"Homeland Security"? How about Gun Control?

George W. Bush Back in the News

 

Senator Robert Byrd's Speech Opposing Iraq War

"Too [F'ing] Lazy and Bigoted and Unimaginative to Prefer Peace to Hegemony and Terrorism"

Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss

Thinky Prez Done Thinking

What Is It Good For?

Goofus and Gallant

The Blackwater Problem

I have been suspicious of the move to use private contractors for government work (especially military) since the days of Reagan. It appears to be cheaper only on paper. For instance rather than have a buck private drive a truck we pay a private contractor over $100,000/year to do it. Instead of training and deploying army electricians on bases in war zones we hire KBR at outrageous rates who then electrocute our soldiers. Perhaps the most bothersome is that security for the State Department as well as the army (which confuses the crap out of me. Shouldn't soldiers be the best people to provide security?) is provided by the shadowy mercenary company Blackwater (renamed to Xe Services). We are allowing civilians to operate for profit in war zones with fully armored vehicles, automatic weapons, and apparently little or no culpability for their actions.

And now the inimitable Jeremy Scahill has dug up this frightening story:

Blackwater Founder Implicated in Murder

A former Blackwater employee and an ex-US Marine who has worked as a security operative for the company have made a series of explosive allegations in sworn statements filed on August 3 in federal court in Virginia. The two men claim that the company's owner, Erik Prince, may have murdered or facilitated the murder of individuals who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company. The former employee also alleges that Prince "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe," and that Prince's companies "encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life."
...
...the former US marine who worked for Blackwater in Iraq alleges that he has "learned from my Blackwater colleagues and former colleagues that one or more persons who have provided information, or who were planning to provide information about Erik Prince and Blackwater have been killed in suspicious circumstances." Identified as "John Doe #1," he says he "joined Blackwater and deployed to Iraq to guard State Department and other American government personnel." It is not clear if Doe #1 is still working with the company as he states he is "scheduled to deploy in the immediate future to Iraq." Like Doe #2, he states that he fears "violence" against him for "submitting this Declaration." No further details on the alleged murder(s) are provided. The Nation

Not only are these people war profiteers and mercenaries, they're also religious crusaders and zealots. The damage that the Christian Right has managed to do to the integrity of our government and military during the rein of King George the Shrub is deep and systemic. Can we weed these people out and shut them down? They are at war with the American way of life while claiming to be protecting it. Fascism wrapped in an American flag and carrying a cross...

"Makin' Things Up"

One can only hope that Sarah Palin will now either vanish into momhood, go to prison, or get a talkshow on Fox Noise. Either way I will rarely have to listen to the vapid, blithering idiot whereas if she runs for national office I'll be forced to pay attention to her. Next to her George W. Bush sounds like an intellectual. I'm not sure how anyone can stand up before an audience and just make word-like noises like she does and not be ashamed. Then again, shame is a virtue rarely seen amongst Republicans.

Just Numbers, Right?

The "Terrorist" Bill Ayers Speaks

The William Ayers "controversy" cooked up by Sarah Palin, John McCain, and their little group of rabid, seemingly aimless robots points again at a divide amongst Americans that seems will never heal: Vietnam. Just as we were split about Iraq we continue to be split on the subject of Vietnam. Vietnam was also a colossal mistake and was mishandled to a greater extent than even Iraq, but there are still a large number of Americans that believe "America right or wrong" for some unfathomable reason. William Ayers's "terrorist" actions were meant as a direct assault on the war machine and were done not to terrorize or kill but to make a political point that was being all but ignored by those in power and the media at the time. The same people that so vehemently oppose Ayers's stance and tactics during the 60's and early 70's mostly agree with the tactics of the Nat'l Guard at Kent State or the FBI spying on peace activists (as continues to this day). For these people "peace" is equal to surrender as it's the only way they can fit the concept into their simple minded black & white worldview. This Fresh Air interview is his first since the right wing froth machine picked up on his name during the campaign. I would hope that most people would come away at least doubting the truthfulness and tone of the attacks against Ayers and Obama for his extremely loose association with him. Personally I feel there are far worse criminals from that era still walking the earth like Henry Kissinger, people who genuinely ordered the murder tens of thousands of innocents, the destruction of other countries, and the assassination of foreign political opponents in our name. Comparing Ayers to these people is like comparing a jaywalker to a serial killer.

Palin

I'm still trying to get my head around what the Nazis* are doing with Mrs. Palin. They introduce this absolute stranger 7 weeks before the election and then refuse to let her speak or for anyone to question her past in any way. They seem to be using the popular Christian Right tactic of shouting about how they are being "attacked" by the "liberal press," leading to a perception amongst the idiots of this country that they are some kind of innocent, oppressed minority.

Here are some questions I would like answered:

1. Why does she keep saying she opposed the "Bridge to Nowhere" when she actively lobbied for it until the Congress killed it out of embarrassment?

2. She may not be a member of the secessionist movement in Alaska but her husband was. Why is it off limits to enquire about her involvement with this extreme right wing movement? If she never had anything to do with it and opposed her husband's involvement then that's cool. But if she did in fact speak before the group and offered them words of encouragement then I think we need to know this.

3. What actual experience does she have commanding the Alaska Nat'l Guard? The party has touted this as her "executive experience" but they have yet to show she ever gave a single command during her 20 months in office.

4. Her "experience" as a mother has been offered as more proof of what a good Vice President she would be. How can this be offered as proof if we're not allowed to question her about her mothering? Doesn't the pregnant, un-wed, underaged daughter kind of prove she may not have been doing the best job there?

5. If she is so wonderful for making the choice to have a Down's Syndrome child, why is she also so wonderful for wanting to make sure noone else has a choice? Her daughter has also been praised for her "decision" to have her child, i.e. she had a choice. I also wonder how much of a choice her daughter and her daughter's husband-to-be have actually had. On the boy's Facebook site he said (amongst other jock-ish statements), "I don't want children." Hmmmm. We're not allowed to ask questions about this, right?

6. Palin strongly supports abstinence only sex education (which is so oxymoronic it hurts). Isn't the proven fact that this doesn't work combined with her own daughter's pregnancy at 17 kind of beg the question, "Is she really stupid or just ignorant?"

7. Does she really believe that God wants a pipeline through Alaska? Really?

8. Does she also really believe we're fighting a war in Iraq because that's what God wants? Really? That's one fucked up God if you ask me. It also begs the question, does she think God wants us to kill all muslims? Does God want us to take over the world by military force? These are legitimate questions that she is not going to be asked, much less answer.

I could go on and I'm sure I will but I need to go do something busy with my hands before my head explodes.

*a.k.a. Republicans. Let's call a spade a spade, as it were.

Death Taxes

What's Wrong With America: Military Industrial Complex

There is a vast (yet loose) conspiracy that sucks our tax money into a void of unaccountability. How is it that we spend more than half of our nation's tax revenues for the mechanics of war... or worse?

4000? Crap!

Iraq War Memorial Planners Forced To Revise Length Again

WASHINGTON—In the wake of the 4,000th U.S. military death in Iraq, the American Battle Monuments Commission announced Monday that, for the fifth time in the last 12 months, it will resume construction on the poignant final tribute to the brave men and women who continue to give their lives in the Iraq War.

Endless War... for Six More Months...

Bring Your Daughter to War Day

Army Holds Annual 'Bring Your Daughter To War' Day