When Good Troops Happen To Bad Deciders

It's going to take years to build up the Army and Marines. It won't be at all fast enough to make one iota of difference in Iraq or Afghanistan. I'm not talking out of my hat. I've been listening to generals. It's rhetoric. It'll be expensive. Profiteers will be happy. Republicans will try to take credit for being strongmen. It's just Bush's latest way to try to divert attention from what's ALREADY going wrong and that he doesn't know how to fix - in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It's not a question of sending good troops after bad troops. It's a question of sending good troops after more good troops.

Posted by Rick Albertson at December 21, 2006 12:52 PM

It's a question of sending more good troops after good, exhausted, maimed and dead troops.

Eric Bogle knows. The less things change, the more they stay insane.

-------------

When I was a young man I carried my pack
And I lived the free life of a rover
From the Murray's green basin to the dusty outback
I waltzed my Matilda all over

Then in nineteen fifteen my country said, Son
It's time to stop rambling 'cause there's work to be done
So they gave me a tin hat and they gave me a gun
And they sent me away to the war

And the band played Waltzing Matilda
As we sailed away from the quay
And amidst all the tears and the shouts and the cheers
We sailed off to Gallipoli

How well I remember that terrible day
How the blood stained the sand and the water
And how in that hell that they called Suvla Bay
We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter

Johnny Turk he was ready, he primed himself well
He chased us with bullets, he rained us with shells
And in five minutes flat he'd blown us all to hell
Nearly blew us right back to Australia

But the band played Waltzing Matilda
As we stopped to bury our slain
We buried ours and the Turks buried theirs
Then we started all over again

Now those that were left, well, we tried to survive
In a mad world of blood, death and fire
And for ten weary weeks I kept myself alive
But around me the corpses piled higher

Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over tit
And when I woke up in my hospital bed
And saw what it had done, I wished I was dead
Never knew there were worse things than dying

For no more I'll go waltzing Matilda
All around the green bush far and near
For to hump tent and pegs, a man needs two legs
No more waltzing Matilda for me

So they collected the cripples, the wounded, the maimed
And they shipped us back home to Australia
The armless, the legless, the blind, the insane
Those proud wounded heroes of Suvla

And as our ship pulled into Circular Quay
I looked at the place where my legs used to be
And thank Christ there was nobody waiting for me
To grieve and to mourn and to pity

And the band played Waltzing Matilda
As they carried us down the gangway
But nobody cheered, they just stood and stared
Then turned all their faces away

And now every April I sit on my porch
And I watch the parade pass before me
And I watch my old comrades, how proudly they march
Reliving old dreams of past glory

And the old men march slowly, all bent, stiff and sore
The forgotten heroes from a forgotten war
And the young people ask, "What are they marching for?"
And I ask myself the same question

And the band plays Waltzing Matilda
And the old men answer to the call
But year after year their numbers get fewer
Some day no one will march there at all

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?
And their ghosts may be heard as you pass by the billabong
Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?

---------------

shock and oz,
Otter

I see Bill Kristol is hot for more troops. That means BushCo has been talking with the neocons again instead of listening to paleocons like Powell. That type doesn't even care about Iraq and Afghanistan but wants to be able to fight in more theaters at once - add Iran and then North Korea and then they'll be happy.

- perpetual war
- pre-emptive war
- global domination

& they seldom leave their armchairs. It would be hard to find a boot that has touched the ground, let alone foreign soil, among the signers of the Manifesto of PNAC.

The Legislative branch must appropriate money for the madness and cede control to the neocons. If they resist, what will happen?

I've bought giant economy size of popcorn, enough to last through 2008.

Rick, this whole unfolding, unforgiveable nightmare, requires subjectivity. To ALL of the losers in this dreadful war - we owe them our empathy and tears.

When I watched Bush lolling over the rostrum as he smiled his way through the press conference saying, "Yes. We will win!" Where are the assassins when we need them.

Sorry folks - not a thing to joke about, but hey - didn't Bush joke about this very issue to confirm that some of his victims of torture "no longer pose a problem to us"?

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1133AP_Ellison_Quran.html

Congressman says we need tighter immigration laws or we'll get too many Muslims in government.

He is completely proud of what he said, a true Christian Taleban.

------------

This is not (yet) a Christian theocracy.

Happy Solstice. I am going to do some kind of a ritual against this jerk.

Geez otter - thought there must be a platypus amongst us this morning!

Eric Bogle has written some great anti-war stuff. When asked why he writes so many, he said, "Because wars keep happenin'. When they stop happenin', I'll stop writing them."

Woz
I can't watch listen to or look at him.

Who -- Eric Bogle, or the Demander-In-Chief?

Good points in your very apt thread header....

As I understand it, Dumbya wants to increase the numbers in our military overall (not just send more troops to Iraq). I don't recall seeing any news of people lining up at recruiting offices to enlist to increase the overall numbers of people in the military.

That being the case, how's he gonna do that without (1) reinstating the draft; and (2) repealing the tax breaks to his super-wealthy friends and his corporate cronies who are currently making obscene record-busting profits from his war (as well as getting tax breaks from the rubber-stamp congress) to pay for the increased military costs if he does reinstate the draft? Mercenaries he has via Halliburton, its subsidiaries, and other outfits like that, but they cost more than regular military, too, since their monthly salaries are in the five figure range.

As is, the only way Dumbya can increase only the troop strength only in Iraq is to send all the military currently stationed in the US and at overseas bases to Iraq, and sending troops stationed in the US (regular military or guard and reserves) leaves us vulnerable here at home (not to mention we need guard troops to help clean up after disasters such as Katrina, and I'm thinking the guards will be called out to maybe help with the blizzard currently hitting CO and other areas - the guards were certainly instrumental in being 'everyday heroes' when the flood of '97 hit the Red River Valley when they rescued people trapped in flooded areas, put up temporary housing, fed stranded farm animals, etc.)

I'm looking for logic here... and not finding any logic....

I read Jesselyn Radack's memoir - after I woke in the midst of a nightmare at around 2a.m. How on earth Jesselyn has withstood the sleepless nights and all the rest, I've no idea. I must confess that I often make my task harder than it need be. I'm a person who reads a book from the cover, title and publisher's page, through dedications, acknowledgements, introductions and all the rest. SO, I didn't see the list of people until about 5 a.m., after I'd spent the night going back and forth to remind myself who was who.

I am immensely grateful for this exposé. Thankyou for your endurance. I will do my best to publicise this book here in Australia.

Hopefully, Jesselyn, you won't feel like you are "chirping into the darkness" for too much longer as we encourage more and more people to turn on the lights.

Loved the metaphor, "small whistles can make big noises." It reminds me of my colleague who used to say, "Little drips wear away big rocks."

Watada States His Case in Moiliili
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122106A.shtml
Watada said he could no longer condone the war, asked himself if he had the ability to do something about it, and took it upon himself to speak on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.

{Watada's photo at top of story. Wow, what a handsome fellow! There's a quote in the story from a fellow who doesn't agree with Watada, said military is obliged to follow orders... but the guy doesn't seem to realize that the Nuremberg judgment is what led to the dictim that soldiers are not required to follow illegal or immoral orders, that 'I was only following orders' is not a just defense for war crimes. I see Watada as a person who does not want to participate in war crimes, and the invasion of Iraq was a war crime under the Geneva Conventions.... Watada and others like him have the higher moral ground and are well within following laws and US military code in these cases, since they are trying to become criminals by not participating in war crimes.}

Who -- Eric Bogle, or the Demander-In-Chief?

Posted by: Otter at December 21, 2006 03:56 PM

Yikes! Was referring to you, the otter of this establishment. Would never give the D-I-C a beautiful name like "platypus"!

Wilson Challenges Subpoena in CIA Case
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122106J.shtml
I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, accused of lying to investigators about his conversations with reporters regarding former ambassador Joseph Wilson's wife, outed CIA operative Valerie Plame, subpoenaed Wilson as a defense witness this month. Wilson asked a federal judge Wednesday not to force him to testify in the CIA leak case, and he accused former White House aide Libby of trying to harass him on the witness stand.

Saudi Royals Snub Bush, Fund Opposition to US Troops
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122106D.shtml
Early in November, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley recommended, in a memo leaked to the press, that Saudi Arabia play a leadership role in talks about Iraq's future. But even before the memo landed on Bush's White House desk, the Saudis were positioning themselves to directly influence strategy in Iraq.

Robert Parry | A Very Dangerous New Year
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122106L.shtml
Robert Parry writes, "The first two or three months of 2007 represent a dangerous opening for an escalation of war in the Middle East, as George W. Bush will be tempted to 'double-down' his gamble in Iraq by joining with Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair to strike at Syria and Iran, intelligence sources say."

US and Britain to Add Ships to Persian Gulf in Signal to Iran
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122106K.shtml
The United States and Britain will begin moving additional warships and strike aircraft into the Persian Gulf region in a display of military resolve toward Iran as the United Nations continues to debate possible sanctions against the country, Pentagon and military officials said Wednesday.

US Commanders Wary of Gates Proposal
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122106N.shtml
Defense Secretary Robert Gates found American commanders wary of a proposal to rush more US troops to Iraq as he visited the war-ravaged country Wednesday. Commanders have been uncomfortable with even a short-term troop increase, saying it might bring only a temporary respite to the violence while confronting the US with shortages of fresh troops in the future.

New York Times | Rudderless in Iraq
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122106C.shtml
The editors of the New York Times write: "Anyone looking for new thinking on Iraq, or even candor, had to be disappointed by President Bush's news conference yesterday. Mr. Bush may want to defer unveiling his new strategy, but there will be no obliging pause in Iraq's unraveling."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steven-weber/a-years-end-rant_b_36796.html
A Year's End Rant

Happy Solstice. I am going to do some kind of a ritual against this jerk.
Posted by: DiAnne at December 21, 2006 03:53 PM

Actually, good idea.

One votive candle, a wish for peace. I'll wish for peace to be brought about by the sheer will of the masses to refuse to participate in illegal, unjust, immoral, and dishonorable wars of conquest for profit.

I'd wish for magically being able to give a conscience and mental illumination to the "leaders" of this nation, but it's not practical to wish for the impossible.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6198947.stm
US marines face Iraq murder trial
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5033648.stm
What happened at Haditha?
Excerpt:
Democrat congressman John Murtha, a former marine and war veteran, has said the Haditha incident could turn out to be an even bigger scandal than the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal.

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/12/21/coal_in_your_stocking.php
Coal In Your Stocking
It's hardly progress when energy independence means "burning more coal."

Iraq War: 'A difficult year'

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/296608_bushwared.html

The Decider has figured out that 2006 was "a difficult year for our troops and the Iraqi people." President Bush said Wednesday, "We began the year with optimism after watching nearly 12 million Iraqis go to the polls to vote for a unity government and a free future." The president blames the difficult year on "enemies of liberty" and their strategy of fomenting sectarian violence.

"We enter this new year clear-eyed about the challenges in Iraq and equally clear about our purpose. Our goal remains a free and democratic Iraq that can govern itself, sustain itself and defend itself, and is an ally in this war on terror," he said.

It's remarkable. After months of proclaiming the cusp of victory, the president tells The Washington Post: "We're not winning, we're not losing."

Then at his news conference Wednesday, the president clarified that statement. "My comments yesterday reflected the fact that we're not succeeding nearly as fast as I wanted, when I said it at the time, and that the conditions are tough in Iraq, particularly in Baghdad."

Success isn't coming fast enough? Whoa. This is clear-eyed? Sure, the president says he will review policy options, but he is only exploring alternatives that cater to his notion that it's possible to win militarily in Iraq. One of the reasons the administration stubbornly has refused to call Iraq a civil war is because history suggests an outside power cannot decide the outcome.

A victory that is achievable will not come from increasing the U.S. military presence, but that move will boost the risk of a significant battlefield defeat. A real policy shift ought to redouble efforts toward diplomatic and political solutions.

A clear-eyed course correction in 2007? We don't see it yet. So far, the president is changing tactics, not strategy. The result, unfortunately, means an even more difficult year ahead.

--

He's a flip flopper.

NonnyO
I was thinking more along the lines of voodoo doll.

Even U.S. generals oppose an Iraq surge

Count the Joint Chiefs of Staff among those resisting an infusion of U.S. soldiers and Marines in Iraq. They raise the same question citizens on the home front are asking: More troops in harm's way to accomplish what?

After years of mute obedience and stifled opinions, it is heartening to hear professional soldiers speak up and offer advice. Maybe that is another sign of how badly things are going in this war — or evidence of how tightly former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld kept the lid on. The Washington Post reported Tuesday the heads of the nation's service branches are balking at the Bush administration's exploration of a surge of 30,000 troops on top of the 140,000 now deployed. Even the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, Gen. John Abizaid, is opposed to a large increase.

President Bush initially rallied support for his war with faulty information. Three and half years later, the public is wide-eyed and aware of the grim realities of sectarian violence and the deadly environment for the U.S. military.

Any request for more troops begs an explanation of the mission.

To secure all of Iraq? Impossible. To seal up the borders? No. End the violence and chaos in Baghdad? Highly improbable. Secure a single district or neighborhood for a photo-op before departure? Maybe.

The Post's esteemed military writer, Thomas Ricks, reports that Abizaid opposes an expanded U.S. presence because it would perpetuate a dependency among Iraqi forces, and would increase popular resistance to what is widely seen as an American occupation.

President Bush describes 2006 as a disappointing year for the war. In the past 12 months, more than 760 Americans were killed, and thousands wounded. Those casualties are in the midst of an insurgency separate and apart from the religious and civil strife pounding away with impunity in the presence of U.S. forces.

Iraq is a lethal bog with no rhyme or reason. Even the professional warriors have no clue how spilling more American blood will make things safer or saner.

Administration energy spent clamoring for a bigger American military presence would be better directed at convincing Iraq's neighbors they have a stake in brokering peace and keeping Iraq whole.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003487662_iraqed21.html

----Yes I contacted Editorial departments of both my local papers.

I was thinking more along the lines of voodoo doll.
Posted by: DiAnne at December 21, 2006 05:27 PM

That's a better idea...!

Congress Asked to Intervene in Florida Race
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122106S.shtml
Democrat Christine Jennings, who narrowly lost to a Republican in the race to replace Representative Katherine Harris asked Congress on Wednesday for an investigation. She is seeking to obtain the programming code for the touch-screen voting machines to determine whether a bug or malicious programming could have lost votes.

Bears Have Stopped Hibernating
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/122106EA.shtml
Bears have stopped hibernating in the mountains of northern Spain, scientists revealed yesterday, in what may be one of the strongest signals yet of how much climate change is affecting the natural world.

USDA Stocks Organics Board With Business Reps
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/122106HA.shtml
Food-safety activists are protesting the government's attempt to stack an organic-food advisory board with representatives of corporate agribusiness and food commerce.

{{{I think we'd all be healthier if we went back to growing our own food in our own gardens and re-learned the art of preserving our own food....}}}

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/21/washington/21declassify.html
U.S. to Declassify Secrets at Age 25

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/21/washington/21prexy.html
Bush Asserts That Victory in Iraq Is Still ‘Achievable’
{"Victory" over who or what is still undefined. I still maintain that since the Iraq invasion and war itself is a war crime that the war was lost before it began, and no "victory" of any kind whatsoever is to be had. BTW, as you scroll down on this story, check out the left hand column where there are two smaller pix, check out the one with the illuminated presidential seal above his devil-spawn head. Frightening.}

https://ssl47.pair.com/isafetyn/preview.php/post/293/Iraqi_Fugitive_Donated_to_Bush_Campaigns
Iraqi Fugitive Donated to Bush Campaigns

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/21/troops-iraq-kerosene/
U.S. Military Officials: Bush Trying To Bribe Us To Support Iraq Escalation
Last night on NBC Nightly News, Pentagon correspondent Jim Miklaszewski said that many military officials are “suspicious” of President Bush’s announcement that he plans to increase the size of the armed forces. They believe that “he’s dangling that offer out there in an effort to buy the military support for the option to surge additional American troops into Iraq as if it’s some kind of tradeoff.”

Miklaszewski added that military leaders are also still opposed to an increase in U.S. troops in Iraq, believing it would “be like throwing kerosene on a fire.”

In the 2004 campaign, Bush repeatedly attacked Sen. John Kerry’s (D-MA) proposal to expand the Army by 40,000 troops. As recently as six months ago, a “Statement of Administration Policy” stated that the administration “opposes increases in minimum active Army and Marine Corps end strengths.” Bush’s plan to send 15,000 to 30,000 more U.S. troops to Iraq has been unanimously opposed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as by Gen. John Abizaid, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East.

{Video included.}

http://mediamatters.org/items/200612210008

On December 20, President Bush installed via a recess appointment TV producer and National Review Online contributor Warren Bell on the board of directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Bell's appointment only intensifies the widespread and longstanding concerns regarding the partisan makeup of the CPB leadership under Bush and their apparent efforts to compromise the political independence of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), National Public Radio (NPR), and other public broadcasting outlets. Indeed, while Bell appears to have no experience in public broadcasting, nor interest in the service, he is an avowed conservative and Bush contributor with a record of inflammatory remarks regarding Democrats, women, minorities, and underprivileged people. For instance, in May 2005 he wrote, "I could reach across the aisle and hug Nancy Pelosi, and I would, except this is a new shirt, and that sort of thing leaves a stain." Remarking on using a TiVo to shield his children from birth control ads on television, Bell said, "A little vigilance is all it takes -- well, that and a couple hundred bucks for a TiVo. Sorry, poor people, your kids are going to be asking you awkward questions about condoms."

On June 26, Bush nominated Bell to the CPB board along with two other individuals, former Sen. David H. Pryor (D-AR) and Bay Area public broadcasting official Chris Boskin. The public broadcasting community quickly objected to the White House's action on Bell. Many cited Bell's divisive comments as well as the recent controversy surrounding another partisan Bush appointee -- former CPB board chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, whose efforts to apply political pressure on PBS and NPR were extensively documented by Media Matters for America. Following Bell's nomination, Association of Public Television Stations president John Lawson told the Los Angeles Times: ''We are definitely concerned about Warren Bell's nomination. After the damage caused by Ken Tomlinson's activities, the last thing we need on the CPB board is another ideologue of any stripe.'' NPR spokeswoman Andi Sporkin -- quoted in the same July 16 Times article -- responded: ''So far as we can tell, Mr. Bell only brings a history of questionable comments about women, minorities and the media, and no discernable relevant achievement, involvement or commitment to public broadcasting.'' Chellie Pingree, president of the watchdog group Common Cause, said: ''Public broadcasting is just beginning to recover from the missteps of Ken Tomlinson. The CPB cannot afford to replace Tomlinson with Warren Bell. He is the wrong man in the wrong job at the wrong time.''

{Click on link for more.}

Cheney on the Stand

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1221-21.htm

Happy Solstice!

Posted by: not my veep at December 21, 2006 06:53 PM

And what wouldn't we all give to be a fly on the wall inside the courtroom when he does take the stand...?

Another voodoo doll anyone? ;-)

It is, indeed, the eve of the winter solstice.

We come to the same understanding from different directions, many of us. But the basic tenets hold true for all, my good, dear friends.

May your larder be full, your hearth be warm, and your family be healthy and happy this Yule and after.

And may the Goddess bless us, every one.

blessed be,
Otter

The other Iraq report

UPI Senior News Analyst

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- A new report published Monday documents grim confirmation of the most pessimistic assessments we have made in these columns over the rapidly deteriorating situation in Iraq during the past 10 months.

Ever since Shiite militias across Iraq erupted into a frenzy of retaliatory random killings of Sunnis following the bombing of the al-Askariya, or Golden Mosque in Samara -- a cherished Shiite shrine -- on Feb. 22, 2006, we have charted and predicted in these columns the California-sized nation of 28 million people's rapid descent into a state of violent chaos. In the words of the great 17th century English political philosopher Thomas Hobbes, life in Iraq has become nasty, brutish and short."

http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20061218-024118-5015r

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/12/21/daily-show-on-bushs-were-not-winning-were-not-losing/
Daily Show on Bush’s “We’re not winning, we’re not losing”

{Caveat: Splutter factor - don't be eating or drinking anything while watching this video...!}

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/12/21/rep-ellison-speaks-out-against-goode/
Rep. Ellison speaks out against Goode
(Video & transcript.)

Gee, it must be post-election...

Summer’s Economic Growth Is Revised Downward
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/21/business/21cnd-econ.html

Good stuff, NonnyO
Actually allowed me to make it through some of His Highness

As for Goode or Gude or however you say it - Democrat turned Independent turned Republican from Virginia - does the CongressGentleman know that CongressPeople do not swear on Holy Books except in private ceremonies? Does he realize that there may be later private ceremonies in which said CongressPerson swears on their Holy Book of choice, such as a Jewish text or a Mormon text, both of which have been used before?! Does he realize that Congressman Ellison is an immigrant - from Detroit - and that his family came over in the 1700s? Does he realize that he is an immigrant himself, unless he is a native American?!

Am sending the Jon Stewart on to my friend who is a former Clinton intern, now in Paris. He loves Stewart, Colbert and also Borat and he is Jewish - in other words, he not only understands English well but has an actual sense of humor!

Posted by: DiAnne at December 21, 2006 11:16 PM

I wonder at the IQ of some of the Congress Critters if they don't even understand their own oath of office. Goode doesn't seem to have read the oath of office....

They do not have to have any religious book to swar on. They oath isn't about what's in any book - they could be using an empty journal. It's the oath to preserve, protect, and defend the US Constitution - our laws! - that matters. It seems Goode and many spinmeisters don't "get" that part. No holy book of any kind is required to take the oath of office.

The loyalty and patriotism (and intelligence) of any Congress Critter who doesn't understand the oath of office, what it means, ought not to be holding that office....

Er... swear on, that is, not swar on....

Typo fairy is loose tonight....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061222/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/rice_ap_interview
Rice: Iraq worth investment in U.S. aid
WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told The Associated Press on Thursday that Iraq is "worth the investment" in American lives and dollars and said the U.S. can still win a conflict that has been more difficult than she expected.

{Click on link for more vague propagandistic blather and lies....}

Take a tranquilizer or your blood pressure medication before reading this....:

Dead On Arrival
The NIST 9/11 Report on the WTC Collapse
By Mark H. Gaffney
The NIST report was the result of a 3 year investigation, and was released in September 2005. It remains the official US government explanation for why the WTC collapsed on 9/11. As you are about to discover, the report itself collapses under scrutiny. There is no doubt that the NIST investigation was politically controlled by limiting its scope, thereby making the truth unobtainable. This is one way to neuter an investigation.
http://tinyurl.com/y33bsm

THIS CAN NOT BE HAPPENING!!!!

NONONONONONONONONONONONOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. i'm going to vomit.

Privatized Immigrant Detention Facilities for Families Revealed to be Modern-Day Concentration Camps
One of the more disturbing stories that surfaced after the Swift meat plant raids was how too many children were left without a parent and/or farmed out to friends and families with no immediate word on how they will be reconnected with their mami and papi.

But if news filtering out of one of the newly designated immigrant detention centers for families is any indication, no undocumented parent is going to open their mouth and claim their children if the whole family is going to be subjected to what is becoming known as the first known concentration camp on American soil in the 21st Century.

The T. Don Hutto Residential Center in Taylor, Texas (on the outskirts of Austin, Texas) is a private detention facility operated by Corrections Corporation of America. It and a smaller center in Pennsylvania are the only two facilities in the country that are authorized to hold non-Mexican immigrant families and children on noncriminal charges.

Hutto family detention facility in Taylor, Texas
(Photo: Jay Johnson-Castro)

What does this mean?

It means that at the Taylor facility of the 400 people "held" there, 200 are children. And all are families that can be held there for whatever length of time without due process conducted in a timely manner.

To top it off, as long as the men, women and children are held there, the facility's operator draws a daily profit - per person.

The children range in age from infants on up.

According to the lawyers who have visited their clients in the facility, the children receive one hour of education, English instruction, a day and one half hour of indoor recreation.

Jeans and t-shirts have been replaced with jail uniforms; children are issued uniforms as soon as they can fit into them — and everyone must wear name tags, even the babies.

http://latinalista.blogspot.com/2006/12/privatized-immigrant-detention.html

December 22, 2006
Editorial
Saner Voices in Iran
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran has not been having a very good month, which is good news both for the beaten-down people of Iran and for the outside world.

The populist demagogue, it seems, is not so popular with important elements of Iranian society growing uneasy over the price Iran may have to pay for his belligerent pursuit of nuclear technology. This week, Mr. Ahmadinejad’s oil minister acknowledged that foreign banks were pulling back from financing Iranian oil projects because of the worsening nuclear dispute.

The clearest evidence of Mr. Ahmadinejad’s troubles came in last week’s elections for municipal offices and the national council that oversees the work of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Mr. Ahmadinejad’s supporters fared surprisingly poorly. The main gainers came from two very different opposition groups, one aligned with former President Ali Rafsanjani, an establishment conservative, and the other with remnants of the cautious reform movement led by former President Mohammad Khatami.

Mr. Rafsanjani, a venomous foe of Israel (with his own nuclear appetites), is so notorious for the corruption that marred his presidency that his political career had almost gone into eclipse. Mr. Khatami’s followers are more high-minded, but still managed to fumble Iran’s best chance for reform in decades. What distinguishes them from Mr. Ahmadinejad’s supporters is their recognition that Iran exists in the real world. They understand that its future requires good relations with foreign investors, trade partners and educational institutions.

- more -

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/22/opinion/22fri1.html

Here are some links for the story that Christy pointed out above, regarding the T. Don Hutto non-criminal detention center in Taylor, Texas:

Austin American-Statesman article with pictures: http://tinyurl.com/yyevba
Cox New Service expanded version of article: http://tinyurl.com/y49sk6
Austin American-Statesman followup editorial: http://tinyurl.com/yy7lkz
Taylor Daily Press article on protest: http://tinyurl.com/yznrjc

And here's an article on the Hutto center, CAA, the ICE and the profits to be made from running such facilities, from the Real Cost of Prisons weblog: http://tinyurl.com/ymahuk

Of interest also is this excerpt from a March 23, 2004 news release by the NYSE-listed Corrections Corporation of America, as listed on the CCA website at http://tinyurl.com/yd6l7k :

"Closure of T. Don Hutto Correctional Center

"In a separate announcement, CCA has indicated its intent to cease operations at the CCA-owned and operated T. Don Hutto Correctional Center located in Taylor, Texas on May 14, 2004, due to low inmate population demands in the facility's region. CCA expects to be able to transfer the majority of the approximate 60 federal offenders currently housed in the 480-bed facility to other CCA-operated facilities.

"CCA does not expect the closing of this facility to have a material impact on its previously announced 2004 earnings per share guidance."

Well, there ya go. Goddess forbid some giant corporation's earnings ratio might ever be at risk of going down a couple of points just because the Bush administration wasn't putting people in jail fast enough.

lock 'em up and keep the change,
Otter

Dear Woz,

Thank you for reading my book. It may come as no surprise that my story has received better coverage outside the U.S. than here at home. I appreciate your helping to publicize my story and "turn on the lights" (also a great metaphor). Australia has often been on my mind, as I know you have David Hicks and other Aussies thrown into the black hole that is America's Guantanamo Bay jail. As you can see from the book, rather than getting thrown in the black hole, I was blacklisted. My situation was much less dire than those deemed "enemy combatants" who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but the U.S. government's M.O. has been the same: to silence and incapacitate. Thank you for spreading sunshine.

--Jesselyn Radack

How Dangerous Is the Dollar Drop

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122106P.shtml

last part is particularly interesting
(from Der Spiegel)

Thanks for posting Jesselyn. Your story is critically important--we have sent copies to family members and hope to do even more after the holidays.

DCPers, you can order the book (and a wonderful Camp Democracy DVD, if you like) at http://campdemocracy.org/dvd

Christy,

Thanks for the Swift families story. I heard it the other day and meant to look it up further. Another horror in the Homeland security story. I was having a drink with a friend last evening and we were discussing the Nazis. She said "Well, the Bushies haven't started rounding up the Jews yet." I pointed out that immigrants are the new Jews. Virgil Goode is doing his best to move that along.

We have a LOT of work to do, come January.

Pardon the interruption, but I just gotta vent for a sec...

If the fundies wanna keep Christ in Christmas, maybe they should start buying into the whole "Peace on Earth, Goodwill Towards Men" thing, eh? I mean, damn people, it ain't rocket science!

Now More Than Ever
by John mellencamp

If you believe
Wont you please raise your hands
Lets hear your voices
Let us know where you stand
Dont shout from the shadows
Cause it wont mean a damn
Now more than ever

Now more than ever
The world needs love
Not just a slogan
But the world needs love
Now more than ever
I cant stand alone
Now more than ever

If I was to buy you
A diamond ring
Make you my princess
Would it mean anything
Would you take me for granted
And just curse my name
Now more than ever

Now more than ever
The world needs love
Not just a slogan
But the world needs love
Now more than ever
I cant stand alone
Now more than ever

Who am I to say
What needs to be done
I am just nobody
Another lost one
Caught between whats left
And what needs to be done
Now more than ever
The loss of love
The loss of our dreams
Its not too late

Now more than ever
The world needs love
Not just a slogan
But the world needs love
Now more than ever
I cant stand alone
Now more than ever

Report Says TSA Violated Privacy Law
Passengers Weren't Told That Brokers Provided Data to Screening Program
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/21/AR2006122101621.html?referrer=email

Pelosi Aims To Recast Self, Party
New House Speaker Plans a 4-Day Fete
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/21/AR2006122101865.html?referrer=email

Man fights to keep bullet in head
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6203069.stm

A search warrant has been issued in the US for a potentially vital clue to a violent crime - a bullet lodged in a teenager's head.

Gates Plans Report to Bush on Iraq
http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2006/12/22/ap3278571.html

guess he can't just head to the ranch and clear brush 'n stuff - has to go to Camp David

Posted by: aimzzz at December 22, 2006 11:22 AM

I'm thrilled spitless that there's finally a woman as Speaker of the House.

HOWEVER:

Until/Unless Speaker-Elect Pelosi puts impeachment back on the table, the four-day celebration proves nothing other than she can emulate the neoCons.

I'm not celebrating until/unless impeachment gets put on the table....

Congress Closes With a Pork-Filled Flourish
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122206L.shtml
The dialysis industry, the coal industry and other interests that donated to lawmakers get lavish end-of-session breaks.

UN to Impose Nuclear Embargo on Iran
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122206M.shtml
The draft resolution provides for bans on the import and export of material and technology relating to uranium enrichment, reprocessing, and heavy-water reactors, as well as ballistic missile systems. It also calls for a travel ban and freezes funds and financial assets owned or controlled by entities or people associated with sensitive areas of Iran's nuclear or missile program. Eleven organizations and twelve individuals are named as targets of the measures.

North Korea Talks End "Without Deal"
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122206P.shtml
The six-party talks on the dismantling of North Korea's nuclear program have ended without any real breakthrough, officials are quoted as saying. Despite five days of negotiations in Beijing, the talks broke up, and no date for a resumption has been announced. The talks involved the US, North Korea, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/article2094671.ece

Scroll down, too, for the list to Breakthroughs of 2006.

Amidst war and other catastrophies, a few good things happened in 2006. I found the info on Neanderthal DNA interesting because it's been mentioned on a genealogy-DNA list to which I subscribe, so I've been following that story.

These little nuggets of "goodness" are what I look for so I don't go mad dwelling on the war crimes and other high crimes and misdemeanors of Georgie and Dickie and their ilk, not to mention the torture and concentration camps they've set up at Gitmo and on US soil (you know the tediously long list of crimes as well as I do).....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/christmas-shopping-2006-_b_36862.html
Christmas Shopping 2006: The Way Forward
{Huffington's list of gifts she'd give to public figures....}

Xmas Gifts I would wish for public figures:

To the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan: A one-way ticket home (today, even - months or years from now with the slow withdrawal is too long). Your families and friends need you here, not there.

To the illegally-held detainees at Gitmo and elsewhere and immigrants held in concentration camps in the US: A one-way ticket home, the places of torture and degradation torn down to their foundations, and our deepest, most abject apologies. We are heartily sorry for the fact that this country spawned such evil people as Bush, Cheney, and the rest of their ilk (we are no less horrified than you that they stole two elections to get to their positions of "leadership" and have actually held those offices).

To the people of Iraq: Our most abject, humble and sincere apologies for what Bu$hCo has done to you and your country; we will pay reparations, even though we know that can't truly make up for the horrors the installed "leaders" of this country and their corporate cronies have done to you in their headlong greed for your oil.

To Congress Critters: Remedial education regarding the US Constitution, the Bill of Rights and Amendments, the Geneva Conventions and US laws, and intelligence enough to repeal all the bad legislation rushed through without reading since 2000 so the American people can have their rights and privileges restored, with emphasis on the articles of impeachment to rid us of the installed administration. May our Congress Critters learn the ability to multitask, get some common-sense legislation passed (after actually reading any proposed legislation before voting on any new legislation so they know what they are voting on), and on behalf of the people who voted for them, impeach the criminals "leading" this country. As a reward, special consideration will be given to those who clearly demonstrate an aptitude for deconstructing Bu$hCo lies, telling the American people and the world the truth, and getting our troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan sooner rather than later. If competence and leadership on ending Bu$hCo's war and impeaching the criminals leading this country can be amply demonstrated, we *may* consider current Congress Critters for the office of president and vice-president in '08. Maybe. Congress Critters have disappointed us for six long years, and there are only two more years to make up for past mistakes. We'll be watching you to see if you're naughty or nice to us....

To Voters: Easy voter registration and paper ballots.

To Lamestream Media: Free college tuition to study Journalism, with emphasis programs to teach you how to ask difficult questions, demand answers, and how to write or broadcast facts and truth. The studies will also require you to learn how to deconstruct lies told by politicians and corporations, and you will be required to study the US Constitution, the Bill of Rights and Amendments, the Geneva Conventions, US law, and the history thereof. (Bonus credit will be given to those in broadcast media who pronounce 'February' and 'et cetera' correctly.)

To Georgie, Dickie, Rummy, Gonzilla, Condisleazy, and the rest of the criminals in their administration: A one-way ticket to The Hague to be tried for war crimes, and spiffy new orange jump-suits to give some color to your drab wardrobes. May you rot in hell for the rest of your natural lives, and may your images and sound bytes of your lies never, ever 'grace' our televisions again.

To the Religious Reich Wingnuts: A reality check, treatment for addiction to kool-aid, remedial education on the Bible, meaning you have to read the whole book, cover-to-cover, not just selected verses. As part of your treatment, you will be required to undergo deprogramming for cult-like thinking processes.

America Descending

While dropping by a few sites this morning looking at the usual stuff, I quickly came across this article on the Huffington Post, displaying the New York Times Op Ed piece on Iran that was thoroughly redacted by the White House.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eat-the-press/2006/12/22/the-paper-of-mostly-on-t_e_36924.html

American Democracy descends further toward oblivion.

Here is where we stand today...

As I cannot correctly post the article here:

http://theliberalgambler.com/WordPress/

(posting will not allow the type srikeouts)

Murdoch further consolidates his media empire
http://www.forbes.com/markets/bonds/2006/12/22/news-corp-liberty-markets-equity-cx_lh_1222markets03.html

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061222/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

5 U.S. troops die west of Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Insurgent attacks killed five more American troops west of the Iraqi capital, the military said Friday, making December the second deadliest month for U.S. servicemen in 2006.

This month, 76 American troops have died in Iraq, the same number that were killed in April. With nine days remaining in December, the monthly total of U.S. deaths could meet or exceed the death toll of 105 in October.

{More on link.}

We are doing Democrat of the Year again and guess who has been nominated? DCP's own Marianne! Come on over and vote for her.

http://www.ellenofthetenth.blogspot.com/

Chris Floyd | War Profits Trump the Rule of Law
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122206A.shtml
Chris Floyd writes: "Slush funds, oil sheiks, prostitutes, Swiss banks, kickbacks, blackmail, bagmen, arms deals, war plans, climbdowns, big lies and Dick Cheney - it's a scandal that has it all, corruption and cowardice at the highest levels, a festering canker at the very heart of world politics, where the War on Terror meets the slaughter in Iraq. Yet chances are you've never heard about it - even though it happened just a few days ago."
{"Must read."}

Bush Issues 16 Pardons
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122206E.shtml
President Bush gave a pre-Christmas gift to 17 minor criminals. Six of the federal offenses were drug crimes, while others included bank fraud, mail fraud, the acceptance of a kickback, a false statement on a loan application and conspiracy to defraud the government over taxes.

The interesting Solstice mail is coming in!

The Christmas Hoax:
Jesus is NOT the "Reason for the Season"

The December 25th birthday of the sun god is a common motif globally, dating back at least 12,000 years as reflected in winter solstices artfully recorded in caves. "Nearly all nations," says Doane, commemorated the birth of the god Sol to the "Queen of Heaven" and "Celestial Virgin." The winter solstice was celebrated in countless places, including China and Persia, the latter regarding the solar Lord and Savior Mithra's birth. In Rome, a great festival called "Saturnalia" was celebrated from December 1st to the 23rd. The winter solstice festival in Egypt included the babe in a manger brought out of the sanctuary.

Regarding the date of the "Christmas Feast," the Catholic Encyclopedia ("Christmas") remarks:

The well-known solar feast...of Natalis Invicti, celebrated on 25 December, has a strong claim on the responsibility for our December date....

(snip)

Ancient Greeks celebrated the birthday of Hercules and Dionysus on this date, as the ancient authority Macrobius (c. 400 AD/CE) maintained. Even the Greek father god, Zeus, was supposedly born at the winter solstice. The "Christmas" festival was celebrated at Athens and was called "the Lenaea," during which time, apparently, "the death and rebirth of the harvest infant Dionysus were similarly dramatized." This Lenaea festival is depicted in an Aurignacian cave-painting in Spain, with a "young Dionysus with huge genitals," standing naked in the middle of "nine dancing women." The Aurignacian period extended from 34,000 to 23,000 years ago.

(snip)

The Greco-Syrian sun god Adonis - the "Adonai" of the Bible - was also born on December 25th, a festival "spoken of by Tertullian, Jerome, and other Fathers of the Church, who inform us that the ceremonies took place in a cave, and that the cave in which they celebrated his mysteries in Bethlehem, was that in which Christ Jesus was born."

Nor is the winter solstice celebration a purely "Pagan" concept, as the Jews also observed it in reference to the birth of their god, Yahweh. The "Feast of Illumination," "Feast of Lights" or "feast of the Dedication," occurred in winter (John 10:22-23; Josephus's Antiquities XII, 7.7)¹ and represented the "ancient Hebrew Winter Solstice Feast." The reference in the gospel of John states:

"It was the feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem; it was winter..." (RSV)

(snip)

In addition, Indians for millennia have celebrated the winter solstice, as a cardinal point, the new year and, presumably, the birth of the sun god. In the Indian solstice celebration--a "great religious festival"--there is "rejoicing everywhere." As in the West, the Indians "decorate their houses with garlands, and make presents to friends and relatives," a "custom of very great antiquity." One way the Brahman priests of Orissa have celebrated the solstice is by carrying images of "the youthful Krishna to the houses of their disciples and their patrons, to whom they present some of the red powder and tar of roses, and receive presents of money and cloth in return." Thus, in India the winter solstice has been as much a major holiday as it was anywhere, which is to be expected in a land permeated with sun worship for millennia.

Regarding the Persian sun god Mithra and his sacrifice, in the 19th century respected Christian author Rev. J.P. Lundy remarked:

"For let it be borne in mind that it was precisely at the season of this sacrifice, near the beginning of the new year, that the birth of Mithra was celebrated over all Persia and the world, in temple-caves, on the night of the 24th of December, the night of light. Even the British Druids celebrated it, and called the next day, the 25th of December, Nollagh or Noel, the day of regeneration, celebrating it with great fires on tops of their mountains. In fact, all nations, as if by common consent, at the first moment after midnight of the 24th of December, celebrated the birth of the sun-god, type among the Gentiles of Christ, the Incarnate Son of God, as the Desire of all nations and the Saviour of the world."

Lundy was thus well aware of the sun gods, whom he deemed "types of Christ," indicating Christ's solar nature as well.

Concerning the winter solstice festival in Ireland, the author of Christian Mythology Unveiled relates:

"The Baal-fire feast, or meeting, was a great festival in Ireland, on the 25th of December, and midsummer eve. Baal, or Bel, was a name of the sun all over the east."

It is important to note that the "December 25th" birthdate only applies to the age and hemisphere in which the winter solstice falls on December 21-24. In other ages, the solstice month is different, changing with the precession of the equinoxes every 2150 years.

The December 25th birthdate is that of the sun, not a "real person," revealing its unoriginality within Christianity and the true nature of the Christian godman. "Christmas" was not incorporated into Christianity until 354 AD/CE. In reality, there is no evidence, no primary sources which show that "Jesus is the reason for the season."

Happy Solstice!

Excerpted from "Suns of God: Krishna, Buddha and Christ Unveiled"
---
The joke is kind of on everyone, I guess.

A Rotten Year for Jesus Christ, America

http://film.guardian.co.uk/patterson/story/0,,1976797,00.html

interesting article on this the Solstice Day

some well-turned phrases, such as "George Bush's manhood in a lockbox for the next two years"

Posted by: DiAnne at December 22, 2006 05:20 PM

Yes, the joke is on everyone when the religious reich dictates only one interpretation for Xmas (and the X is valid "shorthand" in old records for 'Christ' - I find it in microfilm kirkebok records 'Xian' is 'shorthand' for the name Christian or Kristian, and 'Xiansen' for Christiansen or Kristiansen, for example).

Some kind of winter solstice, festival of lights, celebration of longer days returning, has been celebrated by all peoples around the world since long before written records of oral traditions were transcribed.

Also, there was one early pope who decreed that to gain converts to Christianity that proselytizing priests were to adopt and adapt local "pagan" (meaning country folk, as opposed to city dwellers) customs into Christian worship, and most saints were at one time "pagan" deities (St. Brigit/Brigid in Ireland was the most famous that I know of, and now that her origins as a Celtic Goddess are well-known she's been taken off the list of saints - Eöstre, an early Anglo-Saxon Goddess of Dawn, is the origin of the name Easter and that tradition began after the Synod at Whitby which reconciled the Roman Catholic and Celtic Catholic churches). Many early Christian cathedrals are built at sites of "pagan" worship, and the most notable is Chartres Cathedral.

That's why I don't 'get' the hullabaloo over fanatics wanting everyone to say "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays"... seems to me the latter covers several different interpretations of winter solstice festivals celebrated by different people of varying traditions and faiths.

Additionally, tax time is traditionally in the late winter or early spring. Astrologically, the birth of the alleged 'Christ child' is associated with the sun sign Pisces, sign of the two fishes, mysticism, the last sign of the zodiac, and Pisceans are said to possess traits of all the twelve signs before them, plus a few of their own. In terms of reincarnation, the twelfth sign of the zodiac, Pisces, is, in theory, the last incarnation. Prior to ca. 1792, the New Year began on March 24, not Jan. 1 (requires adjustments in dating genealogy records, too).

In any case, history did not begin with the birth or death of a child 2006 years ago, and it's quite true that no one knows when Rebbe Yeshua was born since the birth was not documented or written about until sometime in the second century (date of earliest manuscript). People existed on earth long before that, and people in the northern hemisphere had winter solstice celebrations to welcome the return of longer days since long before written records.

The facts are more interesting than the mythology, in this case....

Whatever.

Happy Solstice anyway, DCPeeps.

:0)

Posted by: DiAnne at December 22, 2006 06:16 PM

And the star of The Nativity, a sixteen year old girl, is pregnant and unmarried. So much for teaching abstinence only as birth control....

A. Alexander | Press Ignores the Generals
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122206R.shtml
"The Joint Chiefs of Staff and practically every actively serving general strongly opposes President Bush's proposed Iraq 'Surge' Plan, but you've probably not heard too much about the generals' discontent ... because the media only barely reported on the generals' mutiny," writes A. Alexander.

Brace yourself people. I'm heading into the irc. Any joiners?

Religion does more harm than good - poll

http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,,1978045,00.html

The British appear to be waking up. Wish we would. I know there are good religious people who want peace and work for it, in this country, but I'm goddamned sick of the fanaticism and intolerance toward those with religions other than Christian, with born-again Protestants looking down on Catholics, with people thinking all Muslims are fanatical terrorists, with people chastising Jews who are not orthodox (I heard it on NPR this morning), and with agnostics and aetheists and Pagans who pretty much have to STFU especially around the holidays or they might end up in some kind of camp. Sick of religious messages on the intercom, sick of hearing carols, sick of hearing about people's extracurricular religious activities as if I'm interested. Sick of every politicial thinking he or she has to be religious or "God" forbid they should hold public office. Sick of having every foreign person bring up how religious this country is and especially people who believe their "god" is the only one, regardless of their religion. I would be willing to believe in and follow a God if there were no religions and if they didn't war against each other.

Posted by: DiAnne at December 22, 2006 08:06 PM

TOTALLY agree with you!!!!!!!!!!!

I've gotten to the point where my eyes glaze over in boredom whenever the subject is mentioned, and worse yet, it's mentioned on the "news"!

Sheesh.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061222/ap_on_bi_ge/exxon_valdez

Court cuts Valdez judgment against Exxon

SAN FRANCISCO - A federal appeals court on Friday cut in half a $5 billion jury award for punitive damages against Exxon Mobil Corp. in the 1989 Valdez oil spill that smeared black goo across roughly 1,500 miles of Alaskan coastline.

See link for more.

Bush, Asleep In The Bunker
By David Corn
Here's the bad news: Bush is in a hole and he will keep on digging.
http://tinyurl.com/ymgtn9

nice level-headed stuff from Keith Ellison

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/21/the-lone-muslim-congressman-speaks-out/

I used to want a more socially-responsible federalist-oriented country and was pretty much against the states' rights idea. However, now I think regional values can be used to make progress. Urban Minneapolis elected Ellison. Who the hell elected Goode?! & why?!

Posted by: DiAnne at December 22, 2006 08:06 PM

I couldn't put it better, DiAnne.

Happy Winter Solstice to you up there and Summer Solstice to all of us down here.

Gates Disses the Troops & the American People

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/earlywarning/2006/12/gates_disses_the_troops_and_th.html?nav=rss_blog

This guy makes Gates sound as bad as Rumsfeld. Depressing.

A friend pointed this out:

As of today the amount of dead US soldiers in Iraq is 2,964.
http://www.icasualties.org/oif/BY_DOD.aspx

The death toll on 9/11 was 2,973.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9/11#Fatalities

This is a difference of 9 people.

At the current rate, the amount of Americans killed in the Iraq War, (which we won, btw), and Occupation, (which we can never win), will pass the 9/11 death toll somewhere between our Winter Solstice, Christmas and/or New Year's, if not sooner, say by Hanukkah, Festivus or Kwanzaa.

This guy makes Gates sound as bad as Rumsfeld. Depressing.

Posted by: DiAnne at December 22, 2006 09:59 PM

From the day I first heard of Gates and asked questions here, I believed that if he was Bush's choice, then he had to be Rumsfeld's clone. And ........ sure enough.

The Chanukah lights-plus are burning down. We added several other candles too, for immigrants and soldiers and peace and wisdom.

Richard is in the basement, looking for the lights for the Christmas tree, which are missing. We reorganized the basement and now...

But the house is warm and the thoughts here are rational and aware and vigilant and it seems possible, tonight, that the truth will set us all free.

great wishes for all Karen

But the house is warm and the thoughts here are rational and aware and vigilant and it seems possible, tonight, that the truth will set us all free.

Posted by: karen at December 22, 2006 10:18 PM

Karen,

I agree it does somehow seem possible that the truth will set us all free. I have hope. A change seems to be afoot. And yes we must all remain vigilant!

I'm heading down to New Orleans on Tuesday to help reconstruct for a few days. That's a story that has been mostly forgotten, but is still unbelievably awful. The collective memory is so short.

I'm looking forward to the break in routine, to seeing that great city for the first time, and to being re-energized and re-dedicated to the cause. And I'm looking forward to doing something good and tangible to help a few people get their lives back.

Good luck finding those lights, and here's hoping they actually work once you plug them in!

Carol
The collective memory is so short.

Yes that is so true! I heard Democracy Now tonight & I'm looking for a book on the history of rum - apparently it was the oil of the 1800s and led to all sorts of violence and mayhem, only the arena was the Caribbean rather than the middle east, and most of the outside agitators were players like Britain and France. We now repeat their pattern.

The author (who writes for The Nation) also spoke of Kofi Annan and Ban, the new UN Secy Genl - with an overview & expectations. Just to hear him speak about what happened in the Balkans and in Rwanda in the decade before this convinced me how short memories are. East Timor. & selective perception. Sudan even now. Amazing.

Bush's winning ways come to an end
Michael Gawenda, Washington
December 23, 2006

TAKE a look at photographs of George Bush two years ago, just after he won a second term. Then take a look at this week's photographs at his end-of-year press conference at the White House. All presidents and prime ministers age in office, but Mr Bush looks as though he has aged a decade or more.

The swagger is gone. The straight-backed, square-shouldered strut that suggested a sort of optimism — and, to some people, an unreflective self-confidence — has disappeared.

Instead, as he started to read his speech to the assembled media, Mr Bush's shoulders were hunched, his face gaunt, his smile an effort of will, a desperate attempt to hide what has become obvious: Iraq has ravaged him personally and politically.

In the book State of Denial, journalist Bob Woodward quotes Mr Bush telling White House officials that even if only his wife Laura and his dog Barney supported him, he was determined to pursue victory in Iraq.

Listening to his press conference, it seemed likely that even Laura and Barney have given up on the idea of victory. Mr Bush, with two years of his presidency left, is politically isolated, with Republicans and Democrats distancing themselves from him as he struggles to devise a new strategy to deal with an Iraq that most observers agree has descended into chaos.

Mr Bush is no longer kidding himself or the American people that America is winning in Iraq. It was only a month or so ago, before the mid-term elections, that he insisted there was no doubt that victory was inevitable and that only a win for the "cut and run" Democrats in the mid-terms could lead to defeat.

That sort of talk went out the window when the Republican Party was thumped in the election and when, a couple of weeks later, the bipartisan Iraq Study Group released its long-anticipated report in which it described the situation in Iraq as dire and deteriorating.

The study group's 79 recommendations, which included a US-initiated regional conference on Iraq and an attempt to start talks with Syria and Iran, two of Iraq's key neighbours, have sunk without trace. Mr Bush has made it clear that he has no intention of seeking talks with Iran or Syria. He has also ruled out any chance of a withdrawal of US combat forces in the first half of 2007.

No one in Washington believes that the study group recommendations will be implemented and few believe that the US would get any joy from Tehran in particular from any diplomatic initiative while Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad remains convinced that America is seriously weakened as long as it is bogged down in Iraq.

Read More: http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/bushs-winning-ways-come-to-an-end/2006/12/22/1166290743229.html

Carol,

Thank you for going to New Orleans. That is illumination indeed. I know you will smile your beautiful smile and get right to work and people will feel better. I also know that you know how to be effective and to get stuff done!

Please tell anyone and everyone you meet there that so many of us care and are working to make sure such an outrage never happens again.

Woz
Enjoying the Australian articles - enjoy the perspective. It seems like a foregone conclusion that Iraq will undergo some sort of experimental "power surge" that the neocons have talked Bush into. Near as I can tell, the Americans will surround and control Bagdad, then the Iraqis are supposed to start controlling it from within. it sounds far too simplistic to work. Am really dreading it, have a feeling of foreboding. Saw a headline about insurgents offering a truce - any attempt like that is always laughed off. Saw a second headline about commanders in Iraq wanting the "surge." I think we're in the middle of a pre-surge propaganda blitz. They become easy to recognize.

You know what's scary? Lynne Cheney's children's books.

what is the political bent of the think tank from which the idea of the "surge" and larger military is coming from?

http://www.cfr.org/publication/12305/season_of_change_for_iraq_policy.html?breadcrumb=%2F

Is Iran off the table?!

Who'd gloat about it?
Shaun Carney
December 23, 2006
Page 1 of 3 | Single page

SINCE American voters handed control of the Congress to President George Bush's political opponents last month — making the failure of the invasion and occupation of Iraq even more difficult to deny — some of the most vocal advocates of that military adventure have adopted a new mantra.

This has replaced previous mantras, which include the pre-invasion likening of all sceptics to appeasers of Hitler in the '30s, the immediate post-invasion demands for all sceptics to apologise because the defeat of Saddam had taken only a few weeks and the 2004-05 insistence that occupied Iraq was really a good news story that a twisted media refused to report.

The latest mantra, now that it's clear the whole enterprise is a frightening mess, is: stop gloating. At first blush, this last-ditch attempt to stifle reason and dissent — after four years of accusing anyone with a different opinion of being a terrorist sympathiser — seems utterly ridiculous. The first time I saw it in print, accompanied by the declaration that the pretext used for going into Iraq was now irrelevant and did not warrant discussion, I did wonder whether I had entered some sort of comic-book bizarro world.

But on another level, the "stop gloating" admonition does make some sense, because the truth is that a cock-up of this scale was not foreseen; few opponents of the war could ever have imagined that the occupation would have gone this badly. That the US-led coalition would get bogged down — sure, there were predictions of that.

But the death counts contained in the accompanying graphic (above), taken from new figures released by the Pentagon, are almost beyond belief. After all, this was the world's most powerful country taking over a relatively piddly nation run by a nut who was hated by many of his fellow citizens. America had to have had a plan for the occupation, and not just a plan, but a good one, backed up by several other plans that could be pulled out if the previous one didn't work.

Turned out there was only one plan, which has produced a disaster. And America has the great misfortune to be led by a man unburdened by imagination and creativity, and possessed of a powerful capacity to avoid reality.

Thus most of this year has been devoted to word games: whether or not Iraq was caught up in a civil war; whether or not it was a quagmire; what "winning" and "losing" meant. Meanwhile, thousands upon thousands of Iraqis and Americans and British have died.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/whod-gloat-about-it/2006/12/22/1166290741946.html

I found this article gave me a more positive view of Christmas than I've had for many years. Several examples. Differing views. Other religions. Why on earth are we being so hateful?

Just give us the gifts
For many countries and different faiths Christmas has become an excuse to catch up with family, to give and receive gifts and
December 23, 2006

Ed O'Loughlin, Beirut
LEENA Saidi put up her decorations two weeks ago, and her Beirut apartment is a riot of plastic Santas and wire angels. Fairy lights and glass balls glint in the tree behind the couch.

Outside cold air is washing down off the Mount Lebanon range, the snow a little late this year, and a big fire is burning in the grate.

Saidi's 11-year-old daughter, Sarah, is talking about the big day ahead.

"I like it because there's no school," she says. "I do believe in Santa.

"Every year I cook biscuits and leave milk for him. I leave out carrots for the reindeer … I never saw Santa but once I saw my mother arranging presents, I don't know for who, but then I fell asleep."

The interesting thing about this otherwise typical festive scene is that Saidi and her two daughters, Sarah and Zalfa (14), aren't even nominally Christian. They are Muslims, born into the same stern Shiite faith that produced Hezbollah.

This, however, is not the stony hills of south Lebanon but cosmopolitan Beirut, for all its feuds and squabbles the only Middle Eastern city where different religions still co-exist on more or least equal terms. The result — among educated well-heeled Beirutis at least — is quite a lot of cross-cultural window-shopping.

"I do all the festivals," says Saidi, a wellknown Beirut journalist.

"Anything for a party. We mark the Muslim holidays like Eid el-Fitr (the end of Ramadan), and we celebrate Christmas, and because my ex-husband (the girls' father) is Druze we have their feast days as well."

The only thing missing from the family's Christmas decorations is actual religious iconography — no mangers or shepherds here. But then many Westerners have learned to dispense with these as well.

"We've never done the actual nativity scene, which I suppose is because in Islam Jesus is a prophet but he's not the son of God," Saidi says.

Celebrating Christmas as a purely secular family holiday may be no great stretch for Saidi, who spent most of her early life in England, but her daughters, although pupils at a posh Beirut Western school, are both being brought up in Islam.

"A lot of people from my generation of parents who are secular are teaching their children more about religion than they learned themselves," she explains. "When you're living in a place where religion is so important you have to be equipped to at least discuss it."

So for her daughters it is important to seek out some spirituality among the tinsel and the turkey.

Read more:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/just-give-us-the-gifts/2006/12/22/1166290740206.html

Posted without the obscenely profane rant occuring in my brain...:

US Plans "Test" of Military Draft
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122306Z.shtml
The Selective Service System is making plans to test its draft machinery in case Congress and President Bush need it, even though the White House says it doesn't want to bring back the draft.

Posted by: woz at December 23, 2006 01:16 AM

Good article.

With this author, as with so many others here and in the UK who write about Herr Boosh, I have to quibble about one thing.

They write from the angle of projecting on to him a characteristic he does NOT have: a conscience. They miss that one every time.

The only thing driving Herr Boosh is his will to exercise his power and control over other people. He's a mean, controlling, vicious little egomaniacal cretin, and he's made sure nothing and no one has stood in the way of his climb to dictatorial power. He's been aided and abetted by Cheney behind the scenes, and he's another one of the same ilk and he knows how to flatter the maniac who gets all the face time on TV.

But human emotion and compassion are far beyond the grasp of the power-mad "leader" of this nation; he's just incapable of feeling anything because he lacks a conscience. It's why he sleeps so well at night and is not bothered by insomnia for the criminal acts he's responsible for. He truly feels "justified" in what he's doing to this nation and the world. If he possessed a conscience, none of the horrors of the last six years would have occurred.

That's what authors (and spinmeisters who try to explain him and his words) who have a conscience fail to see in Herr Boosh... he has no conscience; and that being the case, the only sensible recourse we should take is to get him out of office as soon as possible before he brings about further disaster to the world. He's capable of anything now that he has dictatorial powers from the MCA '06.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200612220013
Most outrageous comments of 2006

Posted by: NonnyO at December 23, 2006 09:40 AM

Here are 4 points made by a liberal on another blog I frequent about the draft. I believe that we would not be in this war if we had a draft.

***

1) Military service is an opportunity for everybody to serve together, regardless of education, background and social status. It's useful, for instance, for people who have never met a Jew to serve in a unit with a Jew or two. And it's also useful for Jews to serve in units with people who've never met a Jew. Same thing for Phi Beta Kappas and vocational high school graduates.

2) Military ideals of honor and unit loyalty are admirable. I apologize to no one for not serving in Vietnam, but I do wish I had served.

3) I can't prove this, but I think that if there were a draft, there would be more Democratic vets and we'd have more credibility in military affairs. Kirk talks nonsense, but that nonsense nonetheless gets respect because he's a vet. Think of the Webb-Allen race. Who else but Webb could have said what he did at the WH reception for incoming Sens and Reps? Rangel promotes the draft as a Silver or Bronze Star decorated draftee.

"JFK was a rich man's son who was drafted and served as a PT boat commander, the kind of unit that gave a young combat officer maximum freedom of operation. Nixon had a safe desk job. Everybody knew the difference. Nixon was on defense on national security issues in ’60. That's what really drove him crazy about Kennedy."

4) Not everyone drafted would serve in the military, and not just because draftees would opt out of military service. We don't need all of them in the military. Think of a cadre of young people helping to rebuild Louisiana & Mississippi. Yes, there are labor issues, and I'm pro-union, but these are solvable problems.

War is horrible. From a political POV, it means diplomacy has failed. Perhaps Clinton and GHWB made diplomatic mistakes in the Balkans and certainly with Saddam before he invaded Kuwait, but those conflicts seemed to me to be positive applications of military force. I can't think of a single arm of the government that Bush hasn't screwed up. Only Republicans look at that record and say, see, the government shouldn't do that.

The military personnel shortage is much more severe than most reports indicate. There are now hundreds of thousands of mercenaries in Iraq drawing paychecks from companies like Dyncorp, Blackwater, and that old reliable, Halliburton. They're doing work that should be performed by uniformed military operating within the chain of command. Depriving presidents of an effective military force won't keep idiot presidents from behaving like idiots.

Posted by: madame defarge at December 23, 2006 10:16 AM

With or without a draft, Bu$hCo's invasion and occupation of Iraq is still a war crime and illegal under the Geneva Conventions, and since Congress did not vote for the war, it's unconstitutional. Lamestream Media spinmeisters and pundits sold us the war under the propagandistic aegis of threats, and ridiculed anyone who questioned The Decider's arrogant and erroneous judgment.

Diplomacy is not in DimWit's lexicon. He as much as ordered the UN inspectors out of Iraq so he could order the invasion when he wanted to. He and his administration were planning this war long before 9/11 occurred, remember. That remains the single most fortunate day in the residency of Herr Boosh. To date, the administration refuses to use any other diplomacy than Herr Boosh's "do it my way or no way."

I think they'll bring back the draft one way or another (with or without Congress bribed into voting for it, since MCA '06 gives DimWit dictatorial powers), mouthing platitudes of protest all along. The only thing to be decided is how the salaries of the military personnel will be paid. Our treasury is already bankrupt, the current illegal war is being paid with 'emergency spending bills' and unless the tax breaks for the very wealthy few and the obscenely rich corporations are reinstated, there's no way to pay the salaries of any people drafted into the military; the only other option is to further tax the middle-class and poor people (which is the more likely option, since the wealthy and the corporations will want to be keeping their money and profits).

We're stuck between a rock and a hard place, it's a lose-lose situation, and the only "winners" in this insane game is Herr Boosh, his criminal cabal of an administration, and his wealthy corporate cronies. The rest of us peons are just expendable pawns as long as he's got all the dictatorial power and no one stops him.

I apologize to no one for not serving in Vietnam, but I do wish I had served. (from above article)

Huh?

NonnyO
Terrorism is an international threat. It's not right for Bush to control a so-called "global war on terror" just to protect American (economic/rich people) interests. It should have been an international decision (what to do) with consensus, after 9/11, even though it happened on US soil. US should belong to the World Court. He's out of control & few people even notice, or worse, they agree about the scope of his King's role.

I should think that people whose family members died in Bali, Madrid and the London subways would question whether the idiocy of going into Iraq made these deaths more likely, not less.

It's amazing how easily people sacrifice life (their own or others') for some cause they get talked into (religious or political) - a little brainwashing and they're on a mission!

The Race for Iraq's Resources
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122306Y.shtml
The Iraqi government is considering a new oil law that could give private oil companies greater control over its vast reserves. In light of rampant violence and shaky democratic institutions, many fear the law is being pushed through hastily by special interests behind closed doors.

DiAnne -

Yep. "A little brainwashing" - facilitated by Lamestream Media spinmeisters being the propaganda mouthpieces - and voila! - a war... all to get at Iraq's oil reserves, and I notice they're trying to rush the Iraqis into signing oil agreements ASAP (only one Iraqi PM had even read them), and all taking place behind closed doors... a tactic we're all too familiar with from the last six years under this dictator's thumb.

I am so heartily sick of it all, watching all this happen, listening to virtually all politicians mouth the same platitudes to appease the dictator and his evil minions. After all this time, I'd have thought they'd be on to the dictator's methods of coercing their "bipartisan cooperation" by now and have learned to deconstruct his outright lies..., but no. They have just continued to appease the dictator, giving him everything he has ever asked for, demanded, coerced, or bribed them into.

We've been watching the dismantling of our republic piecemeal, right before our eyes. Disgusting beyond belief.

I couldn't agree more with the writer. The new controversy in my area is the draft. Several Democrats are in favor of the draft seeing it as a way to bring the reality of this war home to more people. While I don't disagree with them and believe the burden of this war needs to be distributed more equitably, I also want folks to remember how we got here in the first place as the republicans are going to blame the Democrats for the draft. This might sound terrible of me, but I cannot help thinking, after having walked precinct after precinct in very wealthy neighborhoods last Oct and Nov, that while some of the richest will always be able to buy their kids way out of the draft, I'd like to see the looks on the faces of those folks who slammed doors in my face, refused my lit, and voted for the warmonger Kirk all because they wanted to insure the end of the "death tax", keep their tax cuts and prevent the raising of the minimum wage, when their kids get that notice in the mail.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061223/ap_on_re_mi_ea/un_iran_nuclear
Security Council approves Iran sanctions
UNITED NATIONS - The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Saturday to impose economic sanctions on Iran for refusing to end a uranium enrichment program that the United States says is aimed at building nuclear weapons. Iran immediately rejected the resolution.

{{{See link for more. Deja vu....}}}

Read a headline a bit ago about how a top Taleban official had been killed. Now he's referred to as a top Bin Laden associate. The number of attacks in Iraq are being suppressed, because that's "loser" data. The enemy kill data are going to be released now, as that's "winner" data. I am glad I have not become morally degraded enough to rejoice when someone is purposely killed. That's just sick.

NonnyO
Well in the 18th century, instead of being all about oil in the middle east, it was all about sugar and rum in the Caribbean. The players have changed but it's never about ideology (such as establishing democracy - for people who don't want it) but for control of resources by the upper class in the richest countries. They can pretend otherwise all they want but some of us won't fall for it.

The neocons are always going to want to take on the whole "axis of evil" - they are looking forward to global war as they can actually profit if they own the right stocks. W is not the only one lacking a conscience. It's a whole band of psychopaths.

Al Quaida's moving into the Horn of Africa and we're not doing much about it - not as much oil there probaby.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/16301743.htm

Posted by: DiAnne at December 23, 2006 02:34 PM

True.... Kind of like that balance of power struggle spoken of in 1984; no one gains, no one loses, it's just perpetual war. It's all about the resources, whatever those resources are. This time it just happens to be oil.

I notice there's still no huge push by US politicians to encourage research and development into alternative energy sources, and in this country only Al Gore is talking about global warming and the environment.

If I were a politician, instead of trying to gain control of the oil, I'd have done an end run around someone else's control of the oil and pushed for viable and cheap alternative energy sources. Oil would only be one source of energy, not the main source.

But I don't think like a politician; I think of alternative and viable solutions to known problems and that's not what politicians do.

Ann Wright | Five Years of Infamy: Close Guantanamo!
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122306A.shtml
"On January 11, 2002, the first detainees from Afghanistan arrived at the prison in the US Naval Base, Guantanamo, Cuba. In the succeeding five years, Guantanamo has symbolized to the world the Bush administration's abandonment of international and domestic law, and the development of a policy of inhumane treatment and use of torture. These claims have been linked to military and CIA operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and in an unknown number of secret prisons. More than 775 detainees have been held in Guantanamo since January 11, 2002. After five years, no Guantanamo detainee has been convicted of a criminal offense," says Colonel Ann Wright (Retired).

Generals: More Troops Needed in Iraq
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122306B.shtml
Top US military commanders in Iraq have decided to recommend a "surge" of fresh American combat forces, eliminating one of the last remaining hurdles to proposals being considered by President Bush for a troop increase, a defense official familiar with the plan said Friday. The approval of a troop increase plan by top Iraq commanders, including General George W. Casey Jr. and Lt. General Raymond T. Odierno, comes days before Bush unveils a new course for the troubled US involvement in Iraq.

{Anyone besides me wonder what prompted the generals now to "decide" to recommend a surge in troops? Extra ships have already been sent to the Gulf. I wonder how long it will be before we find out that this "surge" has been planned since long before election day...? I wonder how long it will be before The Decider decides Iran isn't complying with sanctions, and hey, he 'conveniently' has ships with extra troops and extra ground forces in the region, so why not invade Iran, too...? This whole set-up is so transparent, it's beyond pathetic. I wonder if the sheeple will "decide" to believe the brainwashing propaganda this time around...?}

VIDEO | Jason Leopold: Army Targets Truthout for Subpoenas in Watada Case
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121306J.shtml
In a case that cuts right to the heart of the First Amendment, a US Army prosecutor has indicated he intends to subpoena Truthout Executive Director Marc Ash, a Truthout reporter, and two of the nonprofit news organization's regular contributors, to authenticate news reports they produced and edited earlier this year that quoted an Army officer criticizing President Bush and the White House's rationale for the Iraq War.

They write from the angle of projecting on to him a characteristic he does NOT have: a conscience. They miss that one every time.

Posted by: NonnyO at December 23, 2006 10:01 AM

Yes, you're right Nonny. Thankfully, from the media of Oz and other countries, journalists aren't inundated with Bush faux pas as they happen. With the southeast of Australia on fire, I'm surprised that we get any other news. Especially from Melbourne as almost half the state was ablaze at one point.

I do find their articles are fairly condemning of the Bush catastrophe that is Iraq.

NonnyO
I think after what we went through with the invasion of Iraq in 2003, we know darn well that whatever they will do now they have decided on months ago. This weighing of information is alot of posing.

The only injustice here is that the Howard Government knowingly ignored all warnings from around the globe that it was happening. Perhaps some personal kickbacks to those at the very top.

Iraqis sue AWB for $225m
Jason Koutsoukis
December 24, 2006

Other related coverage
Iraqis sue AWB for millions
AWB kickbacks tax deductible
AWB loses wheat export monopoly
AWB dodges tax on kickbacks
US suspends AWB over kickbacks

CRIPPLED Australian wheat exporter AWB faces a massive damages payout of up to $255 million to the people of northern Iraq over its role in the oil-for-food kickbacks scandal.

A lawsuit on behalf of the people of northern Iraq was filed in a US court late on Friday against AWB and French bank BNP Paribas.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/iraqis-sue-awb-for-225m/2006/12/23/1166290790413.html

Woz
I try to get a little fresher perspective by not watching television news and by reading as much English-language foreign press as I can get my hands on, then comparing with our newspapers. I like public and low-power radio in my car. With our media consolidation and filtering, it's good to see a gradually more sophisticated consumption pattern by people here. Many depend on political comedy shows, blogs and alternative radio such as Air America but I don't really like to see people use them as primary sources. It's a start and beats apathy though.

That's me too, DiAnne. TV news is SBS (Independent news coverages from all over the world - not always in English though). Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) television provides the very best radio programs. Living alone helps. It doesn't matter if I lose the remote, I've only got 2 stations that I watch.

I choose the Age newspaper, even though Victoria is not my home state. The Age is the best newspaper, with the best press journalists, here in Australia. I'm pleased to have it available online, and that it's updated often.

And now, of course, I'm directed by DCPers to relevant articles from all over the place. So thanks folks.

re. 2K6 Republican election defeats: It's all Elizabeth Dole's fault... and here we thought the citizens were sending a message
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GOP turns anger on campaign committee
Yahoo news item: http://tinyurl.com/yn5ngw

Narrowly defeated in his bid for a fourth term, Montana Sen. Conrad Burns turned his anger on the National Republican Senatorial Committee and commercials it had run months before the election.

"The ads hurt me more than they helped. I wouldn't have spent the money," he said, his comments characteristic of the season of second-guessing now unfolding among Republicans.

[snip] ...among Republicans, long-hidden tensions are spilling into view, with numerous critics venting their anger at the GOP Senate campaign committee headed by North Carolina Sen.
Elizabeth Dole.

In recent interviews, officials said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., as well as Ken Mehlman, the party chairman, set up outside checks on the committee at critical points in the campaign.

As early as last summer, Mehlman signaled he lacked full confidence in Dole's committee. In an unprecedented move, he set up an independent entity to control more than $12 million that the
Republican National Committee spent for television advertising in Ohio, Tennessee and Missouri...

Woz
I've been reading The Age and The Guardian (UK) and often the Independent (UK) since 9/11/01. I didn't turn on the tv - I thought - wow - I must seek something more in the English language, since I'm limited to reading mostly in that. There are sometimes good things in the Canadian papers too. In US I mostly hit Google news and read various versions of stories, but of our local papers, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer is more liberal than the Seattle Times. I'm just pleased they haven't been completely combined.

I'll ask some questions now and come back later to see if I have an answer or two.
1. What are the basic principles of Liberal people in America re social justice, environment, education, health for all and other principles that I can't think of?
2. Which party represents the Liberal point of view?

In Australia and the UK, the Liberal Party is the one which fosters the wealth of the super wealthy and wants more working hours from the poorest.

The Labor party in Australia and the UK represents the underdogs, the minorities, and has strong adherence to workers' rights, supports unionism, free education, free health and dental work for low income earners, aged pensions.

I was shocked when Tony Blair (Labor) went to war. I was not shocked that Howard did (Liberal). I'd have expected no better.

I seem to have a different definition for the term Liberal. In Australia, we see the Republicans as the Liberal lot - because of our own input through the years. Apparently that is not so with American definitions.

A very confused woz

The Muslims are coming, The Muslims are coming
http://www.arabamericannews.com/newsarticle.php?articleid=7124

News tonight really full of propaganda - psyching people up to accept Iran sanctions, "surge" into Iraq, that a Bin Laden "associate" was killed and more.

Woz
Traditionally our parties were flip flopped. They've sort of reversed roles over the time our country's been evolving. Now a Liberal/Progressive is like you would call Labor (or Labour) there.
The Republicans here are considered Conservative, although Bush violates their usual value of fiscal conservatism by being a deficit spender.

That may be confusing but that's pretty much how its interpreted here. Liberal to Conservative is kind of like left to right. Then there is the pole of Populist to Authoritarian.

http://www.politicalcompass.org
If you take this simple test, you could see how you would come out if you were an American.

I understood Labour in the UK to be kind of the middle moderate party, with the LibDems being more like the progressive or leftmost party, then the Tories as conservtive. Tony Blair kind of blew that by hanging with Bush. Now I hear that the head ballerina for the Nutcracker is a member of the National party which is fascist-like anti-immigrant, kind of like the National Front in France. It's not going over too well!

Here is a wacky history of the political party system of the United States. We have just narrowly escaped (maybe) becoming a one-party system, I think!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_the_United_States

Third parties are a joke here. They carry no real clout and recent elections have been so close between the two major parties that third parties were viewed as spoilers, whose entrance into the race actually helped the Republicans by splitting the vote.

This is interesting - we have to take this country back!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_party_strength_in_U.S._states

Hunh. According to the Political Compass, yr hmbl otr crspndnt is slightly to the lower left of Mahatma Gandhi.

Okay, I guess I can live with that.

:0)