HULK SMASH!!!
CIA's fault.
The soldiers are my (our) neighbors. The military is not my (our) military. It is THEIR military, the military of Bush, Cheney, Halliburton, et al.. The people of this country did not send the military to invade Iraq, and even our elected representatives did not (see Robert Byrd's fine speeches on the unconstitutionality of the resolution by which the Congress "pre-approved" anything Bush wanted to do).
You have failed to remember the words of our preznit. The rising death toll shows clearly that we are succeeding. Indeed, the last three months demonstrate that we're succeeding beyond our wildest dreams.
The three new dead soldiers and the new terror alert for international flights show that Howard Dean was wrong for saying that Saddam's capture made us no safer.
You better get with the program, or you'll be getting to Gitmo!
March 20 - demonstrate in cities all over the world to BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW.
The Kurdish Peshmerga and Shiite Badr Brigades could handle the security situation much better than we, it being their country, after all. So turn the job over to them.
LALALALALALALALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU ATRIOS LALALALALALALALA ATRIOS HATES AMERICA LALALALALALALALALALALA
LALALALALALA I LOVE GLORIOUS LEADER LALALALALALALALA
Atrios obviously is glad our troops are dying. Otherwise he'd be ignoring their deaths and wishing really hard that things are going great in Iraq.
This isn't really OT. I read a frontpage article in our paper saying that area police are donating used, bullet resistant vests to the troops in Iraq. One policeman explained that it's not that the old vests aren't good; it's just that they can't use them. "Even if it
deflects just one (bullet), it's worthwhile."
But these vests are to be worn.
It seems that one of the Michigan guard unit uses humvees. Because they're used to supply combat units but not to work in combat zones (genius, huh?), they aren't armored. So the Guardsmen are taking the panels out of the vests and retrofitting the vehicles with them.
This program was started when a firefighter, now serving in Iraq, wrote fellow firefighters and told them about the unprotected humvees.
This stuff is just sickening to read. When are we going to have to start collecting tin cans and growing Victory gardens? Why can't the best-equipped military in the world be adequately supplied?
And how much longer will these guys be over there?
Geez.. These vests are NOT to be worn.
My doctor yesterday used the better fighting out troops in Iraq than at home.
I pointed out security has not gotten better here.
I'm starting to win the Bush is bad for the US discussions, of course being an independent I can agree just where Democrats are wrong as well.
I think he would be a happy Nader voter, and cut those Republican strings.
Although he does claim he cross party votes.
Oh well, another talk in three months.
BobNJ
Have you read that the Japanese have hired Iraqi's to protect their troops?
Bitchslap the US.
How much more of this "success" can we stand? This maladministration thinks that if it downplays the combat casualties, and conceals the return of the coffins, no one will be the wiser. I don't know, maybe they're right. The whore media is certainly not clamoring to be admitted to Dover AFB. In fact, when they do announce combat deaths on TV, it's done as a kind of afterthought, something to be squeezed in between commercials.
TownDrunk
Here is a question, what do we say when a Democrat wins and the troops are still there?
There are those three bases where troops will be kept. There is quite a bit of US financial interest to protect.
Other than Kucinich no one else ( maybe Sharpton) has a plan to bring the troops home.
So, and I don't like Bush either, will this vehemence and anger be directed to the Democrat as well? Or will it be a " he inherited this what can he do" pass?
The military guyz n galz on the ground need every iota of support they can get. Just because the Shrubanistas neglect them doesn't mean the rest of America has to.
Some stories from Hackworth;
http://www.sftt.org/
By the way, notch up three more dead soldiers in attacks today, pushing January to 47.
Well, if you didn't hate America so much, you'd realize that the capture of Saddam Hussein has made Iraq safe.
Sweet land of liberty....
This is such an enormous tragedy I can barely get my head around it. I feel terrible for not having done more, although we took our babies to the peace marches, we "adopted" a soldier and bought him some decent shoes, I spoke to anyone who would give me a minute about how terrible this is, and I wrote to my elected representatives, but no one would listen.
I knew this was an unjust, unnecessary war. I knew it would result in tragedy beyond reckoning. It's bad enough living with what I might have done better or more of or differently. If I were Bush I would kill myself.
If this clusterfuck is faced up to by the media and the public, it may force the politicos to come up with a solution. As it is now, the troops have their asses hanging out there as if they're operating in another universe. No one gives a shit about their predicament except their immediate families. The media gauges every success or failure on how it will effect W's election possiblities.
TownDrunk, I don't think it's entirely true that no one cares. Lots of people care about what goes on in communities. When a member of your church is called up and you see what it does to her/his children as they say goodbye for a year or more, you do care. When a boy in your hometown comes home in a casket, you care.
Governor Vilsack began his "Condition of the State" speech by reading off the names of Iowans killed in Iraq, and talking about a couple of others who had been maimed. It does register.
We write to congress, we tell our media, we organize, we talk to each other, but really, it's another level that is failing.
I don't think Bush and his cronies are capable of doing anything about this, frankly. They fucked themselves, so no one wants to help them fix this. Anyone else in office is going to get international cooperation, which is foundational to fixing this.
No one reported that the reason why that casualties fell after November was because November had the highest rate of our helicopters being shot down (all of which have large crews). Even without the capture of Hussein, a change in tactics by our helicopters or an awareness of the threat by their pilots could have been the reason for the reduction in casualties from November to December.
But luckily the wounded total for this month has gone down from previous months.
maybe the river bend blog was right -- now that Saddam is gone, Iraqis can fight the resistance without feeling that they are supporting Saddam
You have to thgink the steady deaths in Iraq are slowly eating away at Bush's chances for re-election. Americans by and large aren't stupid
-- and when they see no WMD in Iraq and we're still losing several guys a week, it has to come home to roost. Bush HAS to go (not to mention the woeful economic picture here)
And unfortunately the security situation in Iraq is so bad there are no easy options to get us out. The UN won't want to go in when the is still so much violence. And the violence will continue until we are gone. This could easily go one for a couple of more years and cost us thousands of lives. What a horrible waste.
Rick-- yes, you're right. Lots of people were saying Iraq would get worse after Saddam was gone, for exactly the reason you said.
I read a frontpage article in our paper saying that area police are donating used, bullet resistant vests to the troops in Iraq.
My local paper (we have 3rd Division in my area) also reported the Army has provided specifications for units who want to upgrade their HUMVEEs on their own. Since we still do not have all the proper equipment for Bush's cannon fodder.
Army of One for sure.
T.O.
I know that some people grieve over the dead and wounded, but this is a temporary situation. Just about every town has a monument listing the names of the casualties of World War II. Most of them are now covered with pigeon shit. Nothing is more fleeting than "heroism." The politicians use it as an election tool, then promply forget about it.
I read a frontpage article in our paper saying that area police are donating used, bullet resistant vests to the troops in Iraq.
My local paper (we have 3rd Division in my area) also reported the Army has provided specifications for units who want to upgrade their HUMVEEs on their own. Since we still do not have all the proper equipment for Bush's cannon fodder.
Army of One for sure.
Yep. Here in Missouri, the local National Guard unit had a local steel company fit all of their vehicles with steel plates for better protection.
At first, the Army wasn't going to allow this, because it wasn't an official specification or something like that. But last week or so the Army approved of the upgrades.
"And unfortunately the security situation in Iraq is so bad there are no easy options to get us out. The UN won't want to go in when the is still so much violence. And the violence will continue until we are gone. This could easily go one for a couple of more years and cost us thousands of lives. What a horrible waste.
Alex"
The Republicans with the help of their freeper shock troops are going to see to it that we don't leave anytime soon so before we're out of there, expect about 1,500 to 2,000 troops dead and about 7,000 maimed for life haven lost limbs. Fifteen to 20,000 will have been shot or will suffer psychological damage. The ones I blame the most are the freepers who are sitting around out there in safety behind their computer screens ready to pounce en masse on any opposition that might arise just like they've done ever since all this began. They're insane.
Yes, Budman. They're using the panels from the vests to upgrade the humvees.
"If I were Bush I would kill myself."
Ah, therein lies the rub, T.O. Bush lacks the capacity to feel shame or sorrow for the hideous results of his actions. He's never known want or privation or hardship and lacks the capacity to imagine it.
Which is why I say again, particularly if it looks as though Kerry will win the nomination, we must insist and have assurances that the wrongdoing, and it is legion, of this administration will be fully investigated and prosecuted.
For far too long, the Democrats have taken the line that "Americans are tired of the division and bickering, we need to drop it and move on." Bullshit! It's a sentiment never reciprocated by the GOP. Things could have never come to such a pass as this tragic and criminal war if they had not gotten a pass on so many other things. It's time to lay the full truth, in stark black and white, before the American people. Only by doing so can we drive a stake through the heart of the fanatical rightwing and stop it from rising again and again to stalk and prey upon average American citizens - and those unfortunates in other parts of the world, whom they show no restraint in targeting (because they can't vote against them, you know). NO MORE LIES. There must be a full accounting of the crimes of this administration and punishment for them. Otherwise, we're heading into Roman Imperial territory.
But last week or so the Army approved of the upgrades.
And did the Army pay for the upgrades?
Tyranny on the cheap!
Sounds like a chapter from Gertrude Chandler Warner's 'The Boxcar Children'.
Gotta love it.
I expect the number of soldiers killed in Iraq will greatly increase soon. We are just beginning a massive troop rotation of about 200,000 men and women.
So, not only will our soldiers be traveling all around Iraq, but we will be replacing experienced troops with troops that haven't experienced Iraq.
Also, nearly half the new troops going into Iraq are reservists. Currently on 20 percent of the troops in Iraq are reservists.
But last week or so the Army approved of the upgrades.
And did the Army pay for the upgrades?
pie
Three more soldiers dead today from a roadside bomb.
I think the citizens of the town where those national guard troops were from raised the money and had a local steel foundry fashion the steel plates.
What is the matter with you people?! Don't you know the "mission was accomplished"??!!
Perhaps during the demonstrations scheduled for March 20, 500+ faux caskets could be fashioned out of some lightweight materials, and carried in procession to the front of the White House? Replete with a solemn ceremony for those killed because of G.W. and his neocons, it would make an impactful statement to the media, that is, if we could get the media to cover it. Envision a sea of caskets spread before the White House..., with signs saying, "These soldiers died for Bush's lies."
We must also not forget the injured. There are THOUSANDS now who have lost limbs, or eyes, or .... We need to stand up for them too. The public needs to look into the eyes of these people, and perhaps be reminded these soldiers, like the rest of the nation, has been betrayed.
In order to impact the public, we must somehow attach faces to the headlines. As it is, with the media banned from covering the returning dead and injured, there is seldom an opportunity to do this. Full page ads should be regularly taken out in the major newspapers (paging Mr. Soros?), showing pictures of those killed and maimed, with short bios and statements from their families. Regardless of how it's done, we need to slap America in the face with the truth, whether they want it or not.
One of the reasons congress is going to be hesitant to expose this all the way is that they are going to have to answer to their constituents. They authorized this little prick to take us to war for nothing.
Several months ago, their excuse was that they didn't know he was actually going to go to war. Now, it's becoming that they didn't know he lied. They are dissembling too!
Why can't anyone tell the fucking truth? I mean, it would be better to me if Kerry said, "Here's the thing, I knew he was going anyway. I knew the polls showed a lot of support for it, and it was an election year, so I folded. I should probably kill myself, but instead I'm going to try and be a better man."
If I were Bush I would kill myself.
Waaaay too goddamned good for him. Something on the order of Mussolini's demise would be preferable....broadcast on all the "networks" with specially produced commercials ala' the Super Bowl. Moveon.com gets first dibs.
But what about all those schools that have reopened?
I expect the number of soldiers killed in Iraq will greatly increase soon. We are just beginning a massive troop rotation of about 200,000 men and women.
So, not only will our soldiers be traveling all around Iraq, but we will be replacing experienced troops with troops that haven't experienced Iraq.
Also, nearly half the new troops going into Iraq are reservists. Currently on 20 percent of the troops in Iraq are reservists.
...I should probably kill myself, but instead I'm going to try and be a better man."
Better man? I wish.
I'm way too cynical these days.
You guys need to keep in mind that the more they attack us, the better we're doing.
but we are winning, right? RIGHT???
Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida stated that he was lied to by the administration, but this was brushed off by the media. Had the Dem. candidates followed his lead, they wouldn't be in their present fix. Signing on to to a war when you're presented with false information should let you off the hook.
"So, not only will our soldiers be traveling all around Iraq, but we will be replacing experienced troops with troops that haven't experienced Iraq."
- Ab
Well, Ab, the obvious solution is to replace these troops with the tens of thousands of young Republicans who just think Shrub's war is just neato. With all their arm-chair ass kicking, they obviously have what it takes to get bizzy in Baghdad. The best part is, they don't even have to be all that young - you can join the Reserves up to age 35, a fact I've often brought to the attention of 20 and 30 something war supporters. Oh, I know, they have good jobs, they have kids to raise, or they're {{{gasp!}}} women - but hey, they should go tell that sob story to the soldiers and reservists currently getting shot at.
Let's see what was it the Pretzel Choker said?
Oh, yeah
Bring 'em on!
What about the free prozac and free toasters with every new bank account?
I was watching some Wall St. show on PBS the other night. They had one guy who had some points and another who was a "nothing to see here, move along" type.
The general argument was that the government was representing such a large segment of the market that businesses can't fairly negotiate with their suppliers.
Gas, for example, is near an all time high because so much of it is being bought by the government for the war (and an intentional lack of available stores due to government deregulation). Most of the money spent for the war is for logistics (basically shipping). I've heard similar stories about shortages of plywood harming the housing market.
This war was a clusterfuck in ways we don't even know about yet.
My favoite chant for March 20: Impeach Karl Rove!
we shant be in iraq much longer the reasons to leave were made a very long time ago
"Beyond the Euphrates began for us the land of mirage and danger, the sands where one helplessly sank, and the roads which ended in nothing. The slightest reversal would have resulted in a jolt to our prestige giving rise to all kinds of catastrophe; the problem was not only to conquer but to conquer again and again, perpetually; our forces would be drained off in the attempt."
Emperor Hadrian AD 117-138
Again, what happens when these statistics keep rising under a Democratic administration?
Will they receive a pass " because they inherited" the problem?
Or will we keep attacking any Democrat who does not remove the ( I assume majority there sre still those bases and part would be UN peacekeepers aid) American forces?
This is a question which needs to be asked now.
Because it WILL continue happeneing no matter what letter is in office in 2005.
Funny, this isn't what John Kerry said when slamming Howard Dean?!
From Bush:
"After the chaos and carnage
of September 11th, it is not enough to serve our enemies with legal papers."
---------
To realists:
After the chaos and carnage
of September 11th, it is not enough to serve our enemies with legal papers.
---------
Gosh, can't the world see what a dumbass Hitler is? I mean, Hitler is such an obviously dumb/evil guy! Can we impeach Hitler? Why won't somebody stand up to Hitler? I know, let's blog against Hitler and encourage our representatives to serve him with legal papers! That'll show Hitler! Boo, Hitler!
Listen, mission accomplished, thats what the (unelected one) says and that makes it so.
Can't you people ever get it straight and stay on message, damm this is frustrating! LOL!!!
Don't let the facts interfere with the right wing agenda, they make things too complicated.
I'm surprised someone hasn't taken Bush out already. I hate watching him live on TV because I keep expecting I'll see a Kennedy-esqe moment when his head explodes outward like a watermellon from a high-powered bullet as it impacts his head and a big chunk of skull hanging by scalp, stringy veins and hair flaps back.
God forbid.
The metric that the press, media, public and just about everyone use to rate our success in pacifying Iraq is the number of killed by the insurgency. For obvious reasons - what else is coming out of Iraq that is believable.
Things will never get better in Iraq without security improving.
The conundrum here is that to create real security, the US military would need to get out of their Humvees and Bradley vehicles and start foot patrols like the British in Northern Ireland. But this would increase American casualties and the politically unacceptable impression would be that things are gerring worse.
No way to square this circle.
Trav ol buddy yewr back. Where's that Pioneer's contribution?
I disagree TownDrunk and T.O.,
The media has been working hard to destroy Howard Dean for his momentary bouts of honesty. When he brings up an unfortunate truth like the fact that the U.S. is no safer because of Saddam's capture, the media readily destroyed him for it. They create the reality for the majority of the people in this country and if they say we are doing A-Okay, by God we are doing A-Okay. They will destroy anyone with a voice that attempts to undermine their credibility.
You can see this same shit everywhere. The media colors the world for the uninformed. My neighbors think that there have not been any more deaths in Iraq. The people
I work with are all convinced that Saddam was responsible for 9-11. Before the war, they all believed Bush when he said there were massive stockpiles of WMDs. I told them that Bush was citing cherry-picked intelligence and that the intelligence community was saying that Bush was lying from day 1. Now, after the Kay statements, they claim that the iraqi scientists were fooling us into thinking that Iraq had WMDs. It is like they forgot everything that has been going on for the past 3 years!
This whole fiasco has really made me reconsider my impression of the average American. I never really thought my Indian and Japanese friends were right when they said that most Americans were lazy, stupid, self-absorbed. Now, I am starting to see how idiotic the people arouond me really are.
Dammit, I hate Bush for making me so cynical.
I'm not kidding. I can't watch him LIVE for that reason. And also because he creeps me out with his ugly chimp face with that lip-curled smirk. And his beady little squinting black eyes. And his stuttering and lying speech horrifying me about the future.
Wild Eyed Lefty -
I keep dreaming of the "Hey Man, Nice Shot" televised appearance by Bush.
You know, when W overcomes his Manchimpanzee Candidate programing and realizes he's the product and personification of evil programming.
But I wonder if/why noone's Photoshop'ed your scenario yet...
And did the Army pay for the upgrades?
pie - if it's the same story that I read it was actually a local funeral home that paid the bulk of the $4000 bill for the upgrade.
BTW - "Hey Man, Nice Shot" was not about Kurt Cobain.
It was based on the 1987 suicide of Pennsylvania State Treasurer R. Bud Dwyer.
Maybe Atrios remembers that.
I think the people should do away with the office of presidency after all this and adopt a strictly parliamentarian system of legislative government. We now see that our democracy is broken and clearly one man shouldn't have such tremendous power of the presidency of the only superpower on earth. And Murdoch's media empire should be shattered into a million pieces. No one man should have so much power to determine what the people know.
hey, at least the number of attacks are down, we must be winning the war on Eastasia
NO MORE LIES. There must be a full accounting of the crimes of this administration and punishment for them. Otherwise, we're heading into Roman Imperial territory. Hear hear, Jennifer.. run for office, I'll vote for you.
What amazes me is that the press was full of stories pre-invasion with people knowledgeable about the region warning that chaos would ensue in Iraq with the Baathists gone. Business Week, fer chrissake, ran a huge cautionary article about what a mess we were about to create for ourselves. Where the hell did they all go?
In order to impact the public, we must somehow attach faces to the headlines. As it is, with the media banned from covering the returning dead and injured, there is seldom an opportunity to do this. Full page ads should be regularly taken out in the major newspapers (paging Mr. Soros?), showing pictures of those killed and maimed, with short bios and statements from their families. Regardless of how it's done, we need to slap America in the face with the truth, whether they want it or not.
Hornito | Email | Homepage | 01.31.04 - 11:36 am | #
The Washington Post actually has an online feature called Faces of the Fallen (Google the damn thing, I'm no good with TinyURL...) that does exactly that. It's updated every Friday.
"This whole fiasco has really made me reconsider my impression of the average American. I never really thought my Indian and Japanese friends were right when they said that most Americans were lazy, stupid, self-absorbed. Now, I am starting to see how idiotic the people arouond me really are.
Dammit, I hate Bush for making me so cynical.
pandoraShrugged"
Nine of ten Americans couldn't tell you who Cheney is. ONly about 1 in 200 could probably tell you who Rove is if you asked them. These are the ones determining their futures.
Face it man, Americans are just plain sorry.
RE: Funding of the private paid upgrades...
It was locally donated, I forget by whom... I was under the impression that the steel company itself paid for it, not altogether sure though.
I searched the Jeff City Newspaper site for a link to the story and couldn't find it, evidently it was only in their print version.
Kay lied through his teeth when he said that every intelligence service in the world agreed that Iraq had WMDs. This is simply not so, as the media and Congress surely must know. Yet the little prick is being given a pass. I can understand why the GOP is covering for the administration, but why are the Dems. going along with the deception?
"Beyond the Euphrates began for us the land of mirage and danger, the sands where one helplessly sank, and the roads which ended in nothing. The slightest reversal would have resulted in a jolt to our prestige giving rise to all kinds of catastrophe; the problem was not only to conquer but to conquer again and again, perpetually; our forces would be drained off in the attempt."
Emperor Hadrian AD 117-138
megamike | Email | Homepage | 01.31.04 - 12:18 pm | #
That's the best quote I've read in months! Where'd you find it?
Which brings me to the question: Why should we even care anymore about 'taking this country back'? Are we trying to save lazy, sorry, self-absorbed dumb Americans? We're trying to save freeper America? The only thing I like about this country is its scenic beauty and the wingers are destroying that hand over fist. So what's left to save?
Techno-kleptocracy is the name of this game, folks.
Bribes ahoy!
Dark actors ahoy!
Media-innoculation ahoy!
Now whitey's on Mars...or at least his robot is.
The revolution will not be blogged nor televised.
Would you like some gum?
Are we going to have to fight like dogs in the street for the rest of our lives to keep the stupid things from destroying themselves?
I'm surprised someone hasn't taken Bush out already. I hate watching him live on TV because I keep expecting I'll see a Kennedy-esqe moment when his head explodes outward like a watermellon from a high-powered bullet as it impacts his head and a big chunk of skull hanging by scalp, stringy veins and hair flaps back.
God forbid.
Wild Eyed Lefty | Email | Homepage | 01.31.04 - 12:32 pm | #
No, no, no... Us lefties deplore violence, remember?
Besides, blowing away the figurehead would only leave Dick in obvious charge, instead of his preferred role as puppetmaster.
BushCo (meaning not just the man but his entire maladministration) must not be removed by force or assassination. They must be tried and convicted for their crimes...
The Bush administration is warning of Al Queda attacks to distract from Kay's report.
Just got back from Slate, reading about some atrocity in Samarra (Iraqi city).
The way US troops behave, 4ID especially, no way things ever get better.
>Face it man, Americans are just plain sorry.
I'm an educator, and I have absolute confidence that all adults can accomplish great things if given a good base in learning. There are several issues:
1) democracy depends on citizens who are competent to participate, have access to democratic processes, and are vigilant.
2) Competence includes basic understanding of our government; skills of being a good citizen, to include critical thinking skills, an awareness of rights and responsibilities, and understanding of how to put principles of democracy and equality into practice.
Bring back citizenship classes in public schools, and make them as important a component of education as the 3 Rs.
3) Access to democratic processes includes citizens' access to voting, a free and distributed press, the ability to speak and be heard by one's elected representatives.
Sharpton has some very good points to make; we need to ensure that people are not disenfranchised by bad voting mechanisms, by racist criminal justice policies, by physical force, by corrupt organizers, and so forth.
The digital divide must be addressed. All democratic citizens must have access to the internet, and therefore immediate access to their elected officials.
4) Vigilance includes both individual knowledge of the importance of vigilance and commitment to being vigilant, and a transparency of collective democratic processes.
Vigilance would be foundational to citizenship courses, from the principles, to the skills, to practice. More transparency must be built into collective democratic processes. this would include whittling down big legislation so that things can't get slipped in unnoticed.
The Dems went along with Bush. Kerry chose not to remain in loyal opposition, but instead joined in the war orgy with the Bush cult Republicans. How are we ever going to see an investigation if we elect Kerry? Ain't gonna happen. This is one of the main reasn that the establishment Dems are so afraid of Dean.
"No, no, no... Us lefties deplore violence, remember?
Besides, blowing away the figurehead would only leave Dick in obvious charge, instead of his preferred role as puppetmaster.
BushCo (meaning not just the man but his entire maladministration) must not be removed by force or assassination. They must be tried and convicted for their crimes...
Jacuma"
This is all speculation but it wouldn't necessarily be a leftist who took him out. I'm thinking of a loner with no political affiliation. I'm sorta a believer in Karma and no single person who's created so much negativity and rage in the world like Bush comes to a happy end. So much confusion and hatred surrounds this administration.
Which brings me to the question: Why should we even care anymore about 'taking this country back'? Are we trying to save lazy, sorry, self-absorbed dumb Americans? We're trying to save freeper America? The only thing I like about this country is its scenic beauty and the wingers are destroying that hand over fist. So what's left to save?
Wild Eyed Lefty | Email | Homepage | 01.31.04 - 12:57 pm | #
You are trying to save America from its ignorant self because you believe in the highest ideals that America can offer the world. Because you have compassion for your fellow human, regardless of nationality or preconception. Because you believe in the fundamental good that we, as a nation of motivated and idealistic individuals, can display.
Otherwise, we are lost.
No investigation will ever be launched with a GOP Congress in power.
Interesting observation in a Guardian article about Bush acknowledging that failure to find WMDs may be a *problem*:
The White House has said it is too soon to rule out finding weapons but it has also stopped predicting it will be vindicated.
Bush doesn't want a public inquiry, while in Britain:
"What is certain is that the scepticism of so many major players simply adds to the justified clamour for a wider investigation into the question of whether the British government took us to war on a flawed prospectus."
Wild Eyed Lefty wrote: "And Murdoch's media empire should be shattered into a million pieces. No one man should have so much power to determine what the people know."
The following MUST take place if/when Dems regain control of Congress and the WH:
1. As one of the new president's very first acts in office, he should enact an executive order immediately restoring the "Fairness Doctrine".
2. A tribunal should be set up to investigate the media conglomerates for their part in the criminal acts committed by this administration. Those individuals and companies found to have aided and abetted, and/or, acted in conspiracy with the regime to conceal their criminal actions, should be charged with treason and sedition. 1st Amendment protections do not extend to overt or covert propaganda, nor to manipulations used to subvert our democracy.
3. The new president should instruct his NEW Atty. General (bye, bye Asshat!) to start RICO proceedings against all of the media conglomerates. In addition, the president, again, by executive order, should institute new rules breaking up all media conglomerates, and instituting new anti-monopoly rules for media ownership.
We will NEVER have a true democracy in this nation, without a free and open media. A functioning, healthy, and independent Fourth Estate is essential to any democracy's lifeblood, and must be nourished and protected, not bought, controlled, and sold to the highest bidder, or those who wish to control our democracy's ideology.
sunwon: That'll show Hitler! Boo, Hitler!
Legally speaking, this thread should be done now.
They are warning of attacks by Al Qaeda, but not raising the alert level this time. They must have decided that the last alert did not give enough of a poll bounce to Bush. They'll leave the alert steady for a while, then panic everyone later in the year with another orange, or even *gasp!* red alert in an attempt to salvage Bush's election hopes.
Even if there is an investigation you can be sure that the GOPers will make sure that Tenet gets that gold watch he's been looking for.
Happiness Is A Worn Pun.
I'm curious as to what level of deaths & maiming it will take to get Murkans in the streets.
Obviously, 500+ / 3000 isn't doing it, otherwise people (outside present company) would show that they care, more than about Jacko or The Scream, which is clearly not the case.
Support the Troops - ah! Another lie! Murkans just don't care.
You are trying to save America from its ignorant self because you believe in the highest ideals that America can offer the world. Because you have compassion for your fellow human, regardless of nationality or preconception. Because you believe in the fundamental good that we, as a nation of motivated and idealistic individuals, can display.
Otherwise, we are lost.
Jacuma
A good paradigm for America's political history is that of the perennial wife-beating husband.
The wife is the beautiful, admirable values of the U.S. Constitution and the ideas framed by the Founding Fathers that we stand for.
The husband is the U.S. Government.
Every 10-20 years, the husband bitch-slaps the wife silly. Then he
cries, apologizes, recognizes that what he did was very very wrong, and
promises to not to do it again.
And then after a while, he does it again.
Wild-Eyed Lefty: you pretty much need to take America back, because they could always decide with that irreproachable way they have that Canada, England, Denmark, Sweden or the Netherlands has a balsa-wood anthrofleet aimed at Newark. You flee to Paris-but hey surprise the Wehermacht wasn't happy with Czechoslovakia. We find ourselves in the same position as the North Koreans, hoping our stupid, useless army, busy not making us remotely safe, doesn't commit too many atrocities. Of course, we're not quite at Pyongyang yet, leaving less excuse for apathy.
Happiness Is A Worn Pun.
yes it is...
Found in my local newspaper, that hotbed of radical-liberal-socialism, the Vallejo Times-Herald:
LIES AND MORE LIES ... The president told us during the last Scam of the Union address that we needed to blow up Iraq because there were weapons of mass destruction. Now we apparently must continue this suicide mission because Iraq has "dozens of weapons of mass destruction-related programs and activities." Related programs and activities? That sounds like summer basketball at GVRD*.
(* Greater Vallejo Recreation District)
Yoda wrote: "How are we ever going to see an investigation if we elect Kerry? Ain't gonna happen. This is one of the main reason that the establishment Dems are so afraid of Dean."
And this is precisely why I cannot support Kerry, though as an ABB, I will support whomever the eventual nominee is.
After I saw Kerry on "Face The Nation" last Sunday, when he was asked, "Did the Administration lie?", and he responded, "I am not prepared to say that.", he lost me, and it dawned on me, that he is indeed a part of the problem, not the solution.
Somehow, I don't think he, or any of the other "establishment" Dems will EVER be prepared to say Bushco LIED. Neither will they be prepared to empanel the tribunals and commissions necessary to get at the truth concerning 9/11, Iraq, Enron, or any of the other crimes this administration is involved in, and neither will they seek any prosecutions.
I can see Kerry saying, "We must put this all behind us now, for the good of the nation. It's a time for national healing.", .... after which, Bush and the rest of these fuckers walk free to enjoy their trillions.
What this nation needs, is a complete house cleaning, and to see people like Bush, Cheney, and all those who have helped them in their criminal acts, swinging at the end of a rope attached to the trees on the Capitol lawn.
"This isn't really OT. I read a frontpage article in our paper saying that area police are donating used, bullet resistant vests to the troops in Iraq. One policeman explained that it's not that the old vests aren't good; it's just that they can't use them. "Even if it
deflects just one (bullet), it's worthwhile."
But these vests are to be worn.
It seems that one of the Michigan guard unit uses humvees. Because they're used to supply combat units but not to work in combat zones (genius, huh?), they aren't armored. So the Guardsmen are taking the panels out of the vests and retrofitting the vehicles with them.
This program was started when a firefighter, now serving in Iraq, wrote fellow firefighters and told them about the unprotected humvees.
This stuff is just sickening to read. When are we going to have to start collecting tin cans and growing Victory gardens? Why can't the best-equipped military in the world be adequately supplied?"
Gee, what if the fatcats at the Superbowl pledged the price they paid for tickets to a fund for NEW flakjackets for the soldiers in Iraq?
But then they probably think their patriotic duty is done if the put down their drinks and wings while a multimillionaire warbles the national anthem--the REAL patriots will wipe away the barbecue sauce and salute.
("This program was started when a firefighter, now serving in Iraq . . ") Yes. No too many executives, brokers or sons of same in Iraq. Lots of firemen, cops and emts, and thank God for that. They're exactly the kind of people who don't sneer at the notion of service, but their loss is doubled because of that--we don't just lose a soldier, we lose a commiunity asset as well.
Why do these dead soldiers HATE America? Don't they know that "darn good progress" is being made to liberate the Iraqi people and find the WMD?
Huh... no WMD? no liberation? no "darn good progress" ?
Impeach and imprison.
"anyone but Bush!" (and Cheney)
Well, I'm on the last bus
You look like a murderess
A ba-ba-barbarian
Dyslexic librarian
She looks me in disgust
There's no room for distrust
I'll shake like a Quaker
So see you later
We run
We run
We run
We run
She think like a preacher
Who doubts her career
Me big in consumer
Me consumed by fear
Dysfunctional sasquatch
In a bowling alley
It's no such heavy
It's funny anyway
We run
We run
We run
We run
And the sasquatch says
""YYEEARRGGHH!!"
Happiness is a worn pun (X6)
We run (X7)
(Super Furry Animals/'Rings Around The World, Disc 2)
A lot of the deaths now occurring are troops in unarmored Humvees getting blown up by those ubiquitous IEDs. There are ways to armor the Humvees but it is costly and the military simply does not want to make the investment because, simply put, the it's cheaper to accept a certain casualty rate. They just replace the dead young soldier with another fodder unit.
Some of the units in Iraq that are supposed to be driving the more heavily armored Bradleys are now using Humvees. Why? One reason is that it's much cheaper to operate a Humvee than it is the gas guzzling Bradley. Cheaper to replace too. Just like the lives of the soldiers. Cheap. Another reason is that their is a shortage of replacement treads for the Bradleys. The treads are made of steel and rubber, and the rubber wears out the fastest and the tread can be refurbished, so I assume it's the rubber of which they're short.
How would feel having to tell a mother, "Sorry ma'am, but your boy was killed by a relatively light explosion that would not have even phased his Bradley, but he was driving a lightweiht Humvee instead, and everybody inside died. We could have prevented this just by replacing the treads of the Bradley in a timely fashion, but when you're spending all your war dough on bullets and Halliburton, it doesn't leave enough for Bradley maintenance. I'm sure you understand."
There is another reason too. A lot of these units being sent to Iraq are support units - like vehicle and equipment maintenance units. Sure, they have rifles - but they have probably only shot them once a year, just to squeak by. They are ostensibly being sent to Iraq because their specialty is needed there, but that's not really what's happening. The truth is that the military is running so godawfully short of cannon fodder that they are simply rotating in every unit they can find. Once they get to Iraq, they use these troops to pull guard duty, or for mindless laborers. In the past, this kind of thing would happen occasionally, but in Iraq it has become standard procedure.
Remember what David Kay said? They've even pulled hundreds of weapons searchers to go work guard duty or run armed patrols. I've never heard of so much fakery going on, such and intense effort to keep the American public in the dark as to what is actually happening in Iraq. The deaths however are far too real.
Old gay Hadrian was right. It's clear there is no winning endgame in Iraq no matter who is president. We're fucked.
It's going to end in civil war and instability throughout the region (exactly counter to the neo-con's rationale for invading). Oh yeah, we're going to be stuck right in the middle, being shot at by all sides.
There's a part of me that wispers "let the fuckers have another four years and face the full consequence of their deceits in both domestic and foreign policy." But the damage the squatters could do in the next four years is too great as they used the deficits they created to eviscerate social and education spending, the Middle East carnage they insisted on as a further excuse for agression and -- most frieghtenly -- the increased threat of terrorism as renewed assault on civil liberties.
It's all there in PNAC II, laughed off as the radical daydreams of a few wingnut wonks. HAHA. PNAC I got the same response 10 years ago.
"We run" = "We roar" = "We're wrong"
Take your pick.
"You are trying to save America from its ignorant self because you believe in the highest ideals that America can offer the world. Because you have compassion for your fellow human, regardless of nationality or preconception. Because you believe in the fundamental good that we, as a nation of motivated and idealistic individuals, can display.
Otherwise, we are lost.
Jacuma"
I'll continue up until the November election to talk to people about how important it is that Bush is removed. And I'll continue to have these other 'Murican 'citizens' look at me like I'm crazy. But after that, I'm outta here.
The last presidential election, I walked to my voting precinct (I'm registered as a Republican so I didn't have a problem quickly voting) and cast my vote for Gore. Then I walked back home and got online and started chatting with friends. Later, I wanted some beer as I watched the results come in so I drove down the block and picked up a 12-pack of Bud. As I was paying the cashier, whom I assume makes minimum wage without health insurance, was she going to vote. (And I don't think that was an intrusive off-question asking another citizen about their most basic civic responsibility to our country.) Well, at first she said she couldn't get off in time. So I informed her the polls would be open until 8pm. You still had plenty of time, I said. But apparently she wasn't even registered to vote because she yelled back at me that, "It's none of you business if I vote of not." So I picked up my 12-pack off the counter and beat her to death with it and left.
"Old gay Hadrian was right. It's clear there is no winning endgame in Iraq no matter who is president. We're fucked.
It's going to end in civil war and instability throughout the region (exactly counter to the neo-con's rationale for invading). Oh yeah, we're going to be stuck right in the middle, being shot at by all sides.
There's a part of me that wispers "let the fuckers have another four years and face the full consequence of their deceits in both domestic and foreign policy." But the damage the squatters could do in the next four years is too great as they used the deficits they created to eviscerate social and education spending, the Middle East carnage they insisted on as a further excuse for agression and -- most frieghtenly -- the increased threat of terrorism as renewed assault on civil liberties.
It's all there in PNAC II, laughed off as the radical daydreams of a few wingnut wonks. HAHA. PNAC I got the same response 10 years ago.
stencil"
They'll just blame democrats when America is forced out of Iraq.
Mullar Omar delivered a message about the lack of a working democracy in Afghanistan. How do you think Iraqis responded to his words:
Mullah Omar, who is believed to be in hiding some place along the rugged border regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan also accused the Afghan government of stalling on democracy.
``The American, shaky transitional government in Afghanistan has completed its two years but so far it has not achieved anything,'' Omar said. ``Where is the democracy that was to accompany peace, freedom, human rights and reconstruction?
``For Muslims, that fraud democracy is bringing the gifts of killings, bombings, destruction of homes, the spread of obscenity and imposition of infidelity that you see in the country's capital and its provinces,'' he said.
Article here.
Hey, I heard that if you lightly marinate a juicy thick sirloin steak in zesty Italian dressing, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper for a couple hours, then quickly cook over blazing flames with smoky hickory chips, that it kills any mad cow that might be in it. I'm going to try and see.
Haha, I'm in the South here and I can barbecue outside today. It's a little chilly out but I got the grill heating.
...that it kills any mad cow that might be in it.
I think you're a little late 
Wild Eyed - well, you can also opt for the premium Angus beef (about $1 more per pound). The mad cow we know about was a Holstein. Of course, this doesn't rule out mad cow in other breeds, but it's about the best you can do if you want to have your steak and eat it too.
'Out of Control'
Fast and cheap
Ninja jihad
Suck my Oil
Feel my vineyard
I am scum
You are scum
Bus has gone
Bye so long
We are scum
Overrun and
OUT OF CONTROL
Holy wars
Phantom Power
Phantom lies
On the hour
Bear it in mind
We are one kind
We are one kind
Bear it in mind
We are one kind
Unrefined and
OUT OF CONTROL
(Super Furry AnimalsA/a> / 'Phantom Power')
Really, hear/see these guys if you can:
Super Furry Animals Touring U.S. with Papa M
[Updated Friday, January 30th, 2004 02:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]
Eric Marth and Ray Suzuki report:
Extry! Extry! Read all aboot it! Greatest band in Wales tours North America! That's right, folks, you heard right: the sweetest, loudest, double-bass-drum toting, hair-growing, Coke sipping, McCartney-calling band in the land, Super Furry Animals, have just announced another tour in support of last year's Phantom Power. I know, I know, I know, we missed it on our Top 50 list, but isn't it still a grand record? Wore my copy out on the Victrola, aye. Get yer fur on at any of the following gigs (all U.S. dates with Papa M):
02-02 Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line
02-03 Chicago, IL - Metro
02-04 Detroit, MI - St Andrews Hall
02-05 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix Theatre
02-06 Montreal, Quebec - Cabaret Music Hall
02-08 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
02-09 New York, NY - Webster Hall
02-11 Washington D.C. - 930 Club
02-12 Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts
02-13 Carrboro, NC - Cats Cradle
02-14 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club
02-15 Nashville, TN - Exit / Inn
02-17 Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa
02-18 Dallas, TX - Trees
02-20 Lawrence, KS - Granada
02-21 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre
02-24 Vancouver, BC - Richards on Richards
02-25 Seattle, WA - The Showbox
02-27 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
02-28 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theater
03-27 Liverpool, England - Royal Court Theatre
03-28 Dublin, Ireland - Olympia Theatre
03-30 Edinburgh, Scotland - Corn Exchange
03-31 Middlesborough, England - Town Hall
04-01 Sheffield, England - Octagon Centre 04-02 Cardiff, Wales - Cardiff International Arena
04-04 Nottingham, England - Rock City
04-05 Salisbury, England - Salisbury City Hall
04-06 Cambridge, England - Corn Exchange
04-07 Brighton, England - The Dome
04-08 London, England - Carling Apollo Hammersmith
(That's 2/12, Atrios. Take a date!)
"Wild Eyed - well, you can also opt for the premium Angus beef (about $1 more per pound). The mad cow we know about was a Holstein. Of course, this doesn't rule out mad cow in other breeds, but it's about the best you can do if you want to have your steak and eat it too.
Jennifer"
Good idea in the future. I don't know what breed cow this was but I'm sure it was a beef and not a milk cow, though. It was premium.
Vegetarians taste better.
Vegans taste best.
Culinarially & sexually.
Sorry, I mean...
'Cunnilingusly & sexually'
Just came back from seeing the super Errol Morris-Philip Glass-Robert McNamara film "The Fog of War". Much is relevant now, most so McNamara's rule that we must not employ our power unilaterally, as we did in Vietnam.
Tomato Observer - thanks for standing up and saying that Americans can accomplish great things.
People who are so convinced that everyone in the country is lazy and stupid and selfish and that the only thing that will keep them from blowing themselves and everyone else up is to fight in the streets are, I think, not too experienced with people. I know hundreds of really fine, wonderful, unselfish, thinking people. And they do care. It isn't their fault that they were lied to. We were all lied to. Some people are not as prone to analyze what an administration tells them as others are. And just because someone's politics don't agree with yours, that does not mean that they are hopeless human beings.
I hate this kind of nihilsm, it is fruitless. We have bad leaders in power right now. We are on the verge of getting rid of them. We have a hell of a mess in Iraq, and it is going to take time and work to set it straight. But yapping about how hopeless it all is, and how stupid Americans are is a total waste of time. Plus, it isn't true.
"We will NEVER have a true democracy in this nation, without a free and open media. A functioning, healthy, and independent Fourth Estate is essential to any democracy's lifeblood, and must be nourished and protected, not bought, controlled, and sold to the highest bidder, or those who wish to control our democracy's ideology.
Hornito"
Well said Hornito, by the way. I couldn't agree more. I'm going to make a 'letter to the editor' out of what you wrote and send it in.
Did I hear someon mention Red Meat?
What did these kids die for?
Cheap oil? No...
A safer America? No...
A democratic Iraq? No...
What, then?
So Halliburton could get a big fat contract? Well...
Bring 'em on!
Chan 4 over here is showing "Invading Iraq: How Britian and America got it wrong". A eye opening programme, with troops being honest about the mess the invasion was.
http://www.channel4.com/news/
200...ading_iraq.html
Chan 4 over here is showing "Invading Iraq: How Britian and America got it wrong". A eye opening programme, with troops being honest about the mess the invasion was.
http://www.channel4.com/news/
200...ading_iraq.html
mcrob - I'm seeing more and more of that every day.
The Feb. 2 issue of the New Yorker has an article by Josh Micah Marshall on American Imperialism, as well as a comment by Hendrik Hertzberg, in which he eviscerates the SOTUS and lays out all the lies.
It's finally getting out there - after we have endured months of press inaction, the tide has turned. The Kay Report has dismantled the last of the excuses for the press. I think it is feeling that now. Except for the hopelessly propaganda-ized Faux, I expect to see more and more of the truth to start being printed and broadcast.
Okay-- so when is the next anti-war protest?
I REALLY want to go. Seriously.
Greg Dyke, formerly of the BBC, sounds pretty damn angry. I hope he's able to successfully mount a counter-offensive against Tony in the coming weeks.
Whitewash indeed.
It's finally getting out there - after we have endured months of press inaction, the tide has turned. The Kay Report has dismantled the last of the excuses for the press. I think it is feeling that now. Except for the hopelessly propaganda-ized Faux, I expect to see more and more of the truth to start being printed and broadcast.
From your lips to God's ear.
I noticed an interesting cover on Texas Monthly this morning. Paul Burka, the magazine's long time editor and great good friend (i.e., rabid supporter) of Dubya, is having second thoughts. And putting them on the cover.
Over a picture of a particularly lost looking Dubya is printed the word: "Maybe." Seems Burka loved Dubya as governor, but doesn't recognize that same person as the President (I know, I know, you've gotta wonder what he was looking at here in Texas). He seems to think Bush is "kowtowing" to GOP extremists (again, what did he expect?), and is dismayed to see Time magazine describe him (accurately, apparently, for Burka), as a "polarizer."
If even Burka is dismayed, imagine how little support Bush has except among the corporate honchos who paid for him. And if they decide his stock has fallen, then he can stick to principle until the cows come home; it won't do him any good.
So here's hoping....
Minor addendum to what I just said:
For those who don't know, Texas Monthly caters mostly to the emerging Republican majority in Texas (the monied crowd, not the populist crowd that reads "The Texas Observer," where Molly Ivins cut her journalistic eye teeth).
The cover I mentioned can be found at their web-site. There's also a poll, asking if one expects GW to be re-elected.
It's running almost 65% against such an expectation.
Again, TM's readership is the crowd GW would be most expected to appeal to. They are the political "principle" Rove is thinking of.
If the people who visit that web-site think GW is doomed, it's not a good sign for four more years.
if you count october 2003, it's 4 months in a row of 40 or more casualties per month. only during the months when the war actually started (march & april 2003) were there casualties over 40 per month.
Robert M Jeffers - How interesting about Texas Monthly. I haven't seen that because I don't buy the mag - don't care for it. I really didn't know it was a Repug mag, I just don't like it.
It is hard to imagine what anyone could have seen in Bush when he was gov that would make them like him. In the first place, the Texas gov doesn't do much. Though what a Texas gov can do, Bush pretty well fucked up. Viz. - air pollution, which placed Texas near the top of the all time polluted places during his term. And it hasn't improved.
But if someone like that is turning, wow. I would half expect by now to see Rove sneaking out the back door and riding as fast as he can into the sunset. With full saddlebags, of course.
My my. Thanks Robert.
Wow...Dallas Monthly has doubts about Dubya? Vote for yourself.
It's going 65% to 35% against Bush.
Watch for the next big distraction. Already the (mis)administration is talking up some big "push" in Afghanistan. I'm betting they already know where Osama is, and they're just waiting for the right time to pull him out of a hat (esp. since that tactic did not work out quite so well with Saddam). When that happens the MW's will be singing the brilliant, tough "leadership" of Der Shrubbenfuehrer right up until Election Day. What a bunch of evil socioupaths. In some respects, Bush is worse than Hitler. At least one could make some sort of argument that Hitler was motivated by some sick, twisted ideological purity. Bush, on the other hand, is just pure, naked political ambition (and a desire to materially reward all of daddy's buddies).
Watch for the next big distraction. Already the (mis)administration is talking up some big "push" in Afghanistan. I'm betting they already know where Osama is, and they're just waiting for the right time to pull him out of a hat (esp. since that tactic did not work out quite so well with Saddam). When that happens the MW's will be singing the brilliant, tough "leadership" of Der Shrubbenfuehrer right up until Election Day. What a bunch of evil socioupaths. In some respects, Bush is worse than Hitler. At least one could make some sort of argument that Hitler was motivated by some sick, twisted ideological purity. Bush, on the other hand, is just pure, naked political ambition (and a desire to materially reward all of daddy's buddies).
Sorry for the double-post!
Didn't you people get the memo?
These casualties are "militarily insignificant"! Isn't that great????
Woo-hoooo! We WON!
there is no acceptable rate of dead
human beings...
Whitewash indeed.
Hm... funny thing is that if Hutton had been more evenhanded in his criticisms ("a plague on both your houses") with the Report, Blair might have come out of this looking better than he has... all right, more immediately vulnerable to attack, but in the long run more likely to hold his own against both his 2-in-C and his opposite number in the Coservatives. Not even mentioning Greg Dyke et al...
'scuse. Conservatives. Too much coffee.
Boo-Fucking-Hoo.
Live by the sword, die by the sword.
The price on pays for dancing with the Devil.
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