Forces In Iraq & Afghanistan Still Lack Protective Equipment

Representative Louise Slaughter (D-NY-28) Chairwoman of the House Rules Committee, issued a press statement today after learning from an Inspector General audit that details equipment shortages for the American troops sent into Iraq and Afghanistan that forced many to fight without the benefit of adequate body armor or armored vehicles. It should come as no surprise to anyone that yet again this administration only shows any concern about the troops when they can be used as a photo-op while George Bush prances around playing make-believe while chortling away as to how he is the "Commander-in- Chief". "The recently released findings of the Inspector General confirm our greatest fears: that brave young men and women were routinely sent into battle without the equipment they needed to protect themselves, and yet, despite the equipment shortages that already exist, the President is increasing the number of troops in Iraq. Why should we expect that they will be given what they need for success?" Billions of dollars have been squandered by questionable contracts and perpetual fraud, waste, and abuse that have plagued this war effort from day one. Rep. Slaughter continued: "Stuart Bowen has revealed billions of dollars that have been misspent or lost during the past four years. Money was disappearing at the same time that our troops were in harms way, struggling to protect themselves from bullets and bombs without proper vehicles and equipment. It is simply unconscionable." The report states in part "…. Based on responses from approximately 1,100 Service members, they experienced shortages of force-protection equipment, such as up-armored vehicles, electronic countermeasure devices, crew-served weapons, and communications equipment. As a result, Service members were not always equipped to effectively complete their missions. Read on.... So there you have it my friends, just another example of how this administration ignores the needs of the military and is directly responsible for the numerous deaths and crippling injuries from which none of these loyal men and women will ever recover. The entire report is available in pdf fromat here.

Fear Mongering Alive And Well In SOTU

As he has in every SOTU given since his appointment to President by the Supreme Court, King George again gives us lies, lies, and more lies, Keith Olbermann is there to bring us the truth. Via Raw Story. In last week's State of the Union address, President Bush mentioned four terror plots that the U.S. has disrupted since 9/11. Expanding on an article by blogger David Swanson, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann prepared a commentary exposing each of Bush's claims as hyperbole, misdirection and unverifiable fear mongering.

St. McCain's Straight Talk Express? I Think Not

The MSM's darling and prince of truth needs to be told that keeping up a lie is extremely difficult. Someone needs to tell "Johnny the media whore" to remember what he said previously, otherwise you might just get labelled a flip-flopper and a hypocrite. H/T Cliff Schecter - enjoy more of Johnny at The REAL McCain. By the way, I have to ask, is it just me or does Johnny-boy remind you of a chipmunk?

It's Official

‘I’m in and I’m in to win’. With those words Senator Hillary made what has been the worst kept secret in the country. I have real mixed feelings about a Hillary campaign run. She carries way too much baggage with her, and you can bet the Repugs will use every tactic in the book (with the help of the corporate controlled media), to sink her presidential run before it even starts. If you think the "swift-boating" of John Kerry was bad, all I can say is you ain't seen nothin' yet. We already know what conservative talking heads like Limbaugh, Coulter, and O'Reilly will do with this. Believe me when I say it's not going to be pretty. Imagine the valentine's day massacre on steroids. Combine that with the attitude of some "liberals" or "progressives" who make up the Democratic base and you have a campaign destined to implode. Watch the video of her announcement. You can visit her campaign website here......

Discord In Bush's Fairyland

Not only is Bush losing support at home, over his Iraq policy, he is also being criticized by the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. It seems that Condi Liesalot Rice ruffled his feathers by making the comment that the Iraqi government was living on "borrowed time". Nice work Condi. Perhaps you should go back to what you do best - shopping for shoes at Ferragamos. On second thought, make that ruby slippers so you can transport yourself and your "husband" George to his Fairyland that is Iraq. Of course once again we must turn to the foreign media for the story as we did here. This time, it is The Guardian. that reports al-Maliki is hitting back at the administration for their criticism for not stopping the sectarian vioence. "I wish that we could receive strong messages of support from the US so we don't give some boost to the terrorists and make them feel that they might have achieved success." In response directly to Condi's remarks, he is quoted as saying.. "Secretary Rice is expressing her own point of view if she thinks that the government is on borrowed time, whether it is borrowed time for the Iraqi government or American administration....I believe that such statements give moral boosts to the terrorists and push them towards making an extra effort and making them believe that they have defeated the American administration, but I can tell you that they haven't defeated the Iraqi government." This administration needs to get their heads out of their collective asses. Everytime they turn around, they anger some foreign government, show their incompetence, and make the U.S. look like a country of bumbling fools for putting them in office in the first place. Read on...

Hey Dems - Don't Be A Bunch Of Pussies

H/T Truthdig

War-Monger Cheney Rejected Iranian Help In Iraq

This is total madness. While reading the BBC Online This story jumped out at me.Washington Washington 'snubbed Iran offer' Iran offered the US a package of concessions in 2003, but it was rejected, a senior former US official has told the BBC's Newsnight programme. Tehran proposed ending support for Lebanese and Palestinian militant groups and helping to stabilise Iraq following the US-led invasion. Offers, including making its nuclear programme more transparent, were conditional on the US ending hostility. But Vice-President Dick Cheney's office rejected the plan, the official said.Lawrence Wilkerson, a top aide to then Sec. of State Colin Powell is quoted as saying... "We thought it was a very propitious moment to do that.....But as soon as it got to the White House, and as soon as it got to the Vice-President's office, the old mantra of 'We don't talk to evil'... reasserted itself." If you're not as angry as I am over this, perhaps you should remember that - Hezbollah may not have been in a position to do the kind of damage to Israel during the past 2006 conflict. In fact, they more than likely would not have obtained the political they now enjoy in Lebanon. Hamas probably would not have gained the power they now enjoy when they won a considerable number of seats in the Palestinian parliamentary elections. These revelations can only mean one thing.....Darth Vader Dick does not want peace in the middle-east. This very dangerous psychopath wants a constant state of fear to permeate the country. The more the citizens vote out of fear and turmoil, the more Cheney's view of having a "Unitary Presidential" administration the more power they get. Just remember one thing - a "Unitary President" is in reality just another name for a "dictator". And by the way. Why isn't this the top story in the U.S. mainstream media? Why do we have to get our news from the foreign media?

Message To Congress - 3000 Is Too Many

Once again Ava proves to us she is wise beyond her years. If only the powers-that-be in Washington would show such courage and wisdom as this 16 year old. We must demand of Congress (Dems and Repubs) that they stand up and stop the unnecessary deaths in Iraq, all for the stroking of George's ego while he plays dress-up as the "war President", and lining the pockets of the war profiteers. Every member of the Senate and the House should be forced to watch this video.

Congressional Authorization Required For Troop Increase - Hillary

Senator Hillary Clinton has introduced legislation that will require Congressional authorization for a troop increase. Included in the her legislation will be three specific points: 1st. Cap the numbers of troops in Iraq as they existed on January 1st and require Congressional authorization for any increase. 2nd. Impose conditions on the funding of Iraqi security forces and the private contractors working for the Iraqi's, including certification that they were free of sectarian and militia influence and require that they take greater responsibility for Iraq security. 3rd. The Administration must meet additional conditions for "success in Iraq". One such condition will be that the Iraqi government assume greater responsibility for security within six months. The Administration must engage in regional diplomatic talks with all Iraq's neighboring countries and begin the phased redeployment of U.S. troops. All conditions must be met or in the process of being completed within six months or the Congressional authorization legislation would come into effect. Senator Clinton also stated emphatically that she would NOT support freezing or cutting funds for U.S. troops. I am sure many will say that she is only coming out this strongly because her main competition for the Presidency in '08 have already spoken out. Personally I don't care about her reasons. The important thing here is that she is not just speaking out, but has authored specific legislation that will hold both King George's and Nouri Maliki's feet to the fire and make them accountable. Here is the video of her news conference held a short time ago.I will post the full transcript when it becomes available.

LIEberman Get's A Smackdown

I guess Senator Chuck Hagel was just as nauseated as the rest of us watching Holy Joe on Meet The Press today. It was not enough that he has proven to be nothing more than King George's chief boot-licker, now he has decided to not only try to connect the "surge" to 9-11, but he also brings his children and grand-children into the fray to somehow enhance his support of the "surge" in Iraq. This asshole is just as delusional as George. Here's a rough transcript from C & L Hagel: I am not nor any member of Congress that I'm aware of Tim, is advocating defeat, that's ridiculous and I'm offended that any responsible member of Congress or anyone else would even suggest such a thing…Sen. Lieberman talks about his children and grandchildren, we all have children and grandchildren—he doesn't have a market on that nor do any of my colleagues. We're all concerned about the future of this country… Watch it if you can fight the urge to vomit.

" We haven't seen a lot of action." - Hillary

It looks as though Senator Clinton will not endorse any troop "surge" in Iraq. ABC news reports in an exclusive interview with the Senator (and perceived Presidential candidate) offers us this quote: "I'm skeptical that the Iraqi government will do what they have promised to do, and that I think is the concern of all of us who have heard this before," she said. "All the promises, and intentions in the world don't substitute for action and we haven't seen a lot of action." Finally it looks as though she is coming around to the progressive way of thinking that this latest plan by the Pretend President is nothing more than more of the same. This is not a "new way forward", this is just a new version of "stay the course". Although I welcome Hillary's perceived voice of support for withdrawal of troops, I believe she is doing this only because she stuck her finger in the air, found out which way the winds are blowing, and decided this only to boost her support for her presidential bid. IMO this awakening is too late and she will not be, and should not be the Democratic presidential nominee come 2008. I can't help but wonder if this sudden outspokeness is due to this comment by her rival in the field John Edwards which he intends to state at a speech today in her home state of (Harlem) New York. "If you’re in Congress and you know this war is going in the wrong direction, it is no longer enough to study your options and keep your own counsel."

What's The Worst That Can Happen?

For those of you who think Joe LIEbermann intends to support the Democratic Caucus in the Senate, give your head a shake. From Rolling Stone In words that should trouble any Democrats counting Lieberman in their camp, Lieberman was praising Bush as a "great leader" for bucking American opinion, as expressed in the 2006 election, in his determination to double down in Iraq. Lieberman then said something incredible: Even those opposed to the surge, he said, "ought to at least let us try it." "The worst that could happen," he continued, is that this policy could become another partisan flashpoint in Washington. No Joe, the worst that can happen is an increase to the milestone reached on New Year's Day when the body count of US troops, dead thanks to Bush's folly, reached 3000. We could only wish that the outcome of this "New Way Forward" also known as "The McCain Doctrine" would be just a partisan flashpoint.

More Terror

This time from Tony Snow at today's press gaggle: Q: Does the President have concerns that Americans don't share his concerns or visions of what might happen? MR. SNOW: No, I don't think so, but I think it's always important -- it is, I think, important from time to time for the President to share a little bit of what he sees and how he thinks about it, because, fortunately, Americans have not been confronted since September 11, 2001, with direct evidence that terrorists are trying to kill us. It'll be interesting to see how often George cites "terror" and "9-11" in his "new way forward" speech scheduled for prime-time Wednesday night. This will be two full days after the American public was bombarded with terrorism scares, and of course they will connect this to his speech (which is just what they want) not knowing they were false unless they seriously follow the news like most political bloggers who are usually "news-junkies". Will someone PLEASE remind these fools that there was NO CONNECTION between Iraq and 9-11. Today's press gaggle transcript is available here.

Here We Go Again

Even though the election is over, it looks as if George still wants to ratchet up the fear level. From AP MIAMI - A package that was going to be loaded onto a cruise ship at the Port of Miami tested positive for plastic explosives Monday, the Coast Guard said. Of course this comes right after the first card was played yesterday when it was reported over and over ad-nauseum that 3 "Middle Eastern" men tried to enter the Port of Miami in a cargo truck and now we find out AFTER that fear card is played, that it was false and the result of what the Miami-Dade Police said was "miscommunication", and a Judge dismissed all charges.. Now this is way too funny. The story was first released to the media at around 3:30 PM, and 3 minutes ago at 4:05 PM, the story is updated with the statement "Authorities later determined it was harmless". C'mon guys get a grip!!!

Tell Me Again The Iraq War Is Not For Oil

So spreading democracy to Iraq also includes ripping-off their oil profits. Is this what the expected request for additional funds for rebuilding the infrastructure of the country is really for? Iraq’s massive oil reserves, the third-largest in the world, are about to be thrown open for large-scale exploitation by Western oil companies under a controversial law which is expected to come before the Iraqi parliament within days. The US government has been involved in drawing up the law, a draft of which has been seen by The Independent on Sunday. It would give big oil companies such as BP, Shell and Exxon 30-year contracts to extract Iraqi crude and allow the first large-scale operation of foreign oil interests in the country since the industry was nationalized in 1972. ******* Oil industry executives and analysts say the law, which would permit Western companies to pocket up to three-quarters of profits in the early years, is the only way to get Iraq’s oil industry back on its feet after years of sanctions, war and loss of expertise. But it will operate through “production-sharing agreements” (or PSAs) which are highly unusual in the Middle East, where the oil industry in Saudi Arabia and Iran, the world’s two largest producers, is state controlled. Read on..... If you still don't agree that this war is for oil, you need look no further than a speech VP Dick Cheney made back in 1999 when he was the CEO of Halliburton For the world as a whole, oil companies are expected to keep finding and developing enough oil to offset our seventy one million plus barrel a day of oil depletion, but also to meet new demand. By some estimates there will be an average of two per cent annual growth in global oil demand over the years ahead along with conservatively a three per cent natural decline in production from existing reserves. That means by 2010 we will need on the order of an additional fifty million barrels a day. So where is the oil going to come from?.....While many regions of the world offer great oil opportunities, the Middle East with two thirds of the world’s oil and the lowest cost, is still where the prize ultimately lies... The full text of his speech is available here.

When Will Bush's Conscience Bother Him?

In a broadcast last week (clip and transcript are available at C & L), CNN's Jack Cafferty asked “Is 3,006 deaths not enough? How many do you suppose it’ll take before President Bush’s conscience begins to bother him—5,000, 10,000, more? The words Bush and Conscience shouldn't even even be used in the same sentence, let alone applied to the little dictator who plays dress-up and pretends to be President (or anyone in his family for that matter). Remember George Sr? Take a look at this shining record: 1. As director of the CIA, he funneled enormous amounts of cash to drug runners including Manuel Noriega and helped in the destabilization of Argentina. 2. Facilitated the Iran-contra affair selling Central American cocaine in America and weapons to Iran while using the profits to fund the contras and to overthrow democratically elected socialists in Central America, and 3. As VP, began propping up a dictator by the name of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Although forbidden by congress to do so, he continued to sell chemical and biological weapons to Saddam even after he used them on villages of innocent civilians. Now we have George Jr., and oh what a surprise he names none other than Don Rumsfeld as his Secretary of Defense. This family's entire history is riddled with subterfuge and dead bodies so if anyone is waiting around for him to get a conscience, my advice is don't hold your breath. Hell you can even go back to his Great-Grandfather George Walker to see how this family's history is probably connected to as many deaths as Saddam - probably more. Take a look at Project For An Old American Century it's stunning. Keep in mind that billions of dollars are being made from the current debacle in Iraq (at the expense of thousands US soldiers' lives and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilian lives) by Halliburton, once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney; Bechtel, once headed by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld; and Trireme, a defense company started by Bush's former Deputy Secretary of Defense Richard Perle.

A Blurred Line Between Terrorist And Terrorized

Robert Sheer does a wonderful job reminding us exactly how Saddam was propped up by the very neo-con killing machine that is now celebrating his hanging. At worst, the handling of Saddam is just another example of an Imperial America under President Bush that recognizes no boundaries of national sovereignty or any restraint of international law. A nation that posed no threat to U.S. security was conquered for a range of base motives, from oil plunder to industrial profits to naked political gain. Of course, these are the same rationales that despots always use to explain their murderous wars, such as Saddam’s genocidal invasion of Iran and greedy occupation of Kuwait. The president says the execution was warranted because Saddam received a fair trial even after Bush decided to bypass an international tribunal designed to handle such trials of national rulers and instead turn Saddam over to Iraq’s dominant partisan faction in the midst of a nascent civil war. While Saddam’s guilt of “crimes against humanity” may have been accurate, it was not, in fact, established by his trial, which was pushed through even as his lawyers were being assassinated. This, quite opposite to the spirit of the Nuremberg war crime trials (established by the United States but not repeated today by President Bush), where the accused had competent and unintimidated attorneys, free to make a complete case. Read on....

Sacrifice Your Ass - George

If reports are true, this delusional little dictator pretending to be President, is willing to sacrifice even more troops for only one reason - EGO. Here is another smack-down from Keith. Thank God there is at least one voice in the media that is not bought and paid for.

All The Best In '07 From Canadian Perspective

My Wish for You in 2007 May peace break into your house. May thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline. May laughter assault your lips! May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires. May happiness slap you across the face. May your tears be that of joy. May the problems you had, forget your home address! In simple words ............ May 2007 be the best year of your life!!!