Islamic, and a young, sad-looking Imam was among the group at the press conference. He was giving condolences from the Islamic community. The news has just said that there is a “possible” connection between the shooter and a radical Islamic site. The shooter is also stated to have had strong anti-gay feelings.

The nightclub caters to both male and female LGBT citizens. A young woman, who was inside as the killing unfolded and did see the killer, was interviewed on CBSN. She said that after a number of shots had been fired he laughed.

Islam, like Christianity, is strongly against gay activities. Unfortunately, that tells some people, almost exclusively men under the age of 30, that they should go out and commit a massacre against gays. The father of the shooter has stated that his anti-gay status was undoubtedly the cause of the shooting, rather than the difference in religions.

Florida will undoubtedly be in the news for weeks now, especially on Fox News, and Donald Trump will almost certainly soon philosophize about Islamic extremism and national security. Liberals, CBSN said, are tweeting instead about the anti-LGBT feeling in the US and the need for greater gun control.

From where I stand it’s all true, but my emphasis is especially on getting those assault rifles out of the hands of Americans. As this young man has again demonstrated so well, the only use for an AR15 (the rifle Mateen used) is to shoot down as many people as possible in a few minutes.

Over 50 dead and another 50 some have been hospitalized, which the CBS commentator said makes it the worst mass shooting in US history. A surgeon in scrubs was also interviewed at this morning’s news conference, who said that the hospital was overwhelmed and that nine surgeons have been brought in from outside the area to help the wounded. Meanwhile an emergency warning on my TV screen keeps posting a call for blood donors. The sadness here is very heavy indeed.

Jeff Pegues of Homeland Security said that there is an unverified report of an online ISIS page featuring the photo of the shooter Omar Mateen. I’m sure that will be on the Breaking News reports as soon as it is confirmed. The FBI is now leading the investigation, which is good, because they have a greater ability to do in depth investigations than do any local police departments. Mateen is an American citizen from Islamic parents, and a resident of Port St. Lucie, FL. He had a permit to carry a gun, and was a security guard for a company related to Wackenhut. In his photo he looks very “military” in his bearing, but not mentally disturbed.


Gleanings from today’s news:

**There is evidence of presumably other Islamic extremist activity in Orlando. I remember a prediction in the news within the last month or so of possible activity of this type in Florida. Many people from foreign countries do live here, where we have a goodly number of cities and wonderful warm weather. It’s a better place for newcomers to establish themselves than the middle of Colorado, for instance, where they would be much more subject to local attention and distrust.

**Pledge of allegiance to ISIS was received ON 911??? In the San Bernardino killing there was a similar pledge, which was posted on his Online page.

**News conferences in various cities are on the news now including one just now from a Gay Rights parade; various heads of government departments have canceled their plans for travel; in San Santa Monica a suspicious person has been apprehended by police in connection apparently with a potential Islamic threat; the Pope has made a statement of sympathy.

**Attacker’s home is being searched for records of banking and other transactions.

**Several citizens have been interviewed by CBSN over the fact that their friends or relatives are missing. It’s really hard to watch that because they are so distraught.

**Several photos of Mateen taking “selfies” in comic stances, one as a “handsome tough guy” and another with a playfully wacko facial expression. He clearly wasn’t always in an angry mood. CBSN said that he had a history of physical abuse of his wife; and was known to have extreme mood swings. I wonder if he was under psychiatric care. Unfortunately, probably not.

**Because I have made many comments against policemen who commit unnecessary violence in too many cases and who have been found with racist comments in Emails, I want to say just as strongly that this is one of those cases in which they bravely entered a dangerous situation with an active shooter and killed him. One officer did get a bullet through his helmet which injured his eye, but otherwise wasn’t harmed. Police officers do a great deal of good. A Gainesville, FL officer has become a hero for, rather than chasing a group of black teenagers out of the street where they were playing basketball, he instead joined in the game. He spontaneously did the kind of thing that HEALS conflict, rather than exacerbating it. One to one is usually the way that our war against hatred is to be won.

**The flag over the White House is flying at Half Staff. That always affects me more than verbal expressions of grief and supportiveness.

**Jeff Pegues just stated that he has been told FBI and other federal security agencies have been aware of Mateen as possibly being a danger to the country before, and also some suspicions of “another individual” and even “the family.” I will look for more on that. I wonder how he managed to get his job as a security officer with a major company??? I guess they just “didn’t connect the dots.”

**ISIS has claimed credit for this attack, but not for the direction or achievement of the plan.

**Press conference – the Mayor giving announcements and a telephone hot line number for loved ones to call for information. Governor Scott stating that the whole county is under a state of emergency. Pam Bondi FL Atty General speaks out against hate crimes. Orlando police chief announces that all officers who exchanged fire with the attacker today have been temporarily relieved of duty, which is standard procedure. Jerry Demmings, Orlando County Sheriff talking on tactical planning.

**Mateen purchased both guns legally within the last week, despite three instance of “contact” between him and law enforcement in 2013 to 2014, in connection with suspicious personal interactions with possible terrorists. The CBSN reporter pointed up the fact that, though he didn’t have a clean record on terrorism, he was not prohibited from getting the weapons (just as the fact that he was hired as an armed security guard.) Florida does have laws on gun purchase which are relatively lax compared to many states. There is a strong Republican voting presence in this state, with resulting “conservatism.”

**A young woman who was also in the club was just interviewed, and she said that there may have been as many as 300 customers there at the time. I wonder if Mateen had knowledge of the clientele there; and could he possibly even have been inside at some time. He seemed to know what he was doing. I will just mention that some of the most hate-filled men against homosexuality have actually themselves had some gay contact. J. Edgar Hoover was a crossdresser and more. (See: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/edgar-hoover-sex-men-homosexual/story?id=14948447, by Susan Donaldson James, November 16, 2011.)


4:06 PM, Now to other news.


http://www.cbsnews.com/news/heavily-armed-man-arrested-near-california-pride-parade/

"Heavily armed" man arrested near L.A. gay pride parade
By CRIMESIDER STAFF CBS NEWS
June 12, 2016, 2:08 PM

Photograph -- Law enforcement officials brief media after a man described as "heavily armed" was arrested allegedly on his way to a Los Angeles gay pride parade, on Sunday, June 12, 2016. CBS

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif -- A man apparently headed to a Los Angeles pride parade, and described as "heavily armed," was arrested overnight in Santa Monica, officials said Sunday.

News of the arrest comes hours after a man identified by authorities as Omar Mateen shot and killed 50 people inside a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and wounded 53 more early Sunday morning.

"An individual here, we believe completely unrelated (to Orlando), who said he was coming to Pride who was heavily armed and was apprehended by Santa Monica police department officials in the area last night," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti at a press conference Sunday.

The parade continued as planned.

Authorities have not released the suspect's name, or confirmed the weapons in his possession. It is not clear if charges have been filed.

FBI Special Agent Deirdre Fike said officials do not believe the man was working with anyone else.

"At this point there's no known credible threat here in the Los Angeles area," Fike said.

The FBI is leading the investigation.



Well, here are some more dots. Should we connect them? Fodder for more FBI research here, I think.



http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/06/12/481576861/mexicos-justice-system-battles-its-own-reputation-to-build-trust

Mexico's Justice System Battles Its Own Reputation To Build Trust
June 12, 20167:41 AM ET
Heard on Weekend Edition Sunday
MONICA ORTIZ URIBE

Photograph -- Cadets at the state police academy in Chihuahua, Mexico work to improve their shooting skills. Monica Ortiz Uribe/KRWG
Photograph -- A technician examines human remains at a morgue in Chihuahua city, Mexico.
Monica Ortiz Uribe/KRWG
Photograph -- An anthropologist unearths a body at a crime scene in Chihuahua city, Mexico.
Monica Ortiz Uribe/KRWG


Police in Mexico have long failed to inspire trust. The vast majority of crimes are never solved. Often, a signed confession is enough to put somebody in jail, even if the evidence is sketchy.

But with U.S. assistance, Mexico has been attempting to improve its judicial system — and the northern state of Chihuahua, which borders Texas and New Mexico, is considered one of the pioneers.

On the Friday night before Christmas, a team of forensic cops in Chihuahua city, the state capital, jumped in a police truck and drove toward a crime scene. The driver, Freddy Lopez, sped through traffic flashing his brights. He made a stop at a Days Inn near the historic city center to fetch the on-call anthropologist, who happened to be at holiday party.

The anthropologist climbed aboard the truck wearing a two-piece suit and a morose expression.

"We know there's a dead body when we gotta bring this guy," Lopez said.

Back on the road, they headed south toward a hillside barrio packed tightly with multicolored homes. At an abandoned house, the team was briefed by the lead officer with the state homicide unit.

Indeed there was a body. It was stuffed in a refrigerator, buried in the dirt floor of the house. Police suspected a serial killer at work. It was the third body they'd found in less than a month bearing similar wounds. A protected witness tipped them off to this particular spot.

The forensics team zipped themselves into marshmallow-like body suits and pulled on latex gloves. Inside the house, they covered the victim's hands in plastic bags to protect any biological matter under his nails. They bagged nearby beer cans and cigarette butts and photographed everything. Outside, officers made sure the cordoned-off scene stayed secure.

Even this basic police work is something to marvel at in Mexico, where a recent study by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights found that 98 percent of crimes "fail to result [in] convictions." Judicial reform, which started in 2008, is meant to attack Mexico's high rate of impunity.

"The fundamental feature of Mexico's new criminal justice system is that it inserts accountability into the process," says David Shirk, an expert in Mexican criminal justice at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. "It allows the state's evidence to be questioned and challenged. It means that police have to do their job well."

Under the new system, the accused has more rights and is presumed innocent until the state can prove his or her guilt before a judge.

"These reforms are going to be the key to making it clear that the work has to be done, otherwise criminals are going to walk free," Shirk says.

The U.S. has poured millions into this reform effort via the Merida Initiative. Most of the money has gone to train Mexican judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys. A smaller amount has gone to train police, a critical part of reform that's far behind schedule.

Mexico's congress approved a constitutional amendment mandating judicial reform in 2008. They set a deadline of June 2016 for full implementation. All states are currently operating under the new judicial system, but some are further along than others.

While Chihuahua had serious problems with botched police investigations at the onset of reform, it's now making a concerted effort to improve. Its officers have received training in U.S. cities like Santa Fe, El Paso and Chicago.

Still, Mexican police have a major perception problem to combat.

"When we think of police in Mexico we think of human rights violations and tortured confessions," says Claudia Rodriguez, a former prosecutor and now director of Chihuahua's state police academy. "Our job is to replace that image with one of a well-trained, professional cop."

The academy mandates courses on human rights for its cadets, some with a special focus on women and the LGBT community. They're working on perfecting basic skills, such as shooting a gun and handcuffing a suspect. Cadets are also trained on how to take the evidence they gather in the field and present it in court — something they weren't expected to do before.

"The work we do makes a big difference in whether an innocent person ends up in jail or a guilty person goes free," says forensics officer Miguel Wilchis de la Vega, who has attended training in the U.S.

It helps that they have the right tools. Wilchis de la Vega says technicians in the morgue used to cut open cadavers with steak knives and handsaws; now they have specialized instruments.

Chihuahua now has two in-state DNA identification labs, whereas 15 years ago it had none.

Working cops also have the chance to go back to school and get a college degree.

"The change is enormous," Rodriguez says. "It fills me with pride now to see an officer defend himself in court, able to stand by his work and show he has nothing to hide."

The pride that comes with a job well done is palpable among the officers interviewed for this story. It's a pride that experts like Shirk say will make them less likely to succumb to corruption from political pressure or organized crime — a serious problem that continues to plague the Mexican justice system.

"We have to keep in mind that this is a long-term game," said Shirk. "It will be at least another decade, maybe two decades, before we see some of its effects fully come to bloom."

Aaron Ramos, a state police commander in Chihuahua who's survived two attempts on his life, agrees there's hope in the next generation.

"What gives me the greatest pride," he says, "is when my 9-year-old son asks me to visit his school wearing my police uniform."



“Often, a signed confession is enough to put somebody in jail, even if the evidence is sketchy. But with U.S. assistance, Mexico has been attempting to improve its judicial system — and the northern state of Chihuahua, which borders Texas and New Mexico, is considered one of the pioneers. …. "The fundamental feature of Mexico's new criminal justice system is that it inserts accountability into the process," says David Shirk, an expert in Mexican criminal justice at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. "It allows the state's evidence to be questioned and challenged. It means that police have to do their job well." Under the new system, the accused has more rights and is presumed innocent until the state can prove his or her guilt before a judge. …. The U.S. has poured millions into this reform effort via the Merida Initiative. Most of the money has gone to train Mexican judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys. A smaller amount has gone to train police, a critical part of reform that's far behind schedule. Mexico's congress approved a constitutional amendment mandating judicial reform in 2008. They set a deadline of June 2016 for full implementation. All states are currently operating under the new judicial system, but some are further along than others. …. "When we think of police in Mexico we think of human rights violations and tortured confessions," says Claudia Rodriguez, a former prosecutor and now director of Chihuahua's state police academy. "Our job is to replace that image with one of a well-trained, professional cop." The academy mandates courses on human rights for its cadets, some with a special focus on women and the LGBT community. …. Wilchis de la Vega says technicians in the morgue used to cut open cadavers with steak knives and handsaws; now they have specialized instruments. Chihuahua now has two in-state DNA identification labs, whereas 15 years ago it had none. Working cops also have the chance to go back to school and get a college degree.”


This is great, and I have in the past seen terrible reports on Mexican justice, from drug lords being allowed free rein to rampage over the countryside, in some areas especially, committing murders and kidnappings. And then there are the stories about our young college students being arrested for marijuana or something and the horrible conditions in the jail. I must say, though, that in some of the training areas mentioned here we aren’t as far ahead of them as we should be – how to handle the special classes of suspects, from the mentally ill to gays to the homeless to the minorities. And arrest and conviction on a coerced confession are not unheard of either. I do like the part about giving officers a chance for a college degree, and I wish that were more common in the US. The fact is that in NYC and other large cities which have a better budget to work with, the forces are qualitatively better as their training is better, and the local society tends to be considerably less tolerant of egregious misbehavior than in a small town in the South or West. Those things happen in NYC, but police brutality is likely to cause a lawsuit or come under the consideration of a political liberal with modern ideas.

The greatest problem with Ferguson is its’ locality. For an insight into small southern city police departments, watch the movie “In the Heat of the Night, with Rod Steiger and Sydney Poitier. Not only is their police force not up to snuff, but their courts aren’t either. Still, as the article said, within another couple of DECADES there will probably be a considerable improvement.

There will always be psychological damage in police officers stemming directly from the truly depressing things they see on the job, and the constant fear that their lives are in danger. Add to that the fact that they are not always college trained or mentally tested before being hired. Their training does not usually have much stress on the field of interpersonal relations, though they are schooled on the things that will get their case thrown out of court -- or the police department sued. If the great TV show Law and Order is correct, psychiatric treatment can be mandated over shootings, but from what I see in the news, I don’t think it is sufficiently effective. I’ve never seen a news article mention that, at any rate. “Desk duty” or “leave with/without pay” yes. Being charged with a criminal, offense, very rarely, although there have been several cases of police officers being prosecuted since Ferguson.

Still, twenty years ago there was very little public comment at all on human rights, so I’m grateful for the degree of improvement that we do have. Congratulations to Mexico for its’ reforms that are underway. I’m glad to see that it may be safe for me to travel to Mexico now – if I win the Lotto, that is.



http://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-gets-self-congratulatory-after-orlando-mass-shooting/

Trump gets self-congratulatory after Orlando mass shooting
By EMILY SCHULTHEIS CBS NEWS
June 12, 2016, 1:25 PM

Sunday morning's shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando is now the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, killing 50 people and injuring another 53.

Donald Trump's response to the tragedy was initially to express sorrow at the incident, but he later attacked Hillary Clinton over her first general election ad, congratulated himself for warning the American public about Islamic extremism, and had an aide go on television and describe Mitt Romney as a "coward."

On Twitter, Trump initially posted a brief message about the "really bad shooting" that left "many people dead and wounded" at around 8 a.m. Sunday. About 90 minutes later, he followed it up with this tweet responding to Clinton's new ad:

Follow
Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
Clinton made a false ad about me where I was imitating a reporter GROVELING after he changed his story. I would NEVER mock disabled. Shame!
9:39 AM - 12 Jun 2016
5,297 5,297 Retweets 19,049 19,049 likes
Trump tweeted again shortly before noon, saying he was "praying for all the victims & their families." But his next tweet, an hour later, was to point out that he's receiving "congrats" for being right about Islamic extremism:

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Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don't want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!
12:43 PM - 12 Jun 2016
17,888 17,888 Retweets 41,993 41,993 likes
He reiterated that statement in a Facebook post, noting that he "greatly appreciates" the congratulations he's received.

And later Sunday afternoon, Trump took to Twitter again to call on President Obama to resign if he does not use the phrase "radical Islamic terrorism" and noted the arrest made at the Los Angeles gay pride parade:

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Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
Is President Obama going to finally mention the words radical Islamic terrorism? If he doesn't he should immediately resign in disgrace!
1:58 PM - 12 Jun 2016
19,255 19,255 Retweets 39,666 39,666 likes

Follow
Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
Reporting that Orlando killer shouted "Allah hu Akbar!" as he slaughtered clubgoers. 2nd man arrested in LA with rifles near Gay parade.
2:52 PM - 12 Jun 2016
6,987 6,987 Retweets 12,711 12,711 likes

Also on Sunday morning, as officials in Florida were announcing the high death toll in the Pulse nightclub attack, Trump aide Paul Manafort went on ABC's "This Week" and called 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney a "coward" for staying out of the 2016 race.

"You know, Romney wanted to run, chose not to. He's now attacking this past weekend all the other Republicans who ran for president as well as saying they should have done a better job," he said. "Well, if he feels that way, he should have run. He was a coward."

"Coward?" moderator George Stephanopoulos asked in response. "He didn't want to get into the race," Manafort replied.

Trump's tweet about "congrats" quickly drew outrage from across the internet, with prominent Republicans and other public figures criticizing his response:

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Brian Walsh @brianjameswalsh
@realDonaldTrump Seriously just stop. Put down your phone for the next few hours and at least attempt to act Presidential.
1:23 PM - 12 Jun 2016
5 5 Retweets 12 12 likes

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Meghan McCain ✔ @MeghanMcCain
.@realDonaldTrump You're congratulating yourself because 50 people are dead this morning in a horrific tragedy?
1:04 PM - 12 Jun 2016
1,633 1,633 Retweets 2,682 2,682 likes

Follow
George Takei ✔ @GeorgeTakei
Once again, Donald, you have shown why you cannot lead us. 50 people are dead, and you bask in congratulations. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/742034549232766976 …
1:03 PM - 12 Jun 2016
23,645 23,645 Retweets 21,344 21,344 likes



“Donald Trump's response to the tragedy was initially to express sorrow at the incident, but he later attacked Hillary Clinton over her first general election ad, congratulated himself for warning the American public about Islamic extremism, and had an aide go on television and describe Mitt Romney as a "coward." I went looking to see what Trump would have to say, and my hopes were more than fulfilled. My favorite reader comment to his several tweets came from a Mr. Brian Walsh: “Seriously just stop. Put down your phone for the next few hours and at least attempt to act Presidential.” I wonder how many Republicans are cringing in embarrassment right now.



http://www.cbsnews.com/news/tonys-hamilton-drops-muskets-from-awards-show-performance/

Tonys: "Hamilton" drops muskets from awards show performance
CBS/AP
June 12, 2016, 3:31 PM

Photograph -- Actor Leslie Odom, Jr. and actor-composer Lin-Manuel Miranda of "Hamilton" perform at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York duing the 58th Grammy Awards, February 15, 2016. THEO WARGO/GETTY IMAGES
Related: 50 dead, Islamic terrorism tie eyed in Orlando gay bar shooting
Related: Complete CBSNews.com coverage: Orlando nightclub massacre


The deadly shooting at a gay Florida nightclub has cast a shadow on the upcoming Tony Awards, with organizers dedicating Sunday's ceremony to the dead, and Broadway performers rushing to embrace the LGBT community.

At least 50 people were killed early Sunday at the Pulse club in Orlando. It was the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

In a statement, the Tony Awards said "our hearts are heavy for the unimaginable tragedy."

The awards, it said, will be dedicated to the friends and family of those affected.

Organizers didn't say how the evening's Tony broadcast would be affected, but "Hamilton" -- the musical about founding father Alexander Hamilton that is expected to win big -- will drop its use of muskets in its performance, according to a show's spokesman.

Tonight's ceremony will be broadcast on CBS beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Performers who have strong ties to the gay community like Donna Murphy and Audra McDonald took to Twitter to express their outrage over the attack.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, the star and creator of "Hamilton" tweeted a rainbow-colored heart with "Orlando" written beneath it:

View image on Twitter
Follow
Lin-Manuel Miranda ✔ @Lin_Manuel
1:17 PM - 12 Jun 2016
14,873 14,873 Retweets 22,983 22,983 likes

The performance from the revival of "Spring Awakening," featuring a mix of hearing and deaf performers, was dedicated to the victims. The show's director, Michael Arden, called the attack "senseless."



Tributes to the fallen come from the Tony Awards, to be shown tonight. An historical setting in the play "Hamilton" will be produced with no muskets, to point up the extreme and dangerous love affair we have with guns in this country. Sad.