More signs pointing to extending the war to Iran

Bush 'Spoiling for a Fight' with Iran is a piece from the Guardian.

US officials in Baghdad and Washington are expected to unveil a secret intelligence "dossier" this week detailing evidence of Iran's alleged complicity in attacks on American troops in Iraq. The move, uncomfortably echoing Downing Street's dossier debacle in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq invasion, is one more sign that the Bush administration is building a case for war.

Sure W's regime are denying the war plans but if it smells like...

Read more...

Molly Ivins - RIP

She skewered Shrub so often to my delight. Her voice will be missed.
On January 11 she wrote:

We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. And every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. Raise hell. Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous. Make our troops know we're for them and trying to get them out of there. Hit the streets to protest Bush's proposed surge. If you can, go to the peace march in Washington on Jan. 27. We need people in the streets, banging pots and pans and demanding, "Stop it, now!"

Read more...

W is going to lose this one

Senators Assert Right to Block Bush on Iraq

Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee began laying the constitutional groundwork today for an effort to block President Bush’s plan to send more troops to Iraq and place new limits on the conduct of the war there, perhaps forcing a withdrawal of American forces from Iraq.
They were joined by Senator Arlen Specter, the Pennsylvania Republican who led the panel for the last two years, in asserting that Mr. Bush cannot simply ignore Congressional opposition to his plan to send 21,500 additional troops to Iraq.
“I would respectfully suggest to the president that he is not the sole decider,” Mr. Specter said. “The decider is a joint and shared responsibility.”
Mr. Specter said he considered a clash over constitutional powers to be “imminent.”
Senator Russell Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat who acted as chairman for the hearing, said he would soon introduce a resolution that would go much further. It would end all financing for the deployment of American military forces in Iraq after six months, other than a limited number working on counterterrorism operations or training the Iraqi army and police. In effect, it would call for all other American forces to be withdrawn by the six-month deadline.
“Since the President is adamant about pursuing his failed policy in Iraq, Congress has a duty to stand up and prevent him,” Mr. Feingold said.

The lines are being drawn and W is on the wrong side of the line. I'm starting to like Arlen. Let's hope he keeps it up.

Read more...

Titles and reports to stoke the fire...

Are the Iranians Out for Revenge? That's the title of a Time's article. NBC News also had a report accusing Iranian agent involvement in the recent capture and murder of US soldiers.

Reporting the facts or stoking the flames?

Get ready!

Read more...

Another fine mess he has gotten us into...

Turkey entering the picture

Turkey's parliament went into secret session this week to debate sending troops to invade and occupy northern Iraq for security purposes.
More than 30,000 people have been killed in the confrontation between the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) and the Turkish army – about 400 last year alone, according to Turkey's Human Rights Association.
Onur Oymen, the deputy chairman of the Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), said: "Northern Iraq is the only place in the world where a terrorist group can operate without being pursued."
"If the Iraqis and the US are not prepared to take action over this, then we must."

If this occurs, what will happen to our Iraqi plans? We're ready to shoot Iranians who are "interfering" in Iraq - will we do the same to the Turkish troops? And what will this do, heaven forbid, to our plans for Iran?

Read more...

W's Kind of Thinking

'apocalyptic cult'

American and Iraqi troops killed about 250 armed men alleged to belong to an apocalyptic Islamic cult who were planning to attack the religious leadership of the Shia in the holy city of Najaf, according to Iraqi political, military and police sources.
The battle took place in the orchards around Najaf and a US helicopter was shot down during the fighting, killing two crewmen. Hundreds of fighters drawn from the Sunni and Shia communities who gathered amid the date palms were followers of Ahmed Hassani al-Yemeni who claims to be the vanguard of the Messiah according to Iraqi politicians. His office in Najaf had been closed 10 days ago.

This sounds like something that would interest W. Uniting the Sunni and Shia communities to bring about the Endtimes. W is very interested in bringing about the Endtimes - not so much in uniting. Maybe he and al-Yemeni should meet and have some tea to discuss a collaboration.

Read more...

A little confusing...

Iraqi PM wins key security vote

Iraq's parliament has voted to back Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's new drive to improve security in Baghdad.
Mr Maliki said operations would be under Iraqi control with US troops acting in support.
The key bloc of MPs allied to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr - which had boycotted parliament for two months - gave its backing to the plan.

This is the man whose army is a "military target."

One veteran military expert on Iraq, retired Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor, told Inter Press Service that Bush's new policy is a "war against all" in Iraq and called it "a blunder of Hitlerian proportions".

So who are we really there to support? Who besides the Kurds are our friends?

Read more...

The world he wants

US has desided to send more troups to Iraq. There are other solutions. But none of them are supporting the huge war industry that US has created since the 50´s. An industry that produces war, with a budget larger than all other budgets put together every year.

Thanks Snapp

This is now from YouTube (Google Video removed it). Watch it before they pull it!

Read more...

Stop Him!

The World Agrees: Stop Him

Stop him before he kills again. That is the judgment of the American people, and indeed of the entire world, as to the performance of our president, and no State of the Union address can erase that dismal verdict.
President Bush has accomplished what Osama bin Laden only dreamed of by disgracing the model of American democracy in the eyes of the world. According to an exhaustive BBC poll, nearly three-quarters of those polled in 25 countries oppose the Bush policy on Iraq, and more than two-thirds believe the U.S. presence in the Middle East destabilizes the region.
In other words, the almost universal support the United States enjoyed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks has been completely squandered, as a majority of the world’s people now believe that our role in the entire world is negative.

W - The UNITER!

Read more...

Proof Iran is interfering?

US says its has proof Iran is interfering in Iraq

The United States said it had proof of Iran's interference in Iraq, promising soon to publish details of Iranian networks in its strife-torn neighboring country.
"There is solid evidence that Iranian agents are involved in these networks and that they are working with individuals and groups in Iraq and that they are being sent there by the Iranian government," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. "And I would expect that ... in the near future, we are going to try to talk a little bit more in public -- to the extent that we can because, again, you're dealing with intelligence information -- about what we know of Iranian support for these networks," he added.

Why is this so scary?

Before attacking Iraq in March 2003, the administration of President George W. Bush said it had irrefutable evidence dictator Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, but no such weapons have been found since in the country.

The plot thickens. On the 27th and every day thereafter we must scream: GET OUT OF IRAQ! - STAY OF OUT IRAN!

Read more...

Looking upward for help?

Forget it W. Even God can't help you. It's time to give it up for the good of the nation and the world.

No more chances. Out of Iraq, Stay out of Iran!

Read more...

Vegetarian is the New Prius

Greening your life and the planet

Last month, the United Nations published a report on livestock and the environment with a stunning conclusion: "The livestock sector emerges as one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global." It turns out that raising animals for food is a primary cause of land degradation, air pollution, water shortage, water pollution, loss of biodiversity, and not least of all, global warming.
They noted that feeding animals for meat, dairy, and egg production requires growing some ten times as much crops as we'd need if we just ate pasta primavera, faux chicken nuggets, and other plant foods. On top of that, we have to transport the animals to slaughterhouses, slaughter them, refrigerate their carcasses, and distribute their flesh all across the country. Producing a calorie of meat protein means burning more than ten times as much fossil fuels--and spewing more than ten times as much heat-trapping carbon dioxide--as does a calorie of plant protein. The researchers found that, when it's all added up, the average American does more to reduce global warming emissions by going vegetarian than by switching to a Prius.

So eat your veggies - just your veggies. It's healthier for you and healthier for Mother Earth.

I love this type of reinforcement. I think I may have two Gardenburgers for dinner tomorrow night.

Read more...

Colonel Sam Gardiner tells all

Escalation Against Iraq

The pieces are moving. They’ll be in place by the end of February. The United States will be able to escalate military operations against Iran.

Strike forces, missile defense systems, support of opposition groups in Iran, special ops troops in Iran, Iranian liaison office attacks, tough talk...

It is possible the White House strategy is just implementing a strategy to put pressure on Iran on a number of fronts, and this will never amount to anything. On the other hand, if the White House is on a path to strike Iran, we’ll see a few more steps unfold.
The White House could be telling the truth. Maybe there are no plans to take Iran to the next level. The fuel for a fire is in place, however. All we need is a spark. The danger is that we have created conditions that could lead to a Greater Middle East War.

Get out of Iraq! Stay out of Iran!

Read more...

Answer: Cap Troop Levels

Question: What is one way to prolong the war, suffering and deaths? Another way to look at it - WRONG ANSWER.

Clinton wants to cap troops in Iraq, increase troops in Afghanistan

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton called Wednesday for a 140,000 cap on U.S. forces in Iraq, a move that comes as the 2008 front-runner is facing pressure from Democrats unhappy with her longtime support of the war. But the former first lady may go only so far. Wednesday, she reiterated her opposition to President George W. Bush's plan for a 21,500-troop "surge" in Iraq -- but also rejected Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy's proposal to effectively cut off funding for the deployment.

Sorry Hill. Wrong answers if your ooking for my vote. The right answer: Withdrawal Now!

Read more...

Cancer study ordered into mobile phones

'hint of a link'

A mass study of the long-term impact of mobile phones is to be undertaken amid fears that people who have used them for more than ten years are at greater risk from brain cancer.
Professor Lawrie Challis, who is in the final stages of negotiation with the Department of Health and the mobile phone industry for the £3 million that he needs to fund the study, told The Times that research has shown that mobiles are very safe in the short term but that there is a “hint of something” for people using them longer.

So why isn't our government involved or concerned?

Amazing to walk the streets to see how many have their phones pasted to their ears. The truth must come out.

Read more...

Ending the debate about human impacts causing global warming

Landmark UN Study Backs Climate Theory

A major new United Nations report shows global scientists are more convinced than ever that human activity is causing climate change, the Toronto Star has learned.
The rate of warming between now and 2030 is likely to be twice that of the previous century, it says.
And it concludes that most of the global warming since the middle of the last century has been caused by man-made greenhouse gases.

The vast majority of the world's population already knew this. Now if we can get W, Rush, ExxonMobil and their friends to read and act - we'd be all set.

Read more...

It's 2 minutes closer!

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) is moving the minute hand of the Doomsday Clock two minutes closer to midnight. It is now 5 minutes to midnight. Reflecting global failures to solve the problems posed by nuclear weapons and the climate crisis, the decision by the BAS Board of Directors was made in consultation with the Bulletin’s Board of Sponsors, which includes 18 Nobel Laureates.
By moving the hand of the Clock closer to midnight — the figurative end of civilization — the BAS Board of Directors is drawing attention to the increasing dangers from the spread of nuclear weapons in a world of violent conflict, and to the catastrophic harm from climate change that is unfolding. The BAS statement explains: "We stand at the brink of a Second Nuclear Age.
The BAS statement continues: "The dangers posed by climate change are nearly as dire as those posed by nuclear weapons. The effects may be less dramatic in the short term than the destruction that could be wrought by nuclear explosions, but over the next three to four decades climate change could cause irremediable harm to the habitats upon which human societies depend for survival."

Read more...

Checks and balances?

Gonzales raps 'activist' judges

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says federal judges are unqualified to make rulings affecting national security policy, ramping up his criticism of how they handle terrorism cases.
In remarks prepared for delivery Wednesday, Gonzales says judges generally should defer to the will of the president and Congress when deciding national security cases. He also raps jurists who “apply an activist philosophy that stretches the law to suit policy preferences.”

Why have the courts and Congress at all? Our imperial monarch is all we need. Civil liberties, checks and balances. Old world notions. It's a NEW WORLD ORDER!

Read more...

Truth spoken by W's regime?

Iran target of US Gulf military moves, Gates says.

Increased US military activity in the Gulf is aimed at Iran's "very negative" behaviour, the Bush administration said today.
The defence secretary, Robert Gates, told reporters that the decision to deploy a Patriot missile battalion and a second aircraft carrier to the Gulf in conjunction with a "surge" of troops in Iraq was designed to show Iran that the US was not "overcommitted" in Iraq.
Speaking in Brussels after meeting Nato officials, Mr Gates said: "We are simply reaffirming that statement of the importance of the Gulf region to the United States and our determination to be an ongoing strong presence in that area for a long time into the future."

With W's threats to Iran and Syria and now this - truth is being spoken by this regime. Still the wrong words and message though!

Read more...

What would King say about Iraq?

I think if he were still with us, King would feel the same way about Iraq as he did with the war in VietNam.

A long clip, but watch it and learn from history. It is clear that W and so many others have not listened to history's lessons.

Read more...

Our Arrogant Leader

CBS has a short clip of W. "I am the decider and no one can stop me."

I hope Congress takes his arrogance as a challenge. If not, it's time for the public to take total control.

WARNING: the clip is short and you have to sit through CBS ads. But isn't it worth it if you can see W in all his glory?

Read more...

Robert Anton Wilson

The genius who brought us "The Illuminatus Trilogy" has passed away. Loved one of his last Thought for the Month

Just as a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day, even a Christian Fundamentalist gets a savvy notion every now and then. I think rev. Robertson had a good idea when he suggested replacing war with assassination in one case, on economic grounds. He merely didn’t carry the concept far enough.
I suggest that we should abolish war utterly and replace it entirely with selective assassination. Think about the savings this would mean, in this age when even our “little” wars cost billions of dollars a year, and rememer the cogent observation of the late Senator Dirkson: “A billion here, a billion there – pretty soon you’re talking about REAL Money.” We’ve already gotten our national debt so high that our posterity “unto the seventh generation” will never pay it off; do we really need to enslave the whole future to the international bankers?
On the moral side, killing a few dozen foreigners a year instead of a few hundred thousand should seem less messy, to say the least of it, especially when you consider the collatarel damage to our own side. How much blood and death do we need?
Reversing a sentimental error of the ‘60s, the new anti-war slogan should be MAKE ASSASSINATIONS, NOT WARS.
And, best of all, if this idea catches on internationally we can expect at least 50 contracts on George Bush the first week.

Read more...

What will you do when the floods come?

A few months old but still on target.

Read more...

Read more...

Here we go - step one: consulate - step two: Tehran

Controversy as US arrests six in raid on 'Iranian consulate' s

Tehran and the regional government of Iraqi Kurdistan accused US troops of raiding a diplomatic building -- which should have been protected under international law -- and demanded that the detainees be released.
The raid came just hours after US President George W. Bush announced he had ordered 21,500 more troops to Iraq and promised to take aggressive steps to curtail what he described as Iranian and Syrian help for insurgents.

The wheels are in motion. My prediction: bombs fly into Iran by the end of this month.

Read more...

Get ready Iran....

W's speech:

We will interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. I recently ordered the deployment of an additional carrier strike group to the region. We will expand intelligence sharing - and deploy Patriot air defense systems to reassure our friends and allies. We will work with the governments of Turkey and Iraq to help them resolve problems along their border. And we will work with others to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons and dominating the region.

There it is. Not only an escalation of the war in Iraq, but a new set of frontiers!

When you take to the streets it is not just an end to the war in Iraq but also to stay out of Syria and Iran.

It is clear W has lost his mind. We need to take control of this nation - before it is too late!

Read more...

Post "Surge" Speech

I watched and did not throw up!

It is without question the time to TAKE OUR NATION BACK!

Read more...

The Real Plan for the MidEast Revealed Tonight?

Distracting Congress from the Real War Plan: Iran.

Is the surge an orchestrated distraction from the real war plan? A good case can be made that it is. The US Congress and media are focused on President Bush’s proposal for an increase of 20,000 US troops in Iraq, while Israel and its American neoconservative allies prepare an assault on Iran. Commentators have expressed puzzlement over President Bush’s appointment of a US Navy admiral as commander in charge of the ground wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The appointment makes sense only if the administration’s attention has shifted from the insurgencies to an attack on Iran. The Bush administration has recently doubled its aircraft carrier forces and air power in the Persian Gulf. According to credible news reports, the Israeli air force has been making practice runs in preparation for an attack on Iran. The only purpose of the surge is to distract Congress while plans are implemented to widen the war.

Picture this: the "surge" is announced and the added troops hit the ground in three weeks. Days later a "surge" in troop casualties. Evidence is uncovered that Iranian arms and fighters were involved. The perfect storm!

Wouldn't put it past this regime to use our troops as pawns.

Read more...

Read more...

Kucinich's Plan

The Kucinich Plan For Iraq has been noted and posted about before. But based on the joke expected tomorrow night - this plan is worth another look.

1. The US announces it will end the occupation, close military bases and withdraw. 2. US announces that it will use existing funds to bring the troops and necessary equipment home. Congress appropriated $70 billion in bridge funds on October 1st for the war. Money from this and other DOD accounts can be used to fund the troops in the field over the next few months, and to pay for the cost of the return of the troops, (which has been estimated at between $5 and $7 billion dollars) while a political settlement is being negotiated and preparations are made for a transition to an international security and peacekeeping force. 3. Order a simultaneous return of all US contractors to the United States and turn over all contracting work to the Iraqi government. 4. Convene a regional conference for the purpose of developing a security and stabilization force for Iraq. The focus should be on a process which solves the problems of Iraq. 5. Prepare an international security and peacekeeping force to move in, replacing US troops who then return home. The UN has an indispensable role to play here, but cannot do it as long as the US is committed to an occupation. The UN is the only international organization with the ability to mobilize and the legitimacy to authorize troops. 6. Develop and fund a process of national reconciliation. The process of reconciliation must begin with a national conference, organized with the assistance of the UN and with the participation of parties who can create, participate in and affect the process of reconciliation, defined as an airing of all grievances and the creation of pathways toward open, transparent talks producing truth and resolution of grievances. 7. Reconstruction and Jobs. Restart the failed reconstruction program in Iraq. Rebuild roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and other public facilities, houses, and factories with jobs and job training going to local Iraqis. 8. Reparations. The US and Great Britain have a high moral obligation to enable a peace process by beginning a program of significant reparations to the people of Iraq for the loss of lives, physical and emotional injuries, and damage to property. There should be special programs to rescue the tens of thousands of Iraqi orphans from lives of destitution. 9. Political Sovereignty. Put an end to suspicions that the US invasion and occupation was influenced by a desire to gain control of Iraq's oil assets by A) setting aside initiatives to privatize Iraqi oil interests or other national assets, and B) by abandoning efforts to change Iraqi national law to facilitate privatization. 10. Iraq Economy. Set forth a plan to stabilize Iraq's cost for food and energy, on par to what the prices were before the US invasion and occupation. 11. Economic Sovereignty. Work with the world community to restore Iraq's fiscal integrity without structural readjustment measures of the IMF or the World Bank. 12. International Truth and Reconciliation. Establish a policy of truth and reconciliation between the people of the United States and the people of Iraq.

Imagine if these 12 steps were undertaken tomorrow night. Imagine the way the world would come to embrace us again as a world citizen.

Can we expect W to use such words or present such an insightful plan? Don't hold your breath!

Read more...

Now more than ever!

Read more...

Cut the Funds!

Bring the troops home now!

Thanks Dennis for having the guts and the sanity to try to end this fiasco.

Read more...

Nuking Iran

Focus: Mission Iran

Israel will not tolerate Iran going nuclear and military sources say it will use tactical strikes unless Iran abandons its programme. The Israelis say they hope as fervently as the rest of the world that this attack will never take place. There is clearly an element of sabre-rattling in their letting it be known the plan exists and that the pilots are already in training. But in the deeply dangerous and volatile Middle East, contingency plans can become horrible reality.

The problem is it fits nicely with our actions. Our warships are poised (or soon will be) off the coast. Our fingers are pointed (and have been) at Iran.

This has been discussed before. Is it just "scare tactics" or is the world closer to the edge of falling into the shitter.

Gee, maybe W and the rest have it right. Maybe the Book of Revelations is correct. The only problem is it is "man" that wants to interpret the words of Revelations for "his" purpose.

Read more...

The Luckiest Despot in the World

Fiore hits the mark once again. This time focusing on the past and future of Rummy's pal Saddam.

Read more...

Anything is possible

Saddam Hussein is not DEAD is an interesting blog.

Sure it's a conspiracy theory thing but anything is possible.

Has anyone seen Saddam's good friend Rummy lately? One of those masked guys did look a little like him. A clever ruse - resign and leave the public eye - don a mask at Saddam's hanging - fake his death - spend a few months with on on the beach sipping pina colada's. Oh what a great life.

Read more...

He doubled-up in two days?

Bush could send up to 40,000 more US troops to Iraq .

Various news reports agree there will be an increase of US forces in Iraq, giving estimates of between 9,000 and 40,000 extra troops.

Yesterday reports were 20,000. Now this. Is he kidding?

It is time for everyone to take to the streets. The Madness of King George must end!

Read more...

What's in your Mail?

W knows!!! Warrantless mail search may be allowed after a signing statement by our beloved leader.

“The executive branch shall construe subsection 404(c) of title 39, as enacted by subsection 1010(e) of the act, which provides for opening of an item of a class of mail otherwise sealed against inspection, in a manner consistent, to the maximum extent permissible, with the need to conduct searches in exigent circumstances, such as to protect human life and safety against hazardous materials, and the need for physical searches specifically authorized by law for foreign intelligence collection.”

W, Tired? Isn't it time for you to just get up and leave?

Read more...

Sacrifice?

Olbermann is right - W doesn't know what he is doing. 20,000 more!

It's time Nancy. Pull the plug on this stupid war.

Read more...

God is talking....

Problem is only W and Pat Robertson are hearing him.

Pat Robertson is at it again, this time claiming God told him that a major terrorist attack in 2007—possibly nuclear—would result in “mass killing.”

Robertson said God told him during a recent prayer retreat that major cities and possibly millions of people will be affected by the attack, which should take place sometime after September.

Maybe it's to punish Pat for suggesting we kill Chavez.

Read more...

The Ultimate Sacrifice?

Read more...

What does 3,000 look like?

Faces of the Dead in Iraq - New York Times

Looks like 3,000 deaths too many!

Read more...

Peace on Earth

MGM Cartoon 1939 Peace On Earth
Uploaded by shawshawshaw

Mother Earth would be much better off without men.

Read more...

Our neighbors are pissed.

Cosmic Log : UFOs in the clouds. An older story but it was on CNN Headline News toady - a sighting at O'Hare.

Employees at O'Hare reported seeing a dark gray, seemingly spinning disc hovering above Concourse C - at an estimated altitude of hundreds of feet, close to the cloud cover. The disc appeared to fly up at a rapid rate, leaving behind a hole in the clouds.

Real? Military object? Mass hysteria? Or are our neighbors pissed off and coming down to set us straight? What could they be pissed about? Try the wars, global warming...

Read more...