BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- DC.
"DON'T BLAME ME," SECRETARY OF STATE & ANGER CONDI RICE INSISTED AS SHE GREETED THESE REPORTERS.
WITHOUT EXPLAINING WHAT IT WAS THAT WE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BLAME HER FOR, SECRETARY RICE EXPLAINED THAT THE BULLY BOY WAS STILL "MIFFED" ABOUT BEING STOOD UP ON WEDNESDAY WHEN HIS PUPPET SNUBBED HIM.
TO CHEER HIM UP, BULLY BOY WANTED TO . . .
SING.
AS WE ENTERED THE OVAL OFFICE, WE SAW BORED LOOKING BUSH FAMILY MEMBERS, ALL UNEMPLOYED, HOLDING VIDEOCAMS AND WAITING . . . AND WAITING . . . AND WAITING.
AT LAST, AS A CHEESY MUSIC TRACK CUED UP, THERE WAS BULLY BOY, A RAG TIED AROUND HIS HEAD, A MICROPHONE IN HAND. HE BEGAN SKIPPING AROUND THE ROOM SINGING:
THERE'S A BOY I KNOW
HE'S THE ONE I DREAM OF
LOOKS INTO MY EYES
TAKES ME TO THE STARS ABOVE
"HIS FATHER TOLD HIM ONE OPINION WASN'T ENOUGH," SECRETARY RICE EXPLAINED. "SO HE'S SET UP A DATE NEXT WEEK WITH ABDUL AZIZ AL-HAKIM AND NEXT MONTH WITH TAREQ AL-HASHEMI. HE FIGURES IF THEY DON'T STAND HIM UP, THE PROBLEM IS AL-MALIKI'S. OHHH!"
SECRETARY RICE SCREAMED IN SHOCK AS BULLY BOY PRESSED HIS FACE NEAR HER'S AND SANG, "I'M ASKING YOU COZ YOU KNOW ABOUT THESE THINGS. OH, HOW WILL I KNOW? HOW WILL I KNOW?"
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Meanwhile, although the Iraq Study Group has released its findings, people continue to ponder the James Baker Circle Jerk. As noted by Amy Goodman (Democracy Now!) today, the James Baker Circle Jerk is rumored to call for a 2008 'withdrawal' that is not, in fact, a withdrawal. It's a continuation of the air war that Norman Solomon has been describing for months now. It's also the James Baker Circle Jerk stroking themselves on the public dollar. The onanistic nonsense not only revolves around the air war, it also pushes embedding US forces with Iraqi police squads and forces.
For those who've forgotten how Patrick McCaffrey died and the battle his mother Nadia McCaffrey has had to fight to force the US government to get honest could see the 'suggestion' as worthy of suggesting. (Patrick McCaffrey and Andre Tyson, with the US National Guard, were killed in Iraq. The US government told the families that the two men were killed by 'insurgents.' In reality, they were killed, June 22, 2004, by Iraqi security forces they were training.)
Addressing the James Baker Circle Jerk on this week's CounterSpin, Gary Younge (Guardian of London; The Nation) observed to Steve Rendall,, "The fact that this study group was necessary itself highlights a flaw in American politics. Democracy should have been able to deal with this, not an appointed study group." As Younge explained the responsibility the group was tasked with was Congress' own responsibility . . . until they outsourced it.
In peace news, Aaron Glantz (IPS) reports that the revelations of the US government spying on peace activists is not slowly plans for the march in Washington, DC January 27th. Among the groups spied on were CODEPINK, United For Peace and Justice, Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, the War Resisters League and the American Friends Service Committee.
The War Resisters League will be presenting Sir! No Sir! tomorrow (Saturday, December 2nd) at both seven pm and nine-thirty pm. This kicks off the War Resisters League and the Brecht Forum's Screenpeace: An Antiwar Film Festival that will hold screenings of other films on Fridays during January.
In other activism news, Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) are asking for a National "Mandate for Peace" Call-in Day, Monday, December 4th. To sign the petition click here. To phone your rep and senators, you can dial 202-224-3121. PDA notes: "On Election Day, voters said enough is enough -- we want a new direction. Let's make sure Congress hears it again by jamming the switchboards on Dec. 4 with our pleas to bring our troops home immediately."
Recommended: "Iraq Snapshot"
"And the war drags on"
"NYT: 'Having Pinned Little Hopes on Talks, Many Iraqis Appear to Be Beyond Disappointment' (Kirk Semple)"
"Other Items"
"Kyle Snyder"
"Iraq Study Group, Law and Disorder, A. Alexander"
"jonathan cook, robert parry"
"THIS JUST IN! CALL HIM BULLY STENCH MOUTH!"
"Bully Boy's bender"
Friday, December 01, 2006
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Bully Boy's bender
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- AMMAN, JORDAN.
BULLY BOY HAS LEFT THE COUNTRY!
AFTER BEING STOOD UP WEDNESDAY, BULLY BOY MET BRIEFLY WITH IRAQ'S PUPPET NOURI AL-MALIKI.
YOU COULD CUT THE TENSION WITH A CHAINSAW.
AT THE END OF THE MEETING, BULLY BOY LOOKED AL-MALIKI UP AND DOWN AND SAID, "YOU BLEW IT, MISTER. I WAS GOING TO LET YOU GO TO THIRD BASE!"
SPINNING ON HIS HEELS, BULLY BOY STORMED OUT, WENT BACK TO HIS HOTEL SUITE AND BEGAN TRASHING THE PLACE.
HOUSE KEEPING REPORTS THE FLOOR WAS BURIED UNDER A MAZE OF EMPTY LONE STAR BEER CANS, THAT SOMEONE APPEARED TO HAVE URINATED UP AND DOWN 1 WALL, SPRAYED OVER THE TOILET WAS A PICTURE OF JOHN MCCAIN AND OLLIE NORTH ENGAGED IN A VERY FRIENDLY MOMENT, APPARENTLY WIPED HIS BUTT WITH THE DRAPES, BUSTED A MIRROR AND SCRAWLED IN FECES THAT NOURI AL-MALIKI WAS WOEFULLY SMALL.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Meanwhile, the Iraq Study Group has issued their findings: (1) All US troops should be brought home immediately; (2) Reparations shall be paid by the US government to Iraq through the United Nations; (3) The US Congress should immediately begin impeachments hearings; (4) A War Crimes Tribunal should hear testimony into the destruction of Falluja; (5) Dexter Filkins shall be charged with crimes against humanity for his 'reporting' on Falluja and, in fact, all of his reporting on or from Iraq.
The findings were published today by the original Iraq Study Group, not the lame Lee Hamilton-James Baker Circle Jerk. The findings are signed by the original chairs: Nina, Tony and Mike. And if the findings seem more democratic than those of the James Baker Circle Jerk, well one was of the people, the other was created to provide cover for the US administration.
[. . .]
Not tomorrow, but the Friday after next, December 8th, Courage to Resist will beging three days of public action:
Military resisters, their families, veterans and concerned community members call for public action Dec. 8-10th!
It's time for us to escalate public pressure and action in support of the growing movement of thousands of courageous men and women GI's who have in many different ways followed the their conscience, upholding international law, taking a principled stand against unjust, illegal war and occupation and stood up for their rights. Widespread public support and pressure will help create true support for courageous troops facing isolation and repression, and help protect their civil liberties and human rights. We call for the following:1) Support for War Objectors 2) Protect the Right to Conscientious Objection 3) Protect the Liberties & Human Rights of GI's 4) Sanctuary for War Objectors. We urge you to join us December 8-10th for a weekend of action in supportof GI Resistance and GI Rights!
GET INVOLVED TODAY! HERE'S HOW..
Participating Groups and Individuals
Downloadable Organizing Kit
And United for Peace and Justice notes:
It takes courage to say that you will not fight -- especially if you are a soldier. As more members of the U.S. military step forward for peace, the peace movement must step forward to support them.
Large numbers are now refusing to serve: The Department of Defense estimates that there are about 8,000 AWOL service members. The GI Rights Hotline (800-394-9544) is currently receiving about 3,000 calls a month.
Most importantly, a growing number of soldiers are speaking out, against the illegality and immorality of the Iraq war and the orders they are being told to carry out. These brave men and women are risking jail time and their futures to stand up against the war. Click here to find out how you can support them.
On Monday, WBAI's Law and Disorder interviewed Jonathan Hutto with Appeal for Redress which is gathering signatures calling for Congress to bring the troops. Signatures of those currently serving in the military. Michael Ratner, Heidi Boghosian, Dalia Hashad and Michael Smith spoke about the historical importance of this and how the rights for those serving were won, not given and Hutto stated that currently they have "a little over 1200" signatures.
War resisters also include Kyle Snyder, Ehren Watada, Joshua Key, Ivan Brobeck, Darrell Anderson, Ricky Clousing, Mark Wilkerson, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Joshua Casteel, Clifford Cornell, Agustin Aguayo, Patrick Hart, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, and Kevin Benderman. Those are only some of the names of those resisting who have gone public.Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, Soldier Say No!, the War Resisters Support Campaign, Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veterans For Peace. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters.
Recommended: "Iraq Snapshot"
"NYT: Pushing the show panel"
"Other Items"
"Iraq Study Group Calls for All US Troops to Leave Iraq Immediately"
"Impeachment, Iraq "
"Well look who's showing up late to the party and without a gift"
"Don't gas bag on Tower, spare us all"
"bully boy gets stood up, ray mcgovern & more"
"Bully Boy's mystery date goes bust"
"THIS JUST IN! BULLY BOY GETS STOOD UP BY A "DUD"!"
BULLY BOY HAS LEFT THE COUNTRY!
AFTER BEING STOOD UP WEDNESDAY, BULLY BOY MET BRIEFLY WITH IRAQ'S PUPPET NOURI AL-MALIKI.
YOU COULD CUT THE TENSION WITH A CHAINSAW.
AT THE END OF THE MEETING, BULLY BOY LOOKED AL-MALIKI UP AND DOWN AND SAID, "YOU BLEW IT, MISTER. I WAS GOING TO LET YOU GO TO THIRD BASE!"
SPINNING ON HIS HEELS, BULLY BOY STORMED OUT, WENT BACK TO HIS HOTEL SUITE AND BEGAN TRASHING THE PLACE.
HOUSE KEEPING REPORTS THE FLOOR WAS BURIED UNDER A MAZE OF EMPTY LONE STAR BEER CANS, THAT SOMEONE APPEARED TO HAVE URINATED UP AND DOWN 1 WALL, SPRAYED OVER THE TOILET WAS A PICTURE OF JOHN MCCAIN AND OLLIE NORTH ENGAGED IN A VERY FRIENDLY MOMENT, APPARENTLY WIPED HIS BUTT WITH THE DRAPES, BUSTED A MIRROR AND SCRAWLED IN FECES THAT NOURI AL-MALIKI WAS WOEFULLY SMALL.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Meanwhile, the Iraq Study Group has issued their findings: (1) All US troops should be brought home immediately; (2) Reparations shall be paid by the US government to Iraq through the United Nations; (3) The US Congress should immediately begin impeachments hearings; (4) A War Crimes Tribunal should hear testimony into the destruction of Falluja; (5) Dexter Filkins shall be charged with crimes against humanity for his 'reporting' on Falluja and, in fact, all of his reporting on or from Iraq.
The findings were published today by the original Iraq Study Group, not the lame Lee Hamilton-James Baker Circle Jerk. The findings are signed by the original chairs: Nina, Tony and Mike. And if the findings seem more democratic than those of the James Baker Circle Jerk, well one was of the people, the other was created to provide cover for the US administration.
[. . .]
Not tomorrow, but the Friday after next, December 8th, Courage to Resist will beging three days of public action:
Military resisters, their families, veterans and concerned community members call for public action Dec. 8-10th!
It's time for us to escalate public pressure and action in support of the growing movement of thousands of courageous men and women GI's who have in many different ways followed the their conscience, upholding international law, taking a principled stand against unjust, illegal war and occupation and stood up for their rights. Widespread public support and pressure will help create true support for courageous troops facing isolation and repression, and help protect their civil liberties and human rights. We call for the following:1) Support for War Objectors 2) Protect the Right to Conscientious Objection 3) Protect the Liberties & Human Rights of GI's 4) Sanctuary for War Objectors. We urge you to join us December 8-10th for a weekend of action in supportof GI Resistance and GI Rights!
GET INVOLVED TODAY! HERE'S HOW..
Participating Groups and Individuals
Downloadable Organizing Kit
And United for Peace and Justice notes:
It takes courage to say that you will not fight -- especially if you are a soldier. As more members of the U.S. military step forward for peace, the peace movement must step forward to support them.
Large numbers are now refusing to serve: The Department of Defense estimates that there are about 8,000 AWOL service members. The GI Rights Hotline (800-394-9544) is currently receiving about 3,000 calls a month.
Most importantly, a growing number of soldiers are speaking out, against the illegality and immorality of the Iraq war and the orders they are being told to carry out. These brave men and women are risking jail time and their futures to stand up against the war. Click here to find out how you can support them.
On Monday, WBAI's Law and Disorder interviewed Jonathan Hutto with Appeal for Redress which is gathering signatures calling for Congress to bring the troops. Signatures of those currently serving in the military. Michael Ratner, Heidi Boghosian, Dalia Hashad and Michael Smith spoke about the historical importance of this and how the rights for those serving were won, not given and Hutto stated that currently they have "a little over 1200" signatures.
War resisters also include Kyle Snyder, Ehren Watada, Joshua Key, Ivan Brobeck, Darrell Anderson, Ricky Clousing, Mark Wilkerson, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Joshua Casteel, Clifford Cornell, Agustin Aguayo, Patrick Hart, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, and Kevin Benderman. Those are only some of the names of those resisting who have gone public.Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, Soldier Say No!, the War Resisters Support Campaign, Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veterans For Peace. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters.
Recommended: "Iraq Snapshot"
"NYT: Pushing the show panel"
"Other Items"
"Iraq Study Group Calls for All US Troops to Leave Iraq Immediately"
"Impeachment, Iraq "
"Well look who's showing up late to the party and without a gift"
"Don't gas bag on Tower, spare us all"
"bully boy gets stood up, ray mcgovern & more"
"Bully Boy's mystery date goes bust"
"THIS JUST IN! BULLY BOY GETS STOOD UP BY A "DUD"!"
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Bully Boy's mystery date goes bust
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- AMMAN, JORDAN.
BULLY BOY IS PLAGUED BY ONE QUESTION: "DID I STAND HIM UP OR DID HE STAND ME UP?"
IN LIGHT OF THE NON-MEETING THAT DID NOT TAKE PLACE TODAY, BULLY BOY HAS BEEN CONFINED TO HIS SUITE AND REFUSING TO LEAVE. WHEN THESE REPORTERS HEARD HIM SHOUT THE QUESTION REPEATEDLY, WE ATTEMPTED TO PERSUADE THE SECRET SERVICE TO ALLOW US ENTRY BUT THEY REFUSED.
A NERVOUS DAN BARTLETT EMERGED SHORTLY TO EXPLAIN IT WAS "NO BIG DEAL" THAT THE MEETING DID NOT TAKE PLACE TODAY AS PLANNED BECAUSE "IT WAS GOING TO BE MORE OF A SOCIAL MEETING ANYWAY."
AT WHICH POINT BARTLETT CEASED SPEAKING BECAUSE OF THE LOW, GUTTURAL CRY OF "WHY ME! WHY ME!" THAT SEEMED TO FILL THE HALLWAY.
BARTLETT NODDED TO THE SECRET SERVICE WHO TOLD THESE REPORTERS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE. WHEN WE REFUSED, THE SECRET SERVICE GRABBED EACH OF US BY AN ARM BUT WHATEVER MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED WAS PREVENTED BY THE ARRIVIAL OF SECRETARY OF STATE & ANGER, CONDI RICE.
"HEY, HEY, DIG IT," CONDI SAID WAVING A CONTAINER, "DEAD SEA BATH SALTS! DEAD SEA BATH SALTS! ISN'T THAT THE WILDEST THING YOU EVER HEARD OF?"
WHEN NO 1 RUSHED TO LAUGH WITH CONDI, THESE REPORTERS EVENTUALLY DID.
"YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THESE BOYS GET ME. WHAT'S GOING ON ANYWAY?"
WHEN IT WAS EXPLAINED TO SECRETARY RICE, SHE SIGHED LOUDLY, SHOOK HER HEAD AND MUTTERED SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF, "WHY DO I ALWAYS HAVE TO CLEAN UP HIS MESSES? YOU'D THINK HIS MOTHER WOULD HAVE TAUGHT HIM HOW TO WIPE."
SHE HEADED INTO THE SUITES AND THESE REPORTERS ATTEMPTED TO FOLLOW
BUT WERE STOPPED BY THE SECRET SERVICE UNTIL SECRETARY RICE EXPLAINED, "THEY'RE COOL. THEY'RE WITH ME."
ONCE INSIDE SECRETARY RICE SHOOK HER HEAD HEAD IN DISGUST AT A BLUBBERING BULLY BOY WITH HIS HEAD BURIED IN A PILLOW.
CLEARING HER THROAT, SHE WALKED STRAIGHT TO THE DRAMA.
"YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS?" SHE ASKED THE BULLY BOY WHO STOPPED CRYING LONG ENOUGH TO LOOK UP.
"IT'S MYSTERY DATE. YOU KNOW MYSTERY DATE, RIGHT?"
"UH-HUH," BULLY BOY SAID WIPING HIS NOSE ON THE PILLOW CASE.
"SO WHAT HAPPENED? NOTHING. YOU WERE ALL DRESSED FOR A PICNIC AND NOURI AL-MALIKI SHOWED UP AT THE DOOR IN SKI GEAR. WHAT DO THEY SAY, 'BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME'."
"BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME," BULLY BOY SAID NODDING SLOWLY.
"THAT'S RIGHT," SECRETARY RICE SAID FIRMLY, "BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME."
"JUST LIKE YOU TOLD ME WHEN THE YELLOW CAKE STORIES EXPLODED," BULLY BOY SAID STARTING TO GRIN.
"THAT'S RIGHT," SECRETARY RICE AGREED.
"HEY, CONDI?"
"YES, MR. BULLY BOY?"
"CAN WE PLAY MYSTERY DATE NOW?"
"DID YOU PACK THE GAME?"
BULLY BOY RAN TO HIS LUGGAGE AND BEGAN TEARING THROUGH IT QUICKLY BEFORE PULLING OUT THE MYSTERY DATE BOARD GAME AND WAVING IT AROUND.
"YES, I DID. I WANT TO BE THE PURPLE GIRL. YOU CAN BE DARK BLUE!"
AND THAT'S HOW WE LEFT THE BULLY BOY OF THE UNITED STATES, SITTING ON THE FLOOR, TALKING EXCITEDLY ABOUT HOW HE HOPED HE GOT "THE SWIMMER AND NOT THE DUD. I HATE THE DUD!"
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Starting with the memo:
We returned from Iraq convinced we need to determine if Prime Minister Maliki is both willing and able to rise above the sectarian agendas being promoted by others. Do we and Prime Minister Maliki share the same vision for Iraq? If so, is he able to curb those who seek Shia hegemony or the reassertion of Sunni power? The answers to these questions are key in determining whether we have the right strategy in Iraq.
Maliki reiterated a vision of Shia, Sunni, and Kurdish partnership, and in my one-on-one meeting with him, he impressed me as a leader who wanted to be strong but was having difficulty figuring out how to do so. Maliki pointed to incidents, such as the use of Iraqi forces in Shia Karbala, to demonstrate his even hand. Perhaps because he is frustrated over his limited ability to command Iraqi forces against terrorists and insurgents, Maliki has been trying to show strength by standing up to the coalition. Hence the public spats with us over benchmarks and the Sadr City roadblocks.
Despite Maliki's reassuring words, repeated reports from our commanders on the ground contributed to our concerns about Maliki's government. Reports of nondelivery of services to Sunni areas, intervention by the prime minister's office to stop military action against Shia targets and to encourage them against Sunni ones, removal of Iraq's most effective commanders on a sectarian basis and efforts to ensure Shia majorities in all ministries -- when combined with the escalation of Jaish al-Mahdi's (JAM) [the Arabic name for the Mahdi Army] killings -- all suggest a campaign to consolidate Shia power in Baghdad.
Michael R. Gordon (New York Times) reports that author of the memo is National Securtiy Adviser Stephen J. Hadley and that Hadley wrote the memo November 8, 2006. The memo was based on conclusions Hadley drew while visiting the Green Zone on October 30th, a visit John F. Burns and David E. Sanger (New York Times) noted was spoken of "only in the vaguest of terms". The memo's distrust of Nouri al-Maliki and its suggestions fly in the face of what Geroge W. Casey Jr. was publicly pushing immediately prior to Hadley's visit. As Amit R. Paley (Washington Post) reported the US' military commander's claims of Iraqi security forces 'success' was doubted by American troops on the ground.
The memo covers a number of topics. Mainly it attempts to chart how the puppet can be propped up if he agrees to continue to following orders from the US administration (such as "support the renewal of the UN mandate for multinational forces" -- done yesterday -- through the end of 2007 as Sandra Lupien noted on yesterday's The KPFA Evening News). If that is the case, US tax dollars can be used to prop up political parties that do not support Moktada al-Sadr and thereby sideline al-Sadr from the process. ("This bloc would not require a new election, but would rather involve a realignment of political actors within the Parliament.") Mainly the memo's concerned with appearances, ways to make it appear the puppet is independent and strong. Such as: "Encourage Zal [Zalmay Khalilzad, the American ambassador] to move into the background and let Maliki take more credit for positive developments." As noted in previous snapshots, Zalmay-Take-Me-Away is on his way out. His supposed 'success' in Afghanistan began to implode in front of the world shortly after he was shipped to Iraq to create more 'success.' Reality didn't wait and Zalmay is on the way out.
The memo offers that al-Maliki can appear 'strong' if the US administration will: "Seek ways to strengthen Maliki immediately by giving him additional control over Iraq forces, although we musr tecognize that in the immediate time frame, we would likely be able to give him more authority over existing forces, not more forces" While pushing appearances, Hadley makes it very clear that al-Maliki is extremely out of touchand that he has one self-presentation "when he talks with Americans" and another at other times. Hadley writes: "But the reality on the streets of Baghdad suggest Maliki is either ignorant of what is going on, misrepresenting his intentions, or that his capabilities are not yet sufficient to turn his good intentions into action."
The memo reveals the doubts, all the times after, that the US administration still has of their puppet. Mark Silva (Chicago Tribune) reports that Tony Snow Job issued a statement of Bully Boy's confidence in al-Maliki which should make the puppet shudder if he's aware of "Heck of a job, Brownie." [Or of November 1st, when Bully Boy was singing Rummy's praises. As Ron Hutcheson (McClatchy Newspapers) reported: "Rumsfeld's ouster came a week after Bush told a small group of reporters that he wanted the defense secretary to stay on the job until end of his presidency."]
Silva also speaks with a nameless administration official who states that the memo is about raising questions and it "doesn't mean you're casting judgment" which is either cover up or the nameless hasn't read the memo. The third step Hadley outlines that al-Maliki "should take" is to "Shake up his cabinet by appointing nonsectarian, capable technocrats in key service (and security) ministries."
For those paying attention months ago, al-Maliki's claimed that was happening. He began saying it was happening after he finally got a cabinet semi together. He missed the Constitutional deadline as well as his own appointed deadline. When he finally had a 'cabinet' it was short three positions. As soon as those were filled, al-Maliki began making repeated noises about a 'shake up' that has still not taken place. That was telling when Hadley visited in October, it was telling when Hadley wrote the memo on November 8th and, as November draws to a close, it's even more telling.
As Tony Snow Job tries to spin the memo, the US administration still attempts to deny the reality of the civil war that has been raging in Iraq. Shatha al-Awsy (McClatchy Newspapers) registers quite clearly what she has seen in the last year in the neighborhood she lived, the neighbors who left as strangers began showing up, the talk of impending attacks, the need to build a secret passage way between her home and her parents, the night when violence was only streets away, her baby crying from the mortar rounds falling and her promise to herself to leave if they made it through tomorrow.
In the face of such reality, the US administration continues to deny Iraq is in a civil war. James Coomarasamy (BBC) reports that Stephen Hadley, of all people, "has said the Iraqi government does not see it in those terms, while the president himself described the latest attacks as part of an ongoing campaign by al-Qaeda militants." The same Hadley who wrote "the reality on the streets of Baghdad suggests Maliki is either ignorant of what is going on"? Meanwhile, Diala Saadeh (Reuters) reports Colin Powell, former US Secretary of State, has stated, "I would call it a civil war. . . I have been using it (civil war) because I like to face the reality." (Like your blot?) On CBS' The Early Show, Bob Schieffer (host of Face the Nation) offered, "This is not a memo that was leaked by some Democrat in Congress. This is something that obviously came from someone within the administration itself. It shows that the situation in Iraq is the kind of chaos that has been described by others at every level, political and military. It paints a picture that is unlike what we have been hearing from the administration. We've been hearing that things are getting better and so on and so forth, that al-Maliki is doing his best. Now this memo raises questions about those statements."
Recommended: "Iraq Snapshot"
"Other Items"
"NYT: 'U.S. Troops Kill 5 Girls in Assault on Insurgents' (Edward Wong)"
"robert parry, iraq, pacifica radio"
"Tom Hayden, Michael Ratner, Iraq"
"Isaiah, Medea Benjamin, Sally Kohn"
"Pacifica Radio Archives"
"Bully Back Down"
"THIS JUST IN! BULLY BOY CAVES!"
BULLY BOY IS PLAGUED BY ONE QUESTION: "DID I STAND HIM UP OR DID HE STAND ME UP?"
IN LIGHT OF THE NON-MEETING THAT DID NOT TAKE PLACE TODAY, BULLY BOY HAS BEEN CONFINED TO HIS SUITE AND REFUSING TO LEAVE. WHEN THESE REPORTERS HEARD HIM SHOUT THE QUESTION REPEATEDLY, WE ATTEMPTED TO PERSUADE THE SECRET SERVICE TO ALLOW US ENTRY BUT THEY REFUSED.
A NERVOUS DAN BARTLETT EMERGED SHORTLY TO EXPLAIN IT WAS "NO BIG DEAL" THAT THE MEETING DID NOT TAKE PLACE TODAY AS PLANNED BECAUSE "IT WAS GOING TO BE MORE OF A SOCIAL MEETING ANYWAY."
AT WHICH POINT BARTLETT CEASED SPEAKING BECAUSE OF THE LOW, GUTTURAL CRY OF "WHY ME! WHY ME!" THAT SEEMED TO FILL THE HALLWAY.
BARTLETT NODDED TO THE SECRET SERVICE WHO TOLD THESE REPORTERS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE. WHEN WE REFUSED, THE SECRET SERVICE GRABBED EACH OF US BY AN ARM BUT WHATEVER MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED WAS PREVENTED BY THE ARRIVIAL OF SECRETARY OF STATE & ANGER, CONDI RICE.
"HEY, HEY, DIG IT," CONDI SAID WAVING A CONTAINER, "DEAD SEA BATH SALTS! DEAD SEA BATH SALTS! ISN'T THAT THE WILDEST THING YOU EVER HEARD OF?"
WHEN NO 1 RUSHED TO LAUGH WITH CONDI, THESE REPORTERS EVENTUALLY DID.
"YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THESE BOYS GET ME. WHAT'S GOING ON ANYWAY?"
WHEN IT WAS EXPLAINED TO SECRETARY RICE, SHE SIGHED LOUDLY, SHOOK HER HEAD AND MUTTERED SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF, "WHY DO I ALWAYS HAVE TO CLEAN UP HIS MESSES? YOU'D THINK HIS MOTHER WOULD HAVE TAUGHT HIM HOW TO WIPE."
SHE HEADED INTO THE SUITES AND THESE REPORTERS ATTEMPTED TO FOLLOW
BUT WERE STOPPED BY THE SECRET SERVICE UNTIL SECRETARY RICE EXPLAINED, "THEY'RE COOL. THEY'RE WITH ME."
ONCE INSIDE SECRETARY RICE SHOOK HER HEAD HEAD IN DISGUST AT A BLUBBERING BULLY BOY WITH HIS HEAD BURIED IN A PILLOW.
CLEARING HER THROAT, SHE WALKED STRAIGHT TO THE DRAMA.
"YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS?" SHE ASKED THE BULLY BOY WHO STOPPED CRYING LONG ENOUGH TO LOOK UP.
"IT'S MYSTERY DATE. YOU KNOW MYSTERY DATE, RIGHT?"
"UH-HUH," BULLY BOY SAID WIPING HIS NOSE ON THE PILLOW CASE.
"SO WHAT HAPPENED? NOTHING. YOU WERE ALL DRESSED FOR A PICNIC AND NOURI AL-MALIKI SHOWED UP AT THE DOOR IN SKI GEAR. WHAT DO THEY SAY, 'BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME'."
"BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME," BULLY BOY SAID NODDING SLOWLY.
"THAT'S RIGHT," SECRETARY RICE SAID FIRMLY, "BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME."
"JUST LIKE YOU TOLD ME WHEN THE YELLOW CAKE STORIES EXPLODED," BULLY BOY SAID STARTING TO GRIN.
"THAT'S RIGHT," SECRETARY RICE AGREED.
"HEY, CONDI?"
"YES, MR. BULLY BOY?"
"CAN WE PLAY MYSTERY DATE NOW?"
"DID YOU PACK THE GAME?"
BULLY BOY RAN TO HIS LUGGAGE AND BEGAN TEARING THROUGH IT QUICKLY BEFORE PULLING OUT THE MYSTERY DATE BOARD GAME AND WAVING IT AROUND.
"YES, I DID. I WANT TO BE THE PURPLE GIRL. YOU CAN BE DARK BLUE!"
AND THAT'S HOW WE LEFT THE BULLY BOY OF THE UNITED STATES, SITTING ON THE FLOOR, TALKING EXCITEDLY ABOUT HOW HE HOPED HE GOT "THE SWIMMER AND NOT THE DUD. I HATE THE DUD!"
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
Starting with the memo:
We returned from Iraq convinced we need to determine if Prime Minister Maliki is both willing and able to rise above the sectarian agendas being promoted by others. Do we and Prime Minister Maliki share the same vision for Iraq? If so, is he able to curb those who seek Shia hegemony or the reassertion of Sunni power? The answers to these questions are key in determining whether we have the right strategy in Iraq.
Maliki reiterated a vision of Shia, Sunni, and Kurdish partnership, and in my one-on-one meeting with him, he impressed me as a leader who wanted to be strong but was having difficulty figuring out how to do so. Maliki pointed to incidents, such as the use of Iraqi forces in Shia Karbala, to demonstrate his even hand. Perhaps because he is frustrated over his limited ability to command Iraqi forces against terrorists and insurgents, Maliki has been trying to show strength by standing up to the coalition. Hence the public spats with us over benchmarks and the Sadr City roadblocks.
Despite Maliki's reassuring words, repeated reports from our commanders on the ground contributed to our concerns about Maliki's government. Reports of nondelivery of services to Sunni areas, intervention by the prime minister's office to stop military action against Shia targets and to encourage them against Sunni ones, removal of Iraq's most effective commanders on a sectarian basis and efforts to ensure Shia majorities in all ministries -- when combined with the escalation of Jaish al-Mahdi's (JAM) [the Arabic name for the Mahdi Army] killings -- all suggest a campaign to consolidate Shia power in Baghdad.
Michael R. Gordon (New York Times) reports that author of the memo is National Securtiy Adviser Stephen J. Hadley and that Hadley wrote the memo November 8, 2006. The memo was based on conclusions Hadley drew while visiting the Green Zone on October 30th, a visit John F. Burns and David E. Sanger (New York Times) noted was spoken of "only in the vaguest of terms". The memo's distrust of Nouri al-Maliki and its suggestions fly in the face of what Geroge W. Casey Jr. was publicly pushing immediately prior to Hadley's visit. As Amit R. Paley (Washington Post) reported the US' military commander's claims of Iraqi security forces 'success' was doubted by American troops on the ground.
The memo covers a number of topics. Mainly it attempts to chart how the puppet can be propped up if he agrees to continue to following orders from the US administration (such as "support the renewal of the UN mandate for multinational forces" -- done yesterday -- through the end of 2007 as Sandra Lupien noted on yesterday's The KPFA Evening News). If that is the case, US tax dollars can be used to prop up political parties that do not support Moktada al-Sadr and thereby sideline al-Sadr from the process. ("This bloc would not require a new election, but would rather involve a realignment of political actors within the Parliament.") Mainly the memo's concerned with appearances, ways to make it appear the puppet is independent and strong. Such as: "Encourage Zal [Zalmay Khalilzad, the American ambassador] to move into the background and let Maliki take more credit for positive developments." As noted in previous snapshots, Zalmay-Take-Me-Away is on his way out. His supposed 'success' in Afghanistan began to implode in front of the world shortly after he was shipped to Iraq to create more 'success.' Reality didn't wait and Zalmay is on the way out.
The memo offers that al-Maliki can appear 'strong' if the US administration will: "Seek ways to strengthen Maliki immediately by giving him additional control over Iraq forces, although we musr tecognize that in the immediate time frame, we would likely be able to give him more authority over existing forces, not more forces" While pushing appearances, Hadley makes it very clear that al-Maliki is extremely out of touchand that he has one self-presentation "when he talks with Americans" and another at other times. Hadley writes: "But the reality on the streets of Baghdad suggest Maliki is either ignorant of what is going on, misrepresenting his intentions, or that his capabilities are not yet sufficient to turn his good intentions into action."
The memo reveals the doubts, all the times after, that the US administration still has of their puppet. Mark Silva (Chicago Tribune) reports that Tony Snow Job issued a statement of Bully Boy's confidence in al-Maliki which should make the puppet shudder if he's aware of "Heck of a job, Brownie." [Or of November 1st, when Bully Boy was singing Rummy's praises. As Ron Hutcheson (McClatchy Newspapers) reported: "Rumsfeld's ouster came a week after Bush told a small group of reporters that he wanted the defense secretary to stay on the job until end of his presidency."]
Silva also speaks with a nameless administration official who states that the memo is about raising questions and it "doesn't mean you're casting judgment" which is either cover up or the nameless hasn't read the memo. The third step Hadley outlines that al-Maliki "should take" is to "Shake up his cabinet by appointing nonsectarian, capable technocrats in key service (and security) ministries."
For those paying attention months ago, al-Maliki's claimed that was happening. He began saying it was happening after he finally got a cabinet semi together. He missed the Constitutional deadline as well as his own appointed deadline. When he finally had a 'cabinet' it was short three positions. As soon as those were filled, al-Maliki began making repeated noises about a 'shake up' that has still not taken place. That was telling when Hadley visited in October, it was telling when Hadley wrote the memo on November 8th and, as November draws to a close, it's even more telling.
As Tony Snow Job tries to spin the memo, the US administration still attempts to deny the reality of the civil war that has been raging in Iraq. Shatha al-Awsy (McClatchy Newspapers) registers quite clearly what she has seen in the last year in the neighborhood she lived, the neighbors who left as strangers began showing up, the talk of impending attacks, the need to build a secret passage way between her home and her parents, the night when violence was only streets away, her baby crying from the mortar rounds falling and her promise to herself to leave if they made it through tomorrow.
In the face of such reality, the US administration continues to deny Iraq is in a civil war. James Coomarasamy (BBC) reports that Stephen Hadley, of all people, "has said the Iraqi government does not see it in those terms, while the president himself described the latest attacks as part of an ongoing campaign by al-Qaeda militants." The same Hadley who wrote "the reality on the streets of Baghdad suggests Maliki is either ignorant of what is going on"? Meanwhile, Diala Saadeh (Reuters) reports Colin Powell, former US Secretary of State, has stated, "I would call it a civil war. . . I have been using it (civil war) because I like to face the reality." (Like your blot?) On CBS' The Early Show, Bob Schieffer (host of Face the Nation) offered, "This is not a memo that was leaked by some Democrat in Congress. This is something that obviously came from someone within the administration itself. It shows that the situation in Iraq is the kind of chaos that has been described by others at every level, political and military. It paints a picture that is unlike what we have been hearing from the administration. We've been hearing that things are getting better and so on and so forth, that al-Maliki is doing his best. Now this memo raises questions about those statements."
Recommended: "Iraq Snapshot"
"Other Items"
"NYT: 'U.S. Troops Kill 5 Girls in Assault on Insurgents' (Edward Wong)"
"robert parry, iraq, pacifica radio"
"Tom Hayden, Michael Ratner, Iraq"
"Isaiah, Medea Benjamin, Sally Kohn"
"Pacifica Radio Archives"
"Bully Back Down"
"THIS JUST IN! BULLY BOY CAVES!"
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Bully Back Down
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- LATIVA.
TODAY, AT THE RIGA CASTLE IN RIGA, LATIVA BULLY BOY DECLARED, "THERE IS ONE THING I'M NOT GOING TO DO. I AM NOT GOING TO PULL OUR TROOPS OFF THE BATTLEFIELD BEFORE THE MISSION IS COMPLETE."
LATER, IN THE MEN'S ROOM, STANDING IMPATIENTLY AT THE URINAL, BULLY BOY DECLARED, "THERE IS ONE THING I'M NOT GOING TO DO. I'M NOT GOING TO START PEEING BEFORE I FEEL LIKE IT."
STILL LATER, IN A BUFFET LINE AT THE LIDO IN THE RIGA AIRPORT, BULLY BOY HUFFED, "THERE IS ONE THING I'M NOT GOING TO DO. I'M NOT GOING TO START MOVING UNTIL I FEEL LIKE IT."
THROUGHOUT THE NEXT 2 HOURS, THE SECRET SERVICE ATTEMPTED TO PROTECT BULLY BOY FROM JEERS, BOOS, AND THE OCCASSIONAL SPIT LOOGIE, WHILE BULLY BOY STOOD, HAND ON HIPS, GLARING AT EVERYONE.
FINALLY, ON THE AIRPORT RUNWAY, BULLY BOY DECLARED, "THERE IS ONE THING I'M NOT GOING TO DO. I'M NOT GOING TO START MOVING UNTIL I FEEL LIKE IT."
BULLY BOY STOOD THERE PETULANTLY UNTIL SECRETARY OF STATE & ANGER CONDI RICE YELLED FROM THE TOP OF THE AIRPLANE STAIRS, "MOVE IT, BULLY, GET YOUR BUTT OFF THE TARMAC RIGHT NOW!"
"YES, MA'AM," BULLY BOY GULPED BEFORE TAKING OFF IN A RUN TOWARDS THE STAIRS.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
The US military announced today, "One Marine assigned to 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division died Nov. 27 from wounds sustained due to enemy action while operating in Al Anbar Province." The announcement comes as Aaron Glantz (OneWorld) reports on "a new study by the Caresey Institute" which finds that "[t]he mortality rate for soldiers from rural America is about 60 percent higher than the mortality rate for soliders from metropolitan areas." Glantz notes that the study finds that those "from rural Vermont have the highest death rate in the nation followed by Delaware, South Dakota, and Arizona."
Andrea Shalal-Esa (Reuters) reports that the United States Air Force says it needs "$33.4 billion in extra funding for fiscal 2007 to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and costs related to the 'longer war on terror'." Current cost of the illegal war, via counter on Tom Hayden's website, $346,000,000,000. And all the money going to support the illegal war couldn't be used in a better way, right?
New Orleans?
Kyle Snyder: There are over 20 engineering units, there's more than 20 engineering units in the U.S. military. I was part of an engineering unit. And to see places that look worse than Iraq in my own country makes me sick, it makes me disgusted, that they're not doing any rebuilding effort for the poor, for the African-American community. It's like they just left it there. They're not even cleaning it up. It's a disaster area. It's, logistically, it's the most horrible thing I've seen because we have engineering units in Iraq when they should be here. . . . This should be first priority. . . . Start pulling troops from Iraq and rebuilding in New Orleans.
US war resister Kyle Snyder spent Thanksgiving week by joining with Iraq Veterans Against the War, Col. Ann Wright, war resister Darrell Anderson and others to protest the School of Americas in Georgia and then going to New Orleans with Iraq Veterans Against the War to work on the rebuilding. Video clips are available at Soldier Say No! and the one quoted from is also available at Google Video. Snyder self-checked out of the US military in April of 2005, moved to Canada and then returned to the US and turned himself in at Fort Knox on October 31st, only to self-check out again after discovering the military had lied yet again. Snyder is now underground and on the road.
Also traveling is CODEPINK's Medea Benjamin who was recently in South Korea and spoke with Christopher Brown (OhmyNews International): ". . . the job of the peace movement is going to be not [to] put down its guard, to really be forcing the Congress to carry out what is a mandate for radical change, and the radical change is to bring the troops home, to stop allocating money for this war and to have no permanent bases in Iraq. And I think the issue of more money for the war will come up very soon in January when the new Congress reconvenes because they are going to be asked for over a hundred billion dollars more for this war."
Benjamin and others were in South Korea to support the people objecting to US base being expanded and asking that South Korea's troops be brought home from Iraq. Other activists on the trip included Cindy Sheehan who was interviewed about it by Jennifer Veale (Time magazine). In her latest column (BuzzFlash), Sheehan considers the proposal of returning to the draft and is "100% categorically opposed to forced conscription" and outlines her reasons which include that the draft didn't stop earlier wars, the "draft will never be fair and balanced," and that "a draft will only give the war maching more of our children to consume to generate its wealth."
The peace movement includes Cindy Sheehan (who sparked it back to life), Medea Benjamin, Ann Wright, Diane Wilson, Kyle Snyder, Darrell Anderson, Camilo Mejia, Alice Walker, Aidan Delgado, Pablo Parades, Missy Comley-Beattie, Agustin Aguayo, Stephen Funk, Carl Webb, Stan Goff, David Swanson (who examines war resistance here), . . . and many more (hopefully including you).
Writing for the San Francisco Chronicle, Tom Hayden notes that "the anti-war movement has been a major factor in mobilizing a majority of the American public to oppose the occupation and killing in Iraq" and, noting the failure of media to cover the movement: "the only recourse is to prepare widespread demonstrations and ground organizing in the key presidential primary states, to make it impossible for any candidate to become president in 2008 without pledging to end the war and occupation. If there is no peace movement, there will be no peace."
What would there be instead? More abuses, probably done more openly. On Saturday, Reuters reported Janis Karpinski's statement about the letter "signed by Rumsfeld which allowed civilian contractors to use techniques such as sleep deprivation during interrogation." (Karpinski wrote about that in her book, spoke about it with Amy Goodman and Dennis Bernstein.) We can pair that with The Socialist Worker's report on British major Antony Royce's statements in the court-martial for the abuses of Iraqi prisoners where he testified that he was instructed "by Major Mark Robinson, a brigade intelligence adviser, to 'condition' prisoners. Royce said that he then checked with Major Russel Clifton, the brigade's legal adviser, and was again told that 'conditioning' and hooding were acceptable."[Pru highlighted the article on Royce.]
Lastly, the Pacifica's Archives is presenting a two-day special: Pacifica Radio Archives Presents Voices For Peace And Non-Violence. It is airing on all Pacifica stations (KPFA, KFCF, KPFT, WBAI, KPFK, WPFW), many affiliates and online. The special started today and pulls from the fifty plus years of archives. (Donations made during this two day period go to preserve the archives.) Among the voices heard today were MLK, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Camilo Mejia, Lena Horne, Fannie Lou Hamer, Gore Vidal, Kurt Vonnegut, Jane Fonda, and many others.
Recommended: "Iraq Snapshot"
"NYT: Bobble Head and Judy in Drag show off their steno skills"
"Other Items"
"Law and Disorder, The Third Estate Sunday Review"
"various thoughts"
"Gore Vidal, Janet Coleman, Madonna, Iraq"
"Rumsfeld, Rolling Stones, Yoko Ono & John Lennon"
"Civil war"
"THIS JUST IN! IT'S A CIVIL WAR!"
TODAY, AT THE RIGA CASTLE IN RIGA, LATIVA BULLY BOY DECLARED, "THERE IS ONE THING I'M NOT GOING TO DO. I AM NOT GOING TO PULL OUR TROOPS OFF THE BATTLEFIELD BEFORE THE MISSION IS COMPLETE."
LATER, IN THE MEN'S ROOM, STANDING IMPATIENTLY AT THE URINAL, BULLY BOY DECLARED, "THERE IS ONE THING I'M NOT GOING TO DO. I'M NOT GOING TO START PEEING BEFORE I FEEL LIKE IT."
STILL LATER, IN A BUFFET LINE AT THE LIDO IN THE RIGA AIRPORT, BULLY BOY HUFFED, "THERE IS ONE THING I'M NOT GOING TO DO. I'M NOT GOING TO START MOVING UNTIL I FEEL LIKE IT."
THROUGHOUT THE NEXT 2 HOURS, THE SECRET SERVICE ATTEMPTED TO PROTECT BULLY BOY FROM JEERS, BOOS, AND THE OCCASSIONAL SPIT LOOGIE, WHILE BULLY BOY STOOD, HAND ON HIPS, GLARING AT EVERYONE.
FINALLY, ON THE AIRPORT RUNWAY, BULLY BOY DECLARED, "THERE IS ONE THING I'M NOT GOING TO DO. I'M NOT GOING TO START MOVING UNTIL I FEEL LIKE IT."
BULLY BOY STOOD THERE PETULANTLY UNTIL SECRETARY OF STATE & ANGER CONDI RICE YELLED FROM THE TOP OF THE AIRPLANE STAIRS, "MOVE IT, BULLY, GET YOUR BUTT OFF THE TARMAC RIGHT NOW!"
"YES, MA'AM," BULLY BOY GULPED BEFORE TAKING OFF IN A RUN TOWARDS THE STAIRS.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
The US military announced today, "One Marine assigned to 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division died Nov. 27 from wounds sustained due to enemy action while operating in Al Anbar Province." The announcement comes as Aaron Glantz (OneWorld) reports on "a new study by the Caresey Institute" which finds that "[t]he mortality rate for soldiers from rural America is about 60 percent higher than the mortality rate for soliders from metropolitan areas." Glantz notes that the study finds that those "from rural Vermont have the highest death rate in the nation followed by Delaware, South Dakota, and Arizona."
Andrea Shalal-Esa (Reuters) reports that the United States Air Force says it needs "$33.4 billion in extra funding for fiscal 2007 to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and costs related to the 'longer war on terror'." Current cost of the illegal war, via counter on Tom Hayden's website, $346,000,000,000. And all the money going to support the illegal war couldn't be used in a better way, right?
New Orleans?
Kyle Snyder: There are over 20 engineering units, there's more than 20 engineering units in the U.S. military. I was part of an engineering unit. And to see places that look worse than Iraq in my own country makes me sick, it makes me disgusted, that they're not doing any rebuilding effort for the poor, for the African-American community. It's like they just left it there. They're not even cleaning it up. It's a disaster area. It's, logistically, it's the most horrible thing I've seen because we have engineering units in Iraq when they should be here. . . . This should be first priority. . . . Start pulling troops from Iraq and rebuilding in New Orleans.
US war resister Kyle Snyder spent Thanksgiving week by joining with Iraq Veterans Against the War, Col. Ann Wright, war resister Darrell Anderson and others to protest the School of Americas in Georgia and then going to New Orleans with Iraq Veterans Against the War to work on the rebuilding. Video clips are available at Soldier Say No! and the one quoted from is also available at Google Video. Snyder self-checked out of the US military in April of 2005, moved to Canada and then returned to the US and turned himself in at Fort Knox on October 31st, only to self-check out again after discovering the military had lied yet again. Snyder is now underground and on the road.
Also traveling is CODEPINK's Medea Benjamin who was recently in South Korea and spoke with Christopher Brown (OhmyNews International): ". . . the job of the peace movement is going to be not [to] put down its guard, to really be forcing the Congress to carry out what is a mandate for radical change, and the radical change is to bring the troops home, to stop allocating money for this war and to have no permanent bases in Iraq. And I think the issue of more money for the war will come up very soon in January when the new Congress reconvenes because they are going to be asked for over a hundred billion dollars more for this war."
Benjamin and others were in South Korea to support the people objecting to US base being expanded and asking that South Korea's troops be brought home from Iraq. Other activists on the trip included Cindy Sheehan who was interviewed about it by Jennifer Veale (Time magazine). In her latest column (BuzzFlash), Sheehan considers the proposal of returning to the draft and is "100% categorically opposed to forced conscription" and outlines her reasons which include that the draft didn't stop earlier wars, the "draft will never be fair and balanced," and that "a draft will only give the war maching more of our children to consume to generate its wealth."
The peace movement includes Cindy Sheehan (who sparked it back to life), Medea Benjamin, Ann Wright, Diane Wilson, Kyle Snyder, Darrell Anderson, Camilo Mejia, Alice Walker, Aidan Delgado, Pablo Parades, Missy Comley-Beattie, Agustin Aguayo, Stephen Funk, Carl Webb, Stan Goff, David Swanson (who examines war resistance here), . . . and many more (hopefully including you).
Writing for the San Francisco Chronicle, Tom Hayden notes that "the anti-war movement has been a major factor in mobilizing a majority of the American public to oppose the occupation and killing in Iraq" and, noting the failure of media to cover the movement: "the only recourse is to prepare widespread demonstrations and ground organizing in the key presidential primary states, to make it impossible for any candidate to become president in 2008 without pledging to end the war and occupation. If there is no peace movement, there will be no peace."
What would there be instead? More abuses, probably done more openly. On Saturday, Reuters reported Janis Karpinski's statement about the letter "signed by Rumsfeld which allowed civilian contractors to use techniques such as sleep deprivation during interrogation." (Karpinski wrote about that in her book, spoke about it with Amy Goodman and Dennis Bernstein.) We can pair that with The Socialist Worker's report on British major Antony Royce's statements in the court-martial for the abuses of Iraqi prisoners where he testified that he was instructed "by Major Mark Robinson, a brigade intelligence adviser, to 'condition' prisoners. Royce said that he then checked with Major Russel Clifton, the brigade's legal adviser, and was again told that 'conditioning' and hooding were acceptable."[Pru highlighted the article on Royce.]
Lastly, the Pacifica's Archives is presenting a two-day special: Pacifica Radio Archives Presents Voices For Peace And Non-Violence. It is airing on all Pacifica stations (KPFA, KFCF, KPFT, WBAI, KPFK, WPFW), many affiliates and online. The special started today and pulls from the fifty plus years of archives. (Donations made during this two day period go to preserve the archives.) Among the voices heard today were MLK, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Camilo Mejia, Lena Horne, Fannie Lou Hamer, Gore Vidal, Kurt Vonnegut, Jane Fonda, and many others.
Recommended: "Iraq Snapshot"
"NYT: Bobble Head and Judy in Drag show off their steno skills"
"Other Items"
"Law and Disorder, The Third Estate Sunday Review"
"various thoughts"
"Gore Vidal, Janet Coleman, Madonna, Iraq"
"Rumsfeld, Rolling Stones, Yoko Ono & John Lennon"
"Civil war"
"THIS JUST IN! IT'S A CIVIL WAR!"
Monday, November 27, 2006
Civil war
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- DC.
THIS JUST IN!
IT'S A CIVIL WAR!
IT IS BECOMING OFFICIAL, A CIVIL WAR RAGES IN IRAQ.
IT'S LIKE A HEAD TOSS THAT MONTHS TO CALL.
TODAY, NBC NEWS DECIDED TO STATE THE OBVIOUS AND DECLARE IT A CIVIL WAR.
FOR SOME STRANGE REASON, THE WHITE HOUSE HAS SO MUCH FREE TIME THEY DECIDED TO BICKER OVER THE CALL. MARGARET SPELLING, SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, AND CONDI RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE AND ANGER, STOOD OFF TO THE SIDE WHILE NAMES WERE CALLED AND SACKS HANDED OUT.
WAVING HIS SACK, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL FLACK GORDON JOHNDROE RUSHED OVER TO DECLARE HE HAS A FOOT LONG MEATBALL SANDWICH FROM SUBWAY AND "OH YEAH, THE VIOLENCE IS PRIMARILY CENTERED AROUND BAGHDAD AND BAGHDAD SECURITY AND THE INCREASED TRAINING OF IRAQI SECURITY FORCES IS AT THE TOP OF THE AGENDA WHEN -- DID THEY TOAST THIS? I DON'T THINK THEY TOASTED IT!"
SWINGING HIS ARBY'S SACK AND EXPLAINING, "GOTTA SNACK BEFORE WE BOARD AIR FORCE ONE!", STEPHEN HADLEY, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER WHO HAS NEVER ANSWERED FOR HIS ROLE IN THE OUTING OF C.I.A. AGENT VALERIE PLAME, DECLARED, "OBVIOUSLY EVERYONE WOULD AGREE THINGS ARE NOT PROCEEDING WELL ENOUGH OR FAST ENOUGH. BEEF BACON 'N CHEDDER AND HOMESTYLE FRIES? I ORDERED CURLY FRIES! I ORDERED CURLY FRIES! CRAP! MY WHOLE DAY IS RUINED NOW!"
WHEN ASKED IF ESTONIA MIGHT SEND MORE TROOPS TO IRAQ, HADLEY RESPONDED, "WHAT? OH MAN, MY JAMOCHA SHAKE! THIS ISN'T JAMOCHA, THIS IS STRAWBERRY! VERMONT AND NEW HAMPSHIRE COMBINED ARE BIGGER THAN NOTHING COUNTRY!"
WHEN IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT THEY DID HAVE 35 SOLDIERS SERVING IN IRAQ AND THAT TWO HAVE DIED SINCE THE START OF THE WAR, HADLEY EXCLAIMED, "BIG WHOOP T' DO! 35? WOOOO. THEY'VE GOT LIKE A MILLION CITIZENS AND THEY SEND US 35? F**K THAT S**T. ONLY REASON WE'RE GOING IS BECAUSE LITTLE MIKE CHERTOFF TOLD BULLY BOY IT'S A HUGE TRANSFER PLACE FOR OPIATES, WEED, COKE AND SYNTH DRUGS. THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING. CRAP, CRAP, CRAP.
WHERE'S THE PECAN STICKY BUN? HUH!"
SECRETARIES SPELLING AND RICE GIGGLED AND HIGH FIVED. LATER, SECRETARY RICE EXPLAINED, "EVERYBODY FOCUSES ON THE NEGATIVES. 'YOU HAVEN'T WON THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN, YOU'RE LOSING IN IRAQ, OSAMA'S STILL ON THE LOOSE, YOU HAVEN'T FIXED THE DAMAGE FROM HURRICANE KATRINA . . .' WHAT ABOUT OUR PRACTICAL JOKES, HUH? NO ONE GIVES US CREDIT FOR THOSE. EVERYONE STILL WANTS TO TALK AUGUST 6, 2001 AND WHY I DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE PDB. THOSE BEDS IN CRAWFORD WEREN'T GOING TO SHORT SHEET THEMSELVES!"
WHEN IT WASN'T POINTED OUT THAT GETTING ORDERS WRONG REALLY WASN'T THAT MUCH OF A PRANK, SECRETARY RICE LEANED IN AND WHISPERED, "OH YEAH? MAGS SPIKED ALL THE FOOD WITH EXLAX!"
LAUGHING, SHE THREW SEVERAL FOLDERS WORTH OF DOCUMENTS STAMPED "URGENT" INTO A TRASH CAN AND SAUNTERED OFF.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
This morning, WBAI's Law and Disorder wrapped up their four-part series on the police state by exploring how a democracy could exist at home and an empire abroad. Hosts Michael Ratner, Heidi Boghosian, Dalia Hashad and Michael Smith spoke with Anthony Arnove on the topic of Iraq. (Arnove's Iraq: The Logic of Withdrawal is now available in softcover.
Arnove offered strong critiques of the Democratic party and noted that US Senator Harry Reid is pushing for an additional 75 billion dollars going to the military bill and that the Democratic majority in the US Congress has little interest in using their power of the purse
to stop funding the illegal war. Arnove's opinion is that the peace movement is in a stronger position due to the fact that so many Americans are against the war and want the troops home. If you missed the broadcast you can visit the Law and Disorder website or at the WBAI archives. Mike will be discussing the broadcast at Mikey Like It! tonight. Ruth will probably highlight in a report this week as well. (And thanks to Ruth for providing the 'streaming audio' via telephone line.) (Ruth called and put her phone up to the radio speaker if anyone's confused.)
Arnove also spoke of the importance of keeping the pressure on the government to end the war and of the importance of resisters within the military.
Turning to news of US war resisters. Janet McConnaughey (AP) reports that Kyle Snyder "spent Thanksgiving week gutting houses flooded more than a year ago by Hurricane Katrina" and that he was part of "two dozen volunteers from Iraq Veterans Against the War".
Snyder, on October 31st, turned himself in at Fort Knox only to self-check out again after discovering the military had lied yet again. Since then Snyder has been underground, surfacing to speaking out against the war. He is now underground and tells McConnaughey that, these days, "I just travel" while his "lawyer has tried to contact Fort Leonard Wood like 75 times -- it's documented, 75 times -- and tried to get in touch with the military. They've avoided this entire subject."
Meanwhile, Carolyn Thompson (AP) reports that US war resister Patrick Hart has stated he has "no desire to go back." Back being the United States. Hart is among the thirty plus war resisters who are attempting to seek refugee status in Iraq. Hart tells Thompson, "Every day I wake up with my son [Rian], it just assures me I did the right thing."
Hart and Snyder are a part of war resistance within the military that also includes, among others, Ehren Watada , Joshua Key, Ivan Brobeck, Darrell Anderson, Ricky Clousing, Mark Wilkerson, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Joshua Casteel, Clifford Cornell, Agustin Aguayo, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, and Kevin Benderman. And those are only some of the names of those resisting who have gone public.
Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, Soldier Say No!, the War Resisters Support Campaign, Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veterans For Peace. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters. Appeal for Redress is collecting signatures of active duty service members calling on Congress to bring the troops home -- the petition will be delivered to Congress in January (on MLK day). (Jonathan Hutto was also interviewed on Law and Disorder today. Hutto is one of the organizers of Appel for Redress.)
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"THIS JUST IN! TURKEY IN CHIEF!"
THIS JUST IN!
IT'S A CIVIL WAR!
IT IS BECOMING OFFICIAL, A CIVIL WAR RAGES IN IRAQ.
IT'S LIKE A HEAD TOSS THAT MONTHS TO CALL.
TODAY, NBC NEWS DECIDED TO STATE THE OBVIOUS AND DECLARE IT A CIVIL WAR.
FOR SOME STRANGE REASON, THE WHITE HOUSE HAS SO MUCH FREE TIME THEY DECIDED TO BICKER OVER THE CALL. MARGARET SPELLING, SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, AND CONDI RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE AND ANGER, STOOD OFF TO THE SIDE WHILE NAMES WERE CALLED AND SACKS HANDED OUT.
WAVING HIS SACK, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL FLACK GORDON JOHNDROE RUSHED OVER TO DECLARE HE HAS A FOOT LONG MEATBALL SANDWICH FROM SUBWAY AND "OH YEAH, THE VIOLENCE IS PRIMARILY CENTERED AROUND BAGHDAD AND BAGHDAD SECURITY AND THE INCREASED TRAINING OF IRAQI SECURITY FORCES IS AT THE TOP OF THE AGENDA WHEN -- DID THEY TOAST THIS? I DON'T THINK THEY TOASTED IT!"
SWINGING HIS ARBY'S SACK AND EXPLAINING, "GOTTA SNACK BEFORE WE BOARD AIR FORCE ONE!", STEPHEN HADLEY, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER WHO HAS NEVER ANSWERED FOR HIS ROLE IN THE OUTING OF C.I.A. AGENT VALERIE PLAME, DECLARED, "OBVIOUSLY EVERYONE WOULD AGREE THINGS ARE NOT PROCEEDING WELL ENOUGH OR FAST ENOUGH. BEEF BACON 'N CHEDDER AND HOMESTYLE FRIES? I ORDERED CURLY FRIES! I ORDERED CURLY FRIES! CRAP! MY WHOLE DAY IS RUINED NOW!"
WHEN ASKED IF ESTONIA MIGHT SEND MORE TROOPS TO IRAQ, HADLEY RESPONDED, "WHAT? OH MAN, MY JAMOCHA SHAKE! THIS ISN'T JAMOCHA, THIS IS STRAWBERRY! VERMONT AND NEW HAMPSHIRE COMBINED ARE BIGGER THAN NOTHING COUNTRY!"
WHEN IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT THEY DID HAVE 35 SOLDIERS SERVING IN IRAQ AND THAT TWO HAVE DIED SINCE THE START OF THE WAR, HADLEY EXCLAIMED, "BIG WHOOP T' DO! 35? WOOOO. THEY'VE GOT LIKE A MILLION CITIZENS AND THEY SEND US 35? F**K THAT S**T. ONLY REASON WE'RE GOING IS BECAUSE LITTLE MIKE CHERTOFF TOLD BULLY BOY IT'S A HUGE TRANSFER PLACE FOR OPIATES, WEED, COKE AND SYNTH DRUGS. THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING. CRAP, CRAP, CRAP.
WHERE'S THE PECAN STICKY BUN? HUH!"
SECRETARIES SPELLING AND RICE GIGGLED AND HIGH FIVED. LATER, SECRETARY RICE EXPLAINED, "EVERYBODY FOCUSES ON THE NEGATIVES. 'YOU HAVEN'T WON THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN, YOU'RE LOSING IN IRAQ, OSAMA'S STILL ON THE LOOSE, YOU HAVEN'T FIXED THE DAMAGE FROM HURRICANE KATRINA . . .' WHAT ABOUT OUR PRACTICAL JOKES, HUH? NO ONE GIVES US CREDIT FOR THOSE. EVERYONE STILL WANTS TO TALK AUGUST 6, 2001 AND WHY I DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE PDB. THOSE BEDS IN CRAWFORD WEREN'T GOING TO SHORT SHEET THEMSELVES!"
WHEN IT WASN'T POINTED OUT THAT GETTING ORDERS WRONG REALLY WASN'T THAT MUCH OF A PRANK, SECRETARY RICE LEANED IN AND WHISPERED, "OH YEAH? MAGS SPIKED ALL THE FOOD WITH EXLAX!"
LAUGHING, SHE THREW SEVERAL FOLDERS WORTH OF DOCUMENTS STAMPED "URGENT" INTO A TRASH CAN AND SAUNTERED OFF.
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
This morning, WBAI's Law and Disorder wrapped up their four-part series on the police state by exploring how a democracy could exist at home and an empire abroad. Hosts Michael Ratner, Heidi Boghosian, Dalia Hashad and Michael Smith spoke with Anthony Arnove on the topic of Iraq. (Arnove's Iraq: The Logic of Withdrawal is now available in softcover.
Arnove offered strong critiques of the Democratic party and noted that US Senator Harry Reid is pushing for an additional 75 billion dollars going to the military bill and that the Democratic majority in the US Congress has little interest in using their power of the purse
to stop funding the illegal war. Arnove's opinion is that the peace movement is in a stronger position due to the fact that so many Americans are against the war and want the troops home. If you missed the broadcast you can visit the Law and Disorder website or at the WBAI archives. Mike will be discussing the broadcast at Mikey Like It! tonight. Ruth will probably highlight in a report this week as well. (And thanks to Ruth for providing the 'streaming audio' via telephone line.) (Ruth called and put her phone up to the radio speaker if anyone's confused.)
Arnove also spoke of the importance of keeping the pressure on the government to end the war and of the importance of resisters within the military.
Turning to news of US war resisters. Janet McConnaughey (AP) reports that Kyle Snyder "spent Thanksgiving week gutting houses flooded more than a year ago by Hurricane Katrina" and that he was part of "two dozen volunteers from Iraq Veterans Against the War".
Snyder, on October 31st, turned himself in at Fort Knox only to self-check out again after discovering the military had lied yet again. Since then Snyder has been underground, surfacing to speaking out against the war. He is now underground and tells McConnaughey that, these days, "I just travel" while his "lawyer has tried to contact Fort Leonard Wood like 75 times -- it's documented, 75 times -- and tried to get in touch with the military. They've avoided this entire subject."
Meanwhile, Carolyn Thompson (AP) reports that US war resister Patrick Hart has stated he has "no desire to go back." Back being the United States. Hart is among the thirty plus war resisters who are attempting to seek refugee status in Iraq. Hart tells Thompson, "Every day I wake up with my son [Rian], it just assures me I did the right thing."
Hart and Snyder are a part of war resistance within the military that also includes, among others, Ehren Watada , Joshua Key, Ivan Brobeck, Darrell Anderson, Ricky Clousing, Mark Wilkerson, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Joshua Casteel, Clifford Cornell, Agustin Aguayo, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, and Kevin Benderman. And those are only some of the names of those resisting who have gone public.
Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, Soldier Say No!, the War Resisters Support Campaign, Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veterans For Peace. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters. Appeal for Redress is collecting signatures of active duty service members calling on Congress to bring the troops home -- the petition will be delivered to Congress in January (on MLK day). (Jonathan Hutto was also interviewed on Law and Disorder today. Hutto is one of the organizers of Appel for Redress.)
Recommended: "Iraq Snapshot"
"And the war drags on"
"Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts 'Quality Time'"
"NYT: The puppet gets pelted with stones and the paper doesn't notice?"
"NYT: It looks just like Skinny & Sweet"
"NYT: Pondering who calls it 'civil war' (Edward Wong)"
"Other Items"
"Reality in the Kitchen"
"A Crossdresser or Two"
"Back to posting"
"robert parry, dixie chicks"
"Mr. Whine On, Abeer, Iraq, the draft, etc."
"Robert Parry, Iraq"
"A Note to Our Readers"
"Editorial: The Unknown War Resister"
"TV Review: Confessing to no talent"
"Magazine Parody: The Elector"
"Iraq's civil war" "
TV Review: Burying the living"
"MyTV's Fascist House"
"Junior wasn't all that? You don't say"
"Taking care of the most pressing business first"
"Highlights"
"The turkey in chief"
"THIS JUST IN! TURKEY IN CHIEF!"
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