Crime and Punishment

German court sentences former Syrian colonel to life in prison

A German court sentenced Anwar Raslan, a former Syrian colonel, to life in prison for committing crimes against humanity at a jail near Damascus a decade ago.

Thursday’s landmark ruling by the court in Koblenz marks a first step towards justice for countless Syrians who suffered abuse at the hands of President Bashar al-Assad’s government during the country’s years-long conflict.

It was the world’s first criminal case brought over state-led torture in Syria and Raslan, 58, is the highest-ranking former government official to be tried for atrocities committed there.

Prosecutors had argued Raslan supervised the “systematic and brutal torture” of more than 4,000 prisoners at the Al-Khatib prison in the Syrian capital between April 2011 and September 2012, resulting in the deaths of at least 58 people.

Raslan is alleged to have been a high-ranking security service officer under al-Assad as mass anti-government protests against his rule were violently crushed. He sought refuge in Germany after defecting from his post and deserting Syria in 2012.
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Germany begins trial of Syrian doctor for crimes against humanity

German prosecutors accused a Syrian doctor Wednesday of torturing detainees and killing one of them while working in military hospitals in his war-torn homeland, on the first day of a landmark crimes against humanity trial in Frankfurt.

The accused, identified as Alaa M under German privacy laws, arrived in Germany in 2015 where he continued to practise medicine until his arrest.

The trial at Frankfurt’s higher regional court is the second of its kind in Germany, and adds to other European efforts to hold loyalists of President Bashar al-Assad’s government to account for alleged war-era atrocities.

Alaa M faces 18 counts of torturing detainees at military hospitals in Homs and Damascus in 2011-12, including setting fire to a teenage boy’s genitals.
He also faces one count of murder, for having allegedly administered a lethal injection to a prisoner who resisted being beaten.

The accused helped to perpetrate “a systematic attack on the civilian population,” said federal prosecutor Anna Zabeck as she read out the charge sheet.

The proceedings in Germany are made possible by the legal principle of “universal jurisdiction”, which allows countries to try people for crimes of exceptional gravity, including war crimes and genocide, even if they were committed in a different country.
Other cases involving the Syrian conflict have also sprung up in France, Norway, Sweden and Austria.

“Over the past decade, a large amount of evidence about atrocities in Syria has been collected, and now … those efforts are starting to bear fruit,” the AFP news agency quoted Balkees Jarrah of Human Rights Watch as saying.
Syrian lawyer Anwar al-Bunni, who heads a human rights group in Berlin that helped build the case against Alaa M, said the trial would yield more evidence that the Syrian government abetted torture to overcome an uprising against al-Assad.​
 
EnglishEdward said:
That will certainly discourage further defectors and thereby inadvertently help prop up the Syrian regime.
Click to expand...
I think there's some truth in that. Another way of looking at it, is that it will discourage people from thinking they can commit all the war crimes they want, then escape all accountability by defecting after the fact.
 
US black man mistaken for older white suspect - lawsuit
_122986906_my-post-copy-67.png

A black man in Nevada spent six days in jail after police mistook him for a suspect with the same name who is white and twice his age, a lawsuit says.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-60121558
 
They are almost twins! Easy mistake. You or I would be hard pressed to tell them apart in a line up. :)
 
It's Deere hunting season in Illinois and Alabama

Two lawsuits have been filed in the past two weeks against farm equipment maker Deere & Company for allegedly violating antitrust laws by unlawfully monopolizing the tractor repair market.

The first [PDF] was filed on January 12 in Illinois on behalf of Forest River Farms, a farming business based in North Dakota; the second, was filed in Alabama last week on behalf of farmer Trinity Dale Wells [PDF].

The lawsuits each claim what right-to-repair advocates have been saying for years: that Deere & Co., maker of John Deere brand farming equipment, denies customers the ability to repair and maintain their own agricultural machinery.

"The motive behind restricting access to [the proprietary software] is simple: Deere and its Dealerships did not want their revenue stream from service and repair—a far more lucrative business than original equipment sales—to end when the equipment is purchased, as it often did in the past when owners could perform their own repairs or rely on individual repair shops," the Alabama complaint says.

Both complaints contend Deere's repair business is three to six times more profitable than its equipment sales business. The Illinois complaint focuses on the company's efforts in recent years to consolidate and control the repair market for its products; the Alabama lawsuit makes similar allegations that stem from the personal experience of plaintiff Trinity (Trent) Dale Wells.

In December, 2021, according to the Alabama complaint, a field hand operating Wells' John Deere 5105 tractor saw the stop engine light turn on and then stopped doing anything for fear of damaging the vehicle. Wells, it is claimed, called the only service and repair option available to him, authorized John Deere supplier TriGreen.

"A TriGreen representative would only dispatch a service technician to his farm if [Wells] provided his debit card information in advance of the service," the complaint explains. "Having no choice, he did so. However, Trent was provided with neither a repair estimate nor any assurance that he would be able to approve charges to his card before they were made.

"When the technician arrived, he hooked up an ECU diagnostic machine, pulled the cap off of an emission sensor, dried it out, and put it back on. He spoke with Wells for approximately 10 minutes about the weather and crops and then left.

"About an hour later, Wells’ card was charged $615 for approximately 2 1/2 minutes of work," the complaint continues. "Due to John Deere and co-conspirator TriGreen’s practices, Wells has no alternative other than to submit himself to this kind of fleecing."​
 
Matt Gaetz Associate Pleads Guilty On 2 Charges, Agrees To Cooperation Deal
The extremist House member remains under investigation for having sex with an underage girl, which he denies.

A Florida man has pleaded guilty to charges linked to the sex trafficking investigation swirling around Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) that threatens to bring down the extremist Republican.

Joseph Ellicott admitted to two charges outlined in court documents dated Monday: conspiracy to commit wire fraud and distribution of a controlled substance ― the prescription ADHD drug Adderall. Both charges carry a potential maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars and substantial financial penalties. Ellicott also agreed to cooperate with federal investigators and to testify against others in the case if needed. Gaetz’s close friend and so-called wingman, Joel Greenberg, a former Florida tax collector, pleaded guilty to a bevy of crimes in May 2021, including procuring an underage girl for sex with other men. One of them reportedly was Gaetz.

Gaetz has not been charged with any crime and denies wrongdoing. Ellicott and Greenberg are believed to be close friends. Last year, the Daily Beast obtained a series of text messages between the two men suggesting Ellicott was worried that other unnamed friends might be in legal trouble for paying to have sex with a 17-year-old girl. The outlet reported earlier that Gaetz had paid more than 15 young female escorts for sex at various points, including at a cocaine-fueled hotel room party reportedly paid for by Gaetz’s campaign donors. Greenberg was slapped with a shocking number of accusations by prosecutors, who alleged the former elected tax official used his office to enrich himself. He also is cooperating with authorities.

Ellicott appears to have gotten mixed up in Greenberg’s self-dealing. Defense attorney Joe Swick told The Daily Beast that a plea hearing has been set for February in Ellicott’s case. While Ellicott’s plea agreement filed in court does not name Greenberg, the documents do describe someone who fits his description: an elected Seminole County official and friend of Ellicott’s who allegedly used his public position “to enrich himself.” Gaetz remains under federal investigation. Earlier this month, an unnamed ex-girlfriend of the lawmaker testified before a grand jury in Florida ― a possible indicator that the Department of Justice is leaning toward indicting Gaetz.
 
Birdjaguar said:
Matt Gaetz Associate Pleads Guilty On 2 Charges, Agrees To Cooperation Deal
The extremist House member remains under investigation for having sex with an underage girl, which he denies.

A Florida man has pleaded guilty to charges linked to the sex trafficking investigation swirling around Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) that threatens to bring down the extremist Republican.

Joseph Ellicott admitted to two charges outlined in court documents dated Monday: conspiracy to commit wire fraud and distribution of a controlled substance ― the prescription ADHD drug Adderall. Both charges carry a potential maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars and substantial financial penalties. Ellicott also agreed to cooperate with federal investigators and to testify against others in the case if needed. Gaetz’s close friend and so-called wingman, Joel Greenberg, a former Florida tax collector, pleaded guilty to a bevy of crimes in May 2021, including procuring an underage girl for sex with other men. One of them reportedly was Gaetz.

Gaetz has not been charged with any crime and denies wrongdoing. Ellicott and Greenberg are believed to be close friends. Last year, the Daily Beast obtained a series of text messages between the two men suggesting Ellicott was worried that other unnamed friends might be in legal trouble for paying to have sex with a 17-year-old girl. The outlet reported earlier that Gaetz had paid more than 15 young female escorts for sex at various points, including at a cocaine-fueled hotel room party reportedly paid for by Gaetz’s campaign donors. Greenberg was slapped with a shocking number of accusations by prosecutors, who alleged the former elected tax official used his office to enrich himself. He also is cooperating with authorities.

Ellicott appears to have gotten mixed up in Greenberg’s self-dealing. Defense attorney Joe Swick told The Daily Beast that a plea hearing has been set for February in Ellicott’s case. While Ellicott’s plea agreement filed in court does not name Greenberg, the documents do describe someone who fits his description: an elected Seminole County official and friend of Ellicott’s who allegedly used his public position “to enrich himself.” Gaetz remains under federal investigation. Earlier this month, an unnamed ex-girlfriend of the lawmaker testified before a grand jury in Florida ― a possible indicator that the Department of Justice is leaning toward indicting Gaetz.
Click to expand...
His seat is up for election in November, right? And he is not standing in the primary? Does that mean he is out of a job this time next year?
 
Birdjaguar said:
They are almost twins! Easy mistake. You or I would be hard pressed to tell them apart in a line up. :)
Click to expand...

You joke, but innocent men (confirmed by DNA later) have been "identified" in those line ups, despite that they were never remotely near the crime in question.

It bothers me a great deal that prosecutors will fight against this kind of new evidence being admitted post sentencing/during time being served, and that they themselves are not criminally liable for knowing about and ignoring it at any point in the process. For the process to have legitimacy, we must not tolerate malicious prosecution.
 
Samson said:
It's Deere hunting season in Illinois and Alabama

Two lawsuits have been filed in the past two weeks against farm equipment maker Deere & Company for allegedly violating antitrust laws by unlawfully monopolizing the tractor repair market.

The first [PDF] was filed on January 12 in Illinois on behalf of Forest River Farms, a farming business based in North Dakota; the second, was filed in Alabama last week on behalf of farmer Trinity Dale Wells [PDF].

The lawsuits each claim what right-to-repair advocates have been saying for years: that Deere & Co., maker of John Deere brand farming equipment, denies customers the ability to repair and maintain their own agricultural machinery.

"The motive behind restricting access to [the proprietary software] is simple: Deere and its Dealerships did not want their revenue stream from service and repair—a far more lucrative business than original equipment sales—to end when the equipment is purchased, as it often did in the past when owners could perform their own repairs or rely on individual repair shops," the Alabama complaint says.

Both complaints contend Deere's repair business is three to six times more profitable than its equipment sales business. The Illinois complaint focuses on the company's efforts in recent years to consolidate and control the repair market for its products; the Alabama lawsuit makes similar allegations that stem from the personal experience of plaintiff Trinity (Trent) Dale Wells.

In December, 2021, according to the Alabama complaint, a field hand operating Wells' John Deere 5105 tractor saw the stop engine light turn on and then stopped doing anything for fear of damaging the vehicle. Wells, it is claimed, called the only service and repair option available to him, authorized John Deere supplier TriGreen.

"A TriGreen representative would only dispatch a service technician to his farm if [Wells] provided his debit card information in advance of the service," the complaint explains. "Having no choice, he did so. However, Trent was provided with neither a repair estimate nor any assurance that he would be able to approve charges to his card before they were made.

"When the technician arrived, he hooked up an ECU diagnostic machine, pulled the cap off of an emission sensor, dried it out, and put it back on. He spoke with Wells for approximately 10 minutes about the weather and crops and then left.

"About an hour later, Wells’ card was charged $615 for approximately 2 1/2 minutes of work," the complaint continues. "Due to John Deere and co-conspirator TriGreen’s practices, Wells has no alternative other than to submit himself to this kind of fleecing."​
Click to expand...
Biden tweets on the side of the farmers?

When you own a product, you should be able to repair it yourself. That’s why I included support for the “right to repair” in my Executive Order.

Now, companies like Apple and Microsoft are changing their policies so folks will be able to repair their devices themselves.
​
How does twitters algorithm work that this gif is right below the POTUS tweet?
Spoiler Slightly sweary video :
ezgif-2-671264de55.gif
 
Samson said:
It's Deere hunting season in Illinois and Alabama

Two lawsuits have been filed in the past two weeks against farm equipment maker Deere & Company for allegedly violating antitrust laws by unlawfully monopolizing the tractor repair market.

The first [PDF] was filed on January 12 in Illinois on behalf of Forest River Farms, a farming business based in North Dakota; the second, was filed in Alabama last week on behalf of farmer Trinity Dale Wells [PDF].

The lawsuits each claim what right-to-repair advocates have been saying for years: that Deere & Co., maker of John Deere brand farming equipment, denies customers the ability to repair and maintain their own agricultural machinery.

"The motive behind restricting access to [the proprietary software] is simple: Deere and its Dealerships did not want their revenue stream from service and repair—a far more lucrative business than original equipment sales—to end when the equipment is purchased, as it often did in the past when owners could perform their own repairs or rely on individual repair shops," the Alabama complaint says.

Both complaints contend Deere's repair business is three to six times more profitable than its equipment sales business. The Illinois complaint focuses on the company's efforts in recent years to consolidate and control the repair market for its products; the Alabama lawsuit makes similar allegations that stem from the personal experience of plaintiff Trinity (Trent) Dale Wells.

In December, 2021, according to the Alabama complaint, a field hand operating Wells' John Deere 5105 tractor saw the stop engine light turn on and then stopped doing anything for fear of damaging the vehicle. Wells, it is claimed, called the only service and repair option available to him, authorized John Deere supplier TriGreen.

"A TriGreen representative would only dispatch a service technician to his farm if [Wells] provided his debit card information in advance of the service," the complaint explains. "Having no choice, he did so. However, Trent was provided with neither a repair estimate nor any assurance that he would be able to approve charges to his card before they were made.

"When the technician arrived, he hooked up an ECU diagnostic machine, pulled the cap off of an emission sensor, dried it out, and put it back on. He spoke with Wells for approximately 10 minutes about the weather and crops and then left.

"About an hour later, Wells’ card was charged $615 for approximately 2 1/2 minutes of work," the complaint continues. "Due to John Deere and co-conspirator TriGreen’s practices, Wells has no alternative other than to submit himself to this kind of fleecing."​
Click to expand...
I'd heard that this was a thing... maybe from @Farm Boy ?:think: I can't recall... that John Deere was intentionally making "repair-proof" tractors and equipment to force people to pay dealers for expensive repairs. Scumbags... Go get em' boys! I hope they get huge settlements/verdicts.
 
Sommerswerd said:
I'd heard that this was a thing... maybe from @Farm Boy ?:think: I can't recall... that John Deere was intentionally making "repair-proof" tractors and equipment to force people to pay dealers for expensive repairs. Scumbags... Go get em' boys! I hope they get huge settlements/verdicts.
Click to expand...
This is my understanding, in that many parts have some form of computer in them (presumably most PLCs) that have some form of encryption, and the output from the ECU is similarly encrypted. They then restrict your right to modify anything with the DMCA criminalising any attempt to get round it. Quite shocking that the business model is not only legal, but explicitly protected by law.
 
MaryKB said:
Ditch the Deere and go electric!

https://solectrac.com/
Click to expand...

We'll see what the expert, Farm Boy says, but I see some issues.

1. Electric doesn't have the power because of current battery technology. Solectrac advertises these compact tractors, which could be used for some functions, but just not big enough for other jobs on the farm. John Deere does offer an electric tractor that provides the needed power (400 HP instead of 70 HP), but only because it is required to be plugged in during operation (cables several hundred meters long).

2. This company is awfully new. I read one article where they proudly say they sold 7 tractors. Ok, it was up to 36, 9 months ago, but still.... Getting parts will be next to impossible until this company is more established.
 
Really not a mechanical guru, lot of you guys are probably better at it than I am, but some thoughts -

If you're in a sunny or temperate area year-round, or at least all the times you need the tractor - like California or whatnot maybe? Sure. So long as you're doing something like orchard or yard work? A light utility tractor is super useful. Quite probably essential, really. Pulls light equipment like an orchard would need. Spraying insecticide/herbicide, towing a rack wagon, maybe a branch trimmer or something. I dunno, I haven't worked on a big orchard, we did a lot of stuff by hand, a larger operation would automate more.

Problems that I would see, for me - We need to use our tractors in the cold. It's annoying and hard to start a diesel engine in the winter if you haven't had it plugged in to keep the fuel in the filter from gelling, so needing the tractor in a rush this time of year doesn't work... but you can get them started if you take the time and they'll run. We use ours to push snow, or we get snowbound and can't leave or get mail. Electric batteries seem to work really badly in those conditions. Major issues with the batteries holding and providing a high-powered sustained charge. Just, not an option. Second problem, it's not going to have the oomph to do heavy sustained work, I don't think. We're tiny by contemporary measures of farming, and we still need to be able to run all day turning dirt, which is just a ridiculous amount of sustained work if you think about it. I'm not sure how long batteries can theoretically go these days, but it'd need to be able to run at whatever maximum power setting is for 14-18 hours a day without needing a lot of downtime. We can do a full day without stopping for fuel.

I guess I'm not patient enough to try and science it out with whatever quality numbers I can find, but if I eyeball the advertising - this is my guess: They have a disc attachment on the back working what looks like very light, dry soil. They rate the battery life for 4-8 hours depending on load, so 4 hours doing tilling. Four battery switches for a 16 hour day. The implement would probably need to quadruple in width to be useful for us, and maybe double again(or operate higher velocity) for a more average operation. It's also wetter/heavier dirt, usually, around here which would increase load, but I'm not sure how to spitball that figure. Small implement manufacturers are always a nightmare to get parts for, and who knows if there is service. You'd need to live within economic business range of a dealer. That's really why Deere is so dominant. There are dealers we can get to. There are parts we can order for the things we can fix and(especially since we're part-time at it) there are technicians we can call when the problem is above our ability or available time. Which is maybe a lower bar than people sometimes might think!

Field passes are expensive. No sense paying more for horsepower than you need to. Just don't think this is there yet. Doesn't feel like it's coming up around the corner yet, either. Unfortunately. Though farms do sport a lot more solar panels than they used to.
 
my john deere is approaching 35, I try to fix old stuff rather than buy new if possible, especially larger appliances like refrigs and freezers. Ugh, maybe new JDs and other machinery are high quality compared to the old, I dont have anything new to compare too. My car is going on 15 and everything is older than that. Heavy duty farm machinery is one area quality matters more, customers are used to equipment lasting decades.

I'd hate to deal with hundreds of ft of cables for an electric tractor to get the most hp but if it'll run off a portable generator that would allow more mobility. Still burning fuel ;)

EnglishEdward said:
That will certainly discourage further defectors and thereby inadvertently help prop up the Syrian regime.
Click to expand...

he's gotta wear that swastika somehow
 
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