Cedric's Big Mix: 2012-05-20

Saturday, May 26, 2012

When even the in-the-tank media can't spin it . . .

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE

CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O HAS BEEN ANNOUNCING HE HAS CUT SPENDING AND RELYING ON A STUDY TO PROVE HE'S RIGHT BUT THAT STUDY IS MORE THAN FLAWED, IT'S OUT RIGHT WRONG. AND THE A.P. FACT CHECK BRINGS BAD NEWS FOR BARRY O -- AS MOST FACT CHECKS DO.

EVEN IN AUSTRALIA, THEY'RE NOTING THAT BARRY O IS WORSE THAN BULLY BOY BUSH:

Obama has undermined more individual rights and hoarded more presidential power than Bush ever did. It's not that he has simply failed to roll back Bush's anti-terror excesses. (Although that is true, as well.) It's that Obama has trumped them. More than 10 years after the September 11 attacks, the White House is still amassing extra security powers. On December 31 last year, Obama signed the National Defence Authorisation Act.
This act allows the military to arrest and indefinitely detain anybody within American borders, and without any judicial authorisation.
This power is quite an increase. Under the Bush administration the military could only legally arrest and detain people in other countries. American citizens were protected by an 1878 act banning domestic military deployment. Obama no longer observes this legal nicety.
And Obama has claimed the right to assassinate any American citizen he deems a terrorist threat, at any time, according to nothing but his judgment, anywhere in the world. As a former CIA chief recently pointed out, while the President needs a court order to eavesdrop on Americans abroad, he does not need a court order to kill them.

AND AS BAD AS THINGS ARE GLOBALLY FOR BARRY O'S IMAGE, IT APPEARS MORE AND MORE THAT DOMESTIC WILL BE BARRY O'S BIGGEST NIGHTMARE.

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Starting in Russia. Yesterday it was learned that four Russian bikers were grabbed in central Iraq by Nouri's security forces, imprisoned and beaten. The four are: Oleg Kapkayev of Saint Petersburg, Alexander Vardanyants and Maxim Ignatyev of Vladimir and Oleg Maximov of Tula. Russian Legal Information Agency reports that the wife Oleg Maximo spoke to her husband and he told her they were being moved to another location.

Dmitry Rogozin is the Deputy Premier of Russian Government tasked with the defense and space industry.

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That Tweet reads: 'The Russian bikers detained in Iraq are at the Embassy of the Russian Federation [in Baghdad]. Motorcylces have not been returned yet. Thanks to everyone who helped.' The Moscow Times notes, "[Russian President Vladimir] Putin has been forging good relations with the biker community in the past two years, riding motorcycles and attending biker events." RIA Novosti adds, "The four men will leave for Russia on Saturday morning, the bikers' lawyer Alexander Orlov, also a member of the Moscow-based motorcycle club Rolling Anarchy MCC (RAMCC), told RIA Novosti."

As many are noticing, the US press has ignored the story completely. That may be due to the fact that there's a detail that's inconsistent -- not on-message -- with Barack Obama's current campaign for a second term as US President. Ekaterina Saviba (Gazeta) reports it today:

They came to Iraq on May 17 and were detained by the Iraqi military on May 20. "Our attempt to go towards Baghdad failed because of Yanks in Hummers – they didn't let us in. Our guys decided to go round the American checkpoints and pass north of them," report motorcyclists' friends on the Russian motorcycling forum Ruriders.ru. "They managed to ride several dozen kilometers a day, while having long heartfelt conversations with local authorities, all while the outside temperature was 42 Celsius."

Again, that was also in yesterday's reports. The Russian bikers, en route to Baghdad, were unable to enter the city and had to go around due to Americans blocking them in Hummers, due to American checkpoints. The 20th was Sunday and the US may have activated some branch still in Iraq (there are many) to put up checkpoints in advance of the meet-up in Baghdad. They may have pulled the units stationed outside of Iraq -- in Kuwait for example -- back in to set up those checkpoints.

Along with the usual Russian contingent which staffs the country's Baghdad embassy, other Russian officials were in the country this week as Nouri's Iraq hosted talks with Iran about the nuclear program. Ali Arouzi (NECN News -- link is text and video) reports, "International nuclear talks being held in Baghdad this week with Iran ended inconclusively with both sides at a stalemate." A stalemate grows in Nouri's Baghdad? What a complete lack of surprise?

The ongoing political stalemate in Iraq could see Nouri al-Maliki face a no-confidence vote that, if successful, would remove him as prime minister. Alsumaria reports that the 'Badr brigade' says this would be the worst thing that could happen. The Badr brigade only split or 'split' from the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq when it had to (or risk ISCI being outlawed). They still take their orders from Ammar al-Hakim and the US has been very successful in buying al-Hakim's support for Nouri. al-Hakim has already made statements like those made similar statements out of his own mouth. Now he uses the Badr brigade as a megaphone in the hopes that this will give the (false) appearance of a wave of support for Nouri surfacing.

How did things get to this point?

Iraq's currently in Political Stalemate II. Political Stalemate I followed the March 7, 2010 elections in which Iraiqya -- headed by Ayad Allawi -- came in first and Nouri al-Maliki's State of Law came in second. Despite herculean efforts on Nouri's part -- some legal but most questionable or outright illegal -- to walk away with the election, he was runner up. But Nouri wanted to be Miss Iraq, he wanted the crown and felt he did very well in the swimsuit competition. He had the backing of the White House and the Iranian government. for his desired second term as prime minister. The Iraqi Constitution, the election results and the will of the Iraqi people were all against Nouri; however, Barack Obama doesn't care about rule of law or democracy. He wants what he wants when he wants it. And like Bully Boy Bush before him, Barack packed a chubby for Nouri.

So for over eight months things were at a standstill. Then in November 2010, the US brokered an agreement among the political blocs. This is known as the Erbil Agreement (because it was signed off in Erbil). In exchange for giving Nouri a second term, the US insisted, the blocs would receive concessions that they wanted. This is the agreement that was agreed to.

The Erbil Agreement wasn't about all the political blocs saying, "We don't want anything. Give Nouri a second term!" To get the blocs on board it was necessary for them to be offered arrangements that would benefit them. And with everyone agreeing to the deal -- including Nouri -- and with the US government brokering it and insisting it was sound, the political blocs fel tthey deal was solid.

Nouri used it to become prime minister-designate and then, in December 2010, beging his second term as prime minister. But that's all that happened. He refused to implement the agreement. He offered one excuse after another as is his way. He distracts and stalls and hopes the other side gives up. He's done that over and over.

By last summer, the Kurds had enough of the stalling. They publicly demanded that the Erbil Agreement be implemented. Their call was quickly joined by Iraqiya and Moqtada al-Sadr. And it wasn't implemented. And it's still not implemented. April 28th, there was another Erbil meet-up and among those participating were Moqtada, KRG President Massoud Barzani, Allawi and Iraqi president Jalal Talabani. In their meeting they agreed that Nouri needed to implement the agreement or face a no-confidence vote. They also agreed that Moqtada al-Sadr's 18-point plan needed to be implemented. Moqtada delivered the message, implement the Erbil Agreement or face a vote of no-confidence. As the end of the month gets closer, the number of MPs reportedly willing to vote out Nouri grows. This week alone, it's grown from over 163 to 200.

A list of potential replacements has been named. All on the list come from the National Alliance (a Shi'ite group which ISCI, State of Law, Moqtada's bloc and others belong to). Kitabat reminds that the National Alliance is supposed to be naming a single choice of who should be Nouri's replacement. But through it all, Moqtada has repeatedly noted publicly that Nouri can stop this at any point prior to the vote. All he has to do is implement the Erbil Agreement.

Not only does he refuse to, the White House refuses to call that out. They brokered the agreement, they gave the political blocs their word that the agreement was legal and would hold. The White House brokered the agreement and swore it would be upheld. They have betrayed the Iraqi people. These are the betrayals that lead people to stop trusting the US. These are the type of betrayals the people of Iran spent decades living with. It's not smart to betray people, it's not smart to make a promise and not keep it.

And all those promises

That you made me from the start

Were filled with emptiness

From the desert of your heart

Every sweet caress

Was just your second best

Broken promises

-- "All Those Promises," written by Janis Ian, first appears on her Folk Is The New Black

Friday, May 25, 2012

That hidden scared brother Baby Boycie

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE

ALL THE SILLY BITCHES (ALL THE SILLY BITCHES)
ALL THE SILLY BITCHES (ALL THE SILLY BITCHES)

ALL THE SILLY BITCHES (ALL THE SILLY BITCHES)
ALL THE SILLY BITCHES
NOW PUT YOUR HANDS UP

UP IN HIS CROTCH, SNIFFING THAT ROT
BOYCE WATKINS WANTS TO TASTE WHAT HE GOT
HE WANTS TO LAP IT UP AS HE TRIES TO WRAP IT UP
IN THE MIDST OF HIS SEXUAL PANIC

HE'S LUSTING IN HIS HEART, SNIFFING HIS OWN FARTS
DON'T PAY HIM ANY ATTENTION
CAUSE HE'S A DRAMA QUEEN AND BITCHY MEAN
YA CAN'T BE MAD AT US

BOYCE IF YOU LIKED IT THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE GOT HONEST ON IT
INSTEAD OF CRYING IN YOUR CLOSET WITH A STRING ON IT
YOU'RE A SILLY BITCH AND A HOMOPHOBE
IF YOU LIKED IT THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE GOT HONEST ON IT

WUH UH OH UH UH OH OH UH OH UH UH OH
WUH UH OH UH UH OH OH UH OH UH UH OH

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Violence has not ended in Iraq. Yesterday alone, Iraq Body Count notes 14 violent deaths and, through yesterday, 173 violent deaths for the month of May thus far. The hot spots yesterday were Ramadi (3 deaths), Hamam al-Aleel (4 deaths), Abu Saida (2 deaths) Mkhesi (2 deaths), Kirkuk (1 death) and Rawah (1 death). Not on the list? Baghdad.

Before we get to Baghdad, a Tikrit sticky bombing left a police officer injured. Now to Baghdad.

Al Jazeera and Christian Science Monitor correspondent Jane Arraf Tweeted today:

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This morning, Alsumaria reported mortar attacks on Baghdad's Green Zone had left three people injured. AFP later updated that to note six people were injured and 1 person died. In Baghdad -- heavily guarded Baghdad. From yesterday's snapshot:

RTE reports, "Around 15,000 Iraqi police and troops will protect the venue inside Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone." In addition, James Reynolds (BBC News) explains, "Outside the International Zone (formerly known as the Green Zone), Iraqi soldiers wearing balaclavas stand up on the turrets of armoured jeeps." AFP offers, "Thousands of additional Iraqi security personnel have been deployed in areas north, west and south of Baghdad to try to prevent the firing of mortars and rockets into the capital, a security official said. The official also said without providing figures that additional forces have been deployed at checkpoints in the Iraqi capital, and that searches have been increased. "

All of those precautions were for yesterday and today's meeting that Baghdad was hosting. The UN Security Council permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- and Germany are in Iraq for talks with Iran. Sahar Issa (McClatchy Newspapers) reports that it appears the six nations "were dropping demands that Iran completely halt the enrichment of uranium. Instead, the six powers formally asked Iran to halt enrichment of uranium to 20 percent purity, a proposal that would allow it to continue enriching uranium to the 5 percent level Iran says it needs for electrical power generation." Last night on The NewsHour (PBS -- link is audio, text and video), the New York Times' Steven Erlanger told Judy Woodruff, "Well, we're hearing that they're not going wonderfully well. The six powers put down a proposal for the Iranians which they claimed would be a set of concrete agenda to really get to the heart of the most urgent problem with Iran, which is their enrichment to 20 percent of uranium." Earlier today, Steve Inskeep (NPR's Morning Edition -- link is audio and transcript) discussed the summit with journalist Peter Kenyon.

Steve Inskeep: OK. So the shape of some kind of a deal here would be freezing enrichment at some level in exchange for a loosening of sanctions, but that's turning out to be difficult for both sides to do, both sides to obtain. Now, do the Iranians expect to have a little more leverage here, a little more leeway, because they are reported to be on the verge of agreeing to let UN nuclear inspectors have more access to the country?

Peter Kenyon: I'd say that did appear to be the case. That was their hope. The international side, on the other hand, was quick to distinguish these talks from the nuclear inspector's work. Western officials also say, you know, this agreement, if it comes between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, won't be real until it's signed. And so there's still a possibility that this was some kind of a maneuver by which Tehran would hope to see what it could get out of these talks. The IAEA, though, I should say, does seem confident that an agreement will be reached soon. And I think we need to point out that these inspections are about alleged experiments that happened years ago. There's no clear and convincing evidence that Tehran is right now actively seeking a weapon. What experts are worried about is that Iran wants the knowledge and the capability to do so should it choose to build one.

Mu Xuequan (Xinhua) reports that Saeed Jalili who is representing Iran in the talks held a press conference with Catherine Ashton of the European Union and he declared, "We emphasized that having peaceful nuclear energy, especially uranium enrichment, is our people's inalienable right." Today on All Things Considered (NPR -- audio -- text will be posted by Friday morning), Peter Kenyon reported, "After two days of what she called for intense and detailed discussions, EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton said the talks had established a new level of seriousness to grapple with the international community's longstanding concerns about Iran's nuclear activities." From the joint-press conference, we'll note this.

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton: First of all, I would like ot thank the Iraqi government, and in particular Foreign Minister [Hoshyar] Zebari, for the excellent hospitality and organisation of these talks. The E3=3 remain firm, clear and united in seeking a swift diplomatic resolution of the international community's concerns on the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program, based on the NPT, and the full implementation of UN Security Council and IAEA Board of Governors Resolutions. We expect Iran to take concrete and practical steps to urgently meet the concerns of the international community, to build confidence and to meet its international obligations. We have met with our Iranian counterparts over the last two days in very intense and detailed discussions. In line with our agreement in Istanbul, the E3+3 laid out clear proposals to address the Iranian nuclear issue and, in particular, all aspects of 20% enrichment. We also put ideas on the table on reciprocal steps we would be prepared to take. Iran declares its readiness to address the issue of 20% enrichment and came with its own five-point plan, including their assertion that we recognie their right to enrichment. Having held in-depth discussions with our Iranian counterparts over two days -- both in full plenary sessions and bilaterals -- it is clear that we both want to make progress and that there is some common ground. However, significant differences remain. Nonetheless, we do agree on the need for further discussion to expand that common ground. We will go back to our respective capitals and consult. We will maintain intensive contacts with our Iranian counterparts to prepare a further meeting in Moscow with arrival on 17th June with talks on 18th and 19th June. As we have already agreed, the talks will be based on a step-by-step approach and reciprocity. We remain determined to resolve this problem in the near term through negotiations and will continue to make every effort to that end.

While Jalili and Ashton were holding their press conference, US State Dept spokesperson hid behind that to avoid answering questions at today's State Dept press breifing.

Victoria Nuland: Well, as you said, Arshad, she [Catherine Ashton] is speaking even as we are speaking, and so I think it's probably not appropriate for me to comment on top of her. Why don't we let her conclude her remarks? I'm sure there will be U.S. officials out in Baghdad who will be commenting to the press, and we'll continue this tomorrow.

And:

Victoria Nuland: Again, Arshad, she's in the middle of characterizing the round on behalf of the EU3+3, so I really think it would be highly inappropriate for me in the same time and space to jump on top of her, much as you would like me to.

Jamal Hashim (Xinhua) quotes China's Assistant Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and he states, "Based on a step-by-step approach and reciprocity, all sides, during the meeting, declared their willingness to address the issue through dialogue." One of the few concrete outcomes was the decision to meet in Moscow next month and continue the dialogue.

Russia? Today another nail was driven in the coffin of Iraq's tourism industry. RIA Novosti reports Alexander Orlov has revealed to them that 4 members "of the Moscow-based mororcyle club RAMCC" were arrested in Iraq at the start of the week: Oleg Kapkayev, Alexander Vardanyants, Oleg Maksimov and Maxim Ignatyev. The charges? The four bikers, Baghdad insists, are spies. Remember that depiste the Iraqi Constitution putting into writing that all are innocent until proven guilty, judges and officials haven't familiarized themselves with that principle yet. And it's Thug Nouri's Iraq, remember. So you don't just get booked, you get printed -- finger printed, fist printed, etc -- you get beaten in custody:

According to Orlov, the men, who have been severely beaten, are accused of espionage, visa forgery, and are being threatened with the death penalty. "They are one of the most experienced moto-tourists in Russia. They have crossed the whole world…the speculations that they had forged the visas is mere nonsense."

RT adds, "Their text messages suggest they were finally taken to a military prison at a base in Baghdad, handcuffed, and that all their belongings were taken away except for one hidden mobile phone. Suddenly at night they texted they were being beaten, accused of espionage and visa forgery and threatened with the death penalty." Orlov tells the Russian Legal Information Agency, "They had another 20 kilometers to go before reaching Bagdad. They were detained by individuals in military uniform, who did not introduce themselves. They were delivered to an Iraqi military base and their documents were taken away from them." The Voice of Russia notes that Russian Embassy spokesperson Sergei Cherkasov has confirmed that the four are being held and on charges of being spies. Of Cherkasov, The Moscow Times adds, "But in a separate interview with NTV television he said the embassy's efforts had been complicated by Iraqi authorities' distraction with international talks on Iran's disputed nuclear program, which are being held in Baghdad this week." A relative of one of the bikers spoke with The Voice of Russia and stated that the four had "been transferred to a prison cell containing over 100 people." Today in Russia, RIA Novosti reports, over "300 people, including 200 bikers, gathered near the Iraqi Embassy in Moscow, protesting against the arrest of four Russian nationals". The Moscow Times reports that both Iraq's President Jalal Talabani and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari have declared that the bikers will be freed shortly. AFP quotes Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alexander Lukashevich declared of those promises, "We hope that this is exactly what happens." Meanwhile The Moscow Times also reports that Oleg Kapkayeve texted that he and the other three were being threatened by Iraqi forces with 10 years in prison or the death penalty.

Meanwhile Fars News Agency reports that, as the summit ended, Nouri's spokesperson Ali al-Dabbaq declared, "My country is prepared to host future negotiations between Iran and the Group 5+1." But they were done with Iraq. Not that there wasn't a parting gift.

During the year the most significant human rights developments were continuing abuses by sectarian and ethnic armed groups and violations by government-affiliated forces. Divisions between Shia and Sunni and between Arab and Kurd empowered sectarian militant organizations. These militants, purporting to defend one group through acts of intimidation and revenge against another, influenced political outcomes. Terrorist attacks designed to weaken the government and deepen societal divisions occurred during the year.

The three most important human rights problems in the country were governmental and societal violence reflecting a precarious security situation, a fractionalized population mirroring deep divisions exacerbated by Saddam Hussein's legacy, and rampant corruption at all levels of government and society.

That's about Iraq and it's not from a newspaper or a human rights group, it's from the US State Dept's 2011 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices just released today. Of the report, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared today (link is text -- video should be added by tomorrow), "As Secretary, I have worked with my superb team on advancing human rights in a 21st century landscape, focusing on new frontiers even as we stand up against age-old abuses. Where women have been and continue to be marginalized, we're helping them become full partners in their governments and economies. Where LGBT people are mistreated and discriminated against, we're working to bring them into full participation in their socieites. We're expanding access to technology and defending internet freedom because people deserve the same rights online as off. And we know that in the 21st century, human rights are not only a question of civil and political liberties, it's about the fundamental question of whether people everywhere have the chance to make the most of their God-given potential." One of the State Dept's Assistant Secretaries, Michael Posner, had some strong opening remarks but that press briefing was a joke -- due to Victoria Nuland trying not only to field questions (Posner can handle a press briefing all by himself) but also to tell jokes (while the topic is human rights abuses -- she is so tonally deaf) and the general appalling questions offered by the press. The main message from the press briefing was that the press covering the State Dept doesn't give a damn about Iraq or the people of that country. All the US taxpayer money spent, all the Iraqi lives, all the US lives, all the British lives, all of it, none of it matters one damn bit. The Iraq War was nothing but a summer popcorn movie for the US press. They've already forgotten it and wet their pants with excitement over the next possible war.

"Idiot of the Week: Alec Baldwin"
"THIS JUST IN! IT ALL FALLS DOWN!"
"That hard working Barry"

Thursday, May 24, 2012

That hard working Barry

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE

CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O COMPLETED ANOTHER HARD DAY OF WORK AND, LIKE MOST OF HIS HARD WORKING DAYS, IT WAS ALL ABOUT FUNDRAISING FOR HIS OWN INTERESTS.

MEANWHILE HE'S FACING CRITICISM FOR HIS DOUBLE STANDARDS, FOR BEING THE REAL PRIVATE EQUITY KING, FOR BEING A TOOL AND TOY OF DESTRUCTIVE CORPORATIONS, AND FOR THE TIRED JOKES ABOUT HIS EARS FROM A PRESUMED CLOSETED GAY ACTOR.

SNIFFED BARRY O THIS MORNING, "HE'S JUST JEALOUS ABOUT MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CLOON-STER."

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Chair Patty Murray: Almost a year ago today, this Committee held a hearing on VA and DoD efforts to improve transition. We explored a number of issues including the Integrated Disability Evaluation System. At the hearing, we had an opportunity to hear from both departments about the state of the joint program. The Departments' testimony that day spoke to how the Departments had created a more transparent and consistent and expeditious disability evaluation process. There testimony also states that IDES is a fair, faster process. Well now that the joint system has been implemented nationwide, I have to say that I am far from convinced the Departments have implemented a disability evaluation process that is truly transparent, consistent or expeditious. There are now over 27,000 service members involved in the disability evaluation system. As more and more men and women return from Afghanistan and as the military downsizes, we're going to continue to see an even larger group of service members transition from the military through the disability evaluation process. This process impacts every aspect of a service member's life while they transition out of the military. But it doesn't stop there. If the system doesn't work right, it can also negatively affect a service member and their family well after they have left active duty.

This morning the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing entitled "Seamless Transition: Review of the Integrated Disability Evaluation System." Senator Patty Murray is the Chair of the Committee, Senator Richard Burr is the Ranking Member. There was one panel of witnesses: DoD's Dr. Jo Ann Rooney, GAO's Daniel Bertoni and the VA's John Gingrich. The hearing was prompted by, among other things, the Interim Committee Staff Report: Investigation of Joint Disability Evaluation System

Research for the report resulted in many discoveries including basic errors not being caught such as, "A servicemember with a lung condition who was being treated with steroids and immunosuppressive drugs was incorrectly rated at 0% rather than 100%." The report found many problems regarding the VA recognizing TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury):

Some VA medical examinations involving TBI failed to address findings on detailed neuropsychological testing conducted during service. TBI facets such as memory are reported as "normal" based on "general conversation" without repeating or referencing prior tests, which identified the type and severity of the servicemember's TBI deficits. In a number of cases, TBI and PTSD conditions were rated together when the evidence suggested that some of the TBI conditions should have been considered separately. For example:

• Testing that would help to differentiate between TBI and mental health conditions was not conducted despite indications of deficits, such as visual-spatial orientation and memory loss due to organic injuries (such as trauma to a specific part of the brain associated with certain deficits).

• VA claims for TBI residuals were denied or received a lower rating based on the absence of objective testing. If testing had been conducted, objective evidence of TBI for symptoms complained of by the servicemember, might have changed the result.

• Conclusions by VA examiners were inconsistent with the medical evidence, such as an examination for TBI which found no TBI to support a diagnosis of post-traumatic headaches, but indicated that the same veteran's dizziness following an IED blast injury was due to his TBI.

• A servicemember diagnosed with anxiety disorder prior to separation was erroneously denied service-connection for PTSD when the disability had been diagnosed as anxiety disorder due to combat.

Chair Murray noted the case of Sgt 1st Class Stephen Davis who is a veteran of both the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War and was receiving treatment for Post Traumatic Stress for about a year before he was accused of "making up his ailments" and he was part of a group at Joint Base Lewis-McChord: "All of these men and women had been diagnosed with, and in many cases were receiving treatment for, PTSD during service. But then, during the disability evaluation process they were told that they were exaggerating their symptoms, they were labeled as malingerers and their behavioral health diagnoses were changed. " She noted that a re-evaluation process of examining 196 service members who were diagnosed with PTSD and then told they did not have it. The re-evaluation process has already found that, yes, 108 of those service members do have PTSD (as originally diagnosed).

Chair Patty Murray: Dr. Rooney, let me start with you. We have had in the past regarding this joint disability rating system and the number of challenges service members faced while they were going through this process. Recently, it has come to my attention that some of our service members involved with the disability evaluation process are facing retribution and unsupportive behavior from their chains of command while on limited duty and waiting for a disability decision. I've heard from service members who were forced to participate in activities in direct violation of doctors' orders, who've been disciplined while struggling with behavioral health conditions and who have struggled to get access to care because their leadership would not cooperate with their treatment requirements. I think you agree with me, that is completely unacceptable. Whether in a warrior transition unit or not, leaders have to understand these medical issues and the difficult process that these service members are going through and they have to provide the leadership and support that these men and women need. So I'm going to begin with you by asking you, Dr. Rooney, what needs to be done to provide supportive and compassionate leadership for these injured service members that are forced to wait for a disability decision.

Dr. Jo Ann Rooney: Clearly the information you just shared is troubling on many levels and I would be very interested in speaking with you or your staff so that we can actually determine where those issues are occurring and make sure that, in fact, the leadership does know -- which is the department's decision and the leadership that I'm familiar with -- that that cannot be tolerated, that we must understand what is necessary for the care, that there are no stigmas with being able to address behavioral health or mental health issues and that really is the department's position. So in those cases, if there are those substantive issues that you mentioned, not only do we need to find out where those are so we can work directly with that leadership and correct that situation, but we will continue with our ongoing work at all levels of command -- not just at the senior level of the department. But we understand that it needs to go right through the command level of every installation to ensure, in fact, that the situations you described are not occurring.

Chair Patty Murray: Well we need to make sure that's happening because, as we all know, these are very challenging situations for these soldiers and any kind of retribution shouldn't be tolerated whether it's one case or many. But I will share those with you but I want to make sure that system wide, that leaders throughout the chain of command all the way to the bottom are clearly understanding what these soldiers are going through and are not having any kind of repercussions on those individuals.

Dr. Jo Ann Rooney: Absolutely.

Chair Patty Murray: Mr. Gingrich, from the perspective of someone who has served in many leadership positions within the military, what can we do to educate our military leaders on not only this process but really on the medical issues facing so many of these young men and women?

John Gingrich: Madam Chairman, I see a lot of things that the Army's doing and I know that because I've been in their VCTs. They started, as we're told by GAO, they're now bringing in in layers all the way up to the Vice Chief of Staff so they've involved current level discussion groups -- Brigadier General, Major General, all the way up and they included VA in every one of those discussion groups. So I think getting the information is the biggest key that we've got and the biggest challenge that we have. The Secretary right now, yesterday, spoke to the Sergeant Major Academy in the Army and the Sergeant Majors are now understanding that this is a problem that we have to take on as two departments and not just one. And I think that education is happening.

Chair Patty Murray: Well we still have a lot of work to do --

John Gingrich: Yes, sir -- Yes, ma'am, we do.

Chair Patty Murray: Okay. Dr. Rooney, there is no doubt that the events at Madigan have shaken the trust and confidence of service members who are in the Disability Evaluation System. I believe that transparency and sharing information about the ongoing re-evaluations that are happening today and actions the Army and DoD are taking to remedy this situation will go along ways towards restoring some trust in this system. I wanted to ask you today what we have learned from the investigations that the army is conducting into the forensic science unit at Madigan?

Dr. Jo Ann Rooney: Well as you pointed out earlier, there have been 196 re-evaluations completed to date. Of which, 108 of those have been diagnosed as having PTSD where before they had not. We also --

Chair Patty Murray: Let me just say that they had been diagnosed with PTSD. When they went through the evaluation system they were told they did not. Now going back and re-evaluating them once they've gone out, we're saying, "Yes, you did --

Dr. Jo Ann Rooney: Yes.

Chair Patty Murray: -- indeed have PTSD."

Dr. Jo Ann Rooney: Correct. 108 of those 196.

Chair Patty Murray: More than half.

Dr. Jo Ann Rooney: Correct. There are 419 that have been determined to be eligible for re-evaluation. 287 from the original group that was looked at and as you know the Army actually opened the aperture up to see anybody else who would have gone through the process while forensic psychiatrists were being used. So that was 419 totally eligible for re-evaluation. And at this point, there are three in progress and twelve being scheduled. So what we have learned from that is clearly that the process that was put into place at that time did not function as originally designed. Evidence did not show that there was a mean spirited attempt but really to create similar diagnoses. Obviously, that was not something that occurred. So the Army has taken the lessons from here and it's actually going back to 2001 to re-evaluate all of the cases where we might have a similar situation. What we're doing from that point is not only learning from what Army is doing and looking at these re-evaluations where we're using the new standards in many ways advances in the medical and behavioral health areas to better diagnose PTSD but also then we'll be taking those lessons learned across the other services as well. So since Army has the greatest majority of people going through -- currently about 68% of the people in the Disability Evaluation Process are from Army -- we will take the lessons learned from there and apply those across to all the services.

Chair Patty Murray: Well I really appreciate the Army's announcement that they are now going to do a comprehensive review of PTSD and behavioral health systemwide throughout the Army. I believe that is a first and important major step for the Army to be doing. But I did want to ask you, Dr. Rooney, I have been told by Secretary [of the Army] McHugh about the issues we were seeing at Madigan were not systemwide. And then the Secretary announced a comprehensive review across all systems. So if we didn't believe this was a system wide problem, what led the Army to look into a system wide review?

Dr. Jo Ann Rooney: Secretary McHugh and I have had numerous conversations and I believe the use of the forensic psychiatrists was primarily isolated to Madigan and that's where I believe that comment of it wasn't system wide because that type of additional process --

Chair Patty Murray: So the forensic system wasn't system wide. But system wide, we have issues with people who are not being diagnosed correctly?

Dr. Jo Ann Rooney: What we want to do is look across the system and ensure that if we do have issues we identify those and we're able to get those individuals back into the system. So I believe at this point, it was very much a forward leaning approach to say we need to look across the system, not that we're convinced similar problems existed, but that it's the right thing to do for the individuals since, as you pointed out, we saw a number of these re-evaluations ended up with diagnoses changed. So it's the right thing to do for people to look across.

Chair Patty Murray: Okay and I think it's extremely important that we find anybody who was misdiagnosed and get them care. So we'll be continuing to focus on this.

Later during Senator Jon Tester's questioning, Dr. Jo Ann Rooney would insist to him that most of the changed diagnoses "were before 2008" and Chair Murray would have to step and offer, "Let me just clarify a large number of the ones who were misdiagnosed or had their diagnoses changed inaccurately were after the 2008 -- after the forensic psychology system was put in place."

Ava will cover Tester at Trina's site tonight, as always Kat will grab Ranking Member Richard Burr as the topic for her site and Wally will offer some thoughts on the financial at Rebecca's site.

Still on the subject of the US Senate, we'll note this from Senator Ron Wyden's office:

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Washington, D.C. – In a letter to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) called on the DoD to investigate the excessive expenses racked up by the legal team of Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR) – a defense contractor that operated in Iraq with the contractual ability to pass all of their legal costs to American taxpayers. A lawsuit against KBR brought by a group of Oregon National Guard members assigned to provide security for KBR personnel claims that KBR management knew that the soldiers were being exposed to toxic chemicals while working at the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant.

A newly declassified indemnification provision in the KBR contract with the U.S. military releases the contractors from all financial liability for misconduct and allows KBR to pass the on all of their legal costs to the U.S. government. Recent investigations into the conduct of KBR's legal team have uncovered excessive legal costs including senior attorneys billing at $750 per hour, taking numerous international and domestic first class flights and paying one expert more than $500,000 for testimony and consultation who has admitted to billing KBR for time spent sleeping.

"Essentially, KBR was handed a blank check with the Pentagon's signature, and it seems clear to me that they intend to run up the bill as much as possible before cashing that check," Wyden wrote in the letter. "What has DoD done to ensure that KBR is not taking advantage of taxpayers? Has DoD done a detailed audit of KBR's legal expenses so far? Has anyone at DoD checked to see if the legal expenses are excessive? Has any kind of cost-benefit been done to determine if it would be cheaper to direct KBR to settle the lawsuit?"

Kellogg, Brown and Root were contracted in 2003 to perform clean-up work at the Qarmat Ali water treatment facility in Iraq. Members of the Oregon National Guard were assigned to provide security for the KBR contractors and were exposed to dangerous levels of toxic chemicals including sodium dichromate, a carcinogen that contains hexavalent chromium – one of the most dangerous chemicals on Earth. A group of exposed soldiers have brought a lawsuit against KBR based on evidence indicating that KBR managers "were aware of the presence of dangerous chemicals, but failed to warn the soldiers working in and around the plant," Wyden wrote in the letter.

Under KBR's contract, the government has the ability to direct KBR's legal defense and require the company to settle with Oregon Guard Members.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Given any kind of a choice, they chose someone else

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE

FEELING CHAINED BY THE BAD ECONOMY? WANTING A LITTLE REVENGE?

42% OF DEMOCRATIC VOTERS IN KENTUCKY YESTERDAY EXTRACTED SOME REVENGE AS THEY CHOSE "UNCOMMITTED" OVER CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O IN THEIR STATE'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY. IN ARKANSAS' DEMOCRATIC PARTY YESTERDAY, OVER 40% OF VOTERS CHOSE JOHN WOLFE OVER BARRY O.

41.5% OF VOTERS CHOSE WOLFE OVER BARRY O.

REACHED FOR COMMENT WHILE GETTING YET ANOTHER MANI-PEDI, BARRY O DECLARED, "NO BIG DEAL, IN NOVEMBER UNCOMMITTED AND JOHN WOLFE WON'T BE ON THE BALLOT! THEY'LL HAVE TO VOTE FOR ME! THEY'LL HAVE TO! I SAID FRENCH TIPS! FRENCH TIPS!"

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

We'll start with US Senate and then move to violence in Iraq. In the US, Senator Patty Murray is the Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committe. Her office notes:

TOMORROW: Chairman Murray to Examine 400 Day Wait Times Plaguing VA and DoD's New Joint Disability Ratings System

Initial findings on wait times and inconsistencies in diagnoses from GAO audit and Veterans' Affairs Committee staff report to be unveiled at hearing, Murray to question top DoD and VA officials on continued problems

(Washington, D.C.) -- On Wednesday, May 23rd, U.S. Senator Patty Murray will hold a hearing to examine the continued rise in wait times for our servicemembers to receive their medical disability rating and compensation decisions. The hearing will examine challenges facing the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) established by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, which was developed to improve the disability evaluation process for wounded, ill or injured servicemembers.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that, far from meeting established goals for wait times, servicemembers and their families are having to wait well over a year for answers. Many servicemembers have described the waiting period as extremely stressful and the hearing will touch on that period's uncertainty, which can contribute to self-medication, drug abuse, and even suicide. The hearing will also allow Murray to question the Department of Defense on the Army's upcoming system-wide look at discrepancies in mental health diagnoses that arose from an investigation Senator Murray spurred at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.

WHO: U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chairman, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee

Jon Ann Rooney, Acting Under Secretary of Defense, Personnel and Readiness,

Department of Defense

John Gingrich, Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs

Daniel Bertoni, Director of Education, Workforce, and Income Security Issues,

Government Accountability Office

WHAT: Hearing to Discuss Medical Benefit Wait Times and Inconsistencies in Mental

Health Diagnoses

WHEN: TOMORROW: Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012

10:00 AM ET

WHERE: Dirksen Senate Office Building

Room 562

Washington, D.C.

WEBCAST: http://veterans.senate.gov/

Matt McAlvanah

Communications Director

U.S. Senator Patty Murray

202-224-2834 - press office

202--224-0228 - direct

matt_mcalvanah@murray.senate.gov

News Releases | Economic Resource Center | E-Mail Updates

That's tomorrow. Today?

Senator Patrick Leahy: The bill before you totals 52.1 billion dollars. That's 2.6 billion below the President's budget request. That's 1.2 billion dollars below the Fiscal Year 2012 level. Let me repeat that, you're not going to hear this often in committees these days. The bill is 2.6 billion below the President's budget request, 1.2 billion below the Fiscal Year 2012 level. Not only that, Senator [Lindsey] Graham and I have not used 881 million dollars that the full Committee recommended and allocated for this Subcommittee. So that's another 881 million dollars we're saving the taxpayers.

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Chair Leahy was speaking at a markup session this afternoon. Chair Leahy noted that the bill was bi-partisan and that both he and Graham compromised to reach a budget all could agree on.

Ranking Member Lindsey Graham: I just want to repeat what you said about the funding. That's 881 million below the initial Committee recommendation. 2.6 billion -- or 5% -- below the president's request. 2% below FY2012 enacted levels. And I would argue the world hasn't gotten that much safer. But we are in debt so everything's got to be on the table. So in a very volatile, changing world we've been able to spend less than we did last year and decreased the budget. But having said that, I think the money is pretty wisely spent.

How did they reduce it? A number of ways.

Ranking Member Lindsey Graham: [. . .] and 77% below what we had last year for Iraq. Why? Well the security situation in Iraq has deteriorated, we don't have any military force there to speak of and the Chairman and I both believe very strongly that it's hard to train police when you can't get outside and do the work without being attacked so we have dramatically reduced the amount of funds available in Iraq because it's just throwing good money out for bad.

After the markup hearing, Senator Patrick Leahy's office released this statement from the Senator:

This bill totals $52.1 billion, which is $2.6 billion below the President's budget request, and $1.2 billion below the Fiscal Year 2012 level. Because the Iraqi police training program has not progressed as hoped, and our relations with Pakistan have been stalled for months, Senator Graham and I have not used $881 million that the full Committee initially recommended for the Subcomittee. That is money we are saving the taxpayers.

At the same time, we address many national security threats that are ongoing, from countering extremism in the Sahel region of Africa to building democratic institutions in Central America. We include a new Middle East and North Africa Incentive Fund requested by the President, to respond to rapidly changing events in that volatile region. We continue support for critical humanitarian relief and global health programs, including for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

This is a bipartisan bill that address the priorities of Senators of both parties. To get there, Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and I have each made compromises. There are some things in the bill that he does not like, and the same goes for me. But they are the exception. Senator Graham is a well informed and passionate advocate for U.S. global leadership, and I greatly appreciate his input and support, as I know Secretary [of State Hillary] Clinton does.

If the bill stands -- and it's going to be a battle on some issues when its time to reconcile with the House (but not on the Iraq issue) -- the Iraqi police program is over. As it should be. Tim Arango (New York Times) reported last week that, since last October, the Iraqi police training program had already cost US taxpayers $500 million. Peter Van Buren is the author of We Meant Well: How I helped Lose the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People. Earlier this month at Huffington Post, Van Buren noted "the U.S. government has spent $7.3 billion for Iraqi police training since 2003." Let's go back to the February 8, 2012 snapshot:

We covered the November 30th House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the MiddleEast and South Asia in the December 1st snapshot and noted that Ranking Member Gary Ackerman had several questions. He declared, "Number one, does the government of Iraq -- whose personnel we intend to train -- support the [police training] program? Interviews with senior Iaqi officials by the Special Inspector General show utter didain for the program. When the Iraqis sugest that we take our money and do things instead that are good for the United States. I think that might be a clue." The State Dept's Brooke Darby faced that Subcommittee. Ranking Member Gary Ackerman noted that the US had already spent 8 years training the Iraq police force and wanted Darby to answer as to whether it would take another 8 years before that training was complete? Her reply was, "I'm not prepared to put a time limit on it." She could and did talk up Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Interior Adnan al-Asadi as a great friend to the US government. But Ackerman and Subcommittee Chair Steve Chabot had already noted Adnan al-Asadi, but not by name. That's the Iraqi official, for example, Ackerman was referring to who made the suggestion "that we take our money and do things instead that are good for the United States." He made that remark to SIGIR Stuart Bowen.

Brooke Darby noted that he didn't deny that comment or retract it; however, she had spoken with him and he felt US trainers and training from the US was needed. The big question was never asked in the hearing: If the US government wants to know about this $500 million it is about to spend covering the 2012 training of the Ministry of the Interior's police, why are they talking to the Deputy Minister?

Why? Because Nouri never nominated anyone to be the Minister of the Interior -- all this time later. The US was funneling millions into training a group of employees in a ministry that for two years has been without any leadership. That's bad. Really bad. And the fact that this Deputy Minister had publicly stated he didn't want the US training the Iraqi police, had stated that last year, had repeated it when asked by Brooke Darby, why was more money wasted? Hopefully, this is the end of the US taxpayer footing the bill for the training of Iraqi police. (It should be noted that the US pushed itself into this position. Iraqis were training at other places, including Jordan, but the US insisted -- during Bush's second term -- that the Iraqi forces shouldn't be going to other countries for training.) While that program currently appears dead, the Subcommittee did not propose cutting all monies to Iraq. Donna Cassata (AP) points out, "The bill would provide $1.1 billion for Iraq, including $582 million in foreign assistance but no money for the police development program."

In Iraq, a disturbing video -- disturbing for content, disturbing for the story and details that supposedly surround it -- has emerged in Iraq. This gruesome YouTube video shows a young man bruisded and battered on his knees, his legs, his back, his shoulders, his buttocks, his arms his lips, his stomach . . . The young man is said to be Ammar Hassan Acikr who is the nephew of Ibrahim al-Jaafari who was prime minister of Iraq and now leads the National Alliance. Also making the video news worthy is the claim that his attackers were either relatives of or employees of current prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, the current prime minister. Al Mada reports the attack took place in Karbala and states the attackers were relatives of Nouri. When bystanders attempted to intervene to help Ammar who was being attacked by several men, the men fired guns into the air warning no one to interfere.

Still on violence, AFP reports that two Baquba bombings have claimed 6 lives (four were children) today as the home of a Sahwa was bombed first and then the home of a displaced Shi'ite family. Alsumaria reports that 1 teacher was shot dead in the classroom, allegedly by a student whom sources state had been expelled from the classroom for cheating. The alleged shooter supposedly used a machine gun. Begging the question of how he walked up to and into the school with a machine gun without raising any alarms. In other violence today, Alsumaria notes that a Falluja roadside bombing has left two people injured after it exploded near a food market, a Baghdad roadside bombing injured on person, an attack on a Kirkuk checkpoint resulted in the death of 1 Iraqi soldier with two more left injured, a Mosul sticky bombing injured two people and 1 security guard for a Mosul judge was killed. Among the violence noted in yesterday's snapshot was the bombing outside Mosul that claimed the life of Sheikh Rashid Zeidan (reported by AFP). Alsumaria notes he was a leader with the National Dialogue Front and that he rushed to a Mosul hospital but died while receiving treatment. The National Dialogue Front is part of Iraqiya -- the political slate that came in first in the 2010 elections. Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq is the head of the NDF. Sunnis, Kurds, Yezidis, Shabaks and Assyrians are all part of the NDF. Iraq Body Counts reports there were at least 11 killed in violence yesterday and notes at least 147 violent deaths for the month of May thus far.

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