I will be writing about the terrible situation in Gaza. I blame the Bush regime and the people who find it easy to accept kids being killed as long as they are Arab kids? My city of one and a half million have apparently no comment as the only newspaper and only blog has only my issues and a couple of half baked replies as the whole Jacksonville FL city contribution?

I write for the Times-Union in Jacksonville Florida and for the American Chronicle which is on line and goes to 28 American cities.

I wrote about Neal Boortz who has a Radio program and a website. He highlighted one of my articles once in 2007 when I opposed his defence of torture. He put my link on his website and I received 7000 hits in one morning. Here is the link to his comments about me. http://boortz.com/nuze/200711/11052007.html Scroll down to 'Reading Assignments'.

Here is my latest article written 10th Dec 08  My actual content starts 'BritPatJax Comment' 

Are kids in Greece safer and more free? More likely to see Old Age?

Submitted by BritPatJax on Wed, 12/10/2008 - 12:24. Greek situation out of hand?

Greece came to a standstill today as a nationwide strike piled pressure on the government as it struggled to deal with the worst rioting in decades.

Foreign correspondent Nick Squires reports from Athens on a day of strikes and mass protests ;

Banks, schools and public transport were shut and hundreds of flights in and out of the country were cancelled as air traffic controllers also went on strike.

Stathis Anestis, spokesman for a federation of private sector unions, said: "Participation in the strike is total, the country has come to a standstill."

The opposition Socialist party repeated calls for the centre-right government of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to resign and call early elections.

"He and his government are responsible for the widespread crisis that the country, that Greek society is experiencing," said Socialist party spokesman George Papakonstantinou.


Newspapers added to the pressure on Mr Karamanlis's beleaguered administration, with the headline in the popular daily Ta Nea warning: "Government and police on the brink of collapse".

The paralysis came as police clashed with demonstrators in Athens, Thessaloniki, Ioaninna and on the Aegean island of Rhodes for the fourth night in a row. At least seven officers were injured.

In the capital, students hurled petrol bombs and riot police responded with tear gas a few blocks from where 15-year-old schoolboy Alexis Grigoropoulos was shot dead by a police officer on Saturday night, plunging Greece into its worst civil unrest for decades.

"The winds of destruction are blowing through our city," said Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis.

A ballistics report on Saturday's shooting reportedly concluded that the bullet that killed the schoolboy had ricocheted off something before hitting and fatally wounding him.

Alexis Kougias, the lawyer acting for the policeman who fired the gun, said: "The investigation shows it was a ricochet ... In the end, this was an accident."

The ballistics report is yet to be published officially.

The policeman was due to appear before investigators with his partner, who has been charged as an accomplice.

The teenager's death was the catalyst for an outpouring of anger among ordinary Greeks over government corruption scandals, high unemployment, low wages, pension reform and the effects of the global financial crisis.

Authorities fear that today's rally, organised by Greece's two main union federations, could spark further violence and police are again on high alert.

The riots, the worst since a student uprising toppled Greece's military dictatorship in 1974, have caused tens of millions of pounds' damage in wrecked cars, looted shops and torched banks.

Mr Karamanlis, 52, swept to power amid euphoria before the 2004 Athens Olympics but his government's reputation has since been tarnished by a series of ministerial scandals, the handling of devastating forest fires last summer, and economic measures which have brought pain to many Greeks.



In a televised address, Mr Karamanlis blamed the four days of violence on the "enemies of democracy." He warned that "the struggles of workers and the unjust death of a youth cannot be confused with acts of vandalism."

BritPatJax Comment:

On the one hand this and the French version might be disturbing to many Americans. Both situations are similar. In each case I doubt if there will be an incident anytime soon again whereby the police are very heavy handed or where someone dies or gets hurt. That seems to make them much safer than if they lived in Jacksonville? I know that many here will make a big deal about property damage but that is what insurance is for. Wildfires and hurricanes and tornados do far more damage here. My main point though is that in the UK there are virtually no shootings similar. Of course guns are hard to acquire. Greek police have guns as do French and German. I am not saying that Europe has it perfectly right or Britain, but I personally think that the guns come out too easily. Of course its not the kids fault. If all the other kids have guns they must also. Its the fault of the culture and the adults. The Doc Hollidays that still prevail.

My grown daughters live in Birmingham and Peterborough. Both in England. The only youth killed when I was there in Peterborough for 25 years was when a small time druggie who liked to get ugly was set upon by five youths waiting in the shadows with a baseball bat. It was a terrible outcome and very much a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Violence is like that. Yes guys, any shooting is violence. My son aged ten took my pellet gun while I was cooking in camp and got him a blue tit. Beautiful tiny bird in the UK. Once the power drained away he was distraught. I know, he would never make a marine. He had a big burial ceremony and now aged 42 I doubt he has killed much since. Back to how safe Greek and French and Brit kids are. All these kids having guns is y'all's fault in the vernacular right? A kid steals a shirt from Regent Mall and shots are sprayed around the parking lot like confetti. An off duty young cop is tormented by a passing car and a can is thrown. That results in guns being drawn. You get home and someone is making off with your flatscreen? No ....your Ipod? Reason for shots to be fired?

I actually do think that you are in a terrible catch 22 situation. Just as the economic situation has climaxed unfavorably and does not help so also the guns situation is climaxing. It is not safe in the north of town but who cares. But now it is not safe on a bus anywhere or in a mall parking lot. Is it 25 young people so far in Jax, who won't have to worry about 401k's? what a contrast though between a nation that comes to a halt in objection and a city that just says "It did not happen to me and mine, so it did not happen". Now I like discussion and there are responses that knuckle draggers can be relied upon but please can we have some sensible answers and some possible ways to improve this declining situation? Times-Union might have to get out of their 'candyfloss' mentality to initiate the conference? These matters refer mostly to what happens in Jax FL.

London Police Shooting in 2005 investigation Versus Jacksonville Police Shootings attitude?

December 12, 2008

Patrick Comment: It has to worth the consideration of the issues. A lengthy investigation of a tragic Police shooting in London in 2005 just now completed and the attitude towards questioning the 46 police shootings in Jacksonville Florida? Food for thought and consideration of checks and balances and acceptance levels across the world?

Jacksonville Florida Article:

POLICE SHOOTINGS - THANKS MATT GALNOR

"I would like to thank Mr. Matt Galnor of the Florida Times-Union for his article on Nov. 30, 2008 titled, "Police are Shooting, but Public Stays Mum". Thanks to your article, which at the time I thought may create a firestorm, we now have the NAACP and other organizations questioning our city officials regarding police involved shootings.

Thanks to Matt we now have fingers being pointed at our police officers who's sole creed is to protect and serve. These men and women put their lives on the line every time they go out. Let's make it clear that the real criminals are the ones committing the crimes to begin with, not the officers that are hired, trained, and paid by it's citizens to protect and serve our communities, our cities, our businesses, our lives, and it must be remembered that they are protecting their own lives as well. They are putting their lives inbetween us and the criminals.

Ms. Nweze, President of the Florida State Conference of the NAACP, asked the question, "Why is it necessary for deadly force to be used so frequently?" Maybe it´s because the perpetrators are using their weapons against the police with deadly force. Here are a few facts from the T-U relating to the shootings.

There were 46 police shootings in the past 2 years. 39 of those shot were armed and 32 of those were armed with guns. 38 of those involved black citizens, so at the most 6 were not armed with a gun.

So in retrospect the question that Ms. Nweze probably should be asking in order to help stop the shootings...'Why are so many blacks carrying weapons?' Maybe she would like to go out on patrol one fine evening and act as body armour for one of our officers. Maybe then she could have an opinion that mattered, until then do not stick your nose where it is not needed.

If she really wants to eliminate future shootings why doesn´t her organization hold classes to instruct those individuals that carry weapons? They could be instructed on the proper procedures they should follow when they encounter a police officer. She could instruct them on how to stop running, how to get on their knees, how to raise their hands empty & slowly. Or better yet, how about instructing them on how not to be stupid in the first place and to stop committing crimes.

Eddie Staton, national President for MADDADS, stated, "There needs to be some kind of system put in place to reassure the public." May I suggest there is a system in place Mr. Staton; it is called the laws that this city is governed by or how about just using some plain old common sense.

"Criminals, young, old, black, white, are watching too much television and playing too many video games that demonstrate and teach aggressiveness toward the authorities. These games of fiction and fantasy are creating real life tendencies within our society. Criminals must and need to understand there is no restart buttons in real life. If you pull or point a gun at an officer of the law in real life, you are most likely going to get shot".

London Shooting 2005:

De Menezes jury returns open verdict

A jury rejected the police account of the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes today as the Brazilian's inquest was branded a "whitewash" by his family. After returning an open verdict, the 10 jurors rejected a string of claims made by officers about the events leading up to Mr de Menezes being killed. In a damning indictment, they dismissed claims by firearms officer C12 that he shouted "armed police" before opening fire.

The jury also disputed that 27-year-old Mr de Menezes had walked towards officers before he was killed. The jurors concluded that six police failings caused or contributed to the innocent man's death. Firearms officers shot Mr de Menezes at Stockwell Tube station in south London on July 22, 2005, after mistaking him for failed suicide bomber Hussain Osman.

As the jury returned its verdict after its sixth day of deliberations, the Menezes family accused coroner Sir Michael Wright of "presiding over a complete whitewash". In a stinging attack on the coroner, they said he "failed on every count" during proceedings. A family statement, released through the Justice4Jean campaign group, said: "After three months of evidence, 100 witnesses and millions of pounds, the coroner, Sir Michael Wright, has presided over a complete whitewash.

"He has failed on every count of the purpose of an inquest investigation."

After recording an open verdict, the jurors, who began considering their verdict at 2.40pm last Thursday, ruled the following:

Firearms officer C12 did not shout the words "armed police" before opening fire.

Mr de Menezes stood up from his seat before a surveillance officer, known as Ivor, grabbed him in a bear-hug.

But the Brazilian did not move towards officer C12 before he was seized by Ivor.

They also concluded that six factors caused his death:

A failure to obtain and provide better photographic images of the terror suspect Hussain Osman for the surveillance team.

A failure by the police to ensure that Mr de Menezes was stopped before he reached public transport.

The fact that the views of the surveillance officers regarding identification were not accurately communicated to the command team and the firearms officers.

The fact that the position of the cars containing the firearms officers was not accurately known to the command team as the firearms officers were approaching Stockwell Station.

There were significant shortcomings in the communications system as it was operating on the day between the various police teams on the ground and with New Scotland Yard.

A failure to conclude, at the time, that surveillance officers should still be used to carry out the stop of Mr de Menezes at Stockwell Station even after it was reported that specialist firearms officers could perform the stop.

But they found that the following two factors did not play a part in his death.

The general difficulty in providing an identification of the man under surveillance in the time available and in the circumstances after he had left the block at Scotia Road.

The innocent behaviour of Mr de Menezes which increased the suspicions of some officers.

The jury of five women and five men could not decide whether pressure on the Metropolitan police in the wake of the suicide and attempted terror attacks in July 2005 caused or contributed to his death. The family's legal team confirmed a judicial appeal against the omission of an unlawful killing verdict was ongoing. In a new interview his mother, Maria Otone de Menezes, said: "Justice has not been done yet." She also spoke of her belief that some officers lied to the inquest and called for the resignation of Cressida Dick, the senior policewoman who led the operation that ended in her son's death. It can be revealed now that the family resolved to have nothing more to do with the inquest and withdrew their legal team after losing a High Court battle to change elements of the terms of the verdicts available to the jury. An appeal to introduce unlawful killing as an option was adjourned.

Proceedings were delayed by half a day by chaotic scenes in and outside court just before the jurors retired last week to consider their verdict. Three of Mr de Menezes's cousins stood up in the courtroom and revealed T-shirts displaying the message: "Your legal right to decide - unlawful killing verdict."

As the verdict was returned, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) confirmed it would carry out a review. A statement from the watchdog said: "The IPCC will now review the evidence to see if there are any new issues to consider." Cheers were heard from Justice4Jean campaigners in the annex at the Oval cricket ground, south London, as the foreman revealed that the jury rejected police claims that the killing was lawful. The coroner said he was preparing a report following proceedings when he would make his recommendations public.

He added: "It is only right that these proceedings conclude with me expressing sincere condolences to the family of Mr de Menezes. "On any view in this case, this was a tragic and terrible event, the killing of an entirely innocent young man."

Relatives were not in court for today's verdict.

Responding to the evidence heard at the inquest, Mrs de Menezes, 63, said: "Police officers made a lot of mistakes. There were a lot of failures on their part. "However, the one who was in command was, in my opinion, the one who made the biggest mistake because she was supposed to be in command of something and whatever she did, she did it wrong."

Mr de Menezes's brother, Giovani da Silva, 36, added: "We will carry on fighting because what we want is justice."

The inquest at the Oval cricket ground in south London heard details of a series of mistakes made by officers in the hours leading up to the fatal shooting. For the first time the public was given a full account of the incident from key witnesses on board the Underground train where Mr de Menezes was killed. The Metropolitan Police was under huge pressure after terrorists first murdered 52 innocent people in London on July 7, 2005 and then launched further failed attacks on the capital a fortnight later.

On July 22, the day after the failed second attack, a massive manhunt was under way to find Osman and the other on-the-run bombers amid fears they could attempt to strike again.

Osman's gym card, found in a rucksack abandoned in the attack on Shepherd's Bush Tube station on July 21, led police to a block of flats in Scotia Road in Tulse Hill, south London.

Mr de Menezes, an electrician from a poor Brazilian family who had come to the UK in 2002 to make a better future for himself, was living in the same building with two cousins.

On the morning of July 22, he apparently overslept and did not leave the house until 9.34am, by which time he was late for a job in Kilburn, north London. The Brazilian jumped on a Number 2 bus and transferred to a Northern Line Underground train at Stockwell station. But a surveillance officer - who was urinating into a plastic container at the time - had watched him come out of the block of flats and judged that he might be Osman. Police followed Mr de Menezes all the way to Stockwell, at which point Ms Dick gave the order that he should be stopped before he got onto a train.

At 10.06am the Brazilian was shot dead by police marksmen using hollow-point bullets that killed him instantly. Surveillance officers on the ground never positively identified Mr de Menezes as Osman, but commanders at New Scotland Yard believed they did.

The inquest heard dramatic evidence from the two police marksmen - who were given anonymity and the code names C2 and C12 - who fired the fatal shots. C12 broke down in court as he relived the moment he shot Mr de Menezes fearing he was a suicide bomber about to attempt to murder all those around him.

He said: "I did not believe I had an alternative - and if I did not act, members of the public would be killed, my colleagues would be killed and I would be killed."

Scotland Yard witnesses insisted the officers identified themselves by shouting "armed police" after boarding the train at Stockwell, but none of the civilian passengers recalled hearing this.

C2 and C12 expressed their regrets to the Menezes family during the inquest, but colleagues felt they had nothing to apologise for.

Chief Inspector Martin Rush, a senior firearms instructor who led the pair's training, said: "They should be admired but they are actually being vilified and I think that is dreadfully unfortunate."

Here's a sample of the latest views published.

Such a travesty of Justice, this guy was unlawfully killed but the jury didnt have the option to say so, its like telling someone that a black cat is white, even though its actually white.

Raminder Bhalla, Northolt

"Chief Inspector Martin Rush, a senior firearms instructor who led the pair's training, said: "They should be admired but they are actually being vilified and I think that is dreadfully unfortunate.""

Well he would say that, wouldn't he? The police have rightly been branded liars by the inquest jury, yet still they stick together and deny the evidence. No wonder they are feared and distrusted. That is what is 'dreadfully unfortunate'.

45govt, Barbados

Of course they claim it´s a white wash, to admit it was a tragedy and that the police made a horrible mistake but were acting with the best of intentions would put a big dent in their civil suit.

Gary, london