Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Iraq Corruption Eruption Update




Representative Henry Waxman's House committee on government oversight and reform has announced that its hearing on corruption within the Iraqi government (see the item below) has been postponed from September 27 until October 4. It has obviously been delayed due to the tussle with the State Department.

Posted by David Corn at September 26, 2007 02:10 PM

11 comments:

capt said...

Deny, delay, deceive, distract - repeat.

capt said...

"We must make clear to the Germans that the wrong for which their fallen leaders are on trial is not that they lost the war, but that they started it. ": U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson, U.S. representative to the International Conference on Military Trials, Aug. 12, 1945

=
To initiate a war of aggression, therefore, is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole: Nuremburg War Tribunal regarding wars of aggression

=
"A Society that is in its higher circles and middle levels widely believed to be a network of smart rackets does not produce men with an inner moral sense; a society that is merely expedient does not produce men of conscience. A society that narrows the meaning of "success" to the big money and in its terms condemns failure as the chief vice, raising money to the plane of absolute value, will produce the sharp operator and the shady deal. Blessed are the cynical, for only they have what it takes to succeed." --- The Power Elite by C. Wright Mills

=
"Few are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of the colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change. Each time a person stands up for an idea, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, (s)he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." -- Robert F. Kennedy

===

Thanks ICH Newsletter!

capt said...

Spanish Newspaper Scoops U.S. Press on Pre-War Plans Revelation



The most popular newpaper in Spain, El Pais, has published what they purport to be a transcript of a meeting between President Bush and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar that took place in Crawford, Texas on February 22, 2003. According to Editor and Publisher, who provide a very rough translation of the transcript, the meeting largely concerned the administration's plans to invade Iraq. The big reveal: Bush's admission that he was going to go forward with the invasion "if there was a United Nations Security Council resolution or not...We will be in Baghdad at the end of March."

This would appear to be something of a major scoop for El Pais, but the story has yet to gain traction in the stateside press. Currently, the USA Today is running a brief item on the story in their "On Deadline" blog, and the Washington Post has a wire report from Reuters that leads with, "Saddam Hussein was prepared to take $1 billion and go into exile before the Iraq war, according to a transcript of talks between U.S. President George W. Bush and an ally, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported on Wednesday."

In fact, even El Pais seems to downplay the revelations. As E&P notes: "The transcript tops its front page today, but the headline focuses on Aznar's claim that he was trying to change 200 years of politics in Spain." They also mention that an exclusive interview with Bruce Springsteen is competing for eyeballs on the El Pais website. Of course, he is The Boss.

A more precise translation is supposedly forthcoming. The quote that we anticipate will be soon reverberating throughout the blogosphere, however, is this summative statement from Aznar to the President: "The only thing which it worries to me about you is your optimism."


capt said...

Bush Makes Surprise Visit To Work
(clearly satire)



WASHINGTON, DC—In an unexpected move that shocked White House staff and stunned the nation, President George W. Bush arrived unannounced at the Oval Office Monday.

Bush, who flew in from his home in Texas, was greeted by security forces upon landing outside the White House, and quickly escorted through the building's back entrance. Wearing a special suit-and-tie uniform intended to boost morale and show support for men and women serving in the Beltway, Bush entered the East Room at about 3:30 p.m. and addressed a bewildered but enthusiastic crowd of staff members.

"Am I late?" Bush joked to the group of approximately 200, who were led to believe they would be attending a ceremony to honor Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters. Bush's entrance received a standing ovation.

"It is incredible to see firsthand what you brave men and women do every day," Bush said to rousing applause. "You are all heroes."

Telling the group he wished he had the time to work alongside each and every one of them, Bush made general inquiries about conditions at the executive mansion, recruitment of new personnel, and where everyone was eating for lunch.

According to sources close to the president, Bush barely had time to rest during the four-hour visit. He first met face-to-face with several high-ranking U.S. officials, who briefed him on the situation in Washington. Bush then signed a number of documents, took a guided tour of the facilities, and in a symbolic show of support for the current administration, shook hands with the vice president.


capt said...

BREAKING: Lieberman-Kyl’s Iran amendment passes.By a vote 76-22


*****

I just can't see how this continues to happen.

UGH!


capt

David B. Benson said...

capt --- I suspect it is considered to be a politically safe way to satisfy the public ("I'm doing somthing, see?"), send a message to the Prez, and have absolutely nothing concrete actually occur...

capt said...

DB,

Well, at least I haven't felt like Charlie Brown being duped by Lucy again. Yet I still feel exasperated and spent, day by day, as that seems to be the way political these days.


capt

capt said...

America’s Police Brutality Pandemic


[...]

Who is a terrorist? If the police and the US government have the mentality of airport security, they cannot tell a terrorist from an 86-year old Marine general on his way to give a speech at West Point. Retired Marine Corps General Joseph J. Foss was delayed and nearly had his Medal of Honor confiscated. Airport security regarded the pin on the metal as a weapon that the 86-year old Marine general and former governor of South Dakota could use to hijack an airliner and commit a terrorist deed.

In America today, every citizen is a potential terrorist in the eyes of the authorities. Airport security makes this clear every minute of every day, as do the FBI and NSA with warrantless spying on our emails, postal mail, telephone calls, and every possible invasion of our privacy. We are all recipients of abuse of our constitutional rights whether or not we suffer beatings, Taserings, and false arrests.


More HERE

David B. Benson said...

capt --- I take back my comment regarding the latest Senate stupidity. I was confusing that stupidity with the Biden plan stupidity...

capt said...

DB,

I think it is a toss up which is more insane.

That and ANOTHER $200 billion.

Depressing.


capt

capt said...

New Thread