Mr. David Corn,

Thank for the update. Chalabi is the worst! Well up there with Chrissy Snichens. That guy always looks like he just crawled out of a bottle. He make less sense with every word he slurs.

Keep on asking the hard questions. No answers will be forthcoming but a non-answer says more at times. Chalabi served a function and he played his part. This WH loves him and owes him and must make sure he stays bought.

In a just world there would be justice for these criminals, in the real world "Medals for everybody" even Chalabi.

Things are worse than we can imagine when the crooks can operate completely in the open.

Thanks for all you do.

Kirk

Lets get back to the fact that bunnypants had bad intelligence before the war, bad intelligence after the war, lets just face it , this guy will have bad intelligence all his life.

David... thanks for throwing a hardball at Chalabi. Just wish one would hit him in the head.

How insulting to the Iraqi people, when along with the rest of MSM he only mentions the American lives that have been lost..."We are sorry for every american life that is lost in Iraq"....Not even mentioning the Iraqi lives that have been lost...Just the way the Bush administration likes it.

The "skeletons" of over 100,ooo Iraqi people are in the collective closets of Chalabi, the Bush administration and anyone else that participated in the creation and dessimination of the false intelligence.

The direct result of the mis-use of this intelligence has been thousands of deaths and injuries.

Hopefully these criminals will not be successful at closing the closet door.

Wow, what a day you had, David Corn. How do you keep your balence in a world so topsy turvy? Crazy.

Damn, that Mylroie is one hell of a loon.

AT PRESS CONFERENCE, SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE VICE-CHAIRMAN Rockefeller CALLS FOR THOROUGH, CREDIBLE, AND PROMPT PHASE II REPORT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2005

Washington, DC— At a morning press conference with Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on the importance of having a thorough and expeditious Phase II report, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Vice-Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, made the following remarks:

"For the three Senators standing up here, there is nothing more important than the issue we’re going to discuss today.

"Today, we are sending a letter to Majority Leader Frist and Minority Leader Reid that sets forth our expectation that the Phase II investigation will be thorough, as promised by the Chairman, and that the Committee findings in all five areas of inquiry will be released as promptly as possible.

"As we state in the letter, ‘We cannot allow the long delay in proceeding forward with Phase II to compromise the quality of our investigation.’

"We are also urging the Chairman to immediately appoint his 3 members of the task force if he has not already done so and to commit to completing the report before the Senate adjourns.

"At its core, this is about accountability -- Congressional accountability and White House accountability.

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

So it is those three for the democrats.

capt

Thanks Capt

I checked through press releases and went to the republicans on the Intelligence committe websites and, no surprise, not one has any mention of Phase II. They probably want to talk about something other than P2, just like them.

capt

PS - 11/14 is when the six are suppose to report back.

Dems close-Senate playbook in 2003 memo

Prior to resuming the open session, the senators agreed to appoint a six-member task force with three members from each party, to review the Intelligence Committee's progress on "Phase 2" of its work and report back to their respective caucuses by Nov. 14.

The first phase resulted in a 511-page report submitted last summer that addressed flaws of an Iraq intelligence estimate assembled by the country's top analysts in October 2002.

Roberts said the panel had started the second phase of the review but not completed it. He had intended all along, he said, to continue the work next week.

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

November fourteenth. That will the day!

capt

Capt...isn't it interesting that it is so difficult to find all six folks on the panel. Guess they would prefer people not contact them.

I too went the sites of Hagel, Hatch, Lott who had all been on the original committee. Could not find a thing.

Over a year ago I had called Rockerfeller's office and had talked to some of the folks there about Phase II. They were very helpful..I will call them tomorrow to get the names, if we can not find them.

It's kind of scary when you realize just how clueless the congress is. They actually thought their loyalty was to the Bush administration, big business, and the Republican Party rather than the people of this nation.

By the way, I went by a several gas stations at 5 PM and the sign said 209 to 210 a gallon. At seven thirty when I bought the gas the sign said 225 a gallon. I asked the attendent to explain it. He told me he just changes it. He gets the paper work from corporate and then he changes it. I said, "I think it's ass kicking time." He said he knew what I was saying but he worked there so he couldn't say anything.
Unbelievable.

My eyes are closing....time to unplug...

I saw it first! Regular at 2 different stations...$1.99.9!!!

but they were both closed!

$2.15 at the open one.

-T

Capt...I went to daily kos...and the names are there and the numbers. dailykos.com/storyonly 2005 NOv. 2nd "awaken the senate:looking backward.. I will have someone teach me to link. I am still somewhat of a luddite.

Hajji,
Run out right now and fill your tank.

This may help folks make those phone calls to the appropriate senators...lets keep pushing

Just hit my name from the recent post for the daily kos site with names and numbers for Phase II.....

I went to Daily koz and found something interesting - off topic. A former marine confirming that Willy Pete was used on the enemy.
------------------
What I saw in Iraq with regards to White Phosphorus

by The Liberal US Marine
Wed Nov 09, 2005 at 06:11:48 PM PDT
I was with a Marine Corps unit on the outskirts of An Nasiriyah, Iraq in March 2003. We were set up in the city dump (the nastiest place I have EVER slept at. The flies were horrible), right on the river (I cant remember if it was the Tigiris or the Euphrates). Anyway, the huge fight of the war was An Nasiriyah. The Marine Corps scheme of manuever counted on having An Nasiriyah secured so the remainder of the division could push northward. An Nasiriyah was proving very difficult to secure, so that city became the intregal objective for the Marine Corps.
Anyway, I recall vividly a incident that took place at our position. A Marine Artillery battery was within 500 meters of our position and they were providing indirect fire support in support of ground operations occuring in and around An Nasiriyah. I recall them shooting at a target in a tree line, across the river, maybe 700-1000 meters to the east of our position. When the rounds were shot out, they seemed to explode over the target area. A dense white cloud rained down on the tree line and you could see some enemy vehicles attempt to flee the area. I knew from watching similar explosions in training exercises that the cloud raining down on the target area was a white phosphorus round. They shot about 5 of them from my recollection.

I recall thinking, "Man, that is some evil stuff there." Knowing what I know about Willy Pete, it would be a terrible way to die. White Phosphorus is supposed to be used to mark targets for aviation flying high over an objective area. And I know for a fact that no fixed-winged aviation was dropping ordnance in that area, it was too close to friendlies. I know this for a FACT. To see what I saw, not 1000 meters from where I was, in retrospect, is really frightening. I remember feeling like the more of them we killed, the quicker we could go home. And I am positive that is how every servicemember in a combat zone feels.

This is what I saw. No lies, no embellishing, just true facts. We did use Willy Pete on enemies (and due to urban operations, most likely on civilians too).

White House Set to Launch Propaganda Campaign Against Dems, Media Complicit

The White House is about to launch a "hit back" campaign against the Democrats, according to Dana Bash of CNN.

The Columbia Journalism Review notes:

Bash filed a CNN.com piece previewing the "'campaign-style' strategy" that anonymous "top White House officials" told her they are developing "in response to increasing Democratic allegations that the Bush administration twisted intelligence to make its case for war." The "hit-back," as Bash's anonymice called the strategy, will apparently commence in the coming days.
The CJR thinks that the mainstream media will be complicit in this attempt to boost Bush's polls and damage surging Democrats who have finally found a message that resonates with most Americans.

CJR continues, and notes an unintentional revelation in Bash's story:

The anonymice . . . detailed for Bash the . . . top talking points (pre-war intelligence was faulty, but it was not manipulated; everyone was working from the same intelligence; here are some quotes from Democrats talking about WMDs as if they existed).

"Telegraphing the beginning of a communications effort is a tactic the Bush team has used in the past, especially when it comes to Iraq," Bash wrote. Or, put another way, I, along with my colleagues in the press, have been used in the past to preview assorted White House public relations plans and talking points.

And I'm told -- and I'm telling you -- that I and my colleagues in the press will be similarly used in the near future. Or, in Bash's own words: "it is unclear which administration officials will participate in this 'aggressive' response, which senior officials indicate will be unveiled in interviews and other public events." (Emphasis ours).

This will be a major test for the mainstream media, especially cable outlets. Knowing what we all know now about Judy Miller, and Plamegate, and having witnessed firsthand the administration lies and spin during and after Katrina, will the Corporate Media allow themselves to be used by the White House again? I think that this is an even more reliable way to test the strength the Bush adminstration is right now. If they are as weak as they appear, and as we all seem to think they are, the media shouldn't play along this time.

Bash says,

White House officials are determined to reverse President Bush's poor poll showings on the topics of Iraq and "honesty and trustworthiness."
----------------------------
So what will it be for MSM?

Tank (in the "New" Jeep...THANKZ VIN!) is already full for the drive up to Loovull tomorrow for Nickel Creek and Martin Sexton with the sisters and a company.

Good food, good beer, good company and GREAT music!

at 30- some dollars a tank instead of 50-some...who knows WHO's neighborhood I could end up in!

-T

unscientific poll on AOL's 'welcome page' (but the 'real' polls only ask about a thousand people... look how many participated so far on this one... that's gotta mean something)

Who's in bigger political trouble?
President Bush 71%
Gov. Schwarzenegger 29%

Which party do you think is stronger right now?
Democrats 71%
Republicans 29%
Total Votes: 145,030

Jeanne,

I've no faith at all in the MSM. I'm (to be honest) somewhat surprised at the energetic level to which even David Corn has risen of late. (still not quite what many more than I hope for, but improving) Sidewalk debates are a GREAT way to get something started.

I've been a little laid-back in my own personal efforts to crank up the discussion. It has lately been quite nice just to sit back and hear others coming to.... well, "coming TO" kinda sez it all.

Even a staunch Republibush Radiologist told me today that he heard that Scooter ran into Dubbya during a bike ride today.... Scooter said..."Pardon Me!"...

HAHAHAHA......

-T

Alan,

...to think that California could've had GARY COLEMAN, instead! Wait...to think that we could STILL get Gary Coleman in the White House!

WHATCHUTALKIN'bout ALAN??

I'm afraid that the lower the 'Shrub sinks the MORE trouble we'll all be in.

Israeli's were warned to evacuate the Jordanian hotels before the "suicide" blasts, WRH is reporting...

How much harder,really, would it be to do the same in DesMoine or KC or Irving on a Sunday afternoon?

I'm askeered!

-T

Israeli's were warned to evacuate the Jordanian hotels before the "suicide" blasts, WRH is reporting...

err, that was so they could blow 'em up in the lobby when they were checking out.
*nudge nudge*

#22
Hajji,
Soooooooo saddddd! That is definately a Republican joke. I bet he's still chuckling over it.

Nighty night.

This might be some good news. Karl Rove's chief of staff is scheduled to appear again before Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald. It's from the Philippine News, and it goes on to sugar-coat the fellow filipino that she is. *takes grain of salt* But hey, she might've told them something that our reporters didn't get... that she's gotta answer more questions.

David, you are doing good work.

Someone like Chalabi is not going to answer questions as direct as 'were you or were you not misleading the US'. Reporters need to be like special counsels before a grand jury of the people. The questions may have to build up to a case and catch them saying something even with their evasive answers.

Here is a mock interview with a few excerpts from an older FRONTLINE interview.

Reporter: "Mr Chalabi much of the information that you and the INC provided to the US administration has been found to have been wrong, and even could be determined unreliable at the time without going to war. Are you willing to take responsibility for not withholding unreliable information that misled the US into the war?"

Chalabi: "We only provided the information, it was up to the US administration to determine the reliability and how to use it"

Reporter: "Who received this information from you and the INC? And did you warn the US administration that this information was likely unreliable?"

Chalabi: "Some went to the Pentagon, NSC and CIA. And no, again it was up to them to make the determination of whether it was reliable"

Reporter: "Did the US administration ask you whether you thought this information was reliable?"

Chalabi: "I don't recall"

Reporter: "With a PhD in Mathematics, and as a published university professor, you know a lot about verifying a proof before making claims, including peer reviews. Since the US administration decided to go to war heavily relying on incorrect information obtained from the INC without checking it carefully, do you think a full examiniation of how the US administration has entered this war should be made... or should such rigid validation processes be left to university environments?"

Chalabi: "Again, you need to talk to the US administration about that."

Reporter: "We have been trying to find out, but they won't investigate"

insert interview from FRONTLINE

Frontline reporter: "Many people [in the U.S.] who supported the war no longer do. They feel that they were suckered."

Chalabi: "Yes, probably."

FL Reporter: "half the people now feel that the war wasn't justified on the grounds that it was argued for."

Chalabi: Okay.

FL Reporter: "Do you feel any discomfort with that?"

Chalabi: "No. We are in Baghdad now."
end of inserted FRONTLINE interview

Reporter: "So you are saying that you have no qualm about the US administration committing its people to a war under a false premise because it got you and the INC what you want, which is to be in Baghdad?"

Chalabi: "I'm just saying it worked out well anyway"

Reporter: "Do you think the people of the US would have gone to war if they knew that your information was erroneous?"

Chalabi: "I don't know, but it worked out ok"

Reporter: "So it is beneficial to your cause that the people of the US were persuaded by inaccurate information in order to assure that you and the INC could get into Baghdad. Because it didn't really matter what the truth was?"

Chalabi: "Again, I'm not in charge of making sure the people of the US get the truth, that is the responsibility of the US administration, I'm just interested in freeing Iraq and getting the INC into Baghdad. Look, I got to go. I have meeting with Condi"

flan & TRH -
I've been getting caught up in trying to prove what DID happen, and that's a losing battle - what I SHOULD be saying is this: the govt. lied to us all about 911, and every aspect of their story can and has been proven to be false - most of their lies even I can disprove using photos, eyewitness testimony, laws of physics, and simple logic, all gathered from the internet - the reason I post continuous 911 linx is to point out that the govt. lied, and that the 911 case should be reopened - unfortunately, all the physical evidence like the WTC steel beams and the surveillance camera footage from the pentagon were whisked away and no one was allowed to even see it much less examine it -
anyway, if anyone wants to learn a lot about 911 and the lies and cover-ups, you can order a free dvd called "Confronting The Evidence" by clicking on my name below - it's almost 4 hours long, and well worth the exorbitant price -

Preaching Pacifism Is No Crime

Free speech is outlawed in America.

It surprises me that no one has said or suggested what is crying out to be said -- before we all go back into bondage. And by using that word I'm assuming the prior usage refers to slavery and not S&M stuff.

Speaking of prior usages, I'm going to scream if anyone else spells dissemination incorrectly. Do not turn off the spellcheckerupper. This is not a word to dis.

Now, about our troubles: We need a constitutional convention to revamp and revise our federal codes and laws. The government is too long and too far out of the hands of the people. We no longer have any say in what our government says or does. There is nothing of 'We the People' except as petitioners for mercy.

There is a prescribed path to follow for bringing the federal government into compliance with the will of the people. It's about time we stepped out on that path. Thomas Jefferson is said to have believed it should be done often. Of course, Jefferson was a man not afraid to look to the future.

Don Smith

yeah Don, and they should start with outlawing K-Street and all the other lobbyists. That one move there would clean out most of the shyt.

#31 I'm not a big fan of Jefferson. He thought the French revolution was swell. John Q Adams wrote his dad (John Adams) and nailed it on the head when he said that the french revolution was without order (kind of like current paris riots) and had no architecture to it, he said that it would lead to a dictator coming in to restore order. And to this day, many of the established institutions used to govern France were put in place by Napolean and not the revolutionaries who ate their own parents every couple of years. The US constitution and government was formed a little through experimentation and definitely study of the already existing british government (no it wasn't an absolute monarchy).

Also the Soviet Union had a pretty goodconstitution from what I hear. The problem was no one wanted to follow it, they didn't really believe in it.

It's becoming the same here, we no longer seem to be able to say that we hold "these truths to be self-evident", or that we "seek to form a more perfect union" (and really mean it). Today, leaders of the repub seem to want to get rid of "we the people" and make it a individualistic, capitalistic country for the poor and socialism and power to the rich.

The repub senators certainly don't respect that the senate was designed to curtail the majority from railroading the minority party.

If I recall there were survets done where people were asked to sign a petition for a constitutional ammendment and they thought it was too radical. They were rejecting excerpts from the current bill of rights.

by Laura Rosen...

I was in a torture chamber
once, in the basement of a police station in Kosovo days after it was abandoned by Serb forces defeated by Nato. It was hideous as you would imagine. The British soldiers who were with me were equally shocked
. A lot of the instruments and interrogation drugs I saw there also suggest they were not designed to cause organ failure or death in their victims, just pain and terror, as Mr. Cheney and his office mates suggest is what they are going for in terms of legal wiggle room. And like Mr. Cheney and his office mates, Mr. Milosevic and his Serb troops didn't seem to overly concern themselves with the Geneva conventions, until it was a bit late. Having laid my eyes on what such a scene looks like, I just associate such activities with the forces of not only the pathological and depraved, but those who are headed for defeat. If you've seen it, you realize in a way that's hard to explain, it's the tactics of the losers. If Cheney and his office mates haven't had the experience, perhaps they should. And I really don't think it's inconceivable that the remote possibility of the Hague may lie in some of their futures. Things change fast when they do, as history shows, and they could find their current willing protectors eventually chucked from office, and a whole new climate at home and abroad.

Posted by Laura at November 8, 2005 11:03 PM

I can't figure what information they're getting from torture..what, are they torturing aziz to find out where abdul has hidden his 19 rifles?
because it just never ends..I mean, what al qaeda guys do they actually get? every once in a while they capture the #3 al qaeda big wig, and there's his photo on tv, but what else are they getting from torture? the location of abdul's retarded brother's 19 rifles as well as abdul and his 19 rifles? - what's that, 38 rifles?..they haven't found any WMD or they would trumpet that all around right? so what's the point of all this torturing that's supposedly going on?..are they looking for treasure?..I don't get it.

The wheel turns slowly on the 2nd phase of the investigation into the use of Intel; but this quote seems ridiculously obtuse:
"We are not looking to place blame," Feinstein said, "but if the president said something like the 16 words on uranium, somebody put them in there, and we want to know what [intelligence] there was before" the speechwriter. She suggested that Robert Joseph, then the National Security Council staff member supervising preparation of the Iraq weapons material in the speech and now undersecretary of state for arms control, might be the type of witness called to testify."

I want them to drag Bolton's fixers at WINPAC into the committee room and find out who told them to twist and fix intelligence to meet the policy.

..."I always knew he would reach this sort of position," said a former US official who was present and who worked with Chalabi years ago. "He knows where the skeletons are for many people. That has always made him very hard to stop. And he hasn't been stopped yet." who is this person, and what does HE/SHE know?? what kind of skeletons? so, is chalabi blackmailing our government officials?

# 19 Jeanne Thanks.
The Columbia Journalist review notes..
"I think that this is and even more reliable way to test the strength the Bush administration has right now. If they are as weak as they appear, and as we all seem to think they are, the media shouldn't play along this time."

The media should NEVER PLAY ALONG...EVER. Whether an administration is strong or weak, this reflects the "STINKIN THINKIN" that goes on in the MSM. They know that their job is to inform the public with accurate and well balanced information. We are here to help them remember.

David Corn's previous post "The WMD Scandal..Smear-and-Distract time" addresses the issue. Although we know that this has been the M.O. of this administration from the beginning. OUr job is to hammer our senators and the press to call them out on it.

CALL..WRITE ..VISIT YOUR SENATORS ABOUT PHASE II..LET THEM KNOW WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY...WE WANT THIS IMPLEMENTED. You can go to SEnator Rockerfellers website to see what the demands are in regard to the investigation.

CALL...WRITE ANY MEDIA SOURCE THAT NEEDS TO BE REMINDED THAT WE WANT ACCURATE AND WELL BALANCED COVERAGE.

#36 Pandemoniac...I suggessted in the comments section of Davids last post, that it seemed obvious to me that Diane Feinstein should recuse herself from this panel. I base this suggesstion on her husbands business and ultimately her profit from and the conflict of interest with the information used to go to war. .

I think her statement "we are not looking to place blame" reflects this conflict of interest. I think there is a possibility that she is just one more filter put in place to keep the american people and the world from the truth.

I think she should either remove herself or be removed.If we the people want this investigation to be thorough, there should be absolutely no questions about the individuals on the panel.

Go to sandiego indy media.org/2003/04/5439
Feinstein's husband owns a controlling interest in a company that won a huge U.S. Army contract last week to help President George W. Bush wage his imperialist wars in the Middle East!


Senator Dianne Feinstein's husband, Richard C. Blum,
is a wealthy San Francisco businessman who owns about 200,000 shares of preferred stock in the Perini
Corporation, a Boston-based construction and real
estate development company. {1}

It just so happens to be the case that the Perini Corporation won a huge U.S. Army contract last week to help President George W. Bush wage his imperialist wars in the Middle East!

I bet the wine glasses were clinking at Senator Feinstein's home, weren't they?

Notes

{1} See the following URL's for Richard C. Blum's
links to the Perini Corporation:

http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/1999/08/09/story4.html

http://www.examiner.com/news/default.jsp?story=n.bartside.0729w

---

http://boston.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2003/04/07/daily12.html

April 8, 2003

Perini rises after company wins Army contract

Boston Business Journal

Shares of Perini Corp., the largest U.S. builder of
hotels and convention centers, rose 40 percent Monday
after the company was awarded a contract by the U.S.
Army.

The shares rose $1.61 to $5.60, the highest closing
price in 11 months. They have gained 26 percent this
year. In Tuesday trading, the stock gave back some
gains, slumping 12 cents to close at $5.48.

Perini won a one-year contract from the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers to perform design, construction and
maintenance work for Central Command, the Engineers
Corps said Friday. Central Command is in 25 countries
and is commanding the war in Iraq. The contract's
value could be anywhere from $500,000 to $100 million.

"The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers picked us as one of
the three companies to provide services to Centcom,"
Robert Band, Perini's president and chief operating
officer, said. "That's probably one thing that spiked
people's interest."

The government has angered the majority of Americans with its lies, brutality and indifference to human suffering at home or abroad. Yet the empire is hell-bent on carrying out its plans for global domination devised by the Project for a New American Century and others before Bush took office.

And while impeachment and criminal indictments would be the normal avenue for ridding the country of leaders who do not follow the constitution or the rule of law, it looks like congress is largely closing ranks to protect the criminals.

However, the imperial alliance doesn't have the means necessary to crush dissent at this point. In fact, millions of brave Americans are raising their voices now more than ever, even in the face of increasing repression and censorship.

And when they drew up their imperial plans, they did not count on the power of the Internet to spread truth. Even if they shut down the web based upon some imaginary necessity, they cannot re-enslave minds once liberated.

The stubborness of the imperial rulers and their refusal to change course is crashing into the rising awareness, anger, outrage and courage of the public, like two tectonic plates grinding together.

Revolution is inevitable. The only question is whether it will be violent or non-violent.

But is a Peaceful Revolution Possible?

I don't know. On the one hand, the crazy warmongers are gearing up right now for full-scale wars against Syria and Iran, and covert operations have already begun in both countries. And Saudi Arabia and Venezuela are on the radar as future targets for invasion.

Despite Bush's plummeting poll numbers, and the CIA leak, torture, and WMD disinformation scandals, the guys in charge of our country are going pedal-to-the-metal to launch us into a further series of imperial wars of aggression.

Furthermore, the U.S. mainstream media refuses to cover the real stories, such as 9/11, which would take the wind out of the sails of the war ship.

On the other hand, the time is ripe for change. The U.S. is running a huge deficit, is overextended militarily, and has lost credibility in the world.

The powers-that-be are clearly following the old adage that "the best defense is a strong offense". They are desperately trying to play a strong offense (starting new wars, cracking down on civil liberties, killing whistleblowers, and maybe planning new false flag operations) in order to play defense (avoiding impeachment, indictments, guilty verdicts for war crimes, and exposure of the unholy alliances they have formed with the ruling elites of other countries and with established criminal organizations).

But a sizeable portion of the public is catching on to at least the basic dihonesty of the leaders, trust in the administration is plummeting -- even in wartime -- and ever-increasing numbers of people are reading websites that are exposing their real game.

The public is finally waking up, and the momentum has shifted away from the bad guys.

So, How Is A Peaceful Revolution Carried Out?

40-43 James, I am now inspired to cook up a story where indictments, exposure, and the slow awakening of the general populace via the internet leads to a bunch of Kucinich/Paul Hackett independant types somehow wrest control of congress and begin to fix everything. A few of them have "accidents" along the way, which ultimately leads to more of the perpetrators being caught. And of course, 911 gets investigated, and it turns out you were completely right about all of it after all. This will make a great made for TV flick. Maybe FX of Lifet Movie Network, (you know, "Television for Women"), will pick it up. Ed Asner as the VP. Maybe Tony Danza or Woody Harrelson as Dub. I'm sure Pam Anderson will fit in there somewhere too.

Oops, sorry, that is "FX or Lifetime Movie Network" - I typed too fast, as I was completely absorbed in my own self absorption of my own self perceived cleverness.

ANOTHER 911 PASSPORT "MIRACLE"

this one just takes the cake -
and since I think that many of you wont read this link, and I've already drank too much coffee, I'll just put my own 3/4 cent in first -

on 911 at WTC a highjacker's passport somehow fluttered to the ground amidst millions and millions of other pieces of paper and was "found" by a 1st responder - that's how they established that it was 19 arabs with magic boxcutters -

meanwhile at the pentagon, the lack of debris from flight77 a 757, was explained by "the plane must've vaporized upon impact" - ok, I guess that could happen...if a plane flew into a volcano -

so now, Capt. Jim Ingledue, shift safety officer of the Virginia Beach Fire Dept, said Monday he found amidst the rubble at the Pentagon, two days after 9/11, the perfectly clean and unblemished California ID card of Suzanne Calley, 42, one of the alleged victims killed aboard Flight 77.

- he's kept this ID card that somehow survived, (along with all the human body parts, remember they analyzed dna to separate the highjackers from the passengers, despite the FACT that photos taken immediately after the inpact reveal that there were no body parts strewn about), anyway these invisible body parts AND this cali.ID card survived the total vaporization of a 757.

now after 4 years and 2 months this Cpt. Ingledue has brought forth this evidence that he kept in his pocket the whole time, thus proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that I'm a paranoid wacko who drinks too much coffee!

order a FREE DVD called Confronting The Evidence by clicking on my name below - it's definitely worth the price

you may be clever sir, but I am yet cleverer!

ha just kidding - woody harrelson & ed asner double ha! - if Kucinich would lift weights he could slap knots on all those guys' heads -

James, it just gets wackier and wackier!

James asked "what else are they getting from torture?" I'm guessing Cheney, Rummy, Rove, and Chimpy McFlightsuit are getting huge, throbbing boners from the DVDs of the sessions, because that's the kind of @$$holes they are.

After tonight, I don't have to go back to work until the 21st. Yayyy me!

From the swamps of Arkansas, Ivory Bill Woodpecker

"I remember thinking it was highly unusual and strange to find a perfectly intact ID card amidst all that devastation," said Capt. Ingledue, a Pentagon first responder who arrived two days after 9/11 and spent a total of seven days in search and rescue.

I'm sorry but this kind of crap just makes me furious -- "all that devastation? ...seven days in search and rescue?" -- fuck that! - look at THIS PHOTO of the pentagon impact site where a 757 travelling at 500 or more mph "vaporized" and scattered body parts all around -

Connecting the Dots

When I talk about dots, I am talking about articles that we read, life experiences, life events in our daily lives, perceptions, etc. As we connect the dots, we can give some kind of opinions.

Let me start by giving you a recent example. I read the article, "Preaching pacifism is not a crime." After reading this article you can sense that the American government wants to take away free speech. The government does not want us to be pacifists and to show love and mercy. Our government wants for us to accept and develop aggression, intolerance, and hatred. From this development we will readily accept murder, torture, and wars as a way of life.

Reflecting on the article in more detail I recalled Veronica's glimpse of hell that Our Lady revealed to her. I remember Veronica saying that the souls were falling like raindrops. As the souls were falling, they were screaming help mercy, mercy, too late, too late.

As I recalled these words, I felt that Americans were actually living under Bush and his cabal in a living, natural hell. Our bodies are in hell under Bush. Veronica's glimpse of hell is the supernatural hell that our souls enter if we are not prepared to meet our Creator.

As we connect the dots from these two examples to the numerous experiences in our lives, we will conclude that America is a living, natural hell with evil and vile people who have a depraved indifference to our lives, freedoms, and rights. We know the names in Bush's cabal but we also have to contend with political ideologues, like Dobson, Falwell, Robertson, and Franklin Graham. They profess to be religious leaders but they are really ideologues with a political agenda that is leading Americans into a supernatural hell.

As more and more dots are connect, we will see that America is a pit stop before we enter a supernatural hell because the American experiences are that we learn to hate, to murder, to torture, and to gravitate to endless wars. These learned experiences, as Americans, are the appropriate preparation for our everlasting placement in a supernatural hell.

Follow the money to get to the source of the problem

"Ms. [Loretta] Napoleoni draws a startling comparison with the era of the Crusades against Islamic dominance, arguing that economic imperatives propel the war on terrorism ... as much as they did in the 11th and 12th centuries. (Consider the contracts in Iraq awarded to the Halliburton Company and other United States businesses, and she may have a point.)"

Loretta Napoleoni estimates that the "new economy of terror" has grown into a $1.5 trillion globe-spanning system

******************
Chalabi has multiple paymasters...The Bush/Cheney Regime, Iran, others.

James, I am becoming more annoyed by the day with David and his refusal to address this issue. I know this is his blog, and his dime, but how can any journalist possibly ignore such blatent lies about the most destructive "terrorist" attack the world has ever seen?
------------------
From: Taking a Closer Look: Hard Science and the Collapse of the World Trade Center
by Dave Heller
Physics 911

How I First Began to Question: WTC7

The World Trade Center (WTC) contained seven buildings. The Twin Towers were called buildings One (WTC1) and Two (WTC2). They collapsed in truly astounding fashion, but the event that caused me first to question the official story about the events of 9-11 was viewing videos of the collapse of World Trade Center Building 7 (WTC7).

If you've forgotten, WTC7 was a 47-story building that was not hit by an airplane or by any significant debris from either WTC1 or WTC2. Buildings 3, 4, 5, and 6 were struck by massive amounts of debris from the collapsing Twin Towers, yet none collapsed, despite their thin-gauge steel supports.

Viewing the Collapse of WTC7
The 9-11 commemorative videos produced by PBS and CNN are best. Both clearly show WTC7's implosion.

WTC7, which was situated on the next block over, was the farthest of the buildings from WTC1 and WTC2. WTC7 happened to contain the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM), a facility that was, according to testimony to the 9-11 Commission, one of the most sophisticated Emergency Command Centers on the planet. But shortly after 5:20 pm on Sept. 11, as the horrific day was coming to a close, WTC7 mysteriously imploded and fell to the ground in an astounding 6.5 seconds.

6.5 seconds. This is a mere 0.5 seconds more than freefall in a vacuum. To restate this, a rock dropped from the 47th floor would have taken at least 6 seconds to hit the ground. WTC7, in its entirety, fell to the earth in 6.5 seconds. Now, recall, we're supposed to believe that each floor of the building "pancaked" on the one below. Each of the 47 floors supposedly pancaked and collapsed, individually. Yet WTC7 reached the ground in 0.5 seconds longer than freefall. Is this really possible?

Judge for yourself. Watch WTC7 go down. It takes 6.5 seconds. Take out your stopwatch.

Ongoing Questions
But having established that all three WTC towers had to have been assisted in their failures, I asked myself, Who could have planted the explosives to blow up the buildings in a controlled demolition? Could fundamentalist Muslim fanatics have gotten the plans for those buildings, engineered the demolition, and then gotten into them to plant the explosives?

This seemed improbable. And after learning that WTC7 housed the FBI, CIA, and the OEM, it seemed impossible. Then I thought, Why would terrorists engineer a building to implode? Wouldn't they want to cause even more damage to the surrounding buildings and possibly create more havoc and destruction from debris exploding away from the building? And if they'd planted explosives in the buildings, why would they have bothered hijacking and flying planes into them? Perhaps WTC7 was demolished to destroy evidence that would answer these questions. To this day, I don't know. But this is how I began to question the official story about 9-11.

Recently I learned that President Bush's brother, Marvin Bush, is a part owner of the company that not only provided security for both United and American Airlines, but also for the World Trade Center complex itself. I also discovered that Larry Silverstein, who had bought the leasing rights for the WTC complex from the NY/NJ Port Authority in May of 2001 for $200 million, had received a $3.55 billion insurance settlement right after 9-11 - yet he was suing for an additional $3.55 billion by claiming the two hits on the towers constituted two separate terrorist attacks! He stood to make $7 billion dollars on a four month investment. Talk about motive.

In conclusion, I'll repeat myself. None of the many 9-11 researchers can definitively say exactly what happened on that fateful day in September almost 3 years ago. But any sensible person can easily spot dozens of inconsistencies in the official story that is being forced upon us. And the fact is, most of the available 9-11 evidence points to at least some level of government complicity or foreknowledge.
-------------------
We COULD find out what happened, if the media would pull their heads out and start asking questions. The fact that they don't makes me very suspicious.

Micki, I can't believe that chalabi is still running loose as a free man! Truth and justice have completely deserted this country.

I.B.Wo ,
that does make sense now! I couldn't fathom what the devil they were getting out of it, but I bet they're collecting and trading them like bubble gum cards!

AEI brought Chalabi over specifically to deflect the Bush/Cheney responsibility for the lies that took our nation into an illegal and unwise invasion.

See, it was just bad intelligence and so it was all Chalabi and Curveballs fault.

The truth is: Chalabi said what he was told to say and when he could not do the lying he brought us his cousin Curveball.

See, the whole mess was all Chalabi's fault, Bush was manipulated, lies to, hoodwinked, deceived, and hypnotized.

Poor Chimpy McFlightsuit was an unwilling dolt dragged to war on everybody else's lies.

Darn that Chalabi.

capt

House drops ANWR from budget

DRILLING: More than 20 Republicans say they won't vote for a bill with that provision.

By LIZ RUSKIN
Anchorage Daily News

Published: November 10, 2005
Last Modified: November 10, 2005 at 05:20 AM

WASHINGTON -- House Republicans, after long hours of scrounging for the votes to pass their five-year budget, decided Wednesday night to drop a provision that would open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.

The news emerged late Wednesday night as the House Rules Committee prepared the far-reaching bill for a vote on the House floor today.

"There will be no drilling in ANWR," said New Hampshire Rep. Charles Bass, one of the Republican moderates who led the effort to strip ANWR from the bill.

But environmentalists and drilling advocates alike said their decades-long fight goes on. Because ANWR development was in the budget bill the Senate passed last week, it's still possible for it to become law.

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

I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate. I know it is early but . .

Put a shot of liquor in your coffee, roll one, put salsa on your eggs - whatever you do to celebrate!

This is good news. I think we reader, posters, bloggers, letter writers, etc. ARE making a difference.

Sure not a total victory but I will take ‘em where I can get them. This is good news and music to my ears.

I personally wish to thank every person that has made even a small effort. This is damn fine news indeed.

capt

As long as these crooks control the government we will never have the truth the only hope is to get them out of power, then into shackles, appoint an independent commision to investigate then torture the bastards until they tell us what they know. That should work out well.

I love John Conyers...but I hope he isn't holding his breath...ending paragraph of a letter to Ahmed Chalabi...

Here's the complete letter

"....We therefore encourage you to meet with us during your visit to the United States this week, explain your actions to the public, and help the people of both Iraq and the United States to understand why we are at war today. Please reply through the Judiciary Committee Democratic office, 2142 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, (tel: 202-225-6504; fax: 202-225-4423).
Sincerely,
John Conyers, Jr.
Maurice Hinchey
George Miller
Raul M. Grijalva
Chris Van Hollen
Susan Davis
Michael McNulty
Grace Napolitano
Lloyd Doggett
Ted Strickland
Ellen Tauscher
Jim McDermott
Jay Inslee
Marci Kaptur
Jan Schakowsky
Donald Payne
Cynthia McKinney
Hilda Solis

Since Chalabi is staying at the Ritz-Carlton in DC, couldn't someone from the Jordanian Embassy just waltz over there and arrest him and extradite him to Jordan for his crimes?

Or does he get diplomatic immunity?

Just wondering...

Saladin I agree entirely with what you say -- the mcmedia including david just completely ignore 911 entirely as if it never happened -- what I find ironic is that mcmedia must think that since they're ignoring it, the websites must be wacky conspiracy nuts with no credibility - ha! - the mcmedia including david corn are the one's who will end up with no credidility for ignoring such a glaringly obvious flaw in our country -

ATTN.DAVID CORN thank you for allowing us this forum to air our views for free no matter how wacky! but despite your fine journalistic and writing skills, your failure to address the issue of 911 lumps you into the same category as the rest of the shills such as Thomas Friedman and Thomas Sowell - sorry my friend, but that's how it will play out -

nine one wizzle will not go away my mizzle!

maybe he will marry Judas Miller. Cute couple.

That’≥ Not Accurate: White House Alters Transcript of Press Briefing

There is a brewing controversy about what exactly was said at the White House press conference on October 31. Everyone agrees NBC’≥ David Gregory said this:

Q Whether there’≥ a question of legality, we know for a fact that there was involvement. We know that Karl Rove, based on what he and his lawyer have said, did have a conversation about somebody who Patrick Fitzgerald said was a covert officer of the Central Intelligence Agency. We know that Scooter Libby also had conversations.

Congressional Quarterly and FNS both transcribed Press Secretary Scott McClellan’≥ answer as "That’≥ accurate." The White House transcript lists McClellan’≥ answer as "I don’¥ think that’≥ accurate."
We’∂e isolated the clip so you can judge for yourself:

Watch in QuickTime streaming.

If you listened to the clip, it’≥ clear McClellan says "that’≥ accurate." Nevertheless, the White House is trying to get CQ and FNS to change their transcripts. They’∂e refused.

(HT: Wonkette)

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

If the truth does not fit, just change the transcript. Yeah, that is the ticket.

Talk about not being based in reality.

capt

Thomas Sowell and David Corn in the same category??!!!

Oh, come on!

Micki,

Jordan "pardoned" Chalabi when he took his position in the AmIraqi government.

Now, the $300 million he and his family stole, just chump change compared with the billion he is stealing on the new job.

capt

capt. 57 -

that IS good news! it's like the only good news in a long time and I'm going to grind up a dried banana peel right now, ha

Schwarzenegger Goes Down in California

THE TERMINATOR'S FALL FROM GRACE

By Marc Pitzke

A year ago, he was the state's wunderkind. Now, though, Californians are tired of their action-film-actor-turned-governor. He failed miserably in Tuesday's referendum and seems to have lost his touch. His approval ratings are even lower than Bush's.

The honeymoon is over: California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, once seen as the rising star of the Republican party, has lost the support of voters. His popularity is now lower than that of George W. Bush. With the loss of a referendum, his political future is now in doubt.

In times of crisis, US President George W. Bush likes to cling to the coat-tails of history. Recently, for example, he flew to California for the dedication of Ronald Reagan's presidential jet as it went on display to the public. The Boeing 707, Bush announced, was a "symbol of America's strength and resilience." The crowd applauded happily, among them the VIP elite of California's Republican community: Nancy Reagan, former Governor Pete Wilson, a host of Congressmen and Mayors.

Only one person was missing: Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Governor had excused himself from the festivities, saying he was "very busy".

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

Break out the govenators knee pads! He is going down! HA

Even Arnold knows that Bush is the vote terminator, too busy to make the event? SURE, I believe that.

capt

If we want Phase II of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to be thorough and in depth. Do you folks think it is appropriate for Senator Diane Feinstein to be serving on that committe?

According to sandiego.Indy media.org "Senator Feinstein's husband profits from...and to indymedia.org "another firm owned by Feinsteins jusband wins 600 million dollar contract".

If these reports are accurate. Why would Senator Pat Roberts appoint a person with such an obvious conflict of interest? Unless he was continuing to try to filter the truth by blocking the thoroughness and depth of this investigation.

I think one of Senators Feinsteins recent statements reflects the strong possibility that she may be unwilling to dig deep on the intelligence "we are not looking to place blame". Possibly due to this obvious "conflict of interest" .

I think she should step down from this committee or be removed. What do other folks think?

SENATOR PAT ROBERTS HAS STALLED,,,BLOCKED AND DIVERTED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PHASE II. I THINK THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EFFORT TO EFFECT THE DEPTH OF THIS OF THIS INVESTIGATION

The news on the RNC's favored bagman Abramoff gets more and more spectacular. The corruption and cronyism in the Bush adminstrations is of a scale that would make even the most notorious third world leaders blush. See NYT link from Buzzflash.

One question:

After reading the post I am faced with a news-speak dilema.

Page 108, hmmmm

"I refer people to page 108 of the Robb-Silberman report "

So . . .

Nobody had a laptop, not one "reporter" had read up on 108 (excusable kind of) and not one "reporter" had a single intern, assistant, gopher, cell phone or any way to access PAGE 108 until AFTER the too obvious liar Chalabi was well off the hook?

Nobody, not one?

That is a bit hard to swallow upon reflection.

In the "information age" at a time when the information superhighway offers quick access to such things as "Robb-Silberman report" a room full of "an audience loaded with journalists, camera crews, policy wonks, admirers and his own entourage" and nobody not one "journalist" not one "policy wonk" had the capability to just look is up?

I googled Robb-Silberman and was offered the report (in PDF) in .26 seconds. I made it to page 108 in far less than 60 seconds?

I am at a loss for a room full of "journalists" (I use the term generously) that are suppose to be professional "reporters," that cannot get to critical information that is available through a cell phone?

Do these "journalists" have any hardware? Was nobody prepared? No one had a gopher, assistant, intern, hell nobody could even call their wife/husband and just ask what page 108 said? (one phone call, under a minute online?)

David, come on now, that is what is suppose to pass for reporting?

I am smelling a skunk.

"Before Chalabi started talking, several reporters were pondering if any head of state--let alone a deputy prime minister--would rate such attention and so many high-level meetings (though not one with the president). "

So the chatting BEFORE Chalabi started talking was just pondering access to this WH? Sounds like more envy by way of the access fetish than serious reporting considering what Chalabi might say or use an excuse?

That is what passes for reporting, eh?

Bulls**t. The only real question is why would a room full of journalists not include one, NOT ONE that could get the text of page 108?

Not even believable. Maybe I am wrong, maybe I am missing something. But really, in the information age how does his HUGE flaw include letting Chalabi LIE AGAIN UNCHALLENGED????

The fetid stench from the dead corpse of the long passed MSM is making me a bit sick.

Anybody else feeling ill with this kind of crap?

Maybe it is just me.

capt

Kathleen, the answer to that question is the same as why they appointed every member of the 9/11 commission. The job is to whitewash. That is what they do.
From Scoop UQ Wire:

UQ Wire: Bush Bribes Max Cleland To Shut Up?
Monday, 1 December 2003, 10:40 am
Opinion: www.UnansweredQuestions.org

Dear colleagues, associates and friends,

A month has passed since former Senator Max Cleland, member of the National Commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks (the Kean Commission), told the New York Times that the White House and President Bush's re-election campaign had reason to fear what the commission was uncovering in its investigation of intelligence and law enforcement "failures" before Sept. 11.

"As each day goes by," Cleland said, "we learn that this government knew a whole lot more about these terrorists before Sept. 11 than it has ever admitted." (New York Times, Oct. 26, 2003

In the meantime, the Kean Commission has accepted a deal to radically limit their access to the White House documents detailing just what high-level administration officials knew in advance of the attacks - the Presidential Daily Briefings or PDBs, including the one we know was entitled "BIN LADEN DETERMINED TO STRIKE IN U.S." and that warned of imminent hijackings (Aug. 6, 2001).

The only two delegates of the Commission who will be allowed to see *pre-edited* versions of these documents both have obvious conflicts of interest: Philip Zelikow has advised the Bush administration and wrote a book with Condoleeza Rice last year; whereas Jamie Gorelick is a former high-level adviser to President Clinton, whose PDBs will also come under scrutiny. The other commissioners will know only what Zelikow and Gorelick report back to them, based on their notes, which the White House will also be allowed to "edit."

Cleland and commission member Tim Roemer, a former congressman, both objected to the deal. "A majority of the commission has agreed to a bad deal," Cleland said in a stunning interview, reproduced below, in which he invokes the sorry history of the Warren Commission. "It is a national scandal... the Warren Commission blew it. I'm not going to be part of that. I'm not going to be part of looking at information only partially. I'm not going to be part of just coming to quick conclusions. I'm not going to be part of political pressure to do this or not do that..."

Cleland pulls no punches about the possible darker implications of the White House's secrecy fetish: "Let's chase this rabbit into the ground here. They had a plan to go to war and when 9/11 happened that's what they did; they went to war."

Last week came the news that Bush suddenly appointed Cleland to the board of the Export-Import Bank, as a result of which "he will have to leave the commission investigating the Sept. 11 terror attacks." So far only The Washington Times has reported details of this story; the rest of the media have completely ignored it. (See http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20031123-091108-4750r.htm )

Just when the White House invokes a Nixonian "executive privilege" in the struggle to keep its secrets, how is it possible that Bush can simply act to remove the most outspoken member of the Kean Commission by means of a cushy appointment? What other inducements were applied to Cleland to get him to leave the Commission?

This is tantamount to a confession that Cleland is right - the White House has serious dirt to hide! And Cleland is hardly the first high-level representative to pose these questions. I shall cite just two examples: For asking, starting in March 2002, what the Bush administration may have known in advance of Sept. 11, Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney was attacked from all sides and run out of Congress on a wave of millions in Republican campaign contributions.

Later that year, Senator Bob Graham headed the congressional joint investigation into Sept. 11. Despite its highly limited purview, the congressional investigation was still subjected to heavy executive censorship in its final report, including the deletion of an entire 28-page section that apparently details connections between Saudi Arabian elites and Qaeda (and possibly of the Bush family and Bin Laden family businesses). During his brief run for the presidency this year, Graham said the most important facts about 9/11 have yet to be revealed to the public.
---------------
Expect the same disgusting behavior with this investigation.

kathleen, I haven't been paying attention to that PHASE II stuff to be honest - is pat roberts really the one who appoints the PHASE II committee? - that makes it immediately suspect as being a whitewash IMHO - and in light of feinstein's hubby's place of self employment, she is suspect as well -
who else is on that committee?

I didn't know that about max cleland - I liked him, but now I don't know...you can't stand up part way and then sit back down, and still be considered a stand up guy -

dammit I'm not making any underhanded crack about his wheel chair and standing up, I'm referring to integrity not legs

Great news on Alaska drilling,but we must watch out for the conference report reconciling the house and senate versions. Anymore, they don't reconcile, they invent laws. Kathleen, cont'd support and kudos for your phase 2 work. Did Roberts appoint the democrats on the committee of 6 or would that be Rockefeller. Either way, she is the WRONG person to represent the people. Thanks for the research. D

Great news on Alaska drilling,but we must watch out for the conference report reconciling the house and senate versions. Anymore, they don't reconcile, they invent laws. Kathleen, cont'd support and kudos for your phase 2 work. Did Roberts appoint the democrats on the committee of 6 or would that be Rockefeller. Either way, she is the WRONG person to represent the people. Thanks for the research. D

A good statement by Kennedy on the lies and exaggerations leading up to Iraq. Relevant to Chalabi's part in the sorted affair. Relevant to the GOP's efforts to spin the Dems into complicity with misreading the intelligence.

http://kennedy.senate.gov/~kennedy/statements/05/11/2005B10439.html

Mr. Corn: Your conversation with the excreable Hitchens helps to confirm what I have felt from the day Ms. Plames name and her front-firms name were leaked. Ms. Plame and the Brewster-Jennings anti-proliferation operation were the intended victims of the leak. Smearing Joe Wilson was just a side benefit, or rather, smearing Joe Wilson was the excuse for the leak.
So the leak was, after all, straight up treason.
It was done with the intent of destroying an intelligence asset.

I wonder whether the true purpose of Chalabi's visit is not to serve as go-between for the US & Iran. As things stand, it is hard to figure how the US can follow through with whatever plan they have for Iraq (stay or leave) without Iran's help. If that is right, then since Chalabi is/was Perle's preferred candidate to head an Iraqi government, would that imply an Iran-Israel collusion in this "redesigning" of the Middle-East?

Bush thugs are up to their tricks with Chabali.The whole scam about him giving secrets to Iran is a crock full of sh!t.Long time ago, Judeath Miller was ask--Chabali lived with you is it true? Her responce---he just shares a room--bla-bla-bla.
Chabali is Bush'its man and you saps have been snooker again.All a show and what a diversion---bad boy Chabali,blame it on him. I just wonder how long this jackel will survive after Bush leaves office?
Just to show how stupid Americans are---it was only reported in the Asia times,that Bush approved * $billion for the Flu Vaccine----guess why--Rummsfield has the major stock in the company. Over the week, he has made millions. Same happened with the mandatory small Pox vaccine--the scum bag ,along with DickFace Chenny,they are in it for the money honey!
Put away the key boards, Get the torchs and nooses and the pitchforks and a few strong ropes and men.
Maria Antonette would be prode to be in league with these freaks in Washington--if it was not for the gilotine! If they have no bread-give'um cake--Stupid fools abound in USA--Wannia know who was behand the WTC 9111--Marvin Bush--the wannnia be Yid!

EVERYONE in the international intelligence community thought that Saddam had WMD for a very long time. Period. End. Done. Get with the program. Don't blow yet another opportunity for genuine left input by getting bogged down in a lost cause.

Dumb Arab Democracy----As in Cheasler Chabali.
You say "Everyone"????? and who give the bushit to them? By the way--where did you get- that fact?--maybe the lying Jewash USA media and UN of Amerikaka.

is this a "blog"?

Arab Democracy? it's not at the link, ad.com or the email ad@ad.com.

are you not supposed to give your real email address when you post to such a forum?

information would be appreciated. educate me.

genuine left input, as opposed to what? is there something else?

If there is, why isn't it sourced?

Lawrence

i find it telling that the discussion of christopher hitchens always takes recourse to ad hominem attacks. "hitchens, the slurring drunk." his debate with george galloway here in new york showed, better than anything, that liberal opposition to the war sounds far more like zealous barroom hollaring (from the spokespeople and from the audience). i have, as mr. corn has had, the luxury of discussing these matters personally with mr. hitchens. in fact, mr. hitchens' sober presentation of argument, whether one agrees with him or not, is what's lacking from both sides of this debate. rhetoric frames his points, it does not comprise them. the same cannot be said of many of his detractors. thanks to david corn for presenting something resembling an argument, albeit one i do not totally endorse. no thanks to the left discipleship who content themselves to blog wasteful namecalling rather than offering something useful to the argument.

fix your broken links

One phrase in your post makes perfect sense, Josh: "Christopher Hitchens always takes recourse to ad hominem attacks." If people feel compelled to call Hitch a "slurring drunk," which he is, it's only because of his repeated trading in ad hominem attack and innuendo himself. At any rate, the Slurring One outdid himself in twisted logic this week with this choice bit on Slate: "We can now certify Iraq as disarmed, even if the materials once declared by the Saddam regime and never accounted for have still not been found."
Yes, we can now certify that he didn't have what hedidn't have. Brilliant! As Professor Chomsky would say --- and I believe has said: Hitchens cannot mean what he is saying.

A Message from CYCLES RESEARCH of Wabash, Indiana

Irrespective of what you may want to hear about the future of planet earth, I don’t enjoy shattering any preconceived ideas you may have, however,………..
Cycles Research of Wabash, Indiana, predicts that the United States of America will be destroyed before the end of President Bush’s second term in office. The rationale for this prediction rests on (1) the parameters of the year-weeks as determined by Cycles Research analysis, and (2) the biblical references to the “end time” which point to the immanency of Jesus’ return to earth. Refer to the book “Truth versus Falsehood, Countdown to the End of the Age,” by Cycles Research founder William A. Gabel, Jr. available on Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, AuthorHouse.com and etc.
Pursuant to the above criteria, Mr. Gabel advises, “Brace yourselves, because the current year-week will end on August 23, 2006, on or about which time (it would be logical to assume) the Holy Bride of Christ will rise to meet Jesus in the air “and so will they ever be with the Lord.” This event is referred to in Christendom as “The Rapture” of the Holy Bride of Christ:
I Thessalonians 4:15-18:
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.”
Then just as Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed once Lot and his family were removed, so will the Sodom and Gomorrah of our day, The United States of America, go up in a puff of smoke once the Holy Saints are removed, paving the way for the world-wide take-over of an antichrist dictator king as predicted in the Holy Scriptures.
In light of the above rationale, Mr. Gabel advises “Pucker up your lips, it’s time to kiss the two thousand year-old church age and the United States of America ‘goodbye.’”
See Rev 17:2-3, and Rev. 18:4-10.
Here’s the scenario:
(1) The Holy Saints are raptured off planet earth in the summer of 2006 which is the end of the current year-week. God’s protective hand is then lifted off the elitist-defiled, elitist-corrupted United States of America.
(2) The Maximum Leader of the European Union (all members of which secretly hate the United States of America) comes to power on a “peace” platform and hypocritically blows the United States into oblivion in a nuclear holocaust to the delight of his confederacy.
(3) He (the EU maximum leader) then subdues the terrorist Arab nations as “the king of the North” described in Daniel 11: 40-44: “At the time of the end the king of the South {the Iran leader, Mahmond Ahmadi Nejad, with the terrorist Arab countries submitted to his power, wealth and authority, (“Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation’s fury,” he said, in remarks aimed at Arab states)} will push at the king of the North (with terrorist activities), and the king of the North will come out against him like a whirlwind, with chariots and with horsemen, and with many ships, and he shall enter into the (Arab) countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land (Israel), and many countries shall be overthrown, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. He will extend his power over many countries. Egypt will not escape. He will gain control of the treasures of Egypt, with the Libyans and the Nubians in submission. But reports from the east and the north shall trouble him (China and Russia), and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many.”
(4) The Maximum Leader then has full sway and prevails against the saints (who didn’t have oil in their lamps and hence, were not raptured per Mat. 25:1-13). The saints left behind to face Antichrist will be martyred at the hands of the antichrist forces controlling the world (see Daniel 7:25) or they will submit to the New World Order system, take the mark of the beast “smart card” which makes them an integral part of the New World Order system, and be lost forever. At this point, it’s a matter of die the martyr’s death or perish for an eternity in hell along with the forces of antichrist.
The time has therefore come for everyone to make a choice:
Either vote for the kingship of Jesus residing on the throne of king David forever, or vote for a “flash in the pan” antichrist, socialist dictatorship which will delight in shutting down Christian churches and persecuting Christians for imaginary “hate crimes,” such as we now have in Canada and the European Union, and that we also have in this country among the antichrist liberals and the ACLU which now own the Democrat Party, most of the media people and educators and judges and virtually all of the pathetic souls in the entertainment industry.
Best wishes to you for your ability to choose wisely “for,” or not so wisely “against,” your Eternal Peace in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reference “CyclesResearch.org”
Stan, a college staffer responds to the above email:
Bill,
I read the Bible and it is obvious the people who wrote it thought the world was flat. You are quoting from a book of fiction, riddled with mistakes, misconceptions and contradictions. The scripture you quoted was probably written by a Catholic priest that had money on his agenda and not everlasting life. A few thousand years ago we were worshipping Zeus and now it is Jesus. There’ll be someone to take Jesus’ place some day. Man has just gotta have a God/Gods and the hope of eternal life. I do too but the Bible is a joke and not the answer. It is not what I want to believe. I’d like to have some place to go when I die but if there is a God he didn’t leave instructions. Sorry, I don’t agree with your religious beliefs. Stan
Mr. Gabel responds:
Dear Stan,
Thanks for your note. I enjoy hearing your viewpoint.
The first thing that needs to be cleared up is whether or not you believe in God at all, i. e., a “creator God” who engineers all things visible and invisible according to his divine purpose and will.
If your answer is “yes,” then you must be concluding that the maker of heaven and earth, the almighty God is too weak and puny to maintain the integrity of his Holy Word in the earth (which doesn’t make sense), or he simply doesn’t care to communicate intelligently with the only talking, creative creature on the planet (made in his own image according to the Holy Word), and all those (man creatures) who have transcended the natural (five-dimensional) world to experience a seven-dimension personal relationship with the Father God (following Jesus’ example) are nuts.
Of course, if you don’t believe in God, then you’re stuck with the impossible task of explaining the intricacy of the creation in some other way. Like explaining how you threw scrap metal over a cliff and when it hit the ground it had miraculously transformed itself into a Mercedes Benz convertible.
I had a dim-witted college professor one time explain to our class that if you had (1) a monkey that was blessed with infinite longevity, and (2) he was banging randomly on a typewriter that would never wear out, it is conceivable, it is within the realm of possibility, that the monkey may someday type out the entire works of Shakespeare.
I have news for all such professors: “No, it isn’t possible.” It takes intelligence to type out the works of Shakespeare. Random banging on a typewriter won’t do it.
Thanks again for writing Stan.
Best wishes, Bill Gabel, CyclesResearch.org
Stan responds:
Bill,
Why is it impossible to believe that this universe is just here? Is it really easier to believe that there is omnipotent, all knowing deity that is capable of creating this universe with the snap of his fingers? Which is harder to believe? The universe, or a deity that creates universes at will, and for no explicable reason? If he knows all, then why put us through all of this to prove he was right? We cannot understand the why of it. Everything we have ever seen or known has a beginning and an end. Of course, that makes our very existence impossible with our experiences, so could it be that we just plain don’t know why we are here? All of man’s religions are, I believe, our attempt to explain our existence when we simply don’t know. I can’t say if there is or isn’t a God. I don’t know. Just like you don’t know or any other man that has ever walked this Earth didn’t know. Many have devised religions and claimed they knew the truth, which explains why there are dozens of Gods and thousands of religions. Religion is a product of man’s imagination to explain why we are here and different men have different view, and hence, different religions. If there is a God he dropped the ball. He left us with a mess and I can’t believe he would have a better plan. Stan
Mr. Gabel responds to Stan’s second letter:
Dear Stan,
Thanks for responding again!
I appreciate the sincerity and the honesty of your letter, however, I think you probably know the answer to your question, “Why is it impossible to believe that this universe is just here?” The answer is, of course, if it can be determined that “an intelligence” is involved with the creation (creation as opposed to just a happening) than one is forced to conclude that there is a designer, a planner behind the creation just as there is obviously a designer and a planner behind the creation of a Mercedes Benz convertible.
Thus we have arrived at a good jumping off point for explaining just why intellectual elitist refuse to acknowledge the obvious: Namely, they are in competition with God (operating out of a seven-dimensional reality that elitists don’t understand) to win student converts to their vanity-based religion which is limited to a three-dimensional perspective in which they (because of their high IQs) are “dominant,” and “superior.” Thereby they elevate themselves to a “priesthood status” in just another one of an infinite number of vanity-based religions that clog up the world with ego-centered insanity.
Now we arrive at the crux of the matter, namely, Christianity is not a religion, but rather it is the antidote to “religion.” Christianity consists of following the Way (Jesus) into a personal relationship with God the Father, and you have to fight off the religious people in order to accomplish a family relationship with God the Father. This includes religious people who call themselves “Christians” but are Christians in name only.
As Jesus said, “None are good but the Father in Heaven.” (Luke 18:19) Therefore, by biblical standards, no one can be considered “good” until they achieve a family relationship with God the Father thereby receiving his Spirit into their lives, i. e., being “born again” of the Spirit of Christ. If you aren’t “born again” of the Spirit of Christ you are just another accident looking for someplace to happen, or just another piece of garbage awaiting your disposal into the Gehenna garbage dump with the rest of the refuse.
It was the “religious” people who arranged to have Jesus killed. Remember? In fact all those ego-based religious nuts who oppose Christ (our link to a personal relationship with God the Father) are “religious” people, from the self-deification, “vanity, vanity, all is vanity” people we see around us all the time to the “follow and worship me” priesthood and clergy people which are found on all strata of society from the intellectual elitist priesthoods found in our colleges and universities to the “fall down and worship me” entertainment people and politicians.
“Humility” via following Jesus’ example, is the key to experiencing a personal relationship with God the Father, and “vanity” is the key to “religion.”
To magnify and thereby more easily examine the corrupting influence of “religion” in our lives, you need only to ask yourself the question “Is there such a thing as ‘good’ and such a thing as ‘evil?’”
If you have decided in the course of your life that there is indeed such a thing as “good” and such a thing as “evil,” then you have, by implication, determined that there is a god, whether it is the overarching God of the Holy Scriptures, or whether the god is “you” or the cult leader you happen to be following, who have decided for yourselves what is “good” and what is “evil.” In either case you have a god.
If in your particular case you have already decided (exclusive of God) what is “good” and what is “evil” and have become thereby a god unto yourself, determining for yourself what is “good” and what is “evil” from the Christian biblical perspective, you have become a loose cannon in a world full of loose cannons all competing with each other for their particular “religious” perspective or their particular “religious” beliefs, and all of whom automatically become God’s enemies because the command of the law given to God’s prophet Moses is “I will have no other gods before me,” and “I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers unto the children unto the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me.”
It is by the above criteria that you can determine what is truly “good” and what is truly “evil.”
The Holy Word says, “If you seek me with you whole heart you will find me.” The solution resides in (1) humbling yourself before the majesty of our Holy God, (2) praying in Jesus’ (the Way’s) holy name, then (3) following the example set by Jesus himself via obedience to our Holy God as he directs your path by the leading, the direction and the love of his Holy Spirit. If you confess your sins before God, (i.e., your errant following of your own way instead of submitting to the authority and majesty of God’s way), he (God the Father) is faithful and just to forgive you of your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)
Best wishes, and thanks again for writing. Your friend, Bill Gabel, CyclesResearch.org

A primer on whether your prayers will be answered or not:

I’ve noticed that Christians often have trouble getting their prayers answered, and of course, there has to be an explanation, so I’ve outlined what the scriptures have revealed to me about getting our prayers answered, as follows:
The effective technique for answered prayer is to first, make sure you are linked up to God the Father by the Holy Spirit and this entails realizing that you and your personal efforts are not the ultimate solution to the problems in your life, i. e., solutions to problems in which the supernatural power of the Father God is involved. And, of course, the supernatural power of the Father God is ideally what you want to happen in all aspects of your life.
Secondly, the question needs to be asked, “How do I know that the supernatural power of God the Father has been activated vis-à-vis my prayer, and once activated, how do I sustain it to the point of actually experiencing the miracle in a tangible sense? For example, the frequent references one hears via Christian testimony relates to a ‘warmth’ felt in the afflicted area of the body:”
Our prayers are answered when the Christian pilgrim learns to pray correctly, i. e., as Jesus taught us to pray, as follows: Pray to God the Father in Jesus’ name, or make your requests of God the Father, in Jesus’ name. Don’t pray to any personage, living or dead, including Jesus our advocate before the Father, but only pray to God the Father himself in Jesus’ holy name. Then you are praying correctly, and as you abide in the Spirit of God he hears you. And we know that if he hears you he will grant your petition.
Thirdly, and this is the most powerful, effective way it is possible to pray: Experience as you pray, the tangible welling up out of your abdomen (for “out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water”) the Love, Peace and Joy of the Holy Spirit, and as you experience God’s presence in you Spirit, realize that God is ALL POWERFUL and he can do all things according to his divine purpose and will (including answer your prayer), and therefore, surrendering the entire situation over to God and to God’s dominion, you experience a “peace profound” knowing that the battle is not yours, but the Lord’s. You become like a child in your mother’s arms, experiencing total security, and the total victory of Christ in your life. See Psalm 91 and its mention of “the secret place of the Most High,” where God becomes your “refuge and your fortress, your God, in him will you trust.”
Fourthly, you seal the close bond between yourself and the Father God via a spirit of praise and thanksgiving in gratitude for the ABSOLUTE security God has given you. Once you seal a close bond between yourself and the Father via a spirit of joy, praise and thanksgiving, God the Father responds to the grateful pilgrim in Psalm 91:14-16: “Because he hath set his love (and his joy and his praise and his worship) upon me, therefore will I deliver him. I will set him on high because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
One of the biggest lies of the devil that even Christians have fallen for is the one you’ve heard over and over again, “God helps those who help themselves,” when the opposite is true: “God helps those who are totally and completely dependant on him.”
Best Wishes, your friend, Bill Gabel, CyclesResearch.org

What the f*ck does any of the above nonsense have to do with Corn's blog?

well then, roger, to quote hitchens, "i'm beginning to worry about the plain meaning of words." because we can, quite clearly certify iraq as disarmed, rather than taking saddam hussein's word for it. if the removal of hussein was called for by the iraq liberation act (under clinton), and the use of force was subsequently authorized, it stands to reason that, if a comprehensive intelligence report suggests there is reason to believe he is lying, his forceful removal is not only lawful but responsible. unless the report could prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that there was no threat, it seems the lingering shadow should be quite motivating.

is bush a fabricating profiteer? of course. do we need to waste our breath reiterating that fact? we made this mess, right? well, if the united states has been so amiss in its responibilities to iraq--during the massacre of the kurds, let's say--why should we pursue a policy of containment and negotiation, rather than cleaning up the mess we made? is consistency to be so exalted in this situation? how that can seem like a better option--waiting for the u.n. to dally around and negotiate (as it did in rwanda) and hoping saddam hussein is on the level--is beyond me. i know, i know, you'll probably admit that he was a "bad guy," but he LIED to us and bush is the REAL fascist!...it was a "war for oil!" interesting then, that at the same time we extended ourselves in iraq, we bothered to step up rhetoric and pressure against north korea. what do they have that we want again? is it dollar signs bush is seeing this week as he puts pressure on china? it appears as if, maybe, just MAYBE, the world did change after that hole was placed in the ground a block from my house in the early autumn four years ago. because when the world superpower decides to stop settling for a status quo that includes a 'contained' iraq and starts lashing out against these kinds of regimes, something is markedly different. for the better, i might add.

two of the most brutal totalitarian regimes in one of the most unstable regions in the world are gone and the left would rather play politics against bush than create solidarity with those still fighting. as i recall, the left was supposed to be opposed these cruel prisons that call themselves countries. isn't that why people from all over the world went to catalonia during the spanish civil war? now it seems they'd prefer to dance in union square chanting simpleton anti-bush slogans (a million of them even!) rather than jump on a boat/plane, strap on a rifle and fight on the side of the iraqi secular resistance. strange times, m'friend, strange times, indeed.

chomsky has lots of good work out there, lots of crap as well. i've spoken with him personally as well. it appears that recently, however, chomsky at his most sober is only able to assemble cut and paste versions of every argument he has been making since 'the new mandarins.' hitchens, even at his most drunk, seems to be one of the only public figures out there for whom politicized somnambualism won't do, regardless of which party it comes from. i'll take a good argument, no matter how slurred rather than a teatotaler's bad one, no matter how plain-spoken.

Enough of your chatter, Josh. Suit up --- the battle against "totalitarianism" needs a few more good men and women. Seriously. This isn't an idle challenge. If you feel so strongly about this, you and Hitch should put your bodies on the line and help the cause. We no longer have the luxury of letting young, poor folk do all of the fighting and dying while we sit on our asses and type fatuous, pompous posts on blogs. Off you go! Send your next post from Baghdad!

am i th only one who thinks liberals are insane