I link to news stories from NarcoNews frequently on the Care2 News Network.

But I can't stand campaign spam. Two recent articles by Al Giordano about Colombia, one about the Uribe regime reaching pariah status and the other about Colombia spending aid money on lobbying, would have been perfect if they had only concentrated on the story hooks instead of the candidates.

(Not written by me -- This is a press release I just got in my email.)

Citizens’ Oversight Projects

http://www.CitizensOversight.org

http://www.stopblackwater.net

CONTACT: Raymond Lutz, COPS Coordinator

raylutz@citizensoversight.org/ 619-820-5321

Carol Jahnkow, Peace Resource Center

760-390-0775 / info@prcsd.org

www.prcsd.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 1, 2007

Is Blackwater ‘Fire Relief’ Part of Larger PR Campaign to Win Hearts and Minds and Timed to Influence Local Voters?

Just got this email from Activist San Diego. The large evacuation center at Qualcomm Stadium was emptied out so that the Chargers could play. The people at Chicano Park need more donations and have been making frequent trips to the Potrero area with what supplies are donated. Rally set for tomorrow.

Please distribute widely.

I live in San Diego, but I'm in the middle of the city, which is fine, not in the areas which are devastated by fire.

You may have heard that one of the burned areas is Potrero, a small, bucolic town in San Diego county. I was out there a few weeks ago to help the residents protest the plans for Blackwater International to build a new mercenary training camp in Potrero, and it was a lovely place. I'm glad I had a chance to see it before it burned.