The Command T.O.C.

A News Round-Up

Here is a brief, early morning, news Round-up this Saturday morning:

1. Apparently, President Bush supports the punishment handed down to a victim of Gang Rape in Saudi Arabia. In being asked  if the White House has any statement on this, they invoked the "it is a sovereign nation" rule (The "Prime Directive" for you Star Trek fans). I wish they had thought of that when they invaded Iraq. Of course, they did nothing when it was clear Saudi Arabia was far more behind the attacks of 9/11 than Iraq was.
2. Juan Cole has a well written summary which also, unfortunately, includes a link to the report that upwards of 20,000 veterans may have brain damage. This is not being formerly counted by the DoD or Veterans Affairs as combat injury.
3. Richard Roberts, son of Oral Roberts resigned as the President of Oral Roberts University under a cloud of issues including sexual misconduct of his wife and massive misappropriation of funds. This does not surprise me. Ever notice that those who are outwardly so religious tend be overcompensating for a not too religious lifestyle (Baker et al).
4. President Hugo Chavez and President Bush may be far more alike then not alike. Chavez made a speech claiming that anyone who votes against his proposals to change the constitution is and will be marked, a TRAITOR. Sound familiar? Sure does to those of us against the war. Must feel like Chavez is President of the United States to a great man like John Murtha.
5. In an article about the transformed Baghdad, Bush proves that with 160,000 troops you can somewhat secure Baghdad. So, what else is new? We told him that in 2004 and he said we were traitors for speaking out against his plan (i.e. Chavez). He fired the General (Shinseki) who told him that. All this proves is that, for security reasons, the ones opposing his plan were right all along. The key question is whether anything has really changed so when we leave we do not leave behind chaos.
6. The plummeting dollar, thanks in part to our deficit and our lack of standing in the world due to Bush policies has now led into talk of removing the US Dollar as the World's "reserve" currency. This is a very big deal. If the dollar is not the reserve currency then no one will finance our debt. Who will we sell our debt to? Can you say "rising interest rates and a stagnant economy?

Well, that is all I can take for now... tata!!

 

News and Blog Round-Up

Here is what I am reading this morning:

1. Military members vote with their money and suprisingly, the winning candidates are both ANTI WAR candidates.
2. This place is not worth one more soldier's life. A good blog entry about what soldiers really think.
3. Last week it looked like the UAW would reject the Chrysler contract. However, it appears the UAW is a bit afraid of what the new ownership would do if they rejected the contract. They approved it.
4. Fred Thompson's campaign is closing up due to laziness.
5. You know you are the front runner when everyone's campaign (Both Republican and Democrat) talks only about you (Yes, everyone talks about Hillary)

News and Blog Wrap Up

Here is what is in the news:

1. The United States Forces, now right in the middle of a full blown civil war, finds itself choosing sides. Now, it is trying to be more balanced which appears to give credence to the idea of full sectarian civil war. They are trying to ensure it does not appear they are favoring one side or the other in this civil war. Unfortunately, they find themselves right in the middle between two factions who have been fighting for thousands of years. Not a good place to be.
2. The Supreme Court ruled that Universities which take public money must allow military recruiters on campus to recruit. I have no problem with that.
3. In the war which Dadmanly says is under control nicely, there was an incident where a top Iraqi General was killed. Since Dadmanly said that the Country did not fall into chaos and was nicely controlled there has been probably 1,300 deaths or more. In the words of Leslie Nielsen, "There is nothing to see here.. nothing is going on.. go back to your homes.." Austin bay Blog agrees with Dadmanly that 1300 killed and counting does not constitute a civil war. Amazing. These are our "military minds"? Again, the right wing nut ruling party are concerned about what the definition of "is" is. I am sure they have some technical reason why two groups of people blowing themselves up and killing each other is not "technically" civil war but then again, who really gives a F**k? We have two sides who have been killing each other for years and are continuing to kill each other on either side and the US military dead in the middle ... kind of like the game "monkey in the middle".
4. "And then there were none" and the coalition of the willing ends up to be the United States and most likely Moldavia. Britain sets a timetable and says they will be completely out by 2008. Either we are going to abide by that timeline or we will be the last ones standing. Again, helicopters on the roof seem familiar?
5. Andi's World says that Senator Harkin is part of the "cut and run" crowd since he has called for a withdrawal of troops. Read above. Guess Tony Blair is a cut and run person as well. Of course most of the conservative leaders don't have to worry about cutting and running since most never went there to begin with. Like George Bush, they are Chickenhawks and are proud to send your soldier to die but refuse to go themselves or send their children.

Tracked back: Mudville Gazette,
 

The Military Will Continue To Pay for Print Stories in Iraq... and other tidbits

According to a the New Zealand Herald, Gen Casey has stated he will continue the "pay for press" operation in Iraq despite Congressional questions. Of course, in our own Country that is how it works as well as you remember the situation where the US Government paid Armstrong Williams to push the no child left behind act.

Why does it not amaze me that Bush's vision of a democracy is to have the Government take over the press? In related news, the US Government is now going after journalists who publish classified information. They are warning journalists they could be tried under espionage laws. So, the basic theory is this:

1. Put the fear of God into journalists that if they publish anything other than what the White House dog did today, they could be tried for espionage.
2. Take over determining what the American people see and hear by being in total control of what is classified (thereby controlling whether it can be published) and by paying journalists to print the stories they want.

It is not good enough that they control the White House, the Congress and now the Supreme Court, they also want to control the press. Very very dangerous and, for the right wing nuttery, the completion of the "Imperial Presidency" in eight short years. Lets have more hard hitting stories from Nancy Grace about the Aruba incident and less about what our Government is doing in Iraq. (Also Reported at Dailykos)

In other news, the Tillman investigation goes criminal (The Pat Tillman Foundation is a very good organization promoting leadership through action). So, lets assume this was a "planted" story from the Pentagon. It would have gone like this: Tilman's death was heroic as he "charged" the Taliban... oh, oops, no, it was just a bit of innocent friendly fire... oh.. oops no, it may have been a criminal act. Fred Schoeneman believes this is absolutely impossible and cannot be a murder. Well, I guess all the discussion of fratricide is just made up. But, I would go through with the investigation just to make sure.

Great, that is what I want my Government to be doing. I have enough problems with CBS News making up stories, I do not feed the full force of the US Government doing it.

British newspapers are reporting that all troops will be out of Iraq in early 2007 however, I find that highly unlikely and the Pentagon has denied it. If this were to happen, Bush would have to be dead and I doubt that will happen. I personally believe that the Pentagon is building permanent bases in Iraq and we probably should since war with Iran looks more and more real.

The Iraqi death toll continues for US soldiers. The statistics are revealing as there have been 2,297 US  deaths in the war and since Bush declared, and John Schoen confirmed on this website, that the war was over (5/01/03) the death toll has been 2,160 (Thank God the war was over). 16,742 soldiers have been wounded and since the election in 2005 which was supposed to be the beginning of the end of the insurgency, we have had 861 deaths of US soldiers. I have an idea! Lets declare the death count to be "classified" then we can prosecute anyone who publishes it!

Finally, My DD Blog (Direct Democracy) does a nice job of highlighting the corruption in the Republican Congress. We all know that Duke Cunningham is now gone away for what may be the rest of his life but there are more. Remember, absolute power absolutely corrupts.

Sunday Roundup

There is nothing nicer than a cool autumn day and here I sit in my family room, looking at the "glass wall" at the mighty oak trees which have turned color and are deep in the middle of dropping their leaves. A warm fire is going in the fire place and now is a good time for me to review the happenings of the week (As I also watch the Sunday News shows):

1. The Bubble is bursting! CNN reports today that the world's "best" real estate investor (The Warren Buffet of real estate) is dumping all of his holdings. As he said, "there are too many amateurs involved and like in Polo, amateurs can get you killed."
2. Wilma is starting to move out back over warm water and heading towards Florida. Keep track of it at Intellicast.
3. One of the best pictures I have seen in a long time was Tom Delay's Mug shot. One down and about 4 to go. My favorite "hit list" of mug shots I would like to see: Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and the Prez himself, George Bush. An interesting page provided by The Smoking Gun is a page of mug shots. It is fun!
4. The Stars and Stripes by way of Counterrecruiter agrees with me and puts to shame the argument of "The Big Muddy" and others who are saying that the recruiting numbers "were not that bad". Because of all the changes made in who is eligible (i.e., opening it up to a lot wider population. Mike Reilly, VP of Operations at The Center for Security Policy states, “You can’t compare these numbers to the ones from last year, because you have to understand what they did to get these new numbers,” he said. “They’ve really gone down more than just what the difference is.”
5. Despite the MILBLOGGERS desire to say all is OK in Iraq and we should trust them because "they are there", the data shows otherwise. Coming from A Soldier's Thoughts, Zack points us to a Reuters article which clearly shows 45% of all Iraqis support the attacks on US and UK soldiers. Hmmmm, sounds like a large amount of people think differently than the silly milbloggers lead us to believe.
6. Finally, today I am hoping the Packers take the crime infested Vikings down and that I go to 5-1-1 in my fantasy football league. GO PACK!

News Roundup - 4/16/2005

Here is a news roundup for today:

1. If airport security is truly no better than what it was before 9/11 then why the hell do I have to strip naked every time I get on the plane? I think there is some posturing going on. Can you say, Department of Homeland Security wants more money?
2. The US will most likely invade Pakistan now. Oh, wait, no, they helped us in the "GWOT". Ah, what are we to do. A Country ruled by a military dictatorship just arrested protesters wanting Democracy but yet that Country is vital in our GWOT. That ought to keep the MILBLOGGERS thoroughly confused for days.
3. Ron Gettlefinger, President of the UAW, refuses to reopen contracts with GM to discuss healthcare. Further, he supports smoking in the plants. Way to go Ron. Can you say, "Chapter 11" real slowly for the audience?
4. "I predicted it". The economy is slowing faster than most expected. We are now entering an interesting era. Higher inflation, lower productivity growth, high trade and budget deficits, higher interest rates, higher oil prices and we are in a war that we have no idea how to get out of. Redstaters will say: HEY, CAN'T WE ELECT THIS GUY FOR  A THIRD TERM!  People here are debating a return to "Stagflation".
5. US Military to expand the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy to Democrats. From now on, the US Military will expel anyone who makes it known they are a Democrat or may have Democratic leanings. "Only those who have the capability to turn off the impulse to think independently may serve in this man's military", said GEN Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Stuff. Ok, just kidding but he did affirm that gays are OK as long as they don't talk about it.
6. Army seeks ideas on how to improve the equipment. The US Army is seeking ideas from combat vets on how to improve its equipment. How about we start with the following: 1) Put armor on it. 2) Put ballistic glass in it. 3) Increase reliability 4) Ensure spare parts are immediately available. .... How many people are working on this idiotic project. Don't study... do it!
7. The Republicans and right wing nuts have finally found a model government they can endorse. In Ecuador, President Gutierrez dissolved the Supreme Court. Bush was overheard saying, "Why didn't I think of that"?

TTFN

News Roundup

News events and  Roundup before I head off:

• Rumsfeld makes a trip to Iraq. Rumsfeld went there because he is concerned about "Turbulence, Incompetence or Corruption in the new Iraqi Government. I guess what he is really saying is, "Don't be like us". (Turbulence, our faulty elections; incompetence, well that IS Rumsfeld; Corruption, can you say Tom Delay?)
• Rumsfeld turns into Jack Nicholson from the Shining (See Photo Below):
• Speaking of Delay: A fundraising technique was to actually solicit companies who would want certain legislation. One memo: "What companies that you know of would be interested in tort reform in Texas with asbestos problems that might support TRMPAC?" TRMPAC is a PAC for Texas Republicans. Quid pro Quo?
• Martha Stewart to remain couped up in her 15,000 square foot home (something like that)
• I think that there is a lot of trouble over at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Treasury Secretary John Snow and Greenspan commented on this which tells me there is a lot of trouble. Get ready for the failure of the century (As long as an auto company does not go first).
• In the spirit of the bizarre, Jewish leaders have asked Mormon leaders to scrub their "proxy baptism" database. Apparently, after Holocaust victims died, the Mormon leaders baptized them "in absentia".
• The Redstaters should love the BBC. In this report, they outline the opinions of 7 Iraqis who clearly are thankful for the British/US invasion and think things are good now. Right wingers, is the BBC part of the MSM? If so, then you will have to stop saying "They never report the good things..."
• The Post it Note is 25 Years Old.. Happy Birthday!!!