UN report accuses Afghan MPs of torture and massacres

Afghanistan is going so well, eh?

Is there anything Bush can't f*** up?

Guardian Unlimited Special reports UN report accuses Afghan MPs of torture and massacres:

"A controversial UN report that has been shelved for 18 months names and shames leading Afghan politicians and officials accused of orchestrating massacres, torture, mass rape and other war crimes.

The 220-page report by the UN high commissioner for human rights, which the Guardian has obtained, details atrocities committed by communist, mujahideen, Soviet and Taliban fighters over 23 years of conflict. Originally scheduled for release in January 2005, the report's publication has been delayed repeatedly due to sensitivities over identifying former warlords still in positions of power.

'The UN has been intimidated. It is afraid to rock the boat because of these guys,' said Sam Zarifi of Human Rights Watch. 'But the boat is taking on water and they are going to pull it down.'"

Far from clear sailing for Bush's favorite Democrat

If we have anything to say about it, Lieberman is toast!

Chron.com Harrop: Far from clear sailing for Bush's favorite Democrat:

"ANGER at President Bush could bring down a number of congressional Republicans, and one Democrat might join them. He is Joseph Lieberman, senator from Connecticut. Many voters there want nothing more than to sink 'Bush's favorite Democrat.'

They are mad at Joe Lieberman over his uncritical support of the Iraq war and 18 other things, including his bottomless need for right-wing approval.

So Lieberman will not have a clear sail into November, easily smiting a little known Republican. First he'll have to duke it out in a tough Democratic primary on Aug. 8. His challenger is businessman Ned Lamont, who, if elected, would not be Bush's favorite anything."

The Problem is Indecency!

Yes, why don't we call this what it is, and call, write, bitch and scream continuously about it to the FCC, until fines are handed down for giving air time to hateful people who make money off the worst kind of indecency; that which will inevitably lead to civil war in this country?

calendarlive.com: REGARDING MEDIA/TIM RUTTEN - Ann, let's call this what it is:

"PORNOGRAPHY is difficult to define, wrote Justice Potter Stewart, 'but I know it when I see it.'

That famously commonsensical line would seem to obviate the need for any deeper analysis of the egregious Ann Coulter. Like most pornographers, however, she is resourceful in the service of her own economic and other interests. That makes it hard to do what most sensible people do when confronted with obscenity, which is look away.

At the moment, Coulter is out pimping her latest book and, this week, she was definitely in your face."

NeoCon Egg-heads shut down PNAC

I can remember when all liberals from the Northeast were considered to be eggheads, with no common sense and not to be trusted with the welfare of the country..

Seems that the wingers now have their version of egghead; the NeoCons, who have never, themselves, fought a war, but believe they know all there is to know about using the most deadly military on earth to carry out their dreams of re-shaping the Middle East.

We all can see how well that has gone.

What is it with these people? They know nothing of war. They won't listen to anyone who does.

They should all be forces tro resign, in disgrace, and those who were the decision-makers in matters which wound up in the Iraq quagmire, Abu Ghraib, black prisons, secret renditions, etc., should be tried and if found guilty, imprisoned for life, at the very least..

I have always opposed the death penalty. But if the death penalty is ever permissable, it should be reserved for leaders of nations, who use the resources of their people, ignoring international law and the laws of their own land, to wreak a hellish havoc on anyone they damn well please while attempting to deceive their own people and the world community.

The death penalty should be reserved for the powerful, whether governmental or corporate, because by the power afforded them, through government agencies or wealth, they are capable of far more wide-spread damage and horror than the individual with no real power.

The Democrats, Keeping a Civil Tongue:

"The doors may be closing shortly on the nine-year-old Project for a New American Century, the neoconservative think tank headed by William Kristol , former chief of staff to Vice President Dan Quayle and now editor of the Weekly Standard, which is must reading for neocon cogitators and agitators.
The PNAC was short on staff -- having perhaps a half-dozen employees -- but very long on heavy hitters. The founders included Richard B. Cheney , Donald H. Rumsfeld , Paul D. Wolfowitz , Jeb Bush , I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby , William J. Bennett, Zalmay Khalilzad and Quayle."

Rove headlining GOP fund-raiser

The Pink Frogman is at it agin!

What in hell is Fitz doing?

Rove headlining GOP fund-raiser - Boston.com:

"MANCHESTER, N.H. --Presidential adviser Karl Rove is the keynote speaker Monday night at the state Republican Party's annual dinner -- which Democrats say is to raise money to help the party pay legal fees in a phone jamming case.

State Party Chairman Wayne Semprini acknowledged Friday he would like to raise enough money so the suit 'represents a very small portion of our budget.'

But he said the case has nothing to do with Rove's appearance.
'He won't say boo about phone jamming,' Semprini said. 'There's absolutely no connection between his being here and phone jamming. Period. This is our annual dinner.'"

Truth Is for 'Liberals'

Every news show should employ a team of fact-checkers, so that dumbass, lying statements could be revealed to be deceptive before the show ends.

Let's say that Condi appears on MTP. Tweety would hae to inform Ms. Rice that her words would be fact-checked; kinda like a politician's miranda warning.

Something like: Good morning Madam Secretary, glad you could be with us this morning. Of course, I have to advise you that fact-checkers will be checking every assertion you make and their findings will be made public by the end of our show this morning."

Or better yet, wire up the politicians and the pundits to lie detectors, the graphs of which could be shown on screen, by an independent monitoring agency.


Truth Is for 'Liberals':

"Here we are, five and a half years into the Bush Administration, and the press corps still hasn't figured out how to handle the White House's primary tactic of media management: lying. "

Think Progress � Matalin Defends Coulter�s Attack on 9/11 Widows

Watch the Video for youself.

I don't think I could vote for a candidate who hires James Carville as long as he is married to this "harpie."

Think Progress � Matalin Defends Coulter�s Attack on 9/11 Widows:

"Yesterday on Imus, Mary Matlin, a former counselor to Vice President Cheney and an influential strategist for the White House, defended Ann Coulter's vicious attack on the 9/11 widows. (In a new book, Coulter says the widows are 'enjoying their husband's deaths.')

Matalin passed on multiple opportunities from Imus to condemn or distance herself from Coulter's comments. (Instead, Matalin said she agreed with Coulter's 'larger point.')

She also argued the outrage against Coulter was misplaced, saying 'She calls somebody a harpy and you'd think that the world was on fire.' Watch it:"

At Site of Attack on Zarqawi, All That's Left Are Questions

Questions, questions, questions...no one automatically believes pathological liars like the Bushites.

How many times has Zarqawi been killed ror maimed by now?

At Site of Attack on Zarqawi, All That's Left Are Questions - New York Times:

Along with the scraps, it was mostly questions that remained.

Chief among them was how Mr. Zarqawi, the terrorist leader killed Wednesday in the airstrike, could have survived for even a few minutes after the attack, as American officers say he did, when everything else around him was obliterated. Concrete blocks, walls, a fence, tin cans, palm trees, a washing machine: everything at the Hibhib scene was shredded or blown to pieces.

It seemed puzzling, too, given the destruction and the condition of the other bodies, how Mr. Zarqawi's head and upper body, shown on televisions across the world, could have remained largely intact."

Reid calls for more intelligence oversight - Yahoo! News

Harry Reid says, administrations to be held accountable for statements on Iran.

That's great, Harry, but when will they be held accountable for the lies about Iraq and 9/11?

Reid calls for more intelligence oversight - Yahoo! News:

"Because of you, no attack will go unanswered,' Reid told the audience. 'Because of you, no lie will avoid the truth.'"

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.'"