Zarqawi Helped U.S. Argument That Al-Qaeda Network Was in Iraq

Old Zarq was one of the best friends this admnistration has ever had, besides Osama. He was accused of blowing up the U.N. building, effectively removing prying international eyes from Iraq, when Bush had made it clear that he did not want anyone but coalition forces in Iraq.

He beheaded Nick Berg just in the nick of time, as the Abu Ghraib revelations were shocking and sickening the nation.

Even in death, he manged to remain a Bushite savior, in the face of Haditha revelations.

Hard to say what Bush will do without him.

Hey, I though I heard Rummy say that these Al Qaeda types are media and politically savvy.

Zarqawi Helped U.S. Argument That Al-Qaeda Network Was in Iraq:

"From the moment President Bush introduced him to the American people in October 2002, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi served a crucial purpose for the administration, providing a tangible focus for its insistence that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was linked to the al-Qaeda terrorist network responsible for the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

After the invasion that toppled Hussein, and the subsequent rise of the insurgency against occupying U.S. forces, Zarqawi's presence in Iraq was cited as proof that the uprising was fomented by al-Qaeda-backed 'foreign fighters.'

On Thursday, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld described Zarqawi as 'the leading terrorist in Iraq and one of three senior al-Qaeda leaders worldwide.'

In addition to his indisputably prominent role in the Iraqi insurgency, Zarqawi was always a useful source of propaganda for the administration. Magnification of his role and of the threat he posed grew to the point that some senior intelligence officers believed it was counterproductive."

Fallen star blames self, GOP tactics - The Boston Globe

Do whatever feels good; GOP style.

Fallen star blames self, GOP tactics - The Boston Globe: "WASHINGTON -- For nearly a decade, Allen Raymond stood at the top ranks of Republican Party power.
He served as chief of staff to a cochairman of the Republican National Committee, supervised Republican contests in mid-Atlantic states for the RNC, and was a top official in publisher Steve Forbes's presidential campaign. He went on to earn $350,000 a year running a Republican policy group as well as a GOP phone-bank business.

But most recently, Raymond has been in prison. And for that, he blames himself, but also says he was part of a Republican political culture that emphasizes hardball tactics and polarizing voters."

Inquiry finds problems in 2004 election - Yahoo! News

If tese problems are not fixed by November, we will have proof that we no longer have a respresentative Democracy and should all act accordingly, from that day forward, until trustworthy elections can be held by trust-worthy methods.

An un-representative government, nin America, is not government at all, and should no be recognized as legitimate government any longer, as it cannot be shown to be operating under the consent of the governed.

Inquiry finds problems in 2004 election - Yahoo! News:

"WASHINGTON - Many of the voting and counting mishaps of the bizarre 2000 general election were not fixed four years later and brand new problems arose, including a rash of fraudulent voter registrations in some areas, congressional investigators say. "

Unreported: The Zarqawi Invitation

The Bushites have done such a "fabulous" job of fomenting chaos, in the form of civil unrest, terrorist recruiting and civil war in Irsq, one might think that that was their intention.

Greg Palast: Unreported: The Zarqawi Invitation:

"They got him -- the big, bad, beheading berserker in Iraq. But, something's gone unreported in all the glee over getting Zarqawi, who invited him into Iraq in the first place?

If you prefer your fairy tales unsoiled by facts, read no further. If you want the uncomfortable truth, begin with this: A phone call to Baghdad to Saddam's Palace on the night of April 21, 2003. It was Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on a secure line from Washington to General Jay Garner.

The General had arrived in Baghdad just hours before to take charge of the newly occupied nation. The message from Rumsfeld was not a heartwarming welcome. Rummy told Garner, Don't unpack, Jack -- you're fired.

What had Garner done? The many-starred general had been sent by the President himself to take charge of a deeply dangerous mission. Iraq was tense but relatively peaceful. Garner's job was to keep the peace and bring democracy.

Unfortunately for the general, he took the President at his word. But the general was wrong. 'Peace' and 'Democracy' were the slogans.

'My preference,' Garner told me in his understated manner, 'was to put the Iraqis in charge as soon as we can and do it in some form of elections.'

But elections were not in The Plan.

The Plan was a 101-page document to guide the long-term future of the land we'd just conquered. There was nothing in it about democracy or elections or safety. There was, rather, a detailed schedule for selling off 'all [Iraq's] state assets' -- and in Iraq, that's just about everything -- 'especially,' said The Plan, 'the oil and supporting industries.' Especially the oil."

Power Grab

Let us not forget that certain Republicans in Congress aided and abbetted this White House at every power-grabbing turn.

There are some Democrats who were not much better in representing the people of a Democracy.

Let us please not get sucked into false dichotomies at every turn. Surely, if we have learned nothing else, these last five or so , it is the lie of false dichotomies.

The list is endless, but here are a few:

You are either with us or against us.

Quagmire or Saddam still in power.

Abu Ghraib, Haditha and other sites of American atrocities are bad, but Saddam was worse. (We Americans just can't tell you, Mr. President, how much we love having to compare ourselves to Saddam to come out a winner; it is even worse, when we come up short.)

I had a choice. I could either protect Amurkins or I could trust the word of a dictator. (Poppy-cock! The UN inspectors were in Iraq and had to leave to keep from getting their asses blown off, by the speaker of the above statement, GW Bush)

You either agree publically with the Bush administratiion, or you are giving aid and comfort to the enemy, whomever that is today.

and the ultimate false choice; you can either be secure or free

The New York Review of Books: Power Grab:

"During the presidency of George W. Bush, the White House has made an unprecedented reach for power. It has systematically attempted to defy, control, or threaten the institutions that could challenge it: Congress, the courts, and the press. It has attempted to upset the balance of power among the three branches of government provided for in the Constitution; but its most aggressive and consistent assaults have been against the legislative branch: Bush has time and again said that he feels free to carry out a law as he sees fit, not as Congress wrote it. Through secrecy and contemptuous treatment of Congress, the Bush White House has made the executive branch less accountable than at any time in modern American history. And because of the complaisance of Congress, it has largely succeeded in its efforts."

Forget gas; we need a plan to keep passenger trains rolling

AMEN!

While we are at it, lets not forget that the fastest trains possible may meet the corporte needs of post modern America, but that they will not meet the needs of a huge baby-boomer retirement and semi-retirement explosion.

The largest generation will be slowing down as they should. Having been the most mobile generation ever, the whackiest generation will probably not sit still for sitting still. Yet many will change from seeking a direct route from point A to point B to a wandering syle of movement.

Any wise energy conservation and earth-friendly policy will take this into consideration.

The Seattle Times: Opinion: Forget gas; we need a plan to keep passenger trains rolling:

"Here we go again, blaming everything on the oil companies for the spiraling cost of gasoline. How about we try something positive for a change, say, restoring our passenger trains?

For decades, Europe has paid double what the U.S. pays for gas, and just look at the trains they have. Every day, thousands of passenger trains, conventional and high-speed, whisk tourists and business people across the continent.

Of course, Europe has a plan for trains. Addiction prevents that here. So addicted have Americans become to the automobile we have forgotten all that railroads were. and could be again.

Indeed, our plan would begin with some national soul-searching about why we lost our passenger trains in the first place. On May 1, 1971, the railroads deeded to Amtrak just 180 trains. As late as 1960, the railroads had operated at least 5,000."

General Wesley Clark Takes on President Bush on Iraq and 9/11 | The Huffington Post

Live from Yearly Kos!

So to speak....

The Blog Cenk Uygur: General Wesley Clark Takes on President Bush on Iraq and 9/11 The Huffington Post:

"The Young Turks are broadcasting live from The Yearly Kos convention in Las Vegas. We interviewed General Wesley Clark this morning. He spoke very frankly (must run in the family) about the failures of the Bush administration in Iraq. He also talked about the neo-conservative plan to invade Iraq going back to more than a decade.

Finally, he discussed the failures that led up to 9/11, which was refreshing because the neglect the Bush administration showed to addressing Al Qaeda before 9/11 is almost never mentioned. "

George Bush Sr. asked retired general to replace Rumsfeld | Salon.com

Poppy is still trying to clean-up after Junior.

But it ain't gonna happen this time, because this time Junior has made a mess no one can clean up.

America is, for all practical purposes, finished as a world power.

In my mind, after these last 5 years, that is not all together a bad thing. But how we have arrived at this point is a very bad thing.

George Bush Sr. asked retired general to replace Rumsfeld Salon.com:

"June 8, 2006 Former President George H.W. Bush waged a secret campaign over several months early this year to remove Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. The elder Bush went so far as to recruit Rumsfeld's potential replacement, personally asking a retired four-star general if he would accept the position, a reliable source close to the general told me. But the former president's effort failed, apparently rebuffed by the current president. When seven retired generals who had been commanders in Iraq demanded Rumsfeld's resignation in April, the younger Bush leapt to his defense. 'I'm the decider and I decide what's best. And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain,' he said. His endorsement of Rumsfeld was a rebuke not only to the generals but also to his father. "

MoveOn targets four in Congress for aiding 'war profiteer' Halliburton

Didn't Harry Truman call this treason?

When can we expect the trials?

The Raw Story MoveOn targets four in Congress for aiding 'war profiteer' Halliburton:

"Four U.S. Representatives are coming under fire this week from MoveOn.org Political Action Committee, RAW STORY has learned.

In what MoveOn says is the third and final ad in its 'Red Handed' series, the group will accuse the Congresspersons of protecting war profiteers. Two earlier ads in the $1.3 million ad buy accused the Members of supporting what MoveOn calls a flawed prescription drug plan and allegedly protecting big oil companies while gas prices rise.

The ads, which will run through June 16th, target Reps Nancy Johnson (R-CT), Thelma Drake (R-VA), Chris Chocola (R-IN), and Deborah Pryce (R-OH)."

FBI says, "No hard evidence connecting Bin Laden to 9/11"

Holy Crap! No wonder Bush refused to show his evidence on bin Laden to the Taliban; he doesn't have any.

FBI says, "No hard evidence connecting Bin Laden to 9/11":

"June 6, 2006 : This past weekend, a thought provoking e-mail circulated through Internet news groups, bringing attention to the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorist web page for Usama Bin Laden.[1] (See bottom of this web page for Most Wanted page) In the e-mail, the question is asked, 'Why doesn't Usama Bin Laden's Most Wanted poster make any direct connection with the events of September 11, 2001?'

The FBI says on its Bin Laden web page that Usama Bin Laden is wanted in connection with the August 7, 1998 bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya. According to the FBI, these attacks killed over 200 people. The FBI concludes its reason for 'wanting' Bin Laden by saying, 'In addition, Bin Laden is a suspect in other terrorists attacks throughout the world.'

On June 5, 2006, the Muckraker Report contacted the FBI Headquarters, (202) 324-3000, to learn why Bin Laden�s Most Wanted poster did not indicate that Usama was also wanted in connection with 9/11. The Muckraker Report spoke with Rex Tomb, Chief of Investigative Publicity for the FBI. When asked why there is no mention of 9/11 on Bin Laden's Most Wanted web page, Tomb said, 'The reason why 9/11 is not mentioned on Usama Bin Laden's Most Wanted page is because the FBI has no hard evidence connecting Bin Laden to 9/11.' "

Bush brothers are tired of their whore.

The Raw Story NYT Weds: Katherine Harris has become GOP 'pariah':

"Undaunted by a run of horrific poll numbers, staff turmoil and public doubts from leaders of her own party about her ability to win election to the Senate, Rep. Katherine Harris is thinking confidently beyond November,' the Times' Mark Leibovich will report on Wednesday front pages.

'Harris is the former Florida secretary of state who is best -- or worst -- remembered for her role during the state's election recount of 2000. The incumbent Democrat, Bill Nelson, leads Harris by upwards of 30 points in recent polls. In her insistence on running anyway, Harris has become something of a pariah among many of the people whose power she indirectly helped ensure six years ago.'"

Bush's Troubles Shake the GOP Base

They should be shaken up. Anyone who voted for this criminal, in 2004, is as responsible for his crimes as he is.

Pew Research Center: Bush's Troubles Shake the GOP Base:

"As public approval of George W. Bush languishes at all-time low levels, supporters of the president are increasingly hard to find. In the months following his re-election, roughly half of the country rated Bush's job performance favorably. Today only a third of Americans do so, while more than half (56%) disapprove of his performance. These latest figures are based on a Pew Research Center survey conducted April 27-May 22, among a national sample of 3,204 adults, a large enough survey to allow for a more detailed breakdown of where and how opinion has changed since the election.

While the decline in support transcends ideological and demographic lines, the drop among one group ' moderate Republicans' has been especially steep. Among all Republicans, Bush's job approval rating has dropped 20 percentage points since December 2004 (from 89% to 69%). This erosion of support has been most severe among Republicans describing themselves as moderate or liberal, where his rating has dropped 25 points from 81% to 56%. "

Distracter in Chief

These Bushites are truly sick, you know. The world is imploding, thanks largely to the idiot's in the White House, and the only thing they can find to talk about is writing civil discimination into the Constitution.

Well, it ain't gonna happen.

The only thing they have managed to accomplish with this idiocy is to stir up more hatred in this country.

Distracter in Chief:

"What uncharted realm lies beyond brazen cynicism? A wasteland of utter shamelessness, perhaps? A vast Sahara of desperation, where principle goes to die? Someday George W. Bush and the Republican right will be able to tell us all about this barren terra incognita, assuming they ever find their way home.

The Decider's decision to whip up a phony crisis over same-sex marriage -- Values under attack! Run for your lives! -- is such a transparent ploy that even conservatives are scratching their heads, wondering if this is the best Karl Rove could come up with. Bush might as well open his next presidential address by giving himself a new title: The Distracter."

Reid mocks Rethug first priority

This really is lame. Of all the concerns we have in this country, the FMA is whatthese fools spend the entire day doing? They should all be put in slapping booths.

U.S. Newswire : Releases : "Reid: Federal Marriage Amendment Will Not Address America's Pressing Needs":

"WASHINGTON, June 5 /U.S. Newswire/ -- With Bush Republicans turning their attention away from gas prices, health care costs, and the most pressing threats to America's families in favor of an ill- fated Constitutional Amendment to ban gay marriage, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid today delivered the following speech on the Floor of the U.S. Senate. The text of Sen. Reid's speech, as prepared, is below:"

Bush is ashamed of Christian Right Leaders.

AMERICAblog: Because a great nation deserves the truth:

"Not a single religious right leader was visible on camera during George Bush's entire address this afternoon.

No one.

I TiVo'd the entire address, watched it twice, froze the frames, and there were plenty of audience shots of the crowd assembled at the White House to cheer on Bush's address supporting an anti-gay constitutional amendment. And not a single shot showed a leader of the religious right sitting in the audience."

Niger Documents, part of deliberate deception plot

VANITY FAIR : FEATURES : CONTENT:

"The Bush administration invaded Iraq claiming Saddam Hussein had tried to buy yellowcake uranium in Niger. As much of Washington knew, and the world soon learned, the charge was false. Worse, it appears to have been the cornerstone of a highly successful 'black propaganda' campaign with links to the White House"

The Tall Blonde Woman in the Short Skirt With the Big Mouth

If you seee her, ignore her...if she speaks, tell her to shut the hell up...if she doesn't, shut her up!

People who create hate in the atmosphere will eventually get smacked down by the same.

One of us should get the pleasure of giving her what she has created.

So, smack her with a big old pie.

AlterNet: The Tall Blonde Woman in the Short Skirt With the Big Mouth:

"Today is the devil's day, a celebration for the evildoers; that's right, it is 6-6-06. Drop the 0, you get 666. As the L.A. Times notes, this day 'has become an ideal date to launch music, records, books ' Jeffrey Godsick from marketing at 20th Century Fox says about 666, 'It's partly superstition, partly fear, partly reality. These numbers seem to have a significant impact.'

And on this day, the devil herself -- the Tall Blonde Woman in the Short Skirt With the Big Mouth (TBWSSBM, or TBW for short) -- has a new book out. You know who I'm talking about. I will not mention her name, nor the name of the book, the publisher or any of her previous books. She is releasing her book today as 'a little tribute to liberals.' The time has come to ignore this woman.

Of course, TBW is ready to bask in the glow of the huge publicity many journalists, reviewers, talk show hosts, bloggers, opinion shapers, editors and just plain chatterers will give her, despite her being one of the most destructive, irresponsible, foul-mouthed, fact-challenged, racist provocateurs in public life."

There Is No War on Terror

We are Americans under seige by our own government.

AlterNet: There Is No War on Terror:

There is, however, a 'war' on the U.S. Constitution.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, we've learned that we can take a punch and move on. We've faced far worse threats to our national survival -- the Civil War, the War of 1812, World War II, to name a few -- but we never abandoned our Constitution.

Until now.

Terror is an emotion. Emotions are part of human nature and cannot be eradicated. A 'War on Terror' is therefore a war on humanity. The Bush administration has exploited the fear and shock of a nation in the wake of a surprising and dramatic act of violence to keep our fear and paranoia at a constant boil.
Why?

The evidence suggests the whole point has been to seize power and steal money. We are witnessing a creeping coup in the United States, the overthrow of the idea, promulgated by our founders, and by writers like Tom Paine, that the 'Law is King':" (Read On ^)

King George the Cynical

The Democrats should seek to pass legialation regarding civil rights in civil unions only. Civil rights should never be denied to anyone, under the Constitution.

Leave the sacrament of marriage to the Churches.

Comment is free: Standards go up in smoke:

"President Bush's regression to his 'back to basics' culture war is not intended to enact the proposals he advocates. On the contrary, he and his senior political adviser, Karl Rove, 'the 'architect', as Bush calls him, really want them to fail.


Indeed, Bush knows that the two constitutional amendments he pushes - the family protection amendment banning gay marriage and the flag desecration amendment making flag-burning a federal crime - will not pass through the complicated process requiring approval by both houses of the Congress and three-quarters of the state legislatures.

Even Republicans supporting the anti-gay marriage amendment acknowledge it stands no chance of passing through Congress. The flag-burning amendment has been fruitlessly proposed every decade for more than 30 years. But in Bush's and Rove's calculations, the amendments may serve as inflammatory causes to rally the Republican rightwing base, dispirited, divided and disillusioned amid Bush's general political collapse.

The public at large, according to the latest polls, has little interest in these gambits, preferring that the president and the Congress focus on the Iraq war, the price of gasoline, immigration, and healthcare. "

How a Typical New York Times Article is Really Bushevik Propaganda Disguised as News

The NYT is schizophrenic, but, then, we all may be... any day now...

News Analysis: How a Typical New York Times Article is Really Bushevik Propaganda Disguised as News:

"Okay, okay, let's get this straight once again.

The New York Times is schizophrenic. Its editorial page is liberal, in the old establishment sense of the word, while its news section (despite infrequent expose stories like the NSA domestic eavesdropping one) is generally pro-Bush (although in an understated insidious way). Now, why do BuzzFlash and many other progressive websites make this charge?

Because if you read the times carefully day after day, most of its news stories about the White House, Bush and foreign policy subtly reflect the administration perspective and spin, but written as though the NYT is offering up a third party 'balanced' perspective.

You don't just need to resurrect the debacle of Judith Miller's pre-Iraq war farcically badly-sourced reporting or the puff pieces that New York Times White House reporter Elisabeth Bumiller writes about Bush and his staff. You can look at almost any daily 'background' piece on the White House and see just how much the New York Times political reporters are an extension of the Bush 'spin machine.' "

Climate chaos: Bush's climate of fear

The Bushites must love chaos, coz they create it on every level and everywhere.

BBC NEWS Programmes Panorama Climate chaos: Bush's climate of fear:

"A US government whistleblower tells Panorama how scientific reports about global warming have been systematically changed and suppressed.
Some of America's leading climate scientists claim to Panorama that they have been censored and gagged by the administration.

One of them believes the publication of his report, which catalogues the unprecedented rate of ice melt in the Arctic, was delayed as Americans prepared to vote in 2004.

The scientists claim that when Bush came to power in 2000 his administration selected advice which argued that global warming was not a result of human activities and that the phenomenon could be natural. "

Zogby: Iraq war will hurt GOP in fall elections

I predicted over a year ago that Bushism could mean the end of GOP power in this country for generations. The only thing that makes me at all unsure of that prediction is paperless voting machines. Junior could prove to be worse than Hoover.

Of course, those very voting machines may prove to be their un-doing, for good, if they are stupid enough to try to steal one more election, anywhere.

BREAKING NEWS: Pollster: Iraq war will hurt GOP in fall elections:

"MACKINAC ISLAND  The war in Iraq has become so unpopular that it could cost Republicans control of Congress, statehouses and governor races around the country, national pollster John Zogby said Friday.

He said 70% of voters believe the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction, adding, I have never seen a number like that since Ive been polling.

He said 68% of voters believe the war in Iraq wasnt worth the loss of American lives. He added, Americans want their wars to be won, they want it won quickly and their troops home and out of harms way.

Zogby offered a sweeping view of the political landscape to the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac policy conference, which wrapped up Friday afternoon.

Zogby: Iraq war will hurt GOP in fall elections

I predicted over a year ago that Bushism could mean the end of GOP power in this country for generations. The only thing that makes me at all unsure of that prediction is paperless voting machines. Junior could prove to be worse than Hoover.

Of course, those very voting machines may prove to be their un-doing, for good, if they are stupid enough to try to steal one more election, anywhere.

BREAKING NEWS: Pollster: Iraq war will hurt GOP in fall elections:

"MACKINAC ISLAND  The war in Iraq has become so unpopular that it could cost Republicans control of Congress, statehouses and governor races around the country, national pollster John Zogby said Friday.

He said 70% of voters believe the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction, adding, I have never seen a number like that since Ive been polling.

He said 68% of voters believe the war in Iraq wasnt worth the loss of American lives. He added, Americans want their wars to be won, they want it won quickly and their troops home and out of harms way.

Zogby offered a sweeping view of the political landscape to the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac policy conference, which wrapped up Friday afternoon.

Rumsfeld takes aim at Iran, Russia, China

Could someone please arrest this man, while he is globe-trotting?

AP Wire 06/03/2006 Rumsfeld takes aim at Iran, Russia, China:

"SINGAPORE - U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld branded Iran as the world's leading terrorist nation yet hoped Tehran seriously would consider incentives from the West in exchange for suspending suspect nuclear activities.

Rumsfeld, attending an annual security conference, also took aim Saturday at Russia and China for allowing Iran's involvement in a group that he said has stated opposition to terrorism and extremists.

Iraq was on Rumsfeld's mind, too, as he expressed concern the war could alienate Muslims in Southeast Asia. Upcoming stops on his trip include Indonesia and Vietnam.

The U.S. and five other world powers decided last week to offer incentives to Iran if it gives up uranium enrichment. Under that condition, the Bush administration said it would join talks with Iran.

'The information has just been communicated to them, and it seems to me the appropriate thing now to do is to wait and see which path the Iranian government will take,' Rumsfeld said on the sidelines of the security conference."

Hijacked by the Neocrazies

That's f*ing Neocrazies, according to Colin Powell. Is there anyway we can deport these people?

Hijacked by the Neocrazies - by Gordon Prather:

"As you listen to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice deliver her ultimatum to the Iranian mullahs, imagine you are a passenger on a hijacked airliner, headed towards Iran. You already know what the neo-crazy hijackers did to Iraq, shortly after Bush-Cheney-Rice delivered a similar ultimatum to Saddam Hussein.

'The pursuit by the Iranian regime of nuclear weapons represents a direct threat to the entire international community, including to the United States and to the Persian Gulf region.

'In defiance of repeated calls from the IAEA Board of Governors and from the Security Council, the Iranian government has accelerated its nuclear program, while continuing to conceal its activities from international inspectors.'

What 'pursuit' is Condi talking about? " (Read On ^)

Bush Slogan: Lying Every Day Keeps the Truth Away

News Analysis: Bush Slogan: Lying Every Day Keeps the Truth Away:

"Several times in the past, BuzzFlash has editorialized about the banality of Bush's lying. And even if the corporate press in D.C. did give context to the news -- instead of serving as stenographers -- it might not be able to fully convey the extent of how frequently Bush and the White House lie.

But, it would be nice if they would give it a try, instead of continuing to give Bush the deference and credibility that should only be deserved by an honest man (or woman).
Eric Boehlert, author of 'Lapdogs,' details a couple of this past week's whoppers:" (Read On ^)

Afghanistan: The forgotten war

Asia Times Online :: South Asia news, business and economy from India and Pakistan:

"The eruption of anti-government, anti-American rioting on Monday in Kabul has inevitably led to post-mortems about what happened. This in turn has led to the drawing up of checklists of failures on the part of the 'international community' (read the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - NATO) and the Afghan government in their inability to provide troops, security and funds for reconstruction and nation-building to the Pashtun tribes in southern Afghanistan. "

Attacks on Iraq Oil Industry Aid Vast Smuggling Scheme - New York Times

Bush doesn't care. The higher oil prices go, the better his frends do, the bigger the GOP cash coffers.

That's how it goes in Bush world

Attacks on Iraq Oil Industry Aid Vast Smuggling Scheme - New York Times:

"BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 3: The sabotage attacks that have crippled Iraq's oil pipelines and refineries for the past three years are now being used to aid a vast smuggling network that is costing the Iraqi government billions of dollars a year, senior Iraqi and American officials here say."

Molly Ivins: Iran Badge Fabricator Goes to Washington

Truthdig - Reports - Molly Ivins: Iran Badge Fabricator Goes to Washington:

"AUSTIN, Texas: So, Haditha becomes another of the names at which we wince, along with Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo and My Lai.

Tell you what: Let's not use the 'stress of combat' excuse this time. According to neighbors, the girls in the family of Younis Khafif, the one who kept pleading in English, 'I am a friend. I am good,' were 14, 10, 5, 3 and 1. What are they going to say? 'Under stress of combat, we thought the baby was 2'?

'We have a Haditha every day,' said Muhanned Jasim, an Iraqi merchant. 'Were [those killed in Haditha] the first Iraqis to be killed for no reason?' asked Ghasan Jayih, a pharmacist. Well no, but we Americans don't count collateral damage unless we're forced to. We prefer to ignore collateral damage, especially if they're under 5.

Someone else with a greater taste for the ironies of technology will have to explain why it's funny that this 'Haditha' was uncovered in part by a soldier taking photos with his cellphone.

Good work by Time magazine and Col. Gregory Watt.

Apologies are owed by any on the right to Rep. John Murtha, who warned of Haditha early, though none of us is holding a breath. The attacks on Murtha's patriotism were despicable. When will that tactic wear out?

Meanwhile, back at the full-force fun festival known as Washington, here's a moment to cherish. " (Read On ^)

Blix Says U.S. Impedes Efforts to Curb A-Arms

The Bushites are probably the ones who are selling them.

Blix Says U.S. Impedes Efforts to Curb A-Arms:

"UNITED NATIONS: Hans Blix, the former chief United Nations weapons inspector, said today that American unwillingness to cooperate in international arms agreements was undermining the effectiveness of efforts to curb nuclear weapons.

Saying it was essential that Washington act to end the stagnation of arms limitation, Mr. Blix said: 'If it takes the lead, the world is likely to follow. If it does not take the lead, there could be more nuclear tests and new nuclear arms races.'

Mr. Blix, who left his arms inspection post in 2003 shortly after the invasion of Iraq, made his comments in the introduction to a 225-page report by a Swedish-financed international commission, delivered today to the United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan.

The panel, with Mr. Blix as chairman and members from more than a dozen countries, listed 60 recommendations for nuclear disarmament.

It concluded that treaty-based disarmament was being set back by 'an increased U.S. skepticism regarding the effectiveness of international institutions and instruments, coupled with a drive for freedom of action to maintain an absolute global superiority in weaponry and means of their delivery.'"

90% of U.S. soldiers think they are retaliating for 9/11

Zogby International:

"Le Moyne College/Zogby Poll shows:

1) Just one in five troops want to heed Bush call to stay 'as long as they are needed'

2) While 58% say mission is clear, 42% say U.S. role is hazy
Plurality believes Iraqi insurgents are mostly homegrown

3) Almost 90% think war is retaliation for Saddam's role in 9/11, most don't blame Iraqi public for insurgent attacks

4) Majority of troops oppose use of harsh prisoner interrogation
Plurality of troops pleased with their armor and equipment "