I'MMA LET YOU FINISH
murky murky murky
did i mention how murky it is?
"We may or may not have heard the last word on the prime minister," the official said. "You have to put a lot of pieces together first."
Too many pieces haven't been put together right from the start.
This is embarrassing. Who's on first?
Worst. Administration. Ever.
BushCo sure puts the F-U in FUBAR. Every time.
They don't even know where or what the pieces are!
OT, but of course not that far off-
In my Inbox this AM, and went out to my circle, including our host-
Subject: wear red on Fridays-
Have you seen this? This came to me third-hand; I don't know X but I
thank her. Now where did I put that red beret?
I'm sharing it extensively--rare for me--as it is non-violent, simple, and
creative. And it has an impressive track record! It actually only takes
about two minutes to read.
For peace with justice for all, Y in Maine
May 27, 2004:
My name is Nadia Jensen and I have an idea for a quiet revolution. Please
take 5 minutes to read my email and then help me if you can: Here's some
history behind this idea: When Norway was occupied by Germany in 1940,
Norwegian women began to knit RED caps for children as a way of letting
everyone know that they did not like what was happening in their country,
that they didn't like having their freedom taken away by the Nazis. My great
aunt, Karin Knudson Myrstad, was one of the women who knit red caps for her
children and others. Similarly, in Denmark, women knit red-white-and blue
caps (colors of the Allies) for the very same reason.
The result was that whenever Norwegians and Danes left their homes -- to
go to the store, to work, etc, they could see that THE MAJORITY opposed what
was going on in their country. As you know, both countries organized
effective Resistance efforts and changed history -- everything that happened
began simply by wearing red!!!! (or the colors of the Allies, in Denmark).
1. BACKGROUND: I believe, as many of us do, that at the very heart of our
democracy is our right to oppose certain policies of our government.
Increasingly, our Government is redefining "freedom" in ways that make too
many Americans perceive that it is risky to oppose his policies -- and, in
particular, current inroads about individual freedoms and policies in the
U.S. and abroad. However, many of us DO oppose what our government is doing
to individual rights -- and I have an idea that will allow all of us to
recognize each other very easily so we can see that WE ARE THE MAJORITY.
2. SO... I have been thinking that it's time to take action in a way that
is effective and easy for all of us to do: Just wear red every Friday
between now and election day. Wear a little or a lot -- just be sure that
when you leave your house to go about your day -- to work, to school, to the
store, to the gas station, wherever you go in your daily routine -- that
everyone who sees you will see that you are wearing red because you believe
in freedom and you don't agree with our current administration's policies at
home and abroad.
I'm really certain that we'll see that lots of us wearing red for
freedom -- because WE ARE THE
MAJORITY. We just need a way to show each other who we are!!! Between now
and election day, ask everyone you know to wear red for "Freedom Fridays".
3. I have already spread the word to f
[TRUNCATED]
friends and have had a very
enthusiastic response. This email has been forwarded around the country by
many who receive it -- feel free to send in on. [it]
eND Fwd- -RF
Iyad Allawi is cousin of Ali Allawi.
Ali Allawi is nephew of Ahmed Chalabi.
Hmmmmmmmmm?????
steve gilliard deconstructs the wapo article nicely on his blog.
The Minister of Interior, Nouri Badran is married to the sister of Iyad Allawi, defense minister Ali Allawi’s cousin, and Chalabi's nephew.
Hmmmmmmm????? #2
A senior administration official in Baghdad said that L. Paul Bremer, the civilian U.S. administrator, and Robert D. Blackwill, the U.S. presidential envoy to Iraq, knew about the impending selection on Thursday. But officials in Baghdad feared a leak and told few officials in Washington. Some members of President Bush's war cabinet knew where the process was heading but were surprised by the timing of the council's decision.
It kinda sounds like the administration had this carefully thought out campaign (yeah, right) to install Allawi as a puppet ruler while trying to maintain the appearance that there was a vetted selection process in place. The IGC probably figured that Bush Co. would fuck it up just like everything else, so they decided to skip the ensuing fubar and scandal and went ahead put Allawi in power.
karlstumpf, it's usual to find family loyalties in Middle Eastern politics, especially where the previous infrastructure has been bombed out of existence. RF, interesting idea...
Yes, boing, that was pretty much my conclusion.
How much bumbling and fumbling has to go on for more people to report on this shit in major media outlets? How much more shit has to go down before Bush and Cheney are both impeached for pertinent and reprehensible violations? Obstruction of justice, intentional misleading of information to justify preemption, handing out lucrative contracts to buddies/companies that were, prior to Bush, banned from ever receiving contracts again due to previous improprieties, etc.!!! WRITE ON THAT PLEASE... where is the talk about the contracts for those companies? Can someone tell me?
"This is an executive branch which is entirely rudderless. There is no leader."
That pretty much nails it. The one thing they do competently is political damage control and spin, with the help of the right wing hacks and a timid mainstream media.
I love the idea of wearing red every Friday -- it will really confuse those pudits who think they know which states will be red and which will be blue! Count me in.
It's gotten so bad that even the usually slippery Scotty Mac seems flustered.
Of course the w admin is falling apart. Not even fireman Rove can put out this many fires.
I'm not so sure that there was real surprise.
From the article:
"A senior administration official in Baghdad said that L. Paul Bremer, the civilian U.S. administrator, and Robert D. Blackwill, the U.S. presidential envoy to Iraq, knew about the impending selection on Thursday. But officials in Baghdad feared a leak and told few officials in Washington. Some members of President Bush's war cabinet knew where the process was heading but were surprised by the timing of the council's decision."
"The administration's statements were reserved because the United States did not want to appear to be driving the process, officials said, especially because of the country's past ties with Allawi."
This Alawi thing does appear to be a coup for State and the CIA (vs DoD) and maybe the NSC (Blackwill is heavily involved.)
It will be interesting to see if the Iraqi people accept Allawi, given his well known ties to the CIA and MI6, plus his endorsement by the discredited IGC.
What is clear is that the UN/Brahimi were cut out, four days after Bush said on TV that Brahimi was in charge, and on the same day Bush said (in the presence of the Danish PM) that Iraq would have full and complete sovereignty.
The UN Security Council resolution would seem to be at risk by this US dominated selection, so next week will be interesting on that front.
I expect firm UNSC resistance, and BlairCo may not be able to support the US due to opposition at home.
It takes a village to destroy democracy.
I'm not so sure that there was real surprise.
From the article:
"A senior administration official in Baghdad said that L. Paul Bremer, the civilian U.S. administrator, and Robert D. Blackwill, the U.S. presidential envoy to Iraq, knew about the impending selection on Thursday. But officials in Baghdad feared a leak and told few officials in Washington. Some members of President Bush's war cabinet knew where the process was heading but were surprised by the timing of the council's decision."
"The administration's statements were reserved because the United States did not want to appear to be driving the process, officials said, especially because of the country's past ties with Allawi."
This Alawi thing does appear to be a coup for State and the CIA (vs DoD) and maybe the NSC (Blackwill is heavily involved.)
It will be interesting to see if the Iraqi people accept Allawi, given his well known ties to the CIA and MI6, plus his endorsement by the discredited IGC.
What is clear is that the UN/Brahimi were cut out, four days after Bush said on TV that Brahimi was in charge, and on the same day Bush said (in the presence of the Danish PM) that Iraq would have full and complete sovereignty.
The UN Security Council resolution would seem to be at risk by this US dominated selection, so next week will be interesting on that front.
I expect firm UNSC resistance, and BlairCo may not be able to support the US due to opposition at home.
Holy mahoney Oliver... what a post. And you've beaten Holden C to his obsession with the Gaggle for the day...
I expect firm UNSC resistance, and BlairCo may not be able to support the US due to opposition at home.
Agreed on the UN. Brahimi's nose is going to be well out of joint over this.
As to Blair, well, he's vowing to hang on until the general elections, but I think he's looking increasingly like a miserable failure: the New Statesman may be something of a paper on the fringe of the mainstream, but its advocation of Brown as the next Labour candidate may well strike a chord with some.
Rupert Murdoch's Sleazebag: The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game
Remember Alexandra Polier, the freelance journalist who right-wing rent boy Matt Drudge and Rupert Murdoch's British tabloid, Sun, falsely named as John Kerry's mistress? Remeber how Drudge claimed Polier's mother called Kerry "a sleazebag?" Though the story died months ago, Polier is back -- and this time she's on the attack.
I haven't had coffee yet this morning...it's only 9 here on the West Coast. So I can't be erudite. I'll just say "Fuck." Easy to spell, easy to type, and says it all.
Fuck.
Can't our media comprehend that this stuff matters? This isn't snickering cocktail party chitchat about who is up and who is down.
That's a question that drives me absolutely nuts. Why are they all acting like this is a game? I realize that demanding actual moral seriousness from a gaggle of chattering husks is a fool's game...but considering that they usually like to PRETEND that they're morally serious, I don't understand why they've completely dropped that pretence where BushCo is concerned.
As for Iraqi leadership, if they're wise they'll NEVER announce who's supposedly been given the country's reins. Otherwise, they'd have to announce a new leader every week or so, while the limbs and entrails of the previous one are carted off to the dump in a wheelbarrow.
"it's usual to find family loyalties in Middle Eastern politics"
TheaLogie, 'family loyalties' aren't just middle eastern, they're southern, too, like florida, western, like texas, &, oops, the united states...
my point: there is a House of Chalabi still happening. Big Ahmed can stay in the undisclosed locations like our own Big Dick...
and move the 'family loyalites' around on the chessboard. but, hey, it's normal...
I don't even know if "erudite" is the right word... Fuck.
BlairCo? Hadn't heard that one before. It'd have to be a sole proprietorship, I'd imagine.
It's been asked before (Atrios), but again, where's Condi? All this happening and not a peep or a reference to the head of the 'Iraq Stablilzation Group'?
Has even *one* journalist asked? Has the group even met? What does this remind you of?
Afraid I would lose my temper, I asked my editor to call [Flynn] first. 'I was calling to ask you who your source was for your story which named Alex Polier as the intern in the Kerry story,' she asked.
"Ah, many people have asked me; it was a fantastic source," he said. "I broke that story to the world, you know!" he added proudly. "But your source was wrong," she pointed out. He paused, startled. "You've just ambushed me," he cried. "You've ambushed me!"
"I think you should speak to Alex," she said and passed me the phone.
"Hello," he said, sounding nervous.
"I'd like to talk to you. I'm writing a piece and have some questions."
"It's not a good time right now," he said. "Let's meet up next week."
"Why did you quote my mother when she wasn't even home?" I persisted.
"I really can't talk about this right now, Alex," he said.
When I finally tracked him down the following week, he was brusque and told me to go through The Sun's PR office. I asked him about my mother again, but he kept saying, "Sorry, Alex, proper channels." Reached in London, Lorna Carmichael, The Sun's PR manager, refused to comment. I went to Flynn's apartment, and spoke to his wife through the intercom. "Go away and leave us alone!" she cried. "He's not going to come down or speak to you."
WHO'S YER DADDY?
They're flying by the seat of their pants.
And their pants are down around their ankles.
What a difference a year -- and three months -- makes. Look at Condi back when the Eye-rak adventure seemed so very very promising -- click homepage
RE: WaPo story
This seems like a "please don't throw me into the briar patch" ruse to me. Read more about Allawi. He's just another Chalabi.
atlantan: and they are bending over...
Mr. Bush, your moronic (except for enriching your famiglia) policies have caused my alcohol and prescription tranquilizer costs to go up sharply.
Bill to follow.
....and Karl Rove has a leash around their necks.....
murky murky murky
karlstumpf | Email | Homepage | 05.29.04 - 11:54 am | #
--------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
did i mention how murky it is?
karlstumpf | Email | Homepage | 05.29.04 - 11:55 am | #
The first couple of posts really nailed it for me.
Bremer, the civilian U.S. administrator, and Robert D. Blackwill, the U.S. presidential envoy to Iraq, knew about the impending selection on Thursday
Do I see a certain consistency to their methods with the chaos and confusion and strong-arming and secretiveness?
Would it be possible to blog roll me or add a link to my site please? I can link to your blog in return. It would generate more hits for both of us. My url is http://www.chiraag.tk
...of course, i still remained unsure how it was that I got dragged into this thing. My relationship with Peter [Maroney, Kerry's Finance Director] had put me close to the senator, and I certainly hadn’t kept it a secret that I had been excited to meet and talk to Kerry. The more people I talked to, the more one supposed source kept coming up, a woman whom Drudge had called my “close friend.” I won’t mention her name here, but she had worked for a Republican lobbyist—Bill Jarrell, who runs a firm called Washington Strategies, gives money to Bush, and had been a top aide to Tom DeLay. I called her immediately to ask her if she had been telling people I’d had an affair with Kerry. “I may have said you knew him,” she said, sounding as if she were choosing her words with great care. “I may have said you had dinner with him. But I never said you had an affair!”
Then another reporter also said she’d told him I had slept with Kerry. I couldn’t believe one of my closest friends would tell such a thing—we went all the way back to tenth grade. I had even asked her to be a bridesmaid. She denied it again, then softened her position. “I may have told Bill that you knew Kerry. Look, I was once with you when you phoned Kerry’s office and then he called you right back. And I thought, How amazing, and I got excited and I told friends about it.” She started to cry. “I’m very, very sorry,” she sobbed. “If all this leads back to me, it wasn’t intentional.”
I called Jarrell and asked him what he thought. “Come on Alex,” he said, “Who else could it be?”
What's the chance that this is actually a strike by the IGC for Iraqi Independence? If a secular government that's anything less than horrifically corrupt were to emerge there I know it would bring my terror level down a notch or two. Any likelihood that this is really good news?
Condi Rice has NOT DONE HER JOB for the last 3 1/2 years. Don't expect her to do anything now.
Jennifer,
Not a Chance.
MisterX: Condi Rice has NOT DONE HER JOB..
Well, she wasn't supposed to be a regular NSA anyway. She was a kind of facilatator and coach for W. Now everything is in dissarray, the last thing Bunnypants wants is Condi giving him advice about what to do next. He wants his 'commanders' and the UN to figure it out and tell him about it later.
so they put an incompetent black woman in as NSD, (with little chance for success, to be fair) then the world watches her fail spectacularly-- any chance they'll use her example as a bludgeon against affirmative action in a few years?
WTF? Bush is supporting convicted crack dealers?
The FBI questioned Berg in 2002 to find out why his e-mail password had ended up with an Oklahoma terror suspect linked to al Qaeda terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui.
In Iraq, Berg partnered with an ex-Philadelphia Iraqi expatriate who'd been convicted in a Russian-exile crack-vial ring before becoming the highly visible leader of an anti-Saddam Hussein group backed by the Bush administration.
Breaking ranks, David Sanger in the NeoCon Times joins the fray in portraying an administration in conflict:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/3.../30sang.html?
hp
Note the great line about the White House resembling an amusement park.
There is this link to an Iraqi who claims to have attended medical school with Alawi: http://jobs.ncmonline.com/news/
v...3f58a840f933f39
"Any physician who graduated from Baghdad Medical School between the years l962 and l970 will remember this big, husky man. The Baath party union leader, who carried a gun on his belt and frequently brandished it terrorizing the medical students, was a poor student and chose to spend his time standing in the school courtyard or chasing female students to their homes."
Well, she wasn't supposed to be a regular NSA anyway. She was a kind of facilatator and coach for W. anon
I guess the only question left is not IF Condi is going to be blamed for the mess, but WHEN.
Any bets?
Gilliard sums it up.
Dead Man Walking
Condi Comparison:
then -
http://tinyurl.com/246lz
now -
http://tinyurl.com/2dpjo
PS:
http://www.condiriceisangry.com/
Particularly like the picture with GWB in foreground and Condi glowering over his shoulder.
I guess the only question left is not IF Condi is going to be blamed for the mess, but WHEN.
Any bets?
MisterX
My guess is that Karen Huge has been whispering in Bunnypants ear for months now...
"... Mr President, I tried to warn you. She's a wonderful wonderful perons, but if she'd been up to the job, you wouldn't be having all these problems.. "
perons = person. Sorry.
OK OK OK, So tell us where we can find Gilliard already.
Sheesh. Plug plug plug, no link?
http://stevegilliard.blogspot.com
So here's the result of an archive search of the NYTIMES -
Your search for "condolezza rice" / past 90 days returned 1 articles.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1
NATIONAL DESK | April 1, 2004, 9/11 Widows Skillfully Applied The Power of a Question: Why?
By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG (NYT) 1161 words
Condi has VANISHED! But no-one has noticed! With all the turmoil about Iraq, why oh why hasn't some reporter asked Atrio's question --
WHERE IS CONDI RICE?
My guess is that the preznit is already drunk, getting a head start on the holiday weekend, and the IGC in Iraq, knowing his habits decided to pull a fast one on a Friday afternoon.
It was years before we learned that in the last days Nixon was wandering drunk through the White House on suicide watch. I can't help wondering what is really going on behind the scenes now, and nobody in the press corps could even dream of how far out of control things might be.
Chalabi got one of his pals to pull a coup, and seeks to maintain an in to ruling Iraq, or having influence there - the council got back at the enemies of Chalabi by choosing Allawi, who's a pal, and the CPA, Powel, Brahimi and Bush are pissed, but wondering how to maneuver out of this one.
"Can't our media comprehend that this stuff matters?"
Not to them it doesn't. The only thing that matters to the American media is their paychecks and their precious egos.
One reason they may think it is a game is because to a great extent it is. Notice that Kerry DID vote in favor of the Iraq invasion even though it was pretty clear to all thinking people that the whole thing was bullshit even then. Notice also that Kerry does not really say he's going to do that much different from Bush. He says he'll get the UN and other nations to help us occupy and oppress the Iraqis but does not even broach the subject of whether invading another country and occupying it and taking control of its oil industry is a good idea. I think he thinks it is. He also does not explain how the other countries are going to be persuaded to jump into this mess with us. What are we offering in return, a share of the oil money? Remmeber, we invaded another country that posed no danger to us or anyone else and the only plausible reason for doing so is the obvious one, the oil. And no one, especially not Kerry, is addressing this basic issue. He does not object to the invasion and takeover, he just complains about the competence. Granted the Bush team is incompetent but that is not the root of the problem. If we get Kerry and we also get an interminable occupation of Iraq we and the world are still screwed. We are faced with the same choice we had in 1968. The primary candidates who wanted to end the war have been flushed out and we are left with one who just wants to fight it better but still fight it. This war is not just about Bush vs Kerry anymore than Vietnam was about Humphrey vs. Nixon. It is about changing the "bipartisan" foreign policy of grab ass. We want to believe Kerry will get us out of this because we want to be saved and because Bush is so god-awful. We have no other choice than to vote for Kerry and he knows it. And we end up still in Iraq. Until he starts calling for pull out I don't thnik he's going to make much difference in how Iraq plays out anymore than the Happy Warrior would have in 68. I think a lot of the press sees all this also.
Subject: wear red on Fridays-
They already do that at my employment - to show support for the troops.... I refuse, because I do not support what the troops are doing in Iraq. I realize that miserable failure and his admin put them there, but he told the Iraqis that anyone fighting against us would be guilty of war crimes, shouldn't the same be looked at from their side, too? We punished the Germans for following their leader, shouldn't our troops be gutsy enough to say "no" if they feel that this war was/is wrong and in the end, if this war ever does end, wouldn't they be in the wrong for being over there and killing off the inhabitants? The abuses are a good case in point. The people perpetuating the abuses are guilty and so are the ones issuing the orders, all the way up to the top - to us, the taxpayers, because we are paying them to commit these atrocities.
"Can't our media comprehend that this stuff matters?"
Not to them it doesn't. The only thing that matters to the American media is their paychecks and their precious egos.
Alan S., an amusement park? What would the rides be?
It's Condi's Roller Coaster of Lies! Bush's Beer-Bong Tilt-A-Whirl! Dick Cheney's Underground Bunker of Hot Monkey Lovin'!
Ack. Have made myself sick. Need coffee.
A.
"Can't our media comprehend that this stuff matters?"
With CNN and MSNBC following the Fox model for right wing propaganda as entertainment for profit, how can we expect anything else?
Well, it's certainly hard to go wrong assuming things are FUBAR a priori whenever the Bush admin is involved. But couldn't this instance just be more political theater to convince everyone we're keeping hands off? "Hey, they went and picked that guy we're not not at all sure we like" makes the Iraqis look a lot more independent than "What do you know, they picked the guy we've been advocating all along."
Just a thought.
imperialism, bitches!
Is there any serious reporting out there on any relationship between Calabi and this new guy? I mean, something beyond shirt-tail relative ties.
If you know where we could find that, please post the source, thanks.
Haloscan italics and my fumblefingers...meh!
Well, it's certainly hard to go wrong assuming things are FUBAR a priori whenever the Bush admin is involved. But couldn't this instance just be more political theater to convince everyone we're keeping hands off? "Hey, they went and picked that guy we're not not at all sure we like" makes the Iraqis look a lot more independent than "What do you know, they picked the guy we've been advocating all along."
Just a thought.
Gonna repeat this until she's gone:
child: who is Condoleeza Rice?
me: she's the national security advisor.
child: but what does she do?
me: apparently not much.
"I don't see...any method...at all."
Of course if both Condi and Powell are seen as on their way out, then all the rubbing of black man's heads won't bring back the African American vote.
from the piece; "The Bush administration appeared to be caught off guard and somewhat confused yesterday after the Iraqi Governing Council nominated a physician with longtime CIA ties as the post-occupation prime minister. Officials in Washington scrambled to respond after the Iraqis took the public lead in a process that was supposed to be run by a U.N. envoy."
Well whattayaknow! My CIA buddies again.
The CIA and Iraqis are tending to business, contemptuously leaving Shrubster out of the loop.
After all, as always, "the company" is in charge, thank you. The politicians may play at leadership only if they do "the company's" bidding.
Interesting for the CIA to play it's hand with the Iraqis so early, rather than waiting to rig the election. Oh well, wiser minds... and all that.
(stealing some time on daughter's computer. mine's still in the shop. I got her a new chair. I think I'm gonna get her a spill-proof keyboard, too.)(i hate sticky keyboards)
The consensus among security analysts is that the key to eliminating al-Qaeda as a threat is to transform the permissive political environment in which it operates in the Muslim world. Instead, the opposite has occurred — Muslim anger at the U.S. has reached an all-time high and continues to grow, driven by outrage at U.S. actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and by Israel's actions against the Palestinians. The precipitous decline in support or sympathy for the U.S. in the Muslim world after 9/11 has meant fertile ground for al-Qaeda recruiters. That is what I thought
Atrios - funny you should put it that way (party chit-chat about who's up and who's down) - I was thinking yesterday as I watched a Jeff Greenfield report on upcoming election that it's in their interest for this race to remain close until the very end, even if it isn't.
It's about ratings and selling newspapers to them - most of us here feel it's about preventing WWIII - hence the disconnect.
OT: Everything that was said about Pat Tillman's death was a lie. Turns out he was a victim of friendly fire. A mine explodes, soldiers start shooting wildly. Tillman is killed, and there were no enemy combatants.. How god damn sad is that?
Wonder if they'll take his silver star back. Getting fragged doesn't exactly qualify.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5088646/
Hal over at Hellblazercom has a brilliant post about Chalabis as a unit of stupidity:
For example, to be taken in by a pool hustler is aproximately 1 nano Chalabi - i.e. you would be one billion times less of a stooge than those who fell for Chalabi, hook line and sinker.
Scroll down to May 28.
Alawi is clearly a puppet and this is a disaster for a stable Iraq. Lots of peoplle are going to die over this guy.
It's simply tragic.
That's http://www.hellblazer.com/
Sorry.
For WaPo and other sites that require registration, don't forget to use bugmenot.com.
Thanks to Magnum for reminding me what the site was.
Keep getting bounced out everytime I go to the link....can someone post the title of the article, please?
TIA! (thanks in advance)
regards
.
relating to a post from last night:
"Why the Democrats' Left Wing Is Muted
By ADAM NAGOURNEY
Published: May 29, 2004"
He's at it again!
State/CIA (Allawi) v. DoD (Chalabi) -- a bureaucratic death match played out in the sands of Iraq.
Bush misunderestimated the nature and scope of his Cabinet's "competition of ideas," and lost culpable deniability for crimes by signing off on the Gonzales memo. He'd be hamstrung even if he were intellectually engaged.
Bush's last firewall, publicly owned corporate media, remains a constituent of both bureaucracies. But feeding frenzies which disserve Cheney and Rumsfeld are generating spirally growing revenues and issue salience, putting stockholder wind in the sails of aggressive publishing and production values.
Pending war or large-scale attack, impeachment proceedings will commence if Bush wins in November.
If the administration's defeat is imminent, the final play will come from OVP-backed DoD. It was their building that took the hit on 9/11. The institutional bloodthirst this generated can't be overstated.
Because they control the war machine, I'm fearing an expanded Mideast war-- perhaps in defense of Saudi Arabia-- within 90 days of the election (to hamstring any War Powers countermeasures). Hope I'm wrong.
M-D, ere is not only the title, but the first four paragraphs:
Pick Appears to Catch Bush Administration Off Guard
By Mike Allen and Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, May 29, 2004; Page A16
The Bush administration appeared to be caught off guard and somewhat confused yesterday after the Iraqi Governing Council nominated a physician with longtime CIA ties as the post-occupation prime minister. Officials in Washington scrambled to respond after the Iraqis took the public lead in a process that was supposed to be run by a U.N. envoy.
In a telephone conversation at 2:30 p.m., a senior U.S. official involved in Iraq policy sounded uncertain about whether Ayad Allawi would head Iraq's interim government after the United States transfers limited authority on June 30.
"We may or may not have heard the last word on the prime minister," the official said. "You have to put a lot of pieces together first."
A senior administration official in Baghdad said that L. Paul Bremer, the civilian U.S. administrator, and Robert D. Blackwill, the U.S. presidential envoy to Iraq, knew about the impending selection on Thursday. But officials in Baghdad feared a leak and told few officials in Washington. Some members of President Bush's war cabinet knew where the process was heading but were surprised by the timing of the council's decision.
...
According to the NYT Pat Tillman killed by friendly fire.
This is a truly sad story on so many levels...
This administration is no more disorganized than the average newspaper city room. Why should the Post find anything to marvel at?
I don't see...any method...at all."
Doctor Memory | Email | Homepage | 05.29.04 - 2:14 pm
Of course you're blind, you horrible unwashed believer! ;^)
Someone upthread asked about the Iraq Stabilization Group. If you Google that phrase, (I suck at linking) it gives you an article on 5/18/04 from the Washington Post. Essentially, the group is dead. Sorta like what's gonna happen in the election.
Nobody Is In Control Of Anything: The political system of our time?
Some may be alarmed by this, but I find it strangely comforting. I mean, isn't it nicer that the world's ills spring from ignorance and ineptness, rather than powerful malice?
On the other hand, this would also mean that it doesn't matter who wins the 2004 election. One powerless guy is as good (or bad) as the other -- as long as he doesn't act like a complete idiot/madman/drunk. Discuss.
-A.R. Yngve
http://yngve.bravehost.com
"Jeebus, this WaPo article makes it clear that no one's in charge."
I'm sure Bush thinks god is in charge.
Something tells me we'll be reading about how Berg was also "killed by friendly fire" as well after analysts said the video had a similar "digital signature" to the one taken at Abu Gharaib.
Maybe we'll know, maybe we won't. I wonder if Moore's interview of him would shed any light on it.
"I mean, isn't it nicer that the world's ills spring from ignorance and ineptness, rather than powerful malice?"
But what if it's powerful malice made worse by ignorance and ineptness?
Found the article, but it's still Tango Uniform on gaining access to it.
Microcrap problem with Internet Explorer...only happens when I try go open articles in the WaPo.
regards
.
RE: Friendly fire kills "Hero" Tillman.
I swear the Bush Blight is like a goddamned never ending greek tragedy.
In today's Roll Call, one of the Hill newspapers, a fascinating front-page story titled ``Iraqi Money Flows'' detailing how four different Iraqis seeking power in Iraq are paying over $100,000 a month for lobbying costs and public relations costs here in the U.S. capital. It is a million-dollar-plus annual industry.
from over at billmon (hes gotta a new post up for those who don't know)
OT:
Is there any truth to the story going around that Franken debated Coulter and laid waste to her?
Damn, I would sell my mother into slavery in a Turkish rug factory to get a transcript of that.
Sorry Mom
Looks like the IGC has pretty much finished crowning itself.
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPac...44&
section=news
Meanwhile Terrorists have grabbed 50 hostages in Saudi - also on Reuters
"...after analysts said the video had a similar "digital signature" to the one taken at Abu Gharaib."
Jack -- I haven't heard about that before. Do you have a link on a digital signature analysis?
Once upon a time, I use to really look forward to returning to the good, ole US of A, just because "everyone was equal" under the law. That's not so in many "civilized" nations.
After this farce in Iraq, not only am I open to attack for no other reason than "just because I'm an American", I see a far more serious problem...we are open to attacks from within just because "someone thinks I may be up to no good"...the writ of haebus corpus no longer exists in the US of A under Bush.
We have laws on the books that protects us from such vigalientism. Bush and Company have broken down those barriers and our freedoms are now awashed on the shoals of pandemonium.
We are not safe abroad nor at home anymore. Amazing how powerful a weapon FEAR is when used to stir up hysteria in the masses. Leinin thought religion was the opiate of the masses...Bush has proven that fear is a driving force that can minipulate the masses in ways that religion never thought possible.
regards
.
I guess the only question left is not IF Condi is going to be blamed for the mess, but WHEN.
Do you think her husband, umm, I mean, Mr. Bush, would allow that?
Thanks Blecht.
whaaa, what happened to my post? sorry, link got screwed up, now i have to go.
I like my Texas Toast dunked in BBQ sauce.
Sopped, you might say.
Joe Briefcase,
Tell your mother to pack her bags
http://www.alfrankenweb.com/
foru...p=132593#132593
Toonscribe , it is a blog link:
http://marc.perkel.com/archives/...ves/
000237.html
Thanks, Jack.
Allawi is a blood relative of Ahmed Chalabi and a relative by marrige. Ain't that sumptin', Jebus!
Sidenote....
I've pontificated here enough times that the military seemed to be a tad bit too cozy with Bush. The CS Monitor is running this article, "Military's officer corps: too political?" Case in point, "In many ways, the war is being run like a political campaign."
Thar may be more to this seeing how those top military brass are selected for promotion by the Congress that has been under the control of the Republican Party for the last ten years.
If posse comitatus is null and void via the Patrot Act, then military intervention within the borders in the near future may be near at hand. Say martial law just prior to the election if Bush doesn't stand a chance of winning, that makes the election null and void. It's been done in plenty of banana republics before.
regards
.
Another quote to stir the masses for the CS Monitor article...
"Today, however, it doesn't necessarily harm military careers. Army Lt. Gen. William Boykin told an evangelical group in Oregon last year that although Bush had lost the popular election in 2000, "He's in the White House because God put him there for a time such as this." General Boykin is now deputy to Stephen Cambone, under secretary of Defense for intelligence and one of the most influential advisers to Mr. Rumsfeld."
Could we be close to a military junta?
regards
.
And yet still trying to take credit for everything and with no concept of history.
Today was a perfect example of the media lame approach to everything.
The World War II Veterans Memorial.
First of all not the greatest generation ever Tom Brokaw is the only beneficiary of the stupid line
What about the men and women who fought the revolutionary war. And there are plenty of memorials to the World War II vets. At the time this
was not in style and when it looked like the mall was going to be over run by other wars and the Viet Nam police action vets got a cool new look then grumbling began. I have no problem with the memorial and I very much appreciate anyone willing to put on a uniform and fight for me.
But let's keep things in perspective and for heaven's sake --let's not be so slogon drive. Tom Brokaw may have written a good book about world war ll but last year he had his nose up arnold schwarzenegger's butt.
Usul
Don't you think the atmosphere is poisoned with Limbaugh the only talk on the radio there?
And this may be why Bush is able to fold, spindle and mutilate the military to his purposes...
"Though some - perhaps many - career officers oppose actions of the president and other senior civilians in charge of the military in Iraq, they know that speaking out can quickly end a career - or worse. The Uniform Code of Military Justice states that "any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President...shall be punished as a court-martial may direct."
He's got the military ossifer corp between a rock and a hard spot.
regards
.
The Uniform Code of Military Justice states that "any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President...shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
That's one rule I don't want to see changed.
However, the Dems should be speaking to them, and then FOR them. We need the officers on our side.
Is there any truth to the story going around that Franken debated Coulter and laid waste to her?
I heard "got wasted and laid her". But that was Hannity's show, so I can't vouch for its accuracy.
Since Ashcroft and Ridge can't coordinate shit next door to each other in DC, why should we assume any of these incompetents and factions could get it right all the way over in Baghdad.
Also, if Cockburn in Salon is correct, this guy slated to run Iraq is as corrupt as Chilabi....
This whole goddam mess amazes me. I was sure they were wrong about their rationales for the war, but I had no idea they were this lacking in ability to at least pursue a bad policy with a modicum of competence.
karlstumpf, it's usual to find family loyalties in Middle Eastern politics, especially where the previous infrastructure has been bombed out of existence. RF, interesting idea...
TheaLogie
Substitute "Boston," for "Middle Eastern," in that phrase and you have the explanation of a) Big Dig cost overruns (nephews given jobs in the double digits that didn't require any real work, even showing up in the office, nepotism justified by, kid you not, words "it's the Boston way"; b) why Whitey Bulger is/was a hero in Southie despite his drug pushing and strongarm tactics among his own people, c) why Whitey Bulger's brother James got treated with kid gloves and paid slabs of state money for so many years.
People think tribalism is something we don't have here in the US. The truth is, we just don't recognize it when it's under our noses.
In honor of this holiday I share with you Sir Karl Popper :
A few reasons why Karl Popper is obscure and unknown while the totalitarian philosophers he debunked (Karl Marx, Hegel, Plato, Aristotle, etc) are still widely known with easily available literature is that the people who would use us, much like hitler used the masses. is because we want to trust our leaders, however time and time again we are disillusioned.
"Most of all, those early Americans understood that liberty is fragile. To give any distant body of elites the power to tax and spend to stay in power promises corruption and a Leviathan government more interested in concentrating power for itself than in protecting the rights of its citizens."
Plato asks: "who should rule?"
Popper asks: "how can we minimize the damage a ruler can do?"
"Bertrand Russell described this study, with its companion volume on Plato, as ' a work of first-class importance which ought to be widely read for its masterly criticism of the enemies of democracy, ancient and modern. His (Popper's) attack on Plato, while unorthodox, is in my opinion thoroughly justified. His analysis of Hegel is deadly. Marx is dissected with equal acumen, and given his due share of responsibility for modern misfortunes. The book is a vigorous and profound defence of democracy, timely, very interesting, and very well written."
"The vital question is not 'Who should rule?' but 'How can we minimize misrule?"
-Sir Karl Popper "The Open Society and Its Enemies"
Nonsense. Bush is in control. I was scratching my head about Bush's chances in November because of all the bad news recently, but now I'm very optimistic. Iraq is under control. Kerry isn't much of a threat and Mccain is fondling Long John like a training bra. When Long John now comes up with some second rate candidate, his chances are over. Then you got Clinton's book taking all air out of the Democratic campaign. Things look up. It's a good day to be a Bush supporter.
Why is the human race not more evolved?
Muad-Dib -- regarding your WaPo troubles, I have the same difficulties.
In my case it may be in part related to the "Cookie Cop" software we have installed. On the other hand, I can usually (finally) get to the WaPo articles if I just stubbornly keep refreshing the page until it (finally) comes up.
Good luck with it.
The only people who have really been running the show are the greedy special interests, hence so much confusion in policy making.
I showcase an article written by Jerry Landay in my blog
The only people who have really been running the show are the greedy special interests, hence so much confusion in policy making.
I showcase an article written by Jerry Landay in my blog
Echidne, meet Ricky Vandal. He would be exhibit A in evolution, specifically the bit about apes and low cognitive function.
Opposable thumbs, yes, speech, yes, logic or reasoning? Er, not there yet.
OT, but relevant in the longer run. The BBC interviewed a few Americans today about who they plan to vote for. Essentially the ones who planned to vote for Kerry gave clear, intelligent explanations for their choice. Those who intended to vote for Bush said things like :"I guess I'll vote for Bush again". Or: "Well, Kerry means well, but how do we know if he can do it once he's in?" Then some Cato institute guy comes on and says that Bush is more likeable. Right. There you go, democracy. I think I'll run out of hair to pull if I listen to any more of this.
And yes, TK, thanks. That's what I was wondering about.
I think the key to all this bumbling is the wonderful article written quite a while ago (1-1/2 years ago, maybe?) in (I think) Esquire magazine, the one which exposed the ugly truth that there is absolutely NO real policy-making in this WH, everything goes through the political arm (a la Uncle Karl). Hence the staggering disasters on every front.
It was not as evident just exactly how FUBAR that approach would be, until we got dragged into an insane war. Life and death issues tend to throw incompetence in stark relief, as opposed to, say, environmental "policy" (while you can also argue that the environment is a life and death issue, in the world of the five minute attention span any argument about what the consequences will be many years from now quickly becomes disconnected from reality).
These people scorn policy-making. 'Cause it's all "nuanced," doncha know. Ain't "manly."
Actually, I'd blame that one on the BBC. You see, there ARE good reasons to vote for Bush, they were just asking the wrong people. If they'd interviewed the heads of Big Pharma, say, or higher-ups in Clear Channel, and let me not even talk about the love for Mr. Shrub in Halliburton...
Stupid biased lib'ral media...
The Minister of Interior, Nouri Badran is married to the sister of Iyad Allawi, defense minister Ali Allawi’s cousin, and Chalabi's nephew.
Hmmmmmmm????? #2
karlstumpf
how's that saying go? "bedfellows make strange politicians"
WTF? Bush is supporting convicted crack dealers?
....
In Iraq, Berg partnered with an ex-Philadelphia Iraqi expatriate who'd been convicted in a Russian-exile crack-vial ring before becoming the highly visible leader of an anti-Saddam Hussein group backed by the Bush administration.
John Gillnitz
well, they probably go way back
I'm looking forward to Clinton's booktour and all the interviews.
I doubt he is going to be nice to ShrubCo.
Plus, we'll get Clonton nostalgia, a review of the way Whitewater was used as an umbrella for any accusation they could find.
It'll be heartwarming.
Echidne
Why is the human race not more evolved?
Read Sir Karl poppers work beyond "The Open Society and Its Enemies" and you may find an answer...
Most people don't know he wrote until his death in 1994...
If this is what happends when the adults are in charge...bring on the kids next door!
Clueless bastards, thy name is the Bush-ed Administration!
Echidne
Why is the human race not more evolved?
Read Sir Karl poppers work beyond "The Open Society and Its Enemies" and you may find an answer...
Most people don't know he wrote until his death in 1994...
Don't wear red! Choose another color. Red is the color of COMMUNISM, and Rush will have a field day with it.
With the proceeds of your book sales, Ricky, you are no doubt able to be a quite substantial Bush supporter.
folks, if that’s who the Kurds and Shia and Sunnis agreed on, that’s who they agreed on 
.
.....
The choice is basically ABC: Anybody but Chalabi .
.....
As long as everyone is happy
.....
Prolly driving the Likudniks nutski
.....
Hey, folks from Europe--which country hosted the PNAC mock trial and how did it go? I heard about it on CBC overnight.
There is no leader. Neither Bush nor Rice, whose job it is to get all the ducks in a row, can control their feuding underlings.
Maybe they can bring in some Heritage Foundation interns.
Don't wear red! Choose another color. Red is the color of COMMUNISM, and Rush will have a field day with it.
scribeboy
Like we give a shit?
My problem is I hate wearing red. I don't like looking like an ornament.
but but but he has CIA ties, isn't that good?
unfortunate, it appears that events were moving too quickly to inform the White House.
Bushco was banking on one of two things....either the passage of a UN resolution that let the US keep military control of Iraq, or Brahimi coming up with someone who would allow the US to maintain military control of Iraq.
But Brahimi wasn't playing ball, and when China took the leadership position in the UN regarding "changes" in the US proposed resolution, it was a signal that the overwhelming majority of the SC was not interested in "sovereignty-lite" for Iraq.
What this meant was the the US military would only be allowed to play defense on the "front line of the War on Terror", which was absolutely unacceptable to the Cheney/Rumsfeld crowd. So, without telling Bush, they once again flip-flopped on the question of keeping the IGC in control of Iraq. Allawi may not have been their first choice, but he is certainly someone that the neo-cons can "work with."
So what if the "interim government" will be the same old detergent with a brand new label on the box? So what if a successful Allawi regime will look more like Saddam II than the beacon light of democracy in the middle east?
All that matters is Bushco's keeping control of the White House, and Allawi is the perfect choice because he is unlikely to flinch from having Iraqi "nationalists" slaughter Iraqi "terrorists" if it means the graft keeps coming his way.
And isn't that what this is really all about? A replay of Afghanistan, where the US sides with one side of an inter-muslim conflict, and slaughters Arabs in the name of freedom and democracy?
Lately, with all Bushwa's posturing, posing, chin-jutting, strutting, et.al, does anyone else think "Mussolini" but without the brains.
Ricky the bush supporter. Tighty whities, Ricky?
I vote against the wearing of the red, if only because RED IS REPUBLICAN. Although I must admit, I enjoy seeing folks like my own governor, Janet Napolitano, co-opting the rethug color and showing up for a press conference in the little red jacket.
But back in 2000 on Bill Mahr's show, you could scarcely see a Repug woman without the proverbial little red jacket. I do believe Bill even made a joke about some Rethug woman's clothing store with a whole wall of red jackets on sale.
I like the idea of co-opting, but only when it's really clear that's what you're doing (as in: hey pal, I own that flag, too!). If everyone thinks you're a Bush supporter on Fridays I think it defeats the purpose. How about everyone in black, to mourn the deaths of our service people, innocent Iraqis, and the near mortal wound to the Constitution?
Some days, I wonder if we can keep this country together long enough to have the Nov. election... Shit, this stuff reads like the results of slavery compromises of the pre-civil war administrations of Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan.
WTF? Bush is supporting convicted crack dealers?
Russian crackheads? Why condie rice mentioned Russians and enriched uranium in her white house link.
"Ukraine and Kazakhstan demonstrated a similar pattern of cooperation when they decided to rid themselves of the nuclear weapons, intercontinental ballistic missiles and heavy bombers inherited from the Soviet Union. With significant assistance from the United States warmly accepted by both countries disarmament was orderly, open and fast. Nuclear warheads were returned to Russia. Missile silos and heavy bombers were destroyed or dismantled once in a ceremony attended by the American and Russian defense chiefs. In one instance, Kazakhstan revealed the existence of a ton of highly enriched uranium and asked the United States to remove it, lest it fall into the wrong hands."
ladies and gentlemen the October surprise is found...
"Iraq's declaration even resorted to unabashed plagiarism, with lengthy passages of United Nations reports copied word-for-word (or edited to remove any criticism of Iraq) and presented as original text. Far from informing, the declaration is intended to cloud and confuse the true picture of Iraq's arsenal. It is a reflection of the regime's well-earned reputation for dishonesty and constitutes a material breach of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441, which set up the current inspections program."
Of course word for compliance with 1441 is no reason to go to war. If there WAS NO MENTION WHATSOEVER of 1441 it would be more interesting.
Bush/Cheney FUBAR. What will be neat is when they find a WMD crackpipe, traces of crack on ICBMS, or a radioactive crackpipe...
All that matters is how much money we can stuff in our pockets. It's another Bush Bustout!
Enronization of Americcca.
It's shadows and light, and the shadows are pretty much winning, eh?
"Some days, I wonder if we can keep this country together long enough to have the Nov. election."
Nor should we. Traitors don't deserve elections, and we should DEMAND impeachment or resignation NOW, and not sit back and wait for we can already call the Annual Fall Outrage.
"Shit, this stuff reads like the results of slavery compromises of the pre-civil war administrations of Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan.
Darwin"
While it gives me no pleasure to defend a racist like Pierce, it is absurd to blame either Pierce or Buchanon for the Civil War, for slavery, or for failing to glue the country back together before the split down its middle brought on disaster.
Pierce and his wife had the awesome and horrible experience of watching their son chopped in two and squashed by a freak train wreck on their way to the WH. What's Bush's excuse? That he got his pecker wedged in the rear of a goat?
The US is currently not divided down the middle, except that vote fraud and a complicit press can maintain that canard. There are a LOT more of us than there are of them, and we still do have a democracy left---if we use it.
Bush Lied...Impeach NOW!
Traitors don't deserve elections.
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