Friday, December 08, 2006

THIS JUST IN! GUNS AND BOMBS AND RUMSFLED!

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- DC.

THE OUTGOING SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DONALD RUMSFELD WENT OUT WITH A BANG TODAY.

BACKED BY SLASH, DUFF AND WHAT DICK CHENEY SAID WAS "SOME HOBO THEY PULLED OFF THE STREET," DONALD THE RUMSFLED SAID GOODBYE IN SONG AND AIR GUITAR:

SHED A TEAR 'CAUSE I'M MISSING YOU
I'M STILL ALRIGHT TO SMILE
IRAQ, I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERY DAY NOW
WAS A TIME WHEN I WASN'T SURE
BUT YOU SET MY MIND AT EASE
THERE IS NO DOUBT YOU'RE IN MY HEART NOW
AMERICAN PEOPLE, TAKE IT SLOW
IF A FEW THOUSAND MORE DIE THAT'S JUST FINE
ALL WE NEED IS JUST A LITTLE PATIENCE


FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Starting with peace news within the United States. Kyle Snyder is currently traveling the West coast speaking out against the illegal war. Snyder was heavily and repeatedly targeted by a recruiter who promised the moon and delivered nothing. Because verbal agreements can be broken . . . on their end. On leave from Iraq, Snyder self-checked out and went to Canada in April of 2005. Happy there, speaking out, a job he enjoyed working with disabled children that paid well. Snyder began to consider returning to the United States. As October drew to a close, he did just that and on October 31st, turned himself in at Fort Knox only to self-check out again after discovering that the military that lied to him before had lied yet again.

On KPFA's Flashpoints yesterday, Nora Barrows-Friedman interviewed Snyder. Barrows-Friedman noted his Army Corps of Engineers training and Snyder explained that he thought he'd be in Iraq doing construction "asphalt and concrete, laying foundations for schools, hospitals, roads." Instead, they made him a gunner and "an escort for high ranking officials." He saw a number of things in Iraq, reconstruction wasn't one of them.

Kyle Snyder: The things that I saw there for instance, you know, when we're told that we're liberating the people of Iraq and we're doing positive things you know I expect to at least see the civilians and stuff, you know, accepting us more. And basically accepting what we're doing. But children were flipping us off, they were begging for food and water almost all the time when I was out. I had seen people killed, I had seen people injured and it's just basically what led me to leave the war in the first place were the policies that drove the war. You know, when the Bush administration in 2004 and 2005 were saying 'We're liberating the people of Iraq' like I said I expect to see some of that happening. You know, no matter what rank you are, I think that we deserve to know why we're fighting. And basically it felt like a lie. It felt like a lie. And mainly because we couldn't explain what the mission was.


Despite a warrant for his arrest, Snyder's "going around speaking to povertized areas, mainly African-American and Latino communities, around the country because they're targeted by recruiters and I think that recruiters should tell people the truth." He didn't have that himself. No one was warning him. The mood of the country then was still Rah-Rah, he was targeted heavily in high school (recruiter evern came to his graduation) and he grew up in foster homes. Snyder knows what it's like to think some adult's really interested in you, really concerned about you, only to realize after they were just trying to hit their month's target goal.

Nora Barrows-Friedman: And Kyle, if you were speaking with a young person who was considering joining the military right now, they were weighing their options, what advice would you have for them and what would you talk about with their families?

Kyle Snyder: . . When a recruiter comes up and talks to you, it's not because you're a special kind of person. It's not because you have any type of thing that some other human being doesn't. And a lot of 17 and 18-year-olds assume that, you know? 'Oh a recruiters talking to me because I have some kind of special ability that no other person has.' And they over-glorify it making you know basically the Army into Rambo-like figures and things that you know are in action movies when that's not the case. They really need to look at what they'll be doing. . . . You're a gunner, medic, driver or, you know, an escort. Those are the only four jobs that are in Iraq regardless of what you sign up to do. I'd say, you know, if somebody signed up no matter what branch of service, I'd say it's about an 80% chance you're going to Iraq as long as the Bush administration is in power. So they really need to look at that and understand that, yes, they're going to Iraq as long as, like I say, the Bush administration has their say, the war's going to last. So they just need to understand that. And I can understand people that do join the military and that believe in what they're doing but they need to understand people like me as well --that are lied to to get into the military. And, you know . . . I don't know. That's basically all I can say.

Kyle Snyder is a public US war resister. He is part of a resistance movement within the military that also includes Darrell Anderson, Ehren Watada, Joshua Key, Ivan Brobeck, Ricky Clousing, Mark Wilkerson, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Patrick Hart, Clifford Cornell, Agustin Aguayo, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, and Kevin Benderman. Those are some of the war resisters who have gone public and over thirty US war resisters are currently in Canada attempting to be legally recognized.

When asked to speak about this movement, Kyle Snyder noted, "There's over 8,000 AWOL soldiers in the United States right now, 200 in Canada, 38 have applied for refugee status in Canada and I'm hoping, you know, that they start coming out. And I know that some of them are going to be coming out in the next few months. . . . I could use Bush's words, 'Are we going to solve this problem now or are we going to wait for the next president 5 years from now, 10 years from now when 8,000 Iraq veterans are homeless or hiding in a corner because it wasn't taken care of like it could have been?'"

[Rebecca wrote about Snyder's interview here.]

Information on this movement of war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters. Appeal for Redress is collecting signatures of active duty service members calling on Congress to bring the troops home -- the petition will be delivered to Congress next month.

Tina Kim (WorldNow) reports on Appeal for Redress and notes that Jonathan Hutto and others involved with the appeal will be holding a news conference next Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. to raise awareness on the project which is gathering signatures of active duty service members calling for the US troops to be brought home. The appeal will be presented to Congress in January. Jonathan Hutto was a guest last week on WBAI's Law and Disorder. [Mike noted it here.]

Today begins the National Days of Action to Support GI Resistance, called for by Courage to Resist, which run through Sunday the 10th. Indybay IMC notes: "Other Bay Area Events: On Friday, December 8th, 7:30pm at the College of Marin in Kentfield, segments of the film 'Ground Truth' will be shown, and Iraq combat veteran-turned-war-resister Darrell Anderson will speak. Also that evening, at 7:30pm at the Buena Vista United Methodist Church in Alameda, the film 'The Ground Truth' will be shown, and there will be a panel with Rev. Michael Yoshii, and Bob Watada and Rosa Sakanishi. That night in San Jose, there will be a reception and fundraiser for Kyle Snyder at 6pm at the San Jose Friends Meeting House. On Saturday December 9th, there will be a peace vigil in support of Lt. Ehren Watada, in front of the MLK, Jr. Library in San Jose from 12-4pm. Read more about these events."


Recommended: "Iraq Snapshot"
"And the war drags on"
"NYT: 'With Foe's Change of Heart, Iraq Watchdog Is Likely to Survive' (James Glanz)"
"Other Items"
"A rare solo entry"
"kyle snyder, nora barrows friedman, the james bake..."
"Law and Disorder, Cedric and other stuff"
"Kyle Snyder on KPFA's Flashpoints right now"
"THIS JUST IN! WHAT'S HE MEAN "WE"?"
"Collective blame "


Cheap Talk? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates.
Posted by at

Thursday, December 07, 2006

THIS JUST IN! WHAT'S HE MEAN "WE"?

AFTER A LEISURELY THURSDAY AFTERNOON SPENT IN THE ROSE GARDEN PLAYING FETCH WITH BARNEY THE WHITE HOUSE DOG AND TONY BLAIR THE WHITE HOUSE POODLE -- BARNEY CAUGHT MORE STICKS IN THE AIR AND YAPPED FAR LESS -- BULLY BOY EMERGED TO MAKE A STATEMENT.
 
 
WHILE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK BOBBY GATES FIRED UP PATTI LABELLE'S "NEW ATTITUDE" ON THE JAM BOX ("WE'RE LETTING HIM BE IN CHARGE OF TUNES FIRST," EXPLAINED SECRETARY OF STATE & ANGER CONDI RICE.  "THEN WE'LL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT HE'S UP TO THE JOB OF SECRETARY OF DEFENSE."), A NATION SCRATCHED ITS HEAD AND WONDERED:
 
"WHAT'S HE MEAN WE?"
 
AFTER LYING A NATION INTO AN ILLEGAL WAR AND REFUSING TO RECOGNIZE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO WERE AGAINST GOING TO WAR, AFTER DUBBING HIMSELF "THE DECIDER," SUDDENLY -- WHEN THERE'S BLAME TO BE HANDED OUT, BULLY BOY WANTS TO TALK "WE"?
 
 
 
Starting with peace news.  As Thomas Watkins (AP) observes, "For a wanted man, Pfc. Kyle Snyder is keeping a remarkably high profile."  Recapping, Snyder self-checked out of the US military while on leave after serving in Iraq.  He went to Canada in April of 2005.  There he spoke out publicly and, following the return from Canada of US war resister Darrell Anderson, Snyder made the decision to return as well. On October 31st, turned himself in at Fort Knox only to self-check out again after discovering the military had lied yet again. Since then Snyder has been underground, surfacing to speaking out against the war.
 
Watkins reports that, despite a warrant being out on Snyder, he's traveling the West coast and speaking out such as in San Diego at the start of the week where his speech included, "Seeing children begging for food and water after two years of occupation, you really start to question if you are the good guy."  Speaking with Snyder is war resister Darrell Anderson and, Watkins notes, "a mobile chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War".
 
As Indybay IMC noted, "Friday, December 8th, 7:30pm at the College of Marin in Kentfield, segments of the film "Ground Truth" will be shown, and Iraq combat veteran-turned-war-resister Darrell Anderson will speak. Also that evening, at 7:30pm at the Buena Vista United Methodist Church in Alameda, the film "The Ground Truth" will be shown, and there will be a panel with Rev. Michael Yoshii, and Bob Watada and Rosa Sakanishi. That night in San Jose, there will be a reception and fundraiser for Kyle Snyder at 6pm at the San Jose Friends Meeting House. On Saturday December 9th, there will be a peace vigil in support of Lt. Ehren Watada, in front of the MLK, Jr. Library in San Jose from 12-4pm."   [Bob Watada is Ehren's father and Rosa Sakanishi is Ehren's step-mother.]
 
These events are part of the National Days of Action to Support GI resistance and GI rights" that Courage to Resist is calling from this Friday (Dec. 8th) through Sunday (Dec. 10th).
 
David Zeiger (Common Dreams) writes of these actions and notes the importance of these actions: "Today the new GI resistance movement is growing -- more soldiers are going public with their opposition, thousands are going AWOL, the first GI coffeehouse opened recently (with internet!), and the antiwar movement is realizing that supporting these soldiers is the next step.  It's time for us to escalate public pressure and action in support of the growing movement of thousands of courageous men and women soldiers who have in many different ways followed their conscience -- upholding international law, taking a principled stand against unjust, illegal war and occupation and standing up for their rights.  Widespread public cupport and pressure will help create true support for courageous troops facing isolation and repression, and help protect their civil liberties and human rights."
 
Zieger is the director of Sir! No Sir! which documents that war resistance within the military during Vietnam and, for those planning house parties, is highly recommended. (Click here for a community review.)
 
Right now, events are known to be scheduled in Alameda, CA; Honolulu, HI; Kentfield, CA; Long Beach, CA; Maui, HI; Missoula, MT; Montpeiler, VT; Nanuet, NY; New York, NY; Olympia, WA; Portland, OR; San Francisco, CA; Santa Barbara, CA; San Jose, CA; Seattle, WA; Tallahassee, FL; Vancouver, B.C. Canada; Worcester, MA.
 
 
1) Support for War Objectors
 
2) Protect the Right to Conscientious Objection
 
3) Protect the Liberties & Human Rights of GI's
 
4) Sanctuary for War Objectors
 
 
As Thomas Watkins (AP) notes, "The Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force have seen some 19,000 troops total go AWOL since 2001."  Kyle Snyder, Darrell Anderson and Ehren Watada are among the US war resisters who have gone public.  They are part of a resistance movement within the military that also includes Joshua Key, Ivan Brobeck, Ricky Clousing, Mark Wilkerson, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Patrick Hart, Clifford Cornell, Agustin Aguayo, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, and Kevin Benderman. Those are some of the war resisters who have gone public and over thirty US war resisters are currently in Canada attempting to be legally recognized.

Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters. Appeal for Redress is collecting signatures of active duty service members calling on Congress to bring the troops home -- the petition will be delivered to Congress next month.
 
 
Recommended: "Iraq Snapshot"

Check out the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster.
Posted by at

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

THIS JUST IN! 216-YEAR-OLD SPINE MISSING!

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- DC.

A $60,000 REWARD IS BEING OFFERED TO ANYONE WHO CAN DISCOVER A 216-YEAR-OLD SPINE.

THE SPINE WAS LAST THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN SEEN SOMETIME BEFORE 1994 THOUGH SOME SWEAR IT HAS BEEN M.I.A. SINCE THE MID-SEVENTIES.

AT ONE POINT, IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

THE FIRST TUESDAY OF NOVEMBER, THERE WAS AN OPERATION THAT ATTEMPTED TO GRAFT THE SPINE BACK ONTO THE PARTY AND EARLY INDICATIONS WERE THAT THE SURGERY TOOK.

HOWEVER, YESTERDAY'S ARMED SERVICE COMMITTEE HEARING AND FINDING PROVED THAT THE SPINE WAS STILL AS LARGE.

ANY INFORMATION OR LEADS ON THE MISSING SPINE SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO
(202) 863-8000.

$60,000 ISN'T A LARGE AMOUNT FOR A REWARD BUT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONFESSES THAT THEY'RE REALLY NOT SURE THEY WANT THEIR SPINE RETURNED YET.

FROM THE TCI WIRE:


Wednesday, December 6, 2006. Chaos and violence continue in Iraq, the James Baker Circle Jerk finally spews, Dow Jones reports ten US soldiers dead in Iraq today from two IEDs, and the Democrats demonstrate that "bipartisan" is Beltway Latin for "Screw the voter."
Starting with the vocab lesson first, for all the gas bagging after the election by The Elector (in all their forms) and all the talk of "change" and "listening to the people," Democrats -- swept into power by voters wanting change -- demonstrate that "bipartisanship" is just Beltway Latin for "Screw the voter." First up was the character assassination took John Murtha out of the running for the post of House Majority Leader and allowed War Hawk Steny Hoyer to be installed. Last week Dems were supposed to be cheerleading around the nation over Silvestre Reyes who was being installed as House Intelligence Committee chair. "Yeah, Silvestre!" was the kind of "critique" the public got as the gas bags of the left (and 'left') tried to paint over the fact that others were (again) passed over. Now, Amy Goodman (Democracy Now!) notes an interview Reyes gave to Newsweek where he expressed his desire to send an "up to 30,000" additional US troops to Iraq.
The vocabulary lesson is not limited to House Dems, Democrats on the Senate Armed Service Committee collectively stated, "Screw the voter." As Robert Parry (Consortium News) observes, "Despite winning the Nov. 7 elections largely due to public anger over the Iraq War, congressional Democrats crumbled in their first post-election confrontation with President George W. Bush on the future direction of that conflict."
As elected Dems attempt to 'educate,' the mainstream press attempts to present the marginalized as the norm. Though polls repeatedly demonstrate US citizens want US troops out of Iraq, though polls repeatedly demonstrate that Iraqi citizens wants US troops out of Iraq, Big Media thinks they can pull one over on the public again.Tossing Judith Miller onto the stake and burning her as the public scapegoat is supposed to satiate the masses and allow War Pornographer Michael Gordon to get off scott free again. (Gordo was Miller's writing partner quite often including on one story that was mentioned in the Times' mini-culpa.) Norman Solomon (Common Dreams) observes that Gordo and David Sanger have both contributed articles pushing the "the US must stay myth" and concludes: "What's now going on in mainline news media is some kind of repetition compulsion. And, while media professionals engage in yet another round of conformist opportunism, many people will pay with their lives."
It's not limited to the New York Times, but to stay on Gordo and the Times, FAIR notes that, on November 15, 2006, Gordo was on CNN telling Anderson Cooper "while the politicians in the United States would like to see a withdrawal of forces, particularly on the Democratic side, that's simply not realistic given how precarious the security situation is at this point in time" and drawing a comparison between Democrats who actually call for a withdrawal (there are a few of those) and 'insurgents': ". . . there are a significant number of players in Baghdad today who don't mind if the Americans withdraw. These are the militia leaders. They would be happy if the United States withdrew . . ." Now does any of that sound anything like a policy judgement or recommendation?
Because when attempting to foist his bad book off on the public, Gordo refused to weigh in on the war itself, telling Amy Goodman (Democracy Now!), "Well, that's a policy judgement and a political judgement that's really beyound the scope of our book."
But now, he can can make those judgements? Of course he can, he made them during the invasion as well -- in fact, he made them on CNN. March 25, 2003, Gordo took the CNN airwaves (Aaron Brown's now cancelled show) to cheerlead a US attack of a civilian target, a TV station, stating, "And personally, I think the television, based on what I've seen of Iraqi television, with Saddam Hussein presenting propaganda to his people and showing off the Apache helicopter and claiming a farmer shot it down and trying to persuade his own public that he was really in charge, when we're trying to send the exact opposite message, I think, was an appropriate target." Three year later, Juan Gonzalez (Democracy Now!) noted to Gordo that his [Gordo's] remark were "condemned by many journalism organizations around the world" and Gordo sputtered: "Well, I think, when -- you know, I don't know what was in General Franks' mind . . ." Blah, blah, blah. Gordo can't own his own mistakes, neither the can the paper.
Judith Miller was one person. The dog pile on her while others were ignored created a climate of impunity. Ditch digger Dexy is outed as a the go-to-boy (outed by a mainstream daily) for the US military and, if noted, it's reduced to an aside. While everyone obsessed and dog piled on Judith Miller's pre-war 'reporting' (which included co-writers), there wasn't time to call sob sister Dexy out. Even now, as the paper's attempts to marginalize US public opinion is called out, who's noting the story, filed from Iraq, that couldn't find a single Iraqi who wanted the US to withdraw (a position held by the majority of Iraqis)? No one. Miller's departure changed nothing at the paper. But bash-the-bitch and golden oldies did allow many to feel, three years later, that they were 'commenting' as they again trotted out the name "Judy Miller." The only thing surprising about Gordo is that his war porn has taken so long to be called out.

Recommended: "Iraq Snapshot"
"NYT: 'At Least 5 Marines Are Expected to Be Charged in Haditha Deaths' (Paul von Zielbauer)"
"Other Items"
"Jim Lafferty, Law and Disorder, peace movement"
"the hearing"
"Zohra Yusuf Daoud, Sunita Mehta, Women For Afghan Women"
"Hype express hits a pothole"
"Bobby Gates goes to a Democratic cotillion"
"THIS JUST IN! GATES ATTENDS A DEMOCRATIC SOCIAL!"
Posted by at

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

THIS JUST IN! GATES ATTENDS A DEMOCRATIC SOCIAL!

 
 
DEMOCRATIC SENATORS APPEARED SEMI-AWAKE IN THE MORNING BUT BY NOON THEY ALL APPEARED TO NEED A NAP.
 
"NOT TRUE!" SNAPPED SENATE MAJORITY-ELECT HARRY REID.
 
"LOOK, WE JUST GOT TIRED OF EVERYTHING BEING BULLY BOY'S," HE EXPLAINED.  "HE GETS TO SPY ON AMERICANS ILLEGALLY, HE GETS TO WRECK THE ECONOMY.  WE'VE ANALYZED THE ELECTIONS AND THE AMERICAN VOTER WANTS TO SEE DEMOCRATS DO SOMETHING.  BY ROLLING OVER ON ROBERT GATES NOMINATION FOR DEFENSE SECRETARY, WE'VE JUST GRABBED THE ILLEGAL WAR!  IT'S NOT BULLY BOY'S WAR ALONE NOW!"
 
WHEN ASKED IF THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY A GOOD THING, HARRY REID APPEARED TO PANIC, SLAPPED HIS FOREHEAD AND RAN OFF CRYING.
 
 
 
 
Starting with the American troop fatality count.  On Sunday, ICCC made the call that 2900 US troops had died in Iraq since the start of the illegal war.  Yesterday, Sandra Lupien noted the 2900 mark on  The KPFA Evening News.  Today, Amy Goodman (Democracy Now!) notes: "The US death toll in the war has topped 2900."  CNN's counts 2,901 while also reporting 2899.   The latter figure is what the Defense Department goes with as well, 2899.  ICCC reports the number is 2906 (which is what we'll go with).
 
Does the number matter?  It should.  It should matter especially if you're appearing before Congress.  Robert Gates, who would like to replace Donald the Rumsfled as Secretary of Defense, cited another number: 2892.  Testifying today, he goes with 2892?  If this is Gates "on the ball," let's all worry.
 
KPFA's Larry Bensky and Aaron Glantz are anchoring the gavel-to-gavel coverage of Gates' confirmation hearing and it's being carried live on  KPFA, WBAI, KPFT, KPFK, KCFC and at
at the Pacifica website.  Those not in broadcast range can listen online at any of the links provided in the previous sentence. (And if you missed the live coverage, you can use the links for an archived broadcast.)  While Pacifica Radio covers the hearings live  NPR decided to 'hit hard' by covering the celebrity auction of Dick Clark. 
 
So along with grasping that Gates doesn't care enough about the job to use any accepted figure for the US military's fatality toll, what else have we learned?  Bob Dole did standup early on.  The former US senator was one of two walking Gates down the aisle.  Who gives Gates away?  Dole and Doren.  Dole told a joke about how the phone rang asking that "Senator Dole" introduce Gates and, too late, Bob Dole realized they meant Elizabeth Dole (his wife who is currently a US senator).  Having wowed 'em like he hasn't since he schilled for Pepsi with Britney Spears, Dole stepped aside for the Senate's own Norma Desmond:  David L. Boren.
 
Boren was supposed to be introducing Gates but instead seemed lost in the past, a murky one, that needed to be reclaimed unless we were are prepared to "ultimately destroy the fabric" of the country.  Boren couldn't shut up about the past including "15 years ago."  So let's take a look at the Senate when Boren still served on it. 
 
Boren did sometimes work with people on the other side of the aisles:  Democrats.  Though supposedly a Democrat, he was usually to be found triangulating with Republicans.  Boren's 'bipartisanship' resulted in many things, a greatest hits reel can't be provided here.  But two highlights.  Boren voted to confirm Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court.  The country still suffers as a result.  Boren was among those who put "civility" above the truth regarding Iran-Contra and, it can be argued since many of the same players repeat today, that doing so implicates him in today's illegal war.
 
Possibly, he shouldn't grab that white Bible with his bloodied hands?  White Bible?  Oh, the one he used to publicly swear that he wasn't gay back when those rumors floated.  Today's heart-felt intro recalled a great deal of the drama of that 1979 moment. 
 
Robert Gates told Senator John Warner that he felt the Bully Boy wanted him "to take a fresh look and all options are on the table" regarding Iraq.  But some things do not require a "fresh look," apparently.  On the issue of remaining in Iraq, Gates stated that it seemed to him that the US would "have to have some presence in Iraq for a long time."  He then offered the WRONG number and mentioned a woman who approached him to declare, "I have two sons in Iraq.  For God's sake, bring them home safe." 
 
After that, it all got even zanier as there appeared to be a contest among Republicans to see who could look the most insane as they attempted to scare Americans and spin the illegal war.
 
 
Honorable mentions go to the following:
 
 
Jeff Sessions who declared both the need to "reach out and grasp each other's hands" (stay of the cloakroom) went even touchier-and-feelier, soaring into clouds that the laughable Peggy Noons (Noonan) couldn't even approach as he spoke of US troops who had died in Iraq: "I talked to their families.  I talked to those who lost their lives." 
 
No word as to whether "those who lost their lives" talked back to Jeff Sessions.
 
Pat Roberts wants the troops home but frets over how it could be done "the wrong way."    See, pulling them out too soon, bringing them home, could cause problems.  Such as?  Roberts didn't know.  He was suddenly discussing "sleeper cells in this country" and terrorists of a second generation.  If he truly believes there are "sleeper cells" in the United States, one would assume that the troops might be needed in the US.  But Roberts was busy trying to frighten America and that appeared to be the Republican game plan.
 
Joe Lieberman (officially billed these days as "Independent") attempted to work through his own issues, publicly, in front of the committee.  He warned of what could happen "if we end up leaving Iraq in chaos" because, apparently Joe Lieberman has missed the fact that Iraq is in chaos and has been.  "Bipartisanship" was a buzz word for NoMentum as well and he wanted the entire nation to band together to go after all the enemies he sees elsewhere in the world ("everybody around the world who wishes us evil") which demonstrated that Lieberman hasn't lost his sense of persecution. 
 
But the winner?  James Inhofe in the first round.  Inhofe's never met a fact he can't fudge or mangle.  His statements were concerned with pushing the illegal war except when he went into alarmist mode of Chinese computer hackers and raged that others (on the Senate?  in the United States?) "don't seem to read these, they don't seem concerned about this!"  What Inhofe was concerned primarily with was noting that "the mass graves [in Iraq], that's not taking place anymore."
 
Oh Inhofe, apparently you're not reading what you need to read.  November 30, 2006, the US military announced the discovery of a "mass grave" with 28 bodies in it.  And, no, it's not from the era of Saddam Hussein.
 
The Democrats? Evan Blah showed what a suck up he could be, Carl Levin probed and Hillary Clinton appeared to be setting up for the next round of questioning.  (The hearings are on a lunch break.  During that Pacifica will be offering analysis.)
 
The big news is supposed to be that Gates noted (the obvious fact) that the US isn't "winning."  (Nor can it, unsaid by Gates.)  What should be noted is how often he couldn't remark, he didn't know enough,  his "view is too uninformed," "I'm not well enough informed at this point to make a decision" blah, blah, blah.  This is the man who was sitting on the James Baker Circle Jerk, right?  He was tasked with recommendations the US should take re: Iraq, right?
 
Recommended: "Iraq Snapshot"

Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.
Posted by at

Monday, December 04, 2006

THIS JUST IN! NOT ENOUGH ACTION FOR SWINGIN' BOLTON

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- DC.

U.S. AMBASSADOR JOHN BOLTON GOT A LITTLE CONFIRMATION SHY AND TOOK HIMSELF OUT OF THE RUNNING.

EARLIER, THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS HAD BEEN BY-PASSED AS A RESULT OF A RECESS APPOINTMENT. FACED WITH STANDING BEFORE CONGRESS, SWINGING JOHN BOLTON DECIDED HE DID NOT WANT ALL THAT ATTENTION.

PICTURED BELOW IN BETTER TIMES, JOHN BOLTON ONCE HAD HIGH HOPES FOR WHAT HE TERMED "MY OWN KIND OF 'RELATING,' IF YOU FEEL ME."



AS HE EXITED THE PUBLIC STAGE, JOHN BOLTON WAS HEARD TO DECLARE, "WITH ALL THOSE NATIONS, ALL THOSE PEOPLE, I REALLY THOUGHT I'D GET A LITTLE ACTION ON THE SIDE, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. YOU KNOW A LITTLE SEX, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. YOU KNOW A LITTLE **** ***** AND SOME ***** SOMETHING-SOMETHING. IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN."


FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Meanwhile, in the US, war resistor Mark Wilkerson finds inspiration and support from the past -- specifically from his great-grandfather. Writing at his website, Red, White & Blurry: My Life As An AWOL Soldier, Wilkerson explains that his grandmother passed on a letter to him, one that his great-grandfather wrote then-US-president Calvin Coolidge when his son (John F. Hemphill) died in Nicaragua. Wilkerson reproduces the letter as his site and notes:
"When I read this for the first time, I couldn't help but crying. Because through this letter, I can't help but feel that my great-grandfather would be proud of what I'm going through, and could relate with me on many levels. I feel that reading this somehow connected me again to a part of my family that I haven't been close to much lately, and I'm thankful for that. I also feel more now, than ever, that as a veteran, it is my obligation to speak out when I feel that an injustice is being done in our country today through this so-called War on Terrorism."

Mark Wilkerson self-checked out of the US military for approximately eighteen months before, August 31st, announcing at Camp Casey III that he would be turning himself in. Speaking with Dennis Bernstein on KPFA's Flashpoints the same day, Wilkerson explain that he had applied for c.o. status but been denied and told that he could not begin the rebuttal process until after he completed his second deployment in Iraq.


Wilkerson is part of a movement within the military of war resistance that also includes
Kyle Snyder, Ehren Watada, Joshua Key, Ivan Brobeck, Darrell Anderson, Ricky Clousing, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Joshua Casteel, Clifford Cornell, Agustin Aguayo, Patrick Hart, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, and Kevin Benderman. Those are only some of the names of those resisting who have gone public.Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, Soldier Say No!, the War Resisters Support Campaign, Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veterans For Peace. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters.

Their actions are helping to end to the war as are the actions of others demanding an end to the illegal war. Today on WBAI's Law and Disorder, co-host Michael Ratner spoke with Marjorie Cohn (president of the National Lawyers Guild) about the need to press Congress but also the need to do much more. Cohn agreed and noted that the advances of the Civil Rights era weren't a gift that a generous Congress just decided to offer, they resulted from demands, protests and activism. Mike will be addressing the broadcast later today at his site Mikey Likes It! (The four hosts of the program are Ratner, Dalia Hashad, Heidi Boghosian and Michael Smith.)

And finally, tomorrow on KPFA (airwaves and online):

KPFA Special Broadcast: Robert Gates Confirmation HearingTuesday, December 5th, 06:00amLive, gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Robert Gates Secretary of Defense confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill. With Larry Bensky, Aaron Glantz and our guest experts.

This will also be carried at the Pacifica website. For more background on Gates see Consortium News and for Robert Parry's latest click here. Gates shouldn't be back-patted and glad-handed with his history. Danny Schechter the News Dissector notes: "Sadly, I saw John Kerry on CNN say he will vote for Gates because the country doesn't need a debate now on his appointment as the new Rummy Dummy. Huh?"



Recommended: "Iraq Snapshot"
"And the war drags on"
"NYT: 'Annan Adds His Voice to a Growing Chorus That Is Calling the Situation in Iraq a 'Civil War'' (Wong)"
"Other Items"
"The 2900 mark"
"Ruth's Report""Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts 'Bully Parkerr'"
"NYT: Kirk Semple reports on Iraq, Cloud & Gordo visit fantasy camp"
"NYT: Bully's got no plans but a lot of starter sets (Sanger & Wong)"
"Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Kim Gandy, Bay Fang"
"written on breaks"
"Dave Zirin, Iraq"
"Decking the Friedman"
"Waldorf Salad in the Kitchen"
"Melanie"
A Note to Our Readers
Editorial: Return of the Toad, Robert Gates
TV: Big Rip Off
What happened in Amman?
The One About The Nation
Yes, RadioNation with Laura Flanders did air
Worst Video Collection
NYT: Wednesday Repeats
Highlights
Iraq Study Group Calls for All US Troops to Leave ...
"Bully Boy channels Whitney Houston"
"THIS JUST IN! BULLY BOY, GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT"
Posted by at

Friday, December 01, 2006

THIS JUST IN! BULLY BOY, GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT

 
 
"DON'T BLAME ME," SECRETARY OF STATE & ANGER CONDI RICE INSISTED AS SHE GREETED THESE REPORTERS.
 
WITHOUT EXPLAINING WHAT IT WAS THAT WE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BLAME HER FOR, SECRETARY RICE EXPLAINED THAT THE BULLY BOY WAS STILL "MIFFED" ABOUT BEING STOOD UP ON WEDNESDAY WHEN HIS PUPPET SNUBBED HIM.
 
 
TO CHEER HIM UP, BULLY BOY WANTED TO . . .
 
SING.
 
 
AS WE ENTERED THE OVAL OFFICE, WE SAW BORED LOOKING BUSH FAMILY MEMBERS, ALL UNEMPLOYED, HOLDING VIDEOCAMS AND WAITING . . . AND WAITING . . . AND WAITING.
 
AT LAST, AS A CHEESY MUSIC TRACK CUED UP, THERE WAS BULLY BOY, A RAG TIED AROUND HIS HEAD, A MICROPHONE IN HAND.  HE BEGAN SKIPPING AROUND THE ROOM SINGING:
 
THERE'S A BOY I KNOW
HE'S THE ONE I DREAM OF
LOOKS INTO MY EYES
TAKES ME TO THE STARS ABOVE
 
"HIS FATHER TOLD HIM ONE OPINION WASN'T ENOUGH,"  SECRETARY RICE EXPLAINED.  "SO HE'S SET UP A  DATE NEXT WEEK WITH ABDUL AZIZ AL-HAKIM AND NEXT MONTH WITH TAREQ AL-HASHEMI.  HE FIGURES IF THEY DON'T STAND HIM UP, THE PROBLEM IS AL-MALIKI'S.  OHHH!"
 
SECRETARY RICE SCREAMED IN SHOCK AS BULLY BOY PRESSED HIS FACE NEAR HER'S AND SANG, "I'M ASKING YOU COZ YOU KNOW ABOUT THESE THINGS.  OH, HOW WILL I KNOW?  HOW WILL I KNOW?"
 
 
 
Meanwhile, although the Iraq Study Group has released its findings, people continue to ponder the James Baker Circle Jerk.  As noted by Amy Goodman (Democracy Now!) today, the James Baker Circle Jerk is rumored to call for a 2008 'withdrawal' that is not, in fact, a withdrawal.  It's a continuation of the air war that Norman Solomon has been describing for months now.  It's also the James Baker Circle Jerk stroking themselves on the public dollar.  The onanistic nonsense not only revolves around the air war, it also pushes embedding US forces with Iraqi police squads and forces. 
 
For those who've forgotten how Patrick McCaffrey died and the battle his mother Nadia McCaffrey has had to fight to force the US government to get honest could see the 'suggestion' as worthy of suggesting.  (Patrick McCaffrey and Andre Tyson, with the US National Guard, were killed in Iraq.  The US government told the families that the two men were killed by 'insurgents.'  In reality, they were killed, June 22, 2004, by Iraqi security forces they were training.) 
 
Addressing the James Baker Circle Jerk on this week's CounterSpin, Gary Younge (Guardian of London; The Nation) observed to Steve Rendall,, "The fact that this study group was necessary itself highlights a flaw in American politics.  Democracy should have been able to deal with this, not an appointed study group."  As Younge explained the responsibility the group was tasked with was Congress' own responsibility . . . until they outsourced it.
 
In peace news, Aaron Glantz (IPS) reports that the revelations of the US government spying on peace activists is not slowly plans for the march in Washington, DC January 27th.  Among the groups spied on were CODEPINK, United For Peace and Justice, Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, the War Resisters League and the American Friends Service Committee.
 
The War Resisters League will be presenting Sir! No Sir! tomorrow (Saturday, December 2nd) at both seven pm and nine-thirty pm.  This kicks off the War Resisters League and the Brecht Forum's Screenpeace: An Antiwar Film Festival that will hold screenings of other films on Fridays during January.
 
 
In other activism news, Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) are asking for a National "Mandate for Peace" Call-in Day, Monday, December 4th.  To sign the petition click here. To phone your rep and senators, you can dial 202-224-3121.  PDA notes: "On Election Day, voters said enough is enough -- we want a new direction.  Let's make sure Congress hears it again by jamming the switchboards on Dec. 4 with our pleas to bring our troops home immediately."
 
 
Recommended: "Iraq Snapshot"
""

Access over 1 million songs - Yahoo! Music Unlimited.
Posted by at

Thursday, November 30, 2006

THIS JUST IN! CALL HIM BULLY STENCH MOUTH!

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- AMMAN, JORDAN.
 
BULLY BOY HAS LEFT THE COUNTRY!
 
 
YOU COULD CUT THE TENSION WITH A CHAINSAW.
 
AT THE END OF THE MEETING, BULLY BOY LOOKED AL-MALIKI UP AND DOWN AND SAID, "YOU BLEW IT, MISTER.  I WAS GOING TO LET YOU GO TO THIRD BASE!"
 
SPINNING ON HIS HEELS, BULLY BOY STORMED OUT, WENT BACK TO HIS HOTEL SUITE AND BEGAN TRASHING THE PLACE.
 
HOUSE KEEPING REPORTS THE FLOOR WAS BURIED UNDER A MAZE OF EMPTY LONE STAR BEER CANS, THAT SOMEONE APPEARED TO HAVE URINATED UP AND DOWN 1 WALL, SPRAYED OVER THE TOILET WAS A PICTURE OF JOHN MCCAIN AND OLLIE NORTH ENGAGED IN A VERY FRIENDLY MOMENT, APPARENTLY WIPED HIS BUTT WITH THE DRAPES, BUSTED A MIRROR AND SCRAWLED IN FECES THAT NOURI AL-MALIKI WAS WOEFULLY SMALL.
 
 
 
Meanwhile, the Iraq Study Group has issued their findings: (1) All US troops should be brought home immediately; (2) Reparations shall be paid by the US government to Iraq through the United Nations; (3) The US Congress should immediately begin impeachments hearings; (4) A War Crimes Tribunal should hear testimony into the destruction of Falluja; (5) Dexter Filkins shall be charged with crimes against humanity for his 'reporting' on Falluja and, in fact, all of his reporting on or from Iraq.
 
The findings were published today by the original Iraq Study Group, not the lame Lee Hamilton-James Baker Circle Jerk.  The findings are signed by the original chairs: Nina, Tony and Mike. And if the findings seem more democratic than those of the James Baker Circle Jerk, well one was of the people, the other was created to provide cover for the US administration.
 
[. . .]
 
Not tomorrow, but the Friday after next, December 8th, Courage to Resist will beging three days of public action: 
 
 
Military resisters, their families, veterans and concerned community members call for public action Dec. 8-10th!
Image
photo by : Jeff Paterson
It's time for us to escalate public pressure and action in support of the growing movement of thousands of courageous men and women GI's who have in many different ways followed the their conscience, upholding international law, taking a principled stand against unjust, illegal war and occupation and stood up for their rights. Widespread public support and pressure will help create true support for courageous troops facing isolation and repression, and help protect their civil liberties and human rights.  We call for the  following:1) Support for War Objectors 2) Protect the Right to Conscientious Objection 3) Protect the Liberties & Human Rights of GI's 4) Sanctuary for War Objectors. We urge you to join us December 8-10th for a weekend of action in supportof GI Resistance and GI Rights!
 
It takes courage to say that you will not fight -- especially if you are a soldier. As more members of the U.S. military step forward for peace, the peace movement must step forward to support them.
Large numbers are now refusing to serve: The Department of Defense estimates that there are about 8,000 AWOL service members. The GI Rights Hotline (800-394-9544) is currently receiving about 3,000 calls a month.
Most importantly, a growing number of soldiers are speaking out, against the illegality and immorality of the Iraq war and the orders they are being told to carry out. These brave men and women are risking jail time and their futures to stand up against the war. Click here to find out how you can support them.
 
 
On Monday, WBAI's Law and Disorder interviewed Jonathan Hutto with Appeal for Redress which is gathering signatures calling for Congress to bring the troops.  Signatures of those currently serving in the military.  Michael Ratner, Heidi Boghosian, Dalia Hashad and Michael Smith spoke about the historical importance of this and how the rights for those serving were won, not given and Hutto stated that currently they have "a little over 1200" signatures.
 
War resisters also include Kyle Snyder, Ehren Watada, Joshua Key, Ivan Brobeck, Darrell Anderson, Ricky Clousing, Mark Wilkerson, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Joshua Casteel, Clifford Cornell, Agustin Aguayo, Patrick Hart, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, and Kevin Benderman. Those are only some of the names of those resisting who have gone public.

Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, Soldier Say No!, the War Resisters Support Campaign, Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veterans For Peace. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters.
 
Recommended: "Iraq Snapshot"

Want to start your own business? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business.
Posted by at

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

THIS JUST IN! BULLY BOY GETS STOOD UP BY A "DUD"!

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- AMMAN, JORDAN.

BULLY BOY IS PLAGUED BY ONE QUESTION: "DID I STAND HIM UP OR DID HE STAND ME UP?"

IN LIGHT OF THE NON-MEETING THAT DID NOT TAKE PLACE TODAY, BULLY BOY HAS BEEN CONFINED TO HIS SUITE AND REFUSING TO LEAVE. WHEN THESE REPORTERS HEARD HIM SHOUT THE QUESTION REPEATEDLY, WE ATTEMPTED TO PERSUADE THE SECRET SERVICE TO ALLOW US ENTRY BUT THEY REFUSED.

A NERVOUS DAN BARTLETT EMERGED SHORTLY TO EXPLAIN IT WAS "NO BIG DEAL" THAT THE MEETING DID NOT TAKE PLACE TODAY AS PLANNED BECAUSE "IT WAS GOING TO BE MORE OF A SOCIAL MEETING ANYWAY."


AT WHICH POINT BARTLETT CEASED SPEAKING BECAUSE OF THE LOW, GUTTURAL CRY OF "WHY ME! WHY ME!" THAT SEEMED TO FILL THE HALLWAY.

BARTLETT NODDED TO THE SECRET SERVICE WHO TOLD THESE REPORTERS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE. WHEN WE REFUSED, THE SECRET SERVICE GRABBED EACH OF US BY AN ARM BUT WHATEVER MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED WAS PREVENTED BY THE ARRIVIAL OF SECRETARY OF STATE & ANGER, CONDI RICE.

"HEY, HEY, DIG IT," CONDI SAID WAVING A CONTAINER, "DEAD SEA BATH SALTS! DEAD SEA BATH SALTS! ISN'T THAT THE WILDEST THING YOU EVER HEARD OF?"

WHEN NO 1 RUSHED TO LAUGH WITH CONDI, THESE REPORTERS EVENTUALLY DID.

"YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THESE BOYS GET ME. WHAT'S GOING ON ANYWAY?"

WHEN IT WAS EXPLAINED TO SECRETARY RICE, SHE SIGHED LOUDLY, SHOOK HER HEAD AND MUTTERED SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF, "WHY DO I ALWAYS HAVE TO CLEAN UP HIS MESSES? YOU'D THINK HIS MOTHER WOULD HAVE TAUGHT HIM HOW TO WIPE."

SHE HEADED INTO THE SUITES AND THESE REPORTERS ATTEMPTED TO FOLLOW
BUT WERE STOPPED BY THE SECRET SERVICE UNTIL SECRETARY RICE EXPLAINED, "THEY'RE COOL. THEY'RE WITH ME."

ONCE INSIDE SECRETARY RICE SHOOK HER HEAD HEAD IN DISGUST AT A BLUBBERING BULLY BOY WITH HIS HEAD BURIED IN A PILLOW.

CLEARING HER THROAT, SHE WALKED STRAIGHT TO THE DRAMA.

"YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS?" SHE ASKED THE BULLY BOY WHO STOPPED CRYING LONG ENOUGH TO LOOK UP.

"IT'S MYSTERY DATE. YOU KNOW MYSTERY DATE, RIGHT?"

"UH-HUH," BULLY BOY SAID WIPING HIS NOSE ON THE PILLOW CASE.

"SO WHAT HAPPENED? NOTHING. YOU WERE ALL DRESSED FOR A PICNIC AND NOURI AL-MALIKI SHOWED UP AT THE DOOR IN SKI GEAR. WHAT DO THEY SAY, 'BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME'."

"BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME," BULLY BOY SAID NODDING SLOWLY.

"THAT'S RIGHT," SECRETARY RICE SAID FIRMLY, "BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME."

"JUST LIKE YOU TOLD ME WHEN THE YELLOW CAKE STORIES EXPLODED," BULLY BOY SAID STARTING TO GRIN.

"THAT'S RIGHT," SECRETARY RICE AGREED.

"HEY, CONDI?"

"YES, MR. BULLY BOY?"

"CAN WE PLAY MYSTERY DATE NOW?"

"DID YOU PACK THE GAME?"

BULLY BOY RAN TO HIS LUGGAGE AND BEGAN TEARING THROUGH IT QUICKLY BEFORE PULLING OUT THE MYSTERY DATE BOARD GAME AND WAVING IT AROUND.

"YES, I DID. I WANT TO BE THE PURPLE GIRL. YOU CAN BE DARK BLUE!"

AND THAT'S HOW WE LEFT THE BULLY BOY OF THE UNITED STATES, SITTING ON THE FLOOR, TALKING EXCITEDLY ABOUT HOW HE HOPED HE GOT "THE SWIMMER AND NOT THE DUD. I HATE THE DUD!"

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Starting with the memo:
We returned from Iraq convinced we need to determine if Prime Minister Maliki is both willing and able to rise above the sectarian agendas being promoted by others. Do we and Prime Minister Maliki share the same vision for Iraq? If so, is he able to curb those who seek Shia hegemony or the reassertion of Sunni power? The answers to these questions are key in determining whether we have the right strategy in Iraq.
Maliki reiterated a vision of Shia, Sunni, and Kurdish partnership, and in my one-on-one meeting with him, he impressed me as a leader who wanted to be strong but was having difficulty figuring out how to do so. Maliki pointed to incidents, such as the use of Iraqi forces in Shia Karbala, to demonstrate his even hand. Perhaps because he is frustrated over his limited ability to command Iraqi forces against terrorists and insurgents, Maliki has been trying to show strength by standing up to the coalition. Hence the public spats with us over benchmarks and the Sadr City roadblocks.
Despite Maliki's reassuring words, repeated reports from our commanders on the ground contributed to our concerns about Maliki's government. Reports of nondelivery of services to Sunni areas, intervention by the prime minister's office to stop military action against Shia targets and to encourage them against Sunni ones, removal of Iraq's most effective commanders on a sectarian basis and efforts to ensure Shia majorities in all ministries -- when combined with the escalation of Jaish al-Mahdi's (JAM) [the Arabic name for the Mahdi Army] killings -- all suggest a campaign to consolidate Shia power in Baghdad.
Michael R. Gordon (New York Times) reports that author of the memo is National Securtiy Adviser Stephen J. Hadley and that Hadley wrote the memo November 8, 2006. The memo was based on conclusions Hadley drew while visiting the Green Zone on October 30th, a visit John F. Burns and David E. Sanger (New York Times) noted was spoken of "only in the vaguest of terms". The memo's distrust of Nouri al-Maliki and its suggestions fly in the face of what Geroge W. Casey Jr. was publicly pushing immediately prior to Hadley's visit. As Amit R. Paley (Washington Post) reported the US' military commander's claims of Iraqi security forces 'success' was doubted by American troops on the ground.
The memo covers a number of topics. Mainly it attempts to chart how the puppet can be propped up if he agrees to continue to following orders from the US administration (such as "support the renewal of the UN mandate for multinational forces" -- done yesterday -- through the end of 2007 as Sandra Lupien noted on yesterday's The KPFA Evening News). If that is the case, US tax dollars can be used to prop up political parties that do not support Moktada al-Sadr and thereby sideline al-Sadr from the process. ("This bloc would not require a new election, but would rather involve a realignment of political actors within the Parliament.") Mainly the memo's concerned with appearances, ways to make it appear the puppet is independent and strong. Such as: "Encourage Zal [Zalmay Khalilzad, the American ambassador] to move into the background and let Maliki take more credit for positive developments." As noted in previous snapshots, Zalmay-Take-Me-Away is on his way out. His supposed 'success' in Afghanistan began to implode in front of the world shortly after he was shipped to Iraq to create more 'success.' Reality didn't wait and Zalmay is on the way out.
The memo offers that al-Maliki can appear 'strong' if the US administration will: "Seek ways to strengthen Maliki immediately by giving him additional control over Iraq forces, although we musr tecognize that in the immediate time frame, we would likely be able to give him more authority over existing forces, not more forces" While pushing appearances, Hadley makes it very clear that al-Maliki is extremely out of touchand that he has one self-presentation "when he talks with Americans" and another at other times. Hadley writes: "But the reality on the streets of Baghdad suggest Maliki is either ignorant of what is going on, misrepresenting his intentions, or that his capabilities are not yet sufficient to turn his good intentions into action."
The memo reveals the doubts, all the times after, that the US administration still has of their puppet. Mark Silva (Chicago Tribune) reports that Tony Snow Job issued a statement of Bully Boy's confidence in al-Maliki which should make the puppet shudder if he's aware of "Heck of a job, Brownie." [Or of November 1st, when Bully Boy was singing Rummy's praises. As Ron Hutcheson (McClatchy Newspapers) reported: "Rumsfeld's ouster came a week after Bush told a small group of reporters that he wanted the defense secretary to stay on the job until end of his presidency."]
Silva also speaks with a nameless administration official who states that the memo is about raising questions and it "doesn't mean you're casting judgment" which is either cover up or the nameless hasn't read the memo. The third step Hadley outlines that al-Maliki "should take" is to "Shake up his cabinet by appointing nonsectarian, capable technocrats in key service (and security) ministries."
For those paying attention months ago, al-Maliki's claimed that was happening. He began saying it was happening after he finally got a cabinet semi together. He missed the Constitutional deadline as well as his own appointed deadline. When he finally had a 'cabinet' it was short three positions. As soon as those were filled, al-Maliki began making repeated noises about a 'shake up' that has still not taken place. That was telling when Hadley visited in October, it was telling when Hadley wrote the memo on November 8th and, as November draws to a close, it's even more telling.
As Tony Snow Job tries to spin the memo, the US administration still attempts to deny the reality of the civil war that has been raging in Iraq. Shatha al-Awsy (McClatchy Newspapers) registers quite clearly what she has seen in the last year in the neighborhood she lived, the neighbors who left as strangers began showing up, the talk of impending attacks, the need to build a secret passage way between her home and her parents, the night when violence was only streets away, her baby crying from the mortar rounds falling and her promise to herself to leave if they made it through tomorrow.
In the face of such reality, the US administration continues to deny Iraq is in a civil war. James Coomarasamy (BBC) reports that Stephen Hadley, of all people, "has said the Iraqi government does not see it in those terms, while the president himself described the latest attacks as part of an ongoing campaign by al-Qaeda militants." The same Hadley who wrote "the reality on the streets of Baghdad suggests Maliki is either ignorant of what is going on"? Meanwhile, Diala Saadeh (Reuters) reports Colin Powell, former US Secretary of State, has stated, "I would call it a civil war. . . I have been using it (civil war) because I like to face the reality." (Like your blot?) On CBS' The Early Show, Bob Schieffer (host of Face the Nation) offered, "This is not a memo that was leaked by some Democrat in Congress. This is something that obviously came from someone within the administration itself. It shows that the situation in Iraq is the kind of chaos that has been described by others at every level, political and military. It paints a picture that is unlike what we have been hearing from the administration. We've been hearing that things are getting better and so on and so forth, that al-Maliki is doing his best. Now this memo raises questions about those statements."


Recommended: "Iraq Snapshot"
"Other Items"
"NYT: 'U.S. Troops Kill 5 Girls in Assault on Insurgents' (Edward Wong)"
"robert parry, iraq, pacifica radio"
"Tom Hayden, Michael Ratner, Iraq"
"Isaiah, Medea Benjamin, Sally Kohn"
"Pacifica Radio Archives"
"Bully Back Down"
"THIS JUST IN! BULLY BOY CAVES!"


Cheap Talk? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates.
Posted by at

THIS JUST IN! BULLY BOY CAVES!

 
 
LATER, IN THE MEN'S ROOM, STANDING IMPATIENTLY AT THE URINAL, BULLY BOY DECLARED, "THERE IS ONE THING I'M NOT GOING TO DO.  I'M NOT GOING TO START PEEING BEFORE I FEEL LIKE IT."
 
STILL LATER, IN A BUFFET LINE AT THE LIDO IN THE RIGA AIRPORT, BULLY BOY HUFFED, "THERE IS ONE THING I'M NOT GOING TO DO.  I'M NOT GOING TO START MOVING UNTIL I FEEL LIKE IT."
 
THROUGHOUT THE NEXT 2 HOURS, THE SECRET SERVICE ATTEMPTED TO PROTECT BULLY BOY FROM JEERS, BOOS, AND THE OCCASSIONAL SPIT LOOGIE, WHILE BULLY BOY STOOD, HAND ON HIPS, GLARING AT EVERYONE.
 
FINALLY, ON THE AIRPORT RUNWAY, BULLY BOY DECLARED, "THERE IS ONE THING I'M NOT GOING TO DO.  I'M NOT GOING TO START MOVING UNTIL I FEEL LIKE IT."
 
BULLY BOY STOOD THERE PETULANTLY UNTIL SECRETARY OF STATE & ANGER CONDI RICE YELLED FROM THE TOP OF THE AIRPLANE STAIRS,  "MOVE IT, BULLY, GET YOUR BUTT OFF THE TARMAC RIGHT NOW!"
 
"YES, MA'AM,"  BULLY BOY GULPED BEFORE TAKING OFF IN A RUN TOWARDS THE STAIRS.
 
 
The US military announced today, "One Marine assigned to 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division died Nov. 27 from wounds sustained due to enemy action while operating in Al Anbar Province." The announcement comes as Aaron Glantz (OneWorld) reports on "a new study by the Caresey Institute" which finds that "[t]he mortality rate for soldiers from rural America is about 60 percent higher than the mortality rate for soliders from metropolitan areas." Glantz notes that the study finds that those "from rural Vermont have the highest death rate in the nation followed by Delaware, South Dakota, and Arizona."

Andrea Shalal-Esa (Reuters) reports that the United States Air Force says it needs "$33.4 billion in extra funding for fiscal 2007 to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and costs related to the 'longer war on terror'."

Current cost of the illegal war, via counter on Tom Hayden's website, $346,000,000,000.

And all the money going to support the illegal war couldn't be used in a better way, right?
New Orleans?

Kyle Snyder: There are over 20 engineering units, there's more than 20 engineering units in the U.S. military. I was part of an engineering unit. And to see places that look worse than Iraq in my own country makes me sick, it makes me disgusted, that they're not doing any rebuilding effort for the poor, for the African-American community. It's like they just left it there. They're not even cleaning it up. It's a disaster area. It's, logistically, it's the most horrible thing I've seen because we have engineering units in Iraq when they should be here. . . . This should be first priority. . . . Start pulling troops from Iraq and rebuilding in New Orleans.


US war resister Kyle Snyder spent Thanksgiving week by joining with Iraq Veterans Against the War, Col. Ann Wright, war resister Darrell Anderson and others to protest the School of Americas in Georgia and then going to New Orleans with Iraq Veterans Against the War to work on the rebuilding. Video clips are available at Soldier Say No! and the one quoted from is also available at Google Video. Snyder self-checked out of the US military in April of 2005, moved to Canada and then returned to the US and turned himself in at Fort Knox on October 31st, only to self-check out again after discovering the military had lied yet again. Snyder is now underground and on the road.

Also traveling is CODEPINK's Medea Benjamin who was recently in South Korea and spoke with Christopher Brown (OhmyNews International): ". . . the job of the peace movement is going to be not [to] put down its guard, to really be forcing the Congress to carry out what is a mandate for radical change, and the radical change is to bring the troops home, to stop allocating money for this war and to have no permanent bases in Iraq. And I think the issue of more money for the war will come up very soon in January when the new Congress reconvenes because they are going to be asked for over a hundred billion dollars more for this war."

Benjamin and others were in South Korea to support the people objecting to US base being expanded and asking that South Korea's troops be brought home from Iraq. Other activists on the trip included Cindy Sheehan who was interviewed about it by Jennifer Veale (Time magazine). In her latest column (BuzzFlash), Sheehan considers the proposal of returning to the draft and is "100% categorically opposed to forced conscription" and outlines her reasons which include that the draft didn't stop earlier wars, the "draft will never be fair and balanced," and that "a draft will only give the war maching more of our children to consume to generate its wealth."

The peace movement includes Cindy Sheehan (who sparked it back to life), Medea Benjamin, Ann Wright, Diane Wilson, Kyle Snyder, Darrell Anderson, Camilo Mejia, Alice Walker, Aidan Delgado, Pablo Parades, Missy Comley-Beattie, Agustin Aguayo, Stephen Funk, Carl Webb, Stan Goff, David Swanson (who examines war resistance here), . . . and many more (hopefully including you).

Writing for the San Francisco Chronicle, Tom Hayden notes that "the anti-war movement has been a major factor in mobilizing a majority of the American public to oppose the occupation and killing in Iraq" and, noting the failure of media to cover the movement: "the only recourse is to prepare widespread demonstrations and ground organizing in the key presidential primary states, to make it impossible for any candidate to become president in 2008 without pledging to end the war and occupation. If there is no peace movement, there will be no peace."

What would there be instead? More abuses, probably done more openly. On Saturday, Reuters reported Janis Karpinski's statement about the letter "signed by Rumsfeld which allowed civilian contractors to use techniques such as sleep deprivation during interrogation." (Karpinski wrote about that in her book, spoke about it with Amy Goodman and Dennis Bernstein.) We can pair that with The Socialist Worker's report on British major Antony Royce's statements in the court-martial for the abuses of Iraqi prisoners where he testified that he was instructed "by Major Mark Robinson, a brigade intelligence adviser, to 'condition' prisoners. Royce said that he then checked with Major Russel Clifton, the brigade's legal adviser, and was again told that 'conditioning' and hooding were acceptable."
[Pru highlighted the article on Royce.]

Lastly, the Pacifica's Archives is presenting a two-day special: Pacifica Radio Archives Presents Voices For Peace And Non-Violence. It is airing on all Pacifica stations (KPFA, KFCF, KPFT, WBAI, KPFK, WPFW), many affiliates and online. The special started today and pulls from the fifty plus years of archives. (Donations made during this two day period go to preserve the archives.) Among the voices heard today were MLK, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Camilo Mejia, Lena Horne, Fannie Lou Hamer, Gore Vidal, Kurt Vonnegut, Jane Fonda, and many others.
 
 
Recommended: "Iraq Snapshot"
 

Want to start your own business? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business.
Posted by at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)