Peace Garden: 2007

Monday, December 31, 2007

I shudder to imagine how things will play out now as we turn the corner into 2008. Not to put too fine a point on it, but my little walnut brain can't imagine any scenario in which the US economy doesn't end up on a gurney in history's emergency room. It's not necessary to rehash the particulars of the Greenspan bubble-blowing disaster. The outcome is what concerns us. The web cables have been blazing for months with arguments as to what form the workout will take. There's little disagreement about the fundamentals at the housing end of things. The housing market is in a death spiral. Eventually, the median price of a house will have to fall back to the median income, and it has a very long way to go, perhaps 50 percent. Until that happens, houses will be generally unsellable. At the same time, of course, an anxious finance sector will be offering fewer mortgages and on much more rigorous terms, so there will be far fewer qualified buyers even for distress sales. And the median income itself may soon not be what it has been. The whole equation has changed.
But to return to my point, something like 40 percent of all new jobs after the year 2000 were created in the final burst of suburban expansion -- everything from the excavators to the framers to the sheet-rockers, and then the providers of granite countertops, the sellers of appliances and furnishings, and cars to service the far-out new subdivisions, and so on. This is the end, therefore, not only of the production "home-builders," but perhaps everything from Crate and Barrel to WalMart, too, eventually.
Others have said (and I concur) that 2008 will be the year that the issue of Peak Oil not only takes stage in the forefront of American politics, but pushes global warming aside as the most immediate threat to the "modern" way-of-life. There is every reason to believe that the world has arrived at its all-time oil production peak -- and some statisticians would even pin-point the exact moment as July 2006. Since then a few new and crucial story-lines have emerged to allow us to understand what is happening out there on the world oil scene.
In any case, whoever ends up in the oval office will preside over one king-hell of a clusterfuck. In the immortal words of TV's erstwhile "Mr. T," I pity da fool who gets elected into this mess. There will be a whole continent full of bankrupt, re-poed, and idle former WalMart shoppers, many of them with half of their skin tattooed and many of that bunch all revved up to "roll heavy and gun up" against the folks who screwed them.
Which leads me to my penultimate observation of the moment: 2008 will be the year that celebrity wealth goes into hiding. A land full of people crying into their foreclosure notices will take a dim view of the Donald Trumps and P. Diddys luxuriating out there and may come looking for scalps -- though in the case of Mr. Trump they'll be sorry they woke up the wolverine that lives on his head. Basically, though, I'm not kidding. Conspicuous displays of wealth will be so "out" that Mr. Diddy might take to club-hopping in a 1999 Mazda. Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton may have to double-up living in a minuteman missile silo to keep the angry mobs of fans-turned-vengeful-berserkers away.

Something to think about as you pop the bottle of bubbly. For some of us, it may be our last.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Iraq: Al-Qaida 75 percent gone

Iraq's interior ministry spokesman said Saturday that 75 percent of al-Qaida in Iraq's terrorist network had been destroyed this year, but the top American commander in the country said the terror group remained his chief concern.

So shouldn't our troop be cut by 75%? Isn't Al-Qaeda the "reason on the day" to be in Iraq?

Thursday, December 27, 2007

US to expand military presence in Pakistan

EARLY next year, US special forces are expected to vastly expand their presence in Pakistan, as part of an effort to train and support indigenous counter-insurgency forces and clandestine counter-terrorism units, according to American defence officials involved with the planning, reports Washington Post.
US Central Command Commander Adm William Fallon alluded to the agreement and spoke approvingly of Pakistan’s recent counter-terrorism efforts in a recent interview.

I guess Willy wasn't involved in those meeting as to where to lay the blame for today's assassination.

So who approved these troop moves?

al-Qaeda and Bhutto?

Pakistan: Al-Qaeda claims Bhutto's death

spokesperson for the al-Qaeda terrorist network has claimed responsibility for the death on Thursday of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
“We terminated the most precious American asset which vowed to defeat [the] mujahadeen,” Al-Qaeda’s commander and main spokesperson Mustafa Abu Al-Yazid told Adnkronos International (AKI) in a phone call from an unknown location, speaking in faltering English. Al-Yazid is the main al-Qaeda commander in Afghanistan.
It is believed that the decision to kill Bhutto, who is the leader of the opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP), was made by al-Qaeda No. 2, the Egyptian doctor, Ayman al-Zawahiri in October.

But there are other candidates for the one who pulled the trigger.

Let's think about this report. This throws a damper on our Iran Adventure plans - no al-Qaeda in Iran. Now we may have to focus our attention on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

This clearly plays into the hands of Mussharraf - a great reason to re-institute martial law. Also plays into the hands of our politicos who love to play the "islamo-fascist". fear. "they will be here if we don't kill them there" crowd.

Gravel Sings

Monday, December 24, 2007

If the media and the party won't let him talk, let's spread his words.

It's the End of the World...

and W feels fine.

Hell, he is bringing it about.

Happy Solstice

Friday, December 21, 2007

A perfect opportunity to understand and explore our connection with all of nature.

Impeach Now

Former CIA Analyst Says Evidence Abounds for Impeachment

The evidence for impeachment of the president and vice president is overwhelming, former CIA analyst and daily presidential briefer Ray McGovern told a room full of people at the Portsmouth Public Library Monday night.
McGovern, who provided daily briefings for former presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush as well as other high ranking officials during his 27 year CIA career, said he has witnessed a “prostitution of his profession” as the Bush administration lied to the American people about the evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
“Don’t let anyone tell you the President was deceived by false intelligence … they knew,” McGovern said.

So why wait?

He added that although an impeachment bill currently in Congress is gaining more support, Democrats are shying away because of the influence of lobbies and political analysts telling them to “wait it out” until the election.

The problem with waiting it out gives this regime more time to involve us in Iran, drive our economy further into the crapper, piss off more nations, destroy more of our environmental laws...

We all know what happened to Tricky Dick

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Maybe Dumb George will follow his example.

Analysis: CIA Tape Case Evokes Watergate

Administration officials refuse to shed light on whether White House lawyers talked to the CIA about whether to destroy interrogation videotapes of two terrorism suspects but bristle at questions into the affair and complain about news coverage. That puts the White House in an awkward position. The very vision of White House officials sitting around a table talking about such an inflammatory course of action evokes echoes of Nixon and Watergate.
The secret destruction of the CIA tapes in late 2005 has drawn fire from both a federal judge and from Congress. The tapes purportedly documented harsh interrogation techniques approved by the White House, including waterboarding, which simulates drowning.
Destruction of the tapes was “totally improper behavior that smacks of efforts by past administrations to destroy evidence as quickly as possible,” said Paul C. Light, professor of public policy at New York University. “Even if it didn’t violate specific law, it violates the spirit of transparency.” “It brings up the schooling that the Nixon administration received regarding the destruction of the secret White House tapes,” Light said, referring to published reports that senior White House lawyers were involved in back-and-forth discussions with the CIA between 2003 and 2005 over whether to destroy the tapes.

"Schooling" - a nice word for kicking the regime out.

Time for a complete change

Democrats again impotent to rein in Iraq war funds

Democrats failed again this week in their efforts to influence Iraq war policy, showing themselves incapable of carrying out the mandate of voters who gave them a majority in Congress one year ago.

If they cannot get the job we all want done, then...

If past logic is an indicator

the Saudi's better watch out.

Saudis biggest group of al Qaeda Iraq fighters

Most al Qaeda fighters in Iraq are from Saudi Arabia and Libya and many are university-aged students, said a study released on Wednesday by researchers at the U.S. Army's West Point military academy.

Thoughts with Kucinich

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Kucinich's brother found dead

Perry Kucinich, brother of Democratic presidential hopeful Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, was found dead Wednesday morning at his eastside Cleveland home, officials said.
His body was discovered by another brother, Larry, about 9 a.m., a spokesman for the Cuyahoga County Coroner told CNN.

Thanks Henry Kennedy

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Judge orders CIA interrogation video hearing

A federal judge has ordered a hearing on whether the Bush administration violated a court order by destroying CIA interrogation videos of two al-Qaida suspects.
U.S. District Judge Henry H. Kennedy rejected calls from the Justice Department to stay out of the matter. He ordered lawyers to appear before him Friday morning.

Someone who seems to have the spine to stand up to Constitutional abuse. Let's hope he can see fit to follow through.

You forgot Kucinich!

Richardson Says He Will Bring Troops Home, Obama and Edwards in War of Words

Democrat Bill Richardson is claiming the mantle of being his party's strongest peace candidate as the Iowa caucus presidential campaign heads into the home stretch. Quickly ending the Iraq war is the key to repairing political damage caused by the conflict and restoring the American Dream, the New Mexico governor told about 200 people Monday at Cornell College.

Strongest? Is Bill promoting a Department of Peace? Is Bill calling for the impeachment of the regime? I don't Think so!

NIE and W

Did Bush Get New Iran Intel Last Winter?

White House officials have now admitted that George W. Bush was told that the intelligence assessment on a covert Iranian nuclear programme might change last August, but they have avoided answering the question of when the president was first informed about the new intelligence that led to that revised assessment.
That evasion is necessary, it now appears, to conceal the fact that Bush likely knew about that intelligence as early as February or March 2007.

Does it really matter? He lied to us about Iraq. He'll continue to lie about Iran until we are there.

Shawshank Redemption in real-life

Monday, December 17, 2007

Not my usual thing to comment on, but...

Pinups of bikini-clad women hid jailbreak route, officials say

Two inmates escaped from a county jail, hiding the holes they made in the walls by putting up photos of bikini-clad women, officials said.
The county prosecutor's office said the two apparently removed cement blocks from two walls, squeezed through the openings, jumped to a rooftop below and then made it over a 25-foot-high fence.

Suggestion: have the prison guards watch "Shawshank Redemption" so they will know enough to look behind the posters.

Check out this logic

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Israel: US report on Iran may spark war

Israel's public security minister warned Saturday that a U.S. intelligence report that said Iran is no longer developing nuclear arms could lead to a regional war that would threaten the Jewish state.
Dichter cautioned that a refusal to recognize Iran's intentions to build weapons of mass destruction could lead to armed conflict in the Middle East.
"The American misconception concerning Iran's nuclear weapons is liable to lead to a regional Yom Kippur where Israel will be among the countries that are threatened," Dichter said in a speech in a suburb south of Tel Aviv, according to his spokesman, Mati Gil. "Something went wrong in the American blueprint for analyzing the severity of the Iranian nuclear threat."
Dichter didn't elaborate on the potential scenario but seemed to imply that a world that let its guard down regarding Iran would be more vulnerable to attack by the Islamic regime.

Translation:
Attack them first.

The Story of Stuff

Friday, December 14, 2007

The Story of Stuff

From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

What are they afraid of?

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Kucinich booted from Iowa debate

Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D) is being excluded from this week’s Iowa presidential debate because he has not rented office space in the Hawkeye State, his campaign said Wednesday.
The Des Moines Register informed the campaign that Kucinich is not invited because the newspaper determined “that a person working out of his home did not meet our criteria for a campaign office and full-time paid staff in Iowa,” the campaign said.

Wait - it gets better...

Kucinich, who is running his second consecutive presidential campaign but is doing poorly in national polls, has received strong support in online surveys from liberal groups such as Democracy for America. The Ohio lawmaker’s anti-war campaign resonates with parts of the Democratic base even though that support has not boosted Kucinich from the lower tier of candidates.

So I guess the DFA poll is meaningless.

He has as much right to be on the stage as do the Repug-lites that are supported by the DLC. Hell, he has spoken truth and has ideas and programs - maybe he has more right than the others.

Discovering a lie - too easy

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

French Activist Bove To Go On Anti-GMO Hunger Strike

French radical farmer Jose Bove, who became a worldwide celebrity for his fight against junk food, said on Monday he would go on a hunger strike to win a one-year ban on genetically modified (GMO) crops.
While GMO crops are common in the United States, France — Europe’s biggest grain producer — along with other European nations remain highly suspicious of them. Supporters say it could lead to hardy strains to help feed the world’s poor. Opponents, which polls say include a majority of French people, fear they could harm humans and wildlife by triggering an uncontrolled spread of modified genes.
In an attempt to calm these concerns, France last week formally suspended the commercial use of GMO seeds until February 9 and ordered a biotech safety study.

Sounds good right?

“This decree is ridiculous. It is a scarecrow,” Bove said. “Everyone knows that there are no sowings during winter.

Ooops. Isn't it embarrassing when a government's lies are so quickly brought into the light? But this one was too easy for Bove. Either the officials tried to pull a fast one or they have no idea of how and when vegetables, fruits and grains are grown.

Greenwashing

>Big Oil Lets Sun Set on Renewables

Shell, the oil company that recently trumpeted its commitment to a low carbon future by signing a pre-Bali conference communique, has quietly sold off most of its solar business.
The move, taken with rival BP’s decision last week to invest in the world’s dirtiest oil production in Canada’s tar sands, indicates that Big Oil might be giving up its flirtation with renewables and going back to its roots.
Shell and BP are among the biggest producers of greenhouse gases in the world, but both have been keen to paint themselves green through a series of clean fuel initiatives.
Environmental groups have always accused Shell of using clean energy initiatives as “greenwash” to deflect criticism from its core carbon operations, especially tar sands. The latest pull-out has annoyed rival business leaders at London-based Solar Century and local Indian operation, Orb Energy, who fear the impact of a high-profile company selling off solar business. Jeremy Leggett, chief executive of Solarcentury and a leading voice in renewable energy circles, said Shell was undermining the credibility of the business world in its fight against global warming.
Greenpeace climate campaigner Joss Garman said: “If Shell is to survive the climate change age… it needs to become not just an oil company but an energy company. One wonders if Shell’s executives have noticed what’s happening in Bali or if we’ll see slick adverts on TV boasting about their retreat from renewables. Probably not.”

Maybe they know something we don't. Maybe they know of two oil reserves (Venezuela and Iran) that will be gift-wrapped and presented to them. Who needs to invest in solar and renewables when you have the mighty US government and troops finding and protecting your oil supplies.

Al and the Prize

Monday, December 10, 2007

Al's Journal : Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech

We, the human species, are confronting a planetary emergency – a threat to the survival of our civilization that is gathering ominous and destructive potential even as we gather here. But there is hopeful news as well: we have the ability to solve this crisis and avoid the worst – though not all – of its consequences, if we act boldly, decisively and quickly.
However, despite a growing number of honorable exceptions, too many of the world’s leaders are still best described in the words Winston Churchill applied to those who ignored Adolf Hitler’s threat: “They go on in strange paradox, decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all powerful to be impotent.”
So today, we dumped another 70 million tons of global-warming pollution into the thin shell of atmosphere surrounding our planet, as if it were an open sewer. And tomorrow, we will dump a slightly larger amount, with the cumulative concentrations now trapping more and more heat from the sun.
As a result, the earth has a fever. And the fever is rising. The experts have told us it is not a passing affliction that will heal by itself. We asked for a second opinion. And a third. And a fourth. And the consistent conclusion, restated with increasing alarm, is that something basic is wrong.
We are what is wrong, and we must make it right.
We must quickly mobilize our civilization with the urgency and resolve that has previously been seen only when nations mobilized for war. These prior struggles for survival were won when leaders found words at the 11th hour that released a mighty surge of courage, hope and readiness to sacrifice for a protracted and mortal challenge.

Penn and Kucinich

Saturday, December 08, 2007

Actor Sean Penn tells S.F. State students not to 'sell out'

Actor-director Sean Penn issued a nonendorsement endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich on Friday in a speech to nearly 400 San Francisco State University students, urging his audience not to fall into the trap of voting for someone only because they could win.
Penn, who spoke from a low wooden stage in the Creative Arts Building in front of a "Kucinich for President" banner, made it clear from the start that he was not issuing a traditional endorsement, a political tradition he said he abhorred as much as voting for someone based on their electability.
Penn called Kucinich "the voice of integrity" in demanding the president's impeachment, calling for the end of the war in Iraq and placing human rights and civil rights above domestic security.

May not be a traditional endorsement, but good enough for me!

December 8, 1980

27 years without him. Boy do we need his passion and words today!

Majority of US want us out of Iraq!

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Two-Thirds of Israelis Oppose Attack on Iran

Two-thirds of Israelis oppose their country launching on its own a military attack against nuclear installations in arch-foe Iran, said a poll published on Thursday.
When asked “should Israel alone attack the Iranian nuclear installations,” 67.2 percent said no, while 20.9 percent said yes and 11.9 percent had no opinion, said the survey aired on public radio.

The demands and desires of the people have never stopped the "leaders" from doing what they want, to who they want, to fill their wallets with lots of cash.

CIA as terrorists?

Bolton Calls For Congressional Witch-Hunt Into Anti-Bush ‘People In The Intelligence Community’

Yesterday’s National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) concluded that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003, pouring cold water on neoconservative calls for bombing Iran. Like his ideological kin Norman Podhoretz, former U.N. ambassador and Iran war hawk John Bolton has been attempting to slander the U.S. intelligence community’s collective judgments.
Iran has been pursuing nuclear weapons “for 20 years,” he defiantly declared today. To give weight to a single intelligence estimate “would be a mistake.” On Fox News today, Bolton went even further and called for a congressional investigation into U.S. intelligence agencies, stating that the report was politicized by intelligence officials who have their “own agenda”:

Hey we were wrong before when we invaded Iraq. Why can't we be wrong again when we invade Iran? We Americans expect too much of our leaders.
While all this sniping may sound like a little coup - think again. All part of the plan.

A Neo-con loss?

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Bush: Nuke-less Iran remains dangerous

Iran remains a danger to the world even though it stopped a program to develop a nuclear weapon four years ago, President Bush said Tuesday.
"Iran was dangerous, Iran is dangerous and Iran will be dangerous if they have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon," Bush said, pointing out that Tehran continues to try to enrich uranium for civilian purposes and therefore develop technology that could be used for a weapon.
A declassified summary of a National Intelligence Estimate released by the U.S. government on Monday said Iran had stopped working toward a nuclear weapon in 2003 and is unlikely to be able to produce enough enriched uranium for a bomb until at least 2010.
The new estimate is less severe than a 2005 report that judged the Iranian leadership was "determined to develop nuclear weapons despite its international obligations and international pressure."
"What's to say they couldn't start another covert nuclear weapons program?" Bush asked. The latest estimate shows "Iran needs to be taken seriously as a threat to peace," Bush said.

So what to make of all this? A shift of policy? A smoke screen? A coup in the White House taking away the dreams of Uncle Dick and W?

Whichever way it pans out - we're still looking at an Iranian adventure. So the focus shifts from taking out nuke facilities - we still have the possibility of an errant bomb hitting across the Iraq border. In addition, there are too many other things that can happen to "justify" a retaliatory US attack.

And of course, the wild card is Israel - no faith at all in the report. Nothing to stop them from being urged on by Uncle Dick and crew.

Welcoming back the devil...

Monday, December 03, 2007

Okay a lesser devil, not Satan himself...

Wolfowitz Back in Govt.?

Don't ever say the Bush administration doesn't take care of its own. Nearly three years after Paul Wolfowitz resigned as deputy Defense secretary and six months after his stormy departure as president of the World Bank—amid allegations that he improperly awarded a raise to his girlfriend—he's in line to return to public service. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has offered Wolfowitz, a prime architect of the Iraq War, a position as chairman of the International Security Advisory Board, a prestigious State Department panel, according to two department sources who declined to be identified discussing personnel matters. The 18-member panel, which has access to highly classified intelligence, advises Rice on disarmament, nuclear proliferation, WMD issues and other matters. "We think he is well suited and will do an excellent job," said one senior official.

Do an excellent job for who? Not for the people.

Good for the goose...

US says too soon to trust Iran on Iraq

Although violence levels are down in Iraq, it is too early to trust that Iran is no longer trying to destabilise its war-torn neighbour, US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said on Sunday.
"I think it's noteworthy that Iran has said (it is) not engaging in these types of activities but given past experience by Iran both here and elsewhere in the region I don't think we can be complacent about this," Negroponte told a news conference in Baghdad.

Gee, someone should ask Johnny about our past experience in supporting certain regimes in South America, Iran Contra, support of dictators...

If we look at the pst, can governments be so sure about us?

What's good for the goose...

April 2008? The Road to Tehran?

Saturday, December 01, 2007

Scott Ritter: Bombs Away?

Arms expert Scott Ritter says the US plans to attack Iran. Metro Times asks why he's so sure. "Everything points to April 2008 being a month of some criticality." - Scott Ritter
Scott Ritter: I don't have any current sources of the sort you just spoke of. I was plugged in back in 2006 to good quality current information. But I haven't been plugged in recently, so I have to use some sort of analytical methodology as opposed to saying, "Aha, I got it from the horse's mouth." But there's nothing that has occurred that leads me to believe the Bush administration has changed its policy direction. In fact there has been much that's occurred that reinforces the earlier conclusions that were based on good sources of information. We take a look at items in the defense budget, the rapid conversion of heavy bombers to carry bunker-busting bombs on a specific time frame, the massive purchasing of oil to fill up the strategic oil reserve by April 2008. Everything points to April 2008 to being a month of some criticality. It also matches my analysis that the Bush administration will want to carry this out prior to the crazy political season of the summer of 2008.

A lengthy article but a must to read. We all must raise our voices to stop all talk and plans of an Iranian adventure. If April 2008 is the date, we have some time. But with W, the attack may be tomorrow. So waste no time to demand that we stop the build-up to war.

Venezuela instead of Iran?

Friday, November 30, 2007

2007.11.30: Greens, citing revealed memo, urge Bush to cancel CIA plans to interfere in Venezuelan referendum and destabilize the Chavez government

Green Party leaders called on President Bush to cancel an order directing the CIA to interfere with a December 2 voters' referendum in Venezuela and to cease actions intended to destabilize the Chavez government.
The Venezuelan government uncovered an alleged confidential memo on November 26 from US embassy official Michael Middleton Steere to the CIA director Michael Hayden which reveals clandestine operations to influence the referendum and to coordinate a military overthrow of the elected Chavez government. The referendum will measure public approval for constitutional amendments proposed by Chavez and the National Assembly; polls show 60% support for the amendments.

How can an overthrow of a sovereign government bye justified? How can this memo not be front page news?

Reason to bomb?

Iran's Revolutionary Guards patrol Persian Gulf, U.S. says

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has taken command of Iranian naval operations in the Persian Gulf, the U.S. military has revealed.
That means U.S. naval forces are operating in the same waters as an organization the United States considers a major supporter of terrorist activity.
The move is of concern to the U.S. Navy, which has long viewed the IRGC's forces as more antagonistic than Iran's regular navy.
Several U.S. Navy officials said the move is militarily significant for the United States because of the IRGC's terrorist affiliation. U.S. Navy ships would not want IRGC vessels sailing too close to them because of that concern, they said.

So let's get this straight. We declare them terrorists. They patrol their waters. Our ships are patrolling on the edge of their waters. They are "terrorists." We blow them out of the water because they are "too close?"

Yeah, this sounds like good logical diplomacy.

Get rid of them now

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Presidential Hopeful Pushes Impeachment At Dartmouth Forum

“Our constitution is in trouble,” Kucinich said. “Are we supposed to wait for George Bush and Dick Cheney to attack Iran before we take action? We can’t wait. They’re already rattling the sabers of war against another nation. They lied to get us into a war against Iraq. They’re lying to push us into war with Iran. Why should we wait?”
Kucinich has sponsored two resolutions in Congress to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney: H. Res. 333 and H. Res. 799. He said he’s drafting an extended version relating to President Bush.

The madness that is gripping this regime (as evidenced in Iraq and soon-to-be Iran) is a problem for this country and the world. The regime's madness threatens everyone's future. Shocks to get the heart pumping in rhythm, "peace" talks that will go nowhere, and doctored reports of success in Iraq (how can there be success when our troops are still there getting killed) are not enough to stop the madness. Out of Office is the remedy. I don't think we can survive the last 18 months. That gives them too much time to venture into Iran.

Don't mess with my veggieburger!

Monday, November 26, 2007

As you are munching on your granola, guess who owns the company?

Phil Howard, from M(ichigan)SU, gives you the details of the "greening" of corporate America. Where they see money to be made, the titans will swoop in. Keep your eye on the ingredients and sources when you purchase your products. As consumers, let's make sure they stay organic and healthy.

Kucinich TV

Q: When the media does not cover your campaign, what do you do?

A: Create....

Kucinich TV

Tune in for the schedule and be prepared to hear truth.

Iraq - 51st State?

White House Releases "Principles" for Permanent Iraqi Presence

So it begins. After years of obfuscation and denial on the length of the U.S.'s stay in Iraq, the White House and the Maliki government have released a joint declaration of "principles" for "friendship and cooperation." Apparently President Bush and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki signed the declaration during a morning teleconference.
Iraq's leaders have asked for an enduring relationship with America, and we seek an enduring relationship with a democratic Iraq. We are ready to build that relationship in a sustainable way that protects our mutual interests, promotes regional stability, and requires fewer Coalition forces.
Not stated, of course, is that Iraq would represent a military commitment opposed by most of the American people. Nor that it would represent codifying an unpopular war into an unpopular, indefinite war. Nor even what that commitment would entail.

Good jumping off base for the Tehran Express.

Wonder what Congress will say? Let's hope they have some backbone to stop the madness.

Stepping it up

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Iran in Crosshairs as Fuel Delivery to Gulf Forces Increases

he U.S. military has stepped up chartering of tankers and requests for extra fuel in the U.S. Central Command area, which includes the Gulf, shipping and oil industry sources say.
A Gulf oil industry source said the charters suggested there would be high naval activity, possibly including a demonstration to Iran that the U.S. Navy will protect the Strait of Hormuz oil shipping route during tensions over Tehran's nuclear programme.

Hmmmm, what could "high naval activity" and "demonstration" be code words for?

Fuels specified to be moved between Gulf ports include JP5, high flashpoint jet fuel, used to power F18 fighters aboard aircraft carriers.

Say no more - we know now.

Setting the stage - again

It was quiet for a few weeks. Even reports that Iran was backing off. But now...Iraq blast pinned on Iran-linked militants

The U.S. military on Saturday blamed the deadly bombing of a pet market in Baghdad on Iranian-backed Shiite militants, raising concerns that Shiite extremist activity could escalate and jeopardize waning violence in Iraq.
"I'm not saying that yesterday Iran ordered the bombing of the pet market," Smith said. But, he said, the attack had the "fingerprints" of a group that had been trained, equipped and facilitated through Iranian connections.

So what you are really saying is - no proof. But what the hell - blame Iran and get the public pumped and angry and ready for an attack.

Now if Pakistan doesn't throw a wrench into the machine - Tehran here we come.

We Need Billy Jack Today

Friday, November 23, 2007

Tom Laughlin writes about his new movie:

Imagine Billy Jack in a live heated debate with the real George Bush over whether Bush lied – and continues to lie – to sell the Iraq War.
Just as in the original Billy Jack, Billy Jack for President 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, giving today’s idealistic rebels and outcasts powerful tools they will need in the struggle against all of the enormous and unprecedented pressures assaulting young people today.

"Billy Jack for President" will End the War and change the 2008 election? We can hope and dream.

Which do you choose - death or life?

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

White House warns of Xmas military furlough notice

With Congress balking at continued war funding, the White House says the Defense Department will issue furlough notices to about 100,000 civilian workers at military bases in mid-December.

The choice between keeping the killing machine going and people's livelihood - which would you choose?

Seems the regime must keep that war machine rolling along. The solution - withdrawal.

Playing with Lives

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Israel’s Syrian Airstrike Was Aimed at Iran

Until late October, the accepted explanation about the Sep. 6 Israeli airstrike in Syria, constructed in a series of press leaks from U.S. officials, was that it was prompted by dramatic satellite intelligence that Syria was building a nuclear facility with help from North Korea.
But new satellite evidence has discredited that narrative, suggesting a more plausible explanation for the strike: that it was a calculated effort by Israel and the United States to convince Iran that its nuclear facilities could be attacked as well.
Both Israeli and U.S. officials dropped hints soon after the Israeli raid that it was aimed at sending a message to Iran. Ten days after the raid, Israeli’s military intelligence chief Amos Yadlin declared to a parliamentary committee, “Israel’s deterrence has been rehabilitated since the Lebanon war, and it affects the entire regional system, including Iran and Syria…”
The official’s suggestion that the strike was a joint U.S.-Israeli message about a joint policy toward striking Iran’s nuclear sites was the clearest indication that the primary objective of the strike was to intimidate Iran at a time when both Israel and the Cheney faction of the Bush administration were finding it increasingly difficult to do so.

Big boys playing games. But these games KILL!

Criminals in the White House

McClellan points finger at Bush, Rove

Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan names names in a caustic passage from a forthcoming memoir that accuses President Bush, Karl Rove and Vice President Cheney of being "involved" in his giving the press false information about the CIA leak case.
But McClellan lists five top officials as having allowed him inadvertently to mislead the public.
“I stood at the White house briefing room podium in front of the glare of the klieg lights for the better part of two weeks and publicly exonerated two of the seniormost aides in the White House: Karl Rove and Scooter Libby,” McClellan wrote.
“There was one problem. It was not true.”
McClellan then absolves himself and makes an inflammatory — and potentially lucrative for his publisher — charge.
“I had unknowingly passed along false information,” McClellan wrote.
“And five of the highest ranking officials in the administration were involved in my doing so: Rove, Libby, the vice president, the president's chief of staff and the president himself."

And while Rome burns, Congress throws Kucinich's impeachment move under the bus.

He was right the first time...

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Dennis makes the most of his limited time in CNN debate

Kucinich noted that most of the other candidates who previously voted in favor of those measures recently have changed their positions. "You've seen here tonight people who voted for the war, voted to fund the war, now they have a different position. People voted for the Patriot Act. Now they have a different position. People voted for China trade. Now they have a different position. People who voted for Yucca Mountain. Now they had a different position.
"Just imagine what it will be like to have a president of the United States who's right the first time. Just imagine," Kucinich said to thunderous applause."

The media keeps ignoring him but the people are not...

Last week, Kucinich was the top vote-getter in 47 of 50 states in an online poll sponsored by Democracy for America, the grassroots Democratic organization founded in 2004 by former Vermont Governor, former Presidential candidate, and current chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Howard Dean. Kucinich even out-polled former Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Al Gore, whose supporters mounted a huge write-in campaign to encourage Gore to enter the race. This week, Kucinich is far ahead of fellow candidates Sen. Barack Obama and former Sen. John Edwards in a poll sponsored by the progressive “The Nation.”

What our media doesn't mention

Friday, November 16, 2007

DEBKAfile - Bush to Go Public on Iran’s Secret Nuclear Arms Activities

The US president and his spokesmen have reiterated their commitment to pursuing diplomacy. On the other hand, declaring Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps al Qods Brigade a global terrorist group has placed the US military option squarely on the table, which all the European are anxious to avert.
They will have noticed that military tensions in the region are rising again. US naval, air and marine forces are again beginning to pile up around Iran’s Gulf shores, while Tehran threatens to unleash “wave upon wave” of suicide fighters against “aggressors.”
DEBKAfile’s military sources report that in recent months, the USS Enterprise was the only US nuclear carrier cruising Gulf waters with its strike force. On Nov. 5, a second nuclear carrier, the USS Harry S. Truman set out quietly from its Norfolk base for the Gulf with 7,500 sailors and marines aboard the carrier and its strike force. It will be followed by the USS Nimitz .
All three carrier groups are escorted by fast nuclear submarines, cruisers and missile destroyers.
Upon its arrival, the Enterprise will head out of the Gulf, unless is departure is delayed by significant security concerns in the Gulf or Middle East regions. It will leave behind the two US Marine carriers the USS Wasp and the USS Kearsage , with thousands of marines and landing craft on their decks.
According to our sources in Washington, the event which galvanized the US president into launching a new initiative on Iran was the Pakistan crisis. He calculated that, if Pervez Musharraf were to be overthrown, a new regime in Islamabad, whether or not it is Islamist, could well opt for close military and political ties with Tehran. The menace of a nuclear axis between Islamabad and Tehran must be prevented at all costs. Therefore, the pressure on Iran must be ratcheted up with all speed.
The rulers of Tehran are fully aware of the sense of urgency in the White House about curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions by exposure and crippling sanctions and, DEBKAfile’s Iran sources report, are preparing counter-measures.

Have we heard from FAUX News about the Truman movements? Has Hannity mentioned this? If they did they were probably applauding and drooling at the possibility of military action.

What has Bush created?

The Inevitable 'Union of Four': Turkey-Iran-Syria and Russia

Surprisingly, American strategists seem to be encouraging Turkey and Iran to join forces to stop the violent attacks by the Kurds at the cost of losing Turkey as a faithful ally. Sympathy by the Turkish people for the U.S. has plummeted over recent years and will take decades to recover.
The next stage will be escalating high-level cooperation between Turkey, Iran and Syria, and this is moving forward as well.
And the political strategies of Russia and Turkey will merge due to common allies in Syria and Iran, shared economic interests and a shared aversion to America's global policies - in particular its actions in Iraq. Countries that were once historical opponents will become partners as a new Eurasian coalition comes into force.
The final result of the region's aversion to American policies will be the formation of the "Union of Four:" Russia, Turkey, Iran and Syria. Of course, this rapprochement between Ankara, Moscow, Damascus and Teheran will certainly affect Washington's position in the Middle East.

And the US? Still in Iraq, still threatening Iran, in the throes of a major economic downturn, unable to help our own because of the military budget and the dollars lost in the war...

On the other hand...

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Rice accuses Iran of spreading extremism

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday accused Iran of spreading "violent extremism" across the Middle East and said a strong Palestinian state could act as a bulwark against this threat.
Speaking to American Jewish leaders at a conference in Nashville, Tennessee, Rice reassured them of Washington's commitment to protect longtime ally Israel against threats from Tehran and said successful Palestinian statehood negotiations could counter Iran's power in the region.

Meanwhile, a short distance away, Iranian leaders were accusing the US of trying to cram their style of Western democracy down the throats of...

I guess it all depends whose shoes you are wearing.

Friends? Be careful what you wish for!

U.S. forces accused of shooting Sunni allies

Members of a Sunni Muslim group that was formed with American backing to fight Sunni militants charged Wednesday that a lengthy U.S. air and ground attack killed at least seven of its fighters.
Mansour abd Salem, one of the leaders of the Sunni Awakening council in Taji, north of Baghdad , charged in a television interview that U.S. forces had "deliberately" killed members of the group in a "hideous" assault.

As has been said so many times before on these pages - today's friends are tomorrow's enemies and today's enemies are tomorrow's friends.

Need proof? Taliban, Osama, Saddam, Libya....

Still not enough

Withdrawal Not Required in Iraq Funding Bill

The House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday night that aims for a major withdrawal of troops from Iraq by next December, but that promise rides on the back of a $50 billion check to continue war operations. Moreover, the plan sets December 2008 as a "goal" for redeployment, instead of establishing it as a firm deadline.
"On one hand, the bill is a clear policy statement supporting quicker troop withdrawal," said Jeff Leys, co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence. "On the other hand, it would allow troops to stay in Iraq and continue all the operations they're doing now; there would just be fewer troops doing them."
The bill passed Wednesday would maintain a "limited presence" of troops in Iraq beyond the December 2008 goal date. Those troops would conduct "targeted counterterrorism operations against al-Qaeda, al-Qaeda-affiliated groups and other terrorist organizations in Iraq."
Since "terrorist organization" is not defined in the bill, the administration could determine the targets of future combat operations, according to Leys.
In August, the Bush administration declared the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization, and last week, President Bush applied the same label to the Kurdistan Workers Party.

Too many loopholes. Too little strength. No immediate withdrawal.

"The Iraq spending bill passed by the House is too weak and doesn't require the timely redeployment of our troops from Iraq," said Senator Russ Feingold Thursday on the Senate floor. "If the Senate does not strengthen the bill, I will oppose it. The American people want more than a 'goal' of redeploying troops."

Absolutely the right thing to do.

Suppose they gave a war and nobody came

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Is World War III on Hold?

Is a Bush preemptive strike on Iran's nuclear enrichment plant at Natanz, or on the al-Quds force of the Revolutionary Guard, a more remote possibility today than it was several weeks ago?
So it would seem.
The latest indication is a candid interview in the Financial Times with Adm. William "Fox" Fallon, head of Central Command, who would be the Tommy Franks of any naval or air war on Iran.
"The Pentagon is not preparing a preemptive attack on Iran in spite of an increase in bellicose rhetoric from Washington, according to senior officers," concluded the FT in the lead of its story.

Why on hold?

First, Pakistan. With a nation of 170 million with nuclear weapons in a political crisis that could lead to civil war, igniting a war with Iran would seem suicidal – especially with the war in Iraq about to enter its sixth year this spring and the war in Afghanistan about to enter its seventh year next month.
Second, there is no guarantee U.S. air strikes could denuclearize Iran, except temporarily....
Third, no one can predict where an attack on Iran will lead....
Fourth, Congress seems to have found its voice, and 30 senators have written to inform President Bush that he does not have the authority, absent an Iranian attack on U.S. forces, to launch a war on Iran....
Fifth, there has been a downturn in roadside attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, suggesting Iran may no longer be supplying the enhanced IEDs. And U.S. forces have released several Iranians held captive in Iraq. There may be progress behind the scenes, as both countries could suffer horribly in a war.

Or maybe just maybe it is all smoke and mirrors. Hell, we can be at war right now. We all know black ops are in Iran. Or maybe we are just waiting for the shoe to drop - an Israeli bomb followed by Iranian retribution - a terrorist attack that can be blamed on Iran...

Or a military revolt and coup in our nation? The Pentagon not taking orders from W and Uncle Dick? Pinch me, I must be dreaming. Maybe we will see the expression "suppose they gave a war and nobody came" become a reality.

Kucinich : Truth Party

Monday, November 12, 2007

Kucinich in Pelosi's House

Was it retaliation by the the Democratic Leadership that exempted Dennis Kucinich from appearing with fellow Presidential candidates at Friday’s Jefferson Jackson Day fundraiser in Iowa?
Was it Speaker Pelosi’s vindictive payback to Kucinich for his impudent dismissal of her “impeachment is off the table” dictum that kept Kucinich out of the Jefferson Jackson Day party? After all, hadn’t Kucinich introduced HR 333 on the House Floor just that week, calling for the impeachment of Vice President Cheney, in defiance of the prescripted cowardice in Pelosi’s House of Wacks?
Until that moment when Congressman Kucinich introduced impeachment resolution HR 333 on to the House Floor, members of Pelosi’s Democratic majority had fallen spinelessly in line, kowtowing to Pelosi’s disavowal of Article I Section 2 of the Constitution, which grants the House the authority to impeach.
Speaker Pelosi’s wanton subversion of the Constitution, which has subjected this nation and the world to the continued atrocities of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, will be far more relevant in the annals of history than her singular honor as the nation’s first woman Speaker of the House. Pelosi’s legacy (thus far), as the most powerful woman in the history of this land, has been shamefully tarnished by catastrophic failures in leadership and courage - predicated principally on her refusal to hold President Bush and Vice President Cheney accountable for their crimes.

His actions were one of conviction and truth rather than politics and party...

For Dennis Kucinich, nothing and no one will suppress his allegiance to his country and to his abiding principle of “strength through peace.”

So now it is on to Conyers.

Hopefully, Congressman Conyers will be the fortunate recipient of countless letters, phone calls, faxes and emails asking him to give HR 333 serious consideration when it comes to his committee. He can change the House of Wacks to a House of Facts - and restore his nation to sanity.
Et tu John Conyers? Will you remain silent, as you have, since winning re-election on November 7, 2006? Or will you remember Article I Section 2 of the Constitution and the oath you swore to uphold it?

Let's hope. If not, we all must remember who stood firm for the law of the land.

Cat out of the Bag?

Israel on alert for Syria airstrike

THE defensive missile shield around Israel’s Dimona nuclear reactor was placed on red alert 30 times last week amid fears of an airstrike by Syria. A battery of American-made Patriot antiaircraft missiles has been moved to Dimona in the Negev desert following intelligence that a strike may be launched in retaliation for Israel’s bombing of a suspected nuclear site in Syria two months ago. In a highly unusual move, the officers in charge of the missiles were permitted to talk to Israeli state television about their preparations. “We’re ready to launch the missiles in seconds, once we’re on full alert,” said First Lieutenant Adi, a young female officer who is the deputy commander of the battery. Tension with Damascus has heightened since September 6 when Israeli fighters destroyed the suspected nuclear installation in northern Syria.

Protecting itself from retribution in regard to the September 6 bombing? Or preparing for retribution in regard to future bombings in Syria or Iran?

Do they know something our regime is planning that we should be aware of?

Remember Peace

Sunday, November 11, 2007

On Veteran's Day it is important to remember the vets. But also important to strive for peace (everyday).

At a Veteran's Day Parade some antiwar vets participated...

Antiwar veterans passed out leaflets and carried signs opposing the war in Iraq yesterday after winning a last-minute right to march in this city’s annual Veterans Day parade.About 50 marchers displayed peace signs and banners with messages like “Iraq is Just Vietnam in the Desert,” “Bring Our Troops Home Where They Belong,” and “Bush Lies.”
They were greeted with bursts of applause by some parade-watchers and shouts of criticism by others.
“Go find another parade!” yelled one man.

They were at the correct parade. They had every right to participate. Though they don't agree with this war, they are still veterans. Maybe we should listen to them, their experiences, their feelings.

The parade is to honor them, not glorify war!

Armageddon - Bush's Way

Those voices! Those messages! Those visions of greater glory! W, those are just flashbacks from those wild and crazy drug-filled years (a few weeks ago?). You are not being "called" to create the End Times - though you are leading the world down that path. Concentrate on spreading love and peace. That will get you into the Pearly Gates. Blood on your hands sure as hell won't!

Another great one from Mr. Fish.

Send them all to jail

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Move to Impeach Not Another Distraction

While Welch and other Democrats continue to talk about impeachment being a distraction to more important priorities, such as ending the war in Iraq, the reality is that the Democrats haven’t figured out yet that none of the issues they hold dear will be accomplished until Bush and Cheney are removed from office.
A Democratic majority was elected to Congress last year to end the war in Iraq and rein in the Bush administration. Neither thing has happened. On issue after issue, the Democrats have caved in to Bush. And impeachment remains off the table.
Under House rules, Kucinich or any other member could introduce a motion for impeachment every day that Congress is in session. We think that sounds like a good idea. The administration has committed many crimes that rise to the level of impeachment — chief among them lying about the need to invade Iraq and sending this country into war based upon those lies. But Congress will not carry out its constitutional duties.
Bush and Cheney must not be allowed to leave office without being held accountable for their behavior. History will not look at the current members of Congress kindly if they fail to do what is right and necessary to preserve our democracy.

Send them all home - W, Uncle Dick, the regime and all elected officials who are allowing the regime to stay in power. Do our elected officials want to really get down to the people's business or do some of them want to continue funding the war machine and maybe line their own next-campaign coffers?

Fortune tellers or planners?

US Fears Israeli Strike Against Iran Over Latest Nuclear Claim

A claim by President Ahmadinejad that Iran has 3,000 working uranium-enriching centrifuges sent a tremor across the world yesterday amid fears that Israel would respond by bombing the country’s nuclear facilities.
Military sources in Washington said that the existence of such a large number could be a “tipping point”, triggering an Israeli air strike. The Pentagon is reluctant to take military action against Iran, but officials say that Israel is a “different matter”. Amid the international uproar, British MPs who were to have toured the nuclear facility were backing out of their Iran trip.
Even before President Ahmadinejad’s announcement, a US defence official told The Times yesterday: “Israel could do something when they get to around 3,000 working centrifuges. The Pentagon is minded to wait a little longer.” US experts say 3,000 machines running for long periods could make enough enriched uranium for an atomic bomb within a year.

This was one of the scenarios we have been hearing about. Israel attacks, Iran responds, and we walk in to protect Israel.

So are just so good at predicting the future? Sure didn't work in Iraq. Or are we just letting the cat out of the bag - a bag of plans we have handed to Israel?

Giving Us a Warm Feeling?

Thursday, November 08, 2007

US: Iran Attack Plans Ready if Needed

U.S. defense officials have signaled that up-to-date attack plans are available if needed in the escalating crisis over Iran's nuclear aims, although no strike appears imminent.
The Army and Marine Corps are under enormous strain from years of heavy ground fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Still, the United States has ample air and naval power to strike Iran if President Bush decided to target nuclear sites or to retaliate for alleged Iranian meddling in neighboring Iraq.
Among the possible targets, in addition to nuclear installations like the centrifuge plant at Natanz: Iran's ballistic missile sites, Republican Guard bases, and naval warfare assets that Tehran could use in a retaliatory closure of the Straits of Hormuz, a vital artery for the flow of Gulf oil.

This might make W all warm and fuzzy but it scares the crap out of me.

Plans are set? What safeguards are there to make sure the plans are not set into motion? Clear we cannot expect Congress to act as a watchdog. And we sure can't expect W and regime to act with sanity...

A War Crime In Motion

AfterDowningStreet.org reports:

In a debate on Defense spending on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) warned against a bunker buster bombing of Iranian nuclear research labs.
“It has been well reported that there is a provision in this bill that will enable the modification of B-2 stealth bombers so that they can drop what is called a ‘bunker buster’ or Massive Ordinance Penetrators (MOP) that would destroy deep underground targets,” Kucinich said.
Kucinich voted against the conference report for Department of Defense FY08 spending because it includes $10 million to convert the 30,000-pound MOP for use on the B-2 bomber.
“Defense analysts have suggested that there is one reason and one reason only why this request was expedited by the Administration and that is retrofit these B-2 bombers so that they’ll be able to drop 30,000-pound bombs on Iranian nuclear research facilities,” Kucinich said.
“We cannot approve the Department of Defense Appropriations Conference Report without thinking about the consequences of the Administrations’ approach. If 30,000 pound bombs – bunker busters – are dropped on nuclear research labs, the release of radiation would create a humanitarian and ecological disaster.
“This is a war crime in motion. Dropping the bunker busters would have human health effects that could be catastrophic.
“Congress needs to think about the implications. Congress needs to oppose a strike in Iran. Diplomacy is the preferred path. That is why I am opposing this conference report today.”

For the past few days, pundits and media were reporting that the drums of war were being muffled - raising some hope. Maybe, just maybe, it was all a tactic to lull everyone into sleep. We'll all be brutally awakened by these bunker busters.

Impeach them all

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Love it. Wish the other elected officials would listen to the electorate and support impeachment.

If not, maybe we as citizens should impeach them all. Citizen's arrests!

Kucinich wins

Kucinich a Big Winner Today, Democratic Party a Loser Once More

Dennis Kucinich didn't manage to get Articles of Impeachment passed against Vice President Dick Cheney today but he sure got his point across. The Cleveland area Congressman is slowly picking up steam for his Presidential aspirations because his ideals are a modern day profile in courage. He voted against the war when it meant his political life but was proven correct in his position. Iraq proved to be a bloody mess that was orchestrated, not because of weapons of mass destruction or that Saddam Hussein was an imminent threat, due to the GOP's war mongering propaganda. That was the vote was about today and again his Democratic colleagues were afraid to go vote with their consicience. In the end, Kucinich came out smelling like roses because the GOP took the bait. They wanted to debate the issue to "show the Dems up" and boy wouldn't that have been fun. The Democrats, afraid of political backlash if the debate actually took place, quickly moved the resolution to the Judiciary Committee.
The articles of Impeachment will move to the a committee where they will probably die a slow death. While Kucinich's resolution won't pass or be debated in the full House of Representatives, one imagines that he most likely picked up a lot of strong public support.

He has shown the Party to be what it really is - Republican Lite. He has shown the way things should be done.

If you haven't been paying attention, Kucinich is now 4th in the nationally polling. In the big media his name still bears the label as a "long shot candidate" but the more reasonable people actually see what Kucinich actually stands for the better his chances become. For the record, Congressman Kucinich favors universal health care, college education for free, the end of NAFTA, and peace over war. Those things don't sound bad to me.

I couldn't agree more.

Fight the PKK in Iran?

Monday, November 05, 2007

Former leader of Kurd rebels reveals retreat into Iran

Turkish Kurd guerrillas are leaving Iraqi Kurdistan for Iran in order to avoid an attack by the Turkish army according to a former leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party, the PKK.
Osman Ocalan, brother of the imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, said: "the PKK has decreased its forces in Iraqi Kurdistan and they are moving to Iran. It is part of PKK tactics that when they feel pressure in one country they move to another."
President George Bush and the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, are to meet today in Washington to discuss what can be done about the PKK in Iraqi Kurdistan, from which it has been staging attacks on Turkish army units.

"So Recep. Tell you what. You help us, we attack the PKK in Norther Iraq and follow them into Iran. When Iran protests, you help us a little. Okay?"

30 with brains

AFP: US senators warn Bush has no authority to attack Iran

Thirty US senators wrote to President George W. Bush, warning he had no authority to launch military action against Iran, and expressing concern about the administration's "provocative" rhetoric.
The senators, 29 Democrats and one independent, urged the resolution of disputes with the Islamic republic through diplomacy.
"We wish to emphasize that no congressional authority exists for unilateral military action against Iran," said the letter signed by senators including presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Another Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Chris Dodd, signed the letter but Senators Barack Obama and Joseph Biden did not.

Hill trying to make up for her recent stupid vote on Iran. Barack - who knows?

Musharraf borrowing a page from Bush?

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Musharraf: Suspending Constitution Will Help Transition to Democracy

PAKISTAN President Pervez Musharraf has said he has imposed emergency rule to help complete the transition from military to civilian-led democracy, appealing to the international community for understanding.
General Musharraf has suspended Pakistan's constitution, deploying troops and sacking a top judge in a bid to reassert his flagging authority against political rivals and Islamist militants.
Gen Musharraf said Pakistan needed time to reach the level of democracy enjoyed by the West.

Pakistan and the US. Two nation ruled by the military. Two nation's whose leaders totally disregard the Constitution.

A different face but the same evil!

Mukasey Is (Much) Worse Than Gonzales

Judge Michael B. Mukasey, must be rejected by the Senate Judiciary Committee for the same reason that Gonzales should have been rejected in 2005.
Like Gonzales, Mukasey refuses to accept that the president of the United States must abide by the laws of the land, beginning with the Constitution. In fact, the nominee to replace the worst Attorney General since Calvin Coolidge forced Harry Micajah Daugherty to quit rather than face impeachment is actually takes a more extreme position in defense of an imperial presidency than did Gonzales.
When questioned by Judiciary Committee chair Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont and Constitution sub-committee chair Russ Feingold, D-Wisconsin, during the key hearing on his nomination, Mukasey embraces an interpretation of presidential authority so radical that it virtually guarantees more serious abuses of power by the executive branch.

I thought that W and the rest in DC took an oath to uphold the Constitution.

How does one make a citizen's arrest? I think it's time to put them all behind bars (including anyone voting for Mukie).

The End of America

Take 45 minutes away from the news about Brit Spears, or O.J., or the latest Teacher-student sex scandal and watch Naomi Wolf talk about her new book (The End of America: Letter of Warning To A Young Patriot). From AlterNet:

Even though her message is frightening, Naomi Wolf wants to assure people that there can be a light at the end of the tunnel. The YouTube video to your right is a terrific speech by Wolf (at Kane Hall on the University of Washington campus) about her provocative new book "The End of America" which talks about the parallels between the Bush Administration's tactics and those of fascist dictatorships of the last century.
The same language, images, manipulation that would-be despots have used in the past to break down existing democracies are being employed now. From Italy in the 1920s, Germany in the 1930s, and on and on, Wolf finds that all these despots do that same things. Mussolini created the blueprint, Hitler followed suit, Stalin studied Hitler and these methods just get passed down to the next generation of dictators throughout the world. Wolf has summarized their method is ten points:
1. Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy
2. Create a gulag
3. Develop a thug caste
4. Set up an internal surveillance system
5. Harass citizens' groups
6. Engage in arbitrary detention and release
7. Target key individuals
8. Control the press
9. Dissent equals treason
10. Suspend the rule of law
Wolf argues that all of these methods are underway in the United States right now.

A must watch/read for everyone.

Thank you Vermonters

Friday, November 02, 2007

Calling the Question — In the House — on Impeaching Cheney

A fresh poll conducted for Vermont’s WCAX television station finds that citizens of that state enthusiastically believe that Congress beginning impeachment proceedings against President Bush.
Sixty-one percent of the Vermonters surveyed favor taking steps to impeach the president, while just 33% oppose doing so.
The numbers are even higher for impeaching Cheney. Sixty-four percent of Vermonters favor beginning the process of holding the vice president to account, where only 31 percent are opposed.

Promise or threat?

Bush: No attorney general if not Mukasey

President Bush sought to save Michael Mukasey's troubled nomination for attorney general Thursday, defending the retired judge's refusal to say whether he considers waterboarding torture and warning of a leaderless Justice Department if Democrats do not confirm him.
"If the Senate Judiciary Committee were to block Judge Mukasey on these grounds, they would set a new standard for confirmation that could not be met by any responsible nominee for attorney general," Bush said in a speech at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
"That would guarantee that America would have no attorney general during this time of war," the president said.

Based on his choice of AGes - that works for me. Or else W can stop the war...

How old will you be in 50 years?

Abizaid: Mideast wars may last 50 years

It might take as long as half a century before U.S. troops can leave the volatile Middle East, according to retired Army Gen. John Abizaid.
"Over time, we will have to shift the burden of the military fight from our forces directly to regional forces, and we will have to play an indirect role, but we shouldn't assume for even a minute that in the next 25 to 50 years the American military might be able to come home, relax and take it easy, because the strategic situation in the region doesn't seem to show that as being possible," Abizaid said Wednesday at Carnegie Mellon University.

Abi is correct if W stays in power or if we are stupid enough to elect someone wanting to continue the Iron Hand diplomacy we have seen these past 7 years.

You know, it really won't matter how old you will be. This nation will be so far in debt we'll all wish we were six feet under.

15 years of hard labor for Bush

Thursday, November 01, 2007

President defends nominee’s refusal to say whether procedure is torture

President Bush, seeking to salvage the nomination of Michael Mukasey as attorney general, on Thursday defended the former judge’s refusal to say whether he considers waterboarding as illegal torture.
Bush said it was unfair to ask Mukasey about interrogation techniques on which he has not been briefed. “He doesn’t know whether we use that technique or not,” the president told a group of reporters invited into the Oval Office.
Further, Bush said, “It doesn’t make any sense to tell the enemy whether we use those techniques or not.”

No, don't tell the "enemy" but tell the world. It was declared a war crime before and it still is...

...in 1947, the United States charged a Japanese officer, Yukio Asano, with war crimes for carrying out another form of waterboarding on a U.S. civilian. The subject was strapped on a stretcher that was tilted so that his feet were in the air and head near the floor, and small amounts of water were poured over his face, leaving him gasping for air until he agreed to talk. "Asano was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor," Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) told his colleagues last Thursday during the debate on military commissions legislation. "We punished people with 15 years of hard labor when waterboarding was used against Americans in World War II," he said.

15 years of hard labor for W and regime sounds just about right.

Cuckoo for War

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Kucinich Questions Bush’s Mental Health Over Iran

“I seriously believe we have to start asking questions about his mental health,”
“There’s something wrong. He does not seem to understand his words have real impact.”
“You cannot be a president of the United States who’s wanton in his expression of violence,” Kucinich said. “There’s a lot of people who need care. He might be one of them. If there isn’t something wrong with him, then there’s something wrong with us. This, to me, is a very serious question.”

Looking for the sympathy vote

Jailed Rice Protester Surprised by Dearth of Security at Hearing

An Iraq war protester who got within inches of Condoleezza Rice at a hearing last week said she was shocked that tighter security did not prevent her from coming so close to the secretary of state.
If there had been more security at the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, protester Desiree Anita Ali-Fairooz said, she probably wouldn’t have approached Rice. “I anticipated that she would have been surrounded by SS [Secret Service] or by private security,” she said.

No danger from Anita so let her come forward. Play up the cool attitude of Condi. Make the politicos feel sorry for the display she had to go through.

As for me, still doesn't change that she is as guilty as W, Uncle Dick and the rest of the regime.

Let someone else start the fight

Attacking Iran for Israel?

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is at her mushroom-cloud hyperbolic best, and this time Iran is the target.
Her claim last week that "the policies of Iran constitute perhaps the single greatest challenge to American security interests in the Middle East and around the world" is simply too much of a stretch.

What does her boss say - no the real boss- Uncle Dick...

"Given the fact that Iran has a stated policy that their objective is the destruction of Israel, the Israelis might decide to act first, and let the rest of the world worry about cleaning up the diplomatic mess afterwards."

That's the plan. Let someone else start it - Israel, Turkey, hell even Iceland. We'll then step in as the savior and "clean up" afterwards.

Why this path? It's clear that too many are failing to believe the WMD/threat/fear pattern that was so successfully used to beat the drums for the Iraq war.

Turkey - our pawn?

Monday, October 29, 2007

Iran says documents show U.S. backing terrorists

Iran has access to evidence of U.S. support for terrorist groups in the Middle East, a senior Iranian official was quoted as saying on Sunday.
Iran's new chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, made the allegation in comments to visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, whose country may soon send troops to hunt down Kurdish guerrillas in northern Iraq.
Tehran says the rebels are operating in Iraq with U.S. forces present in the country and this shows Washington is refraining from tackling them.
Like Turkey, Iran also has faced cross-border attacks by Kurdish rebels and has shelled targets inside Iraq in response.

So Turkey lobs a few bombs at the Kurds. We, being the great diplomats, tell them we'll take care of the PKK. We start attacking PKK forces and - ooopps! - a few US troops cross the border into Iran as they engage in a skirmish. Iran returns fire - we escalate....
Possible? With the desire to invade Iran, anything is possible.

Says YOU!

No evidence Iran is making nuclear weapons: ElBaradei

Chief UN atomic watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei said Sunday he had no evidence that Iran is building nuclear weapons and accused US leaders of adding "fuel to the fire" with recent bellicose rhetoric.

Now now. Don't go ruining the surprise W has in store for the world.

Uncle Dick is NUTS!

Sunday, October 28, 2007

White House Leak: Cheney’s Plan for Iran Attack Starts With Israeli Missile Strike

US Vice President Dick Cheney -- the power behind the throne, the eminence grise, the man with the (very) occasional grandfatherly smile -- is notorious for his propensity for secretiveness and behind-the-scenes manipulation. He's capable of anything, say friends as well as enemies. Given this reputation, it's no big surprise that Cheney has already asked for a backroom analysis of how a war with Iran might begin.
In the scenario concocted by Cheney's strategists, Washington's first step would be to convince Israel to fire missiles at Iran's uranium enrichment plant in Natanz. Tehran would retaliate with its own strike, providing the US with an excuse to attack military targets and nuclear facilities in Iran.
Given these not-too-secret designs, Democrats and Republicans alike have wondered what to make of the still mysterious Israeli bombing run in Syria on Sept. 6. Was it part of an existing war plan? A test run, perhaps? For days after the attack, one question dominated conversation at Washington receptions: How great is the risk of war, really?

I hope that Dems and Repugs are wondering. I hope they go beyond wondering and take actions to stop the madmen running this regime. So far I haven;t seen too many polticos raising their voices against an Iranian adventure.

Do you want another 4 years of war?

We Must Bomb Iran, Says US Republican Guru

A senior foreign policy adviser to the Republican frontrunner Rudy Giuliani has urged that Iran be bombed using cruise missiles and "bunker busters" to set back Teheran’s nuclear programme by at least five years.
The tough message at a time of crisis between the United States and Iraq was delivered by Norman Podhoretz, one of the founders of neoconservatism, who has also imparted his stark advice personally to a receptive President George W. Bush.

This upcoming election it is critical to elect a leader not interested in creating wars, not interested in keeping the war machine in power - but a leader dedicated to peace, diplomacy...

Society, you're a crazy breed

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Society, Have mercy on me I hope you're not angry if I disagree...

Lyrics of "Society" sung by Eddie Vedder.

Is there such a thing as pre-emptive arrests?

Or is wearing pink and flashing a peace sign now a crime?

The Peace Candidate

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

The ONLY ONE!

I thought the Kurds were our friends?

Bush offers to bomb Kurds

THE Bush Administration is considering air strikes, including cruise missiles, against the Kurdish rebel group PKK in northern Iraq.

Round and round it goes - who's our next enemy? W knows!

Kucinich continues to grow in stature

Kucinich Pushes Bush Impeachment

Congressman Dennis Kucinich, weary from a dozen campaign stops in a week, sat in a small room at the Monterey fairgrounds on Sunday, but he had a look in his eyes that said he knew he wouldn’t sit for long.
he presidential hopeful was energized by a straw poll taken Sunday in San Mateo County, where he came in second after John Edwards as the favored Democratic candidate.
“That shows that I am electable,” he said. “That was very powerful, a sign of rising support because of the stand I take for peace - including standing up against war with Iran.”
He seized the moment to come out with perhaps his strongest stance to date toward impeaching President George W. Bush.
“I’m going to talk to members of Congress this week and tell them taking impeachment off the table is a big mistake,” he said.
Kucinich was moved to take action, he said, in part because of Bush’s recent suggestion to reporters that a world war with Iran might be imminent, leading Kucinich to wonder “whether he’s playing with Armageddon or he’s not well.”
“The world can’t countenance the president of the United States raising the specter of World War III,” he said. “A president must be temperate with his words.”

He continues to stand tall - way above the other candidates. He is growing in stature, growing in the polls. Why? Because he speaks the truth.

Let us stop W before he leads us to the End Times he so desires.

The War Machine

Monday, October 22, 2007

Neocons Surge Against Antiwar Movement - by Tom Hayden

As thousands of Americans take to the streets this week, they will face a rising right-wing offensive to discredit and derail the antiwar movement. The cry of "troops home now" will echo in 11 cities as an intense year-long battle begins to sharpen. Not since 2002 will the antiwar movement – and dovish Democrats – face as virulent and lavishly funded a backlash as this one.
Consider the gathering storm:
* A powerful and persistent faction of hawks, centered in Vice President Cheney's office, is pushing for a military strike against Iran in the coming year
* The orchestrated campaign for continuing the "surge" in Iraq, led by Gen. Petraeus, succeeded in restoring the nerve of the Republican Party and defeating the Democratic strategy of seeking Republican defections.
* The well-coordinated attacks on MoveOn.org were designed to destroy the group's proven ability to raise millions of dollars for antiwar messages and, in general, Democratic candidates. Seventy-five senators, including the likes of Barbara Boxer, rushed to denounce MoveOn, thus helping the effort to de-legitimize the organization.
* Ari Fleischer, the former Bush spokesman who warned Americans to "watch what you say," now heads an organization that spent $15 million to promote the war as patriotic.
* Pro-Israel and Christian Right groups are attempting to raise $200 million for a campaign calling for war with Iran.
* Rudy Giuliani, currently the Republican front-runner, has selected neocon godfather Norman Podhoretz as his national security adviser.
* David Horowitz is spending millions of dollars to demonize pro-peace professors and organize on campuses against what the neocons call "Islamofascism."
The neocons and hawks of all stripes are fighting back.

With very few exceptions, the War Machine controls both parties. As Ike had said:

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

Is it too late to stop - too late to overthrow?

War IN Iran?

Sunday, October 21, 2007

SAS raiders enter Iran to kill gunrunners

BRITISH special forces have crossed into Iran several times in recent months as part of a secret border war against the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Al-Quds special forces, defence sources have disclosed.
There have been at least half a dozen intense firefights between the SAS and arms smugglers, a mixture of Iranians and Shi’ite militiamen.
The unreported fighting straddles the border between Iran and Iraq and has also involved the Iranian military firing mortars into Iraq. UK commanders are concerned that Iran is using a militia ceasefire to step up arms supplies in preparation for an offensive against their base at Basra airport.
Liam Fox, the Conservative defence spokesman, said: “Increasingly Iran poses a direct threat to our armed forces and our wider interests . . . they are playing a very dangerous game.”

As are we, Liam. Both sides are playing a dangerous game of death.

It's time to reduce!

Biofuels - Great Green Hope or Swindle -

A raft of new studies reveal European and American multibillion dollar support for biofuels is unsustainable, environmentally destructive and much more about subsidising agri-business corporations than combating global warming.
Not only do most forms of biofuel production do little to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, growing biofuel crops uses up precious water resources, increasing the size and extent of dead zones in the oceans, boosting use of toxic pesticides and deforestation in tropical countries, such studies say.
And biofuel, powered by billions of dollars in government subsidies, will drive food prices 20-40 percent higher between now and 2020, predicts the Washington-based International Food Policy Research Institute.
“Fuel made from food is a dumb idea to put it succinctly,” says Ronald Steenblik, research director at the International Institute for Sustainable Development’s Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Biofuel production in the U.S. and Europe is just another way of subsidising big agri-business corporations, Steenblik told IPS.

How many lives will be lost to hunger so that someone in the U.S, can "gas" up their SUV? It's time to reduce, conserve, make sane choices in our daily actions, change the MPG standards,,,,

What a lovely dress Mrs. Cleaver

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Hysterical yet spot on!

No Nuke Bailout

It makes no sense. We know nuclear facilities are a target for terrorists. We know nuclear energy is toxic to our health and environment. And we know solar and wind power are safer, cheaper, and getting easier to use every day. This should equal a big "no" on nuclear energy, and a big "yes" to investing in clean energy. But the nuclear industry and their friends in Congress don't want to take no for an answer.

Sign the petition at Move On today.

If you can...

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

No War No Warming : DC Intervention

The intention of No War, No Warming is to hold Congress accountable and show the world that we will not sit still. We will hold an intervention by taking over Capitol Hill on a day that Congress is in session. We will put our bodies on the line to say enough is enough. We will take positive action to make visible the cost of these failed government policies and to creatively manifest the world we know is possible. Until our Government representatives change course off the path of destruction, we have no choice but to get in the way.

Don't be scared of peace

It's not frightening

Visitors to the web site, www.un-scared.org/Parade/Halloween.html, share ideas and photos to make this year's Halloween the most peaceful ever.
"Carve a peace pumpkin, bake cookies decorated with peace signs, make peace costumes," says Callahan. "Use your imagination."
The roots for this novel idea come from Callahan's late grandfather, George Markulakis.
"Grandpa's favorite song was 'Imagine' by John Lennon," she says. "I've always been interested in the peace movement and politics."
This bent guided her to actively support Congressman Dennis Kucinich, the Democrats' only presidential candidate who voted against the invasion of Iraq and whose campaign watchword is "Strength Through Peace."
"Everybody prays for peace, and nearly everyone I know celebrates Halloween, so we decided to use the Internet to promote the message, 'Don't be scared of peace,'" she says.
The un-scared website was created in early August by a friend and fellow Kucinich volunteer, Kevin Parcell of St. Augustine, Florida.
"We currently have 532 people who've contributed photos, videos and blogs," says Callahan. Visitors can also freely download bookmarks and "tickets" to The Un-Scared Halloween.

Visit the site, support Kucinich, promote peace. Not scary at all.

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