Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Treating troops poorly is not supporting them.

photo op with a fake turkey being held by a real one
A man owns this wonderful tool that does all sorts of things and is much cherished. A neighbor asks to borrow it promising the proper care. The man catches this neighbor seriously abusing this favorite tool of his. He’s understandably furious at this person. However, he doesn’t suddenly hate his tool because he’s upset at the way it’s being used.
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Likewise, the military is a very precious tool of our government owned by us. The Bush administration is the bad neighbor that is doing the misusing and abusing. We still love the troops but we all have a right and responsibility to let our displeasure known when they are being treated badly by this or any administration that only has temporary custody of them.
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“When history is written, Iraq will look just like a comma.”
Zed Jones Unit
http://iraqjustacomma.cf.huffingtonpost.com/

Supporting the misguided Bush Administration has nothing to do with supporting the troops. The Republican party has made it very plain to every person that has served in the military, is currently serving in the military or ever will serve in the military that no act of heroism for your country or act of heroism for your home or act of heroism for your brothers and sisters in arms is worth ‘a hill of beans’ unless you submit to a particular agenda masquerading as conservative Republican.

Even the soldier who falls on the grenade is un-American if he’s found out to be a suspected liberal. After all if he’s Democrat it must have been some cowardly liberal plot that led that person to commit self assisted suicide.

The sad thing is they’ve made very clear to any soldiers, airman, seaman, or marines that may have been tempted to tell the American people the truth, whether it’s about the war, lack of proper military equipment, or their own mistreatment through sub-par states-side medical treatment, to keep they’re mouths shut except when regurgitating the Neoconservative talking points because they’re testimony is worthless and threatening to the Bush administrations public image.

Walter Reed patients told to keep quiet
By Kelly Kennedy -
Wednesday Feb 28, 2007 10:42:37 EST

Soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center’s Medical Hold Unit say they have been told they will wake up at 6 a.m. every morning and have their rooms ready for inspection at 7 a.m., and that they must not speak to the media.
“Some soldiers believe this is a form of punishment for the trouble soldiers caused by talking to the media,” one Medical Hold Unit soldier said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
More….
http://www.rawstory.com/showarticle.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.armytimes.com%2Fnews%2F2007%2F02%2FTNSreedinspect070227%2F
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The Bush Administration Has Let Down Our Veterans
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From Senator Patty Murray:
Senator Murray Speaks Out on Caring for Our Troops and Treating Traumatic Brain Injury
http://murray.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=269800

Murray Responds to Damning Report on Inadequate Mental Healthcare for Service Members and Veterans
http://murray.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=269689

Senators Demand Investigation of Deplorable Conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
http://murray.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=269545

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

The Disappeared and the Tortured


Will any of it be left after Bush?


from Human Rights Watch ...
US: Secret CIA Prisoners Still Missing
Washington Should Reveal Fate of People ‘Disappeared’ by US
(New York, February 27, 2007) –

The US government should account for all the missing detainees once held by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Human Rights Watch (http://www.hrw.org/ ) said in a report released today.
The 50-page report, “Ghost Prisoner: Two Years in Secret CIA Detention,” contains a detailed description of a secret CIA prison from a Palestinian former detainee who was released from custody last year. Human Rights Watch has also sent a public letter to US President George W. Bush requesting information about the fate and whereabouts of the missing detainees. More atHuman Rights Watch--http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/26/usint15408.htm
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This isn’t American. This isn’t who we are or what we’re about. This is just wrong; something unholy; a cancer. Congress must start investigations on this immediately, to go along with all the other investigations of detainees and prisoners, how they are treated and their housing.
more on torture…..
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"Freedom from torture is an inalienable human right, and we are committed to building a world where human rights are respected and protected by the rule of law…Throughout the world, there are many who have been seeking to have their voices heard, to stand up for their right to freedom, and to break the chains of tyranny. Too many of those courageous women and men are paying a terrible price for their brave acts of dissent. Many have been detained, arrested, thrown in prison, and subjected to torture by regimes that fail to understand that their habits of control will not serve them well in the long-term."
George W. Bush June 26, 2005
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America the Beautiful – 2006

Monday, February 26, 2007

Why are we funding radical Sunni groups in Iraq?




I was wondering, in a previous post (War with Iran would be a disaster) if we would be picking sides in Iraq. It seems we may be doing exactly that. Are we seeking support from both Saudi Arabia and radical elements among the Sunnis, loyal to Al Qaeda, for an attack against Iran? Are we doing the bidding of Saudi Arabia? Are we going to attempt to replay the old Iran-Iraq war? It sure seems we may be heading in that general direction.

Saudis reportedly funding Iraqi Sunni insurgents
Updated 12/8/2006 7:29 AM ET

CAIRO (AP) — Private Saudi citizens are giving millions of dollars to Sunni insurgents in Iraq and much of the money is used to buy weapons, including shoulder fired anti-aircraft missiles, according to key Iraqi officials and others familiar with the flow of cash.
More…
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2006-12-08-saudis-sunnis_x.htm

THE REDIRECTION
Is the Administration’s new policy benefitting our enemies in the war on terrorism?
by SEYMOUR M. HERSH

A STRATEGIC SHIFT
In the past few months, as the situation in Iraq has deteriorated, the Bush Administration, in both its public diplomacy and its covert operations, has significantly shifted its Middle East strategy. The “redirection,” as some inside the White House have called the new strategy, has brought the United States closer to an open confrontation with Iran and, in parts of the region, propelled it into a widening sectarian conflict between Shiite and Sunni Muslims.
More…
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/070305fa_fact_hersh
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Hersh: U.S. Funds Being Secretly Funneled To Violent Al Qaeda-Linked Groups
New Yorker columnist Sy Hersh says the “single most explosive” element of his
latest article involves an effort by the Bush administration to stem the growth of Shiite influence in the Middle East (specifically the Iranian government and Hezbollah in Lebanon) by funding violent Sunni groups.
More…
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/25/hersh-qaeda
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Where is the national debate? Where is the congressional authorization? Where is the Bush administration credibility on intelligence leading to military adventurism?
NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.
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The Army and Marines have suffered more casualties from the Sunni side than from the Shiite side. But it doesn’t matter if it was more from one side or the other.
IF THIS IS TRUE BUSH AND THE NEOCONS ARE FUNDING THE GUYS WHO ARE SHOOTING AT AND BLOWING UP OUR TROOPS.
IF THIS IS TRUE WE ARE HELPING TO FUND ONE SIDE OF HELL-LIKE CIVIL WAR THAT WE HAVE CRUELY STUCK ARE TROOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF.
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Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Neocons and their cohorts are fascists

"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."
George W. Bush

Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way around to consider the most wretched sort of life as paradise. "
Adolp HItler

“Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of State and corporate power."
Benito Mussolini
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"We stand for the maintenance of private property... We shall protect free enterprise as the most expedient, or rather the sole possible economic order."
Adolph Hitler

“The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to the point where it becomes stronger than the democratic state itself. That in its essence is fascism - ownership of government by an individual, by a group or any controlling private power. "
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

When Democracy failed

They are fascist.

From the very beginning of the Bush administration they began to marry corporate goals with administration goals. It started with the secretive energy meetings conducted by Cheney. The Bush administration accommodates their needs over that of America in most every instance. They place cronies, many of whom are unqualified, into positions of importance who end up catering to corporate interests over that of the American people. The no bid Halliburton contracts are a prime example. Neocons desire to rid the country of responsible government regulation of business and urgently needed social programs that they feel might interfere with their conservative vision of the way they would like to see business conducted. They believe those programs they are willing to let survive should be placed into private hands (the ownership society). They don’t just want to unravel everything positive that FDR did for our nation they want to destroy progressive advancements back to the time of Teddy Roosevelt.
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David Kowal
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Propaganda assails us all day long. The AM radio is dominated by extreme right wing viewpoints spewing pro-administration talking points and distortions across the dial twenty four hours a day. They also have the Fox news network along with many local stations affiliated with all the other networks, The Mooney owned Washington Times along with many other newspapers and publications. Multiple media outlets are owned in each city thanks to FCC deregulation. The other television network outlets are under the ownership of large profit centered corporations who have generated timid news crews. Courageous, independent and honest media sources are becoming harder to find in this country and those that do exist are constantly assailed.

Dissenting voices are considered wrong, portrayed as un-American, traitorous, or evil. Anyone who is not like them is not to be respected or trusted and they are routinely attacked, ridiculed and dehumanized. They advance hate for Muslims, liberals, the United Nations, any country that criticizes the neoconservative agenda and all those who fall outside their twisted moral view of society. Orwellian double speak, lies, half-truths, and distortions are their tools of choice. Anyone or group who disagrees with or contradicts the administration or its allies and benefactors are trashed mercilessly.

The neoconservatives are gifted at what I call ‘misdirection’. Just like what magicians do to distract an audience’s attention. It’s used most often when there is news or some other event they would like to draw our attention away from. Most often the device they chose is terror alerts or some threat of terrorism. They bring out some old report and present it as new, give partial information presented in the most threatening manner or completely fabricate the threat. The lapdog corporate media dutifully covers the administration tale ignoring what it was meant to hide. Sometimes the misdirection is as simple as an attack on a political enemy or policy such as gay marriage or some other conservative hot button issue.
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from Peace Takes Courage
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Political rallies where only people who sign a loyalty oath are allowed to attend. The people run a gauntlet of security to make sure no dissenters of any kind manage to slip inside to see who are supposed to be the leaders of everyone in the country. If you’re curious or just want to see your president or other top administration officials and hear them speak; you’re not getting in without the right papers. Many other rallies are attended only by the military on their turf, listening to a civilian president decked out in military garb. These events are highly orchestrated to sway the emotions while presenting an attractive stage for television news going about the business of providing colorful sound bites for a gullible public. Their propaganda is meant to control opinion in their favor by distorting and hiding the truth. It's in their interests the Neoconservative Bush administration is operating, not the United States.

People, including US citizens, can be locked up without charge, only suspicion is necessary, indefinitely with no access to counsel, the Red Cross or human rights groups. Anyone who looks Middle Eastern is targeted as a possible terrorist and deserves intense scrutiny and possible indefinite detention. Immigrants to our country including children can be held indefinitely without charge.

Habeas corpus, posse comitatus and personal privacy have been thrown on the ash heap. Our homes, mail, medical records, the books we borrow from the library, the web sites we visit, and the groups we associate with are all subject to secret FBI or Homeland Security snooping without legitimate judicial review.

Elections have become guarded events with suspicious activities such as purging voting rolls or having too few polling places forcing lines many hours long in predominately black districts or intimating a threat of arrest. Why, because they most often vote democratic.

We’re allowing ourselves to be taken advantage of by those who would desire to see our freedoms lessened for their own lustful purposes. They believe they are allowed, they have good reasons, and that domestic or international law does not apply to them.

14 Characteristics of Fascism
Mike Malloy
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The "Good German"syndrome

Posse comitatus derailed


Posse comitatus has been damaged considerably by the 109th Congress by sneaking in a provision for the president to be able to use the military as a police force. To quote the New York Times, “Beyond cases of actual insurrection, the president may now use military troops as a domestic police force in response to a natural disaster, a disease outbreak, terrorist attack or to any “other condition.”

This is another power grab by the Bush administration and giant step forward to total control by the executive branch.

The New York Times
Making Martial Law Easier
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Statement Of Sen. Patrick LeahyOn Legislation To Repeal Changes To The Insurrection Act (S. 513)
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Ask your senators to support Senator Leahy and S.513.

Monday, February 19, 2007

Bleeding Heart


This was Sundays Gospel reading. I couldn’t pass putting it up. Everything Christ talks about here is exactly what the conservatives attempt to denigrate liberals with, what they seem to believe is the derogatory expression of ‘bleeding heart’.


Jesus said to his disciples:
“To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount.
But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

Luke 6-27-38

Jesus explains well what it means to be a good follower of His; a good explanation of one type of Cross He has asked us to bare. Also, for those of us who dare to call ourselves Christian it’s a good example of how to be a ‘bleeding heart liberal’.
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Sounds a bit like Karma doesn't it. As John Lennon warned, "Instant Karma's gonna get you".
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I don’t believe that the big men, the politicians and the capitalists alone are guilty of the war. Oh, no, the little man is just as keen, otherwise the people of the world would have risen in revolt long ago! There is an urge and rage in people to destroy, to kill, to murder, and until all mankind, without exception, undergoes a great change, wars will be waged, everything that has been built up, cultivated and grown, will be destroyed and disfigured, after which mankind will have to begin all over again.
Anne Frank
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“We must move past indecision to action. We must find new ways to speak for peace in Vietnam and for justice throughout the developing world, a world that borders on our doors. If we do not act, we shall surely be dragged down the long, dark, and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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"In struggling for human dignity the oppressed people of the world must not allow themselves to become bitter or indulge in hate campaigns. To retaliate with hate and bitterness would do nothing but intensify the hate in the world. Along the way of life, someone must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate. This can be done only by projecting the ethics of love to the center of our lives."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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"As an essential part of its fight against all forms of terrorism, the international community is called to undertake new and creative political, diplomatic and economic initiatives aimed at relieving the scandalous situations of gross injustice, oppression and marginalization which continue to oppress countless members of the human family. History in fact shows that the recruitment of terrorists is more easily achieved in areas where human rights are trampled upon and where injustice is a part of daily life.”
Pope John Paul II
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from the Pope.....
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Rare Bird - "Sympathy"

Thursday, February 15, 2007

War with Iran would be a disaster.




Saudi citizens are contributing millions of (dollars) to the Sunni insurgency in Iraq. They kill Americans, too. Al-Qaeda is affiliated with an extremist’s Sunni sect. Saudi Arabia (where the vast majority of the 9-11 terrorists came from) citizens have been supporting those Sunni insurrectionists who have been killing our Marines and Soldiers.

Has this been occurring with the knowledge of Saudi Arabia? It seems hard to imagine that it hasn’t. Anyway, our administration has related that it matters little to the US whether Iran, or any other nation for that matter, possesses knowledge of pro-insurrectionist activity or not.



Are we saying its okay for Saudi citizens to support their Sunni side but it’s not okay for Iranian citizens to do the same for the Shiite side?
Are we just using questionable evidence of Iranian involvement, at whatever level, as an excuse for war with Iran?

Are we now picking a side?

Will it be the Sunnis?

If we align with the Sunnis are we unwittingly siding with those tolerant to supportive of Al-Qaeda?

I know the Bush people don’t appear to be picking a side, at least at this time. It would be foolish if they did. But, the Iraqi people and the neighboring nations are beginning to pick sides and they are all shooting at and wounding and killing our troops who should not be in the middle of a violent religiously and racially charged multifaceted civil war.
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Take Me Home----Arden Eaton
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The Bush administration is using the turmoil in occupied Iraq to manufacture reasons to ignore diplomacy, as they did before the Iraq war, in order to ‘shock and awe’ bomb Iran. If the Neocons are seeking regime change then they may also be considering an invasion into Iran by our sorely neglected soldiers and marines.

I’m greatly concerned that given the Bush administration's abysmal track record on world diplomacy any war like action in Iran will blow up in their faces bringing great harm not only to the innocent men, women, and children in Iran but also to our nation.

Will they be igniting the spark, similar to the flash that lit WW One, which causes nations to divvy up sides for another world war?

Will the world view us as the aggressors and retaliate economically if not militarily against our interests?

Someone once said that the next world war would be fought with modern weapons including nukes; the next war after that would be fought with sticks and stones.
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Something’s in the Air

Chris Chandler & Karen Kilroy
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Please listen to...
Randi Rhodes interviews Scott Ritter 2/19/07 part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYE4iN1hdYI&mode=related&search=
Randi Rhodes interviews Scott Ritter 2/19/07 part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaGG39ccaXo&mode=related&search=
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there's always hope!
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Pelosi: Bush Lacks Power to Invade Iran
By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent
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Pelosi Backs War Funds Only With Conditions
Equipment, Training For Troops Would Face New Standards

By Jonathan Weisman and Shailagh Murray, Washington Post Staff Writers
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John Murtha----Patriot
Representative John MurthaOn the floor of the House of Representatives
16 Jun 06

http://outskirtsofcognition.blogspot.com/2006/06/john-murtha-patriot.html
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George Bush - theWave
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The Randi Rhodes Archives Page!
http://www.randirhodesarchives.com/

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Republicans making it worse.


I’ve been listening to the debate in the House on the resolution against escalation in Iraq. The conservatives are sounding very scary. They are allowing their hidden ugly side to be fully exposed for the entire world to see. Once again they’re using; they’re going to come and kill us all fear tactics. And as usual with them anyone who dissents is siding with the Jihadists, dividing America and emboldening the enemy who want to come into each and every one of our homes and brutally kill each and every one of us and destroy Christianity and Democracy forever if we don’t do what the war president decider in chief wants us to. If we’re not careful terrorists will be behind every tree.

Republicans are claiming that it’s about fighting all of radical conservative fundamentalist Islam. The grand fight against Islamofascism. Oh, they’ve dropped that incorrect expression for the time being in favor of ‘Jihadist’. I’ve heard them use the term ‘Jihadists’ several dozen times already for the last couple of days but is definitely the talking point word dujour for this debate. They are proclaiming we are engaged in a war against all Jihadists.

Well, all good Muslims participate in Jihad. It is a spiritual battle against evil. It’s a battle against the evil that’s within ones self. A battle they share with many other faiths including Judaism and Christianity. It’s true they believe, as many Christians do, that one day the world should be of one united faith;....theirs. It’s also true that there are groups with a radical fundamentalist mindset within all three groups that believe war is necessary to achieve their goals. Which is why it is so important that the rest of us stress the absolute necessity of diplomacy, reconciliation and opposition to violent solutions of all stripes.

When the Republicans use the word Jihadists they are unwillingly or willingly proclaiming war on all of Islam. It’s true this debate may indeed create more enemies of the United States, but not because of Democrats publicly disagreeing with an erring arrogant president but because of Republican ignorance and fear mongering. Their, lets bring on the crusades ignorant, hate filled comments today will be seen as ugly throughout the world but I fear they will be seen as threatening to the Islamic world.

As usual the best neoconservative strategy is to take a bad situation and make it worse….a lot worse.

God bless the whole world……no exceptions.

Dear Representative McMorris Rodgers,


I would like you to vote for the resolution against escalation of military involvement in Iraq. There is a multifaceted civil war going on there now. Our troops have no business being stuck in the middle of this. What's needed now is diplomacy and reconciliation.
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Also I would like to mention that Iranian military involvement in Iraq is questionable. Saudi Arabian civilian influence in Iraq, in the form of millions of 'dollars' to the Sunnis, is unquestionable.Turkey, Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia are all picking sides and our troops are mistakenly stuck in the middle.

Those of us who were against this war from the beginning warned of all the situations we now face. We were right. We were called unAmerican and traitors. We were not listened to and now were in an incredible mess.Listen to us now. Don't follow those leaders in your party who have developed a track record of lies, deceptions, distortions and ineptitude.

Vote for the resolution against escalation.

Sincerely,
Ken Wells

Monday, February 12, 2007

Tell Congress:


No Iraq escalation,
No Iran war.

The Office of Special Plans purposely lied the American people into a war with Iraq. The Bushies are now doing the same thing with Iran. This administration has lost all credibility on foreign policy especially when they are gearing up for war. They manufactured evidence to mislead Congress and the American people into a war with Iraq. They appear, macho tough talk included, to be doing the exact same thing with Iran.
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They’ve wasted all their credibility. Besides being unjust and foolhardy, because of this lack of credibility and the horrendous planning that went into the Iraq war there’s no way Congress will approve military action against Iran. Be on the look out for a ‘Gulf of Tonkin’ type incident which this administration will use as a way to go after Iran without Congressional approval, although the Neocons within the administration mistakenly believe they don’t need any approval from Congress.
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Once again our corporate American press is going along with their typical unquestioning acceptance of any war mongering statements coming from this administration or its pentagon leadership. From the picture above, this poor little boy explains all there is to explain why this war is so horrible. Actually, like the little naked girl napalm victim running and crying down the road in Vietnam, it’s an indictment of all war. She is also the reason why the Neocons don’t want any casualty photos from Iraq.
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It’s also why the ‘mainstream corporate news media’ are guilty of selling the Iraq war to the American people. None of these photos makes it into the American press because it would hurt the administrations war effort and limit the press’s access to administration briefing and social functions. When all this is finally over and war crime trials are hopefully begun with just punishments dealt out to the deserving of all sides, there are many media people who should be included for their willful misleading of the American public.
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Propaganda in the support of war crimes isn’t news it’s a criminal act. Rush and Hannity, Beck, Savage and Fox and all their associated cohorts spewing lies in order to stir up support for Bush’s military escapades deserve the disgrace, humiliation and fate shared by other such monsters as Goebbels.

Chris Paulson-
Do You Think About Me?

Words, Not War, With Iran
http://go.sojo.net/campaign/wordsnotwar
also read this......
God takes no sides in war
http://www.ncccusa.org/news/061002godtakesnosides.html

More recently I have come to see the need for the method of nonviolence in international relations. Although I was not yet convinced of its efficacy in conflicts between nations, I felt that while war could never be a positive good, it could serve as a negative good by preventing the spread and growth of an evil force. War, horrible as it is, might be preferable to surrender to a totalitarian system. But now I believe that the potential destructiveness of modern weapons totally rules out the possibility of war ever again achieving a negative good. If we assume that mankind has a right to survive then we must find an alternative to war and destruction. "Don't ever let anyone pull you so low as to hate them. We must use the weapon of love. We must have the compassion and understanding for those who hate us. We must realize so many people are taught to hate us that they are not totally responsible for their hate. But we stand in life at midnight; we are always on the threshold of a new dawn."
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Friday, February 09, 2007

Office of Special Plans Report


RAW STORY did a great job with this story.

Senator calls report 'devastating condemnation' of Office of Special Plans
Larisa Alexandrovna

Published: Thursday February 8, 2007

Contrary to speculation and some earlier reports, the Department of Defense Inspector General's office did not exonerate the controversial Office of Special Plans, which has been accused of cooking pre-war intelligence on Iraq, nor did it exonerate its-then chief overseer, former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Douglas Feith.


According to a statement released by Armed Services Committee chairman Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) Thursday night to RAW STORY, the IG's report is a "devastating condemnation of the activities of the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy." In a separate statement, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, states that whether the intelligence activities "were authorized or not, it appears that they were not in compliance with the law."
More at…..
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/A_devastating_condemnation_of_OSP_and_0208.html

The following is the declassified two page summary of the Office of Special Plans report, as acquired Friday morning by RAW STORY.
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Raw_Story_first_to_acquire_declassified_0209.html


also remember this…….
The Downing Street Memo
http://www.downingstreetmemo.com/memos.html

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Global Warming


Literalist interpretation of selected parts of the bible may explain some of what is going on with the heretical religious right in regards to their not excepting global warming. While the neoconservatives are happy once again to use conservative fundamentalist misconceptions in their favor it does not explain their own hostility toward global warming.

Greed does.

Science gets in the way of unscrupulous corporations ability to pollute with impunity. All they have to do is create enough doubt and suspicion about scientific results to the Republican faithful to allow them to continue raping and pillaging the planet. Once again the ignorance of their followers works to their advantage.

How much respect can they have for the people who dutifully follow every lie and spin they feed them? Neoconservatives must see them as a bunch of malleable fools. Liberals can educate and protest and explain what this administration is up to but these people must develop the courage to open their eyes to the way they are being used. I have hope that one day the good Republicans will wake up to the knowledge of the way Fox news and conservative pundits in the media have been manipulating their emotions to suit their own selfish needs.

GreenPeace USA

Union of Concerned Scientist

Refugees


In addition to declaring we do not seek to have permanent bases in Iraq and redeploying the military forces we need to insure that the refugees are well taken care of. This administration and the military, outside of protection and support, have no business running refugee operations. This should be left up to the groups who have experience in these areas and have proven themselves capable. This is our mess. The Bush administration foolhardily got this ball rolling making us fiscally and morally responsible for the lives of these people.

Great information and action……..
Refugees International
Iraq: The World's Fastest Growing Refugee Crisis
http://www.refugeesinternational.org/content/article/detail/9679
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Iraq: A humanitarian operation that will go on for years

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

If Bush is a prophet; he's a false one.


"I feel like God wants me to run for President. I can't explain it, but I sense my country is going to need me. Something is going to happen... I know it won't be easy on me or my family, but God wants me to do it."
"I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace."

“Freedom from torture is an inalienable human right, and we are committed to building a world where human rights are respected and protected by the rule of law…Throughout the world, there are many who have been seeking to have their voices heard, to stand up for their right to freedom, and to break the chains of tyranny. Too many of those courageous women and men are paying a terrible price for their brave acts of dissent. Many have been detained, arrested, thrown in prison, and subjected to torture by regimes that fail to understand that their habits of control will not serve them well in the long-term.”

”See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda”.

all from....
President George W. Bush
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Bush led America into believing that we were under an imminent threat of attack from Iraq. That mushroom clouds would appear on our shores if we did not move quick enough. Of course this was all lies. Because of these lies they rushed the troops into battle without the proper equipment or personnel. This was a huge military blunder that needlessly caused our troops to spill their blood on Mesopotamian sand. Their PNAC (http://newamericancentury.org/index.html) desire for empire produced thousands dead, thousands more injured, billions stolen, a broken and destabilized Iraq and created themselves into the best recruiting tool the fundamentalists Islamic extremists have ever had.

The whole administration is guilty of treasonous type activity and likely war crimes for invading a country on false pretenses, intentionally using illegal and inappropriate weapons around civilian populations and misrepresenting our reasons for being there to the American public and the world.

Our president is very good at invoking God in connection with his wars and policies. Many on the religious right truly believe he has the ear of God and that God speaks to him and guides him. If this is true then God is a bumbling liar.
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I don’t believe that He is.

22 "When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.
Deuteronomy 18:22

President Bush is a uninformed figurehead doing the bidding of others while spreading the lies they struggle to teach him to annunciate. He's a terribly horrible president and if Bush is a prophet; he's a false one.
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An Administrations Legacy - Burnt Page Films
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The Best of Dubya 2006 part 1-
Mike Malloy
http://youtube.com/watch?v=f7Xhi4MZJl8&mode=related&search=

The Best of Dubya 2006 part 2-

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

NO TO WAR


"NO TO WAR"! War is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity. International law, honest dialogue, solidarity between States, the noble exercise of diplomacy: these are methods worthy of individuals and nations in resolving their differences. I say this as I think of those who still place their trust in nuclear weapons and of the all-too-numerous conflicts which continue to hold hostage our brothers and sisters in humanity. At Christmas, Bethlehem reminded us of the unresolved crisis in the Middle East, where two peoples, Israeli and Palestinian, are called to live side-by-side, equally free and sovereign, in mutual respect. Without needing to repeat what I said to you last year on this occasion, I will simply add today, faced with the constant degeneration of the crisis in the Middle East, that the solution will never be imposed by recourse to terrorism or armed conflict, as if military victories could be the solution. And what are we to say of the threat of a war which could strike the people of Iraq, the land of the Prophets, a people already sorely tried by more than twelve years of embargo? War is never just another means that one can choose to employ for settling differences between nations. As the Charter of the United Nations Organization and international law itself remind us, war cannot be decided upon, even when it is a matter of ensuring the common good, except as the very last option and in accordance with very strict conditions, without ignoring the consequences for the civilian population both during and after the military operations.

Pope John Paul II


Our misguided leaders and half the country didn’t listen to him or any of the Churches before the Iraq war. Pray that we all listen and react before any military involvement in Iran.


Pax Christi USA

National Council of Churches USA

Fellowship of Reconciliation

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Plans? We Got Plans


National Intelligence Estimate
Prospects for Iraq’s Stability:
A Challenging Road Ahead
http://dni.gov/press_releases/20070202_release.pdf


A disregarded gift from a father to his son
The Iraq Study Group Report
http://www.usip.org/isg/iraq_study_group_report/report/1206/iraq_study_group_report.pdf
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“When history is written, Iraq will look just like a comma.”
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Friday, February 02, 2007

The Bill of Rights is under assault



Our forefathers were wise enough to hand us down a constitution with a Bill of Rights.

For the first time in our history we are in a period of retreat from civil rights and the respect for the dignity of humanity. The Bill of Rights is under assault from this administration.

Amendment 1
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment 2
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment 3
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment 4
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment 5
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment 6
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Amendment 7
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment 8
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment 9
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment 10
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Fear of the legitimate threat of terrorism is allowing us to be weak on protecting our most cherished gift we possess as Americans; our freedoms as set forth in our constitution and its amendments. We’re allowing ourselves to be taken advantage of by those who would desire to see our freedoms lessened for their own lustful purposes.

Because of our fear we have ignored the fact that we were attacked by a group of predominately Saudi Arabian men on 9-11. They were from a violently radical Islamic fundamentalist organization named Al Qaeda. But Bush and his cohorts have decided to lead the nation away from those who attacked us. Instead we’ve been duped into raging war against a tactic. An unending war against a nameless and faceless foe called ‘terrorist’. It was used as an excuse for an ill-advised war of choice and subsequent bloody occupation in Iraq. It’s the excuse for the horror the neocon dominated administration is about to unleash on Iran.
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Peace is a loaded gun--The Attic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN8_zR2pXZ8
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The Bushies want us to see terrorists behind every tree and to believe they have many allies.

If your from a Muslim society;

If you’re a Democrat;

If you’re liberal;

If you’re an outspoken Mom of a dead soldier;

If your speaking out against presidential ineptitude;

If you speak out against the lies that drove us away from Afghanistan and into Iraq;

You may be considered by the Bush administration to be an enemy.
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What is a terrorist?
http://www.peacetakescourage.com/terrorist.html

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They don’t leave much room for loyal opposition because if you don’t walk in lock step with them you are unacceptable and viewed as a threat. You’re seen as someone not deserving of the Bill of Rights.

Anyone voicing dissent of administration policy is viewed with suspicion.

Anyone voicing dissent of administration policy is viewed as un-American.

Anyone voicing dissent of administration policy is viewed as a traitor.

I love the flag but I hate what these right wing ideologs have done to it. Our fathers and grandfathers fought under this flag in WWII defeating fascism in Europe. This same flag is now being dirtied because it is being used as a banner for creeping fascism in our own country. I’m talking about the Neocons running our nation. They do not embrace Hitler’s, Mussolini’s, Franco’s, or anyone else’s version of fascism. They are fooling with their own Neoconservative version. It’s not fully realized but they already fit many descriptions of fascism.

Fascism has been a disaster in every country it has existed in. Ours would be no exception. These people who have welcomed this filthy ideology have disgraced our flag and our forefather’s sacrifices. They must be stopped.
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14 Characteristics of Fascism - Mike Malloy
http://youtube.com/watch?v=VVVa1IvHdKc
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Fascist leaning Neoconservatives constantly attack Liberals because they have always been the traditional enemy of those with totalitarian ambitions, who they will go to great lengths to dehumanize because their values stand in their way. Our hope of stopping this growing nightmare lies with them, the Democrats and the good Republicans who are left.

The House of Representatives is the place to start. We need brave representatives who will stand by the noble principles this flag has for so long represented and honor their oath and muster up the courage and love of country by bringing the President and Vice President up on Articles of Impeachment.
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George Bush---The Wave
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDsbmmtMr8c
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