Sure we all need help - the war, economy, gas prices...but there are some who need even more help. American Red Cross is helping the victims of Katrina - please help the Red Cross help them.
Read more...When the year began with a two-foot snowfall in Los Angeles, the cause was global warming.But what do we expect W to do?
When 124-mile-an-hour winds shut down nuclear plants in Scandinavia and cut power to hundreds of thousands of people in Ireland and the United Kingdom, the driver was global warming.
When a severe drought in the Midwest dropped water levels in the Missouri River to their lowest on record earlier this summer, the reason was global warming.
In July, when the worst drought on record triggered wildfires in Spain and Portugal and left water levels in France at their lowest in 30 years, the explanation was global warming.
When a lethal heat wave in Arizona kept temperatures above 110 degrees and killed more than 20 people in one week, the culprit was global warming.
And when the Indian city of Bombay (Mumbai) received 37 inches of rain in one day -- killing 1,000 people and disrupting the lives of 20 million others -- the villain was global warming.
As the atmosphere warms, it generates longer droughts, more-intense downpours, more-frequent heat waves, and more-severe storms.
Although Katrina began as a relatively small hurricane that glanced off south Florida, it was supercharged with extraordinary intensity by the relatively blistering sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico.
The consequences are as heartbreaking as they are terrifying.
To allow the climate to stabilize requires humanity to cut its use of coal and oil by 70 percent.We know he won't do anything to threaten his friends' wallets, Uncle Dick's wallet, or his own. So be prepared to face some strange weather - to go along with our strange war, strange politics, strange economy.... Future looks bright, doesn't it? Read more...
...in his weekly radio address, Bush acknowledged there was more work ahead for American soldiers in Iraq.Wow...talk about some encouraging words from W. Makes me all warm and fuzzy to hear his encouraging words. Read more...
"Our efforts in Iraq and the broader Middle East will require more time, more sacrifice and continued resolve," said Bush, who has spent most of August on vacation at his 1,600- acre (648-hectare) ranch.
As Katrina is barrelling down on New Orleans we have to stop and marvel at the wonder, majesty and power of Mother Earth. News of Iraq and Crawford are put on the backburner today and probably for the next couple of days. While we are glued watching the track of the storm, remember the deaths caused by senseless wars.
I was in N.O. a few years ago and loved it. Hope all will be well, but it is "below sea level!".
IN reality, we are all just leasing our land from Mother. When the lease is up, she will reclaim the shores, the river banks, the oceans, the forests. This should make all think carefully about construction in coastal areas, flood plains... It should make all realize that we have to understand Nature and live with all nature rather than try to control it. Let us live in harmony with Mother Earth.
Seattle Times says it all so perfectly.
The president suggested that getting out of Iraq would weaken the United States. On the contrary: America is weakened by the casualties, the debt and the political strife. That we have trouble recruiting soldiers — and allies — is evidence that war is what weakens us.Nothing else has to be said. Read more...
Nonetheless, war would be necessary if there were an enemy called "Terror" that attacked us. But terror is a tactic, not an enemy, and is employed by different people for different aims.
Al-Qaida attacked us almost four years ago. Iraq did not.
Dueling rallies at Crawford relates to the Swift Boat folks out to slander Sheehan.
The pro-Bush caravan was coordinated by Move America Forward, a group led by former California Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian and Republican strategist Sal Russo.What was really interesting in this article was W's quote:
Organizer Howard Kaloogian accused Sheehan of "giving hope and encouragement to our enemies."
The crowd, which organizers said topped 3,000 but appeared closer to 1,500, chanted "Cindy, Go Home" and compared her to Jane Fonda, whose visit to a North Vietnamese gun site in 1972 earned her the nickname "Hanoi Jane."
"Our efforts in Iraq and the broader Middle East will require more time, more sacrifice and continued resolve," said Bush, who has spent most of August on vacation at his 1,600- acre ranch.Just what does he mean by "broader Middle East". Is this a signal? If it is a signal, there will be a lot more mothers and fathers joining Cindy very soon - after those ominous words from our fearsome leader. Read more...
What would you expect from General Myers. He is, after all, the chair of the joint chiefs of staff.
An early withdrawal of troops from Iraq could send Middle Eastern regimes tumbling, destabilise the world economy and unleash a massive wave of terrorist attacks, America's top soldier warned yesterday.He doesn't want to go against W (the boss). He doesn't want to lose hus job. What else should we expect. Read more...
Library Sues Over Controversial Patriot Act. Proud to be a Connecticut resident.
The lawsuit was filed against U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and FBI Director Robert Mueller in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut by an unnamed library and the American Civil Liberties Union.Let me think. What books did I check out that make me a threat: "The Lorax", a copy of the "U.S. Constitution" or how about any book by Hightower, Dowd, Huffington... Read more...
The suit -- filed on August 9 and made public by the ACLU on Thursday -- calls the FBI's order to produce library records "unconstitutional on its face" and said a gag order preventing public discussion of the lawsuit is an unlawful restraint on speech.
Interesting take on the Robertson "quote of the decade". The author Davis notes that Pat and Falwell have some direct lines to W and his cronies.
If in fact Venezuela and Iran are considering an oil embargo against the US, this may not be a random Christian perspective from the baby- faced aw-shucks father figure for the consumers of sign-on-the-dotted-line religion. Could this be a request from the top? Either Mr. Robertson is truly out of his mind or he is "useful," a word that Rumsfeld loves to use. When asked about the comment Rumsfeld referred to Robertson as a "private citizen" and rather than condemn the comment he said, "private citizens say all kinds of things all the time. Next question."So does he know something is brewing? Did he want to give his okay? Or is he sending a message to W - a request for action? Read more...
Country Joe & The Fish recorded the "I Feel Like I'm Fixing To Die" rag. Just a few words changed and this is so appropriate today. With only two words (bold and italics) we can sing this on September 24th.
Yeah, come on all of you, big strong men,Same mess, different nation, different year, same type of liar leading our country. Read more...
Uncle Sam needs your help again.
He's got himself in a terrible jam
Way down yonder in IRAQ
So put down your books and pick up a gun,
We're gonna have a whole lotta fun.
And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is TEHRAN;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.
Bush is ready to blame Sheehan and anyone else against this war for the failure and craziness of this war.
President Bush charged Tuesday that anti-war protesters like Cindy Sheehan who want troops brought home immediately do not represent the views of most U.S. military families and are “advocating a policy that would weaken the United States.That's right, they are the ones who created the terrorist training ground in Iraq since our invasion. They invaded Iraq and created a situation of death for their own children. They are rattling the sabres at Iran and Syria. They lied to get us involved in Iraq. Right?
No, W. Any weakening has been caused by your cowboy antics, your lies, your ill-conceived foreign policy. Let us not blame those who see wrongs and try to right them. Let us join them in their quest for truth, justice and peace.
Read more...Interesting comment from Pat Robertson today. Made me wonder who exactly is he and W talking to?
THOU SHALT NOT KILL: I thought that was one of the commandments. So how can Pat justify an assassination of an elected leader?
THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS: Well it goes without saying that W lied about Iraq, Pat lied about Islamic radicals coming into Venezuela, W lies about the economy, etc.
I guess if you hold yourself up as SAVED, as one who talks to God, calls oneself the paragon of morality and the purveyor of all holy... then god gives you some leeway in following his commandments. I did not realize that the leeway was in two of the big ones. I thought maybe it was for "coveting the neighbor's wife". Pat and W have it made! How can everyone get these kind of deals with the man upstairs?
Read more...Norman Solomon is author of a new book called "War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death." His analysis of recent events is that "The Bush administration may ratchet up the Iraq war." Even in the midst of public voices calling for an end?
Back in the United States, while the growth of anti-war sentiment is apparent, much of the criticism—especially what’s spotlighted in news media—is based on distress that American casualties are continuing without any semblance of victory. In effect, many commentators see the problem as a grievous failure to kill enough of the bad guys in Iraq and sufficiently intimidate the rest.So beef up the troop levels to finish the mission?
In the Democratic Party’s weekly radio address over the weekend, former senator Max Cleland said that “it’s time for a strategy to win in Iraq or a strategy to get out.”Forget part one Max. It is part 2 and part 2 with a timeline that equals NOW!
It matters why people are critical of the U.S. war effort in Iraq. If the main objections stem from disappointment that American forces are not winning, then the war makers in Washington retain the possibility of creating the illusion that they may yet find ways to make the war right.So let's close the door by demanding (1) US out and UN in immediately and (2) an end to lies Read more...
Criticism of the war because it isn’t being won leaves the door open for the Bush administration to sell the claim that—with enough resolve and better military tactics—the war can be vindicated. It’s time to close that door.
Senator Feingold joins the sane crowd - even though I wish his timetable reflected NOW.
Feingold, who is among the Democrats considering a run for president in 2008, became the first senator to propose a specific deadline for pulling all 138,000 US troops out of Iraq. His comments also laid bare the rising tension within his party about how to respond to President Bush on the war.But let's not forget the other voices:
Although critical of the administration's handling of the war, many leading Democratic lawmakers have been reluctant to press for a concrete timetable for withdrawal, agreeing with Bush that it could harm the war effort. Many congressional Democrats voted in 2002 to grant Bush authority to invade Iraq, but their liberal base has grown increasingly vocal in opposition to the war, making it difficult to send a consensus message. But as Bush's poll numbers have fallen, some Democrats have grown increasingly outspoken.
In a telephone interview from Wisconsin, Feingold said he has heard a wave of public disenchantment at 15 town hall meetings so far during the August recess, leading him to propose a Dec. 31, 2006, deadline.
"There's a deepening feeling of dismay in the country about the way things are going in Iraq," Feingold said. He rejected Bush's assertion that a deadline would make it easier for insurgents to simply hang on. "I think he's wrong. I think not talking about endgames is playing into our enemies' hand."
Feingold is the first senator to call for a specific deadline, but several members of the House have introduced a resolution calling on Bush to initiate a withdrawal no later than Oct. 1, 2006. In a speech in January, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) called on the president to pull out all troops "as early as possible in 2006."As they sang in Les Miz:
Do you hear the people sing?Read more...
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!...
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Cindy Sheehan "...has been the catalyst for the rebirth of the anti-war movement..." She was there at the right time, right place, and provided the story and face.
Her remarkable one-woman stand outside George Bush's Texas ranch has turned into a national phenomenon - and one of the most vicious political slanging matches in recent US history. On the pro-war side, Sheehan has been derided as a traitor to America, betraying her dead soldier son's memory. On the anti-war side she has become a secular saint, laden with the powerful imagery of the avenging mother roused to action. For them, she is the lone soccer mom who is taking on Bush - and winning.
Either way, Sheehan is the most talked-about woman in American politics. She might also be Bush's worst public relations nightmare. For months Washington has been awash in speculation of a 'tipping point', when the majority of American public opinion turns finally and permanently against the war. Many now believe that Sheehan has provided that final push. 'It has definitely tipped now,' said Professor Steve Zunes, a political scientist at the University of San Francisco.
The political legacy left by her summer of protest will last far longer than the ramshackle tents of Camp Casey lining the roads outside Bush's ranch. 'This is now about far more than Cindy Sheehan. She has given people the confidence to speak out about the war that they didn't have before. Finally, its OK in America to be anti-war,'The choir is singing now. It is very refreshing to see more and more voices locally and nationally calling for an end to the fiasco. Sure some call for an immediate withdrawal, some for a short timeline while W and the Brass are talking about 4 more years (or probably more). But whether it is now or within one year - the voices are finally starting to be heard, recorded and recognized. Read more...
From John Lennon:
I'm sick and tired of hearing things fromMay just be a new anthem. Read more...
Uptight short sighted narrow minded hypocritics
all i want is the truth, just give me some truth
i've had enough of reading things
by neurotic psykotic pigheaded politicians
all i want is the truth, just give me some truth
Village Voice has a great clip by Mark Fiore.
Perfect depiction of W's double-speak - of the change in word meaning. In this case it is the word - VICTORY.
Love W next to the bike. He's getting ready to ride with Lance. Bill Maher's comment last night was hysterical. It was about W being excited about riding with the first man on the moon. Funny but with W - that comment may be reality.
Read more...In light of Cindy Sheehan and others trying to get to the truth a few variations on a quote from "A Few Good Men."
The original:
Col. Nathan R. Jessup: You want answers?
Daniel Kaffee: I think I'm entitled.
Col. Nathan R. Jessup: You want answers?
Daniel Kaffee: I want the truth!
Col. Nathan R. Jessup: You can't handle the truth!
Variation 1:
Our Prez: You want answers?
Cindy: I think I'm entitled.
Our Prez: You want answers?
Cindy: I want the truth?
Our Prez: Truth? What the hell is that?
Variation 2:
Our Prez: You want answers?
Cindy: I think I'm entitled.
Our Prez: You want answers?
Cindy: I want the truth?
Our Prez: Truth - NOOOOO! Help me I'm melting!
Variation 3:
Our Prez: You want answers?
Cindy: I think I'm entitled.
Our Prez: You want answers?
Cindy: I want the truth?
Our Prez: I can't tell the truth - I'm hopeless, please help me.
Variation 4:
Our Prez: You want answers?
Cindy: I think I'm entitled.
Our Prez: You want answers?
Cindy: I want the truth?
Our Prez: Okay. I lied to everyone. There were no WMDes, Osama was on thew CIA payroll for years, I screwed up, it is about oil and power, I can't read, I wet my bed in times of stress, Uncle Cheney is my boss! It is all a sham but I and my buddies are getting rich from this mess!
Something's In the Air But It's Not on the Airwaves. Watch the video. At least yesterday there was a little more coverage of the vigils than I expected.
Read more...Stood in a vigil in support of Cindy - seeking peace. On the Fairfeild CT green - about two dozen candles, one counter protester (walked quickly through) and a polka band. It seems that a polka convcert at the gazebo was planned for the same time. So candles and polkas tonite.
Imagining PEACE!
Read more...Leonardo DiCaprio : Eco-Site has an excellent flash movie called "Global Warning".
Not a big fan of the actor - but this work is great. The movie was inspired by Thom Hartmann's book "Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight."
It boils down to oil and consumerism. Oil - one reason we are in Iraq creating other problems.
Read more...MoveOn.org lists vigils for this Wednesday evening. Please join the nearest one.
Cindy Sheehan may be the spark that was needed to motivate people. Things are building. We must be ready for some surprises and roadblocks that may surface to try to squash the momentum. But until then, let's enjoy the ride.
Read more...Billy Jack - Remember that kick to the side of the face? For those not familiar - Billy Jack was a movie about a former green beret who was now trying to be a pacifist (a very simplistic recap). But just when he thought he was at peace, THEY pulled him back in. This was a great movie - a favorite. Now there promises to be a new one - Billy Jack's Crusade to End the War in Iraq and Restore America to its Moral Purpose.
Billy Jack’s Crusade will not be a documentary. It will be light years away from being a Fahrenheit 9/11. Billy Jack’s Crusade will be a full-length feature film, in a breakthrough film format, weaving together the genres of cinema verite, reality film, documentary and computer graphics into a unique full-length feature film never seen before.Looking forward to this movie. Also looking forward to more from Laughlin. He is embarking on a multi-pronged anti-war campaign to highlight an Iraq exit strategy.
Just as the original Billy Jack, Billy Jack’s Crusade will be a non-stop powerful melodrama. Billy Jack and Jean will be “Obewon Kenobis” passing down their wisdom and mantle to a younger Billy Jack and Jean, and today’s idealistic rebels struggling against all of the enormous pressures assaulting young people today. Think of Forrest Gump whereby Forrest appears on screen and talks with John Kennedy, and you’ll get a hint of how real this unique film will be.
An Exit Plan that brings stability and democracy to Iraq, brings our troops home immediately by replacing them with a coalition from Russia, China, France etc., none of whom are as hated as the “demon/Satan” Americans.Read more...
All we have to do to get these countries to take over the reconstruction of Iraq is give them back the oil leases Bush stole from them when Bush invaded. (Russia had the West Qurnah oil field, China had the Rumaylah Reserve, and France had two of Iraq’s largest fields, the Majnoon and Nahr Bin Omar.)
For these countries, or any country to send their people and taxpayers’ money into Iraq to protect Halliburton and friends’ oil would be insane. Give the Iraqis the oil to give back to these major powers as they see fit, get the intensely hated Americans out who are seen in the same light as the Nazi occupiers of France, Belgium, etc., and the major powers will rush to take over and get the oil, allowing our troops to come home immediately.
The Exit Plan is very simple: Give back the oil ~ Bring home the troops!No more orphans for Halliburton Oil!
Steps for Peace is looking for signatures to "The Declaration of Interdependence"
We, the people of planet Earth,Their goal is 144,000 signatures to take to the Pope and to the United Nations as a call for PEACE. Won't you sign on?
In recognition of the interconnectedness of all life
And the importance of the balance of nature,
Hereby acknowledge our interdependence
And affirm our dedication
To life-serving environmental stewardship,
The fulfilment of universal human needs worldwide,
Economic and social well-being,
And a culture of peace and nonviolence,
To insure a sustainable and harmonious world
For present and future generations.
The Prayer for PeaceRead more...
"We are one global family
All colors, All races
One world united.
We pray for peace and the healing of our planet Earth
Peace for all nations.
Peace for our communities.
And peace within ourselves.
As we join as one across the world,
let us connect heart to heart.
Through our diversity we recognize Unity.
Through our compassion we recognize Peace.
Our love is the power to transform our world
Let us send it out
NOW..."
Herald Sun reports...
US President George W Bush refused to rule out the use of force against Iran over the Islamic republic's resumption of nuclear activities, in an interview with Israeli television.He's done it before, he'll do it again. With Iraq we had Powell in front of the UN talking about WMD. If my previous post is correct, maybe a small bomb in the Atlantic will negate the need for a show and tell in front of the Security Council. Hey what the hell, we went without UN support before - we're the US of A - we can do it again. Read more...
When asked if the use of force was an alternative to faltering diplomatic efforts, Bush said: "All options are on the table."
"The use of force is the last option for any president. You know we have used force in the recent past to secure our country," he said in a clear reference to Iraq.
"I have been willing to do so as a last resort in order to secure the country and provide the opportunity for people to live in free societies," he added.
www.uruknet.info :: news from occupied Iraq has an article that I hope is not true but I would not put it past this regime.
The head of Fort Monroe's Training and Doctrine Command, four star general Kevin P. Byrnes, was fired Tuesday apparently for sexual misconduct according to official sources.Something to turn around polls?...
Other sources however have offered a different explanation for Byrnes' dismissal which ties in with the Bush administration's unpopular plan to attack Iran and the staged nuclear attack in the US which would provide the pretext to do so.
According to reporter Greg Szymanski, anonymous military sources said that Brynes was the leader of a faction that was preparing to instigate a coup against the neo-con hawks in an attempt to prevent further global conflict.
Indications are that, much like popular opinion amongst the general public, half the military oppose the neo-con's agenda and half support it.
They told Lehrman that the imminent Northcom nuclear terror exercise based in Charleston, S.C, where a nuclear warhead is smuggled off a ship and detonated, was originally intended to 'go live' - as in the drill would be used as the cover for a real false flag staged attack.
This website has relentlessly discussed similar style drills which took place on the morning of 9/11 and on the morning of 7/7 in London.
"Speculation exists that he had potentially discovered the fact that it was gonna go live and that he was trying to put a stop to it or also speculation indicates that he may be part of a military coup designed to prevent the ridiculous idea of doing a nuclear war with Iran, " said Lehrman.
Lehrman said that other sources had told him all army leave had been cancelled from September 7th onwards, opening the possibility for war to be declared within that time frame.
arlier this week, Washington Post reported that the Pentagon has developed its first ever war plans for operations within the continental United States, in which terrorist attacks would be used as the justification for imposing martial law on cities, regions or the entire country.Would we be that stupid and create a situation? Would we create a lie? W has never lied before or doctored things - has he? Read more...
American Conservative Magazine recently reported that Dick Cheney had given orders to immediately invade Iran after the next terror attack in the US, even if there was no evidence Iran was involved.
Government and media mouthpieces have been fearmongering for weeks about how a nuclear attack within the US is imminent.
Now would be the most opportune time for the Globalists to stage a major attack, as it would head off any potential indictments against the Bush administration for their involvement in illegally outing CIA agent Valerie Plame.
A small post to self-promote. Peace Garden is now a No Sweat Apparel program participant. No Sweat is a great site that sells footware and clothing. What is so great? All items are union made by independent trade-union members. Their goal is to offer great clothes to the public and living wages to the workers.
Just click on the ad in the menu bar to the right to enter the store.
Read more...Media Matters reports on two of my favorites - O'Reilly and Malkin - and their rants about Sheehan.
O'Reilly falsely claimed that Sheehan's "story has been inconsistent" and suggested that she hates the government and the United States. Malkin also falsely claimed Sheehan's "story hasn't checked out," and said Sheehan should be scorned for the views she and O'Reilly falsely imputed to her. And on her weblog, Malkin sought to discredit Sheehan by suggesting that her son who was killed in the Iraq war would not approve of her protest.How dare these two try to belittle the work of Sheehan. And Michelle, isn't it also possible that Casey would say - "Thanks Mom for trying to find the truth!"
Malkin, O'Reilly, Coulter, Rush and Hannity - what a crew.
Read more...BuzzFlash announces Wings of Justice Honoree - Cindy Sheehan.
While others in Washington blanch at admitting that the Iraq War was a colossal blunder, Cindy Sheehan traveled to Crawford, Texas to tell George W. Bush that it was time to admit the error and end the bloodshed.Truth is a powerful weapon Cindy. Continue to be a champion of Truth. Read more...
Sheehan knows the personal cost of the war, in a way George W. Bush has never known. Cindy's son was killed in action in Iraq last year. Everybody grieves in their own way, but Sheehan didn't want other parents to feel her pain of loss.
So she helped start "Gold Star Families for Peace," and she advocated loudly and visibly for accountability in the war on terror -- and an end to a misguided mission. Cindy says she knows from her travels that "people are fed up with this war and want to do something to stop it."
The Republicans will let young men and women die to expand empire and save face -- and many Democrats in Washington are too timid to declare the Neo-con fantasy a failed war on terrorism. But Cindy Sheehan isn't about to let the truth get run out of America by double-talking con artists who think that they are masters of the universe.
Cindy Sheehan merits this week's BuzzFlash "Wings of Justice Award" because she has the courage to ask the President of the United States, "How do you ask a soldier to be the last person to die for a lie?"
Iranian Revolutionary Guard stands accused!
US intelligence believes that a cache of manufactured bombs seized in Iraq about two weeks ago was smuggled into the country from Iran by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, an intelligence official said.Perfect timing. As the public opinion is increasing against the war, let's find some way to prove a far reaching "terror" plot. Coincidence?
"We believe they came from Iran's Revolutionary Guards," the official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The find is significant not only because of the Iranian connection but also because it indicates manufactured bombs are now being introduced in a conflict that has seen the widespread use of mainly improvised explosive devices.
Tom Dispatch talks about the machinations taking place today.
The geopolitical fundamentalists of the Bush administration have been itching for a down-and-dirty "regime change" fight with the clerical fundamentalists of Iran at least since the president, in his 2002 State of the Union Address, linked Iran, Saddam Hussein's hated neighboring regime with which it had fought an eight-year war of the utmost brutality, and the completely unrelated regime in North Korea into an infamous "axis of evil."It is a rather long piece that talks about the possibilities of an attack on Iran. There are many reasons why an attack is far from evident - the Iraq quagmire and dissension in the WH ranks. But ...
Recently, former CIA official Philip Giraldi asserted in the American Conservative magazine that, as of late summer 2005, the Pentagon, "under instructions from Vice President Dick Cheney's office," was "drawing up a contingency plan to be employed in response to another 9/11-type terrorist attack on the United States. The plan mandates a large-scale air assault on Iran employing both conventional and tactical nuclear weapons. As in the case of Iraq, the response is not conditional on Iran actually being involved in the act of terrorism directed against the United States." The breadth and depth of the assault, according to Giraldi's Air Force sources, would be quite striking: "Within Iran there are more than 450 major strategic targets, including numerous suspected nuclear weapons program development sites. Many of the targets are hardened or are deep underground and could not be taken out by conventional weapons, hence the nuclear option." Since many targets are in populated areas, the havoc and destruction following such an attack would, in all likelihood, be unrivaled by anything since Hiroshima and Nagasaki.Trying to save his place in history, W may just destroy the Earth's future. Read more...
Ifilm.com has a great short movie titled " Harlan McCraney: Presidential Speechalist." Starring Andy Dick and of course W. It is healthy to laugh at our Prezident, but W is making it too easy. Some great word mix-ups by our Double-talking leader. Sit back and laugh. By the end though the teras will roll when you realize that this is the guy who represents us to the world.
Read more...Cindy Sheehan continues the noble fight. All she wants is to meet again with W.
Another big story that was going on today was about my first meeting with Bush in June of 2004. For you all I would like to clarify a few things. First of all, I did meet with George, and that is not a secret. I have written about it and been interviewed about it. I will stand by my recounting of the meeting. His behavior was rude and inappropriate. My behavior in June of 2004 is irrelevant to what is going on in 2005. I was in deep shock and deep grief. The grief is still there, but the shock has worn off and the deep anger has set in. And to remind everybody, a few things have happened since June of 2004: The 9/11 commission report; the Senate Intelligence report; the Duelfer WMD report; and most damaging and criminal: the Downing Street Memos. The VERY LAST THING I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS IS: Why do the right wing media so assiduously scrutinize the words of a grief filled mother and ignore the words of a lying president?Cindy - do you really have to ask why? The answer is that the MSM is in bed with W - so much for the liberal media.
And why would they side with a "threat" like Cindy - in some eyes probably worse than Saddam and Osama? Cindy reports that
In the early afternoon, we got word that if we were still there by Thursday, we were going to be deemed a "security threat" to the president. Condi and Rummy are coming in on Thursday for a "policy" meeting. I just don’t understand why we will be a security threat on Thursday when we aren’t now? If we don’t leave on Thursday, we could be arrested. Well, I am not leaving. There are only three things that would make me leave: if George comes out and talks to me; if August comes to an end, or if I am arrested.I am sure she will not see W - don't forget it's hard work being Prez and he needs some rest to recharge. I will bet she is arrested. A security threat(?)- sure truth to W, Rummy and Condi is like garlic to Dracula. Keep up the good fight - so many have you in their thoughts. Read more...
AfterDowningStreet.org reports on a insanely ridiculous argument W made is trying to justify our staying in Iraq. The response quoted is from Cindy Sheehan who is Co-Founder of Gold Star Families for Peace, and mother of a soldier killed in action in Iraq.
On Wednesday, Bush said (speaking about the dreadful loss of life in Iraq in August): "We have to honor the sacrifices of the fallen by completing the mission." and "The families of the fallen can be assured that they died for a noble cause."Read more...
In response, Sheehan wrote: "We want our loved ones' sacrifices to be honored by bringing our nation's sons and daughters home from the travesty that is Iraq IMMEDIATELY, since this war is based on horrendous lies and deceptions. Just because our children are dead, why would we want any more families to suffer the same pain and devastation that we are? We would like for him to explain this 'noble cause' to us, and plan to ask him why Jenna and Barbara are not in harm's way, if the cause is so noble. If he is not ready to send the twins, then he should bring our troops home immediately. We will demand a speedy withdrawal."
Send More Troops to Iraq at the same time we announce that we may soon (don't hold your breath) start a gradual withdrawal.
Although much public attention has been focused recently on the prospect of reducing U.S. forces next spring and summer, defense officials foresee the likelihood of first increasing troop levels.Talk about double-speak. Increase the troops tomorrow - lower the troop level to a figure still higher than today = brag about lowering the level. Wow - is that what you call fuzzy math? Read more...
Lawrence Di Rita, spokesman for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, noted Monday that troop levels were raised last January during Iraq's first elections, and then returned to the current level of about 138,000 several weeks later.
The rightwing nuts are so quick to call those who want an end to the war one word - traitor. Yet they are so blind to the acts that Rove and Novak have committed. Hell even Novak swears and storms off before questions about the Plame case can be asked.
Walter Cronkite says it all...
The survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – the hibakusha – have continually warned, "Nuclear weapons and human beings cannot coexist." In the end, I believe this is the most important lesson of Hiroshima. We must eliminate nuclear weapons before they eliminate us.And that's the way it is... Read more...
The best security, perhaps the only security, against nuclear weapons being used again, or getting into the hands of terrorists, is to eliminate them. Most of the people of the world already know this. Now it is up to the world's people to impress the urgency of this situation upon their governments. We must act now. The future depends upon us.
Anything less would be to abandon our responsibility to future generations.
"The Secret Service is Trying to Intimidate Us" reports on Cindy Sheehan's actions at THE RANCH. I had written about Sheehan previously and her meeting with W - after the death of her son.
Some disturbing actions by the SS (Secret Service)...
Throughout the afternoon and evening, however, the Secret Service has been telling protesters that if they stay there they may be hit by Secret Service vehicles. Cindy says, "They’ve told us this at least ten times. There isn’t much room between the side of the road and the fence, and they go zooming by far over the speed limit." Cindy reports the Secret Service already ran a mother and her six year-old off the road. She believes the Secret Service’s actions are a clear attempt to coerce her and the other protesters into leaving.Wow, and all she wants is to meet with W. Hell she met him before, come on W meet and talk with her again. Maybe this time you'll be better prepared to feign some compassion and concern Read more...
The Hiroshima Cover-Up should be a lesson for today. It concerns the suppression of reporter George Weller's account of post-bomb Nagasaki.
"In swaybacked or flattened skeletons of the Mitsubishi arms plants is revealed what the atomic bomb can do to steel and stone, but what the riven atom can do against human flesh and bone lies hidden in two hospitals of downtown Nagasaki," wrote Mr. Weller. A month after the bombs fell, he observed, "The atomic bomb's peculiar 'disease,' uncured because it is untreated and untreated because it is not diagnosed, is still snatching away lives here."But his reports were squashed by the military. Another reporter's camera was confiscated. And then the government sent their own reporter in.
...Mr. Laurence (a science reporter from the NY Times who was on the payroll of the War Department) had a front-page story in the Times disputing the notion that radiation sickness was killing people. His news story included this remarkable commentary: "The Japanese are still continuing their propaganda aimed at creating the impression that we won the war unfairly, and thus attempting to create sympathy for themselves and milder terms. ... Thus, at the beginning, the Japanese described 'symptoms' that did not ring true."So the lesson...
Sixty years late, Mr. Weller's censored account stands as a searing indictment not only of the inhumanity of the atomic bomb but also of the danger of journalists embedding with the government to deceive the world.Something to think about as we read the filtered news out of Iraq...as we see the build-up of a new nuclear arms race... Read more...
A Newsweek Poll reports
...61 percent of Americans polled say they disapprove of the way President George W. Bush is handling the war in Iraq...38 percent say they would support keeping troops there less than a year, 13 percent say one to two years and 12 percent volunteered that troops should be brought home now.W's other numbers show similar numbers - disappointing for him. But the question is, where are the voices calling for an end to the war? The poll numbers are there but the voices behind those numbers are somewhat silent. Why? Read more...
One week on vacation - one week as one of the thousand "bennies." (The funny thing is I think I view the "bennies" the same way the residents do - I Don't Wanna Be A Benny!). A week to recharge - a week to bodysurf - a week of sun. Now back to work and back to the news.
It is such a different feel to be on vacation. While I read newspapers and watched the news I was without a PC. No blogs to read, no Common Dreams. So my news was slanted and had little to do, IMO, with reality. Just cursory reports on Bolton, on Iraq, on Iran...
So much to comment on. But I think it very appropriate that my re-entry begins with a silent nod to the victims in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A call to end the war, a call to end the nuclear arms race...
Today, the "official" nuclear powers could annihilate the world many times over. And 40 other countries have the know-how to join their club. Sixty years after Hiroshima, who can say with confidence: "Never again"?Read more...Never again?
60 years since the first use of a nuclear weapon in war. 160,000 people died when the bomb was dropped at 8.15am on Hiroshima, with another 77,062 dying later.
$27bn is spent each year by the US on nuclear weapons and related programs
11, 000 active, deliverable nuclear weapons in the world. The US has 6,390, Russia 3,242 and Britain 200
15,654 sq miles, total land area used by US nuclear weapons bases and facilities
4 other states known or thought to have nuclear weapons: India, Israel, Pakistan, North Korea
5 acknowledged nuclear states: China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States
1 number of islands vaporized by nuclear testing: Elugelab, Micronesia, 1952
16 in length of 'Davy Crockett', the smallest nuclear weapon ever produced
40 states with technical ability to make nuclear weapons, including Egypt and South Korea
30,000 Kazakh conscripts served at Semipalatinsk, the Soviet test site. There were 456 tests conducted between 1945 and 1991 at the site
100 maximum number of those Kazakh conscripts still alive today
200 estimated number of nuclear weapons possessed by Israel
0 estimated number of nuclear weapons possessed by all the Arab states
100,000 people were members of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in 1984
150 estimated number of nuclear weapons possessed by India
75 estimated number of nuclear weapons possessed by Pakistan
40, 000 people are currently members of CND
900 years is the time it will take for radioactive elements in Pripyat, near Chernobyl, to decay to safe levels following the disaster 19 years ago
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