No matter what airbrushing of reports the administration engages in, the war in Iraq is a failure. If you don’t see that, then you’re not looking. Once again, the administration refuses to acknowledge reality.
Leaked GAO draft report blasts progress in Iraq
August 31, 2007 — RickCongress had better just say "no"
August 29, 2007 — RickThe word in Washington is that President Bush plans to ask Congress for up to an additional $50 billion to fund the war in Iraq.
I have some advice for this Democratic Congress.
The answer is ‘no”.
It is not “no” until the President whines, or until Senator Reid “does the math” and sees that they don’t control 60 votes. It’s not even “no” until false promises are made by the White House, until a fake time-line is created, or until the Democrats decide they can’t maintain the bluff any longer.
The answer is simply “no”.
The message should be clear. It is time to bring the troops home. It is time to end an illegal war and occupation. It is time to stop playing politics and refuse to allow any funding legislation to advance through Congress.
The answer is “no”.
On his way out
August 29, 2007 — RickSenator Larry “Wide Stance” Craig (R-ID) is likely on his way out of the U.S. Senate, as he has agreed to step down from his four Senate committee assignments. Craig, the senior Republican on these Committees, is now facing calls from many Republicans to step down.
Unfortunately, what Craig will do is to act stubbornly and head to Washington, thinking he is going to fight to hold on to his seat. But the only seat he should be thinking about is in a toilet stall in Minnesota. Mr. Craig, you had your chance to contest this but plead guilty, your story just doesn’t make sense, and the police are strong in support of their report. If you have any instinct at all to do the right thing, please resign and get it over. Your presence in the U.S. Senate is a disgrace.
U.S. planning "massive" military action against Iran
August 29, 2007 — RickI have feared this for more than a year and have posted on this numerous times. But it seems pretty clear that the Bush administration is determined to strike Iran, no matter what it means to American interests, and disregarding the fact that this will be another completely illegal attack on a sovereign nation.
The hypocrisy of this administration is staggering. We are concerned about Iran possessing nuclear weapons, but seem quite fine with Israel, India and Pakistan having such weapons. We rail against the lack of legitimacy of the former Iraqi regime and current Iranian regime, but are quite willing to accept tyrannical dictatorships in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other “pro-U.S.” nations. We talk about the importance of democracy, but fail to respect the governments of other nations. We blast other nations for violations of human rights, and then fail to deliver on promises to rebuild New Orleans.
It is a sad time to be an American, if you are an American with any conscience.
Study: US preparing ‘massive’ military attack against Iran
Larisa Alexandrovna and Muriel Kane
Published: Tuesday August 28, 2007The United States has the capacity for and may be prepared to launch without warning a massive assault on Iranian uranium enrichment facilities, as well as government buildings and infrastructure, using long-range bombers and missiles, according to a new analysis.
The paper, “Considering a war with Iran: A discussion paper on WMD in the Middle East” – written by well-respected British scholar and arms expert Dr. Dan Plesch, Director of the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London, and Martin Butcher, a former Director of the British American Security Information Council (BASIC) and former adviser to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament – was exclusively provided to RAW STORY late Friday under embargo.
Asante back with Patriots
August 28, 2007 — RickNow here is something I would not have expected; Asante Samuel is in Patriots’ camp and is saying all the right things.
Why the change of heart? Well to Asante’s credit, he has never mouthed off during the negotiations like his predecessor Ty “A guy’s gotta eat” Law. Asante has been pretty low key about the whole matter, which typifies his approach on the field. It does seem as though both sides want to get this worked out, and Asante does not want to face the prospect of having the Franchise tag placed on him again next year, so it looks like he has done the right thing in stepping up for the team. That is something the Patriots should consider in pursuing negotiations with him.
That said, Asante doesn’t merit Nate Clements’ money. Hell, Clements doesn’t merit what the 49ers threw at him, managing to poison the water for other cornerbacks in the league.
It’s nice that he is back, and heading into the season this team is just looking scary-good.
Samuel practices with Patriots
August 28, 2007
By Mike PetragliaFOXBORO, Massachusetts (Ticker) - After missing practice Monday to undergo a physical and sign his one-year, $7.79 million tender contract, Asante Samuel rejoined his New England Patriots teammates on the practice field Tuesday.
The ball-hawking cornerback, who last season tied Denver’s Champ Bailey for the NFL lead in interceptions with 10, ended his holdout by agreeing to the terms of the franchise tag designated by the team in February.
“I’m not going to get into that but it is what it is, said Samuel on Tuesday, while standing in front of his locker and using the familiar phrase of coach Bill Belichick. “Both sides are happy, I’m here and I’m ready to play football. It doesn’t really matter who gained or whatever, as long as both sides are happy.”
Another Republiperve in the house!
August 28, 2007 — RickOr, in this case, the Senate.
It just keeps getting better; still another Republican who favors a “defense of marriage” is found wanting to give or get a hummer with another guy. OK, if you are reading this and are a defender of this moron, I will type the next word slowly so that you can read it:
H - Y - P - O - C - R - I - T -E
Hey Larry, that’s a pretty mouth you’ve got there…
When are the Repugs gonna get it? We don’t care what you do; just don’t be a damn hypocrite who tries to impose values on others that you don’t live yourself. Wide stance? Touching feet? Reaching for a piece of paper? Regrets pleading guilty? Didn’t talk to a lawyer even though he asked specifically to have the report sent to his lawyer? Puh-leeze. Methinks Larry Craig is the latest Golden Momo recipient.
Report details Craig’s disorderly conduct
WASHINGTON (CNN) – CNN has obtained the June 11, 2007 police report detailing Idaho Sen. Larry Craig’s disorderly conduct arrest in an airport bathroom.In the report, the arresting officer alleges that Craig lingered outside a restroom stall where the officer was sitting, then entered the stall next door and blocked the stall door with his luggage. (Read the report [PDF])
According to the report, Craig tapped his right foot, which the officer said he recognized “as a signal used by persons wishing to engage in lewd conduct.”
Gone-zo joy is short-lived; more on Iran
August 27, 2007 — RickHere is a really disturbing article that got forwarded to me. It seems this administration is just determined to bring about the end of the world. Assholes. Better get the bricks ready for my trip east. Someone standing by with bail money?
US ‘poised to strike Iran’
BOB Baer, the former Middle East CIA operative whose first book about his life inspired the oil-and-espionage thriller Syriana, is working on a new book on Iran, but says he was told by senior intelligence officials that he had better get it published in the next couple of months because things could be about to change.Baer, in an interview with The Weekend Australian, says his contacts in the administration suggest a strategic airstrike on Iran is a real possibility in the months ahead.
“What I’m getting is a sense that their sentiment is they are going to hit the Iranians and not just because of Israel, but due to the fact that Iran is the predominant power in the Gulf and it is hostile and its power is creeping into the Gulf at every level,” Baer says.
He says his contacts have told him of his book: “You better hurry up because the thesis is going to change. I told them submission is in January but they said, ‘You’re probably going to be too late’.”
GONZO IS GONE-ZO!
August 27, 2007 — RickOne down. Two to go.
First let me start by proclaiming my joy. The most incompetent and unethical Attorney General in the history of the United States of America is GONE! Finally! This is truly “one little victory”.
Next, let me blast the snot out of Dubya. People dragged Gonzo’s good name through the mud for political purposes? Are you really that dense? At least Gonzo has finally stepped up and made one ethical decision, even if it turns out that he was forced into it. As John Edwards said, “better late than never”. Exactly when are you going to step up and resign there, Sparky? When you and Dick remove your sorry asses from office this nation will automatically be in better shape.
Speaking of which, now that Gonzo is gone-zo, we may well begin to see the beginning of a mass migration out of the administration. And that will likely lead to loose lips, and we can only hope that loose lips sink this particular ship.
Bush: Gonzales’ ‘good name dragged through the mud’
WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Bush on Monday said he reluctantly accepted the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, whose “good name was dragged through the mud for political reasons.”After months of standing by his top prosecutor and “close friend,” Bush spoke briefly in Texas to praise Gonzales, saying the attorney general endured “unfair treatment that has created harmful distraction at the Justice Department.”
Bush said it’s “sad that we live in a time when a talented and honorable person” is impeded “from doing important work.”
Solicitor General Paul Clement will serve as acting attorney general, Bush said, until a nominee has been confirmed by the Senate.
Earlier in Washington, Gonzales announced his resignation, saying, “I have lived the American dream.” The first Latino to helm the Justice Department said his “worst days as attorney general have been better than my father’s best days.”
Dubya: We left ‘Nam too soon
August 23, 2007 — RickMost believe that the President’s comments today were designed as an argument to stay in Iraq. I have to wonder if this fucking clown, who has previously rebuked comparisons to Vietnam, isn’t interested in invading Vietnam.
More seriously, these comments were completely reprehensible and irresponsible. Using Vietnam to encourage more “sacrifice” is just ludicrous; one mistake begets another? Read your history, Asshat… while you were busy avoiding that war we sacrificed too many lives there. Just as we are now doing in Iraq.
The only comparison is that this nation managed to botch two wars.
Bush invokes ‘tragedy of Vietnam’ against Iraq pulloutKANSAS CITY, Missouri (CNN) — President Bush drew parallels between the aftermath of the Vietnam War and the potential costs of pulling out of Iraq in a speech Wednesday.
“Three decades later, there is a legitimate debate about how we got into the Vietnam War and how we left,” Bush told members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, at their convention in Kansas City, Missouri.
“Whatever your position in that debate, one unmistakable legacy of Vietnam is that the price of America’s withdrawal was paid by millions of innocent citizens, whose agonies would add to our vocabulary new terms like ‘boat people,’ ‘re-education camps’ and ‘killing fields,’ ” the president said.
The White House billed the speech, as it did next week’s address to the American Legion, as an effort to “provide broader context” for the debate over the upcoming Iraq progress report by Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander, and Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad.
