The Bad News

While everyone not participating in National Buy Nothing Day is probably pillaging the aisles of their favorite local front for sweatshop labor, I chanced upon this sentence (on page 2) in today's Washington Post which reminded me of how hard it is to get your government to react to you:

In Vietnam, there were 20,000 fatalities by the 1968 Tet offensive, a psychological turning point in the war, when a similar percentage of Americans called that conflict a mistake.

The last U.S. serviceman to die in Vietnam was killed in April, 1975, bringing the total to over 58,000.

We now have 2100 dead and 16,000 wounded U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines. Will we not be able to extricate ourselves from this disaster until a proptionate time and number have been lost? Does "stay the course" mean another 4000 will die?

Put it to the leadership that way, those of you in the mainstream media. Go ahead. I dare you. I dare you.

And in the same article, White House official whiner Dan Barlett cried about the way things seem to work in our new media-rich environment now that Chimperor Chimpie is considered honest and trustworthy by less than 40 percent of the American people:

White House counselor Dan Bartlett acknowledged the concern. "I do think that it demonstrates that if you spend enough money and repeat the charge enough, the old political axiom in Washington can come true: that charges left unanswered can stick," he said. "That's why we felt it important to marshal a vigorous defense by calling out our critics and the transparency of their charges."

So, big money, lots of repetition makes things seem true. Gee, I wonder who perfected that tactic? Paging Mr. Rove! Paging Mr. Rove! Call from Herr Goebbels! The burning black courtesy telephone in hell is available for you.

Ah, The Military Genius of Chimpie the Chimperor

One of the countries used for staging US forces prior to the invasion of Iraq was tiny Qatar. As I recall, a number of the press briefings by the military were done in Doha, and Qatar was and is our ally in the "war against terrorism," such as it's called. So then, what do you make of this little tidbit?

US President George Bush planned to bomb Arab broadcaster Aljazeera, British newspaper the Daily Mirror has reported, citing a Downing Street memo marked top secret.

The five-page transcript of a conversation between Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair reveals that Blair talked Bush out of launching a military strike on the station, unnamed sources told the daily.

The transcript of the pair's talks during Blair's 16 April 2004 visit to Washington allegedly shows Bush wanted to attack the satellite channel's headquarters in Doha, Qatar.

We all know how terrified Chimpie is of words and the media, even when they're as compliant and comfortable on their kneepads before him as the American mainstream media has been until recently. But this is truly something else. It brings back to mind Crazy Ann Coulter's comment about wishing Timothy McVeigh had targeted the New York Times.

Seeing as they were the target of this idea, and since Aljazeera offices in both Afghanistan and Iraq were indeed struck by US missiles, let's let them have the last word. Please take it with a grain of salt, since all media outlets are suspect; some of this fellow's rhetoric may be a bit overblown, but his final paragraph hits the nail on the head, and that's tragic for us. Clearly, Chimpie and his band of criminals know nothing of winning hearts and minds.

Speaking to Aljazeera from London on Monday, Abd al-Bari Atwan, chief editor of the London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper, said: "The issue of Bush's plan to bomb Aljazeera's headquarters in Doha will be widely discussed in Washington and London.

"Reporters in the US and Britain are enraged by reported US plans to use force against media organs.

"Arab and international media organs are now under a terrorist campaign launched by the US as it does not want the truth to be revealed.

"This [US] administration has been disgraced as it has used immoral and illegal ways to occupy and tear out a country, kill more than 100,000 and wound more than 400,000 of its people.

"The results of the war, being revealed now in Iraq, have forced reporters to ask why they have been misled.

"New York Times has apologised, saying it has misled public opinion when it did not accurately investigate the objectives of the US administration.

"I believe that considering use force against a media station is the worst kind of media terrorism practised by a country which pretends to lead the free world, democratic values and media freedom."

Somewhere in Sugarland, Texas, a Scumbag Needs to Change His Underwear

More wet-ass hour for the Giant Flying Cockroach:

Michael Scanlon, a former partner to lobbyist Jack Abramoff, pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to bribe public officials, a charge growing out of the government investigation of attempts to defraud Indian tribes and corrupt a member of Congress.

Scanlon, a former aide to Rep. Tom DeLay, entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle and agreed to pay restitution totaling more than $19 million to the tribes.

Scanlon, who is expected to cooperate in the investigation of Abramoff and members of Congress, could face up to five years in prison.

So, do you think that DeLay is smiling now?

Ha ha ha ha...

Cheney Admits Administration Misled Country

That's how I read it. Here's an excerpt from his speech at the American Enterprise Institute this morning:

Cheney said in a speech at the American Enterprise Institute that there is no problem debating whether the United States and its allies should have gone to war in Iraq...

Gee, that's mighty big of you, Dick. Thanks for giving us the permission to speak. Anyway...

but he lashed out at some in Washington who have aggressively questioned the administration.

"What is not legitimate, and what I will again say is dishonest and reprehensible, is the suggestion by some U.S. senators that the president of the United States or any member of his administration purposely misled the American people on prewar intelligence," Cheney said.

So now Dicky-lick concedes that his administration misled the American people on prewar intelligence. All we're quibbling about now is whether they knowingly did so.

I expect that the next move will be to concede that, yes, they did knowingly mislead on the intelligence, but that it was for our own good, or that they didn't know it was wrong to lie. It will be a real George Costanza moment. Imagine Cheney in the dock, being questioned by the prosecutor.

Prosecutor: So, Mr. Cheney, you admit that you deliberately intimidated analysts to twist intelligence to fit your aims to invade Iraq?

Cheney: Yes.

Prosecutor: And you further stipulate that you took intelligence given to you and the President and altered it to deceive the American people on the reasons for invading Iraq.

Cheney: Yes. But let me ask one question. What that wrong? You see, in other administrations I worked in, we lied all the time. I mean, heh-heh, telling the truth was for suckers, you know? Like during Watergate when I was with Nixon. And then again in the Iran-Contra thing under Reagan. Hoo-hoo! Boy did we lie! But nobody thought it was wrong. I mean, if someone had told me three years ago that lying about intelligence was wrong, well, heh-heh, I don't think I would have done it. But how was I to know? I mean, I may be the vice president, but you can't expect me to know everything, fer chrissakes. If someone had just pulled me aside and said, "Dickie, Baby, don't fake the intel. Bubby, please, lying for war is just not a good idea." Hell, I could've changed my plans. But I didn't know!

Put the hood on, slip the noose over, pull the lever on the trapdoor.

The Gallows Awaits Thee, Mr. Dick Cheney

What's the difference between Dick Cheney and a war criminal?

The International Criminal Court hasn't hanged Dick Cheney yet.

On CNN late yesterday and again this morning, Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff to then-Secretary of State Colin Powell, stated that

Cheney provided the "philosophical guidance" and "flexibility" that led to the torture of detainees in U.S. facilities..."There's no question in my mind where the philosophical guidance and the flexibility in order to do so originated -- in the vice president of the United States' office," he said. "His implementer in this case was [Defense Secretary] Donald Rumsfeld and the Defense Department."

At another point in the interview, Wilkerson said "the vice president had to cover this in order for it to happen and in order for Secretary Rumsfeld to feel as though he had freedom of action."

And some may think that there should be additional nooses available for Rumsfeld ("I was just following orders!"), for the various enablers in the administration (all promoted since the Iraq debacle started) like Paul Wolfowitz, Condoleezza Rice, Stephen Hadley, Scooter Libby, Karl Rove. Chimpie may have his sentence commuted to life imprisonment due to mental retardation.

Rumsfeld told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday that the White House was in negotiations with the Senate over the amendment.

"There's a discussion and debate taking place as to what the implications might be and what is supportable and what is not," he told the program. "But the fact of the matter is the president from the outset has said that he required that there be humane treatment."

So here we are, the United States of America, beacon of liberty and justice for all, in the 21st century, and we're having a debate about torture?

The hangman awaits thee, you evil, traitorous motherfuckers.

Chimpie: Cheerleader for America!

Just when you thought things couldn't be worse imagewise, this news comes over the wire to let us know that our Chimp-in-Chief has found a way to bring us to a new low, and I mean no disrespect for Mongolia, but whatever happened to "What about Poland?"

In the wake of congressional unrest over his war policies, President Bush thanked Mongolia on Monday for standing with him in
Iraq and compared the struggle against Islamic radicalism to this country's battle against communism.

Let me break in here to make it clear that the "struggle" against terrorism is in no way, no how, no fucking way anything like the "battle against communism." It's insulting to compare the two, but, of course, Chimpie is clawing at the steel walls of his self-imposed isolation chamber trying to make the faintest scratches, hoping someone might actually try to read the ravings of a dry drunk spoiled frat boy dress-up soldier wannabe. But I digress.

Bush's four-hour stop in this poor and sparsely populated nation was the first by an American president. The brief visit was a reward for Mongolia's pursuit of democracy and support for the U.S. fight against terrorism...Bush brought up the growing Iraq debate when he met reporters after inconclusive talks with President Hu Jintao about friction in U.S.-China relations. He expected a warmer welcome in Mongolia, which has been eager for closer military relations with the United States and has provided about 120 Mongolian soldiers in Iraq.

Now why would Mongolia do that, you might ask? I won't keep you in suspense.

The Mongolians have been rewarded with $11 million in U.S. aid to improve military forces. Bush also noted that the country was one of 16 chosen to share in $1 billion in U.S. aid as part of his Millennium Challenge Account that rewards poor countries that show a commitment to economic and government reform. Bush urged the parliament to pass anti-corruption legislation as part of the transition to a successful democracy.

Mongolia's share of the $1 billion is subject to approval after the country submits a spending proposal to Washington. The millions of dollars expected from the program could make a big difference for a country with a total gross domestic product of only $1.1 billion.

Gee, let's do the math. I'm just positive that it has nothing to do with them offering the lives of 120 of their soldiers. No, of course not. And I know that Chimpie's commitment to freedom is such that if the Mongolians decide to, you know, pull some guys out, they'll still get all that dough once their "spending proposal" is accepted. I mean, we wouldn't be purchasing guns for hire right? These neocons have been so responsible with our federal funds over these last 4 1/2 years, nobody should worry. Besides, $1 billion shared among a bunch of poor nations is less than two days' spending in Iraq.

Mongolia is on our side. The war is won. Hail the Cheerleader in Chief!