Doonsebury is moving from Rupert Murdoch to Bill O'Reilly.
Ted Rall wonders why the USA hasn't gone in to Sudan yet.
And the Guardian has a new World News Guide that's worth checking out (unless you like Bush, in which case you'd better stick to right-wing domestic US news sites).
Also check out a few new Blog links on the left panel.
July 24, 2004
Is This Proof?
Wierd. The BBC reports that Bush's 1972 National Guard payroll records - which, we were recently told, had decomposed on old microfilm - have now been found. And guess what? They still don't prove whether or not he served his time with the Guard.
Now isn't that wierd? I mean, if he did the time, wouldn't his pay records prove it? If they don't prove it, doesn't that prove that he never did the time?
Call me old-fashioned, but I remember a time when such objective logic had some universal value.
Wierd. The BBC reports that Bush's 1972 National Guard payroll records - which, we were recently told, had decomposed on old microfilm - have now been found. And guess what? They still don't prove whether or not he served his time with the Guard.
Now isn't that wierd? I mean, if he did the time, wouldn't his pay records prove it? If they don't prove it, doesn't that prove that he never did the time?
Call me old-fashioned, but I remember a time when such objective logic had some universal value.
Another Whitewash Report, this time from the US Army
The Washington Post says the US Army's own report into the torture and abuse of prisoners is "implausible and unacceptable. If the reputation and integrity of the Army are to be restored, some other authority will need to do better. "
It says the Army report falls back on the same argument "offered up by the Pentagon ever since the photographs from Abu Ghraib prison were published: that the crimes did not result from Army policy and were not the fault of senior commanders but were 'unauthorized actions taken by a few individuals.'
This conclusion is contradicted by the independent investigations and reports of the International Committee of the Red Cross, by an earlier Army investigation undertaken before the scandal became public, and by testimony given to Congress. Oddly, it doesn't even square with some of the findings buried in the inspector general's own report... "
Nobody is responsible, nobody is accountable, nobody never knew nothing.
The Washington Post says the US Army's own report into the torture and abuse of prisoners is "implausible and unacceptable. If the reputation and integrity of the Army are to be restored, some other authority will need to do better. "
It says the Army report falls back on the same argument "offered up by the Pentagon ever since the photographs from Abu Ghraib prison were published: that the crimes did not result from Army policy and were not the fault of senior commanders but were 'unauthorized actions taken by a few individuals.'
This conclusion is contradicted by the independent investigations and reports of the International Committee of the Red Cross, by an earlier Army investigation undertaken before the scandal became public, and by testimony given to Congress. Oddly, it doesn't even square with some of the findings buried in the inspector general's own report... "
Nobody is responsible, nobody is accountable, nobody never knew nothing.
A Crisis Of Government
We are not suffering from a crisis of intelligence, we are suffering a crisis of government. Lest we forget, millions around the world protested before the war that the intelligence was being manipulated and the invasion was not justified. Howard, Bush and Blair have now wasted months of time and millions of dollars on enquiries that were always too narrowly focussed to allocate blame.
The fact is that Australia and Britain would never have gone to war if the Bush administration had not heavily pressured our governments (and others) to do so. Bush's neo-conservative cabal was pressuring US intelligence to find links between Saddam and 9/11 within hours of the attacks. They even set up a secretive Office of Special Plans to cherry-pick intelligence to justify the invasion. For over a decade, these people have been calling for increased US military intervention around the globe, with the ultimate aim of an unchallengeable US Empire. That, in the final analysis, is why Australia went to war: because Howard deemed our allegiance to the rogue US White House more important than our commitments to the UN, to the truth or to human decency.
Long-established international treaties and alliances now lie in tatters, militant Islamic fundamentalism is on the rise around the world, over 15,000 Iraqis are dead with many more injured or made homeless. Australia's proud reputation has been dragged through the mud.
Refusing to hold anyone else accountable, John Howard says if Australians are looking for someone to blame, we can blame him. Well, Mister Howard, I am looking for someone to blame.
Apologise now and resign.
We are not suffering from a crisis of intelligence, we are suffering a crisis of government. Lest we forget, millions around the world protested before the war that the intelligence was being manipulated and the invasion was not justified. Howard, Bush and Blair have now wasted months of time and millions of dollars on enquiries that were always too narrowly focussed to allocate blame.
The fact is that Australia and Britain would never have gone to war if the Bush administration had not heavily pressured our governments (and others) to do so. Bush's neo-conservative cabal was pressuring US intelligence to find links between Saddam and 9/11 within hours of the attacks. They even set up a secretive Office of Special Plans to cherry-pick intelligence to justify the invasion. For over a decade, these people have been calling for increased US military intervention around the globe, with the ultimate aim of an unchallengeable US Empire. That, in the final analysis, is why Australia went to war: because Howard deemed our allegiance to the rogue US White House more important than our commitments to the UN, to the truth or to human decency.
Long-established international treaties and alliances now lie in tatters, militant Islamic fundamentalism is on the rise around the world, over 15,000 Iraqis are dead with many more injured or made homeless. Australia's proud reputation has been dragged through the mud.
Refusing to hold anyone else accountable, John Howard says if Australians are looking for someone to blame, we can blame him. Well, Mister Howard, I am looking for someone to blame.
Apologise now and resign.
Where's The Spine, Boys?
Alan Ramsey is an angry (grumpy?) old wordsmith of Australian journalism. Every now and again he really nails it:
Ramsay bemoans the Opposition's lukewarm diffidence, particularly on last week's UN vote against Israel (Labout would have abstained, not voted Yes - see below) and criticism of the Phillipines for withdrawing troops. He notes our flab-faced Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's response:
"Really?" says Ramsay. "He should pray he never has to regret his boast."
Alan Ramsey is an angry (grumpy?) old wordsmith of Australian journalism. Every now and again he really nails it:
"Ever since the Government's great lie of going to war to rid Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction fell to ashes, 'terrorists' and the 'war on terrorism' are a convenient catch-all responsible for any and all repercussions of Washington's appalling misjudgements and Australia's quite craven subservience to US policy."
Ramsay bemoans the Opposition's lukewarm diffidence, particularly on last week's UN vote against Israel (Labout would have abstained, not voted Yes - see below) and criticism of the Phillipines for withdrawing troops. He notes our flab-faced Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's response:
"The best way to deal with terrorists is to explain to those terrorists they can never win. The Filipinos unfortunately have given in to the terrorists. No terrorist will succeed with Australia in taking our people hostage and blackmailing the Australian Government and the Australian people into caving in."
"Really?" says Ramsay. "He should pray he never has to regret his boast."
Softening Up Joe Wilson
Joe Wilson says a smear campaign against him is gathering steam.
And the totally unreliable Washington Times is quoting "US officials ... speaking on condition of anonymity" who say Valerie Plame's identity had already been exposed to Russian and Cuban agents before Novak's column was published. Still doesn't make it right, but if it's true it could be the legal hook Bush & Co are looking for to get them off criminal charges.
These latest rumours follow hazy suggestions that the Niger claims could be true after all. But as Wilson points out:
Somebody in the White House is softening up the crash zone very carefully. At least it's a sign that they are taking this thing seriously.
Joe Wilson says a smear campaign against him is gathering steam.
And the totally unreliable Washington Times is quoting "US officials ... speaking on condition of anonymity" who say Valerie Plame's identity had already been exposed to Russian and Cuban agents before Novak's column was published. Still doesn't make it right, but if it's true it could be the legal hook Bush & Co are looking for to get them off criminal charges.
These latest rumours follow hazy suggestions that the Niger claims could be true after all. But as Wilson points out:
"The attacks against me should not obscure the facts. The day after my article in the Times appeared in July 2003, the president's spokesman acknowledged that 'the 16 words did not merit inclusion in the State of the Union address.'
... it is the Bush administration, not Joe Wilson, who spoke the words that have cost us more than 900 lives and billions of dollars and have left our international reputation in tatters. "
Somebody in the White House is softening up the crash zone very carefully. At least it's a sign that they are taking this thing seriously.
July 23, 2004
Former Spanish PM paid $2 million for US Medal
Reputable Spanish broadcaster Channel SER claims former Spanish leader Jose Maria Aznar paid $2 million to a lobbyist group of Washington lawyers in return for a US Congressional gold medal. A former minister recognised the existence of such a contract but denies public funds were used.
Reputable Spanish broadcaster Channel SER claims former Spanish leader Jose Maria Aznar paid $2 million to a lobbyist group of Washington lawyers in return for a US Congressional gold medal. A former minister recognised the existence of such a contract but denies public funds were used.
All We Have To Do Is Change Everything
AlterNet has an interview with the author of The New Radicalism:
"The fragile legitimacy of the US government and global corporate capitalism is at an all-time low - it's crumbling. This is all cause for confidence and hope... The scale of the global crisis requires new strategies to make deep changes and replace the old institutions...
There is an opportunity to launch radical ideas and stories and further discredit those being told by a system in crisis. There is an opportunity is build strong cross movement working relationships and to become a stronger counterforce to Bush that can continue as a counterforce to Kerry, if he gets in. "
AlterNet has an interview with the author of The New Radicalism:
"The fragile legitimacy of the US government and global corporate capitalism is at an all-time low - it's crumbling. This is all cause for confidence and hope... The scale of the global crisis requires new strategies to make deep changes and replace the old institutions...
There is an opportunity to launch radical ideas and stories and further discredit those being told by a system in crisis. There is an opportunity is build strong cross movement working relationships and to become a stronger counterforce to Bush that can continue as a counterforce to Kerry, if he gets in. "
Reports in USA, Britain and Australia ALL SUCK
Reactions to 9/11 report
'The commission decided unanimity was more important than controversy. They did a very workmanlike Washington report.'
- Richard Clarke, former White House security expert
"The report being released today by this so-called independent commission cannot possibly be deemed definitive or authoritative as an account for the events of 11 September - not by any stretch of the imagination."
- Kyle Hence, 9/11 Citizens Watch
Meanwhile in Australia, Andrew Wilkie, the senior analyst with the Office of National Assessment who quit in March last year and went to the media, claiming intelligence on Iraq's WMD programs did not justify going to war, said:
"Sooner or later someone has got to stand up in this country and admit they got it wrong, starting with the prime minister and the foreign minister and sooner or later we have got to say yeah there was a serious intelligence failure... Mr Flood is a decent man but he is a stakeholder as a former head of one of the intelligence agencies. His terms of reference were much too narrow. The much more important thing to look at now is the government's relationship with the agencies."
As for the Butler and Hutton reports in the UK... what a load of rubbish!
Reactions to 9/11 report
'The commission decided unanimity was more important than controversy. They did a very workmanlike Washington report.'
- Richard Clarke, former White House security expert
"The report being released today by this so-called independent commission cannot possibly be deemed definitive or authoritative as an account for the events of 11 September - not by any stretch of the imagination."
- Kyle Hence, 9/11 Citizens Watch
Meanwhile in Australia, Andrew Wilkie, the senior analyst with the Office of National Assessment who quit in March last year and went to the media, claiming intelligence on Iraq's WMD programs did not justify going to war, said:
"Sooner or later someone has got to stand up in this country and admit they got it wrong, starting with the prime minister and the foreign minister and sooner or later we have got to say yeah there was a serious intelligence failure... Mr Flood is a decent man but he is a stakeholder as a former head of one of the intelligence agencies. His terms of reference were much too narrow. The much more important thing to look at now is the government's relationship with the agencies."
As for the Butler and Hutton reports in the UK... what a load of rubbish!
9/11 Report fails to blame the "Axis of liars":
"Bush did not want to create the commission (why not?), but he caved in to the demands of the families. He did not want to fully fund the commission but he caved in to the demands of the families. He refused to allow Condoleezza Rice, his national security advisor, to testify, but he caved in when the families demanded it.
Bush refused for a time to hand over some relevant documents, and he refused to appear before the commission (President Clinton did, with no qualms). He agreed to only after four conditions were met:
? That his testimony would not be under oath
? That he would only appear if he could have Dick Cheney with him (I guess to answer the questions)
? That it would not be open to the public
? That there would be no recording of any of it.
And to top it all, Republicans put a 'fix' in the law that prevented the commission from apportioning blame for 9/11.
Did any of the ten commission members make an issue of this Nixon-style stonewalling by Bush? If they did, it was a whisper."
"Bush did not want to create the commission (why not?), but he caved in to the demands of the families. He did not want to fully fund the commission but he caved in to the demands of the families. He refused to allow Condoleezza Rice, his national security advisor, to testify, but he caved in when the families demanded it.
Bush refused for a time to hand over some relevant documents, and he refused to appear before the commission (President Clinton did, with no qualms). He agreed to only after four conditions were met:
? That his testimony would not be under oath
? That he would only appear if he could have Dick Cheney with him (I guess to answer the questions)
? That it would not be open to the public
? That there would be no recording of any of it.
And to top it all, Republicans put a 'fix' in the law that prevented the commission from apportioning blame for 9/11.
Did any of the ten commission members make an issue of this Nixon-style stonewalling by Bush? If they did, it was a whisper."
July 22, 2004
Have You Seen This Man?
Do you know who this guy is? Listen, I've been blogging against Bush for over a year and I just realised I don't even know what this guy looks like. How is that even possible? This man runs the USA. He is "Bush's Brain" - Karl Rove.
Rove first met Bush Jnr in 1973. In 1980, Rove was the first person Bush hired for his Presidential campaign. Bush calls him both "boy genius" and "turd blossom". When Bush moved into the White House, Rove took Hillary Clinton's old office. John DiIulio, a former presidential adviser, said after resigning in 2001:
Why isn't the media demanding lengthy and detailed interviews with this man? Why isn't Bush being pressured about Rove's role in determining policy?
Rove is a dirty campaigner. In the 2000 Republican primaries, he was widely believed to have been behind the smear campaign against John McCain. Way back in 1970, he handed out leaflets for free beer, food and girls with the date and venue of a Democratic opponent's rally. That's just the top of the bag of dirty tricks that has seen Rove rise to the peak of political power. For a closer look at Karl Rove, read this story in the Guardian, or this profile at Famous Texans.
Rove is a very dangerous man who embodies most of what is wrong with politics today.
Do you know who this guy is? Listen, I've been blogging against Bush for over a year and I just realised I don't even know what this guy looks like. How is that even possible? This man runs the USA. He is "Bush's Brain" - Karl Rove.
Rove first met Bush Jnr in 1973. In 1980, Rove was the first person Bush hired for his Presidential campaign. Bush calls him both "boy genius" and "turd blossom". When Bush moved into the White House, Rove took Hillary Clinton's old office. John DiIulio, a former presidential adviser, said after resigning in 2001:
"Karl is enormously powerful, maybe the single most powerful person in the modern, post-Hoover era ever to occupy a political adviser post near the Oval Office... Little happens on any issue without Karl's OK, and often he supplies such policy substance as the administration puts out."
Why isn't the media demanding lengthy and detailed interviews with this man? Why isn't Bush being pressured about Rove's role in determining policy?
Rove is a dirty campaigner. In the 2000 Republican primaries, he was widely believed to have been behind the smear campaign against John McCain. Way back in 1970, he handed out leaflets for free beer, food and girls with the date and venue of a Democratic opponent's rally. That's just the top of the bag of dirty tricks that has seen Rove rise to the peak of political power. For a closer look at Karl Rove, read this story in the Guardian, or this profile at Famous Texans.
Rove is a very dangerous man who embodies most of what is wrong with politics today.
New Book Exposes Halliburton, Cheney
The BBC has exerpts from a new book, the The Halliburton Agenda:
Oooh, this stuff is complex and twisty and greasy and disgusting! Especially because the Bush-Walker clan has direct and long-standing ties to KBR!
The BBC has exerpts from a new book, the The Halliburton Agenda:
"The Logcap contract pulled KBR out of its late 1980s doldrums and boosted the bottom line of Halliburton throughout the 1990s. It is, effectively, a blank cheque from the government. The contractor makes its money from a built-in profit percentage, anywhere from 1% to 9%, depending on various incentive clauses. When your profit is a percentage of the cost, the more you spend, the more you make.
... Before the ink was dry on the first Logcap contract, the US army was deployed to Somalia in December 1992 as part of Operation Restore Hope. KBR employees were there before the army even arrived, and they were the last to leave. The firm made $109.7m in Somalia. In August 1994, they earned $6.3m from Operation Support Hope in Rwanda. In September of that same year, Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti netted the company $150m. And in October 1994, Operation Vigilant Warrior made them another $5m...
The army's growing dependency on the company hit home when, in 1997, KBR lost the Logcap contract in a competitive rebid to rival Dyncorp. The army found it impossible to remove Brown & Root from their work in the Balkans - by far the most lucrative part of the contract - and so carved out the work in that theatre to keep it with KBR. In 2001, the company won the Logcap contract again, this time for twice the normal term length: 10 years. "
Oooh, this stuff is complex and twisty and greasy and disgusting! Especially because the Bush-Walker clan has direct and long-standing ties to KBR!
BBC NEWS: US admits 'bounty hunter' contact
"The US military has admitted it detained an Afghan man handed over by a US citizen accused of running a freelance counter-terrorism operation. A military spokesman said the prisoner was handed over by the American, Jonathan K Idema, in May. A BBC correspondent in Kabul says that the disclosure is embarrassing for the US, which said it had had no links with the alleged American mercenary. "
"The US military has admitted it detained an Afghan man handed over by a US citizen accused of running a freelance counter-terrorism operation. A military spokesman said the prisoner was handed over by the American, Jonathan K Idema, in May. A BBC correspondent in Kabul says that the disclosure is embarrassing for the US, which said it had had no links with the alleged American mercenary. "
OUTSOURCING WAR CRIMES
Ted Rall picks up on the Jack Idema story (below) with some personal experience, having met Idema in 2001:
More at Ted Rall.
Ted Rall picks up on the Jack Idema story (below) with some personal experience, having met Idema in 2001:
"You'd see them speeding around in SUVs with tinted windows and sipping tea with Afghan warlords and commanders, barrel-chested men in their thirties and forties with short-cropped hair and accents from the South and Midwest. Ask them who they were or what they were up to and you'd get a broad, insolent grin. 'Just visiting,' one such goon replied. 'Didn't you hear? Afghanistan's open for tourism!' He carried enough guns and ammo to take out a large Colorado high school. Who were these guys?"
More at Ted Rall.
Frightened Iraqis Flee Samarra
Up top 40 percent of Samarra's population has fled the city fearing a U.S. offensive like that launched on Falluja in April. Iraqi media have also reported the collapse of basic services.
'At the present time we're basically providing security on the perimeter,' said a US military official. 'The situation in the city itself is a bit tenuous, so we are maintaining security from the outside.'
Yeah, roger that... More from Reuters.
Up top 40 percent of Samarra's population has fled the city fearing a U.S. offensive like that launched on Falluja in April. Iraqi media have also reported the collapse of basic services.
'At the present time we're basically providing security on the perimeter,' said a US military official. 'The situation in the city itself is a bit tenuous, so we are maintaining security from the outside.'
Yeah, roger that... More from Reuters.
Philippine Pride
"WHAT do Australian Prime Minister John Howard and American President George W. Bush have in common? They have criticized the Philippines but their criticism is based on policies increasingly rejected by their own people... The Philippine pullout is not a betrayal of American policy. Rather, it is the bitter fruit of American policy...
In truth, the Philippine government has embraced its own people, something beyond the ken of leaders such as Howard and Bush, and even Blair, who are famously contemptuous of public opinion at home. Blair, Bush and Howard ... suffer from the myopia of dictators while still being subject to being turned out of office by their own people.
The Philippines can at least say that it was willing, as the Spaniards were willing, to pay the price of democracy. Which is: to listen to the people; to obey the injunction that public office requires listening to the public; and living up to the higher considerations that are supposed to motivate democracies.
A country that looks after its own, and which can turn its back on a policy proven to be based on the deception and fraud of allies, is a country much more qualified to engage in an honorable relationship with other nations. "
More here.
"WHAT do Australian Prime Minister John Howard and American President George W. Bush have in common? They have criticized the Philippines but their criticism is based on policies increasingly rejected by their own people... The Philippine pullout is not a betrayal of American policy. Rather, it is the bitter fruit of American policy...
In truth, the Philippine government has embraced its own people, something beyond the ken of leaders such as Howard and Bush, and even Blair, who are famously contemptuous of public opinion at home. Blair, Bush and Howard ... suffer from the myopia of dictators while still being subject to being turned out of office by their own people.
The Philippines can at least say that it was willing, as the Spaniards were willing, to pay the price of democracy. Which is: to listen to the people; to obey the injunction that public office requires listening to the public; and living up to the higher considerations that are supposed to motivate democracies.
A country that looks after its own, and which can turn its back on a policy proven to be based on the deception and fraud of allies, is a country much more qualified to engage in an honorable relationship with other nations. "
More here.
How To Invade Iran
Step One: Set up a puppet regime in Iraq and arm them
Bush approves arms sales to Iraq:
"'I hereby find that the furnishing of defence articles and services to Iraq will strengthen the security of the United States and promote world peace,' Mr Bush said in a memorandum for US Secretary of State Colin Powell. "
Step One: Set up a puppet regime in Iraq and arm them
Bush approves arms sales to Iraq:
"'I hereby find that the furnishing of defence articles and services to Iraq will strengthen the security of the United States and promote world peace,' Mr Bush said in a memorandum for US Secretary of State Colin Powell. "
Step Two: Puppet Regime Initiates Hostilities
Step Three: USA "Dragged Into" The Conflict
"Iraq threatened military retaliation against Iran yesterday, accusing its former foe of backing terrorists who have begun to focus their campaign of violence on the interim government itself."
Bush Gives Protesters The Finger
jiveturky: The single greatest event of my life.
This follow's yesterday's news than Bush's 22-year-old daughter Jenna poked her tongue out at reporters, and last week's news that Cheney told a Democrat senator to "F%$k himself". Must be a heck of a lot of fun on the Bush/Cheney bus!
"A few police cars, followed by a van or two, drove by. Then, a Bush/Cheney bus passed, followed by a second one going slower. At the front of this second bus was The W himself, waving cheerily at his supporters on the other side of the highway. Adam, Brendan, and I rose our banner (the More Trees, Less Bush one) and he turned to wave to our side of the road. His smile faded, and he raised his left arm in our direction. And then, George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States of America, extended his middle finger.
Read that last sentence again. I got flipped off by George W. Bush."
jiveturky: The single greatest event of my life.
This follow's yesterday's news than Bush's 22-year-old daughter Jenna poked her tongue out at reporters, and last week's news that Cheney told a Democrat senator to "F%$k himself". Must be a heck of a lot of fun on the Bush/Cheney bus!
This Could Be Big...
On the opening day of his trial in Kabul, Jonathan 'Jack' Idema, a retired Special Forces soldier, says his actions were condoned and co-ordinated with the Pentagon and Donald Rumsfeld:
Idema and two others were running a vigilante operation in Afghanistan. Police who arrested them found 8 Agfhani prisoners, some hanging by their feet. It is likely Idema and his colleagues were chasing the USA's $25 million bounty posted for Osama Bin Laden.
The UK Telegraph has the story.
On the opening day of his trial in Kabul, Jonathan 'Jack' Idema, a retired Special Forces soldier, says his actions were condoned and co-ordinated with the Pentagon and Donald Rumsfeld:
"The American authorities absolutely condoned what we did; they supported what we did. We have extensive evidence of that. We're prepared to show e-mails and correspondence and tape-recorded conversations... We were in contact directly with Donald Rumsfeld's office."
Idema and two others were running a vigilante operation in Afghanistan. Police who arrested them found 8 Agfhani prisoners, some hanging by their feet. It is likely Idema and his colleagues were chasing the USA's $25 million bounty posted for Osama Bin Laden.
The UK Telegraph has the story.
July 21, 2004
Unfair and Unbalanced
As Robert Greenwald's film "Outfoxed" generates controversy and acclaim, the Independent Media Institute and MoveOn.org have filed a legal challenge to the "Fair and Balanced" trademark held by Rupert Murdoch's partisan Fox News network.
Wes Boyd of MoveOn.org announced the move to a crwod of more than 30,000 people (plus Web watchers) at organized "house parties" across the USA:
As Robert Greenwald's film "Outfoxed" generates controversy and acclaim, the Independent Media Institute and MoveOn.org have filed a legal challenge to the "Fair and Balanced" trademark held by Rupert Murdoch's partisan Fox News network.
Wes Boyd of MoveOn.org announced the move to a crwod of more than 30,000 people (plus Web watchers) at organized "house parties" across the USA:
"Fox News... is Enemy #1 in the undermining of democracy - they're partisan, they're bullies, they lie, they'll do anything for a buck, they don't even know what journalism is, and then they claim to be 'Fair and Balanced.' So we're going after Fox. This is just the beginning of a campaign to rebrand Fox 'Unfair and Unbalanced,' so that people know what they're watching. This campaign is a warning to any other media outlets, if they're thinking that the Fox model is something to copy. It isn't. Try journalism instead. Try serving the public interest."
Bush's Legacy: 1,000 Dead US Soldiers
"I'm an editor at a group of private newspapers that serve the military community. We publish Army Times, Air Force Times, Marine Corps Times and Navy Times. We're the largest non-government source of news about the military for the military...
There are many in the military deeply unhappy with the way the war in Iraq is going... President Bush has promised to keep 138,000 American troops in Iraq for some unknown time. This is straining the American armed forces, some would say to the breaking point.
We are pulling troops out of Korea to send to Iraq. We've called back to active duty soldiers who'd thought they'd finished their service. We even shipped out soldiers from the ceremonial "Old Guard." These are soldiers whose last duty was guarding the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It would be like the British sending Beefeaters to Iraq...
This week we reached a grim milestone - the 1,000th American death supporting combat operations in the wake of 9/11.
The men and women who built this well-crafted war machine feel like the mechanic at the Maserati shop. He watches a rich owner drive his $250,000 high performance car flat out for months without changing the oil.
Driven that hard even a Maserati will break. "
Read the full story: The power of the armed forces.
"I'm an editor at a group of private newspapers that serve the military community. We publish Army Times, Air Force Times, Marine Corps Times and Navy Times. We're the largest non-government source of news about the military for the military...
There are many in the military deeply unhappy with the way the war in Iraq is going... President Bush has promised to keep 138,000 American troops in Iraq for some unknown time. This is straining the American armed forces, some would say to the breaking point.
We are pulling troops out of Korea to send to Iraq. We've called back to active duty soldiers who'd thought they'd finished their service. We even shipped out soldiers from the ceremonial "Old Guard." These are soldiers whose last duty was guarding the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It would be like the British sending Beefeaters to Iraq...
This week we reached a grim milestone - the 1,000th American death supporting combat operations in the wake of 9/11.
The men and women who built this well-crafted war machine feel like the mechanic at the Maserati shop. He watches a rich owner drive his $250,000 high performance car flat out for months without changing the oil.
Driven that hard even a Maserati will break. "
Read the full story: The power of the armed forces.
Australians, Hang Your Heads In Shame
Who is now running Australia? The USA or Israel? Either way, our Government under John Howard has become a defacto puppet regime.
The United Nations today declared that Israel must demolish any sections of it's 370-mile long "security perimeter" wall that are built on Palestinian land. The vote reinforces a recent World Court ruling. Only six nations voted against the reolution, with one hundred and fifty in favour. The six nations voting against were Israel and the United States (predictably), the US-dependent islands of Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands... and Australia.
The US Ambassador said the resolution was "unbalanced" and threatened Middle East peace. What world are these people living in? Why does the USA support Israeli Zionist expansionism? And, more perplexingly, why on earth does Australia support it?
Another concern with this UN vote is the way it is being reported in over-simplified terms, with even reputable agencies like UPI and Reuters saying that the vote calls for Israel to "tear down the wall". In fact, it only calls for Israel to dismantle the sections that have been built on land that is on the Palestinian side of the "red line", a delineation that was agreed by all parties including the US and Israel.
The resolution also called on Switzerland to "consider" convening an international review of the Fourth Geneva convention, which prohibits building on occupied land.
Who is now running Australia? The USA or Israel? Either way, our Government under John Howard has become a defacto puppet regime.
The United Nations today declared that Israel must demolish any sections of it's 370-mile long "security perimeter" wall that are built on Palestinian land. The vote reinforces a recent World Court ruling. Only six nations voted against the reolution, with one hundred and fifty in favour. The six nations voting against were Israel and the United States (predictably), the US-dependent islands of Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands... and Australia.
The US Ambassador said the resolution was "unbalanced" and threatened Middle East peace. What world are these people living in? Why does the USA support Israeli Zionist expansionism? And, more perplexingly, why on earth does Australia support it?
Another concern with this UN vote is the way it is being reported in over-simplified terms, with even reputable agencies like UPI and Reuters saying that the vote calls for Israel to "tear down the wall". In fact, it only calls for Israel to dismantle the sections that have been built on land that is on the Palestinian side of the "red line", a delineation that was agreed by all parties including the US and Israel.
The resolution also called on Switzerland to "consider" convening an international review of the Fourth Geneva convention, which prohibits building on occupied land.
Meanwhile, Back In Haiti...
Remember that US-sponsored coup that removed the democratically elected President Aristide from power in the Western hemisphere's poorest nation?
Story here: World Bank, IMF and US leave Haiti in Limbo.
Remember that US-sponsored coup that removed the democratically elected President Aristide from power in the Western hemisphere's poorest nation?
"Today international donors meeting in Washington DC met their commitment to Haiti on paper but not in practice, said international agency Oxfam. A significant portion of the pledges made today were for loans not grants, which will do nothing to ensure faster, deeper debt relief for Haiti; but in fact push it into further, unsustainable debt. Currently, the Haitian external debt totals over $1.2 billion; however in 2002 Haiti's exports only totaled $248 million. This is an unsustainable situation..."
Story here: World Bank, IMF and US leave Haiti in Limbo.
It's enough to make you choke on a pretzel!
Mister "I'm a War President!" now says he wants to be a "Peace President":
'The enemy declared war on us,' Bush told a re-election rally. 'Nobody wants to be the war president. I want to be the peace president.'
'For a while we were marching to war. Now we're marching to peace. ... America is a safer place. Four more years and America will be safe and the world will be more peaceful,' Bush said.
Full story at Reuters.
Mister "I'm a War President!" now says he wants to be a "Peace President":
'The enemy declared war on us,' Bush told a re-election rally. 'Nobody wants to be the war president. I want to be the peace president.'
'For a while we were marching to war. Now we're marching to peace. ... America is a safer place. Four more years and America will be safe and the world will be more peaceful,' Bush said.
Full story at Reuters.
Forgotten Iraq Descends Into Chaos
Oliver Miles , a former ambassador to Libya, says that "the impression that the situation in Iraq itself is much improved is down to Iraq fatigue in the media."
Oliver Miles , a former ambassador to Libya, says that "the impression that the situation in Iraq itself is much improved is down to Iraq fatigue in the media."
"The security situation is calamitous... Attacks on US troops are running at dozens a day, frequently accompanied by looting, burning and stoning. It is generally believed in Baghdad that around 1,000 Iraqis leave the country every day for Jordan and Syria because the security situation is intolerable. According to the Iraqi media, gunmen have killed six Baghdad local councillors in the last two weeks and roughly 750 in the last year."
Robert Fisk Boldly Goes Where Others Dare Not Venture...
"For mile after mile south of Baghdad yesterday, the story was the same: empty police posts, abandoned Iraqi army and police checkpoints and a litter of burnt-out American fuel tankers and rocket-smashed police vehicles down the main highway to Hillah and Najaf. It was Afghanistan Mk2.Iraqi government officials and Western diplomats tell journalists to avoid driving out of Baghdad; now I understand why. It is dangerous. But my own fearful journey far down Highway 8 - scene of the murder of at least 15 Westerners - proved that the US-appointed Iraqi government controls little of the land south of the capital...
Yes, it is a shameful reflection on our invasion of Iraq - let us solemnly remember "weapons of mass destruction" - but it is, above all, a tragedy for the Iraqis. They endured the repulsive Saddam. They endured our shameful UN sanctions. They endured our invasion. And now they must endure the anarchy we call freedom...
Sadr's militia - which the US army promised to "destroy" last April - guards the old city, the main roads to the mosque and the entrance to the great Shrine of the Imam Ali...
US forces are under so many daily guerrilla attacks that they cannot move by daylight along Highway 8 or, indeed, west of Baghdad through Falujah or Ramadi. Across Iraq, their helicopters can fly no higher than 100 metres for fear of rocket attack...
That the "muqawama" - the resistance - controls so many hundreds of square miles around Baghdad should be no great surprise. The new US-appointed government has neither the police nor the soldiers to retake the land. They announce martial laws and telephone tapping and bans on demonstrations and a new intelligence service -- but have neither the manpower nor the ability to turn these institutions into anything more than propaganda dreams for foreign journalists and a population that desperately craves security."
More here.
"For mile after mile south of Baghdad yesterday, the story was the same: empty police posts, abandoned Iraqi army and police checkpoints and a litter of burnt-out American fuel tankers and rocket-smashed police vehicles down the main highway to Hillah and Najaf. It was Afghanistan Mk2.Iraqi government officials and Western diplomats tell journalists to avoid driving out of Baghdad; now I understand why. It is dangerous. But my own fearful journey far down Highway 8 - scene of the murder of at least 15 Westerners - proved that the US-appointed Iraqi government controls little of the land south of the capital...
Yes, it is a shameful reflection on our invasion of Iraq - let us solemnly remember "weapons of mass destruction" - but it is, above all, a tragedy for the Iraqis. They endured the repulsive Saddam. They endured our shameful UN sanctions. They endured our invasion. And now they must endure the anarchy we call freedom...
Sadr's militia - which the US army promised to "destroy" last April - guards the old city, the main roads to the mosque and the entrance to the great Shrine of the Imam Ali...
US forces are under so many daily guerrilla attacks that they cannot move by daylight along Highway 8 or, indeed, west of Baghdad through Falujah or Ramadi. Across Iraq, their helicopters can fly no higher than 100 metres for fear of rocket attack...
That the "muqawama" - the resistance - controls so many hundreds of square miles around Baghdad should be no great surprise. The new US-appointed government has neither the police nor the soldiers to retake the land. They announce martial laws and telephone tapping and bans on demonstrations and a new intelligence service -- but have neither the manpower nor the ability to turn these institutions into anything more than propaganda dreams for foreign journalists and a population that desperately craves security."
More here.
US Military's New, More Aggressive Neocon Stance
The Reverend Moon's totally unreliable Washington Times has an over-excited report on the neo-con's successful efforts to make the US military more aggressive and less defensive. It quotes Rear Adm. James Kelly:
Lt. Gen. Thomas Waskow, commander of U.S. forces in Japan, says the USA needs "a leaner, more agile force capable of anticipating and responding to rogue threats."
Can you imagine if China or Russia took the same attitude? The way the USA is going, they are going to find a lot more people ready to fight against them.
"In the coming weeks, the USS Kitty Hawk and six other Navy aircraft carriers will be deployed around the globe to demonstrate America's ability to deal with a decidedly post-September 11 scenario: the outbreak of violence just about everywhere at once. "
The Reverend Moon's totally unreliable Washington Times has an over-excited report on the neo-con's successful efforts to make the US military more aggressive and less defensive. It quotes Rear Adm. James Kelly:
"We need to deploy, we need to live overseas, we need to be engaged. We can't just stay at home and tuck our tails in and hide."
Lt. Gen. Thomas Waskow, commander of U.S. forces in Japan, says the USA needs "a leaner, more agile force capable of anticipating and responding to rogue threats."
Can you imagine if China or Russia took the same attitude? The way the USA is going, they are going to find a lot more people ready to fight against them.
Republicans Deride and Undermine ICC
The International Criminal Court, which Bill Clinton signed up to (and Bush renounced in May 2002), was always going to be the best way to deal with Saddam Hussein and his ilk.
The Republican leadership of the House of Representatives has approved a measure that would ban certain kinds of economic aid to U.S. allies if they fail to sign a bilateral accord forbidding them from transferring U.S. citizens or foreign nationals working for the United States to the jurisdiction of the one-year-old International Criminal Court (ICC).
House Majority Leader, Tom DeLay, describing the ICC, which is backed by nearly 100 countries, including Canada, and all of Washington's traditional European allies except Turkey, as UN Secretary General "Kofi Annan's Kangaroo Court" whose legitimacy was "laughable."
Jim Lobe has more.
The International Criminal Court, which Bill Clinton signed up to (and Bush renounced in May 2002), was always going to be the best way to deal with Saddam Hussein and his ilk.
The Republican leadership of the House of Representatives has approved a measure that would ban certain kinds of economic aid to U.S. allies if they fail to sign a bilateral accord forbidding them from transferring U.S. citizens or foreign nationals working for the United States to the jurisdiction of the one-year-old International Criminal Court (ICC).
House Majority Leader, Tom DeLay, describing the ICC, which is backed by nearly 100 countries, including Canada, and all of Washington's traditional European allies except Turkey, as UN Secretary General "Kofi Annan's Kangaroo Court" whose legitimacy was "laughable."
"The ICC presents a clear and present danger to the war on terror and to Americans that are fighting it all over the world," said DeLay...This follows the administration's decision two months ago to cut off military aid to about three dozen countries that have ratified the Rome Statute and refused to sign a bilateral immunity agreement (BIT) with the U.S. that would guarantee that they would not turn over to the ICC U.S. citizens or foreign nationals working for the U.S. to the ICC.
Jim Lobe has more.
Iran Next? Are You Kidding?
Paul Craig Roberts wonders if the neo-cons will be able to persuade Americans to invade Iran:
"Only eight of the hijackers got through Iran, but all 22 and a number of others passed through the U.S. Moreover, six months after the World Trade Towers were toppled, the U.S. Dept. of State issued U.S. visas to the dead terrorists!
If the U.S. government is not competent to prevent the hijackers from passing through the U.S. - even after the event - why is the allegation that eight hijackers passed through Iran six months to a year prior to Sept. 11 a justification for war with Iran?
... The United States government cannot control its own borders. A million or more illegal aliens sneak into the U.S. every year. The U.S. government has no idea whatsoever who or where the illegal aliens are...
Are Americans stupid enough to fall for this very thin rationale for war with Iran?"
Paul Craig Roberts wonders if the neo-cons will be able to persuade Americans to invade Iran:
"Only eight of the hijackers got through Iran, but all 22 and a number of others passed through the U.S. Moreover, six months after the World Trade Towers were toppled, the U.S. Dept. of State issued U.S. visas to the dead terrorists!
If the U.S. government is not competent to prevent the hijackers from passing through the U.S. - even after the event - why is the allegation that eight hijackers passed through Iran six months to a year prior to Sept. 11 a justification for war with Iran?
... The United States government cannot control its own borders. A million or more illegal aliens sneak into the U.S. every year. The U.S. government has no idea whatsoever who or where the illegal aliens are...
Are Americans stupid enough to fall for this very thin rationale for war with Iran?"
July 20, 2004
More Good News From Iraq
Filipino hostage Angelo de la Cruz has been released. Interestingly, the first reports came from Dubai-based Al-Arabiya television, citing sources in the Iraqi National Congress, a political party headed by guess who...?
Ahmed Chalabi. Now, I wonder if Chalibi is dealing with the Iraqi resistance? That would pit the Bush White House's former #1 Iraqi informer against their new #1 Iraqi PM.
Filipino hostage Angelo de la Cruz has been released. Interestingly, the first reports came from Dubai-based Al-Arabiya television, citing sources in the Iraqi National Congress, a political party headed by guess who...?
Ahmed Chalabi. Now, I wonder if Chalibi is dealing with the Iraqi resistance? That would pit the Bush White House's former #1 Iraqi informer against their new #1 Iraqi PM.
Halliburton Gets A Grand Jury Subpoena
Dick Cheney's old company, which declared 2003 revenues of $16.3 billion, has been subpoenaed by a grand jury for trading with Iran in violation of US laws. Halliburton argues that it did not trade with Iran - its Cayman Islands subsidiary did! MSN reports:
"A grand jury issued a subpoena to oil field services company Halliburton Co. seeking information about its Cayman Islands unit's work in Iran, where it is illegal for U.S. companies to operate... The company, formerly headed by Vice President Dick Cheney, said it understood the investigation of its subsidiary's work in Iran had been transferred to the U.S. Department of Justice from the Treasury Department, which first initiated an inquiry in 2001.
Halliburton's engineering and construction unit KBR, formerly called Kellogg Brown & Root, is also the subject of U.S. Justice Department and SEC investigations for possible overcharges for fuel and food service contracts in Iraq, where it is the largest contractor."
Halliburton and KBR have long-established ties with the Bush Walker clan.
Dick Cheney's old company, which declared 2003 revenues of $16.3 billion, has been subpoenaed by a grand jury for trading with Iran in violation of US laws. Halliburton argues that it did not trade with Iran - its Cayman Islands subsidiary did! MSN reports:
"A grand jury issued a subpoena to oil field services company Halliburton Co. seeking information about its Cayman Islands unit's work in Iran, where it is illegal for U.S. companies to operate... The company, formerly headed by Vice President Dick Cheney, said it understood the investigation of its subsidiary's work in Iran had been transferred to the U.S. Department of Justice from the Treasury Department, which first initiated an inquiry in 2001.
Halliburton's engineering and construction unit KBR, formerly called Kellogg Brown & Root, is also the subject of U.S. Justice Department and SEC investigations for possible overcharges for fuel and food service contracts in Iraq, where it is the largest contractor."
Halliburton and KBR have long-established ties with the Bush Walker clan.
Keystone Cops Versus The Evil Terrrrrrrrsts
UK anti-terror plans found on road:
"A secret dossier containing counter-terror plans for Heathrow Airport was found lying abandoned on a road. Home Secretary David Blunkett described the disappearance of the papers, which were found near a petrol station close to the airport's perimeter fence, as 'very bad'...
Mr Blunkett told the BBC Radio 4 Today program: "The plans were obviously very good. Somebody disposing of them in a way that allowed that to happen is very bad.""
UK anti-terror plans found on road:
"A secret dossier containing counter-terror plans for Heathrow Airport was found lying abandoned on a road. Home Secretary David Blunkett described the disappearance of the papers, which were found near a petrol station close to the airport's perimeter fence, as 'very bad'...
Mr Blunkett told the BBC Radio 4 Today program: "The plans were obviously very good. Somebody disposing of them in a way that allowed that to happen is very bad.""
"This is how they like it..."
Robert Fisk reports on the crisis of information in Baghdad:
"As in Afghanistan, so in Iraq. US air strikes are becoming 'uncoverable', as the growing insurgencies across the two countries make more and more highways too dangerous for foreign correspondents. Senior US journalists claim that Washington is happy with this situation; bombing wedding parties and claiming the victims were terrorists--as has happened three times in a year--doesn't make good headlines. Reporters can't be blamed for not travelling--but they ought to make it clear that a Baghdad dateline gives no authenticity to their work. Fallujah is only 25 miles from Baghdad but it might as well be 2,500 miles away. Reports of its suffering could be written in Hull for all the reliability they convey.
Here, then, is the central crisis of information in Iraq just now. With journalists confined to Baghdad--several have not left their hotels for more than two weeks--a bomb-free day in the capital becomes a bomb-free day in Iraq..."
Robert Fisk reports on the crisis of information in Baghdad:
"As in Afghanistan, so in Iraq. US air strikes are becoming 'uncoverable', as the growing insurgencies across the two countries make more and more highways too dangerous for foreign correspondents. Senior US journalists claim that Washington is happy with this situation; bombing wedding parties and claiming the victims were terrorists--as has happened three times in a year--doesn't make good headlines. Reporters can't be blamed for not travelling--but they ought to make it clear that a Baghdad dateline gives no authenticity to their work. Fallujah is only 25 miles from Baghdad but it might as well be 2,500 miles away. Reports of its suffering could be written in Hull for all the reliability they convey.
Here, then, is the central crisis of information in Iraq just now. With journalists confined to Baghdad--several have not left their hotels for more than two weeks--a bomb-free day in the capital becomes a bomb-free day in Iraq..."
How About Some Good News?
Who says this blog is all doom and gloom, eh? Philippine troops completed their pull-out from Iraq yesterday, which can't be a bad thing. President Arroyo won an election last month and was no doubt glad for an excuse to get out of Iraq, whatever half-hearted criticism from Bush's dying regime she may have to cop.
Hopefully it will soon be a happy home-coming for the kidnapped Filippino hostage, Angelo de la Cruz, who comes from an impoverished family. Locals are tying yellow ribbons around his village and a local construction firm is building his long-suffering family a new house.
Meanwhile, it seems the CIA may not want to play war games with the neo-cons any more. John McLaughlin, the acting director of the CIA, says the CIA can't prove an Iran-Sept 11 link:
Of course, that doesn't stop Bush talking up the connection! Consider this: a terrorist hit on US soil in the lead-up to the Nov 2 election, the White House immediately blames Iran, 150,000 US soldiers in neighbouring Iraq...
But for the time being, McLaughlin is no doubt more concerned with an aggressive lobbying campaign by September 11 commissioners, who want the White House and Congress to overhaul US intelligence agencies. The danger here is that we still haven't heard the truth about the Bush/neo-con distortions of intelligence. Any reform now could well play into their hands and give their cabal even more power.
Let's take out the poison before we stitch up the wound.
Who says this blog is all doom and gloom, eh? Philippine troops completed their pull-out from Iraq yesterday, which can't be a bad thing. President Arroyo won an election last month and was no doubt glad for an excuse to get out of Iraq, whatever half-hearted criticism from Bush's dying regime she may have to cop.
Hopefully it will soon be a happy home-coming for the kidnapped Filippino hostage, Angelo de la Cruz, who comes from an impoverished family. Locals are tying yellow ribbons around his village and a local construction firm is building his long-suffering family a new house.
Meanwhile, it seems the CIA may not want to play war games with the neo-cons any more. John McLaughlin, the acting director of the CIA, says the CIA can't prove an Iran-Sept 11 link:
"We have no evidence that there is some sort of official sanction by the government of Iran for this activity. We have no evidence that there is some sort of official connection between Iran and 9/11."
Of course, that doesn't stop Bush talking up the connection! Consider this: a terrorist hit on US soil in the lead-up to the Nov 2 election, the White House immediately blames Iran, 150,000 US soldiers in neighbouring Iraq...
But for the time being, McLaughlin is no doubt more concerned with an aggressive lobbying campaign by September 11 commissioners, who want the White House and Congress to overhaul US intelligence agencies. The danger here is that we still haven't heard the truth about the Bush/neo-con distortions of intelligence. Any reform now could well play into their hands and give their cabal even more power.
Let's take out the poison before we stitch up the wound.
July 19, 2004
Go Doonesbury!
After posting a $10,000 reward for anyone who can prove Bush served his time in the National Guard, legendary cartoonist Mike Doonesbury is now taking on Rupert Murdoch.
After posting a $10,000 reward for anyone who can prove Bush served his time in the National Guard, legendary cartoonist Mike Doonesbury is now taking on Rupert Murdoch.
Lower profile for elusive Rumsfeld:
No, Rumsfeld hasn't been sacked or resigned. But yuo might think so, given that he "has given only two Pentagon briefings since the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal erupted in April."
No, Rumsfeld hasn't been sacked or resigned. But yuo might think so, given that he "has given only two Pentagon briefings since the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal erupted in April."
John Kerry On The Larry King Show:
"LARRY KING: Have you seen 'Fahrenheit 9/11'?
JOHN KERRY: No, I haven't. I haven't.
KING: Do you plan to?
KERRY: I don't plan to, right now.
KING: Don't plan to?
KERRY: No, I don't plan to.
KING: Wouldn't you be curious to want to see it?
KERRY: I've seen it. I've watched it for the last four years."
Thanks to Interesting Times.
"LARRY KING: Have you seen 'Fahrenheit 9/11'?
JOHN KERRY: No, I haven't. I haven't.
KING: Do you plan to?
KERRY: I don't plan to, right now.
KING: Don't plan to?
KERRY: No, I don't plan to.
KING: Wouldn't you be curious to want to see it?
KERRY: I've seen it. I've watched it for the last four years."
Thanks to Interesting Times.
Who's Paying For This Madness?
The Price of Imperial Folly:
"In sheer dollar amounts, the costs of this precipitate war are already far higher than any number put forward by Bush officials at the outset of the war. The price tag so far is $151 billion and climbing... $151 billion could feed half the hungry people in the world for two years and provide clean water and sanitation for the entire developing world and fund a comprehensive global AIDS program and pay for childhood immunizations for every child in poor countries that constitute the global South...
The Iraq war's long-term impact on the rule of international law – already made evident by the torture chambers of Abu Ghraib – is likely to be just as destructive. The U.S. decision to go to war without UN approval and in violation of the UN Charter, its assertion of the legitimacy of preventive war (especially one based on false claims), and its law-of-empire style rejection of its obligations under the Geneva Conventions and the Convention Against Torture, all set the stage for international lawlessness and escalating conflict. Be it an Indian attack on Pakistan, a war between Peru and Colombia, or a new Israeli invasion of Lebanon and Syria - in each of these scenarios, the offending nation could argue that their actions have been "legalized" by the precedent set by the Bush administration...
That the Iraq war has failed to accomplish its stated purposes is undeniable: Iraq is neither sovereign nor free; The Middle East is no more democratic; Americans are not safer, nor is the world."
The Price of Imperial Folly:
"In sheer dollar amounts, the costs of this precipitate war are already far higher than any number put forward by Bush officials at the outset of the war. The price tag so far is $151 billion and climbing... $151 billion could feed half the hungry people in the world for two years and provide clean water and sanitation for the entire developing world and fund a comprehensive global AIDS program and pay for childhood immunizations for every child in poor countries that constitute the global South...
The Iraq war's long-term impact on the rule of international law – already made evident by the torture chambers of Abu Ghraib – is likely to be just as destructive. The U.S. decision to go to war without UN approval and in violation of the UN Charter, its assertion of the legitimacy of preventive war (especially one based on false claims), and its law-of-empire style rejection of its obligations under the Geneva Conventions and the Convention Against Torture, all set the stage for international lawlessness and escalating conflict. Be it an Indian attack on Pakistan, a war between Peru and Colombia, or a new Israeli invasion of Lebanon and Syria - in each of these scenarios, the offending nation could argue that their actions have been "legalized" by the precedent set by the Bush administration...
That the Iraq war has failed to accomplish its stated purposes is undeniable: Iraq is neither sovereign nor free; The Middle East is no more democratic; Americans are not safer, nor is the world."
Neo-cons Plead For Four More Years... or More
I wonder how many people reading Stephen Morris' "Clinton's calamities" article in today's Murdoch-owned "The Australian" newspaper realised that the author is in fact a member of the neo-conservative movement that planned, promoted and prosecuted the disastrous invasion of Iraq?
Morris says Clinton "had little conception of foreign policy" and "placed excessive faith in international institutions to resolve conflicts."
Well, abandoning the UN, the International Criminal Court and other noble international institutions has not done anybody much good at all, has it? Consider the outcome if Bush had backed the UN Weapons Inspectors and pressed for Saddam to be brought before an international court - it certainly couldn't be worse than what we see today.
Morris also derides Clinton because "his precondition for any military action was minimal American casualties."
Like Bush, Blair and Howard, the neo-conservatives are blithely indifferent to the mounting casualties in Iraq, whether they be US, Iraq or any other nationality. They continue to advocate US global empire and further pre-emptive invasions for strategic purposes. We cannot allow these people to maintain an influence on those in power. Media outlets like the Australian, who were duped into supporting the illegal invasion of Iraq, should not allow these fools any further opportunites for propaganda.
I wonder how many people reading Stephen Morris' "Clinton's calamities" article in today's Murdoch-owned "The Australian" newspaper realised that the author is in fact a member of the neo-conservative movement that planned, promoted and prosecuted the disastrous invasion of Iraq?
Morris says Clinton "had little conception of foreign policy" and "placed excessive faith in international institutions to resolve conflicts."
Well, abandoning the UN, the International Criminal Court and other noble international institutions has not done anybody much good at all, has it? Consider the outcome if Bush had backed the UN Weapons Inspectors and pressed for Saddam to be brought before an international court - it certainly couldn't be worse than what we see today.
Morris also derides Clinton because "his precondition for any military action was minimal American casualties."
Like Bush, Blair and Howard, the neo-conservatives are blithely indifferent to the mounting casualties in Iraq, whether they be US, Iraq or any other nationality. They continue to advocate US global empire and further pre-emptive invasions for strategic purposes. We cannot allow these people to maintain an influence on those in power. Media outlets like the Australian, who were duped into supporting the illegal invasion of Iraq, should not allow these fools any further opportunites for propaganda.
Bush asks Amish to vote for him: "I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn't do my job."
Blood Money
"Coalition forces regret the loss of your brother. We understand it is a great loss to your family. We wish to offer something to you by way of sympathy and sorrow to help your family to rebuild after the loss of your brother. My commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Buhel, has authorised me to pay you $500 as sympathy for your loss. We understand that it is not enough money and nothing can replace the loss to your family. We wish that this small gift will help in some way. Much of the money that we had previously, the coalition forces have transferred to your government to help rebuild. We wish the best for you and your family and your country as you do rebuild. Thank you very much."
The rebels attack because the marines are there. The marines are there because the rebels attack. In an extraordinary dispatch, foreign correspondent of the year James Meek describes life in a Catch-22 world where a human life is valued at $500, the mercury rarely falls below 40 and the daily carnage goes largely unreported... Five days in the life of an invisible war.
"Coalition forces regret the loss of your brother. We understand it is a great loss to your family. We wish to offer something to you by way of sympathy and sorrow to help your family to rebuild after the loss of your brother. My commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Buhel, has authorised me to pay you $500 as sympathy for your loss. We understand that it is not enough money and nothing can replace the loss to your family. We wish that this small gift will help in some way. Much of the money that we had previously, the coalition forces have transferred to your government to help rebuild. We wish the best for you and your family and your country as you do rebuild. Thank you very much."
The rebels attack because the marines are there. The marines are there because the rebels attack. In an extraordinary dispatch, foreign correspondent of the year James Meek describes life in a Catch-22 world where a human life is valued at $500, the mercury rarely falls below 40 and the daily carnage goes largely unreported... Five days in the life of an invisible war.
Iraq Goes To the Dogs
The mainstream media seems to be losing it's taste for blood in Iraq. Now that Iraq is (ahem!) "truly soveriegn" many people would like to assume, as the Bush cartel hoped they would assume, that all problems in Iraq are no longer our problems or our responsibility. This is the same kind of willful ignorance that allowed Bush & Co to launch their war in the first place. See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
Iraq is rapidly going to the dogs and the top dog today - aside from the extremely quiet John Negroponte, of course - is Iraqi PM Iyad Allawi. The Australian Foreign Minister's response to SMH allegations that Allawi murdered suspects in cold blood typifies Bush & Co's shameful new Pontius Pilate attitude. Alexander Downer says the reporter who uncovered the story should "take it to the Iraqi police" - even though the incident took place in a police station!
Iraq's descent into anarchy and looming civil war removes Bush's final argument for going to war. It wasn't about WMDs and it wasn't about terrorists, we are told, it was about saving the Iraqi people from a brutal tyrant. As one reader asks in the SMH letters column today, "Do we now have to go to war again to rid Iraq of Iyad Allawi?"
Meanwhile, Allawi says he OK'd yet another deadly US airstrikes on civilian targets in Falluja yesterday. As the US forces are too scared to enter Falluja on foot, we can assume that clever Iraqi "intelligence sources" (of the same type that disclosed information on Saddam's WMDs, ties to al-Quaeda etc) are now phoning in the co-ordinates for the USA's aerial bombing campaign, a tactic which even Israeli pilots refuse to endorse.
How many innocent people in Falluja will have to die for Bush's re-election campaign? Echoing many opinions, Jordan's King Abdullah II says their target, al-Zarqawi, who served time in Jordanian prisons as a youth, is little more than a 'street thug' and 'the press made him much more capable, much smarter and much more of a threat than actually he really is'. But George needs heads on sticks that he can hang outside the White House window in the run-up to November.
Meanwhile, the neo-cons are trying to shift the public's attention to a new enemy and a new danger: Iran. There are a lot of Iran-linked stories coming out simultaneously at the moment - join the dots and you see a deliberate pattern emerging:
- USA now blames Iran for 9/11
- Bush Aide promises regime change in Iran
- Iran trial debacle angers Canada
- Iran claims Al-Quaeda has been "dismantled" in Iran
The mainstream media seems to be losing it's taste for blood in Iraq. Now that Iraq is (ahem!) "truly soveriegn" many people would like to assume, as the Bush cartel hoped they would assume, that all problems in Iraq are no longer our problems or our responsibility. This is the same kind of willful ignorance that allowed Bush & Co to launch their war in the first place. See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
Iraq is rapidly going to the dogs and the top dog today - aside from the extremely quiet John Negroponte, of course - is Iraqi PM Iyad Allawi. The Australian Foreign Minister's response to SMH allegations that Allawi murdered suspects in cold blood typifies Bush & Co's shameful new Pontius Pilate attitude. Alexander Downer says the reporter who uncovered the story should "take it to the Iraqi police" - even though the incident took place in a police station!
Iraq's descent into anarchy and looming civil war removes Bush's final argument for going to war. It wasn't about WMDs and it wasn't about terrorists, we are told, it was about saving the Iraqi people from a brutal tyrant. As one reader asks in the SMH letters column today, "Do we now have to go to war again to rid Iraq of Iyad Allawi?"
Meanwhile, Allawi says he OK'd yet another deadly US airstrikes on civilian targets in Falluja yesterday. As the US forces are too scared to enter Falluja on foot, we can assume that clever Iraqi "intelligence sources" (of the same type that disclosed information on Saddam's WMDs, ties to al-Quaeda etc) are now phoning in the co-ordinates for the USA's aerial bombing campaign, a tactic which even Israeli pilots refuse to endorse.
How many innocent people in Falluja will have to die for Bush's re-election campaign? Echoing many opinions, Jordan's King Abdullah II says their target, al-Zarqawi, who served time in Jordanian prisons as a youth, is little more than a 'street thug' and 'the press made him much more capable, much smarter and much more of a threat than actually he really is'. But George needs heads on sticks that he can hang outside the White House window in the run-up to November.
Meanwhile, the neo-cons are trying to shift the public's attention to a new enemy and a new danger: Iran. There are a lot of Iran-linked stories coming out simultaneously at the moment - join the dots and you see a deliberate pattern emerging:
- USA now blames Iran for 9/11
- Bush Aide promises regime change in Iran
- Iran trial debacle angers Canada
- Iran claims Al-Quaeda has been "dismantled" in Iran
How The USA Manipulates the UN
"The Bush Administration is to withhold $US34 million ($46 million) in dues from the United Nations Population Fund for the third consecutive year because the Administration believes it indirectly supports Chinese Government programs that force abortions. "
Bush's idea seems to be that the 1.5 billion people in China should all covert to Christianity and practice abstinence till their Church weddings.
As the SMH reports:
"Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, executive director of the UN fund, said the US contribution "could have saved thousands of lives" in nearly 140 countries where the fund works to prevent an estimated 600,000 deaths that occur during pregnancy, delivery and in botched abortions. The fund "has not, does not and will not ever condone or support coercive activities of any kind, anywhere", she said."
Is this a pre-emptive stike on UN funding, just in case it MIGHT be used the wrong way? The USA always manipulates the UN then blames it when things go wrong. It's time for some constructive engagement.
"The Bush Administration is to withhold $US34 million ($46 million) in dues from the United Nations Population Fund for the third consecutive year because the Administration believes it indirectly supports Chinese Government programs that force abortions. "
Bush's idea seems to be that the 1.5 billion people in China should all covert to Christianity and practice abstinence till their Church weddings.
As the SMH reports:
"Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, executive director of the UN fund, said the US contribution "could have saved thousands of lives" in nearly 140 countries where the fund works to prevent an estimated 600,000 deaths that occur during pregnancy, delivery and in botched abortions. The fund "has not, does not and will not ever condone or support coercive activities of any kind, anywhere", she said."
Is this a pre-emptive stike on UN funding, just in case it MIGHT be used the wrong way? The USA always manipulates the UN then blames it when things go wrong. It's time for some constructive engagement.
Is Blair Trying To Come Clean?
Blair admits graves claim 'untrue':
Tony Blair, 20 November, 2003: 'We've already discovered, just so far, the remains of 400,000 people in mass graves.'
Tony Blair, 14 December, 2003: 'The remains of 400,000 human beings [have] already [been] found in mass graves.'
Blair's office now admits that only 5,000 bodies have so far been discovered. So where and hwo did he get the 400,000 figure?
Maybe blair thinks that by admitting the intelligence failures he can put Iraq behind him and "move on" before the next election? But these atrocious lies are grounds for criminal indictment! Resignation should be only the first step.
Blair admits graves claim 'untrue':
Tony Blair, 20 November, 2003: 'We've already discovered, just so far, the remains of 400,000 people in mass graves.'
Tony Blair, 14 December, 2003: 'The remains of 400,000 human beings [have] already [been] found in mass graves.'
Blair's office now admits that only 5,000 bodies have so far been discovered. So where and hwo did he get the 400,000 figure?
Maybe blair thinks that by admitting the intelligence failures he can put Iraq behind him and "move on" before the next election? But these atrocious lies are grounds for criminal indictment! Resignation should be only the first step.
Former Colleague Says Howard 'should be tried for war crimes'
"Former Liberal Party federal president John Valder says Prime Minister John Howard should be tried and punished for war crimes over Australia's involvement in the Iraq conflict.
'By any standard that is a massive crime and the people who perpetrated it - being President Bush, Tony Blair and John Howard - as such are guilty of extreme crime and they should be dealt with,' he said. "
"Former Liberal Party federal president John Valder says Prime Minister John Howard should be tried and punished for war crimes over Australia's involvement in the Iraq conflict.
'By any standard that is a massive crime and the people who perpetrated it - being President Bush, Tony Blair and John Howard - as such are guilty of extreme crime and they should be dealt with,' he said. "
July 18, 2004
Ten Years Of Blair
"Hundreds of teeth, the messianic gleam, the blaze of apparent conviction, still blazing, still gleaming, still apparent rather than actual...
Tony found unexpected joy in dealing with George, one of those rare politicians who is actually stupider than he looks. Tony shines by comparison, no longer an unwanted, metaphorical dog, but an urbane, accomplished hound with a full command of the English language."
My favourite cartoonist, the Guardian's Steve Bell, looks back at his years of cartooning Tony Blair.
"Hundreds of teeth, the messianic gleam, the blaze of apparent conviction, still blazing, still gleaming, still apparent rather than actual...
Tony found unexpected joy in dealing with George, one of those rare politicians who is actually stupider than he looks. Tony shines by comparison, no longer an unwanted, metaphorical dog, but an urbane, accomplished hound with a full command of the English language."
My favourite cartoonist, the Guardian's Steve Bell, looks back at his years of cartooning Tony Blair.
Bush Isn't The Only One Who Doesn't Read Newspapers
A new CBS/NYT Poll shows the US public continues to grow more critical of the war in Iraq. "For the first time, a majority of Americans (51 percent) say the U.S. should have stayed out of Iraq."
Call me a pessimist, but I think the poll is more worrying for the large minorities that still support Bush's mad adventures despite all the evidence against him. 45 percent say going to war was the right thing to do. Thirty-three percent still think it's OK for the U.S. to launch pre-emptive strikes on other countries.
And Iraq seems to be dropping off the US TV screens:
"Thirty-four percent of Americans think Iraqis are safer now than an interim government is in place. Another 12 percent believe Iraqis are less safe, while 48 percent don't see any change."
A new CBS/NYT Poll shows the US public continues to grow more critical of the war in Iraq. "For the first time, a majority of Americans (51 percent) say the U.S. should have stayed out of Iraq."
Call me a pessimist, but I think the poll is more worrying for the large minorities that still support Bush's mad adventures despite all the evidence against him. 45 percent say going to war was the right thing to do. Thirty-three percent still think it's OK for the U.S. to launch pre-emptive strikes on other countries.
And Iraq seems to be dropping off the US TV screens:
"Thirty-four percent of Americans think Iraqis are safer now than an interim government is in place. Another 12 percent believe Iraqis are less safe, while 48 percent don't see any change."
So Who Actually Runs The UK?
"In an astonishing admission after the disclosure of the cover-up in yesterday's Independent, Tony Blair's official spokesman said MI6 decided not to tell the Hutton inquiry - set up to investigate the death of the government scientist David Kelly - that crucial intelligence on Saddam's chemical and biological weapons was unsound. The security services, he said, felt it was 'too sensitive'' to be made public. The head of MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove, also decided not to tell Mr Blair. The Prime Minister's spokesman said Mr Blair only became aware of the withdrawal of the intelligence as a result of the inquiry by Lord Butler of Brockwell, which was delivered three days ago."
The Independent has more.
"In an astonishing admission after the disclosure of the cover-up in yesterday's Independent, Tony Blair's official spokesman said MI6 decided not to tell the Hutton inquiry - set up to investigate the death of the government scientist David Kelly - that crucial intelligence on Saddam's chemical and biological weapons was unsound. The security services, he said, felt it was 'too sensitive'' to be made public. The head of MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove, also decided not to tell Mr Blair. The Prime Minister's spokesman said Mr Blair only became aware of the withdrawal of the intelligence as a result of the inquiry by Lord Butler of Brockwell, which was delivered three days ago."
The Independent has more.
July 17, 2004
The USA's New Butcher Of Baghdad
The Sydney Morning Herald has a shocking exlusive story today:
"Iyad Allawi, the new Prime Minister of Iraq, pulled a pistol and executed as many as six suspected insurgents at a Baghdad police station, just days before Washington handed control of the country to his interim government, according to two people who allege they witnessed the killings...
Allawi shot each young man in the head as about a dozen Iraqi policemen and four Americans from the Prime Minister's personal security team watched in stunned silence."
Allawi was the USA's hand-picked puppet, has a history of killing innocent Iraqis in a CIA-sponsored bombing campaign and has already begun imposing martial law. But this story exposes not just his barbaric cruelty. It also shows a lot of stupidity for a man set to take over the country.
What would Donald Rumsfeld say, eh?
The Sydney Morning Herald has a shocking exlusive story today:
"Iyad Allawi, the new Prime Minister of Iraq, pulled a pistol and executed as many as six suspected insurgents at a Baghdad police station, just days before Washington handed control of the country to his interim government, according to two people who allege they witnessed the killings...
Allawi shot each young man in the head as about a dozen Iraqi policemen and four Americans from the Prime Minister's personal security team watched in stunned silence."
Allawi was the USA's hand-picked puppet, has a history of killing innocent Iraqis in a CIA-sponsored bombing campaign and has already begun imposing martial law. But this story exposes not just his barbaric cruelty. It also shows a lot of stupidity for a man set to take over the country.
What would Donald Rumsfeld say, eh?
July 16, 2004
Our Lying Governments' Evil Policies Nurture The Terrorists
"It misconceives the problem to think there are 'root causes' like poverty, disadvantage or hopelessly entrenched political impasses," says Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, taking his government's disregard for reality to its logical extreme. "They are not the well spring of terrorist motivation, and fixing them will not fix anything else. We are engaged in a battle of ideas, a struggle to the death over values."
Values indeed! Downer says the "war on terror" will last generations and cost billions. These corrupt politicians cannot see the "war on terror" in terms of anything but political opportunism, even though they ask us to pay for it and ask us to sacrifice our children's lives for it. Such callous disregard for those who voted them into power simply cannot be tolerated.
So this is it. We are indeed engaged in a struggle to the death, with vicious beasts who are not open to reason. The "war on terror" will not end till we defeat them... The first step is to try to vote them out of power.
"It misconceives the problem to think there are 'root causes' like poverty, disadvantage or hopelessly entrenched political impasses," says Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, taking his government's disregard for reality to its logical extreme. "They are not the well spring of terrorist motivation, and fixing them will not fix anything else. We are engaged in a battle of ideas, a struggle to the death over values."
Values indeed! Downer says the "war on terror" will last generations and cost billions. These corrupt politicians cannot see the "war on terror" in terms of anything but political opportunism, even though they ask us to pay for it and ask us to sacrifice our children's lives for it. Such callous disregard for those who voted them into power simply cannot be tolerated.
So this is it. We are indeed engaged in a struggle to the death, with vicious beasts who are not open to reason. The "war on terror" will not end till we defeat them... The first step is to try to vote them out of power.
Blair copped a bashing in local polls, losing one seat to the anti-war Liberal Democrats and narrowly holding another supposed safe Labour seat. Voters said Iraq and government lies were a big issue. The Scotsman reports that "Labour's winner at Birmingham Hodge Hill was faced with jeers and shouts of 'warmonger' as he spoke after the declaration. "
Unfortunately, perhaps, the opposition Conservatives did even worse than Labour. This will give Labour hope that they can still win the next election, even under Blair, and may give the PM further incentive to defy calls for his resignation. Another gaping hole in the fabric of our much-vaunted Western Democracy?
Unfortunately, perhaps, the opposition Conservatives did even worse than Labour. This will give Labour hope that they can still win the next election, even under Blair, and may give the PM further incentive to defy calls for his resignation. Another gaping hole in the fabric of our much-vaunted Western Democracy?
Rumsfeld Stalling New Abuse Scandal Till November
New Iraqi prisoner abuse claims: a "Republican congressional source speaking on condition of anonymity said the Pentagon was 'dragging its feet and intends to postpone any hearing until after' the November 2 presidential election.
"There's a lot of frustration over here," said the source."
New Iraqi prisoner abuse claims: a "Republican congressional source speaking on condition of anonymity said the Pentagon was 'dragging its feet and intends to postpone any hearing until after' the November 2 presidential election.
"There's a lot of frustration over here," said the source."
Well John Howard DOES Lie, Doesn't He?
An Australian website called JohnHowardLies.com has recently been spotlighted in the media amid rumours that it was backed by the federal opposition. But the website denies these claims, saying that Labour web sites may have links to them but that is not their responsibility. The website owners declare:
"We are a growing group of Australians who are sick of the decline in the political discourse where misrepresentations, distortions and straight out lying is now all too familiar. Honesty has given way to “spin” which now appears to have made way for actual untruths and lies. The traditions of Westminster and Ministerial responsibility have all but disappeared... Who can forget “kids overboard”, the “never ever GST”, “weapons of mass destruction” and “Medicare will be kept in its entirety”."
No doubt helped by the media attention, the website has had more than 300,000 hits and thousands of emails in the first two weeks. Bring on the elections, Johnny Boy!
An Australian website called JohnHowardLies.com has recently been spotlighted in the media amid rumours that it was backed by the federal opposition. But the website denies these claims, saying that Labour web sites may have links to them but that is not their responsibility. The website owners declare:
"We are a growing group of Australians who are sick of the decline in the political discourse where misrepresentations, distortions and straight out lying is now all too familiar. Honesty has given way to “spin” which now appears to have made way for actual untruths and lies. The traditions of Westminster and Ministerial responsibility have all but disappeared... Who can forget “kids overboard”, the “never ever GST”, “weapons of mass destruction” and “Medicare will be kept in its entirety”."
No doubt helped by the media attention, the website has had more than 300,000 hits and thousands of emails in the first two weeks. Bring on the elections, Johnny Boy!
When You Deal With The Devil...
The CIA's (ahem!) "intelligence failures" surrounding the War in Iraq can be traced all the way back to it's WWII inception under Allen Dulles. As the Alternative News explains, the original problem was the "covert use of a Nazi spy network brimming with war criminals." Bush's rise to power, and the hidden agenda of a secretive cabal with close ties to the CIA, can all be traced back to this original mistake.
The CIA's (ahem!) "intelligence failures" surrounding the War in Iraq can be traced all the way back to it's WWII inception under Allen Dulles. As the Alternative News explains, the original problem was the "covert use of a Nazi spy network brimming with war criminals." Bush's rise to power, and the hidden agenda of a secretive cabal with close ties to the CIA, can all be traced back to this original mistake.
A Case Study in the Manipulation of Mass Opinion
Scott McConnell, executive editor of The American Conservative, says the story of how the Neo-cons "turned a terrorist attack on the US by one group into a rationale for an assault on an entirely different state will fascinate historians for many years to come."
He suggests that up to 70% of US citizens believed the neo-con lies because "few people want to believe they have been deceived."
"That belief is the fruit of one of the great bait-and-switch efforts of modern history, a collective endeavour by administration officials, hawkish television pundits and squads of neo-conservative columnists and editorialists. Their work should long be regarded as a case study in the manipulation of mass opinion -- comparable, though of course different, to what took place in the mass dictatorships of the 1930s. "
Scott McConnell, executive editor of The American Conservative, says the story of how the Neo-cons "turned a terrorist attack on the US by one group into a rationale for an assault on an entirely different state will fascinate historians for many years to come."
He suggests that up to 70% of US citizens believed the neo-con lies because "few people want to believe they have been deceived."
"That belief is the fruit of one of the great bait-and-switch efforts of modern history, a collective endeavour by administration officials, hawkish television pundits and squads of neo-conservative columnists and editorialists. Their work should long be regarded as a case study in the manipulation of mass opinion -- comparable, though of course different, to what took place in the mass dictatorships of the 1930s. "
Robin Cook points out the irony behind the Butler Report:
"The only ministers who have left the Government over the chapter of errors that led us into war in Iraq are those who could not support the war, and the only people to be sacked are those at the BBC and the Daily Mirror who criticised it. Everyone who contributed to the errors of judgement is still in post and now patted on the head by Lord Butler for doing the best they could. That may seem very British and very sensible to Lord Butler. To the rest of the world it will seem barmy. "
"The only ministers who have left the Government over the chapter of errors that led us into war in Iraq are those who could not support the war, and the only people to be sacked are those at the BBC and the Daily Mirror who criticised it. Everyone who contributed to the errors of judgement is still in post and now patted on the head by Lord Butler for doing the best they could. That may seem very British and very sensible to Lord Butler. To the rest of the world it will seem barmy. "
HOW BAD IS IT REALLY?
Top NYT investigative reporter Seymour Hersh is now talking about 'a series of massive crimes, criminal activity by the president and the vice president, by this administration anyway - war crimes.'
He says even moderate Arabs now "see us as a sexually perverse society."
Hersh describes a Pentagon in crisis. The defense department budget is “in incredible chaos,” he says, with large sums of cash missing, including something like $1 billion that was supposed to be in Iraq.
"The disaffecion inside the Pentagon is extremeley accute," Hersh says. He tells the story of an officer telling Rumsfeld how bad things are, and Rummy turning to a ranking general yes-man who reassured him that things are just fine. Says Hersh, "The Secretary of Defense is simply incapable of hearing what he doesn’t want to hear."
The Iraqi insurgency, he says,was operating in 1-to-3 man cells a year ago, now in 10-15 man cells, and despite the harsh questioning, "we still know nothing about them...we have no tactical information.”
He says the foreign element among insurgents is overstated, and that bogeyman Zarqawi is "a composite figure" hyped by our government.
The war, he says, has escalated to "fullscale, increasingly intense military activity."
Hersh described the folks in charge of US policy as neoconservative cultists" who have taken the government over, and show "how fragile our democracy is."
He also ripped the supine US press, pledged to bring home all the facts he could, said he was not sure he could deliver all the daming info he suspects about Bush administration responsibility for Abu Ghraib.
Top NYT investigative reporter Seymour Hersh is now talking about 'a series of massive crimes, criminal activity by the president and the vice president, by this administration anyway - war crimes.'
He says even moderate Arabs now "see us as a sexually perverse society."
Hersh describes a Pentagon in crisis. The defense department budget is “in incredible chaos,” he says, with large sums of cash missing, including something like $1 billion that was supposed to be in Iraq.
"The disaffecion inside the Pentagon is extremeley accute," Hersh says. He tells the story of an officer telling Rumsfeld how bad things are, and Rummy turning to a ranking general yes-man who reassured him that things are just fine. Says Hersh, "The Secretary of Defense is simply incapable of hearing what he doesn’t want to hear."
The Iraqi insurgency, he says,was operating in 1-to-3 man cells a year ago, now in 10-15 man cells, and despite the harsh questioning, "we still know nothing about them...we have no tactical information.”
He says the foreign element among insurgents is overstated, and that bogeyman Zarqawi is "a composite figure" hyped by our government.
The war, he says, has escalated to "fullscale, increasingly intense military activity."
Hersh described the folks in charge of US policy as neoconservative cultists" who have taken the government over, and show "how fragile our democracy is."
He also ripped the supine US press, pledged to bring home all the facts he could, said he was not sure he could deliver all the daming info he suspects about Bush administration responsibility for Abu Ghraib.
Questions For Blair
Blair's office had a copy of the Butler report 24 hours before it was released to the press, so they were not surprisingly ready to put a good spin on it before the press even had a chance to read it. The lazy press, pushed for deadlines, took the bait as usual and it is only today that some more detailed concerns are starting to appear.
1. While the Butler Report was certainly a whitewash, it questions Blair's informal "sofa-based" style of government where no records are kept and decisions are made without widespread consultation. This has long been a criticism from with Blair's own Labour party.
The Scotsman reports that "Ministers were merely given oral briefings; they were not allowed to see background papers. There was no proper discussion in Cabinet or in Cabinet committees. In effect, it was made clear to ministers that if the PM wanted their opinion, he would tell them what it was. The decisions to go to war were taken on Tony Blair’s sofa . . ."
2. The 45-minute claim is once again exposed as an inexcusable misunderstanding because it related to Saddam's capability to deploy chemical weapons on the ground (e.g. against Kurds) rather than launch a nuclear attack or international WMD offensive (as it was portrayed).
3. Lord Butler also renewed doubts about the entire legality of the Iraq war when he questioned an assertion by Downing Street - days before the invasion - that Saddam Hussein was in breach of a UN Security Council resolution. As the SMH reports:
"the Attorney-General, Lord Goldsmith, demanded a categorical assurance from No. 10 that Iraq was in breach of Security Council resolution 1441 of November 2002. He demanded "hard evidence of non-compliance and non-co-operation" with resolution 1441 after Britain and the US had failed to secure a second UN resolution.
Mr Blair's private secretary offered Lord Goldsmith this assurance in a letter on March 15: "It is indeed the Prime Minister's unequivocal view that Iraq is in further material breach of its obligations, as in operative paragraph four of UNSCR 1441, because of 'false statements or omissions in the declarations submitted by Iraq pursuant to this resolution and failure by Iraq to comply with, and co-operate fully in the implementation of, this resolution'."
Blair says he takes "full responsibility" but what does that actually mean?
As one backbencher complained, "Thousands and thousands of lives have gone. I think he's in denial. The buck stops with Tony."
Robin Cook points out that the report exposes "the most embarrassing failure in the history of British intelligence" and yet "no one is to blame".
The Opposition Leader, Michael Howard, asks "If he said that in his judgement war was necessary, would the country trust him? ... The question Mr Blair must ask himself is: Does he have any credibility left?"
The answer, obviously, is NO. Blair must resign immediately.
Blair's office had a copy of the Butler report 24 hours before it was released to the press, so they were not surprisingly ready to put a good spin on it before the press even had a chance to read it. The lazy press, pushed for deadlines, took the bait as usual and it is only today that some more detailed concerns are starting to appear.
1. While the Butler Report was certainly a whitewash, it questions Blair's informal "sofa-based" style of government where no records are kept and decisions are made without widespread consultation. This has long been a criticism from with Blair's own Labour party.
The Scotsman reports that "Ministers were merely given oral briefings; they were not allowed to see background papers. There was no proper discussion in Cabinet or in Cabinet committees. In effect, it was made clear to ministers that if the PM wanted their opinion, he would tell them what it was. The decisions to go to war were taken on Tony Blair’s sofa . . ."
2. The 45-minute claim is once again exposed as an inexcusable misunderstanding because it related to Saddam's capability to deploy chemical weapons on the ground (e.g. against Kurds) rather than launch a nuclear attack or international WMD offensive (as it was portrayed).
3. Lord Butler also renewed doubts about the entire legality of the Iraq war when he questioned an assertion by Downing Street - days before the invasion - that Saddam Hussein was in breach of a UN Security Council resolution. As the SMH reports:
"the Attorney-General, Lord Goldsmith, demanded a categorical assurance from No. 10 that Iraq was in breach of Security Council resolution 1441 of November 2002. He demanded "hard evidence of non-compliance and non-co-operation" with resolution 1441 after Britain and the US had failed to secure a second UN resolution.
Mr Blair's private secretary offered Lord Goldsmith this assurance in a letter on March 15: "It is indeed the Prime Minister's unequivocal view that Iraq is in further material breach of its obligations, as in operative paragraph four of UNSCR 1441, because of 'false statements or omissions in the declarations submitted by Iraq pursuant to this resolution and failure by Iraq to comply with, and co-operate fully in the implementation of, this resolution'."
Blair says he takes "full responsibility" but what does that actually mean?
As one backbencher complained, "Thousands and thousands of lives have gone. I think he's in denial. The buck stops with Tony."
Robin Cook points out that the report exposes "the most embarrassing failure in the history of British intelligence" and yet "no one is to blame".
The Opposition Leader, Michael Howard, asks "If he said that in his judgement war was necessary, would the country trust him? ... The question Mr Blair must ask himself is: Does he have any credibility left?"
The answer, obviously, is NO. Blair must resign immediately.
July 15, 2004
Surf's Up
Some interesting Web surfing today. Firstly I discovered that if you search for the words Bush, Blog and Gandhi on either Yahoo or Google, this site ranks #1. Whoo hoo!
I also found a pretty wierd site called Group Hug where people can log anonymous online confessions. This confession caught my attention:
"i hate the american government. unfortunatly its where i live. i'm old enough to vote this year but i don't want to vote for anyone because there's nobody i want to see as president. i don't understand how people can walk around so apathetically and not be in a total revolution with the way things are going. we nearly impeached a president who did nothing wrong for something that wasn't our business, but we allow a facist pig fucker to steal our election, hijack our economy, make money off of the deaths of thousands, and nobody cares.
today i bought a sticker that says BUSH BELONGS BEHIND BARS. i put it on my car. i think he belongs on a crucifix, actually, and allowed to bake in the sun slowly for months.
i live in Texas. i think i'll get shot.
i doubt this will be posted or read, but i'm not sure i care."
It's a sad and serious concern that many young people feel strongly disinclined to vote, even when they hate the government, because they think the whole system stinks. I know about this because I used to be one of them - and in Australia, where I live, voting is compulsory! Which just made me hate it even more!
The USA's situation today is particularly sad, where Democrats criticize Ralph Nader for even daring to run. Truth is, there should be dozens of other candidates with a real chance of success. Two millionaire Skull-and-Bonesmen do not represent the best democracy on earth, you know?
Some interesting Web surfing today. Firstly I discovered that if you search for the words Bush, Blog and Gandhi on either Yahoo or Google, this site ranks #1. Whoo hoo!
I also found a pretty wierd site called Group Hug where people can log anonymous online confessions. This confession caught my attention:
"i hate the american government. unfortunatly its where i live. i'm old enough to vote this year but i don't want to vote for anyone because there's nobody i want to see as president. i don't understand how people can walk around so apathetically and not be in a total revolution with the way things are going. we nearly impeached a president who did nothing wrong for something that wasn't our business, but we allow a facist pig fucker to steal our election, hijack our economy, make money off of the deaths of thousands, and nobody cares.
today i bought a sticker that says BUSH BELONGS BEHIND BARS. i put it on my car. i think he belongs on a crucifix, actually, and allowed to bake in the sun slowly for months.
i live in Texas. i think i'll get shot.
i doubt this will be posted or read, but i'm not sure i care."
It's a sad and serious concern that many young people feel strongly disinclined to vote, even when they hate the government, because they think the whole system stinks. I know about this because I used to be one of them - and in Australia, where I live, voting is compulsory! Which just made me hate it even more!
The USA's situation today is particularly sad, where Democrats criticize Ralph Nader for even daring to run. Truth is, there should be dozens of other candidates with a real chance of success. Two millionaire Skull-and-Bonesmen do not represent the best democracy on earth, you know?
Those who live by the sword, die by the sword
Hot tip - Cheney is already on the way out the door and he knows it. When he told Senator Leahy to go F#@& himself, then refused to apologize for it, Cheney already knew he wont be on the Bush 04 ticket. When he insisted recently that there were still WMDs in Iraq, and that Saddam really was linked with Al-Quaeda, Cheney knew he would never have to back up his claims.
At 63 years of age, the unappealing Cheney has already had four heart attacks and quadruple bypass surgery. He is being taken to court in France for his Halliburton scandals. He's up to his neck in a stream of other unpopular new policies and assorted scandals. And he was publicly booed at Yankee stadium on June 30th! Back in the 2000 election he was supposed to be the wise old head that would help keep the inexperienced young George W out of trouble! But now he is a serious liability.
The Bush team is now just waiting for the right time to make the announcement. It needs to be a carefully choreographed handover to a more popular VP candidate, and it needs to look like Cheney has serious medical reasons for standing down (otherwise he will look guilty of taking the money and running).
The Bush team may also be taking some time to line up a running mate - how about Condi Rice, for example? Hmmn, probably too much baggage... But who in the Bush team hasn't got baggage these days?
Colin Powell looks the most likely candidate, but his wife didn't want him to run for President in 2000 and - given his frequent disagreements with the Bush team - he may not be willing to accept anything other than the top job now. John McCain, who was publicly wooed by Kerry before Edwards got the nod, is also a strong possibility. Both would bring some much-needed credibility to the Bush 04 platform, but both would demand major concessions as well.
Hot tip - Cheney is already on the way out the door and he knows it. When he told Senator Leahy to go F#@& himself, then refused to apologize for it, Cheney already knew he wont be on the Bush 04 ticket. When he insisted recently that there were still WMDs in Iraq, and that Saddam really was linked with Al-Quaeda, Cheney knew he would never have to back up his claims.
At 63 years of age, the unappealing Cheney has already had four heart attacks and quadruple bypass surgery. He is being taken to court in France for his Halliburton scandals. He's up to his neck in a stream of other unpopular new policies and assorted scandals. And he was publicly booed at Yankee stadium on June 30th! Back in the 2000 election he was supposed to be the wise old head that would help keep the inexperienced young George W out of trouble! But now he is a serious liability.
The Bush team is now just waiting for the right time to make the announcement. It needs to be a carefully choreographed handover to a more popular VP candidate, and it needs to look like Cheney has serious medical reasons for standing down (otherwise he will look guilty of taking the money and running).
The Bush team may also be taking some time to line up a running mate - how about Condi Rice, for example? Hmmn, probably too much baggage... But who in the Bush team hasn't got baggage these days?
Colin Powell looks the most likely candidate, but his wife didn't want him to run for President in 2000 and - given his frequent disagreements with the Bush team - he may not be willing to accept anything other than the top job now. John McCain, who was publicly wooed by Kerry before Edwards got the nod, is also a strong possibility. Both would bring some much-needed credibility to the Bush 04 platform, but both would demand major concessions as well.
Bush-Bashing Games Online
Got some spare time, spare bandwidth and a sense of humour? Then you might enjoy this:
Dishonest Dubya, the lying action figure!!!
Not so funny are these more aggressive anti-Bush sites:
George Bush and Voltron have taken over the USA! Only Hulk Hogan, He-man, Mr T and R2D2 can stop them - with your help, of course!
Alternatively, how about a shoot-out in the Oval Office between Bush and Condi Rice?
I post these links because they are an interesting part of the global anti-Bush movement, but the last two are - in my mind, anyway - also symptomatic of cultural issues in the USA that have helped bring Bush to power, including an unhealthy obsession with Hollywood-style violence.
Got some spare time, spare bandwidth and a sense of humour? Then you might enjoy this:
Dishonest Dubya, the lying action figure!!!
Not so funny are these more aggressive anti-Bush sites:
George Bush and Voltron have taken over the USA! Only Hulk Hogan, He-man, Mr T and R2D2 can stop them - with your help, of course!
Alternatively, how about a shoot-out in the Oval Office between Bush and Condi Rice?
I post these links because they are an interesting part of the global anti-Bush movement, but the last two are - in my mind, anyway - also symptomatic of cultural issues in the USA that have helped bring Bush to power, including an unhealthy obsession with Hollywood-style violence.
Bush's Twisted Idea of 'Safer':
Juna Cole takes exception to Bush's recent comments.
"Americans are not safer, Mr. Bush. They face the threat of substantial narco-terrorism from Afghanistan. Iraq is a security nightmare that could well blow back on the American homeland. Pakistan remains a military dictatorship with a host of militant jihadi movements that had been fomented by the hardline Pakistani military intelligence. Saudi Arabia is witnessing increased al-Qaeda activity and attacks on Westerners. And the Israeli-Palestine dispute is being left to fester and poison the world.
These are not achievements to be proud of. This is a string of disasters. We are not safer."
Juna Cole takes exception to Bush's recent comments.
"Americans are not safer, Mr. Bush. They face the threat of substantial narco-terrorism from Afghanistan. Iraq is a security nightmare that could well blow back on the American homeland. Pakistan remains a military dictatorship with a host of militant jihadi movements that had been fomented by the hardline Pakistani military intelligence. Saudi Arabia is witnessing increased al-Qaeda activity and attacks on Westerners. And the Israeli-Palestine dispute is being left to fester and poison the world.
These are not achievements to be proud of. This is a string of disasters. We are not safer."
Francis Fukuyama, one of the founding fathers of the neo-conservative movement, says he will not vote for Bush in the November 2 US Presidential election. He also told TIME magazine that his old friend, US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, should resign.
Beware The Belittled Voters
Should we be surprised? First the Hutton enquiry, then the US Senate committee invstigation, and now the Butler enquiry (let's not bother mentioning Australia's own embarrassing "enquiry"). All have been set up by the government in power, with their terms of inquiry set by the government in power. And - surprise, surprise - all have been reluctant to criticize the government in power.
A few interesting comments from the BBC's Talking Points section:
"I think next year I won't pay my taxes at all and commission Lord Butler to write a report into why my payments did not arrive." - John B
"Is the Government actually accountable for anything now?" - James Russell, Bournemouth
"The biggest problem is that Blair has shifted his grounds for justifying the war to 'regime change'. He clearly has no intention of disavowing the doctrine of pre-emption as a strategic option in future. This is very worrying." - Bob, UK
"Anyone who thinks the Bush/Blair regimes were "misinformed" need to pull their heads out of the sand. Even Paul Wolfowitz has already admitted the WMD excuse was used for propaganda purposes. The war resulted in the death of thousands of innocent Iraqis. Bush and Blair should be prosecuted for war crimes beside Saddam." - Rita, Egypt
"The issue is not the pre-war intelligence. Robin Cook announced before the war that there were no WMD. Everyone who paid any attention knew there were no WMD. Neither is Saddam Hussein the issue. He was indeed a brutal dictator (with our support) but the world is not safer because of the war and death in Iraq. As has been well documented, we are now a higher profile target for terrorism than ever before. The issue is why we went to war against the wishes of the population (who elect our politicians to serve us not rule us) and against the will of the world." - Matt Southall, Nottingham, UK
"They wanted a rubber stamp for the case for war. The intelligence agencies obliged and now take the rap." - Lionel, Leeds, UK
"The poor workman blames his tools." - Kpdodo, Mauritius
As the Economist says, it's now "over to the voters."
But I detect a dangerous groundswell of anger building up among those who are outraged by the lies and lack of accountability surrounding the decision to go to war in Iraq. If these voters do not succeed in voting out Bush, Blair and Howard in the coming year, their frustration may well take other outlets.
The whole point of Democracy is that is is supposed to be representative of the people's will, with a laudable system of checks and balances. If our governments ignore our wishes and defy accountability, how can they expect us to fulfill our part of the democratic agenda?
Like "John B" above, if Howard wins the next election in Australia, I may decide not to pay any more tax. And that's just for starters.
Should we be surprised? First the Hutton enquiry, then the US Senate committee invstigation, and now the Butler enquiry (let's not bother mentioning Australia's own embarrassing "enquiry"). All have been set up by the government in power, with their terms of inquiry set by the government in power. And - surprise, surprise - all have been reluctant to criticize the government in power.
A few interesting comments from the BBC's Talking Points section:
"I think next year I won't pay my taxes at all and commission Lord Butler to write a report into why my payments did not arrive." - John B
"Is the Government actually accountable for anything now?" - James Russell, Bournemouth
"The biggest problem is that Blair has shifted his grounds for justifying the war to 'regime change'. He clearly has no intention of disavowing the doctrine of pre-emption as a strategic option in future. This is very worrying." - Bob, UK
"Anyone who thinks the Bush/Blair regimes were "misinformed" need to pull their heads out of the sand. Even Paul Wolfowitz has already admitted the WMD excuse was used for propaganda purposes. The war resulted in the death of thousands of innocent Iraqis. Bush and Blair should be prosecuted for war crimes beside Saddam." - Rita, Egypt
"The issue is not the pre-war intelligence. Robin Cook announced before the war that there were no WMD. Everyone who paid any attention knew there were no WMD. Neither is Saddam Hussein the issue. He was indeed a brutal dictator (with our support) but the world is not safer because of the war and death in Iraq. As has been well documented, we are now a higher profile target for terrorism than ever before. The issue is why we went to war against the wishes of the population (who elect our politicians to serve us not rule us) and against the will of the world." - Matt Southall, Nottingham, UK
"They wanted a rubber stamp for the case for war. The intelligence agencies obliged and now take the rap." - Lionel, Leeds, UK
"The poor workman blames his tools." - Kpdodo, Mauritius
As the Economist says, it's now "over to the voters."
But I detect a dangerous groundswell of anger building up among those who are outraged by the lies and lack of accountability surrounding the decision to go to war in Iraq. If these voters do not succeed in voting out Bush, Blair and Howard in the coming year, their frustration may well take other outlets.
The whole point of Democracy is that is is supposed to be representative of the people's will, with a laudable system of checks and balances. If our governments ignore our wishes and defy accountability, how can they expect us to fulfill our part of the democratic agenda?
Like "John B" above, if Howard wins the next election in Australia, I may decide not to pay any more tax. And that's just for starters.
Reality TV Political Campaigning:
"The Showtime network's American Candidate, which begins on 1 August, sees ten contestants compete for the chance to address the nation. The show will follow contestants on a campaign trail across the US, taking part in debates and rallies. The winner will receive a cash prize of US$200,000. Each week, the contestant who scores the most points will have 'immunity', while the two lowest-scoring contestants will fight it out in a snap debate, with the loser being ejected from the show. "
Joe Trippi (see below) will be helping coach the candidates.
"The Showtime network's American Candidate, which begins on 1 August, sees ten contestants compete for the chance to address the nation. The show will follow contestants on a campaign trail across the US, taking part in debates and rallies. The winner will receive a cash prize of US$200,000. Each week, the contestant who scores the most points will have 'immunity', while the two lowest-scoring contestants will fight it out in a snap debate, with the loser being ejected from the show. "
Joe Trippi (see below) will be helping coach the candidates.
Boycott The Military:
"I'd rather sleep under a bridge, eating trash out of a Dumpster, than murder human beings for Halliburton," says Ted Rall.
"I'd rather sleep under a bridge, eating trash out of a Dumpster, than murder human beings for Halliburton," says Ted Rall.
Bush Versus Hitler
Dr. Federico Fasano Mertens, editor of Uruguay's La Republica newspaper, responds to the US Ambassador's criticism after he compared Bush with Hitler. I found his comparison of 9/11 with Hitler's burning of the Reichstag particularly interesting...
"Some day, when the American people fully recover their freedom of information and investigate that black Tuesday morning of September 11... we shall be able to find out why the many tell-tale signs of an impending large-scale assassination left throughout the country were ignored. We shall be able to learn why the Air Force jets took 80 minutes to intercept the hijacked planes, when it was known that the planes were hijacked and heading for Washington as soon as they took off from Boston and the manual lays down the procedure for the intervention of the Air Force within 5 minutes of a hijack.
We will be able to find out why the remains of the presumed plane that hit the Pentagon were hidden. We shall be able to learn why, according to the conservative Wall Street Journal, immediately after meeting in Washington with CIA director George Tenet, the head of the Pakistani secret services arranged for Islamabad to send one hundred thousand dollars to Mohammed Atta in the US, the organiser of the New York Twin Towers suicide attack. The suspension of civil rights by the Patriot Act now prohibits the investigation of this frightening piece of information. We will finally be able to find out why 15 of the 21 commandos came from Saudi Arabia, the chief US ally in the Persian Gulf. There wasn't a single Iraqi onboard those planes. Not even accidentally."
Read more here.
Dr. Federico Fasano Mertens, editor of Uruguay's La Republica newspaper, responds to the US Ambassador's criticism after he compared Bush with Hitler. I found his comparison of 9/11 with Hitler's burning of the Reichstag particularly interesting...
"Some day, when the American people fully recover their freedom of information and investigate that black Tuesday morning of September 11... we shall be able to find out why the many tell-tale signs of an impending large-scale assassination left throughout the country were ignored. We shall be able to learn why the Air Force jets took 80 minutes to intercept the hijacked planes, when it was known that the planes were hijacked and heading for Washington as soon as they took off from Boston and the manual lays down the procedure for the intervention of the Air Force within 5 minutes of a hijack.
We will be able to find out why the remains of the presumed plane that hit the Pentagon were hidden. We shall be able to learn why, according to the conservative Wall Street Journal, immediately after meeting in Washington with CIA director George Tenet, the head of the Pakistani secret services arranged for Islamabad to send one hundred thousand dollars to Mohammed Atta in the US, the organiser of the New York Twin Towers suicide attack. The suspension of civil rights by the Patriot Act now prohibits the investigation of this frightening piece of information. We will finally be able to find out why 15 of the 21 commandos came from Saudi Arabia, the chief US ally in the Persian Gulf. There wasn't a single Iraqi onboard those planes. Not even accidentally."
Read more here.
WorkingForChange:
"Holy Hypocrite! -- look who's doing legalistic contortions now, parsing the language of the law not to excuse personal sexual misconduct... but to rationalize the much more crass act of official torture...
The same 'anything goes' mentality that corrupted Enron and most of corporate America now is loose at the highest levels of government. "
"Holy Hypocrite! -- look who's doing legalistic contortions now, parsing the language of the law not to excuse personal sexual misconduct... but to rationalize the much more crass act of official torture...
The same 'anything goes' mentality that corrupted Enron and most of corporate America now is loose at the highest levels of government. "
Ashcroft Tightens The Screws On Sibel Edmonds
I have a gut feeling that the Sibel Edmonds case will be the key to turning the tables on Bush & Co. But the administration is determined to bury it:
"Attorney General John Ashcroft took yet another step last week to deep-six the Sibel Edmonds case by classifying the report of an investigation into her allegations of FBI wrongdoing so the public will never know what it says. Meanwhile, Justice Department officials met in secret with a federal judge in Washington, following which he dismissed her suit charging the FBI with wrongfully firing her. "
The Village Voice takes a closer look. Why doesn't John Kerry take up her case?
I have a gut feeling that the Sibel Edmonds case will be the key to turning the tables on Bush & Co. But the administration is determined to bury it:
"Attorney General John Ashcroft took yet another step last week to deep-six the Sibel Edmonds case by classifying the report of an investigation into her allegations of FBI wrongdoing so the public will never know what it says. Meanwhile, Justice Department officials met in secret with a federal judge in Washington, following which he dismissed her suit charging the FBI with wrongfully firing her. "
The Village Voice takes a closer look. Why doesn't John Kerry take up her case?
Advocates of War Now Profit From Iraq's Reconstruction
"As lobbyists, public relations counselors and confidential advisors to senior federal officials, they warned against Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, praised exiled leader Ahmad Chalabi, and argued that toppling Saddam Hussein was a matter of national security and moral duty.
Now, as fighting continues in Iraq, they are collecting tens of thousands of dollars in fees for helping business clients pursue federal contracts and other financial opportunities in Iraq..."
The Los Angeles Times looks at a few prominent political warmongers, including former CIA director R. James Woolsey, who have now become corporate profiteers.
"As lobbyists, public relations counselors and confidential advisors to senior federal officials, they warned against Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, praised exiled leader Ahmad Chalabi, and argued that toppling Saddam Hussein was a matter of national security and moral duty.
Now, as fighting continues in Iraq, they are collecting tens of thousands of dollars in fees for helping business clients pursue federal contracts and other financial opportunities in Iraq..."
The Los Angeles Times looks at a few prominent political warmongers, including former CIA director R. James Woolsey, who have now become corporate profiteers.
July 14, 2004
Dumb, Deceitful or Just Plain Crazy?
Arianna Huffington looks at the Bush flip-flops and wonders if his lies and consistent refusal to admit guilt are classic signs of a pathological mind?
"In September 2001, Bush said capturing bin Laden was 'our number one priority.' By March 2002, he was claiming, 'I don't know where he is. I have no idea and I really don't care. It's not that important.'
In October 2001, he was dead-set against the need for a Department of Homeland Security. Seven months later, he thought it was a great idea.
In May 2002, he opposed the creation of the 9/11 Commission. Four months later, he supported it.
During the 2000 campaign, he said that gay marriage was a states' rights issue: 'The states can do what they want to do.' During the 2004 campaign, he called for a constitutional ban on gay marriage.
Bush supported CO2 caps, then opposed them. He opposed trade tariffs, then he didn't. Then he did again. He was against nation building, then he was OK with it. We'd found WMD, then we hadn't. Saddam was linked to Osama, then he wasn't. Then he was ... sorta. Chalabi was in, then he was out. Way out.
In fact, Bush's entire Iraq misadventure has been one big costly, deadly flip-flop:
We didn't need more troops, then we did. We didn't need more money, then we did. Preemption was a great idea - on to Syria, Iran and North Korea! Then it wasn't - hello, diplomacy! Baathists were the bad guys, then Baathists were our buds. We didn't need the U.N., then we did."
Arianna Huffington looks at the Bush flip-flops and wonders if his lies and consistent refusal to admit guilt are classic signs of a pathological mind?
"In September 2001, Bush said capturing bin Laden was 'our number one priority.' By March 2002, he was claiming, 'I don't know where he is. I have no idea and I really don't care. It's not that important.'
In October 2001, he was dead-set against the need for a Department of Homeland Security. Seven months later, he thought it was a great idea.
In May 2002, he opposed the creation of the 9/11 Commission. Four months later, he supported it.
During the 2000 campaign, he said that gay marriage was a states' rights issue: 'The states can do what they want to do.' During the 2004 campaign, he called for a constitutional ban on gay marriage.
Bush supported CO2 caps, then opposed them. He opposed trade tariffs, then he didn't. Then he did again. He was against nation building, then he was OK with it. We'd found WMD, then we hadn't. Saddam was linked to Osama, then he wasn't. Then he was ... sorta. Chalabi was in, then he was out. Way out.
In fact, Bush's entire Iraq misadventure has been one big costly, deadly flip-flop:
We didn't need more troops, then we did. We didn't need more money, then we did. Preemption was a great idea - on to Syria, Iran and North Korea! Then it wasn't - hello, diplomacy! Baathists were the bad guys, then Baathists were our buds. We didn't need the U.N., then we did."
The Second US Revolution?
Sometimes you have to step back and take a look at the Big Picture. If, like me, you find yourself exhausted keeping up with the continuing criminal antics of Bush & Co, amazed at the ongoing public indifference to this militaristic, big business White House coup, and less than enthused by the tepid outrage of Kerry campaigners, then - like me - you may have wondered what lies beyond November 2nd, 2004. Sure, it's Anybody But Bush till then, but what about afterwards... ? The last four years reveal what a horrible hole the Western world has dug itself into - so how do we get out of it?
Well, Joe Trippi, former campaign manager for Howard Dean, may have the answer, or at least part of it. Joe argues that the Dean campaign was "the first shot in America's second revolution."
Far from being a laughable failure, as the mainstream media has retrospectively portrayed it, he says the Dean campaign was "the opening salvo in a revolution, the sound of hundreds of thousands of Americans turning off their televisions and embracing the only form of technology that has allowed them to be involved again, to gain control of a process that alienated them decades ago. In the coming weeks and months and years, these hundreds of thousands will be followed by millions, and this revolution will not be satisfied with overthrowing a corrupt and unresponsive political system. It won't stop at remaking politics. And it won't pay attention to national borders."
Here's a very thought-provoking chapter from Trippi's new book, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, which includes this fly-on-the-wall moment:
"Howard Dean is standing against the wall, his back to me. He's shaking.
'You made this too easy,' he manages to say.
'What?' I ask.
'This. I never thought it would go this far. I was going to raise my profile, raise health care as an issue, shake up the Democratic Party. Help change the country. But I never thought this would happen. Don't you understand?' He turns and faces me. 'I never thought I could actually win. I wanted to . . . but I never really thought it could happen.'"
Sometimes you have to step back and take a look at the Big Picture. If, like me, you find yourself exhausted keeping up with the continuing criminal antics of Bush & Co, amazed at the ongoing public indifference to this militaristic, big business White House coup, and less than enthused by the tepid outrage of Kerry campaigners, then - like me - you may have wondered what lies beyond November 2nd, 2004. Sure, it's Anybody But Bush till then, but what about afterwards... ? The last four years reveal what a horrible hole the Western world has dug itself into - so how do we get out of it?
Well, Joe Trippi, former campaign manager for Howard Dean, may have the answer, or at least part of it. Joe argues that the Dean campaign was "the first shot in America's second revolution."
Far from being a laughable failure, as the mainstream media has retrospectively portrayed it, he says the Dean campaign was "the opening salvo in a revolution, the sound of hundreds of thousands of Americans turning off their televisions and embracing the only form of technology that has allowed them to be involved again, to gain control of a process that alienated them decades ago. In the coming weeks and months and years, these hundreds of thousands will be followed by millions, and this revolution will not be satisfied with overthrowing a corrupt and unresponsive political system. It won't stop at remaking politics. And it won't pay attention to national borders."
Here's a very thought-provoking chapter from Trippi's new book, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, which includes this fly-on-the-wall moment:
"Howard Dean is standing against the wall, his back to me. He's shaking.
'You made this too easy,' he manages to say.
'What?' I ask.
'This. I never thought it would go this far. I was going to raise my profile, raise health care as an issue, shake up the Democratic Party. Help change the country. But I never thought this would happen. Don't you understand?' He turns and faces me. 'I never thought I could actually win. I wanted to . . . but I never really thought it could happen.'"
Iraq WMDs: Dates and Quotes
Awaiting the public release of the UK Butler Report, the BBC has a pageful of memorable Blair quotes about Iraq weapons. My favourite is this gem:
'We are asked now seriously to accept that in the last few years-contrary to all history, contrary to all intelligence-Saddam decided unilaterally to destroy those weapons. I say that such a claim is palpably absurd.' - 18 March, 2003
The BBC also provides a useful timeline showing key events in the search for Iraq's hypothetical WMDs.
Awaiting the public release of the UK Butler Report, the BBC has a pageful of memorable Blair quotes about Iraq weapons. My favourite is this gem:
'We are asked now seriously to accept that in the last few years-contrary to all history, contrary to all intelligence-Saddam decided unilaterally to destroy those weapons. I say that such a claim is palpably absurd.' - 18 March, 2003
The BBC also provides a useful timeline showing key events in the search for Iraq's hypothetical WMDs.
Michael Moore Has Started Blogging:
"I turned it off and picked up the paper. It was so funny, cause the last thing they were blabbing on about was how dare I -- HOW DARE HE! -- imply that all the loot the Saudi royals and bin Ladens have invested in the businesses of the Bush inner circle would have anything -- ANYTHING -- to do with them getting special treatment after 9/11. And then, there was today's top headline story in the NY Times -- about how five Saudi suspected terrorists in Guantanamo were given back to the Saudis in exchange for 5 Brits the Saudis were holding (and possibly torturing). So, if you are currently incarcerated in Gitmo and reading this, there's your ticket out -- just prove you are a Saudi!
When is the real discussion going to begin?"
"I turned it off and picked up the paper. It was so funny, cause the last thing they were blabbing on about was how dare I -- HOW DARE HE! -- imply that all the loot the Saudi royals and bin Ladens have invested in the businesses of the Bush inner circle would have anything -- ANYTHING -- to do with them getting special treatment after 9/11. And then, there was today's top headline story in the NY Times -- about how five Saudi suspected terrorists in Guantanamo were given back to the Saudis in exchange for 5 Brits the Saudis were holding (and possibly torturing). So, if you are currently incarcerated in Gitmo and reading this, there's your ticket out -- just prove you are a Saudi!
When is the real discussion going to begin?"
Um, Wasn't Israel Created By International Law?
Asia Times warns that "people who attack the World Court for its July 9 opinion on the Israeli wall in the Occupied Territories should beware. In doing so, they are calling into question the United Nations Charter, and the whole foundation of international law and humanitarian conventions and treaties: which in the end are the legal basis of the state of Israel's international recognition, and, in a broader sense, everyone else's best hope for a global order that does not rely on anarchistic violence and force majeure."
Asia Times warns that "people who attack the World Court for its July 9 opinion on the Israeli wall in the Occupied Territories should beware. In doing so, they are calling into question the United Nations Charter, and the whole foundation of international law and humanitarian conventions and treaties: which in the end are the legal basis of the state of Israel's international recognition, and, in a broader sense, everyone else's best hope for a global order that does not rely on anarchistic violence and force majeure."
How To Win Friends and Influence Elections
It started with the givewaway bribes at the end of the last financial year, like a $3,000 "baby bonus" for any Aussie mum's who give birth after June 30th, 2004. These were accompanied by a barrage of taxpayer-funded advertisements promoting other Federal Government policies, including a backflip on Medicare (the Medicare Safety Net is basically just a return to previous Labour Government policy). But the polls showed the bribes and propaganda were not working.
So now, quietly and without fanfare or explanation, the Howard government is back-flipping on a range of other unpopular policies. A few weeks ago we learned that children have now been released from detention centres around Australia. This was despite the Howard government's long insistence that they must be detained with their families, even in contravention of UN Human Rights demands.
Last night, 69 Afghani refugees flew into Brisbane on a charter flight from the Pacific island of Nauru, where they have been held in detention for a year and a half as part of Howard's hugely unpopular "Pacific Solution". Refugee advocacy groups say the government is using the refugees as a political football and most are on anti-depressants.
We also learn today that the Howard government has quickly backed away from a plan to set up a single, massive dump for Australia's nuclear waste. Instead, each State will have it's own nuclear dump, meaning the hot potato issue has been tossed to the (mostly Labour) State governments.
It's all the most cynical, manipulative and morally bankrupt type of politics imagineable, especially as close observers know full well that Howard & Co will quickly revert to form as soon as they win another term in office.
It started with the givewaway bribes at the end of the last financial year, like a $3,000 "baby bonus" for any Aussie mum's who give birth after June 30th, 2004. These were accompanied by a barrage of taxpayer-funded advertisements promoting other Federal Government policies, including a backflip on Medicare (the Medicare Safety Net is basically just a return to previous Labour Government policy). But the polls showed the bribes and propaganda were not working.
So now, quietly and without fanfare or explanation, the Howard government is back-flipping on a range of other unpopular policies. A few weeks ago we learned that children have now been released from detention centres around Australia. This was despite the Howard government's long insistence that they must be detained with their families, even in contravention of UN Human Rights demands.
Last night, 69 Afghani refugees flew into Brisbane on a charter flight from the Pacific island of Nauru, where they have been held in detention for a year and a half as part of Howard's hugely unpopular "Pacific Solution". Refugee advocacy groups say the government is using the refugees as a political football and most are on anti-depressants.
We also learn today that the Howard government has quickly backed away from a plan to set up a single, massive dump for Australia's nuclear waste. Instead, each State will have it's own nuclear dump, meaning the hot potato issue has been tossed to the (mostly Labour) State governments.
It's all the most cynical, manipulative and morally bankrupt type of politics imagineable, especially as close observers know full well that Howard & Co will quickly revert to form as soon as they win another term in office.
The Incredible Lying BushCo:
"Like you even need to read about the incredible and ever-increasing list of lies and misinfo and deeply, colon-clenchingly humiliating wrongness shot forth from the mouth of the GOP machine, a truly jaw-dropping assortment of falsehoods and fabrications about war, and war, and war. Oh, and the economy. And the environment. And war.
Look. There is no doubt left. Zero. None. Even many high-ranking Republicans are deeply worried over the increasingly embittered national timbre regarding BushCo's lies, as reflected in his ever-slipping ratings and declining reelectability quotient and his smug little smirky emptiness.
Do you need to be reminded? Do you need to see it again? ... [if so, read the full article! - Gandhi]
OK, I'll spell it out: George W. Bush and his entire senior administration lied, and continue to lie, flagrantly, openly, knowingly, with full intent, about the need to drive this nation into a brutal and unwinnable and fiscally debilitating war, one that protects no one and inhibits no terrorism and defends nothing but BushCo's own petrochemical cronies and political stratagems.
This much is obvious. This much is painfully, crushingly sad. And this much we must purge like so much clotted gunk from the collective social artery one year from now. Otherwise, we should just turn in our stained and bloody Superpower badge, and resign ourselves to our fate."
"Like you even need to read about the incredible and ever-increasing list of lies and misinfo and deeply, colon-clenchingly humiliating wrongness shot forth from the mouth of the GOP machine, a truly jaw-dropping assortment of falsehoods and fabrications about war, and war, and war. Oh, and the economy. And the environment. And war.
Look. There is no doubt left. Zero. None. Even many high-ranking Republicans are deeply worried over the increasingly embittered national timbre regarding BushCo's lies, as reflected in his ever-slipping ratings and declining reelectability quotient and his smug little smirky emptiness.
Do you need to be reminded? Do you need to see it again? ... [if so, read the full article! - Gandhi]
OK, I'll spell it out: George W. Bush and his entire senior administration lied, and continue to lie, flagrantly, openly, knowingly, with full intent, about the need to drive this nation into a brutal and unwinnable and fiscally debilitating war, one that protects no one and inhibits no terrorism and defends nothing but BushCo's own petrochemical cronies and political stratagems.
This much is obvious. This much is painfully, crushingly sad. And this much we must purge like so much clotted gunk from the collective social artery one year from now. Otherwise, we should just turn in our stained and bloody Superpower badge, and resign ourselves to our fate."
Donald Trump Joins the Bush-bashing Bandwagon:
The US billionaire said the Bush Administration's decision to invade Iraq was a 'brutal mistake' that would 'make it very hard for [President George] Bush to get re-elected'.
Trump complained that the war was interupting his property development businesses:
'You can't get concrete. You can't get steel. You can't get anything in this country,' Mr Trump said. 'You know where all our steel's going? It's going to Iraq, because we're rebuilding Iraq.'
"Look, the war is a disaster. The war should not have been entered into," he told The Dallas Morning News.
"To lose all of those thousands and thousands of people, on our side and their side. I mean, you have Iraqi kids, not only our soldiers, walking around with no legs, no arms, no faces. All for no reason. It is a disgrace."
The US billionaire said the Bush Administration's decision to invade Iraq was a 'brutal mistake' that would 'make it very hard for [President George] Bush to get re-elected'.
Trump complained that the war was interupting his property development businesses:
'You can't get concrete. You can't get steel. You can't get anything in this country,' Mr Trump said. 'You know where all our steel's going? It's going to Iraq, because we're rebuilding Iraq.'
"Look, the war is a disaster. The war should not have been entered into," he told The Dallas Morning News.
"To lose all of those thousands and thousands of people, on our side and their side. I mean, you have Iraqi kids, not only our soldiers, walking around with no legs, no arms, no faces. All for no reason. It is a disgrace."
July 13, 2004
Articifial Intelligence
Is this trickle of evidence against Bush & Co starting to become a flood? Slate's Today's Papers section puts it all in a nutshell:
"The CIA's leading Saddam nuke-monger withheld evidence from analysts who disagreed with him, misrepresented his colleagues' assessments, and distributed info inside and outside the agency that was 'at minimum, misleading.' Then there's the fact that the 2002 intelligence estimate gave a one in two chance that Iraq had the smallpox virus, even though the only fresh intelligence came from a single defector in 2000. What's more, the CIA made a pattern of excising qualifiers and caveats from its dossiers. Worse, the 2002 assessment of Iraq's biological threat was upgraded almost exclusively on information provided by one individual - who has since been exposed as a fraud - bent on hyping mobile bioweapons labs. Apparently the one U.S. official who met this individual thought he was an alcoholic, and, no, TP isn't joking when it says the individual's code name was 'Curve Ball.'"
Is this trickle of evidence against Bush & Co starting to become a flood? Slate's Today's Papers section puts it all in a nutshell:
"The CIA's leading Saddam nuke-monger withheld evidence from analysts who disagreed with him, misrepresented his colleagues' assessments, and distributed info inside and outside the agency that was 'at minimum, misleading.' Then there's the fact that the 2002 intelligence estimate gave a one in two chance that Iraq had the smallpox virus, even though the only fresh intelligence came from a single defector in 2000. What's more, the CIA made a pattern of excising qualifiers and caveats from its dossiers. Worse, the 2002 assessment of Iraq's biological threat was upgraded almost exclusively on information provided by one individual - who has since been exposed as a fraud - bent on hyping mobile bioweapons labs. Apparently the one U.S. official who met this individual thought he was an alcoholic, and, no, TP isn't joking when it says the individual's code name was 'Curve Ball.'"
Who Doctored The Reports?
The LA Times notes the discrepancy between the classified and unclassified 2002 Iraq assessments.
The classified version of the report stated, 'Iraq has some lethal and incapacitating BW [biological weapons] agents and is capable of quickly producing a variety of such agents for delivery.' The unclassified version added, 'potentially against the U.S. homeland.'
One Senate staffer told the Times that former CIA chief George Tenet and another top official were asked by committee members about who was behind such changes. 'They did not know and could not explain,' said the unnamed aide.
The LA Times notes the discrepancy between the classified and unclassified 2002 Iraq assessments.
The classified version of the report stated, 'Iraq has some lethal and incapacitating BW [biological weapons] agents and is capable of quickly producing a variety of such agents for delivery.' The unclassified version added, 'potentially against the U.S. homeland.'
One Senate staffer told the Times that former CIA chief George Tenet and another top official were asked by committee members about who was behind such changes. 'They did not know and could not explain,' said the unnamed aide.
The Screw Is Turning...
We live in much-hyped democracies where one main ingredient has been sorely missing since Margaret Thatcher famously declared "The lady's not for turning." That missing ingredient is accountability.
Bush, Blair and Howard are all terrified of "turning" and will do anything but admit they were wrong. The electoral repercussions are too frightening for them.
But this myopic attitude, taken to today's extremes, creates an impossibly surreal environment. Something's gotta give. The truth will out.
Writing in the Washington Post, E.J.Dionne cuts through all the Bush administration's recent dissembling, finger-pointing and revisionist history:
"President Bush's government was unrelenting in trying to convince Americans that Saddam Hussein posed an immediate threat to us, that he had scary weapons, that he was tied to al Qaeda and thus to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It is wholly inadequate to shuck all this off on the CIA. The president was determined to scare the hell out of the country and make the case for war by whatever means necessary."
He throws in a few choice quotes for any who suffer the media's apparent short-term memory. For example, Bush in Feb 2003:
"Chemical agents, lethal viruses and shadowy terrorist networks are not easily contained. Secretly, without fingerprints, Saddam Hussein could provide one of his hidden weapons to terrorists or help them develop their own. Saddam Hussein is a threat. He's a threat to the United States of America."
Looking back, he might as well have said President Megawati of Malaysia was connected with 9/11. He could have made similar allegations about Malaysia's probable/possible/hypothetical WMDs and launched a pre-emptive attack on Kuala Lumpur - the US public would have lapped it up just as easily in their righteous thirst for post-9/11 vengeance.
Last week Bush declared: "The culture of America is changing from one that has said 'If it feels good, do it, and if you've got a problem, blame somebody else' to a culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life."
"That's a great idea," says Dionne. "Applying it to the president means that he, not the CIA, is responsible for the case that was made for the war in Iraq. By the president's own logic, he can't blame a bunch of bureaucrats ("if you've got a problem, blame somebody else") for his administration's eagerness to offer the most lopsided picture possible of the threat Hussein posed. "
We live in much-hyped democracies where one main ingredient has been sorely missing since Margaret Thatcher famously declared "The lady's not for turning." That missing ingredient is accountability.
Bush, Blair and Howard are all terrified of "turning" and will do anything but admit they were wrong. The electoral repercussions are too frightening for them.
But this myopic attitude, taken to today's extremes, creates an impossibly surreal environment. Something's gotta give. The truth will out.
Writing in the Washington Post, E.J.Dionne cuts through all the Bush administration's recent dissembling, finger-pointing and revisionist history:
"President Bush's government was unrelenting in trying to convince Americans that Saddam Hussein posed an immediate threat to us, that he had scary weapons, that he was tied to al Qaeda and thus to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It is wholly inadequate to shuck all this off on the CIA. The president was determined to scare the hell out of the country and make the case for war by whatever means necessary."
He throws in a few choice quotes for any who suffer the media's apparent short-term memory. For example, Bush in Feb 2003:
"Chemical agents, lethal viruses and shadowy terrorist networks are not easily contained. Secretly, without fingerprints, Saddam Hussein could provide one of his hidden weapons to terrorists or help them develop their own. Saddam Hussein is a threat. He's a threat to the United States of America."
Looking back, he might as well have said President Megawati of Malaysia was connected with 9/11. He could have made similar allegations about Malaysia's probable/possible/hypothetical WMDs and launched a pre-emptive attack on Kuala Lumpur - the US public would have lapped it up just as easily in their righteous thirst for post-9/11 vengeance.
Last week Bush declared: "The culture of America is changing from one that has said 'If it feels good, do it, and if you've got a problem, blame somebody else' to a culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life."
"That's a great idea," says Dionne. "Applying it to the president means that he, not the CIA, is responsible for the case that was made for the war in Iraq. By the president's own logic, he can't blame a bunch of bureaucrats ("if you've got a problem, blame somebody else") for his administration's eagerness to offer the most lopsided picture possible of the threat Hussein posed. "
Lawmaker Doubts U.S. Warnings Of Possible Attack to Stop Elections:
"A Democratic congressman who receives classified briefings on the threat of terrorist attacks said yesterday that top U.S. government officials' repeated statements that international terrorists want to disrupt the American electoral process this year 'appear to have no basis.'
Rep. Jim Turner (Tex.), ranking Democrat on the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, said that after several recent briefings by U.S. intelligence officials about perceived terrorist threats this summer and fall, 'I don't have any information that al Qaeda' plans to attack the election process. 'Nobody knows anything about timing'" he added.
So which terrorists are planning an attack? The Islamic fundamentalist ones, or the Bush CIA Fascist Cabal ones?
"A Democratic congressman who receives classified briefings on the threat of terrorist attacks said yesterday that top U.S. government officials' repeated statements that international terrorists want to disrupt the American electoral process this year 'appear to have no basis.'
Rep. Jim Turner (Tex.), ranking Democrat on the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, said that after several recent briefings by U.S. intelligence officials about perceived terrorist threats this summer and fall, 'I don't have any information that al Qaeda' plans to attack the election process. 'Nobody knows anything about timing'" he added.
So which terrorists are planning an attack? The Islamic fundamentalist ones, or the Bush CIA Fascist Cabal ones?
AIDS Conference Delegates Slam Bush's Abstinence Policy:
"Scientists, activists and policy-makers at an international AIDS conference have slammed President George W. Bush's abstinence policy, calling it a 'serious setback' in efforts to control the pandemic."
One placard at the conference read: 'Bush tells lies, condoms save lives.'
"Scientists, activists and policy-makers at an international AIDS conference have slammed President George W. Bush's abstinence policy, calling it a 'serious setback' in efforts to control the pandemic."
One placard at the conference read: 'Bush tells lies, condoms save lives.'
How Do I Look, Darling?
As you may have noticed, this blog has recently been updated with a new look and feel. I've also decided to make more effort to publicize the blog - not much point doing all this work if nobody reads it! After all, the aim is to get rid of Bush, right?
If you find the popup windows annoying, you can stop them quite easily these days with a program like Popup Stopper. If you have the Google toolbar, you can also select "Options" then "Popup Blocker". Email me if you have any problems.
I've also re-instated the Comments, partly in response to endless criticism by people who probably will never post here anyway! Just click on "Have your Say" and let me know your thoughts.
As you may have noticed, this blog has recently been updated with a new look and feel. I've also decided to make more effort to publicize the blog - not much point doing all this work if nobody reads it! After all, the aim is to get rid of Bush, right?
If you find the popup windows annoying, you can stop them quite easily these days with a program like Popup Stopper. If you have the Google toolbar, you can also select "Options" then "Popup Blocker". Email me if you have any problems.
I've also re-instated the Comments, partly in response to endless criticism by people who probably will never post here anyway! Just click on "Have your Say" and let me know your thoughts.
Four More Months - Or Two?
Here are some comments from a BBC website discussion on delaying the US Nov 2nd elections:
"If Lincoln held elections during the Civil War, we can hold elections in the United States in 2004. Polling takes place at schools, libraries, and other public facilities throughout the country; it is a de-centralized activity that, unlike the World Series or the Super Bowl, is not easy to stop or even handicap with a terrorist attack. Has the Bush administration proposed postponing these sporting events? No. It's an election that they want to stop, because it's an election that they fear."
- Sam, Boston, United States
"Bush has earned the cynicism and mistrust of the people. Even if there were legitimate reasons to postpone the election, at least half of Americans would believe it's a conspiracy for a struggling President to hold onto power. I'm not sure they'd be wrong. Nothing this administration does should ever be trusted again."
- Shawn, Washington DC, USA
My own thoughts? Why not do what Paul Bremer did in Iraq and bring the elections FORWARD a month or two??? That will fool all those dang-blasted terrrrrrrrrsts!
Here are some comments from a BBC website discussion on delaying the US Nov 2nd elections:
"If Lincoln held elections during the Civil War, we can hold elections in the United States in 2004. Polling takes place at schools, libraries, and other public facilities throughout the country; it is a de-centralized activity that, unlike the World Series or the Super Bowl, is not easy to stop or even handicap with a terrorist attack. Has the Bush administration proposed postponing these sporting events? No. It's an election that they want to stop, because it's an election that they fear."
- Sam, Boston, United States
"Bush has earned the cynicism and mistrust of the people. Even if there were legitimate reasons to postpone the election, at least half of Americans would believe it's a conspiracy for a struggling President to hold onto power. I'm not sure they'd be wrong. Nothing this administration does should ever be trusted again."
- Shawn, Washington DC, USA
My own thoughts? Why not do what Paul Bremer did in Iraq and bring the elections FORWARD a month or two??? That will fool all those dang-blasted terrrrrrrrrsts!
Spinning Versus Lying
Frank Luntz, the Republican pollster and message-meister, recently advised Republicans to explain 'the policy of pre-emption and the war in Iraq' by recommending that 'no speech about ... Iraq should begin without a reference to 9-11.' This is despite the fact that the 9-11 Commission concluded Iraq has no connection to 9-11."
Frank Luntz, the Republican pollster and message-meister, recently advised Republicans to explain 'the policy of pre-emption and the war in Iraq' by recommending that 'no speech about ... Iraq should begin without a reference to 9-11.' This is despite the fact that the 9-11 Commission concluded Iraq has no connection to 9-11."
Top Republican linked to Enron gifts:
"In May 2001, Enron's top lobbyists advised the company's chairman, Ken Lay, that the then-House Majority Whip, Tom DeLay, was pressing for a $US100,000 ($138,000) contribution to his political action committee. The company had already pledged $250,000 to the Republican Party that year.
Mr DeLay requested that the new donation come from 'a combination of corporate and personal money from Enron's executives', to be partly spent on 'the redistricting effort in Texas', said an email to Ken Lay from lobbyists Rick Shapiro and Linda Robertson... "
"In May 2001, Enron's top lobbyists advised the company's chairman, Ken Lay, that the then-House Majority Whip, Tom DeLay, was pressing for a $US100,000 ($138,000) contribution to his political action committee. The company had already pledged $250,000 to the Republican Party that year.
Mr DeLay requested that the new donation come from 'a combination of corporate and personal money from Enron's executives', to be partly spent on 'the redistricting effort in Texas', said an email to Ken Lay from lobbyists Rick Shapiro and Linda Robertson... "
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