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The actual banner on the White House's official website from before the war started.
This past week, California Democratic Congressman Henry Waxman opened hearings into the waste and fraud of the Iraqi reconstruction from nearly the last four years. The first major attempt to account for billions that have gone missing and management practices that favored partisanship rather than professionalism.
The mere idea of a Truman-style committee on profiteering and waste within the nation's defense apparatus would, to the ordinary American, seem like a good idea.
Six days ago was the fourth anniversary of then-Secretary of State Colin Powell flushing his and America's credibility down the toilet before the United Nations Security Council. We are fast approaching the fourth anniversary of the initial invasion. (I remember staying up all night that first week, quietly in my dorm room during Spring Break.)
To think that the U.S. Congress is just now getting around to asking questions about large quantities of money that just mysteriously went missing and other nefarious dealings inside occupied Iraq, it is just appalling. Shame on the Republican-controlled Congress for ignoring their constitutional duties for so long.
That said, it should be noted that today, Sunday, February 11, 2007 marks the 1,400th day since President Bush stood in front of a banner declaring "mission accomplished," stating that "major combat operations in Iraq have ended" and that "[i]n the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed."
The first two days of the four day hearings were the main events. Rep. Waxman's opening statement can be found here. [PDF]
Last Tuesday, famed Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) administrator L. Paul Bremer [testimony - PDF] appeared before the Waxman-led Committee on Oversight and Goverment Reform, shoulder to shoulder with Stuart Bowen [testimony - PDF], Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR). [Crooks & Liars video here and here.]
The following day, family members of the four Blackwater USA employees killed nearly three years ago testified, as did representatives of private military corporations on the U.S. government's reliance on their PMCs.
Billions were sent to Iraq on pallets; shrink-wrapped into bricks. The $100 bills, 363 tons worth, were loaded onto C-130 cargo planes bound for Iraq.
Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central's The Daily Show took his shots at Bremer and lampooned Rep. Darrell Issa’s shameless attempt to minimize just how much money the CPA lost.
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My lucky day
almost a Fitz! Yikes.
Hi Matt–good to see you!
We’re gettin real close to the fourth anniversary of the actual brain dead invasion of Iraq.. Will Clusterfuck celebrate with a victory lap? How can he resist? I understand there’s an aircraft carrier just offshore in San Diego- how long would it take to fly a “Mission Accomplished” banner out there?
I thought the shots Jon Stewart took at the “waste and inefficiency” committee for having two websites and hotlines set up for whistleblowers to report waste and inefficiency were pretty funny too. Neither Waxman nor Davis came out well in that chapter.
Frankly, I was hoping for better from Waxman in his debut performance. Perhaps he’s been built up as the great hero in the white hat, and my expectations were too great. It seems to me he may be caught up in what he perceives as an embarassment of riches, and is unable to focus too clearly on a clear target. The American public is impatient for answers about this waste, fraud, and abuse. Bremer was presented in the press as having held his own, hardly an inauspicious start.
Seeking continued improvement from the gavel-holders, please.
rwcole @ 4
Newsweek reporting a third carrier battle group headed to the Persian Gulf soon — perhaps W can be persuaded to take his victory lap in the new War Zone?
Matt said: “Last Tuesday, famed Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) administrator L. Paul Bremer…”
I’m sure you meant infamous, didn’t you? *g*
Matt! You are fab. Are you going to yKos? If so, I would be glad to kick in some $$$ to support that.
It was disgusting to me to listen to the Republicans when their turns came to question Paul Bremer and Stuart Bowen. It was as though it was their responsibility to represent the corporate war profiteers and that congress was being all “monday morning quarterbacking” to question them at all.
Congress needs to hear us loud and clear that they represent us and we expect them to ask the hard questions about the missing billions and to get some of it back. And to bring accountability to those who misused and abused their positions. I too was disappointed by Waxman, but it will take many years to uncover and bring to account these crooks, so I’ll give him some time to do it.
I’d say that if the EYE RAINYUNS sink an aircraft carrier- we’ve got another hot one goin!!
GW Clusterfuck sailin all our big ol aircraft carriers up an down right in front of the Eye Rain Yun’s noses—thumbin his nose in their direction- sayin “bring it OOONNN!”
Yeah, Stewart was pretty funny taking those shots at the committee having two websites. What was Waxman thinking?
Oh, wait: Waxman, as the chair, set up a website, and then the Republicans, playing politics, set up a redundant one. That makes Waxman an idiot! Hee hee. He looks funny, too.
Stewart is funny as hell, but he’s a big believer in a Nader-esque ‘not a dime’s worth of different between the parties’ sort of faux-balance.
TeddySanFran — taking a pot shot at Waxman about two websites and phone numbers is really rather petty. What’s the cost? Cripe, in theory both the website and numbers should be overloaded with hits and calls, as much waste and fraud as there is. And the cost is puny, insignificant, meaningless; I can set up a site and phone number for less than 100 bucks. They would pay for themselves with the first call leading to a savings of that much.
Looks almost like the Pelosi dust-up, much ado about nothing.
Martians reportin back to headquarters on politics in the USA
“Apparently they take the weakest and dumbest of their kind and let him be their leader- then they pretend that he’s not an idiot for eight years–very strange people- I don’t recommend interbreeding”.
Waxman needs to uncover the most diabolical and destructive element of the Republican strategy in Iraq, namely, that systematic mismanagement of US taxpayer funds provided cover for rampant theft, in a way that 20 years of normal skimming and porkbarrel politics could not match.
GW Clusterfuck watchin Clint Eastwood movies- practicin fer his declaration of hostilities against EYE RON. “Make My Day” is comin right along- but he keeps forgettin the “day” part- White House workin ta shorten it!
I’m surprised they don’t have an open forum on that oversight website. It must have been an oversight.
We have a forklift at work but I’ve never seen money on it. We usually put our money in a bank bag. I imagine this money would have been marked and in chronological order, right?
Be funny if Bush switched it at the airport and sent the counterfeit to Iraq and the real money to Texas. (folding tin foil hat)
This is looking more and more like the catastrophe on the beaches of Gallipoli. A quagmire throwing tens of thousands of young men and women into a REAL “meatgrinder” (not a metaphorical on of having to sneak phone calls to Timmy Russert…ooooh…scary!)
In fact, the number of casualties killed in combat and wounded are rapidly approaching those suffered by the Australians on those Turkish beaches in that misguided campaign.
Which brings me to Australian PM John Howard decising that he needs to comment on how Barack Obama is an agent of al Qaida, and that the Democrats are “aiding the terrorists”.
Now, it’s interesting that Bush has said that he would no longer make aspersions like these about the patriotism of those that opposed his war policies. Then, an Australian (and no…not a media tycoon…but one who likely has Howard as his Pinocchio) begins to say just how un-AMERICAN opponents to this quagmire must be.
Howard once stood on those beaches where ten thousand ANZAC troops were told to make suicidal assaults on dug-in Turkish positions, ordered to “hold” ground against equally suicidal Turkish counterattacks. He made a speech discussing valor, heroism, and bravery…and never once piped up a word about how the Generals and politicians kept repeatedly sending these men to their deaths, or compelled them to hold a strip of sand and dirt while strategery after strategery failed to change the landscape.
He never mentioned the anger of the Australian citizenry at being ordered into such battles by the “POMMY BASTARDS”…an anger that led to a strong nationalist and pacifist movement in Australia and New Zealand. A movement that cemented Australian identity and resulted in their nationhood.
Howard spoke not a whisper about the human costs of war, the responsibilities of leaders to avoid quagmires perpetrated for political ends.
Eventually those generals and politicians realized that the political costs of another mindless assault on the beaches of the Dardenelles was too “politically” costly. Suddenly the idea that “this is a campaign that we HAVE TO WIN” faded from their rhetoric.
Barack Obama is quite correct. If Howard believes that Iraq is so critical then let Australian troops take up those roles of escorting Iraqi troops into Fallujah, Najaf, Baquba, and Sadr City.
America has paid the price of Gallipoli…we want our NATION back from the politicians and generals who say “one more charge lads”! “And one more…and another!”
Let Australia send their lads into rooms to check for militiamen, only to have that room explode, and dismember half the squadron.
Let the Australian military proudly demonstrate their valor, courage, and heroism…just as he said they did on the red sands of Gallipoli!
Hey Valley Girl–I’m going to YearlyKos.
PS: Expedia had a roundtrip ticket today for $122. Nonstop from Orlando to Chicago.
TeddySanFran @ 6
Ain’t the only heavy duty military hardware headed overseas:
The latest news has an “unexplained” delay in the twelve F-22s who have as of today returned to Hawaii. They had been scheduled to arrive this weekend at the U.S. Kadena Air Base.
Btw, it wouldn’t take too much tin foil to construct a “Okinawa” cover story while the F-22s then flew on to our supersecret Diego Garcia island airbase (and rendition/terrorist prison facility).
The US Diego Garcia island facilities have in the past been one of the primary ME basing locations for Stealth aircraft such as the B-2 and F-117.
Diego Garcia was used for these aircraft for both the Iraq War as well as the Afghanistan war. Good ol’ Iran is actually a bit closer to DG than Iraq.
Just sayin’…*g*
TSF
I think Waxman will get there, the hearings are just getting started. Part of the value of these hearings is to expose to the country that which has been done by the Administration and the lack of oversight by the previous Congress.
ccmask @ 19
I am still decidering/ dithering about that. But that’s a great airfare.
But, Matt O. was my “tribute” for last year’s yKos. I’ve been thinking about him, and wondering if he needed $$ help.
The one question Waxman could not get an answer to is a very important one. Why couldn’t they answer “How many contractors are in Iraq?”. You would think they would have this number easily available.
Here’s a report from the provinces.
Rudy G. appeared before the California State Kool-Aid drimkers and said “I’m a Kool-Aid Drinker Too! Just as much as McCain!”
http://www.news10.net/display_…..ryid=24323
Just some snippets (from the Sacramento Bee)
“Victory over Terrorism is the great moral issue of our time”
President Bush “is the kind of President I will want to be.”
“I think in a time of war you don’t talk about pulling out.”
“The worst casualties occur usually with retreating armies. I don’t know if it is productive to talk about timetables and pulling out the troops. You just create more jeopardy.”
Bush will “have a very, very strong place in history. President Bush made a decision to reverse the politics of the past. Where we had been on the defense against terrorism, he goes on the offense…We are going to see that as being a very wise, very brave decision that kept America safe.”
This man is either seriously delusional…or could be charged with public pandering and prostitution.
OT/
Those ugly, vile, unpatriotic scumbag Dixie Chicks are certainly doing well at the Grammys tonite!
The American people are voting in more ways than one!
Go Chix!
Where did everyone go? As far as Rudy, I don’t think he has announced he will run yet, did he? I guess he’s waiting for his past to catch up with him. I’m sure there are a whole bunch of stories out there. It’s going to be hard for Rudy to run on 911 and the war on Terror.
Valley Girl @ 23
I think that you should go. Surely everyone wants to meet you and have the opportunity to thank you, in person, for all you do for us here at the lake!
The Grammy’s is tonite?
I just put it on. I thought it was tomorrow nite.
These people put $5 billion in cash on planes and flew it to Iraq, and can’t tell you what happened to it.
Jesse James is green with envy. He definitely was doing it the hard way.
Oh, and on the Grammy front, Dixie Chicks’ “I’m not Ready to Make Nice” won for Song of the Year (beating, among others, the song “Jesus Take the Wheel”.)
Professor Foland @ 32
AND… Best COUNTRY Album. They are on their best behavior… no political comments.
Wow professor! That’ll show ‘em.
TeddySanFran @ 5
Yeah, kinda makes you want to sing that old Peggy Lee song, “Is That All There Is?”
rwcole @
4
Sounds like the perfect day for the nationwide public clamor for Impeachment rallies from sea to shining sea!
Professor Foland @
32
Ding!
carmen at 9 says:
I’d like to give him some time, too, but we don’t have many years. In my mind, the Dems are too slow getting off the dime. They really need to understand that the American people are losing patience with politicians–all of them. They need to fix our broken, narcissistic government. If Dems can’t be part of the solution, then they will be deemed part of the problem. They hesitate at their own peril.
“Any one have change for a ton?”…..Jon Stewart
lectric lady @
33
Actually this is kind of sad. So much for free speech in this country. Natalie refused to speak for Best Song. She was very PC for Best Album. It looked like she was really squelching herself.
As I said…. sad. I wish I could have my country back.
Ann in AZ says
“But Wait! There’s more…
Funny, I just got a robo-call from Issa asking if I supported the “surge” and if I thought we should pull out troops right away along with domestic questions.
This is a first. He’s feeling some heat, maybe?
Thanks, Matt.
Why in the world didn’t every Democrat who got a chance to sit in on one of the Sunday talk shows not use this info? They should have worked it into their appearance. Every single Democrat on the hill should be getting themselves to a microphone and/or a reporter to talk about how poorly this administration has managed our money in Iraq, and how the admin and the Republicans held no one accountable. The Democrats are in charge, and they will get to the bottom of this incompetence.
I think most Americans are not aware of how much of our freaking US taxpayer dollars has been completely mismanaged, given to completely incompetent companies, or has just disappeared into likely dangerous hands. Tens of billions of dollars.
Most people don’t know about the Baghdad Police Academy, built will millions of American dollars by an American company. The work is so shoddy that feces and other human waste pours out of plumbing and through the ceiling. They need to know.
The Republicans try to say that if we debate the merits of the war and the merits of escalating it, we’re demoralizing the troops and aiding the terrorists. Somehow, I think the missing $9 billion American dollars in Iraq, plus the huge caches of weapons we left unattended during our invasion (cuz we were busy protecting “our oil” for Exxon/Mobil and friends) aid the terrorists and insurgency much more. And all those IEDs and shot down helicopters are hurting troop morale. That, and having an idiot for a commander-in-chief, a man who will not listen to any sound military strategy from professionals who know what they are doing.
Ann in AZ @ 38
I’d like to give him some time, too, but we don’t have many years. In my mind, the Dems are too slow getting off the dime. They really need to understand that the American people are losing patience with politicians–all of them. They need to fix our broken, narcissistic government. If Dems can’t be part of the solution, then they will be deemed part of the problem. They hesitate at their own peril.
I want them to do more fast too, but I also see after watching the hearings that the layers of b*llsh*t are much thicker than your average onion. What really gets me is that Mitch McConnell is able to maneuver all around the dem’s. Makes me wonder why the hell the democrats didn’t know how to do it when we were in the minority.
I think we really do have to keep on their tails. I would like to have Bremer asked why one of his provisions demanded that Iraqi farmers had to buy seeds from corporate america. There is so much to be set right, and I am at least as impatient as you, but as Fitz is showing us “the wheels of justice grind slowly, but very finely”. (At least I think that’s about the right quote)
OT – but it seems everything is tied to everything else when it comes to this administration.
Did anyone know about this?!
Ex-Agent Ties Firing to CIA Pressure on WMD
Diary started over at DKos by Scout Finch.
Professor Foland @ 31
Yeah, apparently they forgot there is such a thing as pen and ink, and paper, and receipts, and ledgers, and bookkeeping, etc. ad infinitum.
Drudge (sorry) is reporting that Cheney will testify.
Anyone know anything?
I mean, besides Drudge being a closeted slimey putzwad.
I’m just askin’…
I’m just stopping by to mention something that may already have been covered earlier, but which is of such importance I wanted to mention it again.
This Herald Tribune article suggests that Cheney is likely be called as a witness in the Libby trial.
http://www.iht.com/articles/20…..cheney.php
My contempt for John Howard almost matches that for Short Ride. He is a smart and totally unprincipaled politician and always ready willing and able to play the race card.
Australia is still deeply racist in many areas and Howard won re-elction once by lying about refugees throwing their children in the water to elicit sympathy (a doctored photo showed the kids in the water – the undoctored photo showed that EVERYBODY was in the water, the overloaded boat was sinking fast.)
Howard talks big but Oz has all of 700 troops in Iraq, and those are all in the relative safety of the airport. He faces a tough re-election soon against a newly active opposition and immediately goes for a racist issue. With luck he’ll get dumped this time.
I hope both the opposition here and the democrats at home grow some serious spine and push back against this crap.
Wow Cinnamonape, how do you know so much about Australia? Your anger is so righteous!
Jebbus – good eye!
Thanks for the news, even though it scares me.
Mad Dogs @
21
carmen at 44 says:
See, Carmen, this is the part that bothers me a lot, too. I know we do a hell of a lot better job of governing, and that the Republic party (I love that!) makes a much better “loyal opposition”. But why is it they don’t seem to be as impotent as our guys claimed to be when they were in the minority? Why do they seem to be more adept at working the system to their benefit? And the other thing is, the reason I’m so impatient is, if they don’t start getting a lot farther a lot faster and a lot sooner, we will be in the middle of World War III. They’re going after Iran, we all know it, and there doesn’t seem to be much we can do about it.
Here is an excerpt from the Herald Tribune article which strongly hints at an upcoming appearance by Cheney on the witness stand for Libby’s trial.
From the LA Times:
CHANNEL ISLAND: Russert’s fault? A lack of outrage
The perjury and obstruction trial of “Scooter” Libby has unearthed Washington’s deeply cynical attitude toward “Meet the Press.”
By Scott Collins, Times Staff Writer
February 12, 2007
http://www.latimes.com/enterta…..es-entnews
Arianna is mentioned in this article.
Here is an excerpt from the Herald Tribune article which strongly hints at an upcoming appearance by Cheney on the witness stand for Libby’s trial.
“Now, as the defense phase of the perjury trial begins, Cheney is expected to make a historic appearance on the witness stand. It is an act of loyalty that carries considerable risk for Cheney.”
It sure would be nice to start moving toward impeachment proceedings for Spiro–Cheney.
Question Guy @ 47
This is all drudge has a this time, no more:
*xyz @ 56
I think that Cheney is egotistical enough to believe he can ‘handle’ Fitzgerald. That said, I don’t think Wells will let Cheney or Libby take the stand.
neokneme @ 41
“But Wait! There’s more…
Man, am I glad to see Hurricane Katrina oversight on that list. LIEbermann sure isn’t doing his job.
I don’t see anything new in the cheney articles – I think they are just based on the stuff from the beginning of the trial.
“Now, as the defense phase of the perjury trial begins, Cheney is expected to make a historic appearance on the witness stand. It is an act of loyalty that carries considerable risk for Cheney.”
Who knows the rules on what questions the prosecuter is allowed to ask on cross-examination?
Album of the year: DIXIE CHICKS!
Fuck the Bush Administration!
They’re still at it. The New York Times has another article on Iranian arms in Iraq. This one purports to be fuller but it is really a dog and pony show with bundles of inferences and most of the important questions left still unanswered. This one is written by James Glanz but the infamous Michael Gordon contributed, I’m assuming, the most breathless parts.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02…..r=homepage
Suzanne @ 61
I agree.
Ann in AZ @ 53
See, Carmen, this is the part that bothers me a lot, too. I know we do a hell of a lot better job of governing, and that the Republic party (I love that!) makes a much better “loyal opposition”. But why is it they don’t seem to be as impotent as our guys claimed to be when they were in the minority? Why do they seem to be more adept at working the system to their benefit? And the other thing is, the reason I’m so impatient is, if they don’t start getting a lot farther a lot faster and a lot sooner, we will be in the middle of World War III. They’re going after Iran, we all know it, and there doesn’t seem to be much we can do about it.
I hear you Ann and I think back to when Al Gore went out to play touch football with his family after the 2000 election and how it seemed that he couldn’t fathom the dirty tricks that were being played on him and us. He didn’t seem to understand the filthy cabal that was out to win at any cost. And I think that John Kerry was also playing by the rules of fairplay and got sandbagged. By the way I’m not defending Kerry.
And I’m terrified more for the Iranians than for us at this point. I think of the huge movement toward democracy that was in full swing in Iran when Bush was selected and how his policies in effect elected the current leader. I think of all the innocents who have nothing to do with these power and money hungry immoral leaders who will bomb them and lead us into WWIII. Russia and China will not just sit back and let us spend all our treasure in blood and resources without responding.
No, I am terrified too….and I want our leaders to stand up and do something that makes a difference. I am very encouraged after listening to Obama in his announcement speech and in his response to Howard. I hope he will embolden the other candidates and congress critters to speak out loudly as well.
fresh snark upstairs
Gore on the Grammy’s
le theropod is up-top
Isn’t it true, though, that if Libby wants to take the stand, Wells cannot stop him?
Lawyer: U.S. forces shot Michigan man
DETROIT – U.S. forces shot and killed a civilian contract truck driver from Michigan near an air base north of Baghdad, a lawyer for the man’s family confirmed Sunday.
Donald Tolfree, 52, of St. Charles, was a driver for KBR, a contracting subsidiary of Halliburton Co. He deployed to Iraq on Jan. 5 and was killed Feb. 5 at a checkpoint near Camp Anaconda.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..Mob8NI2ocA
Look what bureaucratic fresh hell the Iraqis have to deal with now. The “G” Nightmare…
http://blog.frombaghdadtonewyo…..b4ec9.aspx
Terre @ 65
I just can’t see him testifying. Three reasons:
1. His testimony can’t really help Scooter. I can’t see how he could provide information that would provide reasonable doubt that Libby is guilty of any of the charges.
2. He is highly unpopular. His testimony could remind the jury that Libby worked for a sneaky snake of a man, and make them even more likely to believe Scooter was trying to protect Cheney.
3. The very last thing the administration wants is Cheney on the stand. It will draw attention to this case by almost every American. The notion of the sitting VP testifying about scandal that goes directly to the OVP – scandal that they may have been taking dramatic lengths to lie to Americans about the “justification” for war – would be bad for the Admin.
Finally, I can’t help but question the source. My hunch is that Drudge would like nothing more than to get some attention, get a lot of liberals excited to simply stand back and watch them be disappointed that the rumor isn’t true.
TeddySanFran @
5
Waxman was really bad in front of the camera; makes me like him even more.
One reason we love Stewart is because he is equal opportunity, and progressives do like truth and fairness.
February 11th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
carmen at 66 says:
Well, I’m still a Gore person (he won that race, after all) and nobody has to worry about making excuses for Kerry to me, because I think he’s a much better man than Bush and his cronies can ever hope to be. I think it’s a shame that they derailed his race like they did when they swiftboated him. I still like him even if he does seem to have a habit of sticking his foot in his mouth. I do like Obama, but I think he still needs a lot of seasoning before he’s ready to take the highest office in the land, and I think we need Gore for his basic understanding of the Constitution and because he has the stature to change other countries’ opinion of us back to the good side, and to make the necessary adjustments to resolve some of the problems with global warming. Possibly Obama, or Howard Dean, or Feingold, or any other Dem but Lieberman for VP, if we survive that long.
LandOfTheFree @ 73
I agree with your points, but just wanted to let you know that Drudge wasn’t the only one to report the same snippet.
RawStory did as well with the same lead title. Not sure who was first though, as there is no time stamp, and they have now updated the page with the Herald Tribune article.
Kentucky Woman @ 68
What’s he doin’ there? (Fundraising for his Presidential campaign, I hope!)
A last note before I fall into bed – the BBC just reported that the Dixie Chicks “dominated’ the Grammys, describing “Not Ready to Make Nice” as their response to the criticism of what Natalie Maynes said about Bush. I like that.
I wonder how much of that 363 tons of greenbacks made its way into Republican campaign coffers (and pockets). For that matter, I wonder if the $387K of Lieberman “street money” came from the “Arab steet” (or anyway the Baghdad street), from that same 363 tons.
363 tons, of hardened cash, don’t talk no ordinary trash…
Ann of AZ. I agree 100% regarding the Democrats in Congress appearing impotent while in the minority – and, I might add – not appearing to have shaken the impotentcy now that they’re in the majority. In view of the lobbyist reform that wasn’t (according to today’s news disclosures that the gravy is still be accepted by congressmen – both parties) a case could be made that the old-line entrenched Democrats in washington enjoyed the status quo as ineffective step-children to the Republican majority – they didn’t have to work or lead but yet enjoyed the same graft and privileges.
“Shame on the Republican-controlled Congress for ignoring their constitutional duties for so long.”
Shame? It’s a CRIME.
923 18 U.S.C. 371 — Conspiracy to Defraud the United States
“Although this language is very broad, cases rely heavily on the definition of “defraud” provided by the Supreme Court in two early cases, Hass v. Henkel, 216 U.S. 462 (1910), and Hammerschmidt v. United States, 265 U.S. 182 (1924). In Hass the Court stated:
“The statute is broad enough in its terms to include any conspiracy for the purpose of impairing, obstructing or defeating the lawful function of any department of government . . . (A)ny conspiracy which is calculated to obstruct or impair its efficiency and destroy the value of its operation and reports as fair, impartial and reasonably accurate, would be to defraud the United States by depriving it of its lawful right and duty of promulgating or diffusing the information so officially acquired in the way and at the time required by law or departmental regulation.
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/eous…..m00923.htm
We must DEMAND JUSTICE!, not wave our fingers like schoolmarms.
Terry Olson @
51
I have a lot of Australian mates that I see while travelling in SE Asia. Mainly Labourites…and I did a little research on Gallipoli after seeing the Peter Weir movie back in the day.
BTW As of February 5th, 2003 Australia has a Grand Total of TWO deaths in IRAQ!
So much for the Australian contribution in terms of the pain of families and friends – and social disruption.
Country Total
Australia 2
Bulgaria 13
Denmark 6
El Salvador 5
Estonia 2
Hungary 1
Italy 33
Kazakhstan 1
Latvia 3
Netherlands 2
Poland 19
Romania 2
Slovakia 4
Spain 11
Thailand 2
Ukraine 18
United Kingdom 132
“I wonder how much of that 363 tons of greenbacks made its way into Republican campaign coffers (and pockets).”
A damn lot of it. I believe traitor Ollie North called it “an off the shelf operational capacity.” That includes political ‘operations,’ such as bribing judges and rigging elections.
Noe of Ohio redistributed at least $10 million (probably $50 M) from Ohio’s Workman’s Comp fund to the campaigns of Bush, Schwarzenegger, and other rightwing Bushco candidates.
I believe we need to start thinking in terms of interfering with the manifestation of Bushco II (as well as the current crisis of law), which is already funded and underway; rollout date in the 10’s.
Big thick slice of (our) bread, slice of (our) bleeding meat, slice of (our) bread, slice of (our) bleeding meat…it’s the American Club Sandwich.
Are YOU in the Club?
…or are you BOTH the lunchmeat and picking up the tab?
Let’s get off the menu, and back to SHUTTING THE RESTAURANT DOWN.
“Iraq- DENIAL AND DECEPTION The actual banner on the White House’s official website from before the war started.”
The Republicans project their own faults/actions on their opponents.
The WHIG operations were masterful.
We must learn to read Republican accusations as if they are looking into a mirror.