I agree David, and you reporters should stay on their ass about it. Has Scotty-boy made an appearance yet, since the indictment? I'd like to hear what he has to say about Libby now. Either Scotty-boy himself lied to you guys, and therefore to all of us, or... he should resign in protest of being lied to by Rove and Libby... that is, if he has any integrity.

Thanks so much David....another great piece, with so many insights.
On "This Week" with Stephanopoulous today George Will stated that Libby had committed "perjury about espionage".

On Friday when Fitzgerald said "it's not over", he really meant it. He also made it crystal clear that his investigation could not look inot all of the pre-war intelligence, that has yet to be thoroughly investigated. That this was the job of our congress.

Hopefully,the american public and our representatives will push hard for Phase 2 of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to be implemented immediately.

I continue to push hard for this on every media outlet I can squeeze on. I am starting to see Phase 2 mentioned in the MSm...today,Frank Rich wrote about the topic.

I keep politely hammering Diane Rehm, C-span, Talk of the Nation and many others to do a program on Phase 2 and why Senator Pat Roberts has not followed through, as promised. I keep asking guest to address this issue on the air. I sent in a petition to several senators a year ago, after Phase 2 was delayed with several thousand signatures on it,

I know you put a letter on your site addressing this issue a while back. Do you have any other suggesstions for pushing these folks to implement this investigation...now?

I continue to politely ask, , beg , and try to convince the producers and host of many radio shows and C span to cover this issue. I have asked them to get Roberts and Rockerfeller on their programs as guest, to address this issue.

I have continuously written on web sites begging people to call, write, and visit their represenatives about PHASE 2.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER SUGGESSTIONS?

Fitzgerald has done a good job. I respect his tenacity and his intelligence. I will not accept a White House that hopes to put all this behind it and go on to build some kind of legacy. No way. Too much has gone on.

I watched 60 minutes tonight. Joe Wilson was on the program, along with a fellow classmates of Val P. and another retired CIA who has befriended her. They discuss the case. They each described how the act of the white house, the outing, affected the country and the family.

This is a tragic story for the US. We were betrayed by our own White House. Valerie Plame's job was to search out WMD. We had a white house who claimed to be keeping us safe from WMD and yet they were crippling the agency that was the greatest asset in fighting it. Valerie Plame was an expert at what she did. She was highly educated and intelligent. I'm sure she had many contacts that took years to build. She had 18 years experience. It's all gone.

I am disgusted by the behavior of the White House. I will never respect it as long as present office holders and their staff occupy it.

Mr. Corn:

This is an interesting post. Thank you for the new insights and the other rumblings in the gray matter. Are you old enough that you can remember Ike in office? I ask because somewhere between the last thread and this post I'm finding I want to know why we have a malignancy juxtaposed with our technological expansion. The political chicanery, the military arrogance. Ike's warning seems totally apropos.

Keep up the good work.

Don

Jeanne, I watched the "60 Minutes" show also. Here's the clip, if anybody else wants to see it. It's the full segment on low-resolution at Crooks...

Traitorgate

Mr. Corn,

Your dogged pursuit of this story is akin to Fitzgerald's dogged pursuit of loose-lipped leakers. I and many, many others offer our most sincere thanks and respect to you for your great service. By keeping us informed and on track, we can better make sense of what is going on in our corrupt government. Journalism of your caliber is rare and sorely needed. Thank you again for all your hard work and determination at bringing this story and it's wonderful conclusion(?) to us.

-E.B.

*what he said

You have got this right. Plame was collateral damage. I doubt Libby (or Novak for that matter) knew he was "outing" a covert agent. The purpose of the story wasn't to "punish" Wilson, or Plame-it was to undermine the validity of Wilson's claims. It was decided that if it could be made to appear that the CIA, Wilson, and his wife had conspired to send Wilson off on a trip to Niger and have him report back with some phony story just to make the White House look bad, they could defuse the Wilson claims about the White House's misuse of intellignece. Rereading Novak's column of July 14, 2003, in retrospect, it now looks like a pretty good piece of reporting. Apart from the spin in para 2, actually quite fair and balanced in the true sense, not the Fox News sense. Unfortunately, to convey what the issue was- a dispute between the White House and the CIA- mentioning that Plame worked for the CIA was an essential part of the narrative.

It was Cheney who knew, or ought ot have known Plame was covert (the memo they read on Air Force 2 that made it clear that her position was secret). Cheny used Libby, and just stood by while he dug the hole for himself that will see him spend some years in jail. Perjury and lying to an investigator to obstruct the investigation into the leak is serious business, and Libby deserves the punishment, but the greater "evil", is that of Cheney.

Using the baseball analogy even further, this lawyer explains alot of the info in the indictment. He described what an indictment has to say, and what it doesn't have to say... and Fitz put alot in there he didn't have to. This time it was a poker analogy, a shot across the bow to let the other side know how strong his hand is. That slow-roast thing again. It's good (hopeful?) reading.

Fitz’s Knuckle Ball

One more thing... When is the announcement of Judy Miller getting fired from the NYTimes? She's been hiding in the fog with Scotty-boy. Has anyone any fkn doubts left, that she was protecting a liar and as such, herself, and NOT any 1st amendment right??? What was that journalist society that gave her the big award? I'd like to hear their mea-culpa.

David, recently, the only broadcast footage of Scooter under fire, I was able to view, you figured prominantly in the background. I was reassured by this. Thank You.

As to the status of any operative of any intel agency, thats the first told. Nobody who did not hold an equal or above clearance would ever view this info. Thats......just...........it. And if they were not senior staff, they never would have seen it. .

The really senior guys see ALL OF IT.

Plausable memory lapses here.......not all that plausable. All these individuals have schedules compiled on computers. Records can be requested.

Just cause one grand jury ran out of time, doesn't mean another can't be conveened.

I think pissing off a whole lot of Spooks is likely to be visited on this administration, I applaud them in advance.

I was part of our Nations Intell for a brief time, and I stand behind these people doing a very difficult job, given the whim's of differing parties and administrations.

I have never before witnessed the absolute subversion of an intel service by the Executive branch. I saw Johnson, and Nixon TRY to do it.

It took the resources of the Carlylse Group (sp) to pull it off.

We got sold this bogus war, hook line and sinker.

We have lived years now in a constant state of terror, this gave Bush his famous "mandate"....nothing terrorist, or particularly terrible happened, besides Katrina, and GOD knows this Administration dropped THAT (LARGELY AFRICAN AMERICAN )..BALL.

When antiwar demonstrations are planned in DC , private aircraft violate airspace and shut DC down. Not just once...

When all else fails to terrify us...Pelt us with BIRD FLU. Even though to this date not one case of person to person transmission exists.

What is AMERICA worried about???? What its collective MEDIA says they should worry about.

These are the same people who brought us the WAR IN....well............you know.

Chain of evidence exists, as does chain of command.

Grunts do not torture when well commanded.

The torture memo is RELEVANT.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 - The National Security Agency has kept secret since 2001 a finding by an agency historian that during the Tonkin Gulf episode, which helped precipitate the Vietnam War, N.S.A. officers deliberately distorted critical intelligence to cover up their mistakes, two people familiar with the historian's work say.

Last lines in the above article...

"I'm surprised at the notion of deliberate deception at N.S.A.," Dr. Moise said. "But I get surprised a lot."

Dr. Prados said, "If Mr. Hanyok's conclusion is correct, it adds to the tragic aspect of the Vietnam War." In addition, he said, "it's new evidence that intelligence, so often treated as the Holy Grail, turns out to be not that at all, just as in Iraq."

A CIA officerís name was blown, there was an apparent leak of information to friendly reporters in the national media, national security was at stake, a news reporter was eventually jailed, an administration mover and shaker called: ìScooterî has been indicted for possible obstruction of justice, perjury, and making false statements, and the federal judge assigned to the case was appointed by the same executive branch and had previously served in the White House Media Affairs Office.

Is there just too much by happenstance for this to be just a coincidental thing?

What a saga, sometimes humorous, sometimes crazy and gripping, but in fact, really serious, with each new segment so far finishing with a cliff hanger leaving the country eager for more information. Itís a tangled wed of lies, cover-up, judgment of others, and corruption at the highest level of government (an unnecessary war with Iraq). It involves the po-po (the FBI), an assistant to the president of the United States, the chief of staff to the vice president, an assistant to the vice president for national security affairs, and a ruff neck (keeps it real and knows the streets) judge who once admitted as a junior in high school he discovered his fatherís guns and straight razor and started sneaking them out of the house tucked into his pants (one of the fights escalated from punching to a boyhood friend being stabbed nine times with an ice pick). Thereís also the highly unusual (August 2005) fight where this same federal judge wrestled a man to the ground during a traffic incident on the Chevy Chase Circle (Washington, D.C.).

Maybe itís just a part of the George W. Bush legacy? Maybe itís just an element of indeterminacy in human actions which often works in favor of true disclosure? Nonetheless, both political parties would prefer for their own reasons not to pursue the truth, and the media will be content to go along with the typical hyperbole (cover-up), and the greater peril will be to the publicís confidence in the fair and impartial administration of justice.

The American judiciary was placed into the frame work of our system so that no one branch of government could become too powerful and exercise its powers unduly either over the other branches or the American people. For many the separation of power has basically disappeared.

I. Lewis ìScooterî Libby, vice president Dick Cheneyís chief of staff, although indicted by a federal grand jury on five charges related to the CIA leak probe (one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury, and two counts of making false statements), appears to be confident that at the end of this process he ìwill be completely and totally exonerated.î Karl Rove, president Bushís top political adviser, who testified four times before the grand jury and wasnít indicted (but not yet out of legal jeopardy), said through his attorney Robert Luskin, ìWe are confident that when the special counsel finishes his work, he will conclude that Mr. Rove has done nothing wrong.î

But, how can they be so confident? Both Libby and Rove as senior government officials with responsibilities for national security matters (entitling them to access to classified information) were obligated by applicable laws and regulations, including Title 18 United States Code, Section 793, and executive Order 12958 (as modified by executive order 13292) not to disclose classified information to persons not authorized to receive such information, and otherwise required to exercise proper care to safe guard classified information against unauthorized disclosure.

At issue is Joseph Wilson, who was married to Valerie Plame Wilson. Mrs. Wilson was employed by the CIA and her employment status was classified. Prior to July 14, 2003, her affiliation with the CIA was not common knowledge outside the intelligence community. In 2002, after an inquiry to the CIA by the vice president concerning certain intelligence reporting, the CIA decided on its own initiative to send Wilson to the country of Niger to investigate allegations involving Iraqi effort to acquire uranium yellow cake, a processed form of uranium ore. Wilson orally reported his findings to the CIA upon his return.

On or about January 28, 2003, president Bush delivered his State of the Union Address which included ìsixteen wordsî to justify war with Iraq asserting that ìthe British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa. But as part of the American system of check-and-balances on May 6, 2003, the ìNew York Timesî published a column by Nicholas Kristof of which disputed the accuracy of the ìsixteen wordsî president Bush used in the State of the Union Address. The column reported that the ambassador sent to investigate the allegations had reported back to the CIA and State Department in early 2002 that the allegations were unequivocally wrong and based on forged documents (Itís just impossible to operate a clear conspiracy where all the pieces fit together).

On or about June 23 and the morning of July 8, 2003, Libby met with ìNew York Timesî reporter Judith Miller and discussed Wilsonís trip and his belief that Wilsonís wife worked for the CIA. When the conversation turned to the subject of Joseph Wilson during the second meeting, Libby asked that the information Libby provided on the topic of Wilson be attributed to a ìformer Hill stafferî rather than to a ìsenior administration official.î An under secretary of state had orally advised Libby on or about June 11 or 12, 2003, while in the White House that, in sum and substance, former ambassador and career state department official Joseph Wilsonís wife worked at the CIA. Additionally, the vice president himself had also advised Libby that Wilsonís wife worked at the CIA in the counter-proliferation division.

Shortly thereafter, on July 10 or July 11, 2003, Libby spoke with Rowe, who advised Libby of a conversation Rowe had earlier that week with columnist Robert Novak in which Wilsonís wife was discussed as a CIA employee involved in Wilsonís trip. Libby was advised by Rowe that Novak would be writing a story about Wilsonís wife.

On September 26, 2003, the Department of Justice authorized the Federal Bureau of Investigation to commence a criminal investigation into the possible unauthorized disclosure of classified information regarding the disclosure of Valerie Wilsonís affiliation with the CIA to various reporters in the Spring of 2003. A major focus of the grand jury investigation was to determine which government officials had disclosed to the media prior to July 14, 2003 information concerning the affiliation of Valerie Wilson with the CIA, and the nature, timing, extent and purpose of such disclosures, as well as whether any official making such a disclosure did so know that the employment of Valerie Wilson by the CIA was classified information (conducted an investigation into possible violations of federal criminal laws, including Title 50, United States Code, Section 421 ñ Disclosure of the identity of covert intelligence personnel; and, Title 18, United States Code, Sections: 793 Improper Disclosure of National Defense Information, 1001 False Statements, 1503 Obstruction of Justice, and 1623 Perjury).

As part of the criminal investigation, Libby was interviewed by special agents of the FBI on or about October 14 and November 26, 2003, each time in the presence of his counsel. But, during the interviews, Libby is accused of lying about material facts related to the disclosure of Valerie Wilsonís affiliation with the CIA. Libby is said to have knowingly and corruptly endeavored to influence, obstruct, and impede the due administration of justice, namely proceedings before the grand jury, by misleading and deceiving the grand jury as to when, and the manner and means by which, Libby acquired and subsequently disclosed to the media information concerning the employment of Valerie Wilson by the CIA. He is also said to have knowingly and willfully made a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement and representation in a manner within the jurisdiction of the federal bureau of investigation. If convicted, the crimes charged in the indictment carry the following maximum penalties: Obstruction of Justice ñ 10 years in prison; Making False Statements and Perjury ñ each 5 years; and each count carries a maximum fine of $250,000.

A George W. Bush appointee will determine the appropriate sentence to be imposed, if any. Judge Reggie B. Walton, with a minimal academic performance in high school, poor grades in college, and very poor showing on the law boards, enrolled into the CLEO program and somehow managed to earn an academic scholarship to American University College of Law. He graduated in 1974 and took a job as a public defender in Philly (Philadelphia). In 1976, he left that job for a position at the D.C.ís United States Attorneyís office. Here, he met Bob Bennett (brother of William Bennett Drug Czar appointed by George H.W. Bush) and in an attempt to establish credibility on minority issues the republicans appointed Walton to the number two drug czar position. For the next two years that followed, Walton traveled the country spreading the republican anti drug message to black communities.

In 1981, Ronald Reagan appointed Walton to the D.C. Superior Court. But for unexplained reasons in 1989, Judge Walton moved to the White House Office of Media Affairs. Only to be appointed again in 1991 by George H.W. Bush to the D.C. Superior Court. President Bush appointed him to the federal bench (District of Columbia) on October 29, 2001.

Please note Judge Waltonís tenure in the White House Communications Office (considered an element of the continuing campaign). The office often calls local radio stations, television stations, and newspapers daily to see if theyíd be interested in an interview with an administrative figure. It also has a supporting element (research units) available not only for the communications head but to the chief of staff and other white house senior staffers.

Since his appointment to the bench, Judge Walton has been assigned the majority of the most troubling legal matters involving the Bush administration. An appointed judge should avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety, but Judge Walton willingness to often speak (for the administration it seems) on highly charged partisan issues further shakes public confidence in the judiciary. For example, following the death of Terri Schiavo, Judge Walton was dispatched to speak with NPRís Ed Gordon about what he considered liberal ìactivismî in the U.S. Courts.

In 1998, the republican appointee enumerated some of the standard racist conceptions often voiced by the right wing, telling Judy Cresanta and Kari Larney of the Nevada Policy Research Institute ìbad parenting, bad neighborhoods and gunsî fuels the problem with youthful offenders. However, in the book ìBlack Judges on Justiceî Judge Walton had a black moment (said something really gangsta) and did admit as one of his major frustrations while working with the Bush administration, his inability to convince administration officials of the fact that fighting crime is ineffective without attacking social causes of crime.

Judge Walton is the federal judge who threw out a lawsuit filed by a whistle-blower who alleged security lapses in the FBIís translator program, ruling that Sibel Edmondís claims might expose government secrets that could damage national security. He said that he couldnít explain further because his explanation itself would expose sensitive secrets and disrupt diplomatic relations. Edmondís lawyer, Mark S. Zaid, called the decision ìAnother example of the executive branchís abuse of secrecy to prevent accountability.î Ms. Edmond, a former contract linguist, alleged in her lawsuit that she was fired in March 2002 after she complained to FBI managers about shoddy wiretap translations. She contended that she told the FBI an interpreter with a relative at a foreign embassy might have compromised national security. Although the governmentís lawyers met with Judge Walton at least twice privately, Edmond had claimed the republican appointee dismissed her lawsuit without hearing evidence from her attorneys.

In September 2005, Judge Walton dismissed two claims, but left open the possibility Steven Hatfill, a scientist once named by the Department of Justice as a possible suspect in the anthrax-letter attacks of 2001, could hold officials accountable (count seeking a declaration that former Attorney General John Ashcroft and others unconstitutionally deprived him of employment opportunities). A fourth claim seeking monetary damage from the federal government for alleged privacy act violations, also remains alive, but two counts to hold defendants individually responsible were dismissed. The judge had delayed the case saying that he wanted the Department of Justice investigation of the issue to proceed without interference from Hatfillís civil suit. Many observers of the investigation dismissed the judgeís pronouncements about the case ñ the government had been periodically advertising impending breakthroughs since just about the time the spore-ridden letters were mailed out, some critics pointed out. Mr. Hatfill, a bio-terrorism expert, contends his reputation was ruined when law enforcement officials called him a ìperson of interest.î Hatfill once worked as a researcher at the Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Frederick, Md. At one time the FBI had Hatfill under 24-hour surveillance.

Judge Walton also ruled that a Missouri charity financed terrorism and is connected to a similarly named organization in Sudan, dismissing a lawsuit filed by the Islamic American Relief Agency ñ USA, which is based in Columbia, Mo. The charity had sought to thaw its assets which the treasury department froze in 2004. Lawyers for the Missouri charity had denied any link to terrorism and had said the charity is entirely separate from the Sudanese organization. Judge Walton said his decision was based on both public records and classified documents. Shareef Akeel, a Michigan lawyer representing the charity said nothing in the public part of the record showed that the charity had sent money out of the country for illegal purposes.

In a case involving a request for documents on the Oklahoma City bombing which resulted in convictions of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, Judge Walton held that FOIA plaintiff (Judicial Watch) was required to file an administrative appeal for the documents, even if they were suing over the agencyís refusal to grant expedited processing. Judge Walton said the Judicial Watch was attempting to ìbootstrapî its disclosure requests onto its bid for expedited processing. Although it appears that the FBI subsequently failed to timely respond to Judicial watchís substantive request for documents within 20 days, Judge Walton said he will only consider those facts and circumstances that existed at the time of the filing of the complaint, and not subsequent events.

A coalition of hunting supporters that included Safari Club International and numerous other sportsmenís groups were dealt a blow by Judge Walton when in 2004 he dismissed their attempt to stop black bear hunting in New Jerseyís National Park Service Lands.

In January 2004, Judge Walton held the longstanding ban on the sale and possession of handguns in Washington, D.C., is constitutional. The suit, brought by the National Rifle Association, challenged the constitutionality of the handgun ban on Second Amendment grounds. In the ruling, Judge Walton dismisses the suit, noting that, ìThe Court must conclude that the Second Amendment doesnít confer an individual right to posses firearms. Rather, the amendmentís objective is to ensure the vitality of state militias."

Finally, a three-judge panel of a federal appeal court unanimously reversed Judge Walton, ruling that the public has the right to challenge an interior department officialís approval of the proposed Roundup Power Plant despite studies showing that it would pollute air in Yellowstone National Park and Wilderness areas. The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District Court of Columbia Circuit affirmed the publicís legal right to challenge a political appointeeís approval of the proposed power plant. Judge Walton had dismissed the case saying the conservation groups lacked standing because the ultimate permitting agency was the State of Montana. The National Parks Conservation Association, The Greater Yellowstone Coalition, The Wilderness Society, and a Denver resident alleged the Interior Department officials violated the Clean Air Act which prohibits degradation of air quality by man-made sources in pristine air sheds such as parks and wilderness areas.

The current administration is run by former oil executives. Why people are perplexed that there is a war in Iraq amid peak oil and rising gas prices I dont know. Even if the war in Iraq is coming at a big cost in various aspects the futures on those oil fields will yield bigger results down the line. Iraq was and Iran are currently the only oil heavy nations that were/are somewhat outside of U.S. control. Some may argue that Iraq is still outside of U.S. control, however, I imagine that the oil fields are under control or that major resources are being spent trying to have them under control. Its not all about who is consuming the oil but who is directing the traffic of oil. Nations that are outside of U.S. influence will be able to sell their oil to other competing nations, i.e. China, which would mean less oil for U.S. Democrats understand this as well, that is why many of them do not want to pull out of Iraq, because they understand the oil consequences. The patriot act needed to be put in place in order to combat the future unrest of the populace as oil becomes more scarce. In the closed boardrooms of oil companies I imagine that peak oil and the scarcity of oil is the main topic of conversation. Cause believe me, if they were finding new proven sources of oil, everyone would have heard about it by now. Blaming Bush or even the current administration or the future administration whoever that will be, is irrelevant. Oil is much bigger than that. Oil, as a big example of a non-renewable energy source, is a central tenement of capitalism. These problems go way beyond Bush, the U.S., this problem strikes at the heart of most of the worlds present power system, capitalism, and to those in power, much must be spent on keeping the system afloat. France, Russia and Germany were upset about the U.S. invasion of Iraq because they had more to gain in terms of oil deals with Saddam in power than with the U.S. in power. If these nations had the independent military means, they would have invaded Iraq themselves, if the end result was that they could control the oil.

Awesome work. My question is: If Scooter Leeky didn't out her and let's say she was covert, at what point in time and by whom or what vehicle did this become such public knowledge that it wasn't any longer a crime to out her? Thanks again.

The indictment mentioned the names of a lot of high-level and lower-lever folks. It left some of the mid-level names out. Does that mean Fitzie is trying to avoid prejudicial statements about targets of future investigations? Is that why he kept referring to Rovie as Official A (for Asshole)? I think that makes Rovie a candidate for slow-roast porker of the year. Fun. Fun. Fun.

Meanwhile, more bad news about Iraq:
* The U.S. had no policy in place to rebuild Iraq (surprise? Morons)
* Mercs are biting it in bigger numbers, how long do the last throes last, again?
* The Grand Ol' Torturing Party honors the troops by allowing them to deal with Armor issues AGAIN. Hey, you go to war with the idiot Republicans you have, not the ones you wished you had.
* As Italy preps to pull troops, their leader says he tried to talk Chimpy out of invading Iraq. Something about a "quagmire."
* Frank Rich's column only makes sense (one step closer to the top, eh?) if the current crop of Dumbocrats are joined by the Fighting Dems and try to take on the Cheney Administration's line of bullshit.

Time will tell. Happy Fitznukkah, folks.
Time to make the donuts. Hey Chris, were you missing the Tims? Yeah, me neither.

Mr. David Corn,

Another great post.

I am impressed once again.

Happy Halloween! and Thanks

Kirk

Happy Halloween all!

Candy, kids and costumes, what could be more fun?

Carving pumpkins and scary thoughts of ghosts, gobblins and such. I hope everybody has a safe and sane day.

Candy, sweets and tasty treats, forget the tricks DC has them covered.

capt

Pande,

Great post! LOVED it!

And: Yeah, me neither too!

Thanks bro

capt

David: What was *your* basis for stating that Plame was a CIA operative in your article that predated the one by Novak (IIRC)? Perhaps you surmized it from things you heard (I doubt Scooter told you), but in any case it would be interesting to see your statement about that matter. (Well, poster speculation will have to do until Mr. Corn can weigh in.)

Drewp -
if you can see this, click here

I will never believe all of them didn't know exactly what they were doing, it just backfired. These guys have been in the game way to long to be able to claim ignorance much less innocence. Plame was just a guppy, Brewster-Jennings was the catch of the day. How long before we start hearing rumors of nukes gone missing and the inevitable finger pointing at Iran? The oil bourse is getting close, oil traded in euros rather than dollars. Do you think bushco will ever stand for that?

This was written in Jan. 2001

Pentagon Plans Iran Attack Over Oil Euro Marker By Christmas 2005

Broad Parameters Over Pentagon Plans To Invade Iran By Christmas 2005 Have Remained In Place

According to William Clark of the Global Research
http://globalresearch.ca/articles/CLA410A.html
"In 2005-2006, The Tehran government has developed a plan to begin competing with New York's NYMEX and London's IPE with respect to international oil trades - using a euro-denominated international oil-trading mechanism. This means that without some form of US intervention, the euro is going to establish a firm foothold in the international oil trade." "Iran's oil bourse will start trading by early 2006" "One of the Federal Reserve’≥ nightmares may begin to unfold in 2005 or 2006, when it appears international buyers will have a choice of buying a barrel of oil for $50 dollars on the NYMEX and IPE - or purchase a barrel of oil for 37 - 40 euros via the Iranian Bourse. This assumes the euro maintains its current 20-25% appreciated value relative to the dollar - and assumes that some sort of "intervention" is not undertaken against Iran." "NEWSWEEK has learned that the CIA and DIA have war-gamed the likely consequences of a U.S. pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. No one liked the outcome. As an Air Force source tells it, "The war games were unsuccessful at preventing the conflict from escalating."
------------
This is where Russia and China step in.

From Thomas Paine's Corner

Now that Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is the lead story because of his remarks about Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Thursday called for Iran to be expelled from the U.N., saying "a state which calls for the destruction of another people cannot be a member of the United Nations." Israeli Vice-Premier Shimon Peres said that Iran should be expelled from the United Nations as a result of his comments.

The UN released a statement, saying "Calls for violence, and for the destruction of any state, are manifestly inconsistent with any claim to be a mature and responsible member of the international community," the EU leaders said in a statement.

Absolutely right. So let's be fair and balanced and give the Ariel Sharon and others their chance to voice their opinions:

-- "If only it would sink into the sea". Israeli Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin referring to Gaza, just before signing the Oslo Accords.

"We must expel Arabs and take their places." David Ben Gurion, 1937, Ben Gurion and the Palestine Arabs, Oxford University Press, 1985.

"We have to kill all the Palestinians unless they are resigned to live here as slaves." Chairman Heilbrun of the Committee for the Re-election of General Shlomo Lahat, the mayor of Tel Aviv, October 1983.

The Palestinians" would be crushed like grasshoppers ... heads smashed against the boulders and walls." Israeli Prime Minister Menahim Begin in a speech to Jewish settlers New York Times April 1, 1988

I don't know something called International Principles. I vow that I'll burn every Palestinian child (that) will be born in this area. The Palestinian woman and child is more dangerous than the man, because the Palestinian child's existence infers that generations will go on, but the man causes limited danger. I vow that if I was just an Israeli civilian and I met a Palestinian I would burn him and I would make him suffer before killing him. With one hit I've killed 750 Palestinians (in Rafah in 1956). I wanted to encourage my soldiers by raping Arabic girls as the Palestinian women is a slave for Jews, and we do whatever we want to her and nobody tells us what we shall do but we tell others what they shall do." Ariel Sharon, current Prime Minister, in an interview with General Ouze Merham, 1956

"We must use terror, assassination, intimidation, land confiscation, and the cutting of all social services to rid the Galilee of its Arab population." David Ben-Gurion, May 1948, to the General Staff.

Why wasn't Israel expelled from the UN as a result of these remarks, as Peres demands of Iran?
------------
This is where the neocons learned their tactics. Is it any wonder they are so evil?

Judge Who Gagged
Edmonds Is Judge
For Libby Case
Has Links To Republican Right
By Wayne Madsen
10-30-5

US District Judge for DC Reggie Walton has been assigned the Lewis Libby case. It is noteworthy to point out Walton's past and current links to the Republican Right and to elements in the Bush administration who have covered up important details about 911.

Walton was appointed to the DC Superior Court in 1981 by Ronald Reagan. In 1989, he was appointed by George H. W. Bush as the deputy drug czar under Bill Bennett. Walton was reappointed to the DC Superior Court by the senior Bush. George W. Bush nominated Walton to the US District Court for DC in 2001.

Walton was the judge who, under pressure from the Justice Department, placed a gag order on former FBI translator and whistleblower Sibel Edmonds and cleared his courtroom of the public and media in Edmonds' hearing in her case against the FBI. Edmonds brought to light important information about how the FBI failed to translate important wiretap intercepts before and after 911.

Judge Reggie Walton assigned to Libby case: Recusal of judge appointed to the bench by two Bush presidents should have been sought by prosecutor
-----------
If this doesn't make you confident in the prevalence of justice, nothing will!

Bush choice for Fed angers cronies

Cheney twisting arms to block torture ban

Poll: majority of Congress holds public in low esteem

Afghans rebuild giant Buddhas with opium profits

Bush named unenlightened coconspirator

Bridge to Nowhere begins construction somewhere in Alaska

Bush rethinking 'rope-a-dope' strategy

Libby trial moved to Nuremburg

Fitzgerald 'nutty as a fruitcake,' says former hill staffer

Official A turns to Plan B

Saddam: crimes against humanity charge 'a technicality'

White House declared disaster area

Washington neck-deep in schadenfreude

Republicans run out of talking points

Report: Bush turning to shadow government to fill vacancies

Red tape rushed to worst-hit areas

Improved math scores credited to poker craze

GOP opposes windbag profits tax

We live in Ironic Times

REMINDER

You're innocent until even
Republicans think you're guilty.

capt

Syria accuses US of launching lethal raids over its borders

London Telegraph/Harry de Quetteville | October 30 2005

Syria has accused the United States of launching lethal military raids into its territory from Iraq, escalating the diplomatic crisis between the two countries as the Bush administration seeks to step up pressure on President Bashar Assad's regime.

Major General Amid Suleiman, a Syrian officer, said that American cross-border attacks into Syria had killed at least two border guards, wounded several more and prompted an official complaint to the American embassy in Damascus.

He made the allegations during an official press tour of Syrian security forces on the Iraqi border, which the US claims is a barely guarded passage into Iraq for hardcore foreign jihadis.

While showing off what he said were beefed-up Syrian border measures designed to blunt those criticisms, including new police stations and checkpoints, Maj Gen Suleiman alleged that his own border forces had come under repeated American attack.

"Incidents have taken place with casualties on my surveillance troops," he said, near the Euphrates river border crossing between Syria and Iraq. "Many US projectiles have landed here. In this area alone, two soldiers and two civilians have been killed by the American attacks."

The charge follows leaks in Washington that the US has already engaged in military raids into Syria and is contemplating launching special forces operations on Syrian soil to eliminate insurgent networks before they reach Iraq.
-----------
More that is missed with the scooter distraction. That blank check is going to be the ruin of this country.

Iraq: Baghdad Moves To Euro

By Charles Recknagel

Baghdad's switch from the dollar to the euro for oil trading is intended to rebuke Washington's hard-line on sanctions and to encourage Europeans to challenge it. But the political message will cost Iraq millions in lost revenue. RFE/RL correspondent Charles Recknagel looks at what Baghdad will gain and lose, and the impact of the decision to go with the European currency.

Prague, 1 November 2000 (RFE/RL) -- Iraq is going ahead with its plans to stop using the U.S. dollar in its oil business in spite of warnings the move makes no financial sense.

Baghdad this week insisted on and received UN approval to sell oil through the oil-for-food program for euros only after 6 November. Iraq had threatened to suspend all oil exports -- about 5 percent of the world's total -- if the body turned down the request.

The move comes despite repeated cautions that Baghdad's departure from the oil industry standard of the dollar will cost the country millions in currency conversion fees. UN officials have said Iraq will have to reduce the price of its crude oil by about 10 cents a barrel in order to compensate buyers for the additional costs.

And the UN has said moving to the euro will mean Iraq earns less interest on its oil revenues, which are held in a UN- monitored escrow account in New York.

The UN also has warned that Iraq's switch will create cumbersome new administrative processes because Baghdad says it wants to keep its existing deposits in dollars for now. That means the oil-for-food program will have to maintain two accounts -- one in dollars and one in euros -- for the time being.

With Iraq now set to begin oil transactions in euros as early as next week, President Saddam Hussein has clearly made up his mind that banning the dollar is worth flying in the face of financial logic. The euro reached record lows last week as it traded at 82 cents to the dollar, down 30 percent since its launch in January last year. Currency traders say they don't expect a rebound soon.

*****end of clip*****

The switch worked so well for Saddam, I cannot see how any oil rich country would hesitate to make the change?

HA!

capt

Yeh Capt, I'm sure they'll be right on top of that!

I'll check the comments in a few, but I woke up with this running through my brain...

With all due apologies to Emerson, Lake and Palmer, of course.

Karn Evil #9 (revisited)

(Meat, meat, where's my meat? - 'Barbed Wire Whipping Party' - Grateful Dead)

Welcome back, my friends,
To the show that never ends.
We're so glad you could attend.
Step inside, step inside.

In Alabam' she made a mark,
And she sure could light a spark,
In a white seat, she was dark.
Ms. Rosa Parks, Rosa Parks.

Now she's resting 'neath the Dome,
As we prepare to send her home,
And pretend that she's our own.
All our own, all our own.

But, to prove that it's all show,
Introducing Alito,
Whose decisions Wade v. Roe,
We all know, we all know.

Roll up, Roll up, Roll up!
See the show!

There's a coming civil wrong,
So I mutilate this song.
I ask you all to join along.
Join along, join along.

We would like it to be known,
There's a fool we must dethrone,
And the seeds that he has sown,
Can't be grown, can't be grown.

Come and see the show!
Come and see the show,
See the show.......

I question the idea that Fitzgerald is nearly at an end in this investigation. I've heard this a couple of times and the evidence appears to be based on Fitzgerald's body language rather than anything he said. I haven't seen that body language, but I know that Fitzgerald's M.O. is start with an airtight case and use that trial as a way to get other sources testifying in open court, knowing that if they lie, they can face serious jail time. I think David and other Beltway types are so used to thinking that everyone's spinning and there's always an agenda, that they don't know what to make of someone like Fitzgerald who plays everything straight. I believe this investigation will continue for another year or two and we will see additional charges down the road.

In particular I predict that the Libby trial and Fitzgerald's continuing investigation will lead to 1) a showdown with Cheney over testifying in court which will make Cheney look very bad if he wins and worse if he loses; 2) additional charges against Libby pertaining to the leak itself (either under IIPA or another law); 3) additional scrutiny of WHIG, causing more and more people to accept that the evidence for war was indeed "fixed" around the policy. There's a lot of opportunity for any of the players to slip up by getting caught lying or by telling the truth. Before it's all done, Cheney may be charged with a crime. But I think Rove will not be charged with anything.

Hoping that Bush and/or Cheney would be candid about this matter is equivalent to hoping that Ossama bin Laden will convert to Christianity. It is beyond the realm of probability.

COPS CALL FOR END OF DRUG WAR

Friday, October 28, 2005 - FreeMarketNews.com

One of the most influential groups calling for the government to end the war on drugs is an organization of law officers that have first hand experience of its failures, according to The Albuquerque Tribune. The Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), a lobby group against the war on drugs, is gaining attention because it has over 2,000 members that range from former police officers, and prosecutors to judges. The group includes many high-ranking officials such as a previous New York City police chief and Gary Johnson, a former Governor of New Mexico.

It is estimated that the government has spent over $500 billion on the war against drugs, but members of LEAP all have first-hand experience and maintain that current policies are having no effect. They argue that instead of sending drug users or sellers to jail, the government should focus its resources on treatment. Supply cannot be stopped in a free market, but demand can be reduced through appropriate intervention.

Despite massive budgets and resources thrown at the problem LEAP members point out that usage of methamphetamines is exploding throughout the country. Jack Cole, the executive director of LEAP says, this is not a war on drugs. It's a war on people. White House officials have accused LEAP of being misguided and irresponsible.

staff reports - Free-Market News Network
-------------
Sensible advice!

David, thanks for the insightful work...

This may seem off-topic, but it isn't..

The bush Administration, by its very existence, is proof-positive that we need an amendment to the Constitution. The Constitution should be amended to limit the President of the United States to ONE 6-year term.

The bush Administration has been in constant, non-stop campaign mode. The bush Administration is lousy at governing -- indeed, it is not even interested in governing. They are master campaigners -- they are proficient at fooling the people and keeping things stirred up to maintain, and increase, their power. If the President was limited to one 6-year term, the permanent campaign mode strategy would be eliminated for future bush-like cabals.

If the President was limited to one 6-year term, perhaps he/she would do the people's work, instead of looking to the next mudslinging campaign from the minute he/she took the Oath of Office. An additional benefit would be the decreased emphasis on money, money, money for the endless campaigns.

Just a thought...

#32
Eggman, I hope so. I hope so.

Five felonies by an active WH staff member will not be trivialized. (unless the MSM decides to make it so).

We all know who invaded Iraq. We all know the reason they told and every reason proved to be untrue and completely fabricated by this WH.

They told us: "If you knew what we knew" and "believe me" so they put their credibility on the line. We gave them the benefit of the doubt and they were betraying us from before the beginning.

When Scotty McClueless speaks from the podium he is speaking for the president. He lied (no surprise) and the president lied.

Nothing can change the facts.

This is about the illegal invasion of a sovereign nation where we controlled "no-fly" zones both north and south. Saddam had a slice but was totally contained. No WMD's not even any substantial find of unconventional weapons until Bush blew it at Al Qaqaa and the insurgent started producing IED's as an industry.

Many acts of treason and Fitzgerald has not even mentioned it? More, he said that the issues about why POTUS is on the record lying to start a war are not within his jurisdiction.

Come on, I think we are being had, AGAIN!

Time will tell but I will not be emotionally invested in Fitzgerald doing more. I think Kkkarl was in a good mood Friday because he knew it was Friday or never. Rove begged not to be indicted and if Fitzgerald waved by so much as one degree from his intentions, Kkkarl won the day.

If they are all taken down or just one or two. I will dance a jig. Right now this issue is just too juicy, too good for MSM ratings. They want as many people as possible to buy into the show.

Then again, I am no good at making predictions, especially about the future. I never thought we would be here, the events that have been written into the history books recently, I would have never thought possible. Things are crazy in too many ways.

I stand by my previous post that anything short of firing squad for the whole lot of them will fall short of justice.

Anything is better than nothing but . .

2006 - (GOPher/liar)- "We cleaned our house and we deserve a chance to finish what we started" and the land-slide will be another "happy coincidence" for the neochronic.

What will we do with a neocon super-majority?

Most in our high offices do not care what we think, especially if we disagree. They will not start caring just because the heat is turned up. What use is it to steal all this power if they cannot abuse it.

Any questions about the vote counting process will be addressed in the most Orewellian duck-speak we have heard yet. Forget "sour grapes" they will portray it as an attack on the government and there will be charges for those who attack the authority of the system.

The "true believers" will be holding their arms up swaying to Kumbaya as the call for more troops is broadcast because of the "new" front(s) in the perpetual war of terror.

"War is not its own end, except in some catastrophic slide into absolute damnation. It's peace that's wanted. Some better peace than the one you started with." ~ Lois McMaster Bujold, "The Vor Game", 1990

capt

If Libby goes to trial (he won't), it leads to Cheney, which leads to Bush, which leads to a trial at The Hague.

This un-American group will never let it go that far. Traitorgaters will continue their aiding and abetting...

#27
Capt,
If I suddenly came out of a 5 year coma and I read the headlines in the newspapers, I would believe I was reading the Onion.

The drug war is a huge off-the-books economy.

There are mountains of money that will want the "war on drugs" to continue. Their products are not worth much if legalized. (think of the cash and property siezed, that "income" would stop too).

Seems to me, legalization would be in favor of the people, so it will not happen.

Until we do something about money buying influence we will not be better we will be sold out.

"High government officials" has always made me smile. Truth or word game, maybe a little of both?

capt

#39,

That describes my feelings too.

If I woke from a 20 year coma I would be convinced I was in the "Twilight Zone" no kidding.

capt

I have been following a story in the Star Tribune. It is off topic, a medical story, but it is fascinating. Star Tribune did a very good job reporting the families crisis but also the hospitals dispare that they couldn't save this teenage kid. Very good story. Part three is tomorrow.
Part 1
What killed Reece Meikle?

Part 2
Watching as the worst comes true

"I'm just a simple subject of the King."
Rip Van Winckle

If you want to see the amount of confiscated property look in the wednesday's USA Today they have the list in there and it is usually huge. Yep, give it to "Law Enforcement" the same one that falsify evidence to seize property to begin with. HMM, is there something wrong here? I think so.

ADD:

The money provided to law enforcement to fight the "war on drugs," once in their budgets, is impossible to retract. I am not sure I would want my local police to cut back on the drunk drivers, robbers and such. The money is in with all they spend. It would be like trying to pick the fly s**t out of the pepper to remove the portion earmarked for the "war on drugs."

capt

"It's ALIVE!"

We have created our monsters and made them well. It is the greatest challenge in our history to make right what we have made wrong.

It is no small or easy task. It will require all of us to do all we can and we must rally many more to the cause.

Too many people (not on this board) think they will see apathy when they are sitting on it.

We must slay the beast of our making.

capt

Propaganda Can't Hide the Facts

By DOUG THOMPSON
Oct 31, 2005

Starting today, the White House propaganda machine goes into overdrive, working 24/7 to try and bury the many troubles of the Bush administration under a mountain of illusionary activity.

It starts with the nomination of ultra-right-wing judge Samuel Alito as a new justice for the U.S. Supreme Court, replacing the failed attempt to put Bush loyalist Harriet Miers on the bench.

On Tuesday, the President announces his program to battle the bird flu pandemic – a threat that may or may not be real but provides just the kind of fear factor that Bush likes to deploy when he’s in trouble.

A new Washington Post-ABC news poll out over the weekend shows confidence in Bush is lower than ever with a vast majority of Americans believing the President is dishonest and unethical.

Growing numbers of Republicans run and hide when Bush comes to their town. In Virginia, GOP gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore, locked in a tight race, bagged an appearance with the President. Others have told the White House they will not campaign with Bush and do not want his support or endorsement.

*****end of clip*****

I so enjoy the rant.

capt

Mr. Corn,
For years I have been blasting the media. I would write to the NY Times, the Pioneer Press, MSNBC, on and on and on. I would beg them to tell the news. I would chide them. I would damn them for being part of the collapse of the nation as we had once known it. It has changed. They ignored me of course.

But now it is time to thank those that did the job. Thank you for caring for your nation more than your own pocketbook and reputation. Thank you for knowing you were probably hated by the administration but continuing to report the news anyway. Thank you for becoming a journalist and sticking to it. Thank you for allowing me my voice. Thank you so much for that.

Thank you Nation Magazine for supporting people like David Corn. Thank you Tom Paine.com for supporting people like David Corn. Thank you to all the news people (like Helen Thomas and all those that wouldn't be silence and were the examples) who stuck it out through the worst of times.

The truth will not be ignored.

Sincerely,

Jeanne Smith

During the Clinton years I felt the WoSD was one of the most pressing issues of the nation, I vowed to never again vote for a candidate that felt that I do not have the right to alter my consciousness; that govt. has the right to claim a vice as a crime.

That lasted about one election cycle as I held my nose and voted for Kerry, but it is no less important now.

#43
I've been thinking about old Rip Van Winkle a lot lately.

It's pretty clear now Bush never intended to have Harriet Miers on the Supreme Court. She was just a pawn to be sacrificed to place Samuel Alito who is the far right kind of judge everyone expected him to select. Now he can play the "They opposed my first pick because they said she wasn't qualified and now they're opposing this guy even though he's more than qualified? You just can't win with these obstructionist liberals!" game.

This is a must view, IMO.

http://www.filmstripinternational.com/index.php?asshole

(just in case, the link doesn't work)

Powerful

I think it's important to take Fitzgerald at his word: The investigation is continuing. Remember his explanation of obstruction during the Friday press conference? It was disparaged on one of the Sunday soaps, but I thought it was an effective explanation and it could indicate where this thing's headed. Fitzgerald likened a prosecutor conducting an inquiry to an umpire in a baseball game. As the umpire tries to make a call, the obstructor throws sand in his eyes so the umpire can't make the fine judgments he wants to. Fitzgerald's saying that because of Libby's obstruction, he hasn't been able to get to the bottom of the matter. So he indicted Libby on charges related to obstruction and will continue his investigation. Where will this lead? I don't know. But it's definitely not good news for the White House.

Eyes Open,

Bush lost too much with the Miers nomination for it to be a set-up. He could have gone with Alito in the first place and would have gotten whatever outcome he's going to get. Miers was a disaster for him, a decision that probably wouldn't have been made if Rove and Cheney hadn't been distracted.

Great (working) link and good stuff!

Here are a couple I had not seen before today:

Peace Takes Courage

The GOP Majority: A Washington Horror Story

Oct 31, 2005

In honor of Halloween, the DSCC has produced a brand new video that exposes the out-of-control Republican leadership in Washington. We hope you enjoy it.

The latest polls show that America is ready for a change, making the 2006 elections our best chance in years to take back the Senate. To do that, we have a lot of work to do in the twelve months between now and then. There are three ways you can help today.

*****end of clip*****

The DSCC has an ad you can watch. See what you think.

capt

For The Eggman, go back and look at the time line, the administration easily could have figured out a schedule to plant Meirs and then pull her right on time. This administration is more than willing to accept casualties for the home team. Why not another woman? So you mean to tell me their was no other woman who wasn't more qualified than Meirs and at least as Alito? Karen Williams, Janice Rogers Brown,Edith Brown Clement should be pissed right now along with every other female Bush voter. The logic and the timing are major suspect. The Fly-Man.

Eggman, I have to respectfully disagree. I believe Miers was a planned disaster so the obstructionist charge could be thrown when he picked someone "better". Listening to commentary on the drive to work it seems conservatives are falling back into lockstep behind Alito so I can't see Bush as having lost anything, only gained.

Peace Takes Courage

I am so ashamed of those who thrive on Lies, Greed and Power -- those bastards who occupy the White House.

Peace. If only...

We Remember, But Do They?

Dido's Lament Lyrics

Thy hand, belinda, darkness shades me.
On thy bosom let me rest.
More I would, but death invades me.
Death is now a welcome guest.

When I am laid in earth, may my wrongs create
No trouble in thy breast.
Remember me, but ah! forget my fate.

This is a piece, for a soprano voice, from Dido and Aeneas, an opera composed by Henry Purcell in 1681. Jeff performed it live in his exhibition at Meltdown Festival, London, on July 1 1995.

*****end of clip*****

I am no great fan of opera. I am completely clueless without a libretto to follow along.

capt

capt -- Well, what I think is: I'm glad to see that the DSCC is calling it what it is:

NATIONAL SECURITY SCANDAL

About freakin' time!

Eye's,

I have no great insight but maybe to justify the "newquelar" option for the real ideologue?

I imagine the MSM are over reporting the resistence from the far right, almost 7 of ten Americans disagree, how much can 30% (the kooks) throw their weight around? (too much it seems).

I always remind myself who owns the MSM by sponsorship or outright. The message is never uncontrolled or unedited. Not any more in America.

I think they (MSM & pols) have "playing the public for fools" down pat. That would make just about everything a game even if only by a "wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more".

Nothing would surprise me these days. Nothing, no matter how crazy.

(Needing a minister of silly walks)

capt

I'm no great opera fan either - but THE CLASSIC commentary on cronyism has got to be:

The First Lord's Song - HMS Pinafore - Gilbert & Sullivan

When I was a lad I served a term
As office boy to an attorney's firm
I cleaned the windows and I swept the floor
And I polished up the handle of the big front door
I polished up that handle so carefully
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navy

As office boy I made such a mark
That they gave me the post of a junior clerk
I served the writs with a smile so bland
And I copied all the letters in a big round hand
I copied all the letters in a hand so free
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navy

In serving writs I made such a name
That an articled clerk I soon became
I wore clean collars and a brand-new suit
For the Pass Examination at the Institute
And that Pass Examination did so well for me
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navy

Of legal knowledge I acquired such a grip
That they took me into the partnership
And that junior partnership I ween
Was the only ship that I ever had seen
But that kind of ship so suited me
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navy

I grew so rich that I was sent
By a pocket borough into Parliament
I always voted at my Party's call
And I never thought of thinking for myself at all
I thought so little, they rewarded me
By making me the Ruler of the Queen's Navy

Now, landsmen all, whoever you may be
If you want to rise to the top of the tree
If your soul isn't fettered to an office stool
Be careful to be guided by this golden rule
Stick close to your desks and never go to sea
And you all may be Rulers of the Queen's Navy

Capt, the problem is we come for an argument and they give us abuse!

David's Capital Games column is on top at Google News!

Did Cheney Know Plame Was Undercover?

Way Cool!

I see link and references to David's work more and more all over the web, I hear him on AAR.

Thanks for all of your work David!

capt

Eyes,

no, we dont

HA!

That's not argument you are just being oppositional.

No, I'm not

capt

Robert,

Quiet right but when I hear Gilbert & Sullivan all that ever comes to mind is:"I am the very model of a modern Major-General" in my head the playback is so fast almost no words can be made out.

Thanks

capt

Quite? not quiet!

My spell checker refuses to play fair.

Capt.,

I didn't know Diebold made spell checker software.

Americans Honor Parks at Capitol Rotunda

By KEN THOMAS, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - In hushed reverence, Americans paid tribute Monday to Rosa Parks, with more than 30,000 filing silently by her casket in the Capitol Rotunda and a military honor guard saluting the woman whose defiant act on a city bus inspired the modern civil rights movement.

"I rejoice that my country recognizes that this woman changed the course of American history, that this woman became a cure for the cancer of segregation," said the Rev. Vernon Shannon, 68, pastor of John Wesley African-Methodist-Episcopal Zion in Washington, one of many who rose before dawn to see the casket.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., accompanied new Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito and his family to the Rotunda, where they paused in silent remembrance. Several senators joined the procession.

*****end of clip*****

I have to hope all that honor her are sincere. I also hope if they are not God, Thor, or just the weather would deal out a few bolts of lightening. *sigh*

It is important to always remember that civil rights are birthrights not something given to us by the constitution or bill of rights. Those documents only serve to protect and recognize those inalienable rights of all Americans.

Rosa Parks was a soldier in the army that fought the war for freedom and equality, not a one woman stand against a bus driver. One woman, one person can make a huge difference but we have to be together in solidarity.

The civil rights movement has yet to attain equality for all. The civil rights movement must continue to address inequality no matter where or how. That means gender, lifestyle, race, social caste, the poor, the underprivileged, and any other group that is not recognized and treated as equals.

Now we must add a new component to the war for freedom and equality. The war to fight back against the corporate interests that have crowded us out of our place at the table. The multinational for profit enterprises that have no specific national interest in any country except profit for themselves from all countries.

Maybe we should use this as a starting point to create our own "New- new world order" where the people from all countries wage war against those companies that are squeezing everybody for every dollar and cent to feed these sickening over-inflated money monsters that feed on our misery for their bottom line.

I doubt that is the message the racists two-faced jerks wanted to send by "honoring" Rosa. Then again maybe we can win by perverting their message in the example of their "clean air" (means dirtier air) we start twisting what they say and do into our message?

Maybe. . . Not hard when Lott and the new nominee have the blatant temerity to show up to honor a soldier in the war against them. Bass Ackwards.

capt

Did I say Lott, I meant Frist. Lott would probably rather go get a root canal than honor Rosa Parks.

They did not say he was there, no surprise. He has to keep his white-hate neo-nazi vote or he is a goner.

capt

Gerald from previous blog entry thread:

Corporations and Persons

I watched Television Ontario (TVO). The program title was "The Corporation - The Pathology of Commerce." The program mentioned that the Supreme Court ruled that a corporation is a person than surely a person is a person. The program highlighted a checklist for mental disorders. Since a corporation can be considered a person, the mental disorder checklist can be applied.


Here is the checklist.
1. Callousness toward people
2. Impersonal relationships with people
3. Disregard for the safety of others
4. Deceitfulness
5. Incapacity to experience guilt
6. Failure to comply toward social norms to benefit people


From the checklist corporations displayed a psychopathic mental disorder. If we use the same checklist for our two highest leaders, then we would have to conclude that george w. bush and dick chaney display the same mental disorder. It would be my perception that the above two men are unfit to be president and vice-president, respectively. They hold too much power for men who have a possible mental disorder.

-----------

This sounds like an adaption of, if not the actual documentary movie, The Corporation. I recently watched it and thought it was a well done and thought provoking docu. They allowed lengthy interviews from all sides of the spectrum so a lot of the material was in context.

Why I brought it over into this new thread, is that in light of the supreme court nominee of Alito, I think we need to broaden the horizon on the role of the SCOTUS for moral issues beyond the classic Roe v Wade.

This Corporation movie highlighted the fact that after the civil war the 14th ammendment was enacted to assure that all persons (i.e. former slaves) were given the right to property and due process.

Prior to the civil war the concept of corporations with basically perpetual charters to exist, and to be considered as persons started growing. Corporate lawyers in a progressive fashion saw the advantages of using the 14th ammendment to apply to their cause as well. By the beginning of the 1900s, well over 200 supreme court cases were heard that related to the 14th ammendment. Less than 20 regarded the rights of slaves, the rest were about defining the rights of corporations.

----------------
relevant text of 14th ammendment:

No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

http://billmon.org/

cracking me up!

"the mental disorder checklist can be applied"

Yesterday on AAR I heard some guy reading from his DSM V about a specific conndition that seems to describe exactly what the "true believers" have going on in their heads. It is like the abused wife whose husband had beaten her and her kids but she wants him back. (voting against ones own interests)

I do not know if it was satire but it was too true sounding to be very funny.

I will see if I can find more on it. . .

capt

American Soldiers

2,269 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan for Bush’≥ evil lies.

America has attacked Syria while Americans have slept. We have gone quietly into Syria. The Middle East war has expanded. Endless wars are now embedded into the Bush Doctrine. We will never again be without wars. Hatred, killing, and wars are as American as God, mother, and apple pie.

#71
Another trait that many psychopaths have is the abiltiy to be charming. They attract people to them. They are the life of the party.

Saladin,

Well as we all know, the Euro hasn't maintained it's appreciation against the dollar. The relative value has dropped.

So where does that leave Mr. Clark's wacky theory?

Well, in this case the death of the party.

#73 capt, good post! Bush is like an abusive husband and father. He beats the shit out his family but they still do not want him to go to jail. I do not pay much attention to the polls because our elections are forever rigged. Americans look upon Bush as a god and so they make allowances for his psychotic behaviors. I guess because the bushgod knows best?

I think part of the problem with the woman who won't leave her husband is a fear of having to make it on her own with kids. Without a good education that is very hard. Also the fact that she accepted the abuse early on could mean that she has had it in her life. It is a learned behavior. And many people in this situation have also learned to not just accept crisis but function very well in those circumstances.

I would go absolutely bonkers in an abusive situation. I couldn't function. I wouldn't have the mental strength to remain but someone who has learned to function in that situation from an early age could learn to adapt.

Republicans join call for Rove to resign

By Michael Gawenda Herald Correspondent

November 1, 2005

Both Republicans and Democrats have called for a radical overhaul of the Bush Administration, increasing the pressure on the US President to force Karl Rove, his closest political adviser, to resign over the CIA leak affair.

After a week that left George Bush struggling to avoid lame-duck status less than a year into his second term, one poll showed 46 per cent of Americans believed honesty and ethics had suffered during his presidency.

The poll was taken at the weekend after Lewis Libby, a key White House aide and Vice-President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, was indicted on serious criminal charges in the CIA leak affair and Mr Bush, under pressure from his conservative supporters, withdrew his nomination of Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court.

The withdrawal of the Miers nomination coincided with confirmation from the Pentagon that 2000 US troops had been killed in Iraq. This toll had already risen to 2022 yesterday after six US soldiers were killed in two separate roadside bomb attacks outside the capital, Baghdad.

*****end of clip*****

In four paragraphs they pull the whole story together.

They still seem to have reporters down under. Once in a while, anyway.

capt

New York's mayor shakes off the taint of George Bush

By Mark Coultan Herald

It is a measure of President George Bush's present standing that Republican candidates across the country are being smeared by association with him.

During the first televised debate between the Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, and his Democratic challenger, the mayor was attacked for being on the same side of politics as George Bush. His opponent in the election on November 8, Fernando Ferrer, accused him of "supporting the party and the president whose policies have hurt this city".

In New York, where Democrats outnumber Republicans five to one, that is often a good tactic. And when Mr Bush's staff are being indicted, when the death toll of US soldiers in Iraq has just passed 2000, and when even Republicans are criticising the White House's Supreme Court choice, it would seem a sure bet.

Except when the candidate is Michael Bloomberg.

He declared during the TV debate that he was "independent", which is a weird description of someone who is the endorsed Republican candidate. But it has a ring of truth. He was a Democrat before switching to the Republicans to stand for mayor in 2001. And he certainly does not sound or act like a Republican. He is pro-abortion and supports gay rights.

He is not bothered with appearing loyal to Mr Bush, either. Asked by Mr Ferrer if he was proud of Mr Bush, Mr Bloomberg replied: "I agree with him on some things; I disagree with him on others."

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I am sure we all know what taint is?

capt

Gaelic

Cindy's name is Sheehan. In Gaelic it means peacemaker. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God. Maybe God chose Cindy to lead a peace movement to disarm the American hearts away from hatred, killing, torture, and wars. I can see God speaking through Cindy more than through Bush whom we all know is a murderer and a war criminal.

Do you honestly believe that God would choose Bush and what he has put America and the world through these past four years? Bush displays a depraved indifference in the killing of human beings. God is into gentleness, love, mercy, and peace. The Bible is God's love letter to us, His children. Would God choose someone to kill His children? Look at all the carnage from Bush's policies! That is not God's will. It is the bushgod's will to kill and maim human beings. Bush has never looked upon himself as a real human being and so he looks at you and me as objects to be destroyed. He is a nothing and he looks at people as nothing. He is giving us what he is and has and that is nothing.

Casey Sheehan

I had a chance to send Cindy Sheehan an email. In one of the Catholic News Service papers there was an article written about her son, Casey. When Casey was in high school, he belonged to the Youth Ministry. He was thinking of being a priest. In fact he joined the military service with the idea of being an aide or an assistant to a military chaplain. Let me try and remember my note to Cindy Sheehan.

Dear Cindy:

I would like to start by saying that death is not a tragedy because we will someday all die. The tragedy is that a person may not fulfill or realize their potential before they die. It is my understanding that Casey was thinking of being a priest. The tragedy is that he will never realize that potential. His death is tragic because as a priest Casey may have saved thousands of souls for God.

Sincerely,
Gerald

"It is a learned behavior"

And is handed down from generation to generation.

Borderline parents rear borderline children.

It is all about survival both physical and psychological. The mind has a set of its own defenses and will act (in ways) predictably.

capt

Thank you Cindy Sheehan

Dear Mrs. Sheehan:

I read your letter and I want to thank you for sharing with us your moving open letter to George.

You asked the question of how much damage can he do in four years? We know now that the damage is deep and widespread across America and the world.

I want to say that there is nothing wrong with a big mouth in a righteous cause. May God bless you Cindy Sheehan!

George, the weasel, does not know the meaning of hard work. He is a liar and a murderer. He has wasted many lives with his lies. Good luck in any impeachment efforts. I believe that you have a mandate from the people to speak out against Bush and this wrong and immoral war.

It may not seem like hard work but posting in an effort to have Americans wake up is hard work, especially in trying to convince the Bush lovers of his war crimes.

If the American people do not impeach Bush, the International Criminal Court will find him guilty of war crimes. It is best for Bush to be tried during his natural life and not wait to be tried in his supernatural life. Bush may have fooled the American people but he can never fool our Supreme Commander who will be the final judge for all of us.

The problem with most Americans is that they are too insensitive toward the feelings of other people. THEY DO NOT SEE THE RIVER OF MOURNING BECAUSE IT LACKS ONE TEAR OF THEIR OWN. I am paraphrasing Antonio Porchia.

Cindy Sheehan may God guide you in your efforts to wake up America from their love affair with the bushgod, a god, who is goose stepping America into hell.

Sincerely,

Gerald

Counterrevolution

Counterrevolution

Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say that there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe.

Fact of the matter is, there is no hip world, there is no straight world. There's a world, you see, which has people in it who believe in a variety of different things. Everybody believes in something and everybody, by virtue of the fact that they believe in something, use that something to support their own existence.

Frank Zappa (1940 - 1993)

Judge Alito's Record as compiled by People For the American Way.

#87 - So much for intelligent design. lol.

I am known by many names...200 Motels.

Cheney Promotes Individuals Named In Indictment

The White House announced today that it is elevating two members of Cheney’s staff who are named in the Scooter Libby indictment. The White House announced:

"The Vice President today appointed David S. Addington of Virginia to be the chief of staff to the Vice President. The Vice President also appointed John P. Hannah of the District of Columbia as the Assistant to the Vice President for National Security Affairs."

Both Addington and Hannah are named in the indictment. Hannah was intimately involved in the strategy of leaking Plame’s identity. From the indictment:

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See, they really do care what we think!

No loyalty like a willingness to commit crimes for the capo. Medals all around. Leaking Libby is taking the fall for the whole war.

Absurd to the tenth power!

capt

#87 I love that. I love Frank Zappa.

I also love #89. So funny. My husband's name is John Smith.

Is this what Am